CA2202194A1 - Flow diverting weir for a swimming pool skimmer - Google Patents
Flow diverting weir for a swimming pool skimmerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2202194A1 CA2202194A1 CA002202194A CA2202194A CA2202194A1 CA 2202194 A1 CA2202194 A1 CA 2202194A1 CA 002202194 A CA002202194 A CA 002202194A CA 2202194 A CA2202194 A CA 2202194A CA 2202194 A1 CA2202194 A1 CA 2202194A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- skimmer
- weir
- pool
- face plate
- edge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/12—Devices or arrangements for circulating water, i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment
- E04H4/1209—Treatment of water for swimming pools
- E04H4/1254—Arm-mounted debris traps or flow diverters
Abstract
A skimmer for a swimming pool includes a weir which extends outwardly from the skimmer face plate to divert a portion of the flowing pool water into the skimmer for subsequent treatment and recirculation. The weir is preferably attached to the skimmer face plate by a flexible lip formed around a peripheral edge of the weir which selectively snaps onto and off of a flange formed around the perimeter of the skimmer face plate. The leading edge of the weir extends outwardly from the pool sidewall to exert an enlarged field of influence on the water flowing along the surface of the pool to skim debris from the pool in less time than conventional skimmer devices.
Description
FLOVV I~mRTING WEIR FOR
A SW~IMIN~ POOL SKIMMEI~
Be it known ~at I: MICHAEL L. HODAK, citizen of the ~JNITED
ST~T~S OF AMERIC~ ~nd residin~ ~t 225 C~eo~eto~n Road, Ca~onsburg, 5 Pennsylvan~a lS317, have invented ce~in new a~d usefiul improvelnexlts in a PLOW
DIVE~TING WEIR POR A SWIMMING, POOL, SKIMMER ~f ~hich the following is a speci~lcation.
Ç~ROSS REPERENCE TO I~ELATED APP~,ICATION
This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional 1~ Application Se~ia~ No. ~0/015,059, filed on April 9, 1996.
BACKGROU~ O~ NTION
The present iIIvention relates gellerally to sw'mmin~ pool accessories and, more particularl~, to skimmers. Swimrning pools commo~ly have one or ~ore skimmers placed in the sidewall thereof at water level to pelmit the re~oval of floating debris and other cont~min~T~t~ from the surface of the pool. The ~i~rner corlventionally ha~ a strainer basl~et within its body to collect larger objec ;s, ~uch as 3eaves, insects, and the li~e, while the balance of the water passes tb~ou~h the sh ainer And is seIlt to a pumpl~lltxation unit by appro~liat~ piping where t~e ~mer cont~r~;nPnt~ are removed. The filtered water is then returned to the pool in a conve~tion~l manner. Pe~odic additions of c~n~rnicals a~e ~lade, such as chlo~ine, to mailltain p~oper pH arld biological levels in the pool water.
'l~e opcning ill a convelltional skimmer is substantially co-planar with the pool sidewall and draws su~face ~4ater into the skimmer body, mainly as a function of the power of the pump nno¢or. In order to increase the ef~tlri~r-~y of surface cle~nin~ and to remove floating objects and contaminants wl~ich tcnd to ~cc~tn~ e around the pooI wall perirneter, it is common practice tO direct the inlet water no~7les in an angular ~lirection rclative 10 the sidewall tO create eitl~er a clockwise or counterclockwise wat~r flow currcnt around the pool. This t~pe t)f flow pattern tends to swcep debIis from the pool sidewalls and minimi7Rs the debris accumulation proble~.
Unrortunately, when a clockwis~ or coun~erclockwise Jlow pattern is creatc~ e pool, ~e con~ io~al, planar C~immer opcning is c~pable of capnlrin~
only L~e debr;s flo~ imm~ t~ly adjacent to the sidewall. The debris beyond this -capture ZOII~ usually floats past the skimm~r opening alld must make o~e or moreadditional circuits around the pool prior to bein~ c~ptured by the skimmer ~cbris lloating iII the central area of the po~l generally ~ill not ~each t~e ~kim~ner for a co~siderable amou~t of time.
S ~ invent~o~ solves ~is problem by p~oviding a slcim-n~r ~ rhl-~ent which increases the ability of the skimn)~ to capture debris travelin~ past ~e 6}~i~mer at ~ist~nce~ far greater ~an heretofiore tho~ght pos~ible. The improved~ immer of the invention thus captures floati~g debris effilciently to clean the entire surface of the swi~ming pool more quick~y than conventioIlal skimmers. ~he irnproved skimmç~ of the present inve~¢io~ is also reverslble, malcing i~ possible to handle water flow patte~ns in either a counte~clockwise or clockwise direetion.
In addition, a p~esently preferred e~bodimen~ of my i~vention is sllitable for use with ~e ~kimn~ fa~e plate disclosed in U.S. Pate~t No. 5,285~538 of Fra~lc J. Hodal~, hereinafter referred to as the '538 Hodal~ patellt, which is ~o~porated by re~.~nce b~rein. The '538 Hoda~ patent discIoses ~ ~emovab]e fa~e plate fnr cnv~ri~ sl~;mloPi openin~ durin~ willter month~. Thc co~ter ele~
r.~ lu~tl~ nn~lcr~al ~h;~h ,~ ,", ~ ~llr~ y L~L~ u~ed c~ r f~r~ tP. The st~l~rncr f~cc pl~t~ h~G ~ I'hi4~ vs n~ p~r~ c-l ~ U~
which the cover ele~nent is snapped. The il~p~oved sk~i~mer of t~e present illvention is adapted to be collveniently ~ ch~ to the peripheral edge of the skimm~r face plate of the type disclosed in the '538 ~oda}c patent.
SV~ARY OF THE IN~F.NTION
Briefly sta~ed, my invcntion is dirccted to an improve~ c~ t mer for a swimmin~ p~ol. The skimmor in~ es ~ ~kimm~r fa&e place moun~ed on the sidewall of the pool, having a four-sided, f~ame-like sllape with an opening tllclcin to perrnit pool water to flow into an interior portion of dle skimmer. A weir outwardly extcnds fiom thc ski~ner face plate. T~e weir has an inner peripheral edge which is sccured to at Icast two sidcs of the ~kimmer ~ce pla~c ~nd compriscs an upper leg ex~en~lin~ along a top hPr~zontal side of Ihe face plale an~l a lower leg joined to the upper lcg by ~ corncr and e~te~Ain~ downwardly alon~ a vertieal side of the face plate to a position below a normal water level of the pool. The outer peripheral edges of the upper and lo~ver legs of the weir are spaeed outwardly from the f;~ .t~ ~n effc.e.tiv~ nr~, The 10WeJ 1~:~ ( f ~e ~eir th~s interferes with the ur~r c~l~r~nt flnwin~ L a~ s,~;immcr ~d exerts ~ greater ~Ir.l~ r Intl~ rll ll~
cu~rent to di~ect ~ore .~rface deb~is into the s~immer. The i~ner peripheral ed~e of the WCjr pre~era~ly c~ e~ , dL~L ~J ~ of tho oolr~ Pl~mPn~ in th~
S aforelncntioned '53~ ~loda~; pa~~ A~ "J '~ s~o~.on.1~tha p~e-exi.qtil~g, specially-~ormed pe~ipheral edg~ o~ t;ne skimmer ~ In~
~tAeb~hl~ weir may be snapped onto the fa~ plate in one of two direction~ so as to accommodate water flows in either the clo~kwise or counterclockwise di~ection. At lu~ ~f thc ~wir~ ee~on, th~ w~ir nf the prç~nt inventinn is ~$napped 10from the face plate and the cover element of tbe '~38 Hod3k patent is snapped in place to ready t~e pool for winte~izing, BRIFP ~)ESCR~PTTON OF T~IE D~WI~C~S
Other all~i~uLes alld advaIItages of the present inventiosl, in addition to those described above, ~ill become more ~pparent wh¢n refe~ence is made to the 15~tt~hed drawi~gs alld the ~llowing detailed description, in which:
F~gure 1 is a front elev~tiorl view of a ~kimmel face plate wi~h a eseuLly preîe~rccl embodiment of the invention ~t~ h~ ~ereto;
Figure 2 is a side elevatio~ view of the improved slci~ er devi~e o~
Figure l;
20Figure 3 is ~ perspective view of a preselltly p~eferred wei~ of the present invention;
Figure 4 is ~n e~larged, cross-sectio~al view of a skimrrler face plate and peripheral attachment edge of the ~eir of Figure 3; and Pi~ure 5 is a front elevation view of a further embodiment of the weir 25of the present inventi~
DE'l'AILED DESCRIPTION OF ~IE INVEN'l~IO.N
Referrln~ now to the drawin~6. the skinlmel dcvice (lf the pre~ent illvention, ge,nerally desi~nated by ,efe~ ce numeral 2, c~mpli~es a weir 4 extcnding out~vardly from a skilnmer face pl~te 6. As mentioned abo~e, the face pl~te 6 is30pref~rably the type disclosed in the '538 Hodak palcnt. The f~ce plate 6 is attached to the sidcwall 8 of a swimming pool in a conventional nlalmer using a plurality of ~cws 14 to s~cure d~e f~c pl~t~ to ~ lewull uIl-l LU ~ ~ki~ cr ~O~y ~not shown~
positioned on the outside of the sidewall 8.
