Patents by Inventor Philippe Pichon

Philippe Pichon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8997293
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface; a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has: a liquid inlet; a liquid outlet; a hydraulic circuit for the flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through a filtering device, wherein the filtering device includes a filtering casing which is removably mounted in the filtration chamber and which can be inserted into and removed from the filtration chamber in one piece, and the filtering casing has at least a lower end which opens at the base of the body and which constitutes a liquid inlet into the body of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Publication number: 20140251884
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface which is immersed in a liquid, comprising a hollow body, guiding and driving members, a filtration chamber in the hollow body, at least one liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet out of the hollow body, at least one axial pumping propeller, a single reversible electric motor whose drive shaft, in order to move it, is simultaneously mechanically connected to at least one motorized member and to each pumping propeller. In a first rotation direction of the drive shaft, each motorized member is driven in a forward direction, and each pumping propeller generates the flow of liquid in the normal direction ensuring the cleaning of the immersed surface. In a second rotation direction of the drive shaft, each motorized member is driven in a backward direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 8763187
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface which is immersed in a liquid, comprising a hollow body, guiding and driving members, a filtration chamber in the hollow body, at least one liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet out of the hollow body, at least one axial pumping propeller, a single reversible electric motor whose drive shaft, in order to move it, is simultaneously mechanically connected to at least one motorized member and to each pumping propeller. In a first rotation direction of the drive shaft, each motorized member is driven in a forward direction, and each pumping propeller generates the flow of liquid in the normal direction ensuring the cleaning of the immersed surface. In a second rotation direction of the drive shaft, each motorized member is driven in a backward direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 8702980
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface which is immersed in a liquid, comprising a hollow body, guiding members defining at least one axle, a filtration chamber, at least one electric motor, a pumping device which creates, in a normal cleaning direction through a filtering device, a liquid flux which is discharged via at least one main outlet, and at least one secondary liquid outlet arranged so as to orientate a current of liquid which is discharged in a backward direction via this secondary outlet so that this current creates a secondary hydraulic reaction force which generates a nosing-up torque of the apparatus by the hollow body being pivoted about the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur, Philippe Pichon
  • Publication number: 20140076791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cleaning an immersed surface comprising a hollow body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface; a filtration chamber which is provided in the hollow body and which has: a liquid inlet; a liquid outlet; a hydraulic circuit for the flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through a filtering device (11), wherein the filtering device (11) comprises a filtering casing (49, 55) which is removably mounted in the filtration chamber and which can be inserted into/removed from the filtration chamber in one piece, and the filtering casing (49, 55) has at least a lower end which opens at the base of the hollow body and which constitutes a liquid inlet into the hollow body of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8627533
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface, including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface, a filtration chamber which has a liquid inlet in the body located at the base of the body, at least one liquid outlet out of the body, a hydraulic circuit for flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through a filtering device, wherein it includes: at least one rear outlet, and a rigid wall which is arranged in the filtering device and which extends in a direction which is non-parallel with at least one direction which connects an inlet and an outlet in order to form an obstacle to the flow of liquid from this inlet to this outlet which brings about a swirling flow of liquid in the filtering device downstream of this rigid wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8615836
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface; a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has: a liquid inlet; a liquid outlet; a hydraulic circuit for the flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through a filtering device, wherein the filtering device includes a filtering casing which is removably mounted in the filtration chamber and which can be inserted into and removed from the filtration chamber in one piece, and the filtering casing has at least a lower end which opens at the base of the body and which constitutes a liquid inlet into the body of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8595880
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface comprising a hollow body; rolling members; a filtration chamber which is provided in the hollow body; a motorized pumping device configured for generating a flow of liquid between a liquid inlet (9) and a liquid outlet which are connected, wherein it comprises a directional flux guide (91) which is mounted for rotation on a liquid outlet (10) about an axis of rotation and which has a shape configured for orientating the current of liquid which is discharged via this propulsion outlet (10) through this flux guide (91) so that it creates, by means of reaction, in the region of an outlet of the flux guide, forces whose resultant has a non-zero drive component of the apparatus parallel with the immersed surface; an actuator for rotatably driving said flux guide (91); and a unit for controlling said actuator for rotatably driving said flux guide (91).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Publication number: 20130133145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface comprising a hollow body (1), a guiding and driving device (2, 11, 14) for guiding and moving the hollow body (1) over the immersed surface, said hollow body (1) having a base (3) immediately facing immersed surface, at least one liquid inlet (4), at least one member protruding from the base of the hollow body towards the immersed surface, wherein it comprises, immediately in front of a protruding member (7), in a movement direction of the hollow body (1), at least one member, called an anti-blocking member (6), which can rotate about a rotation axis (10) which is fixed in relation to said protruding member (7), said anti-blocking member (6) being provided in order to be able to roll over an obstacle of the immersed surface, and to drive said protruding member (7) in movement so as to overcome the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8438684
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface which is immersed in a liquid, comprising a hollow body, members which are integral with the hollow body and which come into contact with the immersed surface, a filtration chamber, at least one electric motor which is carried by the hollow body, and a control unit which is configured to control the motor. For at least one movement configuration of the apparatus, at least one non-steering non-driving rolling member in contact with the immersed surface is arranged relative to the instantaneous drive orientation so as to apply a gyration torque of the apparatus only due to such an arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 8397331
