POOL CLEANER

Description

[0001] US 5737791 discloses a pool cleaner with a body in which is formed a passage with a restricted throat. A valve element in the form of shuttle extends laterally to the throat and is movable to block fluid flow through the throat. The valve member is however not positioned inside the passage nor in the throat.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is concemed, in the first instance, with a pool cleaner body which lends itself to facilitating the manufacture thereof as an integral structure.

[0003] Inherent in the nature of an integral pool cleaner body is the incorporation of a flotation device in the body. The applicant has discovered that this feature can be utilised to produce important benefits and hence a second aspect of the invention relates to characteristics of the flotation means which allow such benefits to be produced.

[0004] To achieve the aforementioned and other objects the invention provides a pool cleaner which includes a body, at least one passage which extends through the body with an inlet to the passage and an outlet from the passage at respective opposed ends of the passage and a fluid flow interrupting device in the passage, the passage having a minimum cross-sectional area at a position selected from the inlet, the outlet, and a location between the inlet and the outlet, the cross-sectional area of the passage in each direction extending away from the said selected position towards each respective end of the passage monotonically increasing in magnitude.

[0005] "Monotonic", as used herein, indicates that the cross-sectional area of the passage at any location is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the passage at a preceding adjacent location, moving away from the position of minimum cross-sectional area. Thus, although the cross-sectional area may not increase along its length, in the indicated direction, it does not decrease. This enables the passage to be formed using a single core which does not have any undercut sections or steps which could impede withdrawal of the core from the passage.

[0006] Preferably the said position of minimum cross-sectional area is at the outlet. This enables a single core to be used for forming the passage, as opposed to two cores which are movable together in opposite directions to a moulding position.

[0007] The pool cleaner may include a partition which divides the passage into first and second adjacent sub-passages. This however depends on the nature of the cleaner.

[0008] The partition, when used, may be formed integrally with the remainder of the body. This may be done by appropriately shaping the core. Preferably though the partition is formed separately from the body and is engaged with formations in the body thereby to divide the passage into the said first and second adjacent sub-passages.

[0009] The pool cleaner may include a chamber adjacent the inlet which is in communication with the passage, with the fluid-flow interrupting device, which may be of any appropriate kind, in the chamber. A closure member with at least one aperture may be releasably engaged with the body to enclose the device in the chamber.

[0010] The closure member is preferably formed so that a gap is formed between a surface of the dosure member and an opposing surface of the fluid-flow interrupting device. Preferably the width of this gap is approximately equal to the maximum width of an opening formed between the fluid-flow interrupting device and an inner wall of the chamber as the device moves, during use of the pool cleaner.

[0011] The closure member may be domed or have any other suitable shape, or be fixed to the body of the cleaner in any appropriate way, to achieve the aforementioned feature.

[0012] The cleaner may include flotation means which may be elongate, extending in the general direction of the passage, and which has a length which is in excess of 25% of the length of the body, and which is preferably of the order of 50% of such length.

[0013] In a variation of the invention the flotation means comprises a plurality of flotation components which are respectively positioned at spaced intervals from each other in an array which extends in the general direction of the passage between the inlet and the outlet.

[0014] The flotation means may be formed separately and may then be embedded in the body during manufacture of the body. According to a preferred aspect of the invention however the flotation means is formed integrally with the body by foaming material from which the body is made during manufacture of the body.

[0015] As used herein "foaming" includes any mechanism or technique whereby the material of the body is directly caused to foam, by means of chemical action, or the material is foamed by the introduction of a foaming agent of any appropriate kind or is aerated, for example by the injection of a suitable gas, including air.

