The present invention relates to a pool vacuum converter, that is, a device which converts a pool vacuum to improve its functionality and use.

During the summer month's high climates and inconsistencies in pool sanitizer levels algae can be a significant problem for swimming pools.

One way to clear a pool of algae and other particles that cause cloudiness is to administer a flocculent or flocking agent. The flocculent binds to algae and other particulates to in the water to form a loose aggregation of soft flakes, which then typically sink to the bottom of the pool, leaving the water clear. The soft flakes are known as floe.

After the flocculent has been administered, the floe itself must be removed. Various methods are used to remove flocculates in industry, however within swimming pools conventional pool vacuums are utilised. The amount and disposition of floe resulting from flocculation depends on several factors, but generally forms at the bottom of the pool in a layer typically 60mm to 80mm thick can be encountered, but the layer can be as thick as 150mm.

One known method of removing floe is to use a pool vacuum. However, a conventional pool vacuum becomes submerged within the floe gel itself, often displacing the floe within the aquatic environment, or it pushes the floe away from the vacuum zone and mixes and disperses the floe with the pool water (this problem is associated with excessively settled dirt particles also).

Floe removal is hindered due to the location of the intake area of known pool vacuums. The intake is not specifically directed at the flocculates or dirt particles, rather intake zones are usually located on the underside of the pool vacuum, and also use of brushes to aid the cleaning process.

Another method of floe removal is to use the pool's filtration system. However, the water and floe removed may necessitate the frequent replacement of the pool filter. Alternatively, the water and floe removed in this way is often directed to the waste drain, leading to a loss of water. The filtration system within pools typically uses skimmers which particularly clean the surface and in general suspended dirt particles as time passes. However, floor sediment and dirt particles or floe removal requires a unique pool floor vacuuming system.

Another problem with known pool vacuums is that they are ineffective at the end of a cleaning run when encountering a pool wall. Many pools feature a curved transition from the horizontal pool floor to the vertical walls; the resulting geometry means that the users of conventional pool vacuums find it difficult to properly reach or cover this area.

Pool vacuums are generally connected to the waste drain, leading to a loss of pool water.

Similar problems are found when trying to remove particulate matter from other volumes of water, such as water storage tanks.

The object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a convenient apparatus to remove floe and similar debris from a swimming pool or the like that mitigates the above- mentioned problems.

The object of another aspect of the present invention is to provide a convenient apparatus to remove debris from other volumes of water, mitigating the above-mentioned problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a floe and/or dirt particle removing machine according to claim 1.

References to floe should also be interpreted as references to dirt particles - the apparatus is equally applicable to cleaning both floe and dirt or a mixture of both.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first known type of pool vacuum.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second known type of pool vacuum. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the converter for the first known type of pool vacuum;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the converter being attached to the first known type of pool vacuum with the pole in a vertical orientation.

Figures 5a and 5b is a sectional view a locking mechanism of the converter being attached to the first known type of pool vacuum.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the converter after being secured to the first known type of pool vacuum.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the converter for the first known type of pool vacuum;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of this converter after being secured to the first known type of pool vacuum.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the converter for the second known type of pool vacuum;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the converter being attached to the second known type of pool vacuum with the pole in a vertical orientation; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of this converter after being secured to the second known type of pool vacuum.

Referring to figure 1, a known pool vacuum 10 comprises a cover 12 supported by wheels 18 mounted on each edge of the cover 12 in wheel supports 19, the cover 12 having a hose connector 16 extended from it which is connected to the vacuum producing mechanism, the pool vacuum 10 being operated by a pole 14 that is attached by a yoke 15 in an articulated manner on hinges 17 to the cover 12. As the pool vacuum 10 is moved along the bottom of a pool, water and floe or debris beneath the cover 12 is sucked through the hose connector 16 and hose (not here shown).

Referring to figure 2, another known pool vacuum 20 is similarly arranged, having a cover 22 supported by wheels 28, with a hose connector 26 extended from the cover 22, and again provides a pole 24 connected to the cover 22 by a hinge 27 for the user to move the pool vacuum 20. In this type of the pool vacuum, the wheels 28 are arranged in four pairs along the cover 22 each pair being housed in a wheel arch 28. The pole 24 is connected to the cover 12 directed by hinges 27 located behind the hose connector 26 rather than using a yoke.

Referring to figure 3, a convertor according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 39 and shroud 31 comprising a top shroud floe guide 35 and two side shroud floe guides 34. The main body 39 is shaped to fit over the pool vacuum 10 shown in Figure 1, and is shaped to fit snugly with the cover 12 of the pool vacuum 10, and form a seal with the cover 12. Raised portions 37 are provided in the main body 39 to accommodate the wheels 18 of the pool vacuum 10.

When fitted to the pool vacuum 10, the shroud 31 of the converter device 30 projects from the front edge 11 of the pool vacuum 10, with the top shroud floe guide 35 angled upwards as shown (when the pool vacuum 10 placed in the normal operating position on a horizontal surface), while the side shroud floe guides 34 may be arranged vertically and project forwardly from the front edge 11 of the pool vacuum 10. The lower edge of the side shroud floe guides 34 is ideally curved. Each side shroud floe guide 34 ideally features an water displacement aperture 36 which allows water to flow from the sides during use, to entrain floe and other debris and help carry it into the pool vacuum 10. The main body 39 of the converter device 30 includes a skirt 33 which projects downwards, and is arranged to provide a lowermost edge all around the converter device 30 except for the side where the shroud 31 is located. In use, when fitted on the pool vacuum 10, the lowermost edge of the skirt 33 extends down to the surface on which the pool vacuum 10 is standing, or just above this surface.

The main body 39 of the converter device 30 includes a central cut out area 38. Referring to figure 4, to fit the converter device 30 to the pool vacuum 10, the pole 14 is oriented in the vertical position, and the converter device 30 is positioned so that the pole 14 and the hose connector 16 aligns with the central cut out area 38, so that the converter device 30 may be lowered onto the pool vacuum 10 without impediment. The central cut out area 38 is shaped so that the yoke 15 and hinges 17 can also protrude through the main body 39 of the converter device 30. Once the converter device 30 is attached to the pool vacuum 10, the pole 14 has sufficient clearance to pivot normally. The pole could of course be removed to facilitate the attachment of the converter device 30, and the hose (not here shown) is disconnected from the hose connector 16 during attachment. Referring to figures 5a and 5b, the skirt 33 of the main body 39 of the converter device 30 includes a locking mechanism 40, ideally in the form of a detent profile, running along the edge of the skirt on the inner surface. As the converter device 30 is pressed on top of the pool vacuum 10, the detent presses against the outer surface of the wheel support 19, causing the skirt 33 to elastically deform to a flared shape so that the converter device 30 can be fitted in position. When the converter device 30 reaches the final attached position, the top stepped surface of the detent clears the wheel support 19 and the detent moves inwardly in a snap-fit manner. The opposite side of the converter device 30 has a similar arrangement, so that the converter device 30 is now secured to the pool vacuum 10. To detach the converter device 30, a user may grip the skirt on either side of the converter device 30 to flare the skirt 33, disengaging the detent of the locking mechanism 40 and allowing the converter device 30 to be lifted up from the pool vacuum 10.

Referring also to figure 6, when the converter device 30 is attached to the pool vacuum 10, since the main body 39 of the converter device 30 seals with the cover 12 of the pool vacuum 10, and the skirt 33 abuts the surface where the pool vacuum 10 is being used, forming a semi-seal around the pool vacuum 10, the shroud 31 forming the only opening of the pool vacuum 10 when the converter device 30 is fitted to the pool vacuum 10. The shroud thus forms a dirt particle collection zone 32 on the pool vacuum 10 where floe and debris are channelled, while the pool vacuum 10 is sealed from the general pool environment around its other sides. By providing this dirt particle collection zone 32, the shroud increases the suction in this region, and the upward angle of the top shroud floe guide 35 ensures that floe and debris is effectively directed to the pool vacuum 10 during use, increasing its efficiency reducing cleaning time.

