WO2000021639A1

WO2000021639A1 - Disposable filter bag for a pool cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2000021639A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/023415
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher E. Hatch
Original assignee: Polaris Pool Systems Inc
Current assignee: Polaris Pool Systems Inc
Priority date: 1998-10-14
Filing date: 1999-10-08
Publication date: 2000-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2001-04-14
Also published as: AU6420299A

Abstract

A disposable filter bag (10) is provided for use with a pool cleaner to collect debris such as sand, silt, leaves and twigs vacuumed by the pool cleaner from submerged floor and wall surfaces of a swimming pool or the like. The disposable filter bag (10) includes slotted tabs (40) at the mouth thereof for pass-through reception of the latch clips (26) on the mounting collar (14) to securely affix the filter bag (10) onto the mounting collar (14) prior to collar attachment to the cleaner suction mast. Upon separation of the mounting collar (14) from the suction mast, the filter bag (10) can be disassembled from the mounting collar (14) and discarded with collected debris therein, and a replacement filter bag can then be assembled with the mounting collar.

Description

DISPOSABLE FILTER BAG FOR A POOL CLEANER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to improvements in filter bags for use with automatic pool cleaning devices, particularly of the type designed for submerged travel along the floor and submerged side wall surfaces of a swimming pool or the like to collect and dislodge debris. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved filter bag adapted for convenient and economical disposal with debris collected therein.

Residential and commercial swimming pools conventionally include a water filtration system designed for removing dirt and debris from the pool water. Such filtration systems include a circulation pump for pumping pool water through a filter unit which separates dirt and other suspended debris from the water, after which the filtered pool water is returned to the swimming pool. To maintain desired standards of water cleanliness and clarity, such filtration systems are normally required to be operated on a daily schedule for at least several hours each day.

While a swimming pool filtration system of the type described above is essential for maintaining water cleanliness and clarity, such filtration systems by themselves are generally unable to maintain the pool water in a satisfactory state of cleanliness over a long period of time. For example, a conventional water filtration system is designed to remove suspended water- entrained debris of a relatively small size and not for removing larger debris, such as leaves and the like, or other particulate matter which tends to settle irrespective of size onto the floor and side wall surfaces of the pool. Accordingly, periodic cleaning of the pool floor and submerged side walls by additional means is required to maintain the pool in a clean condition.

A variety of in-the-pool cleaning devices have become popular for dislodging and collecting debris and sediment from the floor and submerged side wall surfaces of a swimming pool. See, for example, the pool cleaner devices shown and described in U.S. Patents 3,822,754 and 4,558,479, which are adapted for submerged and generally random travel along the pool floor and side walls, wherein such devices are exemplified by the poolcleaners marketed by Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. of Vista, California, under the name Polaris. Cleaning devices of this type are designed for connection to a supply of water under pressure, such as by connection to the discharge side of a filtration system circulation pump, and are driven hydraulically over submerged pool surfaces to dislodge debris and sediment and further include hydraulic suction means for drawing sediment and debris through a suction mast into a porous collection or filter bag.

In general, filter bags for pool cleaners have been formed from a mesh-like material sewn into a shape having a lower mouth for attachment about the upper end of the pool cleaner suction mast. Improved filter bag mounting arrangements have incorporated a cylindrical mounting collar of molded plastic or the like at or within the mouth of the filter bag, wherein the mounting collar includes protruding latch clips adapted for snap-fit removable attachment to the cleaner suction mast. See, for example, U.S. Patent 4,589,986. To prevent debris collected within the filter bag from falling back through the suction mast when the cleaner is turned off, compartmented filter bag geometries have been developed to capture and retain collected debris within a pocket remote from the bag mouth. See, for example, U.S. Patents 4,575,423 and 4,618,420. When the filter bag becomes substantially filled with collected debris, it is necessary to remove the filter bag from the pool cleaner suction mast, and to empty the debris from the filter bag. In filter bags of compartmentalized design, separable seams are normally provided for facilitated access to and emptying of debris from the collection pocket. When the filter bag is emptied, the bag is normally returned to service by reassembly onto the pool cleaner suction mast.

