AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COVERING AN OUTLET OF

A SWIMMING POOL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for covering an outlet of a swimming pool, and in particular, an apparatus and method for covering an outlet via which water is pumped out of the swimming pool.

Background of the Invention

A swimming pool (including a hot tub, a spa bath and the like) will typically include a pump for pumping water out of the pool via an outlet and into a filtration system before returning the water back into the pool via an inlet. As water is being pumped out of the pool, a suction is created at the outlet of the pool.

Typically, the outlet includes a mouth which lies on a wall or floor of the swimming pool, and, an outlet pipe through which water is fed from the mouth of the outlet. Also typically, the outlet will have a cover fitted across it which is intended to prevent a person's body from being sucked into the outlet pipe whilst simultaneously allowing water to flow into the outlet pipe via a series of apertures disposed in the cover.

Unfortunately, when a person with long hair swims too close to the mouth of the outlet, the suction in the outlet may cause the person's hair to be sucked into the outlet pipe via the apertures in the cover. Typically thereafter, vortexes in the flow of water through the outlet pipe causes the person's hair to become entangled and knotted. Consequently, it is difficult for the person to withdraw his/her hair from the outlet pipe and through the apertures in the cover because the person's hair

has become entangled and knotted around the apertures in the cover.

Summary of the Invention

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described without departing from the scope of the invention. All such variations and modification which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as broadly hereinbefore described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps and features, referred or indicated in the specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.

The present invention seeks to alleviate at least one of the problems described above in relation to the prior art.

The present invention may involve several different broad forms. Embodiments of the invention may include one or any combination of the different broad forms herein described.

In a first broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for attachment to an outlet of a swimming pool, the outlet including a mouth which feeds into an outlet pipe and the swimming pool including a pump for pumping water out of the swimming pool via the outlet, the apparatus including:

a cover for mounting adjacent the mouth of the outlet wherein a first side of the cover is shaped to space a person's body away from the mouth of the outlet whilst allowing water to flow into the mouth of the outlet; and a tube extending from a second side of the cover, the tube being adapted for fluid communication with the outlet pipe when the cover is mounted adjacent the mouth of the outlet, the tube including a vane projecting inwardly of the tube from an internal surface of the tube, the vane extending away from the cover along the internal surface of the tube wherein the vane includes a tapered characteristic as it extends away from the cover.

Advantageously, the vane may alleviate the formation of a vortex in the flow of water that passes through the outlet pipe and as such, hair which extends through the cover may be less prone to entanglement and knotting.

Preferably, the vane may extend along a majority of the length of the tube. More preferably, the vane may extend substantially along an entire length of the tube. Advantageously, the tapered characteristic of the vane may alleviate the occurrence of a person's hair being snagged on the vane.

Preferably, the tube may be adapted for insertion into the outlet pipe when the cover is mounted adjacent the mouth of the outlet.

Preferably, the first side of the cover includes a plurality of walls extending inwardly from adjacent an outer periphery of the cover and a plurality of channels disposed between the plurality of walls via which water is able to flow to the mouth of the outlet from the swimming pool.

Preferably, the plurality of walls include first ends disposed adjacent an outer the periphery of the cover, and second ends positioned inwardly of the cover. Preferably, the plurality of walls may extend radially inwardly toward each other

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from the first ends towards the second ends.

Preferably, the plurality of walls may not form a closed loop as they extend inwardly. Advantageously, as the walls may not meet, this may alleviate the presence of apertures or otherwise closed-loop structures being disposed on the cover around which a person's hair may become entangled and knotted.

Preferably, the plurality of walls may be adapted to define a substantially mushroom-head shape on the first side of the cover.

Preferably, a plurality of vanes may project inwardly of the tube from the internal surface of the tube, the plurality of vanes extending away from the cover along the internal surface of the tube wherein the plurality of vanes include tapered characteristics as they extend away from the cover.

Preferably, at least one of the plurality of vanes may extend from at least one of the plurality of walls of the cover. More preferably, at least one of the plurality of vanes may be positioned adjacent to the second end of the at least one wall and extend away from the cover along a length of the tube. Also preferably, the at least one vane and the at least one wall, may be adapted to form a substantially air-foil shape contour. Advantageously, the air-foil shape may assist in providing a relatively efficient flow-rate of water flowing into the outlet.

Preferably, the cover and tube may be integrally formed.

Preferably, the tube includes a cylindrical cross-section, however it is conceivable that in certain embodiments of the present invention, the tube may include a non- cylindrical cross-section.

Preferably, the cover includes a diameter of at least approximately 90 mm.

Preferably, the tube includes a diameter of at least approximately 30 mm.

Preferably, the tube includes a length of at least approximately 60 mm.

Advantageously, the occurrence of entanglement and knotting of hair around the cover may be increasingly alleviated proportionately with an increase in the length of the tapered vanes disposed in the tube. This is because, if hair inadvertently becomes knotted in the tube in spite of the use of vanes to alleviate water vortexes forming, the person's hair may smoothly slide along the tapered vanes until it reaches the cover wherein it is then free to be drawn out of the cover without being knotted around or otherwise entangled around a closed loop of the cover. In contrast, with certain prior art inventions, because they do not provide a relatively elongated tapered vane coupled behind the cover, snagging and entanglement of hair may occur at the cover even where there may not be any closed-loop section disposed on the cover. For instance, if the prior art invention includes a vane extending from the cover into the outlet tube, but the vane is square-edged or bulbous, then the person's hair may still become snagged on the vane. Moreover, square-edged or bulbous vanes of the prior art tend to entangle hair particularly when the prior art invention is installed on a vertical wall of the swimming pool. In contrast, because the present invention includes elongate tapered vanes, the present invention may be more flexibly installed on both wall outlets as well as floor outlets.

Preferably, the present invention may include a threaded region disposed on an outer surface of the tube, the threaded region being adapted for screw-threading engagement with a nut. Advantageously, this may assist the present invention in being mounted to a wall or floor of the swimming pool adjacent the mouth of the

outlet.

Preferably, the present invention includes an aperture disposed in the cover, the aperture being adapted to allow passage therethrough of at least one of a screw and a nail when mounting the cover adjacent the mouth of the outlet. Typically, a plurality of apertures may be disposed at spaced intervals around a periphery of the cover.

In a second broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for use with a cover of a swimming pool outlet, the outlet including a mouth which feeds into an outlet pipe and the swimming pool including a pump for pumping water out of the swimming pool via the outlet, the cover being adapted for mounting adjacent the mouth of the outlet wherein a first side of the cover is shaped to space a person's body away from the mouth of the outlet whilst allowing water to flow into the mouth of the outlet, the apparatus including: a tube adapted for coupling with a second side of the cover such that the tube is able to be in fluid communication with the outlet pipe when the cover is mounted adjacent the mouth of the outlet, the tube including a vane projecting inwardly of the tube from an internal surface of the tube, the vane being adapted to extend away from the cover along the internal surface of the tube wherein the vane includes a tapered characteristic as it extends away from the cover.

In a third broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for attachment to an outlet of a swimming pool, the outlet including a mouth which feeds into an outlet pipe and the swimming pool including a pump for pumping water out of the swimming pool via the outlet, the apparatus including: a cover for mounting adjacent the mouth of the outlet wherein a first side of the cover is adapted to prevent entry of at least part of a person's body into the outlet pipe; and

a tube extending from a second side of the cover, the tube being adapted for fluid communication with the outlet pipe when the cover is mounted adjacent the mouth of the outlet, the tube including a vane projecting inwardly of the tube from an internal surface of the tube, the vane extending away from the cover along the internal surface of the tube wherein the vane includes a tapered characteristic as it extends away from the cover.

In a fourth broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for use with a cover of a swimming pool outlet, the outlet including a mouth which feeds into an outlet pipe and the swimming pool including a pump for pumping water out of the swimming pool via the outlet, the cover being adapted for mounting adjacent the mouth of the outlet wherein a first side of the cover is adapted to prevent entry of at least part of a person's body into the outlet pipe whilst allowing water to flow into the mouth of the outlet, the apparatus including: a tube adapted for coupling with a second side of the cover such that the tube is able to be in fluid communication with the outlet pipe when the cover is mounted adjacent the mouth of the outlet, the tube including a vane projecting inwardly of the tube from an internal surface of the tube, the vane being adapted to extend away from the cover along the internal surface of the tube wherein the vane includes a tapered characteristic as it extends away from the cover.

In a fifth broad form, the present invention provides a method of covering an outlet of a swimming pool, the outlet including a mouth which feeds into an outlet pipe and the swimming pool including a pump for pumping water out of the swimming pool via the outlet, the method including the steps of: (i) providing a cover for mounting adjacent the mouth of the outlet wherein a first side of the cover is shaped to space a person's body away from the mouth of the outlet whilst allowing water to flow into the mouth of the outlet; and

(ii) providing a tube extending from a second side of the cover, the tube being adapted for fluid communication with the outlet pipe when the cover is mounted adjacent the mouth of the outlet, the tube including a vane projecting

inwardly of the tube from an internal surface of the tube, the vane extending away from the cover along the internal surface of the tube wherein the vane includes a tapered characteristic as it extends away from the cover.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows an elevated view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a side cut-away view of the first embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a top view of the first embodiment;

Figure 4 shows a side-cutaway view of the first embodiment apparatus mounted adjacent an outlet of a fiberglass-type swimming pool wherein a nut is engaged with a screw-thread disposed on an outer surface of the tube; and

Figure 5 shows a side-cutaway view of the first embodiment apparatus mounted adjacent an outlet of a concrete-type swimming pool wherein a plurality of screws are used to secure the cover to the wall of the swimming pool.

Detailed Description of Embodiment(s)

Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment apparatus (1) in stand-alone fashion whilst figures 4 and 5 show the first embodiment mounted adjacent an outlet mouth (3) of a fiberglass-type swimming and a concrete-type swimming pool respectively.

The swimming pool (not shown) includes an outlet consisting of a mouth (3) which feeds into an outlet pipe (4). A pump (not shown) is used to pump water out of the swimming pool via the mouth (3) and into the outlet pipe (4), for instance, during evacuation of the pool water.

The apparatus (1) includes a cover (6) which is adapted for mounting over the mouth (3) of the outlet. A first side (6a) of the cover (6) is shaped to space a person's body away from the mouth (3) of the outlet whilst allowing water to flow into the mouth (3) of the outlet.

The cover (6) includes a circular shape of approximately 150 mm in diameter. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the first side (6a) of the cover (6) includes a plurality of walls (6c) which extend from their respective first ends positioned adjacent an outer periphery (6d) of the cover (6) radially inwardly towards their respective second ends which are located adjacent a central region (6e) of the circular- shaped cover (6). The plurality of walls (6c) do not touch so that they do not form any close loops on the cover (3) around which a person's hair may become entangled. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plurality of walls (6c) form a substantially mushroom-head shape on the first side (6a) of the cover (3) which is able to space apart at least a part of a person's body from the mouth (3) of the outlet so that the outlet does not become completely blocked.

A plurality of channels (6f) are disposed between the plurality of walls (6c) via

which water is able to flow to the mouth (3) of the outlet from the swimming pool. Water is able to flow into the mouth (3) of the outlet even when a person's body is lying on top of the cover due to the presence of the channels (6f) in the mushroom-head shape.

The apparatus (1) also includes a tube (7) which is integrally formed with and extends from the second side (6b) of the cover (6). The tube (7) includes a circular-shaped cross-section of approximately 50mm in diameter and has a length of approximately 100mm. The tube (7) extends from the second side (6b) of the cover (6) in co-axial alignment. The tube (7) is able to be at least partially inserted into and coupled with the outlet pipe (4) in fluid-tight engagement when the cover (6) is mounted adjacent the mouth (3) of the outlet. The tube (7) includes a plurality of vanes (7a) which project inwardly of the tube (7) from an internal surface (7b) of the tube (7). The plurality of vanes (7a) also extend away from the cover (6) along the internal surface (7b) of the tube (7) in gradually tapered fashion. Each of the vanes (7a) extend substantially along an entire length of the tube (7).

In this embodiment, each of the vanes (7a) are uniquely coupled to, and extends from one of the plurality of walls (6c) of the cover (6) as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the vanes (7a), when coupled to its respective wall (6c), is adapted to form a substantially air-foil shape contour as shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

The exact number of vanes (7a) that are disposed in the tube (7) is variable depending upon the dimensions of the apparatus. In this embodiment, because each of the plurality of vanes (7a) of the tube (7) will extend from a corresponding wall (6c) of the plurality of walls (6c) of the cover (6), the number of vanes (7a) will depend upon the number of walls (6c) that are included on the cover (6). In this instance, the number of walls (6c) are selected such that the central region (6e) formed between the respective second ends of the walls (6a) will be no larger than

10 mm in diameter. The maximum width of the channels (6f) should also be no greater than 11 mm in this embodiment. As a rule of thumb, the selected size of the central region (6e) and the width of the channels (6f) for alternative embodiments should be such as to substantially prevent a child's finger from being inserted through the cover (6).

In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the number of vanes (7a) may be dependent upon other factors apart from the number of walls (6c) which are used. Other factors can be taken into account including a desired flow rate required in the tube (7) wherein a balance may need to be struck between the number of vanes (7a) used to suitably alleviate the formation of vortexes in the water flowing through the tube (7), whilst, at the same time not providing a barrier to the flow of water through the tube (7).

An outer surface (7c) of the tube (7) includes a threaded region (7d) which is adapted for screw-threading engagement with a nut (8). As shown in Fig 4, this allows the apparatus (1) to be mounted to a relatively thin wall (2) of a fiberglass- type swimming pool by inserting the tube (7) through the mouth (3) of the outlet and then attaching a nut (8) to the threaded region (7d) of the tube (7) adjacent an outside surface (2a) of the swimming pool wall (2). The tube (7) is coupled to the outlet pipe (4) by a liquid-tight seal (not shown) when the cover (6) is mounted to the wall (2) of the fibre-glass-type swimming pool.

Preferably, the apparatus (1) also includes a plurality of apertures (6g) disposed at spaced intervals around the outer periphery (6d) of the cover (6). The apertures

(6g) are designed to enable the cover (6) to be mounted over the mouth (3) of a concrete type pool which has a relatively thick wall. As shown in Fig. 5, screws (9) are able to be screwed in to the wall (10) of the concrete pool via the apertures

(6g) in order to secure the cover (6) to the swimming pool wall (10). The tube (7) is shown extending within the outlet pipe (4) when the cover (6) is mounted to the

wal! (10) of the concrete-type swimming pool.