Autonomous cleaning systems principally for swimming pools
AssigneeZodiac Pool Care Europe
InventorsArnaud Lancry, Simon Duffaut, Remi Deloche, Louis Favie, Philippe Pichon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Swimming pool cleaners may operate autonomously within pools and spas. The cleaners need not include any external hoses or cords, and their bodies may be oriented at pool waterlines so as to make their on-board filters readily accessible for removal. The cleaners may dock at docking stations for various purposes, including (but not limited to) for charging any on-board battery and communicating electronically with the docking station or other external equipment.
Claims22
A swimming pool cleaning system comprising:
- a. a base configured for attachment to a swimming pool having a waterline;
- and
- b. a cleaner (i) comprising (A) a body lacking any external electrical cord, (B) motive means configured to cause the body to travel untethered within the swimming pool, and (C) a debris filter and (ii) configured to dock with the base so that (A) at least a portion of the debris filter extends above the waterline and (B) at least a portion of the body extends below the waterline.
An auto swimming pool cleaner defining a front region, configured to dock with a base attached to a swimming pool and comprising:
- a. a body lacking any external electrical cord:
- b. an electric motor:
- c. motive means ,driven by the electric motor and (ii) configured cause the body to travel untethered within the swimming pool;
- and
- d. a filter (i) configured to be positioned at least partially in the body, (ii) comprising a handle located in the front region, and (iii) removable from the body by grasping and pulling the handle at least when the automatic swimming pool cleaner is docked with the base.
A method of cleaning a swimming pool having a floor, a and a waterline, comprising:
- a. causing an automatic swimming pool cleaner to travel untethered along the floor while vacuuming debris into an on-board filter;
- and
- b. causing the automatic swimming pool cleaner to climb the wall and dock with a docking station in an orientation such that at least part of the on-board filter is above the waterline and at least part of a body of the automatic swimming pool cleaner is below the waterline.
A system for cleaning a swimming pool having a waterline, comprising:
- a. a trolley comprising a base;
- and
- b. a cleaner (i) comprising a body lacking any external electrical cord, motive means configured to cause the body to travel untethered within the swimming pool, and a debris filter and (ii) configured to dock with the base so that (A) at least a portion of the debris filter extends above the waterline and (B) at least a portion of the body extends below the waterline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.