The present invention relates to a simplified and improved filter bag for a pool cleaner, wherein the filter bag is designed for removable assembly with a mounting collar which is designed in turn for removable mounting onto the suction mast of a pool cleaner. With this arrangement, when the filter bag reaches a substantially filled condition, the filter bag with debris therein can be disassembled quickly and easily from the mounting collar for convenient and economic disposal of the bag with debris still contained therein. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, an improved filter bag is provided for use with a pool cleaner, wherein the filter bag is adapted for economic disposal when the filter bag becomes substantially filled with debris collected from submerged floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool.

The improved filter bag is constructed from a porous mesh or other suitable filter material to define an open mouth at one end thereof. In a preferred form, the filter bag additionally defines a debris collection pocket formed at a location remote from the open mouth, as shown and described in U.S. Patents 4,575,423 and 4,618,420, which are incorporated by reference herein. A plurality of slotted mounting tabs are formed at the open mouth of the filter bag for receiving respectively a plurality of elongated latch clips on a bag mounting collar, such as a mounting collar of the type shown and described in U.S. Patent 4,589,986, which is incorporated by reference herein. These latch clips accommodate removable snap-fit mounting of the mounting collar, and the filter bag assembled therewith, onto the upper end of pool cleaner suction mast through which water and debris are drawn from submerged pool floor and side wall surfaces.

When the filter bag reaches a substantially filled condition, the filter bag with debris therein can be disassembled quickly and easily from the mounting collar for convenient disposal of the bag with debris still contained therein. A replacement filter bag is assembled quickly and easily with the mounting collar which is then re-installed onto the pool cleaner suction mast for resumed debris collection.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view illustrating a pool cleaner having mounted thereon an improved disposable filter bag embodying the novel features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded side elevation view depicting assembly of the disposable filter bag with a mounting collar;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing installation of the assembled filter bag and mounting collar onto the upper end of a suction mast on a pool cleaner; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmented vertical sectional view illustrating the assembled filter bag and mounting collar installed on the pool cleaner suction mast.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improved filter bag referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 is provided for use with an in-the-pool cleaner 12 (FIGURE 1) of the type designed for generally random travel over the floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool (not shown) or the like. The improved filter bag 10 is designed for quick and easy assembly with a mounting collar 14 adapted for mounting onto the upper end of a pool cleaner suction mast 16, for collection of debris such as leaves, twigs and other particulate matter settled onto submerged pool floor and side wall surfaces. When the filter bag 10 becomes substantially filled with such debris, the filter bag is quickly and easily disassembled from the mounting collar 14 for convenient disposal of the bag 10 with debris collected therein. A replacement bag 10 is quickly and easily assembled with the mounting collar 14 for re-installation onto the pool cleaner.

The improved filter bag 10 of the present invention is designed generally for use with automatic pool cleaners of the type having a generally upright suction mast 16 through which debris settled upon submerged pool surfaces is vacuumed for collection into the filter bag. In this regard, such pool cleaners are generally known in the art and include, for example, those shown and described in U.S. Patents 3,822,574; 4,558,479 and 5,863,425, which are incorporated by reference herein. Pool cleaners of this type generally comprise a compact cleaner housing 18 supported on a plurality of wheels 20 for rolling transport along a generally random path over submerged pool floor and side wall surfaces. The housing encases hydraulic drive means (not shown) for driving one or more of the cleaner wheels 20 in a forward-travel direction. Water under pressure is supplied to the hydraulic drive means via a hose 22, such as a supply of water obtained from the discharge side of a circulation pump (not shown) commonly provided as part of a conventional pool water filtration system. A portion of this positive pressure water is typically jetted upwardly through the suction mast 16 to create a vacuum at the underside of the cleaner housing 18 sufficient to draw debris settled onto an underlying pool surface upwardly through the suction mast.

The filter bag 10 is mounted onto the upper end of the suction mast 16, with an open mouth 24 fitted over the suction mast so that upwardly vacuumed debris flows into and is collected within the interior of the filter bag. In this regard, the mounting collar 14 is provided for quick and easy removable mounting of the filter bag 10 onto the suction mast. The illustrative mounting collar 14 comprises a generally cylindrical component formed from lightweight molded plastic or the like, to include a pair of downwardly projecting latch clips 26 with outwardly facing ramped latch feet 28 thereon for snap-fit removable reception into a corresponding pair of latch ports 30 formed in the suction mast near the upper end thereof. In general, this mounting collar construction including the snap-fit latch clips for removable mounting onto the suction mast, conforms to that shown and described in U.S. Patents 4,589,986; 4,575,423; 4,618,420; and 5,863,425, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cylindrical body of the mounting collar 14 has pairs of short slits 32 formed therein to extend upwardly a short distance along the opposite sides of each latch clip 28.

The filter bag 10 is constructed in the preferred form from a fine mesh material, desirably a fine mesh plastic such as polypropylene orthe like which can be constructed quickly and economically from a single folded-over piece of material, or from a pair of overlying sheets thereof, into a bag- shaped filter element of the desired size and shape. In this regard, the preferred bag geometry incorporates the open mouth 24 at a lower and forward end, sized for slide-fit reception of the mounting collar 14 therein. From the mouth 24, the preferred bag 10 defines a forward upwardly extending column 34 for initial reception of water flow and entrained debris from the suction mast 16. An upper region of this forward column 34 opens over a central transition or divider seam 36 to a rearwardly disposed collection pocket 38. The bag 10 is, of course, seamed as by sewing, heat seaming or ultrasonic welding to define perimeter seams and the central transition or divider seam 36 between the forward column 34 and the rear pocket 38. This preferred bag geometry conforms generally with that shown and described in U.S. Patent 4,618,420, which is incorporated by reference herein.

As noted above, the bag mouth 24 is sized to slide-fit over the cylindrical mounting collar 14. The lowermost or leading edge of the bag, lining the open mouth 24, includes a plurality of downwardly protruding mounting tabs 40 having slots 42 formed therein (shown best in FIG. 2). In the preferred form as shown, these slotted tabs 40 are depicted in the form of two tabs located at generally diametrically opposed positions on opposite sides of the bag mouth 24. Assembly of the mounting collar 14 to the disposable bag 10 is accomplished by sliding the collar 14 sufficiently into the bag mouth 24, to position the tab slots 42 to receive the downwardly protruding latch clips 26. The latch clips 26 are fitted respectively through the tab slots 42, and the collar 24 is then slidably displaced in an opposite direction relative to the bag mouth to position the slotted tabs 40 to extend through the slits 32 at the inboard faces of the latch clips 26, as viewed in FIG. 4. The assembled filter bag 10 and related mounting collar 14 can then be installed onto the suction mast 14 at a downstream end thereof in a normal manner, by means of the latch clips 26 arranged with the latch feet 28 snap-fitted within the latch ports 30.

During operation of the pool cleaner 12 with the filter bag 10 installed thereon, debris is vacuumed from submerged pool surfaces for collection within the bag. More particularly, water and debris is drawn from a submerged pool surface area underlying the cleaner housing 18 for flow upwardly through the bag mouth 24 and further through the forward column 34. Such cleaning action is accompanied by forward travel of the cleaner 12 so that debris passing upwardly through the forward column 34 tends to settle rearwardly over the top of the transition seam 36 for collection within the rear collection pocket 38 of the bag.

When the collection pocket 38 reaches a substantially filled condition, the filter bag 10 can be removed quickly and easily from the cleaner suction mast 16 by disassembly of the mounting collar 14 therefrom. The mounting collar 14 can then be separated from the filter bag 10 by sliding manipulation of the collar to uncouple the slotted tabs 40 from the latch clips 26. The entire bag 10 with the collected debris contained therein can then be conveniently and economically discarded, and a replacement filter bag 10 can be assembled with the mounting collar 14 which is then reinstalled onto the pool cleaner suction mast. Disposal of the entire bag 10 alleviates the need to empty the collected debris from the bag, and further eliminates the need to construct the bag with a separable seam segment as described in U.S. Patents 4,575,423 and 4,618,420 for facilitated access to and disposal of the collected debris.

A variety of modifications and improvements in and to the disposable filter bag 10 of the present invention will be apparent to those persons skilled in the art. For example, while the invention has been shown and described with respect to filter bag assembly for mounting onto a pressure-type pool cleaner, the removable and disposable bag mounting concept of the invention may be employed with other types of disposable bags used in pool cleaners and related debris collection systems. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A filter bag for use with a pool cleaner having a suction mast for water flow therethrough to vacuum debris from submerged surfaces of a swimming pool, said filter bag comprising: a generally bag-shaped filter element having a generally cylindrical open mouth with a size and shape adapted for removable slide-fit assembly with a mounting collar including means for removable mounting to a pool cleaner suction mast generally at a downstream end thereof; said filter element further including at least one mounting member for removably connecting said filter element to the mounting collar.

2. The filter bag of claim 1 wherein said filter element is formed from a porous mesh material.

3. The filter bag of claim 1 wherein said at least one mounting member comprises a slotted tab formed on said filter element generally at said open mouth.

4. The filter bag of claim 1 wherein said at least one mounting member comprises a plurality of slotted tabs formed on said filter element generally at said open mouth.

5. The filter bag of claim 4 wherein said plurality of slotted tabs comprises a pair of slotted tabs projecting outwardly from said open mouth at generally diametrically opposed positions.

6. The filter bag of claim 1 wherein the mounting collar includes a pair of latch clips, said slotted tabs respectively being adapted to fit over and receive the latch clips for removably connecting said filter element to the mounting collar.

7. The filter bag of claim 1 wherein said filter element includes a central transition seam subdividing the interior of said filter element into a forward column aligned generally over said open mouth, and a rear collection pocket disposed rearwardly from said forward column and communicating therewith over an upper end of said transition seam.

8. A filter bag for use with a pool cleaner having a suction mast for water flow therethrough to vacuum debris from submerged surfaces of a swimming pool, said filter bag comprising: a generally bag-shaped filter element having a generally cylindrical open mouth with a size and shape adapted for removable slide-fit assembly with a mounting collar including means for removable mounting to a pool cleaner suction mast generally at a downstream end thereof; said filter element further including a pair of slotted tabs projecting outwardly from said open mouth at generally diametrically opposed positions for removably connecting said filter element to the mounting collar.

9. The filter bag of claim 8 wherein said filter element is formed from a porous mesh material.

10. The filter bag of claim 8 wherein said filter element includes a central transition seam subdividing the interior of said filter element into a forward column aligned generally over said open mouth, and a rear collection pocket disposed rearwardly from said forward column and communicating therewith over an upper end of said transition seam.

11. A filter bag assembly for use with a pool cleaner having a suction mast for water flow therethrough to vacuum debris from submerged surfaces of a swimming pool, said filter bag assembly comprising: a generally bag-shaped filter element having a generally cylindrical open mouth; and a mounting collar including means for removable mounting to a pool cleaner suction mast generally at a downstream end thereof, said mounting collar having a size and shape for slide-fit assembly with said open mouth of said filter element; said filter element further including at least one mounting member for removably connecting said filter element to said mounting collar.

12. The filter bag assembly of claim 11 wherein said filter element is formed from a porous mesh material.

13. The filter bag assembly of claim 11 wherein said mounting collar is formed from a molded plastic material.

14. The filter bag assembly of claim 11 wherein said at least one mounting member comprises a slotted tab formed on said filter element generally at said open mouth.

15. The filter bag assembly of claim 11 wherein said at least one mounting member comprises a plurality of slotted tabs formed on said filter element generally at said open mouth.

16. The filter bag assembly of claim 15 wherein said plurality of slotted tabs comprises a pair of slotted tabs projecting outwardly from said open mouth at generally diametrically opposed positions.

17. The filter bag assembly of claim 16 wherein said removable mounting means on said mounting collar comprises a pair of latch clips, said slotted tabs respectively being adapted to fit over and receive said latch clips for removably connecting said filter element to said mounting collar.

18. The filter bag assembly of claim 11 wherein said filter element includes a central transition seam subdividing the interior of said filter element into a forward column aligned generally over said open mouth, and a rear collection pocket disposed rearwardly from said forward column and communicating therewith over an upper end of said transition seam.