    Abstract: Detailed is a cleaner apparatus for a submerged surface including a body and at least one liquid inlet at the base of the body, characterized in that it includes at least one accelerating protuberance extending toward the submerged surface while maintaining a height of liquid, and extending, with respect of a forward travel direction of the apparatus, in front of an adjacent liquid inlet while maintaining the passage cross section of the liquid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio, Robert Rey
  • Patent number: 8397330
    Abstract: Detailed is a rolling device for cleaning an immersed surface, including at least one front drive rolling member and a hydraulic circuit which has at least one liquid outlet which is orientated towards the rear, and which is capable of creating a flow of liquid which is discharged from each rear outlet in order to create a hydraulic reaction force, and which has a longitudinal component for driving the device forwards which is not equal to zero and whose value is adapted to create a pressure torque for each front drive rolling member the immersed surface and, alone, to move the device forwards when it is immersed and when each front drive rolling member is lifted from the immersed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8393030
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface, a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a hydraulic circuit for flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through a filtering device, wherein the filtering device includes an opening which is in communication with the liquid inlet and, for filtering and recovering debris, a space which is delimited by filtering walls and which extends towards the liquid outlet, the space having a regular cross-section which decreases from the opening towards the liquid outlet in order to form a convergent chamber for tangential filtration of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8393035
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface in a main direction of advance; a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has: a liquid inlet conduit which extends inside the body and which has a lower end which forms a liquid inlet and an opposing upper end which opens into a filtering device; a liquid outlet out of the body; a hydraulic circuit for the flow of liquid between the inlet and the liquid outlet through the filtering device, wherein the inlet conduit has a regular cross-section whose surface-area varies from the lower end thereof up to a maximum value at the upper end thereof which opens in the filtering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8393033
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body; members for driving the body; a filtration chamber which has: a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet; a filtering device which is removably mounted in the filtration chamber; a hydraulic circuit for the flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through the filtering device; an axial pumping propeller which is interposed in the hydraulic circuit; a flap for access to the filtering device, wherein the pumping propeller is orientated in order to generate a liquid flow with a horizontal component towards the rear, the outlet being opposite the propeller; the pumping motor is arranged below the hydraulic circuit; the access flap is arranged at the top and/or towards the front of the hydraulic circuit in order to allow the filtering device to be disassembled via the top and/or towards the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8394266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling cleaner apparatus for a submerged surface, comprising rolling drive members, at least one motor (20a, 20b) for driving at least one rolling drive member, a filtration chamber formed in the hollow body and having a liquid inlet into the hollow body, a liquid outlet from the hollow body, a hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet through a filtering device, a motorized pumping device (12) designed to generate a flow of liquid between each liquid inlet and each liquid outlet, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (90) designed to modulate the flow of liquid circulating between each liquid inlet and each liquid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8393029
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body, members for driving this body over the immersed surface in a longitudinal direction, including a wheel, a device for brushing the immersed surface, a mechanism for rotating the brushing device about a brushing axis, wherein the driving mechanism of the brushing device includes: an internally toothed ring which is fixedly joined to a wheel, a brush pinion which is fixedly joined to the brushing device and which is engaged in the ring of this drive wheel in such a manner that a rotation of this drive wheel brings about a rotation of the brushing device about the brushing axis thereof in the same rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8393036
    Abstract: Detailed is an apparatus for cleaning a surface which is immersed in a liquid including a body, guiding members defining at least one axle, a filtration chamber, at least one electric drive motor, a control unit which is configured to control each drive motor in at least one direction at a speed selected from: at least a first speed at which the apparatus is in a first movement position in accordance with a first predetermined trajectory, at least a second more rapid speed at which the apparatus is in a second nosed-up movement position in accordance with a second predetermined trajectory which is different from the first trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Philippe Blanc-Tailleur, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 8393031
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface; a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has: a liquid inlet; a liquid outlet; a hydraulic circuit for flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet through a filtering device, wherein the filtering device includes a first filtering shell which extends towards the rear of the body, from a front opening; a second shell which is fitted to the first shell at the front thereof, these shells being able to be fitted together so as to form an integral filtering casing; in which case the second shell closes the front opening of the first shell, with the exception of a liquid inlet passage; the two shells being able to be separated from each other by disengaging the front opening of the first shell which acts as an opening for emptying this shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8393032
    Abstract: Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body and members for driving the body over the immersed surface, a filtration chamber which is provided in the body and which has: a liquid inlet located at the base of the body; a liquid outlet arranged opposite the base of the body; a hydraulic circuit for flow of liquid between this liquid inlet and this liquid outlet through a filtering device; a liquid pumping device including a pumping motor which has a rotating drive shaft which is coupled to a pumping propeller which is interposed in the hydraulic circuit, wherein the liquid outlet is longitudinally offset from the liquid inlet and the pumping propeller has an inclined rotation axis which forms, with the longitudinal direction, an angle which is not equal to zero and which is different from 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio