Patents by Inventor Sanford F. Campbell

Sanford F. Campbell 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: 7726342
    Abstract: A backup valve for use with a pool cleaner coupled to a source of water under pressure. The valve includes a housing having an inlet and at least a first outlet and a second outlet. The valve further includes a timing apparatus directing water from said inlet to the first outlet or the second outlet. In addition, an adjustable flow controller over the second outlet is provided to increase the flow speed of fluid exiting the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Suresh C Gopalan
  • Publication number: 20090025812
    Abstract: A backup valve for use with a pool cleaner coupled to a source of water under pressure. The valve includes a housing having an inlet and at least a first outlet and a second outlet. The valve further includes a timing apparatus directing water from said inlet to the first outlet or the second outlet. In addition, an adjustable flow controller over the second outlet is provided to increase the flow speed of fluid exiting the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Suresh C. Gopalan
  • Patent number: 7373948
    Abstract: A backup valve for use with a pool cleaner coupled to a source of water under pressure. The valve includes a housing having an inlet and at least a first outlet and a second outlet. The valve further includes a timing apparatus directing water from said inlet to the first outlet or the second outlet. In addition, an adjustable flow controller over the second outlet is provided to increase the flow speed of fluid exiting the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Suresh C. Gopalan
  • Patent number: 6802963
    Abstract: A pool cleaner debris bag includes a body having a debris collection cavity, an upper end and a lower end, the lower end coupled to the pool cleaner to receive debris from the pool ejected by the cleaner into the bag. The bag further includes a float positioned outside the debris collection region of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20040089593
    Abstract: A pool cleaner debris bag includes a body having a debris collection cavity, an upper end and a lower end, the lower end coupled to the pool cleaner to receive debris from the pool ejected by the cleaner into the bag. The bag further includes a float positioned outside the debris collection region of the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6625833
    Abstract: A pool cleaner includes a cleaning body adapted to be coupled to a suction source, a foot pad assembly coupled to the elongate member, and at least one deflection member coupled to the foot pad assembly by an adjustable coupling. The deflection member may be configured both horizontally and vertically relative to the cleaning body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Suresh Cherulassery Gopalan
  • Patent number: 6423217
    Abstract: A suction cleaner comprising a water intake inlet configured to be positioned on an inner surface of a pool and at least one elongate member coupled to the water intake inlet. The elongate member has a generally cylindrical shape with an interior surface and at least one corkscrew edge positioned on the interior surface of the elongate member and in communication with the water intake inlet. The interior surface configured to generate a vortex effect on fluid flowing though the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Suresh Cherulassery Gopalan
  • Patent number: 6379542
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a surface of a pool submerged in a liquid. The apparatus comprises an elongated cleaning body adapted to migrate across said surface and having a top portion and a bottom portion, a track positioned at the top of the cleaning body, and a ball bearing weight member sealed in the track and having the ability to roll from the first end of the track to the second end of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6193885
    Abstract: A pool cleaner debris bag comprising a body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end coupled to the pool cleaner to receive debris from the pool ejected by the cleaner into the bag, and a float positioned in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6158464
    Abstract: A backup valve for use with a pool cleaner coupled to a source of water under pressure, comprising: a housing having an inlet and at least one outlet; and a pressure inducing apparatus in the inlet to direct the flow of water into the housing at a greater pressure than that supplied by the water supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Daniel D. Caris
  • Patent number: 6099091
    Abstract: A drive wheel, having a cylindrical surface positioned at a radius from the center of the drive wheel, and a plurality of suction cup members disposed in a spaced apart relationship on the cylindrical surface, useful in a pressurized pool cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6035879
    Abstract: An improved automatic fill valve assembly that is readily securable in a level position for installation and that has inlets adapted to accept either a toilet tank fill valve or a float type valve inside of the housing of the fill valve assembly. One improvement comprises a flange that defines at least one anchor point so that the entire assembly can be secured in place to an adjacent structure during installation. This arrangement advantageously holds the automatic fill valve assembly in a level position while workers pour cement around it. Another improvement comprises the provision of inlets that can be connected to a water source and are adapted to mount either a float valve assembly or a toilet tank fill valve inside of the fill valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Robert E. Jones, James P. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6003184
    Abstract: An improved swimming pool cleaner of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises a frame and associated housing through which a suction mast extends with a collection bag mounted at the upper end thereof. First and second wheels are mounted for rotation on a common axis on opposite sides of the housing forwardly of the suction mast, and third and fourth wheels are mounted for rotation on a common axis on opposite sides of the housing rearwardly of the suction mast. The first and second wheels are driven by a water-powered drive train within the housing, and the third and fourth wheels are mounted for freewheeling rotation. A forward end of an upper surface of the housing has a substantially linear sloping portion to reduce the tendency of the cleaner to lift off the submerged surfaces of the swimming pool as the first and second wheels propel the cleaner in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Robert E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5933899
    Abstract: A pool cleaner operating with a pool cleaning system which is not equipped with a booster pump. The apparatus may comprise a frame having a forward end and a rearward end with a water inlet mounted on the frame and receiving a supply of water having a volume per unit time. The inlet may comprise a supply mast having a number of openings for supplying water to the various components of the cleaner. The frame is carried on a plurality of transport wheels mounted on the frame. The apparatus further includes a vacuum system including a collection bag positioned on a suction mast having water injection ports positioned such that at least one opening in the water injection port injects water into the collection bag to create suction and draw debris into the bag. A drive system is provided to move the apparatus around the pool. The drive system includes a turbine having a plurality of vanes rotating and mounted in a turbine housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Bret Martin
  • Patent number: 5893188
    Abstract: An improved swimming pool cleaner of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises a frame and associated housing through which a suction mast extends with a collection bag mounted at the upper end thereof. First and second wheels are mounted for rotation on a common axis on opposite sides of the housing forwardly of the suction mast, and third and fourth wheels are mounted for rotation on a common axis on opposite sides of the housing rearwardly of the suction mast. The first and second wheels are driven by a water-powered drive train within the housing, and the third and fourth wheels are mounted for freewheeling rotation. A forward end of an upper surface of the housing has a substantially linear sloping portion to reduce the tendency of the cleaner to lift off the submerged surfaces of the swimming pool as the first and second wheels propel the cleaner in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Robert E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5603135
    Abstract: An improved automatic pool cleaner of the type having a frame and a supply mast fastened thereto at a lower end, in which a first fastener portion located adjacent to the lower end of the supply mast is removably engageable with a second fastener portion located on the frame. Because the first fastener portion is removably engageable with the second fastener portion, a broken supply mast can be easily separated from the frame and a new supply mast easily installed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Jones, Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: D471330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: D489150
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: D379693
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanford F. Campbell, Robert E. Jones
  • Patent number: D421512
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell