# US 10,480,205 B2 · Components of automatic pool cleaners

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- Number: US 10,480,205 B2
- Document ID: US10480205B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/591,250
- Filed: 2017-05-10
- Published: 2017-08-24
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-13
- Assignees: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
- Applicants: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
- Inventors: Hendrikus Johannes van der Meijden; Bruce Harbottle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480205B2

## CPC

- E04H 4/1654: {Self-propelled cleaners}
- A46B 7/042: {Clip or snap connection for bristle carriers}
- A46B 7/044: {Sliding connections for bristle carriers}
- A46B 9/02: Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
- A46B 13/008: {Disc-shaped brush bodies}
- A46B 13/02: power-driven {carriers}
- E04H 4/1663: {the propulsion resulting from an intermittent interruption of the waterflow through the cleaner}
- A46B 2200/30: Brushes for cleaning or polishing
- E04H 4/1636: {Suction cleaners}
- E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D)
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)

## Abstract

Components of automatic pool cleaners (APCs) are detailed. The components may include brushes configured to attach to blades of scrubbers of the APCs. The flexible brushes may rotate as their associated blades rotate and have fingers which flex so as to adduce contact between a to-be-cleaned pool or spa surface and bristles protruding outward from sides of the fingers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of replacing a first pool-cleaning brush of an automatic pool cleaner with a second pool-cleaning brush, at least the second pool-cleaning brush comprising a brush body, a member connected to the brush body, first and second clips positioned opposite the member, first and second flexible fingers connected to the brush body, each of the first and second fingers comprising opposed first and second major sides, and at least one protrusion extending outward from at least one of the first and second major sides of the first flexible finger, the method comprising:
a. detaching the first pool-cleaning brush from at least one recess defined by at least one pair of spaced walls of an attachment assembly of a bladed, rotating down-force scrubber of the automatic pool cleaner; and
b. frictionally inserting the member of the second pool-cleaning brush into the at least one recess, with the first and second clips concurrently frictionally sliding along the at least one pair of spaced walls so as to (i) connect the second pool-cleaning brush to the attachment assembly of the bladed, rotating down-force scrubber and (ii) position the first and second flexible fingers so as to flex when the automatic pool cleaner is in use.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 in which each wall of the at least one pair of spaced walls defines an interior surface and an exterior surface, with the interior surfaces defining the at least one recess and the first and second clips frictionally sliding along the exterior surfaces of the at least one pair of spaced walls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 in which the at least one protrusion comprises bristles extending outward from each of the first and second major sides of the first flexible finger.

### Claim 4

A method of replacing a first pool-cleaning brush of an automatic pool cleaner with a second pool-cleaning brush comprising a brush body, a member connected to the brush body, first and second clips positioned opposite the member, first and second flexible fingers connected to the brush body, each of the first and second flexible fingers comprising opposed first and second major sides, and at least one protrusion extending outward from at least one of the first and second major sides of the first flexible finger, the method comprising:
a. providing the automatic pool cleaner including a rotatable down-force scrubber comprising (i) an attachment assembly, (ii) a shaft, (iii) blades extending radially from the shaft, and (iv) the first pool-cleaning brush (A) extending radially from the shaft in lieu of a blade and (B) attached to the attachment assembly;
b. detaching the first pool-cleaning brush from at least one recess of the attachment assembly; and
c. inserting the second pool-cleaning brush into the at least one recess of the attachment assembly so as to (i) connect the second pool-cleaning brush to the attachment assembly and (ii) position the first and second flexible fingers so as to flex when the automatic pool cleaner is in use.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4 in which the at least one protrusion comprises bristles extending outward from each of the first and second major sides of the first flexible finger.