Submerged surface pool cleaning device

• US 6,311,353 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Phillipson Family Trust, Pavel Sebor Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Brian Phillipson Family Trust, Pavel Sebor Family Trust
• Inventors: Sebor, Paul, Sebor, Daniela, Phillipson, Brian H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US09/490,956
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1663 the propulsion resulting from an intermittent interruption of the waterflow through the cleaner

Abstract

A swimming pool cleaning device for automatically cleaning a submerged surface includes a forwardly inclined housing forming a flow passage between a surface to be cleaned and a suction hose. A flow control valve is operable within the flow passage and includes a flap pivotable from a seated position against the front wall of the housing for blocking flow through the passage to an unseated position in a spaced relation to the forward wall, permitting. A shoe is carried at an inlet to the flow passage and a flexible planar disc extends around the shoe for engaging the surface to be cleaned. A groove within the shoe bottom surface forms a channel with the surface for passage of debris and fluid flow through the channel. The flexible planar member includes slits extending from the peripheral edge inward toward the central opening to form a pedal-like segmented flange for splaying of each segment in response to travel of the cleaner over an irregularly contoured surface and facilitate an effective frictional contact with the surface. A steering mechanism is operable between the housing and shoe for rotating the housing about the shoe and planar member, and includes a ratchet and pawl operable between upper and lower steering members for providing free rotation in one direction in response to a pulsating fluid flow through the flow passage, while biasing against rotation in an opposing direction.

Claims

1. A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

a housing having a flow passage extending therethrough from an inlet to an outlet thereof;

a flow control valve operable with the flow passage for movement between a seated position, wherein a fluid flowing through the passage is interrupted, to an unseated position for permitting the fluid to flow through the passage;

a flexible flange extending around the inlet for frictionally engaging a submerged surface to be cleaned; and

steering means carried by the housing and operable therewith for rotating the housing about the flexible flange, wherein the steering means comprises;

an upper member carried by the horsing;

a lower member operable with the flexible flange, the lower member rotatably connected with the upper member about an axis of rotation; and

ratchet and pawl means operable between the upper and lower members for providing free rotation in one rotational direction about the axis in response to the interrupted flow through the flow passage, while biasing against rotation in an opposing rotational direction.

2. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet and pawl means comprise:

a pivot pin carried by the upper member;

the lower member having a cylindrical surface extending around the axis of rotation for engagement by a pawl; and

a pawl pivotally attached to the pin and engaging the cylindrical surface.

3. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical surface includes a smooth surface portion over which the pawl will slide and thus provide free rotation of the housing through an arc of the smooth surface.

4. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet and pawl means comprise:

a tab carried by the upper member;

a pawl having first and second pawl portions pivotable about a center pawl portion for engaging the lower member with the first pawl portion for providing free rotation of the housing about the axis in the one rotational direction while biasing against rotation in an opposing rotational direction, and for pivoting about the center pawl portion for engaging the lower member with the second portion for providing free rotation of the housing about the axis in the opposing while biasing against rotation in the one direction; and

a lever arm extending from the center pawl portion, the lever arm biasing against the tab from a first side when rotated about the one direction for causing the first pawl portion to engage the lower member, and the lever arm biasing against the tab from an opposing second side of the tab when rotated about the opposing direction for causing the second pawl portion to engage the lower member, thus providing a steering of the cleaning device.

5. A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

a housing having a flow passage extending therethrough from an inlet to an outlet thereof;

a flow control valve operable with the flow passage for movement between a seated position, wherein a fluid flowing through the passage is interrupted, to an unseated position for permitting the fluid to flow through the passage;

a flexible flange extending around the inlet for frictionally engaging a submerged surface to be cleaned; and

a steering device operable with the housing for moving the housing about the flexible flange, wherein the steering device comprises;

an upper member operable with the housing;

a lower member operable with the flexible flange, the lower member rotatably connected with the upper member; and

a ratchet and pawl operable between the upper and lower members for providing free movement in one direction in response to the interrupted flow through the flow passage, while biasing against rotation in an opposing direction.

6. The cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the ratchet and pawl comprise:

a pivot pin carried by the upper member;

the lower member having a cylindrical surface extending around the axis of rotation for engagement by a pawl; and

a pawl pivotally attached to the pin and engaging the cylindrical surface.

7. The cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the cylindrical surface includes a smooth surface portion over which the pawl will slide and thus provide free rotation of the housing.

8. The cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the ratchet and pawl comprise:

a tab carried by the upper member;

a pawl having first and second pawl portions pivotable about a center pawl portion for engaging the lower member with the first pawl portion for providing free movement of the housing in the one direction while biasing against movement in an opposing direction, and for pivoting about the center pawl portion for engaging the lower member with the second portion for providing free rotation of the housing about the axis in the opposing while biasing against rotation in the one direction; and

a lever arm extending from the center pawl portion, the lever arm biasing against the tab from a first side when moved in the one direction for causing the first pawl portion to engage the lower member, and the lever arm biasing against the tab from an opposing second side of the tab when moved in the opposing direction for causing the second pawl portion to engage the lower member, thus providing a steering of the cleaning device.

9. A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

a housing having a flow passage extending therethrough from an inlet to an outlet thereof;

a flow control valve operable with the flow passage for movement between a seated position, wherein a fluid flowing through the passage is interrupted, to an unseated position for permitting the fluid to flow through the passage;

a flexible flange extending around the inlet for frictionally engaging a submerged surface to be cleaned; and

a steering device operable with the housing for rotating the housing about the flexible flange, wherein the steering device includes a first member operable with the housing and a second member operable with the flexible flange, the first member movably connected with the second member, the steering device comprising;

a ratchet and pawl operable between the first and second members for providing free movement in one direction in response to the interrupted flow through the flow passage, while biasing against rotation in an opposing direction.

10. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein the ratchet and pawl comprise:

a pivot pin carried by the upper member;

the lower member having a cylindrical surface extending around the axis of rotation for engagement by a pawl; and

a pawl pivotally attached to the pin and engaging the cylindrical surface.

11. The cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein the cylindrical surface includes a smooth surface portion over which the pawl will slide and thus provide free movement of the housing thereover.

12. The cleaning device according to claim 9, wherein the ratchet and pawl comprise:

a tab carried by the upper member;

a pawl having first and second pawl portions pivotable about a center pawl portion for engaging the lower member with the first pawl portion for providing free movement of the housing in the one direction while biasing against movement in an opposing direction, and for pivoting about the center pawl portion for engaging the lower member with the second portion for providing free rotation of the housing about the axis in the opposing while biasing against rotation in the one direction; and

a lever arm extending from the center pawl portion, the lever arm biasing against the tab from a first side when moved in the one direction for causing the first pawl portion to engage the lower member, and the lever arm biasing against the tab from an opposing second side of the tab when moved in the opposing direction for causing the second pawl portion to engage the lower member, thus providing a steering of the cleaning device.