VACUUM HEAD FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES
An improved vacuum head is defined by upper and lower sub-housings that are secured together to form the vacuum head assembly. A set of spherical balls are captured in appropriately sized ball-receiving pockets or sockets formed between the upper and lower sub-housings to support the vacuum head assembly a selected distance above the surface being swept. The ball-receiving sockets include a “stand-off” formation to minimize the probability of a ball-receiving socket becoming clogged with debris sufficient to the impair the ability of the ball to roll within its ball-receiving chamber. The use of balls as the rolling members allows omnidirectional control of the vacuum head while minimizing the propensity for disturbing the debris in the vicinity of the vacuum head and the formation of a undesired water-borne “cloud” of debris. The perimeter edges of the vacuum head are radiused to provide a low-resistance flow path to the underside of vacuum head to also allow the vacuum head to pull any water-borne debris from areas above the vacuum head in addition to vacuuming debris on the pool surface beneath the vacuum head.
This application claims the benefit of earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/760,394 filed Jan. 20, 2006 by the applicants herein, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to vacuum heads of the type used to vacuum debris from the surfaces of swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, and the like and, more particularly, to such vacuum heads having improved operational efficiency and ease of use.
Known vacuum heads typically include pivoting caster-type wheels, non-pivoting rollers, and/or bristle assemblies to support the vacuum head a selected distance above the surface being swept. One problem with existing designs is the propensity for the wheels, rollers, and/or bristles to disturb the debris such that a water-borne “cloud” of debris is created or formed above the vacuum head thereby limiting the efficiency of the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn improved vacuum head is defined by upper and lower sub-housings that are secured together to form the vacuum head assembly. A set of spherical balls are captured in appropriately sized ball-receiving pockets or sockets formed between the upper and lower sub-housings to support the vacuum head assembly a selected distance above the surface being swept. The ball-receiving sockets include a “stand-off” formation to minimize the probability of a ball-receiving socket becoming clogged with debris sufficient to the impair the ability of the ball to roll within its ball-receiving socket. The use of balls as the rolling members allows omnidirectional control of the vacuum head while minimizing the propensity for disturbing the debris in the vicinity of the vacuum head and the formation of a undesired water-borne “cloud” of debris. The peripheral edges of the vacuum head are radiused to provide a low-resistance flow path to the underside of vacuum head to also allow the vacuum head to pull any water-borne debris from areas above or immediately adjacent the vacuum head in addition to vacuuming debris on the pool surface beneath the vacuum head.
The full scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference characters.
An exemplary embodiment of a vacuum head is shown in perspective view in
In the preferred embodiment, the upper piece-part 26 is formed from a corrosion-resistant metal (i.e., stainless or stain-resistant steel) that provides sufficient negative buoyancy to the assembled vacuum head to allow convenient use while the lower piece-part 28 is fabricated from a suitably molded plastic or similar material. If desired, the upper piece-part 26 can be formed from plastic and the lower piece-part 28 from metal, or, alternatively, both the upper piece-part 26 and the lower piece part 28 can include both molded plastic and metal sub-components to provide equivalent functionality. While the use of metal components is desirable, a vacuum head fabricated entirely of plastic materials is equally suited. While threaded fasteners and threaded inserts are shown in the figures, self-tapping screws and other types of fasteners, including more permanent rivets, can be used to attach or secure the upper and lower piece-parts.
As shown in
As shown in the expanded detail of
As can be appreciated from
The ball-elements 24 can be formed from any suitable material including high-density polyethylene, nylon, delrin, ultra-high molecular weight plastics, etc.; metals, such as stainless and stain-resistant steels, are not excluded.
As shown by reference character 44 in
As shown on the left in
In the embodiment shown above, the socket 34 that receives the ball element 24 is defined between the upper and lower piece-parts, 26 and 28. As shown in
A further variant of the upper piece-part is shown in
In the embodiments described above, a single stand-off has been presented, as can be appreciated, plural stand-offs, including a stand-off or stand-off in positions other than shown in the figures, are not excluded.
The embodiments shown in the figures have a principally triangular planform; as can be appreciated, other forms are suitable including, for example, a round or ellipsoidal planform, a square or rectangular planform with one or more sides thereof radiused as appropriate (as exemplified in dotted-line illustration form in
While each of the embodiment described above include some type of stand-off or stand-off like formation, it may also be desirable to fabricate the embodiments without a stand-off, as shown in
The vacuum head 10 in accordance with the present design allows supported omnidirectional movement while minimizing and/or eliminating the probability of debris impeding the operation of the ball-elements 24 and providing a flow pattern that also draws water from those areas in which debris clouds are known to form during the debris sweeping operation.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as determined in the appended claims and their legal equivalent.
