Abstract: An automated self-propelled robotic pool cleaner having a housing and drive means for moving the pool cleaner over at least the bottom wall of a pool, is provided with an integral on-board electrochemical chlorine generator for producing chlorine from a chlorine compound, e.g., sodium chloride, that is dissolved in the pool water, a source of electrical power operatively connected to the electrochemical chlorine generator, control means for initiating and terminating the operation of the chlorine generator, and an outlet for discharging water containing chlorine ions produced by the electrochemical generator to thereby distribute the chlorine into the water proximate the exterior of the pool cleaner housing as the pool cleaner follows a programmed operational mode across the bottom and/or side walls of the pool.

Abstract: A pool cleaner includes a housing having a front, rear and adjoining side portions and a base plate having a water inlet. A pump is configured to draw water and debris from the pool through the inlet for filtering and discharge filtered water through an outlet. A pair of wheels are coupled proximate the front and rear of the housing, each of which is coupled to an opposing end of an axle, each opposing end of the axle being slidably moveable along the housing in a forward and rearward directional path of the cleaner in response to a steering assembly. An on-board controller includes memory for storing a cleaning program, and a processor electrically coupled to the memory to execute the cleaning program to automatically control the steering assembly to position each end of the axles to steer the cleaner while it is moving in a forward or reverse direction.

Abstract: A base plate for a self-propelled robotic cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank. The base plate includes a bottom surface and a water inlet formed therethrough, and an inlet extension member configured to mount in the water inlet. The inlet extension member is slidably retractable and extendable in a direction that is normal relative to the bottom surface of the base plate. A height adjustment mechanism is coupled to the inlet extension member and configured to move the inlet extension member upwardly and downwardly in the normal direction relative to the bottom surface of the base plate. The height adjustment mechanism can be adjusted manually. Alternatively, at least one sensor is operably coupled to a controller to automatically control the height adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A pool cleaner includes a housing having a front, rear and adjoining side portions and a base plate having a water inlet. A pump is configured to draw water and debris from the pool through the inlet for filtering and discharge filtered water through an outlet. A pair of wheels are coupled proximate the front and rear of the housing, each of which is coupled to an opposing end of an axle, each opposing end of the axle being slidably moveable along the housing in a forward and rearward directional path of the cleaner in response to a steering assembly. An on-board controller includes memory for storing a cleaning program, and a processor electrically coupled to the memory to execute the cleaning program to automatically control the steering assembly to position each end of the axles to steer the cleaner while it is moving in a forward or reverse direction.

Abstract: A pool cleaner device is configured to travel along an enclosing surface of a pool. The device includes at least one elongated brush having a long axis that is oriented at a nonzero angle to a lateral axis of the device and substantially parallel to the surface when the pool cleaner is traveling along the surface. The device also includes a mechanism for causing bristles of the elongated brush to vibrate against the surface when the device is operating on that surface.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing and drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of a salt water pool to be cleaned includes an electrochemical chlorine generator assembly mounted in the housing having an electrochemical cell that is manually releasable from its mounting system in order to permit the cell to be safely secured in place inside the housing for operation and manually removed when necessary for maintenance, repair or replacement by the user without special tools or training.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor/controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water.

Abstract: A pool cleaning apparatus for cleaning the bottom and sidewalls of a swimming pool has an exterior housing through which water is circulated and at least one source of water-sterilizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the form of a straight, circular and/or curvilinear tube that is positioned on the interior of the housing so that the amount of any bacteria in the water circulated past the UV radiation source is reduced.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor/controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor/controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor/controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water.

Abstract: A pool cleaning apparatus for cleaning the bottom and sidewalls of a swimming pool has an exterior housing through which water is circulated and at least one source of water-sterilizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the form of a straight,—circular and/or curvilinear tube that is positioned on the interior of the housing so that the amount of any bacteria in the water circulated past the UV radiation source is reduced.

