Patent Application
20220393389
This invention relates to equipment, systems, and methods for providing electrical power to devices intended to operate underwater and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to submergible electrical connectors configured to be positioned on, at, in, or near bodies of automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs).
Numerous cleaning devices capable of autonomous movement within swimming pools and spas currently exist. The most common of these devices are APCs, which often are either hydraulic or robotic in type. Hydraulic cleaners vary water flow for movement, while robotic cleaners typically employ electric motors to cause motion. Hydraulic APCs, furthermore, subdivide into “pressure-side” and “suction-side” cleaners, with pressure-side cleaners being fluidly connected to outputs of pumps of pool water circulation systems and suction-side cleaners being fluidly connected to inputs of such pumps.
Robotic APCs require a source of electrical power to operate (at least) their electric motors. Although some cordless robotic APCs include on-board batteries, other APCs do not. Instead, electrical cables extending into water of swimming pools typically connect the APCs to power sources.
In these cases, care obviously must be taken to mitigate the adverse electrical effects of pool water intrusion into the cables. Such cables additionally may be subject to mechanical stresses caused both by movements of the APCs within pools and by users pulling on the cables as convenient methods to retrieve APCs and remove them from pools. To alleviate these concerns in part, swivel connectors have been developed for connection to the cables.
One existing connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,716,338 to Brown. As with many of these connectors, the connector of the Brown patent is described as being waterproof but is not necessarily designed to be submerged within water of a swimming pool. Rather, the connector of the Brown patent arguably is intended to be placed at or near an electrical power source located externally of a pool, as is conventional. Alternatively, even if intended to be submerged, the connector of the Brown patent is illustrated as being separated from an APC by a segment of electrical cable. See Brown,
Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.
According to certain embodiments, an electrical connector may be positioned on, at, in, or near a body of an APC.
According to some embodiments, an APC includes a body and an electrical connector positioned on, at, in, or near the body.
According to various embodiments, a cable assembly for an APC includes an electrical connector positioned on, at, in, or near a body of the APC.
According to some embodiments, an electrical connector for a robotic APC is configured to (i) be submerged in use and (ii) withstand mechanical pulling stress on a cable to which the connector is attached.
According to various embodiments, a method of cleaning a swimming pool comprises, in any order, (i) connecting a first component of an electrical connector to a source of electrical power, (ii) connecting the first component to a second component of the electrical connector positioned on, at, in, or near a body of an APC, and (iii) placing the APC in the swimming pool.
Various implementations described herein may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.
The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, in which use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.
Described herein are robotic and other electrically powered APCs in which electrical-supply connectors are positioned on, at, in, or near bodies of the APCs. If such a connector is separable, essentially the entirety of the electrical cable may be separated from the APC for purposes of untangling or storing the cable, as examples. The separation additionally may allow for insertion of one or more extension cables as needed or desired.
As noted above in connection with the Brown patent, existing connectors typically are positioned at or near power and data supplies (e.g. “e-boxes”) themselves positioned externally of pools. This connector positioning historically avoids frequent submerging of the connector, reducing the risk of electrical malfunction or damage due to water intrusion. It also reduces the likelihood of the connector suffering mechanical damage should a consumer pull on the electrical cord to remove an APC from a pool, as often occurs. Consequently, the skilled person would not consider it obvious to position the connector on, at, in, or near the APC, as doing so would be contrary to these risk-reduction objectives.
Nevertheless, the present invention contemplates placing an electric connector on, at, in, or near a body of an APC. Connectors of the present invention thus should have good waterproofing characteristics and mechanical strengths, as they will be subject to immersion in pool water while the APCs are operating and pulling stresses should the APCs be removed from pools using the electrical cables. The connectors also should comprise at least two parts, one that remains on, at, in, or near a body of an APC and another part that is separable therefrom. If desired, the connectors further may be configured so that one part may rotate, or otherwise swivel, relative to the other.
In some versions of the invention, the electrical connector is designed to be positioned approximately twenty to thirty centimeters (20-30 cm) from the body of the automatic cleaner. In some other versions, the connector is designed so that a first portion attaches directly to the APC body and a second portion attaches to the first portion. In yet other versions, one portion may be located predominantly or completely within an APC body, with the other portion connectable thereto while remaining partially or completely outside the body. Persons skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other manners of positioning electrical connectors on, at, in, or near bodies of APCs alternatively may be employed. Because most, if not essentially all, of the length of the electrical cable may be disconnected from the APC, the cable desirably may be disconnected by a user in order to untangle or store it, as examples. In certain embodiments, the electrical connector may be removable from the APC without a separate tool, and the electrical connector may be considered a “tool-less connector” enabling manual removal or disconnection from the APC (and conversely manual or tool-less attachment to the APC).
Each connector advantageously comprises a male (or first) and a female (or second) component that may engage both mechanically and electrically. In various embodiments, the components of the electrical connector may be disconnected and/or connected manually and without requiring a separate tool. In some embodiments, the components themselves may be opened and/or assembled without requiring a separate tool (e.g., the male component may be opened and/or assembled without requiring a separate tool and may be performed manually). Each connector beneficially allows transmission of electrical power to an APC and data either to or from the APC (or both to and from the APC). Skilled persons will, however, recognize that the present invention encompasses connectors other than, or in addition to, those shown in the accompanying figures. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the systems and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.
The connectors 102, 104 may be various suitable types of connectors for mechanical and electrical engagement. In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
As best illustrated in
Optionally, and as best illustrated in
The cover 110 of the connector 102 may include features (e.g., locking features, grooves, ribs, threading, etc.) for engaging the connector 104. In certain embodiments, the features may provide a sufficient engagement with the connector 104 such that the connectors remain coupled or engaged when subjected to pulling stresses (e.g., if the APCs are removed from pools by pulling on or using the electrical cabling 128A-B). The cover 110 may also include one or more internal sealing members 118 and/or one or more external sealing members 120 for forming a seal with the connector 104 when the connectors 102, 104 are coupled.
The second connector 104 may include features similar to the first connector 102 such as a base 122, a coupling component, and a cover 124. Similar to the first connector 102, the second connector 104 optionally may be assembled and/or opened manually and without requiring a separate tool. As mentioned, the second connector 104 may be complimentary to the first connector 102 such that the connectors 102, 104 may be selectively coupled together. In certain embodiments, the first connector 102 and the second connector 104 may be connected and/or disconnected manually and without requiring a separate tool. Similar to the cover 110, the cover 124 may include one or more internal sealing members and/or external sealing members 126 for forming a seal with the connector 104. In the embodiment illustrated, the sealing member 126 may engage the sealing member 120 for forming a waterproof or watertight seal.
The covers 110, 124, sealing members, and other components of the connectors 102, 104 may provide the electrical connector assembly 100 with good waterproofing characteristics and mechanical strengths. In certain embodiments, the features of the connectors 102, 104 allow for the connectors 102, 104 to be subject to immersion in pool water while the APCs are operating and/or pulling stresses should the APCs be removed from pools using the electrical cables. In various embodiments, the connectors 102, 104 may be sealed both when the connectors 102, 104 are connected as well as when the connectors 102, 104 are disconnected.
In certain embodiments, the connectors 102, 104 are provided on conduit, wiring, and/or other cabling 128A-B for electrical (powering and/or data) transmission. However, in other embodiments, the connector(s) on, at, in, or near the body of the APC need not necessarily include cabling 128A depending on the positioning of the connector on, at, in, or near the body of the APC. As non-limiting examples, in some embodiments, the electrical connector 102 is designed to be positioned a distance from the body of the APC (i.e., the connector 102 is not directly connected to the APC and is connected to the APC via the cabling 128A). In one non-limiting example, the distance from the body may be predetermined. As a non-limiting example, the distance may be approximately twenty to thirty centimeters (20-30 cm) from the body of the APC. In some other versions, the connector is designed so that a first portion attaches directly to the APC body and a second portion attaches to the first portion. —In yet other versions, one portion may be located predominantly or completely within an APC body, with the other portion connectable thereto while remaining partially or completely outside the body.
As illustrated in
The connector 102 provided on, at, in, or near the body 732 of the APC 730 allows for most, if not essentially all, of the length of the electrical conduit to be disconnected from the APC 730 (e.g., for untangling, storage, etc.). The connector 104 separable from the connector 102 provided on, at, in, or near the body 732 of the APC 730 may also allow for insertion of one or more extension cables as needed or desired. Moreover, at an end opposite from the end with the connector 104, the cabling 128B may include a connector similar to the connector 102 and/or as otherwise desired such that the cabling 128B may be connected to or separated from a control box side or source of power as desired. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the systems and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.
Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention may include:
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 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 principally with APCs, persons skilled in the relevant field will recognize that the present invention conceivably could be employed in connection with other objects and in other manners. Finally, references to “pools” and “swimming pools” herein may also refer to spas or other water containing vessels used for recreation or therapy and for which cleaning of debris is needed or desired.
The subject matter of embodiments is described herein with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “front,” and “back,” among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing. Throughout this disclosure, a reference numeral with a letter refers to a specific instance of an element and the reference numeral without an accompanying letter refers to the element generically or collectively. Thus, as an example (not shown in the drawings), device “12A” refers to an instance of a device class, which may be referred to collectively as devices “12” and any one of which may be referred to generically as a device “12”. In the figures and the description, like numerals are intended to represent like elements. As used herein, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described embodiments, nor the claims that follow.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/196,322, filed on Jun. 3, 2021 and entitled ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS CONFIGURED FOR POSITIONING ON, AT, IN, OR NEAR BODIES OF AUTOMATIC SWIMMING POOL CLEANERS, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63196322 | Jun 2021 | US |