Claims
1. A vacuum head for pool vacuuming comprising:
- a vacuum head having a water outlet and having a water inlet side with a water inlet in fluid communication with said water outlet,
- at least two spheroid or spheroidal-like elements for supporting said vacuum head, each of said spheroid or spheroidal-like elements having at least a portion thereof extending from the water inlet side to space said vacuum head a selected distance from a surface being vacuumed, each spheroid or spheroidal-like element contained within a respective receiving structure for omnirotational movement, the receiving structure including a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the receiving structure and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
2. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head includes structure defining a respective socket for receiving a respective spheroid or spheroidal-like element at least partially therein, said socket including a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the socket and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
3. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head includes structure for receiving a respective holder assembly, the holder assembly having a spheroid or spheroidal-like element at least partially contained therein, said holder assembly including a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the holder assembly structure and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
4. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head structure defines a respective socket for receiving a respective spheroid or spheroidal-like element at least partially therein, said socket portion at least including intersecting ribs having a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the intersecting ribs and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
5. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a first piece-part and a second piece-part assembled together to form a body portion; said first piece-part having a respective socket portion for receiving a respective spheroid or spheroidal-like element at least partially therein, said socket portion including a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the receiving structure and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
6. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a first piece-part and a second piece-part assembled together to form a body portion; said first piece-part having a portion for receiving a respective holder assembly having a spheroid or spheroidal-like element at least partially contained therein, said holder assembly including a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the holder assembly structure and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
7. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a first piece-part and a second piece-part assembled together to form a body portion; said first piece-part having a respective socket portion for receiving a respective spheroid or spheroidal-like element at least partially therein, said socket portion at least including intersecting ribs having a stand-off portion to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of the intersecting ribs and the surface of said spheroid or spheroidal-like element.
8. The vacuum head of claim 1, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a body portion having a perimeter surface, at least a portion of said perimeter surface defining a curved surface sufficient to induce a Coanda effect when water flows about said perimeter surface toward and to said water inlet.
9. The vacuum head of claim 1, further comprising:
- means for attaching said vacuum head to a handle to effect manual manipulation thereof
10. A vacuum head for pool vacuuming comprising:
- a vacuum head having a water outlet and having a water inlet side with a water inlet in fluid communication with said water outlet,
- a plurality of ball elements for supporting said vacuum head, each of said elements having at least a portion thereof extending from the water inlet side to space said vacuum head a selected distance from a surface being vacuumed;
- a respective means for receiving a respective ball element for omnirotational movement;
- a stand-off portion associated with each means for receiving to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of said means for receiving and the surface of said ball element.
11. The vacuum head of claim 10, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a body portion having a perimeter surface, at least a portion of said perimeter surface defining a curved surface sufficient to induce a Coanda effect when water flows about said perimeter surface toward and to said water inlet.
12. The vacuum head of claim 10, further comprising:
- means for attaching said vacuum head to a handle to effect manual manipulation thereof.
13. The vacuum head of claim 10, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a first piece-part and a second piece-part assembled together to form a body portion.
14. A vacuum head for pool vacuuming comprising:
- a vacuum head having a water outlet and having a water inlet side with a water inlet in fluid communication with said water outlet,
- a plurality of ball elements for supporting said vacuum head, each of said elements having at least a portion thereof extending from the water inlet side to space said vacuum head a selected distance from a surface being vacuumed;
- a respective means for receiving a respective ball element for omnirotational movement;
- the vacuum head defined by a body portion having a perimeter surface, at least a portion of said perimeter surface defining a curved surface sufficient to induce a Coanda effect when water flows about said perimeter surface toward and to said water inlet.
15. The vacuum head of claim 14, further comprising a stand-off portion associated with each means for receiving to maintain a selected clearance between a portion of said means for receiving and the surface of said ball element.
16. The vacuum head of claim 15, wherein said vacuum head is defined by a first piece-part and a second piece-part assembled together to form a body portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2006
Publication Date: Jul 26, 2007
Inventors: Steven L. Hanvey (Huntsville, AL), Jack W. Eddy (Athens, AL)
Application Number: 11/612,624
International Classification: E04H 4/16 (20060101);