One p~e~ntly pl~f~l.ed embo~i~e~t of the weir 4 of my invention is deplcted in Figures 1-3. The wei~ 4 has a gen~rall$,~ L-shaped configu~ation including a lowe~ le~ 18 and an u~e~ le~ 2Q i~j~çd. at a ~rner DnrtliA,n 2~.~ ThP wrir 4 r~rri an in~e~ hel~l edge 16 fo~ ~çhment to the ~kimmer face pl~te 6. The imle~
r"l ~1~ ; nf thr. w~ir ~ t~"en~ to th~ top ~ r~ L~
13 of ~he ~immer face plltc ~. T~c-~;.v ~ r~ ;S'~ t~l~i~'"''- " ''' extend f~om ~lle ~imm~r face plate and l~ in~. at an outer peripheral ed~e ~5.
The lowe~ leg 1~ terminRtes at the edge 19 below the wate~ level of the pool. The upper leg 20 of the ~retr 4 e~tend~ c,ulw~rdly fro~ the top side 11 of the s~ mer face plate 6 to meet the oute~ pe~ipheral edge 25. Tlle lower leg lB and the upper le~ ~0 of the weir meet at ~ co~ner portion 22.
The i~ne~ peripheral edge 16 of the weir 4 carries a f1exible lip 30.
As best seen iII Fi~ure 4, the flexible lip 30 has a hollow cutout portion 32 with a raised bead 34 ~nol~ed therein. In this ~eg~rd, the weir 4 is p~eferably injection mold~ frc,m a fle?~ible thermoplastic mate~ial, such as, fo~ ex~nlple, polypropylelle or nylo~. I'he ~ee plate 6 has an outwa~dly c~ctenf~in~ fla~ge 40 around the frallle-liJce border 10, carryin~ a raised bead 42 tl;~e~on as disclosed in the '538 Hodak patent. The flexible ~ c1lment lip 30 o~ the weir 4 is adapted to snap onto the ~,e 40 of the face pl~te. Tl~e parts remain lockably securcd toge~h~r by vilnlc of the flexible pla~tic material and the locking action provided by the raised bcad~ 34 ~nd 42 of the m~dng parts. The lip 30 of the attachment edge 16 of the weir 4 nl~y ~lso contain a fl~d end 36, a~ .qho~n in l~igure 4, to ~rovi~le a grippiIIg portion for e~sier u~ al)pin~ of the flexiblc Itp 30 when the weir 4 is to be removed f~nl the skimmer face plate 6.
A further e~ ent of the pre~ent invention 2 is shown in Figllre 5 wl~rein the invention 2' i~ in the form of a weir 4'. The weir 4' has a scoop-like covcr element g wl~ch cnclo~es ~e f~ce pl~te 6 on lhree sides, namcly, lOp, bottom and one side edge dlereof and in~ludPs a flexl~le lip 30' along an att~chmellt ed~e 16' to provide securenlent to the face plate 6 in the manner described above. The open end 5 of the weir 4' extcnds outwardly away fron~ the face platc a dist~nce of about four inche~ to ei~ht ~nches to in~rease the skim~ g effi~ ~y of the ski~ner devicc.
