Pool cleaning vehicle with mechanism for skewing an axle
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning a pool with a pool cleaner comprising:
- providing a pool cleaner having a hollow body including a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet, a filter within the body between the inlet and the outlet, a drive mechanism mounted to the body for moving the cleaner on a surface of the pool, a first axle end extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis and having a first support rotatably mounted thereon for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the surface of the pool, the first axle end extending through a corresponding first elongated slot that is formed at a first side of the body, and a flexible steering ribbon slidably mounted in a guide track formed in the body; and
positioning the flexible steering ribbon in the guide track to selectively occlude a portion of the first elongated slot and skew the first axle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self directed pool cleaning vehicle comprising a body carrying water inlet and outlet ports with the inlet port being located on the bottom of the body with the body containing a filter is described. A drive mechanism propels the vehicle in two generally opposed directions. Two axles which each carry two wheels support the body and control its direction of movement. One axle is mounted to the body via slots that extend in the directions of motion such that this axle can move toward either end of the slots. A steering structure is provided with a portion that moves to close a portion of one of the slots and can be locked in a position that prevents one end of an axle from traversing its slot. Thus when this axle is the trialing axle it is held at other than a right angle to the two generally opposed directions.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for cleaning a pool with a pool cleaner comprising:
-
providing a pool cleaner having a hollow body including a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet, a filter within the body between the inlet and the outlet, a drive mechanism mounted to the body for moving the cleaner on a surface of the pool, a first axle end extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis and having a first support rotatably mounted thereon for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the surface of the pool, the first axle end extending through a corresponding first elongated slot that is formed at a first side of the body, and a flexible steering ribbon slidably mounted in a guide track formed in the body; and positioning the flexible steering ribbon in the guide track to selectively occlude a portion of the first elongated slot and skew the first axle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification