The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 22, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 14, 2008
Patrick Hernandez, Converse, TX (US);
Patrick Hernandez, Converse, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
A device for skimming the surface of the water in a swimming pool or the like, in a single, generally sweeping motion and thereby collecting most all of the debris floating on or near the surface of the pool into one spot where it may be lifted and removed from the pool. The system incorporates a long rectangular section of netting that is wound onto a cylindrical reel and contained on a vertically oriented cylindrical axel. The cylindrical axel and reel are mounted by brackets or weights to the side of the pool. The cylindrically wound netting may be drawn out from the fixed cylinder mounted on the side of the pool through a slot in a pivoting debris deflector positioned on the same cylindrical axel. One end of the long rectangular section of netting may be fixed to a second smaller cylinder or pipe which serves to keep the net from being drawn completely into the enclosure comprising the cylindrical reel. A handle may be inserted into the smaller cylinder or pipe to allow the user to withdraw the end of the net from the cylinder and direct the extension of the net out around the edge of the pool in a progressive fashion. As the long rectangular net is extended and the end is carried about the edge of the pool, debris collects to a single point as the end of the net is finally brought back to the fixed cylindrical reel location. The cylindrical device is positioned so as to extend vertically across the horizontal water line in the pool in such a manner that some part of the net extends below the water while some part of the net extends above. The cylindrical reel is preferably spring loaded, such that as the net is withdrawn, spring tension tends to hold and draw the net back as the end progresses about the edge of the pool. Various stops and cleaning mechanisms positioned on the debris deflector component of the cylindrical reel facilitate the collection of debris and prevent the debris from being pulled into the cylindrical reel upon retraction of the net.