-The injection molded, flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene, makes t~e weir 4 or 4' p~aetically unbreakable, while providing a safe product for swi~ners in that it will bend without ~nju~i~g anyone who may ln~dvertently comein cont~ct wit~ the ~oil 4 or 4'.
I~ e; the u/~eir 4. ~r 4' .is s~ p,to the fl~n~e ~n nf ~hP qlri1n1n~
t~t~ outer ~enpher~l ed~o î5 of the lowor lcg 1~ of th~ wcir ~
in Figure4 1 and 2 comes in contact with and il~lellu~l~ the cu~rent of the water flowin~ past the ~kirrlme~ openin~ 1~, This ~nterr~ption of the c~rrent flow creates a sllol~e~ fileld of influence in the onco~ing path of e7~isting water currents c~eated by the pool's pum~ sin~e *le natural water fl~w i~ obstmcted. A whirlpool-like actioIl is created by the weir to cause more of a swirling eff~ct i~ the pool causing erial in ~e i~r por~on of the pool to rea~h the c~ nmç~ in far less time than ise~perienced with a conve~tion~l flat ~kim~ device. I~e weir 4 of the present illvcllLiv~ unlversal and is ada~ted to be fitted on eit~er side of the skimmPr face pl~te 6 to accom~odate water cu~ent flow in either d~rection ~s stated, the weir4 fea~u~s easy inst~ io~ exl~ility a~d, thus, safety, and is fully reversible to ~ace vr rl~n~, ~c~~ U~Ull ul~ lrvu~ ur~ or ~low pa~ nc wel~ 4 ls cosm~tir~ly trim and ec~omir-al to m~m~a~l~e! requirin~ no special skUI to illstall.
Thc l~ading edge 25 of ~e weil c~n be ~ade to extend outwardly frol~
Typically, the outer cd~e cvuld extend outwardly s~ inches to ten inches or morcfrom the pool si~lewall. For appeaMnce purposes alld for a balance be~ween P~ n(~ qnrl ~ rfnrm~ T rl~nf~r to Itu~p tllo n~Ao~ ~ r lv eight ~lles from ~e surface of ¢~e face plate 6. A spacin~g as little as three in~hes is effective, however.
While speci~lc embodi.~ of the invention have been descrihed in J~,.L..;Il~ J~ L~ JV~ WI v~llV~ lUUlll~lWn~ ana allern~tives to tho~e details could be developed in light of the ove~al1 teachings of the dis~losure. For e~mrl~ the wei~ 4 could be made in~egra~ wi ;h the facc plale ratller l,u;~ lu~u~u~lu. T~ p~c~ ly pJ'~ llllcJ~ IC~ lt;lC~ rc me~nt to ~e illustrative only and ~ot limiting as to the scope of thc in~ention which is to be given tl~e fùll brea~th of ~d1e a~pended clalms ard ~ny and all equivalents tller~of.
_5_
A SW~IMIN~ POOL SKIMMEI~
Be it known ~at I: MICHAEL L. HODAK, citizen of the ~JNITED
ST~T~S OF AMERIC~ ~nd residin~ ~t 225 C~eo~eto~n Road, Ca~onsburg, 5 Pennsylvan~a lS317, have invented ce~in new a~d usefiul improvelnexlts in a PLOW
DIVE~TING WEIR POR A SWIMMING, POOL, SKIMMER ~f ~hich the following is a speci~lcation.
Ç~ROSS REPERENCE TO I~ELATED APP~,ICATION
This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional 1~ Application Se~ia~ No. ~0/015,059, filed on April 9, 1996.
BACKGROU~ O~ NTION
The present iIIvention relates gellerally to sw'mmin~ pool accessories and, more particularl~, to skimmers. Swimrning pools commo~ly have one or ~ore skimmers placed in the sidewall thereof at water level to pelmit the re~oval of floating debris and other cont~min~T~t~ from the surface of the pool. The ~i~rner corlventionally ha~ a strainer basl~et within its body to collect larger objec ;s, ~uch as 3eaves, insects, and the li~e, while the balance of the water passes tb~ou~h the sh ainer And is seIlt to a pumpl~lltxation unit by appro~liat~ piping where t~e ~mer cont~r~;nPnt~ are removed. The filtered water is then returned to the pool in a conve~tion~l manner. Pe~odic additions of c~n~rnicals a~e ~lade, such as chlo~ine, to mailltain p~oper pH arld biological levels in the pool water.
