Other

Henkin-laby, LLC

H-tech, LLC

Melvyn L Henkin

Jordan Myron Laby

Donald R Davidson

Eric C Fleischer

Bernhard Schaub

A cleaning system comprising a cleaner body configured to travel through a water pool powered by a positive pressure water flow supplied via a flexible hose. The system is characterized by: (1) a water distribution subsystem carried by the cleaner body including a state valve selectively operable in a forward or redirect state and a mode valve selectively operable in a top or bottom mode; and/or (2) a wall fitting including an outlet section extending downward at an oblique angle between 15&#xb0; and 75&#xb0; to reduce the likelihood of hose restraint.

Pool cleaner positive pressure water supply distribution subsystem and wall fitting

A method and apparatus for operating a pool cleaner body in a manner to maximize the time spent on cleaning relative to the time spent on repositioning. More particularly, the invention is directed to a control subsystem for operating a cleaner body to enable it to primarily travel in a forward direction (i.e., forward state) along a travel path but operable also in a backup/redirect state to translate and or rotate the body to enable it to escape from obstructions while also minimizing the formation of conduit tangles. The control subsystem is configured to perform reposition operations without increasing incidents of conduit tangling by:

Pool cleaner control subsystem

An improved power conduit for use with automatic pool cleaners particularly configured to avoid the formation of persistent coils and/or knots. Embodiments in accordance with the invention are characterized by the use of at least one axially stiff elongate member together with axially flexible and axially swivelable means for coupling said stiff member between a stationary power source fitting and a cleaner. The axially flexible and axially swivelable means can be implemented in a variety of ways, e.g., a flexible elongate hose member and a swivel coupling.

Automatic pool cleaner power conduit including stiff sections

An improved power conduit for use with automatic pool cleaners particularly configured to avoid the formation of persistent coils and/or knots. Embodiments in accordance with the invention are characterized by the use of at least one axially stiff elongate member together with axially flexible and axially swivelable means for coupling said stiff member between a stationary power source fitting and a cleaner. The axially flexible means includes means for resiliently biasing adjacent stiff members to an axially aligned orientation.

Automatic pool cleaner power conduit including stiff sections and resilient axially flexible couplers

A pool cleaner debris bag () having an access opening () and a closure means () operable to close the access opening () for collecting debris or open the access opening () for emptying debris from the bag (). The closure means () includes a clamp member () having clamping edges () for squeezing together bag layers () to close the access opening (). The closure means () is buoyant in water for orienting the bag to avoid impeding cleaner body () travel.

Swimming pool cleaner debris container

An automatic pool cleaner configured to be powered by a supplied positive pressure water flow including an improved propulsion subsystem for propelling the cleaner body through a swimming pool along a substantially random travel path. The subsystem includes a hydraulic valve actuator configured to use water pressure to switch a valve element mounted for reciprocal linear movement from a default state (e.g., redirect travel state) to an active state (e.g., forward travel state) and to then restore the valve element to the default state. The water pressure for controlling the actuator is selectively supplied by a direction controller which responds to regular periodic occurrences and/or irregularly occurring events such as the interruption of cleaner body motion.

Positive pressure pool cleaner propulsion subsystem

A swimming pool cleaning device includes a fluid distribution system for controlling its operation. More particularly, the distribution system includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid, a pair of outlet openings and a valve chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet openings. A piston, including a valve member, is movably mounted in the housing so as to be movable between a first position, in which the valve member closes one of the outlet openings so as to divert pressurized fluid to the other one of the outlet openings, and a second position, in which the valve member closes the other one of the outlet openings so as to divert pressurized fluid to the one of the outlet openings. A valve is provided for controlling the movement of the piston between the first and second positions. The piston has a passage extending therethrough so as to permit flow of pressurized fluid from the valve chamber to the valve.

