Claims
- 1. A disc adapted for use as part of an automatic swimming pool cleaner, comprising:
- a. an upper surface;
- b. a lower surface;
- c. a periphery;
- d. a plurality of fins integrally formed with and extending upward from the upper surface beyond the periphery;
- e. means, comprising a central aperture, for receiving a portion of the automatic swimming pool cleaner; and
- f. a plurality of slits extending from at least a portion of the periphery toward, but not to, the central aperture.
- 2. A disc according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of openings through which fluid may pass from the lower surface to the upper surface when the automatic swimming pool cleaner is immersed in the fluid.
- 3. An assembly adapted to receive a footpad of an automatic swimming pool cleaner, comprising:
- a. a disc having a central aperture for receiving the footpad and comprising:
- i. an upper surface;
- ii. a lower surface;
- iii. a periphery; and
- iv. a plurality of slits extending from at least a portion of the periphery toward, but not to, the central aperture; and
- b. means, distinct from the disc, for covering the slits.
- 4. An assembly according to claim 3 in which the covering means comprises a cap defining an aperture.
- 5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which the cap includes a periphery and a plurality of slits extending from at least a portion of the periphery toward, but not to, the aperture.
- 6. An assembly according to claim 5 in which the cap contacts a portion of the upper surface, the remainder of the upper surface defining a plurality of openings to the bottom surface.
- 7. An assembly according to claim 6 further comprising means for restraining rotation of the cap relative to the disc when in use.
- 8. An assembly according to claim 7 in which the rotation restraining means comprises a stop connected to the footpad, which stop precludes the disc from rotating more than approximately .+-.15.degree. relative to a nominal position in which it receives the footpad.
- 9. An assembly according to claim 8 in which the disc further comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed with and extending upward from the upper surface beyond the periphery.
- 10. An assembly adapted to receive a footpad of an automatic swimming pool cleaner, comprising:
- a. a molded plastic, flexible disc having a central aperture and comprising:
- i. a planar upper surface;
- ii. a lower surface defining (1) a plurality of openings to the upper surface through which fluid may pass when the automatic swimming pool cleaner is immersed in the fluid and (2) an axis along a selected radius;
- iii. a periphery defining a plurality of radially-spaced tongues;
- iv. a plurality of fins extending upward from the upper surface beyond the periphery, each fin (1) having a leading edge defining an angle of approximately 45.degree. with the axis and (2) being integrally formed with a tongue of the plurality of radially-spaced tongues;
- v. a plurality of slits extending radially from at least a portion of the periphery toward, but not to, the central aperture; and
- vi. an annular ramp integrally formed with the lower surface and concentric with the central aperture;
- b. a cap placed atop the upper surface of the disc and comprising:
- i. an aperture aligned with the central aperture of the disc;
- ii. a periphery; and
- iii. a plurality of slits extending from at least a portion of the periphery toward, but not to, the aperture, which slits are not aligned with the slits of the disc; and
- c. means for preventing the disc and cap from rotating unrestrained about the footpad.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of (allowed) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/185,451, filed Jan. 24, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,995, entitled "Swimming Pool Cleaner Discs," which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/103,930, filed Aug. 6, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,054, entitled "Swimming Pool Cleaner Discs and Associated Equipment."
US Referenced Citations (20)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2355353 |
May 1975 |
DEX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry |
Two photographs of a beige disc and bearing the handwritten notation "Jandy" (product shown available to Applicants prior to Nov. 4, 1994). |
Two photographs of a blue disc and bearing the handwritten notation "Kreepy Krauley" (product shown available to Applicants prior to Nov. 4, 1994). |
One photograph of a black disc and bearing the handwritten notation "Baracuda" (product shown available to Applicants prior to Nov. 4, 1994). |
Two photographs of a blue disc for a swimming pool cleaner (product shown available to Applicants prior to Nov. 4, 1994). |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
185451 |
Jan 1994 |
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Parent |
103930 |
Aug 1993 |
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