'l~e opcning ill a convelltional skimmer is substantially co-planar with the pool sidewall and draws su~face ~4ater into the skimmer body, mainly as a function of the power of the pump nno¢or. In order to increase the ef~tlri~r-~y of surface cle~nin~ and to remove floating objects and contaminants wl~ich tcnd to ~cc~tn~ e around the pooI wall perirneter, it is common practice tO direct the inlet water no~7les in an angular ~lirection rclative 10 the sidewall tO create eitl~er a clockwise or counterclockwise wat~r flow currcnt around the pool. This t~pe t)f flow pattern tends to swcep debIis from the pool sidewalls and minimi7Rs the debris accumulation proble~.
Unrortunately, when a clockwis~ or coun~erclockwise Jlow pattern is creatc~ e pool, ~e con~ io~al, planar C~immer opcning is c~pable of capnlrin~
only L~e debr;s flo~ imm~ t~ly adjacent to the sidewall. The debris beyond this -capture ZOII~ usually floats past the skimm~r opening alld must make o~e or moreadditional circuits around the pool prior to bein~ c~ptured by the skimmer ~cbris lloating iII the central area of the po~l generally ~ill not ~each t~e ~kim~ner for a co~siderable amou~t of time.
S ~ invent~o~ solves ~is problem by p~oviding a slcim-n~r ~ rhl-~ent which increases the ability of the skimn)~ to capture debris travelin~ past ~e 6}~i~mer at ~ist~nce~ far greater ~an heretofiore tho~ght pos~ible. The improved~ immer of the invention thus captures floati~g debris effilciently to clean the entire surface of the swi~ming pool more quick~y than conventioIlal skimmers. ~he irnproved skimmç~ of the present inve~¢io~ is also reverslble, malcing i~ possible to handle water flow patte~ns in either a counte~clockwise or clockwise direetion.
In addition, a p~esently preferred e~bodimen~ of my i~vention is sllitable for use with ~e ~kimn~ fa~e plate disclosed in U.S. Pate~t No. 5,285~538 of Fra~lc J. Hodal~, hereinafter referred to as the '538 Hodal~ patellt, which is ~o~porated by re~.~nce b~rein. The '538 Hoda~ patent discIoses ~ ~emovab]e fa~e plate fnr cnv~ri~ sl~;mloPi openin~ durin~ willter month~. Thc co~ter ele~
r.~ lu~tl~ nn~lcr~al ~h;~h ,~ ,", ~ ~llr~ y L~L~ u~ed c~ r f~r~ tP. The st~l~rncr f~cc pl~t~ h~G ~ I'hi4~ vs n~ p~r~ c-l ~ U~
which the cover ele~nent is snapped. The il~p~oved sk~i~mer of t~e present illvention is adapted to be collveniently ~ ch~ to the peripheral edge of the skimm~r face plate of the type disclosed in the '538 ~oda}c patent.
SV~ARY OF THE IN~F.NTION
Briefly sta~ed, my invcntion is dirccted to an improve~ c~ t mer for a swimmin~ p~ol. The skimmor in~ es ~ ~kimm~r fa&e place moun~ed on the sidewall of the pool, having a four-sided, f~ame-like sllape with an opening tllclcin to perrnit pool water to flow into an interior portion of dle skimmer. A weir outwardly extcnds fiom thc ski~ner face plate. T~e weir has an inner peripheral edge which is sccured to at Icast two sidcs of the ~kimmer ~ce pla~c ~nd compriscs an upper leg ex~en~lin~ along a top hPr~zontal side of Ihe face plale an~l a lower leg joined to the upper lcg by ~ corncr and e~te~Ain~ downwardly alon~ a vertieal side of the face plate to a position below a normal water level of the pool. The outer peripheral edges of the upper and lo~ver legs of the weir are spaeed outwardly from the f;~ .t~ ~n effc.e.tiv~ nr~, The 10WeJ 1~:~ ( f ~e ~eir th~s interferes with the ur~r c~l~r~nt flnwin~ L a~ s,~;immcr ~d exerts ~ greater ~Ir.l~ r Intl~ rll ll~
cu~rent to di~ect ~ore .~rface deb~is into the s~immer. The i~ner peripheral ed~e of the WCjr pre~era~ly c~ e~ , dL~L ~J ~ of tho oolr~ Pl~mPn~ in th~
S aforelncntioned '53~ ~loda~; pa~~ A~ "J '~ s~o~.on.1~tha p~e-exi.qtil~g, specially-~ormed pe~ipheral edg~ o~ t;ne skimmer ~ In~
~tAeb~hl~ weir may be snapped onto the fa~ plate in one of two direction~ so as to accommodate water flows in either the clo~kwise or counterclockwise di~ection. At lu~ ~f thc ~wir~ ee~on, th~ w~ir nf the prç~nt inventinn is ~$napped 10from the face plate and the cover element of tbe '~38 Hod3k patent is snapped in place to ready t~e pool for winte~izing, BRIFP ~)ESCR~PTTON OF T~IE D~WI~C~S
Other all~i~uLes alld advaIItages of the present inventiosl, in addition to those described above, ~ill become more ~pparent wh¢n refe~ence is made to the 15~tt~hed drawi~gs alld the ~llowing detailed description, in which:
F~gure 1 is a front elev~tiorl view of a ~kimmel face plate wi~h a eseuLly preîe~rccl embodiment of the invention ~t~ h~ ~ereto;
Figure 2 is a side elevatio~ view of the improved slci~ er devi~e o~
Figure l;
20Figure 3 is ~ perspective view of a preselltly p~eferred wei~ of the present invention;
Figure 4 is ~n e~larged, cross-sectio~al view of a skimrrler face plate and peripheral attachment edge of the ~eir of Figure 3; and Pi~ure 5 is a front elevation view of a further embodiment of the weir 25of the present inventi~
DE'l'AILED DESCRIPTION OF ~IE INVEN'l~IO.N
Referrln~ now to the drawin~6. the skinlmel dcvice (lf the pre~ent illvention, ge,nerally desi~nated by ,efe~ ce numeral 2, c~mpli~es a weir 4 extcnding out~vardly from a skilnmer face pl~te 6. As mentioned abo~e, the face pl~te 6 is30pref~rably the type disclosed in the '538 Hodak palcnt. The f~ce plate 6 is attached to the sidcwall 8 of a swimming pool in a conventional nlalmer using a plurality of ~cws 14 to s~cure d~e f~c pl~t~ to ~ lewull uIl-l LU ~ ~ki~ cr ~O~y ~not shown~
positioned on the outside of the sidewall 8.
One p~e~ntly pl~f~l.ed embo~i~e~t of the weir 4 of my invention is deplcted in Figures 1-3. The wei~ 4 has a gen~rall$,~ L-shaped configu~ation including a lowe~ le~ 18 and an u~e~ le~ 2Q i~j~çd. at a ~rner DnrtliA,n 2~.~ ThP wrir 4 r~rri an in~e~ hel~l edge 16 fo~ ~çhment to the ~kimmer face pl~te 6. The imle~
r"l ~1~ ; nf thr. w~ir ~ t~"en~ to th~ top ~ r~ L~
13 of ~he ~immer face plltc ~. T~c-~;.v ~ r~ ;S'~ t~l~i~'"''- " ''' extend f~om ~lle ~imm~r face plate and l~ in~. at an outer peripheral ed~e ~5.
The lowe~ leg 1~ terminRtes at the edge 19 below the wate~ level of the pool. The upper leg 20 of the ~retr 4 e~tend~ c,ulw~rdly fro~ the top side 11 of the s~ mer face plate 6 to meet the oute~ pe~ipheral edge 25. Tlle lower leg lB and the upper le~ ~0 of the weir meet at ~ co~ner portion 22.
The i~ne~ peripheral edge 16 of the weir 4 carries a f1exible lip 30.
