LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR VESSELS FOR SWIMMING POOL AND SPA EQUIPMENT

Abstract

Disclosed are improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pool and spa equipment. These improved locking mechanisms provide a more robust, reliable seal between the lid and the body of the vessel, and include features that make moving the vessel between its sealed and unsealed positions easier. More specifically, the locking mechanisms include features that allow the lid to move into its sealed position when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in a first direction, and that allow the lid to release from its sealed position and lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/067,980, filed on Aug. 20, 2020, and entitled LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR VESSELS FOR SWIMMING POOL AND SPA EQUIPMENT, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to locking mechanisms for vessels, such as pressure or vacuum vessels, for use particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, in swimming pool and spa equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vessels used in swimming pool and spa equipment, such as pumps, include a lid or other component that couples with the body of the vessel to contain a fluid within the vessel. The vessel also includes a seal to try to prevent leakage from the interface of the lid and the body. Traditional seals, particularly face seals that only seal in one direction, often leak, and the pump is prone to “spitting” or “burping” water when the pump is turned off, decompressing the seal enough to allow water to escape. Radial seals that seal in more than one direction pose their own challenges, as it is difficult to assemble the lid into the sealed position and, once sealed, it is difficult to remove the lid from the sealed position when the lid is under suction. Existing designs utilizing a radial seal include handles, so that a user can grasp the handles and forcefully pull the lid upwards out of the sealed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pool and spa equipment. These improved locking mechanisms provide a better, more reliable seal between the lid and the body of the vessel, and include features that make sealing and unsealing the vessel easier and more automatic. More specifically, the locking mechanisms include features that allow the lid to move into its sealed position when a locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel, and that allow the lid to release from its sealed position when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in the opposite direction. These features eliminate the need for a user to apply additional, upward force (e.g., force in addition to those associated with rotating the locking ring relative to the body) to physically separate the lid from the vessel when the locking ring moves from the locked to the unlocked position and the lid is under suction that pulls the lid down onto the body of the vessel. Thus, when the locking ring rotates to unlock the vessel and release the seal, not only does the seal decompress, but the lid also automatically disengages from the body to allow for easier removal. In other words, the improved locking mechanisms allow for control of the lid in both the upwards and downwards directions, instead of just the downwards direction where a user pushes the lid onto the body to lock it.

These improved locking mechanisms can be used on any vessel where it is desirable to contain fluid within the vessel, such as pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, including, but not limited to, standalone suction side strainers, pumps with integrated suction side strainers, filters, chlorinators, chemical feeders, etc. Moreover, these improved locking mechanisms allow for easier installation even when used with a radial seal.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the invention to provide improved locking mechanisms for vessels requiring a seal to contain a fluid within the vessel.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide improved locking mechanisms that provide a better seal for a vessel within a body of water such as a swimming pool or spa.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide locking mechanisms that include features that allow the vessel to be easily sealed and unsealed, even when the vessel includes a radial seal.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide locking mechanisms that allow a vessel to seal properly in all operating conditions, including when the vessel is transitioning between a state of vacuum and a state of pressure, as well as between a state of pressure and a state of vacuum.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide locking mechanisms that allow a vessel requiring a seal to be easily assembled, easily disassembled, and easily serviced.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide features that aid in assembly of pressure and vacuum/suction vessels by equalizing pressure between the vessels and the atmosphere.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary locking mechanism of the present invention, provided on an exemplary standalone suction side strainer pump vessel.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pump vessel of FIG. 1, shown with the locking mechanism in an unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pump vessel of FIG. 1, shown with the locking mechanism in a locked position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vessel of the pump of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-6 are partial views of the vessel of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a lid, a locking ring and a seal of the pump vessel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective, bottom view of the lid, the locking ring and the seal of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the lid, the locking ring and the seal of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a partial, section view of the pump vessel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is another partial, section view of the pump vessel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a section view of the pump vessel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the locking ring of the pump vessel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the locking ring of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the lid of the pump vessel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a partial, perspective view of the lid of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pools and spas. Although the figures and the following description describe an exemplary locking mechanism of a standalone suction side pump strainer, the disclosed locking mechanisms are not limited to use with pumps with standalone suction side strainers and can be used with other vessels such as pumps with integrated suction side strainers, filters, chlorinators, chemical feeders, etc.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-16 is an exemplary standalone suction side strainer pump vessel 10 with an embodiment of the improved locking mechanism. The vessel 10 includes a lid 14 that assembles with a locking ring 16. In some cases, the lid 14 can be assembled with the locking ring 16 by inserting the lid 14 into the locking ring 16 from the underside and at an angle, and then snapping it into position. The lid 14/locking ring 16 assembly couples with the body 12 and the locking ring 16 can rotated between an unlocked and a locked position. When the locking ring 16 is in the unlocked position, the vessel 10 is in an unsealed configuration and when the locking ring 16 is in the locked position, the vessel 10 is in a sealed configuration.

