Pool Cleaner Cover

Abstract

A pool cleaner cover for use with a pool vacuum includes a body portion having a top wall and a continuous side wall extending downwardly from the top wall such that the cover body defines an interior area, the side wall including a lower rim that defines an open bottom allowing access to the interior area. The top wall defines an aperture providing access to the interior area. A mounting portion having a tubular configuration is situated in the interior area and has upper and lower open ends. The upper end extends upwardly through the aperture and is configured to selectively receive a lower end of a pool vacuum hose. The lower end is situated in the interior area and configured to connect to a hose coupling of a pool vacuum.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/519,482, filed Mar. 5, 2015, and titled “Pool Toy,” now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to pool cleaning equipment and accessories and, more particularly, to a pool cleaner cover that quickly and easily attaches to a pool vacuum device and then interfaces the vacuum device with a pool cleaning hose.

Residential, commercial, and community swimming pools are very popular. It is well known that maintaining proper sanitation in every swimming pool environment is very important and many pools are cleaned daily. Pool sanitation is typically performed manually with a skimmer tool or, on a larger scale, with partially or fully automated electrically powered pool sanitation devices. In the case of electrically powered vacuum devices, a vacuum hose connected to the vacuum device dislodges and collects pool impurities from the pool walls or floor which are then transported by suction through a hose for disposal.

Although pool vacuum devices are presumably effective for their intended purposes, these devices are often very unsightly when stored near a pool and even when in use nearby. Some commercial pool vacuums may even be intimidating and scary to young people. In addition, a pool vacuum device may become damaged as other items may get stored atop the cleaner or through accidental impacts.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a pool cleaner cover that is removably coupled to a pool vacuum device, that is an interface between a pool suction hose and the pool vacuum device, and which provides an embellishment to the physical appearance of the cleaning device. In addition, it would be desirable to have a pool cleaner cover that protects an underlying/covered vacuum device from damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pool cleaner cover for use with a pool vacuum according to the present invention includes a body portion having a top wall and a continuous side wall extending downwardly from the top wall such that the cover body defines an interior area, the side wall including a lower rim that defines an open bottom allowing access to the interior area. The top wall defines an aperture providing access to the interior area. A mounting portion having a tubular configuration is situated in the interior area and has upper and lower open ends. The upper end extends upwardly through the aperture and is configured to selectively receive a lower end of a pool vacuum hose. The lower end is situated in the interior area and configured to connect to a hose coupling of a pool vacuum. As impurities are collected by the vacuum device, they are transported through the cleaner hose for disposal.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a pool cleaner cover that selectively surrounds a traditional pool vacuum device and interfaces the pool vacuum device with a vacuum hose.

Another object of this invention is to provide the pool cleaner cover, as aforesaid, that protects the pool vacuum device and changes its exterior appearance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide the pool cleaner cover, as aforesaid, that simulates a sea creature swimming in a swimming pool.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a pool cleaner cover that is easy to attach and release from a pool vacuum device.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool cleaner cover in use adjacent a pool vacuum device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pool cleaner cover as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a top view of the pool cleaner cover as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along line 3b-3b of FIG. 3a; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pool cleaner cover engaged with the pool vacuum as in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A pool cleaner cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. The pool cleaner cover 10 includes a body portion 20 and a mounting portion 30.

The body portion 20 includes a top wall 22 and a side wall 26 extending downwardly from the top wall. The side wall 26 may have a continuous configuration—meaning, the side wall 26 may be circular or cylindrical although in other embodiments the side wall 26 may include a plurality of walls having rectangular configurations extending downwardly. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the top wall 22 has a domed or curved configuration although a generally flat or other configuration would also work.

Together, the top wall 22 and side wall 26 define a hollow interior area. The side wall 26 includes a lower rim 27 that defines an open bottom to the body portion 20 and that provides access to the interior area from a bottom direction. The top wall 22 defines an aperture 24 that provides access to the interior area from a top direction. Preferably, the walls of the body portion 20 are constructed of a durable material, such as a hard plastic material like polyvinylcarbonate (PVC). A durable construction enables the body portion 20 to protect a pool vacuum device 6 from damage as will be described more fully later.

A plurality of arms 28 may be coupled to the body portion 20 adjacent the lower rim 27 and extend outwardly, the plurality of arms 28 being distributed adjacent one another radially about the lower rim 27 (FIG. 1). Each arm 28 may have an elongate configuration and may be linear or of irregular shape and indicative of the arms or tentacles of a real or mythical sea creature, e.g. an octopus. The arms 28 may also be referred to as ornaments in that they serve primarily to give the body portion 20 an appearance indicative of a mythical character, cartoon character, animal, astronomical figure, astrological figure, sea creature, or the like. As shown in the figures, the plurality of arms 28 are indicative of an octopus and include suction cups 29 spaced apart along a lower surface thereof. Written or graphical indicia may be imprinted on the body portion 20 to further enhance its appearance as a character or animal.

The lower rim 27 and the side wall 26 of the body portion 20 include an inner diameter that is greater than a diameter of an outer body of a pool vacuum device 6 such that the body portion 20 may be selectively received upon the pool vacuum device 6. More particularly, the interior area is dimensionally adequate to receive substantially the entirety of the pool vacuum device housing therein. Stated still another way, the body portion 20 completely surrounds the pool vacuum device 6 when lowered on top thereof.

The pool cleaner cover 10 includes a mounting portion 30 that is configured to couple the body portion 20 to the vacuum device 6. As described below, the mounting portion 30 is an interface between a pool vacuum hose 8 and a pool vacuum device 6. The mounting portion 30 includes a tubular configuration having an upper end 32 and an opposed lower end 34, both ends having open configurations. In an embodiment, the mounting portion 30 may have a flexible construction so as to work with pool vacuums devices of different sizes and configurations although a hard construction is also possible for custom applications.

More particularly, the mounting portion 30 is situated substantially in the interior area of the body portion 20 in a generally vertical or upstanding orientation. The upper end 32 of the mounting portion 30 extends upwardly through the aperture 24 and is configured to be selectively connected to a lower open end of a pool vacuum hose 8. The lower end of the pool vacuum hose 8 has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the upper end 32 of the mounting portion 30 and the two structures are selectively coupled in a friction fit engagement.

The lower end 34 of the mounting portion 30 may be operatively connected to the hose coupling 7 of a vacuum device 6. In an embodiment, the mounting portion 30 includes a coupler 36 that operatively attaches the hose coupling 7 to the lower end 34 of the mounting portion 30 without the hose coupling 7 and lower end 34 actually contacting or being directly coupled to one another. The coupler 36 may be a circular or ring-shaped clamp or the like and is operable to quickly attach or release the connection between the mounting portion 30 and vacuum device 6.

In use, the pool cleaner cover 10 may be used with a traditional pool vacuum device 6 both to enhance the function and safety of the vacuum device 6 and to provide an entertaining simulation of a real or mythical character swimming in a pool. As described above, the body portion 20 may be positioned to substantially surround and cover a pool vacuum device 6. Further, the body portion 20 may, at opposed ends, operatively interface a pool vacuum hose 8 with a hose coupling 7 of the vacuum device 6. Upon activation of vacuum device 6 (causing suction through the vacuum hose) such as with an electric cord 6a, the vacuum device 6 may then be used to clean the pool in a traditional manner while the character of the pool cleaner cover 10 is perceived as swimming in the pool.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A pool cleaner cover for use with a pool vacuum having a hose coupling, comprising:

a body portion having a top wall and a continuous side wall extending downwardly from said top wall such that said cover body defines an interior area, said side wall including a lower rim that defines an open bottom allowing access into said interior area;

wherein said top wall of said cover body defines an aperture;

a mounting portion having a tubular configuration situated in said aperture and extending downwardly into said interior area, said mounting portion having a lower end configured to selectively engage the hose coupling of the pool vacuum and an opposed upper end configured to selectively engage a pool vacuum hose.

2. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ornaments extending outwardly from said lower rim.

3. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 2, wherein each ornament has a plurality of suction cups spaced apart along a lower surface thereof.

4. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 1, wherein said body portion is constructed of a hard plastic material.

5. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 1, wherein said side wall of said body portion defines an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the pool vacuum so that the body portion is selectively positioned to surround the pool vacuum.

6. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 1, wherein said body portion is indicative of one of a mythical character, cartoon character, animal, astronomical figure, astrological character, or sea creature.

7. The pool cleaner as in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes a coupler operatively connecting the upper end of the hose coupling to said lower end of said mounting portion such that said lower end of said mounting portion does not physically touch said upper end of the upper end of the hose coupling.

8. The pool cleaner as in claim 1, wherein the lower end of the vacuum hose defines an open configuration and has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of said upper end of said mounting portion such that said lower end of the vacuum hose is selectively coupled to said upper end of said mounting portion in a friction fit arrangement.

9. A pool cleaner cover for use with a pool vacuum having a hose coupling, comprising:

a body portion having a top wall and a continuous side wall extending downwardly from said top wall such that said cover body defines an interior area, said side wall including a lower rim that defines an open bottom allowing access into said interior area;

wherein said top wall of said cover body defines an aperture;

a mounting portion having a tubular configuration situated in said interior area, said mounting portion having a lower end configured to selectively engage the hose coupling of the pool vacuum and an opposed upper end extending through said aperture and configured to selectively engage a pool vacuum hose.

10. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 9, wherein said mounting portion operatively interfaces the pool vacuum hose with the pool vacuum.

11. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said lower rim.

12. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 11, wherein each arm has a plurality of suction cups spaced apart along a lower surface thereof.

13. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 9, wherein said body portion is constructed of a hard plastic material.

14. The pool cleaner as in claim 9, wherein said mounting portion includes a coupler operatively connecting the upper end of the hose coupling to said lower end of said mounting portion such that said lower end of said mounting portion is not directly coupled to said upper end of the upper end of the hose coupling.

15. The pool cleaner as in claim 9, wherein the lower end of the vacuum hose defines an open configuration and has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of said upper end of said mounting portion such that said lower end of the vacuum hose is selectively coupled to said upper end of said mounting portion in a friction fit arrangement.

16. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 9, wherein said side wall of said body portion defines an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the pool vacuum such that the body portion is selectively positioned to surround the pool vacuum.

17. The pool cleaner cover as in claim 9, wherein said body portion has a configuration that is indicative of one of a mythical character, cartoon character, animal, astronomical figure, astrological character, or sea creature.