Referring to figure 7, another embodiment the converter device 50 is similar to the converter device described above, however the main body 39 includes two shrouds 31, 31', one extended from the front edge of the main body 39 as described, and the other extending in a similar manner from the rear edge. The rear shroud 31' comprises a top shroud floe guide 35', and two side shroud floe guides 34', the shroud floe guides having the same shape and water displacement aperture 36' as in the previous embodiment, but this time extending in the opposite direction. Referring to figure 8, the fitting of the converter device 50 is in all respects similar to that of the previous embodiment. The pool vacuum 10 with the converter device 50 attached now has two dirt particle collection zone 32, 32', so that the pool vacuum 10 can be alternately pushed and pulled along the bottom of the pool, and suck up floe and debris from both the front and read edges of the pool vacuum 10, increasing its efficiency reducing cleaning time.

Referring to figure 9, another converter device 50 is adapted for use with the pool vacuum 20 shown in figure 2. As with the converter device 30 shown in figure 3, the converter device 50 comprises a main body 59 having a skirt 53 which extends downwardly from three sides of the main body 59. The upper surface of the main body 59 here is much reduced in extent, with a large central cut out area 58 being provided. A top shroud floe guide 55 and two side shroud floe guides 54 extend from the front edge of the main body 59 as for the previous converter device 30. The converter device 50 includes a number of raised portions

57.

Referring to figure 10, the converter device 50 is attached to a pool vacuum 20 by raising the pole 24 of the pool vacuum 20 and lowering the converter device 50 over the pool vacuum 20 so the pole 24 and hose connector 26 are aligned with the central cut out area 58.

Locking mechanisms 60 located on the inner surface of either side of the skirt 53 engage with the sides of the pool vacuum 20 to secure the converter device 50 to the pool vacuum 20. The raised portions 57 of the converter device 50 accommodate the wheel arches 29 of the pool vacuum 20. Referring to figure 11, in this position, the converter device 50 seals the pool vacuum 20 against the surface of pool, except for a dirt particle collection zone in front of the shroud 51.

As previously described, ideally the side shroud floe guides 34 of the converter device 30 in figure 3, the side shroud floe guides 34 of the converter device 30', and the side shroud floe guides 54 of the converter device 50 have a curved lower surface. When the pool vacuum fitted with the converter device reaches a curved transition area the floe or dirt particle collection zone will naturally follow the curve maintaining a relative seal. The water displacement apertures replace the trapped floe or dirt particles with clean pool water in the dirt particle collection zone. The top shroud floe guides and side shroud floe guides increase the efficiency of the water and floe or dirt particles removed, being that use of the machine reduces the amount of water being pumped out (and usually simply disposed of). In the forms of converter device described herein, the central cut out area varies depending on the surface features of the pool vacuum on which the converter device is to be fitted; one important feature of the converter device is that some form of skirt on the converter device extends downwards from the pool vacuum and forms at least a partial seal against the body of the pool vacuum 10, the skirt extending down to the pool surface when the wheels of the pool vacuum 10 are resting on the pool surface, so that the suction from the pool vacuum 10 is concentrated at the shroud or shrouds. The body of the device could consist essentially of the skirt and shroud, though the rest of the body is convenient for attaching the converter device 30 and to provide rigidity. The converter appliance thus attaches to pool vacuums to improve the removal of floe from swimming pools; also for high accumulated levels of dirt particles within the aquatic environment up 80mm in thickness reducing the manual cleaning time process. The converter device is shown here for the two main conventional vacuum models on the market today, but obvious could be adapted for other existing or future models.