Swimming pool cleaning apparatus and parts therefor

A method and apparatus for enabling a pool cleaner to travel through a water pool to collect dirt and other debris from the water and/or pool containment wall. The cleaner defines a suction passageway having an inlet open to pool water and an outlet adapted to be coupled via a flexible hose to the suction side of an electrically driven pump. A resulting suction flow, from the inlet to the pump, functions to (1) carry dirt and other debris to a filter and (2) to drive a turbine for propelling the cleaner. In accordance with the invention, the suction passageway inlet includes an orifice defining a physical flow area Aand configured to create an 'effective' flow area Asmaller than A, downstream from the orifice. The small effective flow area Acreates a water flow of sufficient velocity to efficiently drive the turbine whereas the larger physical flow area Apermits debris to pass more readily.

Turbine drive apparatus and method suited for suction powered swimming pool cleaner

A method and apparatus for enabling a pool cleaner () to travel through a water pool to collect dirt and other debris from the water and/or pool containment wall (). The cleaner () defines a suction passageway having an inlet () open to pool water and an outlet () adapted to be coupled via a flexible hose () to the suction side of an electrically driven pump (). A resulting suction flow, from the inlet () to the pump, functions to (1) carry dirt and other debris to a filter () and (2) to drive a turbine () for propelling the cleaner (). In accordance with the invention, the suction passageway inlet () includes an orifice defining a physical flow area Aand configured to create an 'effective' flow area Asmaller than A, downstream from the orifice. The small effective flow area Acreates a water flow of sufficient velocity to efficiently drive the turbine () whereas the larger physical flow area Apermits debris to pass more readily.

A method and apparatus responsive to a positive pressure water source ( ) for cleaning the interior surface of a pool containment wall ( ) and the upper surface ( ) of a water pool ( ) contained therein. The apparatus includes an essentially unitary cleaner body ( ) and a level control subsystem ( ) for selectively moving the body ( ) to a position either proximate to the surface ( ) of the water pool for water surface cleaning or proximate to the interior surface ( ) of the containment wall for wall surface cleaning. The cleaner body can have a weight/buoyancy characteristic to cause it to normally rest either ( ) proximate to the pool bottom adjacent to the wall surface (i.e., heavier-than-water) or ( ) proximate to the water surface (i.e. lighter-than-water).

Positive pressure automatic swimming pool cleaning system

An automatic pool cleaning system employing a unitary body configured to move through a pool to collect debris from adjacent to the pool containment wall surface and/or the pool water surface and more particularly to such systems which utilize electric power for propulsion and/or cleaning in combination with water suction power for cleaning and/or propulsion and/or electric generation.

Automatic pool cleaner system utilizing electric and suction power

A conduit assembly including a flexible elongate conduit for delivering operating power to a pool cleaner body which assembly includes multiple substantially rigid elongate buoyancy (positive or negative) members attached to the conduit for situating the conduit at a level between the pool water surface and floor surface to avoid obstructing the cleaner's movement along its travel path, whether at the water surface or at the floor surface.

Flexible power conduit for automatic pool cleaners

A system for automatically cleaning swimming pools includes a unitary body having a level control subsystem for selectively moving the body to a position either proximate to the surface of the water pool or proximate to the interior surface of the containment wall, a propulsion subsystem operable to selectively propel the body in either a forward or rearward direction, and a cleaning subsystem operable in either a water surface cleaning mode for skimming or scooping or a wall surface cleaning mode for vacuuming or sweeping. The subsystems are powered by an electric source such as solar cells and/or rechargeable batteries and/or a wire extending to the unitary body from an external power source. An alternative embodiment uses separate top and bottom units tethered together by an electric conduit.

Electric powered automatic swimming pool cleaning system

An automatic swimming pool cleaning system including a cleaner body intended to travel in a forward direction along a wall surface or on the water surface to substantially randomly traverse a swimming pool. The system includes a propulsion subsystem for producing a force to propel the body in a forward direction, a motion sensor for indicating when the velocity of the body, diminishes below a certain threshold rate, and a repositioning subsystem responsive to said motion sensor indication for producing a limited duration force to change the position of the body after which forward direction motion resumes.

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Tarzana, CA, United States of America

Melvyn L Henkin