Abstract: A stable, portable floating electronic platform is provided to enable wireless communications with at least one remote cellular phone while the platform is floating in a recreational water environment, such as a swimming pool or spa. The floating electronic platform includes a buoyant water-resistant housing having a lower portion that floats in the recreational water environment, and an upper surface that defines a sealed enclosure. The housing is configured with at least one water-resistant electronic device and adapted to provide power to each electronic device. The at least one water-resistant electronic device includes a wireless communications apparatus that is adapted to provide communications with one or more remotely located cellular phones within wireless communications range of the platform.

Abstract: A submersible robotic pool cleaner is provided with an integral sealed rechargeable battery and an inductive charging assembly, a first portion of which is mounted in the pool cleaner housing and during the charging, receives a second separate portion that is connected by a cable to a conventional power source. The pump motor drive shaft is treated with a specialized anti-friction lubricant composition to minimize frictional energy losses where the shaft contacts the seal(s) and any shaft bearing(s), to maximize efficiency and minimize the power consumption of the pump motor assembly and permit the pool cleaner to completely traverse the surfaces to be cleaned within the fully-charged power capacity of the battery.

Abstract: A portable battery-powered ozone generator, or ozonator, contained in a waterproof housing with an air intake and an ozone discharge conduit diffuses ozone directly into a body of water in a pool, pond or tank. The ozone generator and housing can be part of (1) a buoyant floating platform that is also equipped with solar power collector panels to provide a recharging current for the battery; (2) a robotic, self-propelled pool cleaner; or (3) a skimmer filter assembly that can include a solar panel under a solar transmissive cover that is flush mounted in the walk area alongside the pool.

Abstract: A stable, portable floating electronic platform is provided to enable wireless communications with at least one remote cellular phone while the platform is floating in a recreational water environment, such as a swimming pool or spa. The floating electronic platform includes a buoyant water-resistant housing having a lower portion that floats in the recreational water environment, and an upper surface that defines a sealed enclosure. The housing is configured with at least one water-resistant electronic device and adapted to provide power to each electronic device. The at least one water-resistant electronic device includes a wireless communications apparatus that is adapted to provide communications with one or more remotely located cellular phones within wireless communications range of the platform.

Abstract: A stable, manually portable floating electronic platform for use in pools and spas is equipped with recesses for receiving beverage containers and is equipped with any of a variety of electronic audio/visual entertainment devices that are powered by an on-board battery, or a remote rechargeable battery or a conventional remote low-voltage power supply unit via a power cable. Solar power collector panels on the platform provide a recharging current to on-board or remote batteries via a power cable.

Abstract: A locomotive element to be incorporated in an underwater device propelled on a supporting surface along a predetermined axis of motion. The locomotive element comprises at least one resilient surface that can be rolled on the supporting surface. The resilient surface has a plurality of flow-through passages substantially perpendicular to the axis of motion.

Abstract: An automated self-propelled robotic pool cleaner having a housing and drive means for moving the pool cleaner over at least the bottom wall of a pool, is provided with an integral on-board electrochemical chlorine generator for producing chlorine from a chlorine compound, e.g., sodium chloride, that is dissolved in the pool water, a source of electrical power operatively connected to the electrochemical chlorine generator, control means for initiating and terminating the operation of the chlorine generator, and an outlet for discharging water containing chlorine ions produced by the electrochemical generator to thereby distribute the chlorine into the water proximate the exterior of the pool cleaner housing as the pool cleaner follows a programmed operational mode across the bottom and/or side walls of the pool.

Abstract: A submersible robotic pool cleaner is provided with an integral sealed rechargeable battery and an inductive charging assembly, a first portion of which is mounted in the pool cleaner housing and during the charging, receives a second separate portion that is connected by a cable to a conventional power source. The pump motor drive shaft is treated with a specialized anti-friction lubricant composition to minimize frictional energy losses where the shaft contacts the seal(s) and any shaft bearing(s), to maximize efficiency and minimize the power consumption of the pump motor assembly and permit the pool cleaner to completely traverse the surfaces to be cleaned within the fully-charged power capacity of the battery.