Swimming pool cleaning device

Abstract

The swimming pool cleaning device is a submergible structure for drawing water from a tank, such as a swimming pool, to be cleaned, and further for cleaning a submerged surface of the tank, such as the swimming pool floor. The swimming pool cleaning device includes a pair of suction tubes, which communicate with a pressurized source, such as a pump, to suck water from the swimming pool for cleaning and later return to the swimming pool. A flapper valve controls entry of water into the suction tubes, alternating water flow between one tube and the other. The oscillatory flow between the two suction tubes imparts horizontal momentum to the swimming pool cleaning device, allowing the swimming pool cleaning device to travel along a surface of the pool without further user-provided motive force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool cleaning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of the swimming pool cleaning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view in section of the swimming pool cleaning device shown in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged view of the head portion.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a base plate of the swimming pool cleaning device according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A swimming pool cleaning device, comprising: first and second suction tubes, each of the tubes having opposed upper and lower ends;a head portion defining an open inner chamber, the head portion having a lower wall, the lower wall having a water inlet formed therethrough, each of the first and second suction tubes being mounted on the head portion and being in fluid communication with the open inner chamber;a base plate mounted within the open inner chamber, the base plate separating the open inner chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the base plate having first and second openings formed therethrough, the first opening being aligned with the first suction tube and the second opening being aligned with the second suction tube;a connector portion in fluid communication with the upper ends of the first and second suction tubes, the connector portion being adapted for fluid-tight connection to an external pressurized source; anda head valve pivotally mounted within the head portion, the head valve pivoting between a first position blocking fluid flow into the second suction tube while permitting fluid flow into the first suction tube, and a second position blocking fluid flow into the first suction tube while permitting fluid flow into the second suction tube;whereby, when the swimming pool cleaning device is submerged in fluid and the connector portion is connected to the external pressurized source, the fluid is drawn into the open inner chamber through the water inlet, and the head valve oscillates to alternately permit the fluid to flow into the first and second suction tubes as pressure in the upper chamber on opposite sides of the head valve rises and drops, the fluid being drawn through the connector portion for purification, the oscillating fluid flow through the first and second suction tubes driving the head portion in a substantially horizontal direction across a swimming pool floor.

2. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing enclosing said first and second suction tubes.

3. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 2, wherein said housing includes a buoyant portion for providing a vertical buoyant force to said swimming pool cleaning device when the swimming pool cleaning device is submerged in the fluid.

4. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for securing said housing to an external tether.

5. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a stabilizing fin mounted on said housing, the fin projecting outwardly from said housing.

6. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an upper valve positioned between said connector portion and the upper ends of said first and second suction tubes.

7. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 6, wherein the upper valve comprises a ball valve.

8. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said head valve comprises a flapper valve.

9. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said base plate has opposed first and second ends, the first opening being formed adjacent the first end of said base plate, and the second opening being formed adjacent the second end of said base plate.

10. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for securing the first end of said base plate to the lower wall of said head portion.

11. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one recess is formed in the lower wall of said head portion, said means for securing the first end of said base plate comprising at least one tab mounted to the first end of said base plate and projecting outwardly therefrom, the at least one tab being received within the at least one recess.

12. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for securing the second end of said base plate to a sidewall of said head portion.

13. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 12, the second end of said base plate has a fastener opening defined therein, said means for securing the second end of said base plate comprising a rod mounted adjacent the sidewall and projecting through the fastener opening.

14. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably joining said connector portion to the external pressurized source.

15. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for releasably joining said connector portion to the external pressurized source comprises a threaded connector.

16. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an upper valve positioned between said connector portion and the upper ends of said first and second suction tubes; anda junction chamber formed between the upper ends of said first and second suction tubes and said connector portion;whereby the fluid from said first and second suction tubes feeds into the junction chamber and is drawn out of the junction chamber through said connector portion.

17. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 16, wherein the upper valve is positioned within the junction chamber.

18. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said base plate has opposed first and second ends, the first opening being formed adjacent the first end of said base plate, and the second opening being formed adjacent the second end of said base plate, said base plate having a pair of laterally opposed side edges, each of the side edges having a raised rim formed thereon.

19. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a buoyant portion for providing a vertical buoyant force to said swimming pool cleaning device when the swimming pool cleaning device is submerged in the fluid, the device further comprising a buoyant material disposed within said housing.

20. The swimming pool cleaning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one ring mounted to an external surface of said housing for securing said housing to an external tether.