Anti-clamping suction head for sweeping swimming pools

In a suction apparatus for vacuum cleaning a swimming pool bottom utilizing a suction line connected to a source of suction, the suction apparatus including a platform composed of flexible material extending in longitudinal and transverse directions;

• means supporting said platform for motion while maintaining said platform spaced above the pool bottom in generally parallel relation thereto;
• an opening extending upwardly through said platform, said opening on its upper side adapted for connection to the suction line;
• and means for restriction of transversal flexing of the platform;
• the improvement comprising,
• a pole adapted to be manipulated by an operator positioned adjacent the pool,
• at least two vertical, transversely extending inner ribs connected to said platform spaced longitudinally on opposite sides of said opening,
• a pillar connected to said platform adjacent said opening projecting upwardly between said inner ribs,
• a yoke fixedly connected to the pole, said yoke at least partially embracing said pillar, and
• a rigid pin extending longitudinally through said pillar and through adjacent portions of said yoke, said pin connecting the pole to said platform for pivoting motion about a horizontal, longitudinally extending axis, said pin having end portions projecting beyond said yoke in opposite directions into contact with the adjacent said inner ribs to prevent vertical flexing of said platform in the region thereof between said inner ribs to an extent sufficient to prevent adjacent regions of the underside of said platform from deflecting into contact with the pool bottom.

A suction head for vacuum cleaning a swimming pool bottom utilizing a suction line connected to a source of suction, the suction head comprising:

• a platform composed of material having at least limited flexibility extending in longitudinal and transverse directions;
• a plurality of upward extending elongated transverse ribs molded with said platform on its upperside, said ribs grouped in pairs, said ribs extending beyond the longitudinal edges of said platform;
• front and rear wheels mounted in said elongated transverse rib pairs, said wheels rotatably mounted between the portions of said rib pairs extending beyond the longitudinal edges of said platform;
• an opening extending upwardly through said platform, said opening on its upper side having a connection to the suction line;
• a plurality of transversely extending spaced parallel rigid weights each mounted in one of said elongated rib pairs,
• a plurality of cover members each covering the upperside of one of said weights, the two of said cover members positioned most nearly adjacent said opening on either side thereof having,
• a pair of spaced inwardly facing, transversely aligned abutments positioned thereon,
• a horizontal pin composed of rigid material, said pin extending transversely between said abutments in abutment therewith at its opposite ends, said pin adjacent its ends having its lower surface overlying the upper surfaces of the two innermost ones of said ribs, said pin contacting said innermost ribs and said shoulders to prevent longitudinal flexing of said platform in the region of said inlet opening,
• at least one upwardly-extending pillar connected with said platform, said pin extending through said pillar to be supported thereby;
• and
• a pole pivotally connected with said pin for moving said platform across the pool bottom.