As best seen iII Fi~ure 4, the flexible lip 30 has a hollow cutout portion 32 with a raised bead 34 ~nol~ed therein. In this ~eg~rd, the weir 4 is p~eferably injection mold~ frc,m a fle?~ible thermoplastic mate~ial, such as, fo~ ex~nlple, polypropylelle or nylo~. I'he ~ee plate 6 has an outwa~dly c~ctenf~in~ fla~ge 40 around the frallle-liJce border 10, carryin~ a raised bead 42 tl;~e~on as disclosed in the '538 Hodak patent. The flexible ~ c1lment lip 30 o~ the weir 4 is adapted to snap onto the ~,e 40 of the face pl~te. Tl~e parts remain lockably securcd toge~h~r by vilnlc of the flexible pla~tic material and the locking action provided by the raised bcad~ 34 ~nd 42 of the m~dng parts. The lip 30 of the attachment edge 16 of the weir 4 nl~y ~lso contain a fl~d end 36, a~ .qho~n in l~igure 4, to ~rovi~le a grippiIIg portion for e~sier u~ al)pin~ of the flexiblc Itp 30 when the weir 4 is to be removed f~nl the skimmer face plate 6.
A further e~ ent of the pre~ent invention 2 is shown in Figllre 5 wl~rein the invention 2' i~ in the form of a weir 4'. The weir 4' has a scoop-like covcr element g wl~ch cnclo~es ~e f~ce pl~te 6 on lhree sides, namcly, lOp, bottom and one side edge dlereof and in~ludPs a flexl~le lip 30' along an att~chmellt ed~e 16' to provide securenlent to the face plate 6 in the manner described above. The open end 5 of the weir 4' extcnds outwardly away fron~ the face platc a dist~nce of about four inche~ to ei~ht ~nches to in~rease the skim~ g effi~ ~y of the ski~ner devicc.
-The injection molded, flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene, makes t~e weir 4 or 4' p~aetically unbreakable, while providing a safe product for swi~ners in that it will bend without ~nju~i~g anyone who may ln~dvertently comein cont~ct wit~ the ~oil 4 or 4'.
I~ e; the u/~eir 4. ~r 4' .is s~ p,to the fl~n~e ~n nf ~hP qlri1n1n~
t~t~ outer ~enpher~l ed~o î5 of the lowor lcg 1~ of th~ wcir ~
in Figure4 1 and 2 comes in contact with and il~lellu~l~ the cu~rent of the water flowin~ past the ~kirrlme~ openin~ 1~, This ~nterr~ption of the c~rrent flow creates a sllol~e~ fileld of influence in the onco~ing path of e7~isting water currents c~eated by the pool's pum~ sin~e *le natural water fl~w i~ obstmcted. A whirlpool-like actioIl is created by the weir to cause more of a swirling eff~ct i~ the pool causing erial in ~e i~r por~on of the pool to rea~h the c~ nmç~ in far less time than ise~perienced with a conve~tion~l flat ~kim~ device. I~e weir 4 of the present illvcllLiv~ unlversal and is ada~ted to be fitted on eit~er side of the skimmPr face pl~te 6 to accom~odate water cu~ent flow in either d~rection ~s stated, the weir4 fea~u~s easy inst~ io~ exl~ility a~d, thus, safety, and is fully reversible to ~ace vr rl~n~, ~c~~ U~Ull ul~ lrvu~ ur~ or ~low pa~ nc wel~ 4 ls cosm~tir~ly trim and ec~omir-al to m~m~a~l~e! requirin~ no special skUI to illstall.
Thc l~ading edge 25 of ~e weil c~n be ~ade to extend outwardly frol~
Typically, the outer cd~e cvuld extend outwardly s~ inches to ten inches or morcfrom the pool si~lewall. For appeaMnce purposes alld for a balance be~ween P~ n(~ qnrl ~ rfnrm~ T rl~nf~r to Itu~p tllo n~Ao~ ~ r lv eight ~lles from ~e surface of ¢~e face plate 6. A spacin~g as little as three in~hes is effective, however.
While speci~lc embodi.~ of the invention have been descrihed in J~,.L..;Il~ J~ L~ JV~ WI v~llV~ lUUlll~lWn~ ana allern~tives to tho~e details could be developed in light of the ove~al1 teachings of the dis~losure. For e~mrl~ the wei~ 4 could be made in~egra~ wi ;h the facc plale ratller l,u;~ lu~u~u~lu. T~ p~c~ ly pJ'~ llllcJ~ IC~ lt;lC~ rc me~nt to ~e illustrative only and ~ot limiting as to the scope of thc in~ention which is to be given tl~e fùll brea~th of ~d1e a~pended clalms ard ~ny and all equivalents tller~of.