When the locking ring 16 is in the locked position, the lid 14 compresses a seal 18, which may be a radial seal such as an O-ring as illustrated in FIGS. 9-11, to prevent fluid (e.g., water) contained in the body 12 from leaking out of the body 12, thus sealing the vessel 10. Seals with other cross sections may be used, such as, but not limited to, seals with an X-shaped cross section. The body 12 of the vessel 10 can optionally include a chamfer 19, as illustrated in FIG. 11, to aid in assembly as the lid 14 is installed with the body 12. The chamfer 19 also helps move the seal 18 out of position when disassembling the lid 14 from the body 12 to unseal the vessel 10 from its sealed configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the vessel 10 is configured so rotation of the locking ring 16 relative to the body 12 (e.g., rotation by less than a complete turn such as, but not limited to, an eighth turn or a quarter turn) moves the locking ring 16 between its unlocked position (FIG. 2) and its locked position (FIG. 3), in turn sealing the vessel 10 (FIG. 3) or unsealing the vessel (FIG. 2). The locking ring 16 may optionally include one or more handles 20 to facilitate with rotating the locking ring 16 relative to the body 12. In some embodiments, the handles are omitted and a separate tool may be used to rotate the locking ring 16 relative to the body 12. More specifically, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the assembly can be configured so the vessel 10 is in the unsealed configuration when the handles 20 are at an approximately 45 degree angle relative to horizontal, and in its sealed configuration when the handles 20 are turned so they are at an approximately 0 degree angle with respect to horizontal. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the lid 14 and/or the locking ring 16 may include markings or other indicia to assist a user in assembling and disassembling the lid 14 and moving the locking ring 16 between its locked and unlocked positions to seal and unseal the vessel 10.

The locking ring 16 includes features configured to interface (e.g., thread) with corresponding features of the body 12. FIG. 4 illustrates how the body 12 includes one or more double cam features (e.g., double-ramps 22). The embodiment illustrated and described includes four sets of double-ramps 22, but more or fewer double-ramps can be included as desired, which need not be the same as one another (e.g., a first ramp may be longer than the second ramp in each set or otherwise have different dimensions, one set of double-ramps 22 may be different from another set of double-ramps 22, etc.). In some cases, as illustrated, a ramp in a set of the double-ramps 22 can be horizontally offset from the other ramp in the set to facilitate the beginning of threading the corresponding feature (e.g., a ramp 25 as illustrated in FIG. 8) of the locking ring 16 into a channel 24 defined in each set of double-ramps 22. As illustrated, the ramps of the double-ramps 22 can be arranged at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal, such as, but not limited to, at an angle between 2 degrees and 20 degrees from horizontal, for example between 5 and 10 degrees from horizontal.

The channel 24 defined by each set of double-ramps 22 is designed to receive the corresponding feature (e.g., the locking ring ramp 25) of the locking ring 16. The double-ramps 22 of the body 12 and the locking ring ramp 25 cooperate in a thread-like fashion to seal the vessel 10 when the locking ring 16 is turned in a first direction and moved to the locked position, and to unseal the vessel 10 when the locking ring 16 is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position. The locking ring ramps 25 transmit to the body 12 the pressure load applied by the user in rotating the locking ring 16. More specifically, the locking ring ramps 25 act as a cam follower when received within the channel 24 of the double-ramps 22 of the body 12, and are dimensioned to withstand the high load transmission when the vessel 10 is pressurized (e.g., during pressure testing of the body 12).

The channels 24 of the double-ramps 22 guide the locking ring 16 (via the locking ring ramps 25) as it is rotated between the unlocked position and the locked position. The channels 24 also help pull the lid 14 down into the sealed, locked position when the locking ring 16 is rotated in the first direction and help push it out of the sealed position when the locking ring 16 is rotated in the second, opposite direction. More specifically, referring to FIG. 13, each locking ring ramp 25 of the locking ring 16 includes an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 28. The upper surface 26 of the locking ring ramp 25 serves as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface 21 of the channel 24 (e.g., the lower surface of the upper ramp of the double-ramp 22; see FIG. 6) when the locking ring 16 is rotated into its locked position to seal the vessel 10. The lower surface 28 of the locking ring ramp 25 serves as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface 23 (e.g., the upper surface of the lower ramp of the double-ramp 22; see FIG. 6) to release the seal and unseal the vessel 10. In this way, the double-ramp arrangement defining the channel 24 provides two functional surfaces, one of which is used for tightening the vessel 10 to seal it by rotating the locking ring 16 relative to the body 12 in the first direction into the locked position, and the second of which is used for loosening the vessel 10 and unsealing it by rotating the locking ring 16 relative to the body 12 in the second, opposite direction into the unlocked position.

In other embodiments, the locking ring 16 may include the double-ramps 22 and the body 12 may include ramp(s) 25 that interface with each of the double-ramps 22 of the locking ring 16. In other words, the locking features of the locking ring 16 and the body 12 may be swapped such that the double-ramps 22 are included on one of the locking ring 16 and the body 12, and the ramp 25 is included on the other of the locking ring 16 and the body 12. The body 12 and the locking ring 16 also optionally include corresponding locking features. Referring to FIG. 6, each channel 24 of the body 12 may include a channel interference locking feature 30 (such as a bump) that cooperates with a corresponding locking ring interference locking feature 31 (such as bump; see FIG. 8) of the locking ring ramp 25. More specifically, when sealing or unsealing the vessel 10, the locking ring interference locking feature 31 will slide past the channel interference locking feature 30 to ensure the locking ring 16 does not inadvertently rotate into the unsealed position (e.g., due to vibration). In some cases, the corresponding interference locking features are configured to give a tactile and/or audible indication the locking ring 16 has rotated to into the locked position to seal the vessel 10. This feedback can be a “click” that can be felt and/or heard so a user knows the lid 14 has been installed correctly on the body 12 and the vessel 10 is sealed and ready for use.

As shown in FIG. 9, the locking ring 16 includes a lower surface 32 that engages with an upper surface 36 of the lid 14 when the lid 14 is assembled with the body 12. This engagement transmits the rotational movement of the locking ring 16 as it moves to its locked position to a directional force downward that pushes the lid 14 against the seal 18, compressing the seal 18 and sealing the vessel 10.

Moreover, the lid 14 and the locking ring 16 include features that facilitate lifting of the lid 14 off of the body 12 when a user disassembles the lid 14 from the body 12. As shown in FIG. 16, the locking ring 16 includes an upper surface 34 that serves as a secondary engagement surface to push against the lid 14 to automatically lift the lid 14 out of the sealed configuration without requiring a user to forcefully pull upwards to release the seal 18. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 15-16, the lid 14 includes one or more lifting features 38 against which the upper surface 34 of the locking ring 16 engages as the locking ring 16 rotates from its locked position to its unlocked position, causing the lid 14 to lift out of its sealed position and disassemble from the body 12 and unseal the vessel 10. Engagement of the upper surface 34 of the locking ring 16 against the lifting features 38 of the lid 14 is sufficient to overcome the forces associated with the radial seal 18 and lift the lid 14 out of the sealed position without requiring a user to supply upward force (e.g., a user need not supply additional forces beyond the rotational force transmitted by the locking ring 16 as it rotates). The lifting features 38 may be integrated into (or integral with) the lid 14, although they need not be. For example, one or more separate components (e.g., a ring) may interact with the lid 14 to serve as the lifting feature(s) and provide a surface against which the locking ring 16 engages. The separate component(s) could be fastened or otherwise coupled to the lid 14. In some cases, the separate component(s) could be coupled with the lid 14 to “sandwich” around or otherwise engage with the lid 14.

The locking ring 16 may further include one or more cutouts 40 as shown in FIG. 14. If more than one cutout 40 is used, the cutouts 40 may all be the same, or may have different dimensions/profiles. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 includes two full cutouts 40 and one partial cutout 40. The cutouts 40 are dimensioned so the lid 14 can be assembled within the locking ring 16 with only a small amount of force, and capture the lid 14 so it remains in position relative to the locking ring 16 in use. In other words, the cutouts 40 help ensure the lid 14 does not fall out of the locking ring 16 when the lid 14 is removed from the body 12.

