Skimmer Plug

Abstract

This patent is directed to a system and method of winterizing pools. A skimmer plug is inserted into a skimmer and a container is attached to the skimmer plug in order to winterize the skimmer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/578,085 filed by Charlie Rickman on Oct. 27, 2017 and entitled “Skimmer Plug,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to swimming pools and winterizing the skimmers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the winter water freezes and expands in the skimmer and other parts of above ground pools. This could cause the skimmer housing to bust. Also the water level may fluctuate in the pool depending on the type of cover, rainfall, and evaporation. Water in the lines could freeze and expand causing the lines to bust.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is skimmer plug method and system. A skimmer plug with a bottle attached can be put in the skimmer. The bottle keeps water from freezing and busting the skimmer housing and damaging the pool lines. The method is to place a skimmer plug in an opening in the skimmer, tighten the skimmer plug by gripping a protrusion with a tool and turning, inserting a stopper in a container and attaching container to a lid on a top side of the skimmer plug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a skimmer plug and skimmer.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a skimmer plug assembly.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts the skimmer 500 environment and FIG. 2 does not show a skimmer 500. The skimmer plug 100 may be tapered, conical, or may be cylindrically shaped. The skimmer plug 100 can be placed in the skimmer opening 510. On a top side of the skimmer plug 100, a washer 110 is in between the skimmer plug 100 and a lid 120. The lid 120 may screw on or snap on to a container 400. The container 400 can be compressible. The container 400 can be a recycled bottle. The lid 120 can be threadably attached to the container 400. The skimmer plug 100 can be made of plastic, rubber, or any other material. The stopper 300 is placed in the container 400 prior to be attached to the lid 120. Enough space needs to left between the top of the container 400 and the stopper 300 so the protrusion 200 in the center of the top side of the lid has space.

FIG. 3 is a method for winterizing a skimmer. Step one is to firmly place skimmer plug 100 into the skimmer 500 and push down and twist. Step two is to tighten protrusion 200, which can be a hex nut, with pliers or a nut driver three to four turns to expand skimmer plug 100 in the skimmer 500 or skimmer opening 510 and make sure the skimmer plug 100 is firmly inserted into the skimmer 500. Step 3 position stopper 300 in empty container 400, which can include a soda bottle, a water bottle, or a pool chemical bottle. The stopper 300 can be made of any material including but not limited to plastic or cork. Preferably the stopper 300 will be placed below the level of the top of the container 400. This allows for the protrusion 200 to have space. Step 4 put container 400 into the water and twist container 400 until the container 400 is tight onto the skimmer plug 100.

Claims

1. A skimmer plug assembly comprising:

a skimmer plug having a washer on a top side of skimmer plug with a lid on top of the washer; a stopper is inserted into a container and the container is attached to the lid; and the skimmer plug is inserted into an opening on a skimmer.

2. The skimmer plug assembly in claim 1, wherein the stopper is made of cork.

3. The skimmer plug assembly in claim 1, wherein the lid is threadably attached to a container.

4. The skimmer plug assembly in claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle.

5. A method of inserting a skimmer plug comprising:

Inserting a skimmer plug into a skimmer;

Turning a protrusion on a top side of a skimmer plug until skimmer plug is inserted firmly in skimmer;

Inserting a stopper in a container; and

Attaching container to a lid on a top side of the skimmer plug.

6. The method of inserting a skimmer plug in claim 5 wherein the protrusion is a hex nut.

7. The method of inserting a skimmer plug in claim 5, wherein the stopper is made of cork.

8. The method of inserting a skimmer plug in claim 5, wherein the lid is threadabtly attached to a container.

9. The method of inserting a skimmer plug in claim 5, wherein the container is a bottle