_5_
Claims (5)
1. A skimmer for a swimming pool comprising a skimmer face plate having a weir outwardly extending from the face plate and adapted to extend along a surface of water in the swimming pool to divert a portion of the pool water flowing past the skimmer into said skimmer.
2. The skimmer of claim 1 wherein the weir is removably attached to the skimmer face plate.
3. The skimmer of claim 2 wherein the skimmer face plate has flange means around a perimeter thereof and wherein the weir has flexible lip means along a peripheral edge for attachment of the weir to the skimmer face plate.
4. The skimmer of claim 3 wherein the weir has two sides joined at a corner, extending outwardly from said flexible lip means for attachment to said flange means along a top perimeter edge and along a side perimeter edge of said skimmer face plate.
5. The skimmer of claim 3 wherein the weir is rectangularly shaped having a scoop-like cover extending outwardly from a top edge and a bottom edge and a first side edge, wherein an opposed, second side edge has an opening therein and wherein said top, bottom and first side edges carry said flexible lip means, whereby, in use, pool water is diverted into the opening in said open second side edge of the weir.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US1505996P | 1996-04-09 | 1996-04-09 | |
| US60/015,059 | 1996-04-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2202194A1 true CA2202194A1 (en) | 1997-10-09 |
Family
ID=21769307
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002202194A Abandoned CA2202194A1 (en) | 1996-04-09 | 1997-04-09 | Flow diverting weir for a swimming pool skimmer |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5948245A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2202194A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6461501B1 (en) | 2001-05-11 | 2002-10-08 | Hardscape Materials, Inc. | Ornamental pond skimmer and filter apparatus |
| US6409917B1 (en) * | 2001-08-02 | 2002-06-25 | Carl J. Malone, Jr. | Accessory for use in a water treatment system of a swimming pool |
| US6979401B1 (en) | 2003-01-15 | 2005-12-27 | Porter C Bradley | Pond skimmer apparatus |
| US7005063B2 (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2006-02-28 | Hodak Michael L | Flow diverting weir for a swimming pool skimmer having increased field of influence |
| US7390401B2 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2008-06-24 | Jerry Hodak | Pool skimmer seal assembly |
| US7011747B2 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2006-03-14 | Jerry Hodak | Pool skimmer assembly |
| US7413651B2 (en) * | 2003-10-23 | 2008-08-19 | Jerry Hodak | Pool skimmer guard assembly |
| US7306718B2 (en) * | 2004-11-18 | 2007-12-11 | Thermospas, Inc. | Skimmer with flexible weir gate for spas and pools |
| US7255786B2 (en) * | 2004-11-18 | 2007-08-14 | Thermospas, Inc. | Skimmer with rotatable filter cartridge for spas and pools |
| US7220353B2 (en) * | 2004-11-18 | 2007-05-22 | Thermospas, Inc. | Skimmer with rotatable filter cartridge for spas and pools |
| US20080099383A1 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-05-01 | Gardenier W John | Rotatable Indicator for Spa Tub Filter Cartridge Replacement |
| US8793820B2 (en) * | 2010-06-08 | 2014-08-05 | Jerry Hodak | Swimming pool skimmer plug and winterization system |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4379749A (en) * | 1981-01-13 | 1983-04-12 | Roth Daniel T | Water deflector assembly for swimming pool skimmers |
| US4789470A (en) * | 1987-08-18 | 1988-12-06 | Wards John F | Skimmer-diverter assembly for removing debris from swimming pools and the like |
| US5059314A (en) * | 1990-09-27 | 1991-10-22 | Beckman Bruce W | Pool skimming apparatus |
| US5285538A (en) * | 1992-04-14 | 1994-02-15 | Hodak Frank J | Sealing assembly for a swimming pool skimmer |
| US5392472A (en) * | 1993-09-27 | 1995-02-28 | Maxfield; Bernard R. | Pool skimmer apparatus |
| US5490923A (en) * | 1994-04-21 | 1996-02-13 | Penney; Bruce B. | Skimmer |
-
1997
- 1997-04-08 US US08/823,408 patent/US5948245A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-04-09 CA CA002202194A patent/CA2202194A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5948245A (en) | 1999-09-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |