The present invention generally relates to the field of power tools, and particularly to a marine and pool cleaner which provides cleaning of surfaces that are subjected to aquatic environments.
From swimming pools to the boats and ships that fill the waterways of the world, there is a wide variety of recreational and work activities that take place in water. Consequently, there is a need to keep devices and structures used in the water or used to hold water, clean.
Currently, for many non-commercial applications the cleaning of surfaces located in or providing aquatic environments is done by hand. For example, the owner of a pool is often forced to spend significant time cleaning, by hand, the surfaces in the pool. This work can be exhausting due to such factors as pool size and/or build-up of heavy film from oils and airborne debris. Another example may include the owner of a water vehicle who performs maintenance by hand, removing build up from the hull and other surfaces. Tools provided are typically focused to commercial cleaning service providers and are not affordable to or easily used by the individual.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a product that can be used by an individual to clean surfaces subjected to aquatic environments and other instruments located in such environments.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a marine and pool cleaner that may be used to clean a variety of surfaces that may be subjected to various aquatic environments. In an aspect of the present invention, a marine and pool cleaner for cleaning a surface is provided including a hand held cleaning head assembly for engaging the surface and directing water onto a work area on the surface. Coupled with the cleaning head assembly is a drive assembly for providing a driving force to the cleaning head assembly. A transmission assembly is coupled with the cleaning head and the drive assembly, the transmission assembly for transmitting the driving force of the drive assembly to the cleaning head assembly. A water attachment assembly provides the water from a water source to the cleaning head assembly. The marine and pool cleaner uses the cleaning head assembly and water to clean the surface.
In another aspect of the present invention, a marine and pool cleaner for cleaning a surface is provided comprising a hand held cleaning head assembly including a handle coupled with a right angle cleaning head, the hand held cleaning head assembly for engaging the surface and directing water onto a work area on the surface. An electric motor assembly is coupled with the hand held cleaning head assembly, the electric motor assembly provides a driving force to the cleaning head assembly via a flex drive cable. A water attachment assembly provides water from a water source to the cleaning head assembly. Further, the marine and pool cleaner comprises a transport assembly coupled with the electric motor assembly, the transport assembly provides portability to the marine and pool cleaner. The marine and pool cleaner uses the cleaning head assembly and water to clean the surface.
It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The marine and pool cleaner is advantageously suited for the individual user who needs a tool to clean surfaces which are subjected to aquatic environments, such as swimming pool surfaces and water vehicle surfaces. The marine and pool cleaner is capable of cleaning off heavy films (suntan oils, etc . . . ) from pool surfaces and a variety of debris or organic build up on water vehicles in marine environments. It is further contemplated that the marine and pool cleaner of the present invention may be employed for cleaning a variety of other surfaces. For example, cleaning tile in school/university locker rooms, hotels, businesses, and the like. Further, the present invention may be employed for cleaning of various stone surfaces, such as those found on public buildings, monuments, grave stones, and the like. The marine and pool cleaner may reduce operator fatigue, provide reduced noise output, is easily transportable, employs a transmission assembly that allows the user to operate the cleaning head upon a surface remote to a drive assembly, and enables completion of cleaning faster than a manual process.
Referring generally now to
In the preferred embodiment, the frame 101 has a generally S-shaped profile and provides a handle 119. Proximal to the bottom of the “S” is where the drive assembly 104 is located. Additionally, a transport assembly 121 is located near the bottom of the “S”. The transport assembly 121, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a first wheel assembly 123 and a second wheel assembly 125. The first and second wheel assembly 123 and 125 are located on opposite sides of the “S” from one another and on the farthest corners from the handle 119. On the two other bottom comers of the frame 101, the first support member 113 and second support member 115 restrain the wheel assemblies from moving by on the ground. The first and second support member 113 and 115 may be rectangular shaped or may be two pegs that extend to the ground. In this embodiment, the first and second support member 113 and 115 are disengaged by simply lifting the handle 119, which liberates the first and second wheel assembly 123 and 125. On the other hand, in another embodiment, both wheel assemblies may be positioned on the comers closest to the handle 119, which would allow the first and second support member 113 and 115 to be disengaged by pushing down on the handle 119. This embodiment would facilitate the user in lifting the handle 119 because the wheel assemblies would act as a fulcrum. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, it is further contemplated that the frame 101 may be box shaped and may be disposed with four wheels on each bottom corner, which would make the frame 101 more convenient to transport. In this embodiment, the wheels may be equipped with a braking assembly that, when engaged, allows the frame 101 to remain stationary. The box shaped frame 101 may also be equipped with only two wheels and two support members without departing from the scope and spirit of the present embodiment. It is still further contemplated that, in another alternative embodiment, the frame 101 may take on a triangular shaped profile. In this embodiment, the frame 101 may be equipped with two wheels and two support members or four wheels equipped with a braking assembly.
The hand held cleaning head assembly 102 comprises a cleaning head 110 coupled with a handle 112. As shown in
It is contemplated that the fluid transfer device may be a standard garden hose or other fluid transfer device provided by the user of the marine and pool cleaner. Thus, the water valve coupling assembly 116 may include a standard size attachment ring or be sized to meet specific requirements. It is understood that the water coming through the outlet port 111 may flow onto the surface directly under the rotating cleaning head 110.
Alternatively, the outlet port 111 may be located in various positions upon the hand held cleaning head assembly 102. Additionally, it is contemplated that the water attachment assembly 108 may couple the hand held cleaning head assembly 102 with various other hydraulic and/or gaseous compounds. For example, a detergent or other cleaning compound may be provided through the hose 118 of the water attachment assembly 108. Further, the water attachment assembly 108 may include multiple water valve coupling assemblies coupled with the cleaning head 110 and the handle 112 in order to provide various compounds. For instance, the hand held cleaning head assembly 102 may be coupled with multiple hoses with one hose providing water from a water source and the second hose providing a detergent.
The drive port 114 couples with the transmission assembly 106. The transmission assembly 106 comprises a flex drive cable 120 which couples on one end with the drive assembly 104 and the drive port 114 on the other end. The flex drive cable 120 transmits the drive force produced by the drive assembly through the drive port 114 to the cleaning head 110. The drive force creates a rotating cleaning head 110 for scrubbing a surface. Alternatively, the cleaning head 110 may be enabled as an orbital rotating cleaning head or other movement capabilities which promote effective cleaning of a surface as may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The size and type of the cleaning head 110 may be varied in order to accommodate different user needs. For example, a marine and pool cleaner being used to clean surfaces in a pool may have very different requirements from a marine and pool cleaner being used to clean the hull of a water vehicle.
The flex drive cable 120 may be of various lengths. For example, the flex drive cable 120 may range in length from two feet to one hundred and fifty feet. Preferably, the flex drive cable 120 is seventy-five feet in length. The flex drive cable 120 may include one or more strain relievers to assist in preventing acute angles of bending from developing in the flex drive cable 120 during operation. The number and location of the strain relievers may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the type of strain relievers employed may vary without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the marine and pool cleaner further includes a hanger 107 coupled with the frame 101. The hanger 107 is used to store the fluid transfer device 118 and the flex drive cable 120 when not in use. The location, size, and configuration of the hanger 107 may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. It is contemplated that the transmission assembly 106 may enable a variety of functionalities. For example, the transmission assembly 106 may include the flex drive cable 120 and the fluid transfer device 118 bundled into a single unit. This may increase ease of use of the marine and pool cleaner and provide for easier storage capabilities of the marine and pool cleaner. Further, the transmission assembly 106 may include multiple fluid transfer devices 118. It is understood that the length of the fluid transfer device 118 and the flex drive cable 120 may vary relative to one another. In an alternative embodiment, it is further contemplated that the hanger 107 may comprise a torsion spring-loaded spool assembly that allows the flex drive cable 120 and fluid transfer device 118 to be retracted and stored in a safe, clean, and time efficient manner. It is also contemplated that the spool may be equipped with a button or switch that, when depressed, retracts the flex drive cable 120 and fluid transfer device 118. In yet another alternative embodiment, it is further contemplated that the hanger 107 may be equipped with a manual winding assembly, consisting of a handle coupled with a spool. In this embodiment, the user can rotate the spool by turning the handle. This rotation would wrap the flex drive cable 120 and fluid transfer device 118 around the hanger 107, thus retracting said cable and device in a safe, clean, and time efficient manner.
As may be seen in
The drive assembly 104 comprises a motor assembly with an on/off switch 105. In the preferred embodiment, the on/off switch is a standard toggle switch coupled to the top of the drive assembly 104. It is also contemplated that the on/off switch may be a depression switch assembly, two-position switch, and the like. It is further contemplated that the on/off switch may be coupled to the handle 119 which would allow for convenient operation of the drive assembly. The drive assembly 104 is coupled with the frame 101 by being situated upon a platform 103. The platform 103 is connected to the frame 101 through use of a plurality of fastening devices, such as screws, bolts, pins, and the like. It is contemplated that the drive assembly 104 may be coupled with the frame by use of fastening devices, similar to those mentioned previously without the use of the platform 103. The drive assembly 104 provides a driving force to the cleaning head assembly 102. In the preferred embodiment of
The power output capabilities of the drive assembly 104 may be varied as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the marine and pool cleaner used for pool cleaning applications may use an electric motor which produces a lower range of power output while the marine and pool cleaner used for marine cleaning application may use an electric motor which produces a higher range of power output. The power output capabilities of the drive assembly 104 may play a large factor in the determination of the size of the cleaning head 110 employed with the hand held cleaning head assembly 102 as previously discussed. For instance, a higher power output electric motor assembly may be able to use or require a larger cleaning head 110 than a lower power output electric motor assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the electric motor is a 1 hp (horsepower) electric motor. However, the size and resultant horsepower of the motor may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
In an alternative embodiment, the drive assembly 104 may employ a motor assembly using combustion to create power output, such as a gasoline engine. The gasoline engine may couple with the transmission assembly to provide angular momentum to the cleaning head. The gasoline engine may be coupled to the frame directly or mounted upon a platform which is coupled with the frame. It is contemplated that the gasoline engine may provide a range of horsepower to the present invention. For example, the gasoline engine may be a 1 hp engine up to a 5 hp engine. While the ranges provided describe an optimized working range it is understood that the range of horsepower which may be provided to the present invention may vary as contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
In an alternative embodiment, the drive assembly 104 may provide the water to the hand held cleaning assembly 102. For instance, the marine and pool cleaner may further comprise a water storage container for providing a water source. The drive assembly 104 may provide pumping capabilities and by being connected to the water storage container and a fluid transfer device provide water to the hand held cleaning head assembly 102. It is understood that the number, location, and size of the water storage containers employed with the marine and pool cleaner of the present invention may be varied without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In further alternative embodiments, the marine and pool cleaner may include more than one drive assembly 104 which in turn may enable the use of multiple hand held cleaning head assemblies, transmission assemblies, and water attachment assemblies. As discussed above, alternative hydraulic compounds, such as detergents, may be employed within each of the above alternative embodiments of the marine and pool cleaner.
The storage assembly 124 is included upon the marine and pool cleaner 100 for storage of various accessories. In the present embodiment, the storage assembly 124 is a chest 126 disposed upon the second platform 128 connected to the frame of the marine and pool cleaner. As mentioned previously, the second platform 128 may be connected through use of a variety of fastening devices, such as screws, bolts, pins, clamps, and the like. Accessories may include cleaning heads, gloves, chemicals used for cleaning, and the like. For instance, muriatic acid is sometimes employed to speed the process of cleaning heavy build up on surfaces like a swimming pool. The storage assembly 124 may take a variety of alternative forms including an integrated chest coupled directly to the frame 101. Additionally, the storage assembly 124 may comprise a chest with one or more drawers for storage and access capabilities. The location of the storage assembly 124 may vary to provide more space or more convenient access.
The transport assembly 121, comprising the first and second wheel assembly 123 and 125, may be configured as a variety of transport enabling devices. For instance, casters, rollers, skids, and the like, may be employed on the frame 101. In alternative embodiments, two or more wheels, casters, rollers, skids, and the like, may be employed to provide transportability. Further, the use of two or more transport enabling devices may provide added stability and reduce or eliminate the number of support members required to maintain the marine and pool cleaner position when not engaged by an operator. The size and location of the transport assembly 121 may be varied to meet the needs of different users without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
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It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/401,648, filed on Aug. 6, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60401648 | Aug 2002 | US |