[0016] The flotation means is preferably located on what in use is an upper side of the body, on one side of the passage, and biasing means which may be in the form of a body section is then located on a lower side of the body on a directly opposing side of the passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pool cleaner according to the invention in the process of manufacture;

Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of a core used in the process of manufacture;

Figure 3 is an end view of a mouth of the pool cleaner shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a body of the pool cleaner taken on a line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a partition and hammer used in the pool cleaner of the invention;

Figure 6 is an end view of the body of the pool cleaner with a cover plate in an exploded position;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a modification of the pool cleaner;

Figure 8 is a front view of the modification of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view of a pool cleaner body which is similar to that shown in Figure 1 but which includes a variation of the invention;

Figure 10 is a side view of a pool cleaner according to a different form of the invention;

Figure 11 illustrates a flow interrupting device which is used in the pool cleaner of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 shows the components of Figures 10 and 11 assembled.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a pool cleaner body 10 in the process of manufacture. The body is formed inside a first mould member 12 which is made from a suitable material and in which is located a second mould member 14 referred to herein as a core. The mould member 12 is made from at least two interengageable halves. To a considerable extent Figure 1 is schematic for it is intended to show the principles of the process of manufacture. The manner in which the mould members are made and engaged with one another are aspects which are known in the art and hence are not further described herein.

[0019] The core 14 is precisely positioned inside a cavity 16 which defines an outer shape of the body 10. This is done using techniques which are known in the art. A suitable plastics material such as polypropylene is then injected into the cavity around the core 14 to form the body 10. Once the body has set the body is removed from the mould member 12 and the core 14 is extracted. All this is done using techniques which are known in the art.

[0020] An objective of the present invention is to provide a pool cleaner body which is formed in a single moulding process so that, as far as possible, the body has a unitary type construction. In other words components which make up the body are not separately fabricated and then secured to one another by means of fasteners, clip formations and the like. It is important, particularly from the economic point of view and from the durability point of view, to be able to make a pool cleaner body which has a unitary construction. Production costs are low and the ability of the body to withstand vibration and similar shock effects, which may be encountered during use, is enhanced.

[0021] It is known that a pool cleaner, during use, should adopt a designed orientation. For this purpose use is made of a flotation component which imparts buoyancy to the body and a biasing member or weight which increases the density of a portion of the body. Hitherto, to the applicant's knowledge, pool cleaners of which the applicant is aware make use of a flotation component which has a "localised effect. For example in US 4023227 the flotation component is circular, viewed from the side. In US 4351077 the flotation component is spherical. The applicant has now discovered that the use of an elongate flotation component holds two important benefits. Firstly the orientation of the cleaner, which is essential for good working and particularly when the cleaner is first immersed in water, is maintained with a surprising degree of accuracy. An unexpected result, the reasons for which are not fully understood, is that weights which are normally attached to a suction hose connected to the cleaner may be dispensed with. Such weights are traditionally used in a manner which is determined empirically and which depends inter alia on the depth of the swimming pool in which the cleaner is used.

[0022] A second benefit is that the applicant has noticed that the pool cleaner body is highly manoeuvrable during use. The pool cleaner body is able to rotate in a manner which reduces the likelihood that the pool cleaner will become trapped at awkward locations under water, for example at corners or steps.

[0023] To achieve the aforementioned benefits the pool cleaner body 10 includes an elongate flotation component 18 which, in this example of the invention, is prefabricated from a suitable foamed material such as polystyrene or foamed polyurethane or any equivalent material. The pool cleaner body also includes a lead weight or bias component 20 embedded in the body.

[0024] The core 14 is shown in perspective in Figure 2. The core has a central section 22 which is elongate and which has a circular cross-section, a spigot 24 at one end of the central section and an enlarged chamber- forming section 26 at an opposed end of the central section. Two ribs 28 project outwardly from the central section 22 and extend between the spigot 24 and the section 26. The ribs are on opposed sides of the central section. Only one rib is visible in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

[0025] The central section of the core is formed with a first pair of recesses 30 on one side thereof and a second set of recesses 32 on an opposing side thereof (see Figure 1). Before the core is located in the mould member 12 small plastic spigots 34 are inserted into the respective recesses. Protruding ends of the spigots are engaged with complementary holes in the flotation component 18 and the lead weight 20, respectively. In this way the flotation component and the lead weight are precisely positioned relatively to the core. The core is then located in the mould member 12.

[0026] The core extends between opposed ends 36 and 38 of the body and, once removed, leaves a passage 40 which extends between these ends. The passage has an inlet 42 and an outlet 44. The passage, at the outlet, has a region 46 of minimum cross-section. Proceeding in the length of the passage from the outlet to the inlet the cross-sectional area of the core 14, and hence of the passage, increases monotonically. Thus, at any location, the cross-section of the passage is greater than or equal to the cross-section of the passage at an immediately preceding location. The core also has no steps or discontinuities which could form undercut regions, and the passage is therefore similarly formed. The cross-sectional area of the spigot 24, and hence of the region 46, is substantially constant. The central section 22 is formed with a taper of ^2* and consequently the cross-sectional area of the central section increases gradually moving from left to right in Figure 1.

[0027] The inlet 42 does not include a step or undercut formation which could prevent retraction of the core. The core, as is evident particularly from Figure 2, has outwardly extending V-shaped formations 48, at the section 26, which ultimately form internal walls of a chamber of the pool cleaner. To the right of the section 26 the core has a solid section 50 which is mainly provided for purposes of utility to enable the core to be handled and correctly located inside the member 12.

[0028] As has been indicated plastic material, such as polypropylene 50 of a suitable grade, is injected into the volume formed between opposing surfaces of the cavity 16 and the core 14. The material sets around the core, the flotation component and the lead weight. Once the material has set the body and the contained core 14 are removed from the member 12. The core is then extracted from the body by withdrawing it through the inlet 42. Although the core is closely surrounded by the material from which the body is formed, and consequently there is an initial resistance to relative movement between the core and the body, once the core has been moved to the right relatively to the body (referring to Figure 1) the monotonic cross-sectional nature of the core and, more particularly, the fact that the central section 22 is tapered, means that only a small degree of relative movement between the body and the core is necessary for the core to be moved freely away from the body.

[0029] As the core is withdrawn the spigots 34 are sheared. The spigots are, as has been noted, anchored to the body and to the flotation component 18 and the lead weight 20. The spigots do not have substantial strength and the relative movement referred to is sufficient to break the spigots so that the core can be withdrawn from the body. The sections of the spigots which remain inside the body are simply left there.

[0030] Thus a method of constructing a pool cleaner body with an embedded flotation component and bias component is provided.

[0031] Adjacent the inlet 42 the core and mould member 12 are shaped to define an outwardly extending flange 52 which circumscribes a mouth 54 which is on, what in use is, an upstream side of the pool cleaner body. The material of the body between the inlet 42 and the mouth 54 is formed with two opposing holes 56, indicated in dotted outline in Figure 1. The inlet has a surrounding shoulder 58.

[0032] The body has a length 60 and the flotation component 18 has a length 62, measured in the general direction of the passage.

[0033] The length 62 is preferably in excess of 25% of the length 60 and more particularly is at least 50% of the length 60. It has been found, totally fortuitously, that an elongate flotation component of this type imparts considerable stability to the pool cleaner body and also enables the pool cleaner body to take up the correct orientation or attitude when it is immersed in water, particularly when it is first placed in the water. Another surprising finding has been that the manoeuvrability of the cleaner, as measured by its ability to rotate during movement, about its longitudinal axis, is enhanced. This assists the cleaner in extricating itself from difficult positions within a pool in which it is located and also increases the degree of random movement of the pool cleaner.

[0034] The flotation component 18 is on an upper side of the pool cleaner body in use while the lead weight 20 is on a lower side of the pool cleaner body, diametrically opposing the flotation component. Thus buoyancy is exerted on the body by the flotation component over a substantial portion of the length of the body while the biasing action of the lead weight 20 is exerted at a localised position, towards a lower end of the cleaner, which is on a lower side of the cleaner.

[0035] Although the body 10, formed in the manner described, is integral and has a unitary construction it is not complete in the sense that it is not yet ready for use. Figure 3 is an end view of the cleaner illustrating only the inlet 42, which is of rectangular cross-section, and the passage 40 which has a circular cross-section. Slots 64 are formed on diametrically opposed sides of the passage by the two ribs 28 on the core.

[0036] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cavity 16 and core 14 taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

[0037] Figure 6 is an end view of the cleaner and illustrates the flange 52 which surrounds the mouth 54 and the inlet 42. Figure 6 also illustrates a closure or cover plate 70 which is separately moulded and which includes a centrally located hole or aperture 72. The body 10 has four relatively small inwardly extending flexible projections 74 surrounding the inlet 42. The cover plate 70 can be inserted through the mouth and can be seated on the shoulder 58 by depressing the projections 74 to allow the cover plate to pass the projections. The projections then revert to the illustrated positions to keep the cover plate in position firmly fixed to the pool cleaner body. The cover plate can easily be removed simply by inserting a finger through the hole 72 and tugging on the cover plate. This is a highly useful feature for it enables dirt or debris which may have been caught inside the passage to be accessed and removed. The cover plate can then be re-engaged with the pool cleaner body.

[0038] Figure 5 shows a pre-formed partition 80 which includes an elongate section 82 of rectangular dimensions and a V-shaped groove formation 84 at one end of the section. A flow interrupting device which is in the form of a V-shaped hammer 88 has a leading end 90 which is locatable in the groove formation 84. The hammer is capable of moving to and fro as is indicated by means of an arrow 92, relatively to the partition 80, between limiting positions which are defined by arms of the V-shaped groove.

[0039] The partition 80 is designed to fit into the slots 64 in the inner wall of the passage 40. This is done after the core has been removed from the body. The partition is slid into the passage with opposing longitudinal edges being directly engaged in the respective slots. The passage is thereby divided into first and second adjacent sub-passages 94 and 96 respectively. The V-shaped groove 84 is moved to a position which is in register with the apices of the recessed formations which are formed by the V-shaped formations 48. The hammer 88, which is shown in dotted outline in Figure 1, is thereby constrained in its movement between opposing internal inclined walls of a chamber 98.

[0040] When the cover plate 70 is engaged with the body 10 the hammer is thereby held captive inside the valve chamber.

[0041] The pool cleaner is used in a manner which is known in the art and which is therefore not further described in detail herein. A skirt of any flexible material is engaged with the outwardly projecting flange 52 and a suction hose is coupled to the outlet 44 using a swivel connector of any appropriate type. When the pool cleaner is immersed in water suction is applied to the suction hose and to the passage 40 by means of an . external pump, not shown. The pump causes water to flow through the inlet 42 to the outlet 44. The water flow causes the hammer 88 to oscillate to and fro inside the valve chamber 98. The water flow alternatively surges through the two sub-passages 94 and 96 which are formed by the partition 80 which divides the main passage 40 into two D-shaped sub-passages with the partition forming a common wall between the D-shaped sub-passages.

[0042] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate from the side and front respectively an important modification which can be made to the pool cleaner.

[0043] The flat cover plate 70 of Figure 6 is replaced by a dome-shaped cover plate 70A which has a centrally formed aperture 72A in a central surface of the cover plate which is spaced from an opposing surface of the hammer 88 by a gap 91 which has a width 93.

[0044] The width 93 is substantially equal to the maximum width 95 of a gap 97 which is formed between opposing surfaces of the hammer and an inner wall of the chamber 98, in use of the pool cleaner. The modification does not affect the operation of the hammer but it does improve the performance of the pool cleaner for the cleaner is able to draw larger pieces of material, e.g. leaves, twigs, small stones etc, through the hammer chamber and those pieces of material are far less likely to interfere with hammer movement or become trapped inside the valve chamber. In any event, as has been pointed out, the valve chamber is readily cleaned simply by removing the cover plate to access the hammer and the valve chamber.

[0045] Another variation shown in Figures 7 and 8 is that the formation 84 of the partition 80 is dispensed with for opposed edges 99 of the hammer, at its apex, ride on formations 101 of a ledge 103 which internally surrounds the valve chamber.

[0046] It is to be noted that in Figure 8 the hammer 88 is shown in dotted outline.

[0047] The feature of manoeuvrability of the pool cleaner which is achieved through the use of an extended flotation component, as has been described by referring to the component 18 in Figure 1, can be achieved in another manner. For example, referring to Figure 9, a plurality of separately formed and relatively smaller flotation components 18A are embedded in a body 10A of a pool cleaner according to a variation of the invention. The flotation components are of a size and number which take into account the relative densities of the material of the pool cleaner body and the density of the flotation components so that adequate buoyancy is imparted to the body over its length. The components 18A may be of the same size or differ in size. The important aspect in this regard is to provide buoyancy for the body over a substantial portion of its length in order to achieve the benefits which have been referred to hereinbefore. The remaining features of the pool cleaner body 10A are substantially similar to corresponding features of the body 10 and hence have not been elaborated on.

[0048] Figures 10 to 12 illustrate the principles of the invention applied to the construction of a pool cleaner which makes use of a different type of flow interrupting device. Figure 10 shows a pool cleaner body 100 which is moulded, substantially in the manner which has described in connection with Figure 1, and which has a unitary one piece body. The body includes an internal passage 102 which has a region 104 of minimum cross-section. This region is close to an outlet 106 at one end of the body. Between the region 104 and the outlet 106 the passage is flared and hence increases monotonically moving to the right.

[0049] The passage at an opposing end has an inlet 108 and the cross-sectional area of the passage moving from the region 104 to the inlet 108 increases monotonically. The passage has a first section 110 with a first taper which gradually increases the cross-sectional area of the passage and a second section 112 which is also tapered so that, moving from right to left, the cross-sectional area of the section increases. A shoulder 114 is at a junction of the first and second sections.

[0050] The body has a mouth 116 which is surrounded by an outwardly extending flange 118. A flexible skirt 120, of known construction, is engaged with the flange.

[0051] A biasing weight 122 is embedded in the body, using the technique which has been described in connection with Figure 1. In the aforementioned respects the pool cleaner body 100 is similar in concept to the pool cleaner body 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0052] The body 100 also includes a flotation component 124 which may be separately formed and which is then embedded in the body during manufacture of the body. However the applicant has discovered that the component 124 may be formed integrally with the body by foaming the material from which the body is made. It has been noted that the body is formed from a plastics material and this may be foamed in a number of ways. The body may be foamed by the introduction of a foaming agent which causes cavities or gas bubbles to be produced. This feature has been found to manifest itself particularly in those regions of the body where the thickness of the body is greater than a predetermined amount, for example of the order of 4mm. Consequently by keeping this aspect in mind it is possible, through judicious design, to ensure that the plastics material, which is injected into the moulds used for making the body, is caused to solidify substantially without any foaming action taking place over those portions of the body which define walls which are relatively thin bounding the flow passage 102. By increasing the dimensions of the body relatively to the flow passage a larger volume is formed in which foaming action takes place and, in this way, the component 124 can be formed integrally with the material of the body. The foaming action may be initiated in various ways which are known in the plastics industry. For example use may be made of a cellular plastics material with the cellular construction being produced by the effect of a gas which is injected into the plastics material before it has set or which is generated during the injection process by means of chemical action. Thus, by manipulating the characteristics of the moulding process, it is possible to form the body with sections that are less dense than the remaining sections of the body and each such less dense section is, in effect, a flotation element. On the other hand with gas injection techniques of plastics material it is known that the plastic material, when it comes into contact with a mould surface, particularly a heated mould surface, forms a section which is relatively free of gas. By manipulating the characteristics of the mould it is possible to ensure that a substantial portion of the body is formed with a substantial amount of cells which impart to such portion a less dense characteristic. An opposing side of the pool cleaner body which carries the lead weight 122 is made more dense and hence is not foamed.

[0053] The body has a removable bumper strip 126 which is made from a material such as polyurethane which is abrasion and wear-resistant. The inset drawing to Figure 10 shows the cross-section of the strip. The bumper strip has an elongate rib 128 with a bulbous end 130 which is engageable with a press fit into a slot 132 of corresponding dimensions formed in a lower longitudinal edge of the body.

[0054] Figure 11 illustrates a flow interrupting mechanism 136 which is of known construction and which includes a tube 138 and a diaphragm valve 140. As shown in Figure 12 the device 136 is insertable into the passage 102 through the inlet 108. The diaphragm 140 seats on a shoulder 142 and a remote end 144 of the tube which is formed with gripping formations 146 is then engaged with a compression ring 148 which is encompassed by a union nut 150 which is threadedly engaged with a threaded boss 152 of the body around the outlet 106. A swivel connector 154 extends from the nut and is connectable to a suction hose, not shown.

[0055] When suction is applied to the connector 154 water flow through the diaphragm valve 140 causes the valve to open and close, in a manner which is known in the art, and the pulsating action of the water flow causes the pool cleaner to move in a random manner over a surface which is to be cleaned.

[0056] The pool cleaner shown in Figure 12 possesses similar advantages to what have been described in connection with the other embodiments, namely the length 160 of the elongate flotation component is considerably in excess of 25% of the length 162 of the pool cleaner body, between the inlet and the outlet, and the pool cleaner thus possesses considerable manouverability during use. A second factor is that the body is of a unitary construction.

[0057] The foamed flotation component is particularly useful for it eliminates a separate moulding step. Another important benefit is that by using substantially dense plastics material, and by careful control of the volumes in which foaming takes place, or does not take place the volume which is occupied by the weight 122 can be formed with solid plastics material, which provides the required bias, and the weight can be eliminated. It may however be necessary to enlarge the solid plastics section to obtain a mass which is equivalent to the mass of the lead weight which is replaced by the plastics section.

[0058] The minimum cross-sectional area of the passage, in the body of the cleaner, is preferably at one end of the passage for this requires a single core. If the region of minimum cross-sectional area is at an intermediate position in the passage then the monotonic increase in cross-sectional area is in two directions, each towards a respective end of the passage, and two cores are required, each inserted into the mould member 12 from a different side and in opposing directions.

Claims

1. A pool cleaner which includes a body (10) , at least one passage (40) which extends through the body with an inlet (42) to the passage and an outlet (44) from the passage at respective opposed ends of the passage and a fluid flow interrupting device (88) in the passage, whereby the passage has a minimum cross-sectional area at a position selected from the inlet, the outlet, and a location (46) between the inlet and the outlet, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the passage in each, or the direction, respectively extending away from the said selected position towards each respective end, or the end opposed to said selected position, of the passage, respectively monotonically increases in magnitude.

2. A pool cleaner according to claim 1 characterized in that the body (10) is of unitary construction.

3. A pool cleaner according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the said position (46) of minimum cross-sectional area is at the outlet (44).

4. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it includes a partition (82) which divides the passage (40) into first and second adjacent sub-passages.

5. A pool cleaner according to claim 4 characterized in that the partition (82) is formed separately from the body and is engaged with formations in the body thereby to divide the passage (40).

6. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the passage (40) defines a chamber (98) adjacent the inlet, with the fluid-flow interrupting device (88) being located in the chamber, and which includes a closure member (70, 70A) with at least one aperture (72, 72A) which is releasably engaged with the body to enclose the fluid-flow interrupting device in the chamber, and which is further characterized in that opposing surfaces of the closure member (70A) and of the fluid-flow interrupting device (88) have a gap (93) between them which is approximately equal to the maximum width of an opening (95) formed between the fluid-flow interrupting device and an inner wall of the chamber during movement of the fluid-flow interrupting device.

7. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6 which is characterized in that it includes flotation means (18, 124) which is elongate and which is located on what in use is an upper side of the body on one side of the passage, extending in the general direction of the passage.

8. A pool cleaner according to claim 7 characterized in that the flotation means (18, 124) has a length which is in excess of 25% of the length of the body.

9. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6 which is characterized in that it includes flotation means (18A) comprising a plurality of flotation components which are respectively positioned at spaced intervals from each other in an array which extends in the general direction of the passage between the inlet and the outlet.

10. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 7 to 9 characterized in that the flotation means (124) is formed integrally with the body by foaming material from which the body is made during manufacture of the body.

11. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that it includes biasing means (20, 122) which is located on what in use is a lower side of the body.

12. A pool cleaner according to claim 11 characterised in that the biasing means (122) is formed by a solid portion of the body.

13. A pool cleaner according to claim 11 characterized in that the biasing means is embedded in the body.

14. A pool cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 13 characterized in that it includes at least one removable bumper strip (126) engaged with the body.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung, die einen Körper (10), mindestens einen Durchlaß (40), der sich durch den Körper erstreckt, mit einem Einlaß (42) zu dem Durchlaß und einem Auslaß (44) von dem Durchlaß an entsprechenden entgegengesetzten Enden des Durchlasses und eine Flüssigkeitsflußunterbrechungseinrichtung (88) in dem Durchlaß umfaßt, wobei der Durchlaß eine minimale Querschnittsfläche an einer Position aufweist, die aus dem Einlaß, dem Auslaß, und einer Stelle (46) zwischen dem Einlaß und dem Auslaß ausgewählt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Querschnittsfläche des Durchlasses in jeder oder der Richtung, die sich von der ausgewählten Position weg zu jedem entsprechenden Ende, bzw. dem der ausgewählten Position entgegengesetzten Ende des Durchlasses erstreckt, betragsmäßig monoton zunimmt.

2. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (10) einen einheitlichen Aufbau aufweist.

3. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich die Position (46) minimaler Querschnittsfläche an dem Auslaß (44) befindet.

4. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie ein Trennmittel (82) umfaßt, das den Durchlaß (40) in erste und zweite benachbarte Unterdurchlässe teilt.

5. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Trennmittel (82) separat von dem Körper gebildet ist und mit Strukturen in dem Körper zusammenwirkt, um dadurch den Durchlaß (40) zu teilen.

6. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei der Durchlaß (40) eine dem Einlaß benachbarte Kammer (98) definiert, wobei die Flüssigkeitsflußunterbrechungseinrichtung (88) in der Kammer angeordnet ist, und die ein Schließteil (70, 70A) mit mindestens einer Öffnung (72, 72A) umfaßt, welches lösbar mit dem Körper zusammenwirkt, um die Flüssigkeitsflußunterbrechungseinrichtung in der Kammer einzuschließen, und welche weiterhin dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß gegenüberliegende Oberflächen des Schließteils (70A) und der Flüssigkeitsflußunterbrechungseinrichtung (88) einen Spalt (93) zwischen sich aufweisen, der etwa gleich der maximalen Breite einer Öffnung (95) ist, die zwischen der Flüssigkeitsflußunterbrechungseinrichtung und einer inneren Wand der Kammer während der Bewegung der Flüssigkeitsflußunterbrechungseinrichtung gebildet wird.

7. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, die dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß sie ein Flotationsmittel (18, 124) aufweist, das länglich ist und auf einer in Benutzung oberen Seite des Körpers auf einer Seite des Durchlasses angeordnet ist, wobei es sich in die allgemeine Richtung des Durchlasses erstreckt.

8. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Flotationsmittel (18, 124) eine Länge aufweist, die einen Überschuß von 25% der Länge des Körpers aufweist.

9. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, welche dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, daß sie ein Flotationsmittel (18A) umfaßt, das eine Mehrzahl von Flotationskomponenten aufweist, die jeweils in beabstandeten Intervallen voneinander in einer Arraystruktur angeordnet sind, das sich in der allgemeinen Richtung des Durchlasses zwischen dem Einlaß und dem Auslaß erstreckt.

10. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Flotationsmittel (124) integral mit dem Körper durch Schaummaterial gebildet ist, aus dem der Körper während der Herstellung des Körpers gefertigt wird.

11. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie ein Vorspannmittel (20, 122) aufweist, das an einer in Benutzung unteren Seite des Körpers angeordnet ist.

12. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Vorspannmittel (122) durch einen festen Teil des Körpers gebildet wird.

13. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Vorspannmittel in dem Körper eingebettet ist.

14. Eine Poolreinigungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie mindestens einen mit dem Körper zusammenwirkenden entfernbaren Pufferstreifen (126) aufweist.

Revendications

1. Un nettoyeur de piscine qui comprend un corps (10), avec au moins un passage (40) qui se prolonge le long du corps avec un orifice d'entrée (42) vers le passage et un orifice de sortie (44) du passage aux extrémités opposées respectives du passage et un dispositif d'interruption d'écoulement (88) dans le passage, au moyen duquel le passage possède une zone de coupe transversale à une position sélectionnée à partir de l'orifice d'entrée, l'orifice de sortie, et un emplacement (46) entre l'orifice d'entrée et l'orifice de sortie, caractérisé par le fait que la zone de coupe transversale du passage dans chacune. ou dans la direction, en se prolongeant respectivement à l'extérieur de ladite position sélectionnée vers chaque extrémité respective, ou l'extrémité opposée de ladite position sélectionnée du passage, croissant respectivement en magnitude.

2. D'après la revendication 1, un nettoyeur de piscine qui est caractérisé par le fait que le corps (10) est construit d'une seule pièce.

3. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après la revendication 1 ou 2 et qui est caractérisé par le fait que ladite position (46) d'une zone de coupe transversale minimale est à l'orifice de sortie (44).

4. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 1 à 3 et qui est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend une cloison (82) qui divise le passage (40) dans le premier et le second passage secondaire adjacent.

5. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après la revendication 4 et qui est caractérisé par le fait que la cloison (82) est formée séparément du corps et elle est accouplée avec des dispositifs dans le corps pour, de cette façon, diviser le passage (40).

6. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 1 à 5 à l'intérieur duquel le passage (40) définit une chambre (98) adjacente à l'orifice d'entrée, avec le dispositif d'interruption d'écoulement (88) qui est situé dans la chambre, et qui comprend un obturateur (70, 70A) avec au moins une ouverture (72, 72A) qui peut se déclencher avec le corps pour encloisonner le dispositif d'interruption d'écoulement dans la chambre, et qui de plus est caractérisé par le fait que les surfaces opposantes de l'obturateur (70A) et du dispositif d'interruption d'écoulement (88) ont un écartement (93) entre eux qui est approximativement égal à la largeur maximale d'une ouverture (95) formée entre le dispositif d'interruption d'écoulement et une paroi interne de la chambre au cours du mouvement formé par le dispositif d'interruption d'écoulement.

7. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 1 à 6 et qui est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend un moyen de flottation (18, 124) qui est allongé et qui est situé lorsqu'il est utilisé est sur le coté latéral supérieur du corps sur un côté du passage, s'étendant dans la direction générale du passage.

8. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après la revendication 7 et qui est caractérisé par le fait que le moyen de flottation (18, 124) est d'une longueur qui excède 25% de la longueur du corps.

9. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 1 à 6 et qui est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend un moyen de flottation (18A) comprenant une majorité de composants de flottation qui sont positionnés respectivement à des intervalles espacés de chacun dans une gamme qui s'étend dans la direction générale du passage entre l'orifice d'entrée et l'orifice de sortie.

10. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 7 à 9 et qui est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend un moyen de flottation (124) qui forme une partie intégrale du corps dans un matériau en mousse à partir duquel le corps est construit au cours de la fabrication du corps.

11. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 1 à 10 et qui est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend un moyen de polarisation (20, 122) qui est situé qui, lorsqu'il est utilisé, se trouve sur la partie inférieure du corps.

12. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après la revendication 11 et qui est caractérisé par le fait que le moyen de polarisation (122) est formé par une portion solide du corps.

13. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après la revendication 11 et qui est caractérisé par le fait que le moyen de polarisation est inclus dans le corps.

14. Un nettoyeur de piscine d'après n'importe laquelle des revendications allant de 1 à 13 et qui est caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend au moins un pare-choc avec des bandes protectrices amovibles (126) qui est fixé sur le corps.

Drawing