In some embodiments, as illustrated throughout the Figures, the vessel includes a pressure/vacuum release port 42 that can be used to relieve pressure and/or vacuum when assembling or disassembling the lid 14 with the body 12 (e.g., when unsealing/sealing the vessel 10 by rotating the locking ring 16 between its unlocked and locked positions). Moreover, the pressure/vacuum release port 42 can be used to install a pressure gauge or an automatic pressure relief valve or the like, as needed. The pressure/vacuum release port 42 can also allow service access to the body 12 while the lid 14 is assembled with the body 12. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the assembly can be configured so the port 42 is located on the lid 14.

In some embodiments, the body 12 can include one or more drain ports to assist with drainage in case water enters the channels 24.

A collection of exemplary embodiments are provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as “Illustrations” providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These illustrations are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these example illustrations but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

Illustration A. A vessel having a radial seal and a locking ring, wherein rotation of the locking ring less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel.

Illustration B. A locking mechanism for a vessel requiring a seal, the locking mechanism including a plurality of ramps of a locking ring and a plurality of double-ramps of a body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps of the locking ring and to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel.

Illustration C. A locking mechanism for a vessel requiring a seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination, the locking mechanism including features on a lid, features on a locking ring, and features on a body of the vessel, wherein the features of the lid engage with the features of the locking ring and the features of the locking ring engage with the features of the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel.

Illustration D. A vessel having a radial seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel also comprising a lid, a locking ring, and a body, wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid such that the lid automatically lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from an unlocked position to a locked position to seal the vessel.

Illustration E. A vessel having a radial seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel also comprising a lid, a locking ring, and a body, wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid such that the lid lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from an unlocked position to a locked position to seal the vessel without requiring additional force beyond rotational forces generated by the rotation of the locking ring.

Illustration F. A vessel and/or a locking mechanism including any of the aspects identified in any of the previous illustrations or combination of illustrations A-E.

Illustration G. Methods for using the vessel and/or the locking mechanism in any of the previous illustrations or combinations of illustrations A-F

Illustration H. A vessel for swimming pool equipment of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the vessel comprises a radial seal and a locking ring, wherein rotation of the locking ring less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel.

Illustration I. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps on one of a locking ring or the body of the vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps on the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves from its unlocked position to its locked position.

Illustration J. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp that is horizontally offset from the upper ramp.

Illustration K. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal.

Illustration L. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the plurality of double-ramps and the plurality of ramps cooperate in a thread-like fashion to seal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a first direction into the locked position, and to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

Illustration M. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the plurality of ramps transmit to the body a pressure load generated by rotation of the locking ring.

Illustration N. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein: the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction to the locked position to seal the vessel; and the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

Illustration O. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein at least one channel defined in the plurality of double-ramps comprises a channel interface locking feature that cooperates with a corresponding interference feature of one of the plurality of ramps.

Illustration P. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a locking mechanism that comprises: features on a lid; features on a locking ring; and features on the body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring rotates between the unlocked and locked positions.

Illustration Q. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel further comprising: a lid; and a locking ring; and wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid to cause the lid to lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body to from its locked position to its unlocked position.

Illustration R. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the lid lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from the locked position into the unlocked position without requiring additional force beyond rotational forces generated by the rotation of the locking ring.

Illustration S. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the body comprises a chamfer that helps move the radial seal out of position when disassembling a lid from the body to unseal the vessel as the locking ring moves from its locked position to its unlocked position.

Illustration T. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a lid and wherein the locking ring comprises a lower surface that engages an upper surface of the lid to transfer rotational movement of the locking ring into a directional force downward that pushes the lid against the radial seal.

Illustration U. A locking mechanism for a vessel for swimming pool equipment requiring a seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps of one of either a locking ring or a body of the vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its unlocked and locked positions.

Illustration V. The locking mechanism for the vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising features on a lid, features on a locking ring, and features on a body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its locked and unlocked positions.

Illustration W. The locking mechanism for the vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp is horizontally offset from the lower ramp and wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal.

Illustration X. The locking mechanism for the vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein: the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction into its locked position to seal the vessel; and the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

Illustration Y. A method of sealing a vessel for swimming pool equipment of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the method comprising: rotating a locking ring of the vessel in a first direction less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel to move the locking ring from an unlocked position to a locked position and to seal the vessel, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the first direction causes each of a plurality of ramps of one of the locking ring or the body of the vessel to be received in a channel defined in one of a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel.

Illustration Z. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the first direction causes an upper surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with an installation engagement surface of the channel.

Illustration AA. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising rotating the locking ring in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the locking ring from the locked position to the unlocked position and unseal the vessel, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the second direction causes a lower surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with a removal engagement surface of the channel.

Illustration AB. The vessel of any preceding illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel further comprising a lid with a pressure/vacuum release port.

These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to these example embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations and combinations within the scope of any claims ultimately drafted and issued in connection with the invention (and their equivalents). For avoidance of doubt, any combination of features not physically impossible or expressly identified as non-combinable herein may be within the scope of the invention.

Further, although Applicant has described devices and techniques for use with standalone suction side strainers for pumps of swimming pools and spas, persons skilled in the relevant field will recognize the locking mechanism disclosed herein can be used with vessels requiring a seal such as pumps with integrated strainers, filters, chlorinators, chemical feeders, etc. Finally, references to “pools” and “swimming pools” herein may also refer to spas and other water-containing vessels, ponds and other bodies of water, water features such as waterfalls and fountains, water removal or routing apparatuses (e.g., sump pumps), etc.

Claims

1. A vessel for swimming pool equipment, the vessel comprising a radial seal and a locking ring, wherein rotation of the locking ring less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel.

2. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps of one of a locking ring or the body of the vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel,

wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves from its unlocked position to its locked position.

3. The vessel of claim 2, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp that is horizontally offset from the upper ramp.

4. The vessel of claim 2, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal.

5. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of double-ramps and the plurality of ramps cooperate in a thread-like fashion to seal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a first direction into the locked position, and to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

6. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of ramps transmit to the body a pressure load generated by rotation of the locking ring.

7. The vessel of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein:

the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction to the locked position to seal the vessel; and

the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

8. The vessel of claim 2, wherein at least one channel defined in the plurality of double-ramps comprises a channel interface locking feature that cooperates with a corresponding interference feature of one of the plurality of ramps.

9. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that comprises:

features on a lid;

features on a locking ring; and

features on the body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring rotates between the unlocked position and the locked position.

10. The vessel of claim 1, the vessel further comprising:

a lid; and

a locking ring; and

wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid to cause the lid to lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body to from its locked position to its unlocked position.

11. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the lid lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from the locked position into the unlocked position without requiring additional force beyond rotational forces generated by the rotation of the locking ring.

12. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a chamfer that helps move the radial seal out of position when disassembling a lid from the body to unseal the vessel as the locking ring moves from its locked position to its unlocked position.

13. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising a lid and wherein the locking ring comprises a lower surface that engages an upper surface of the lid to transfer rotational movement of the locking ring into a directional force downward that pushes the lid against the radial seal.

14. The vessel of claim 1, the vessel further comprising a lid with a pressure/vacuum release port.

15. A locking mechanism for a vessel for swimming pool equipment requiring a seal, the locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps of one of a locking ring or a body of a vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its unlocked and locked positions.

16. The locking mechanism for the vessel of claim 15, further comprising features on a lid, features on a locking ring, and features on a body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its locked and unlocked positions.

17. The locking mechanism for the vessel of claim 15, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp is horizontally offset from the lower ramp and wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal.

18. The locking mechanism for the vessel of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein:

the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction into its locked position to seal the vessel; and

the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

19. A method of sealing a vessel for swimming pool equipment, the method comprising:

rotating a locking ring of the vessel in a first direction less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel to move the locking ring from an unlocked position to a locked position and to seal the vessel, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the first direction causes each of a plurality of ramps of one of the locking ring or the body of the vessel to be received in a channel defined in one of a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein rotating the locking ring in the first direction causes an upper surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with an installation engagement surface of the channel.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising rotating the locking ring in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the locking ring from the locked position to the unlocked position and unseal the vessel, wherein rotating the locking ring in the second direction causes a lower surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with a removal engagement surface of the channel.