Swimming pool skimming apparatus

A skimming apparatus for removing floating debris from a surface of a pool of water, the pool having an edge surrounding an interior and a circulating current therein, said skimming apparatus comprising:

• a. a frame defining a receiving zone and a collection zone, said zones being continuously bounded at their joint perimeter by an inlet portion, an outlet portion, an internal portion, and a leading portion, said receiving zone in fluid communication with said collection zone, said receiving zone bounded by said inlet portion for receiving floating debris carried by the current and said outlet portion for permitting water to escape from the receiving zone while retaining the floating debris, said collection zone bounded by said internal portion and said leading portion and also receiving floating debris, said inlet portion and said internal portion in perpendicular relation with each other;
• b. a support means for positioning said inlet portion in opposing relation to the current and said internal portion in parallel relation to the current;
• and
• c. a permeable material supported by said frame and covering said outlet portion and said leading portion, said permeable material covering said leading portion encouraging a circular secondary current between said receiving zone and said collection zone by providing resistance to the current encountering said leading portion;
• whereby a differential in current force between said collection zone and said current is induced by the resistance of said permeable material covering said leading portion, thereby inducing a fraction of the floating debris to divert from the current through said internal portion into said collection zone to be captured therein, the remaining fraction continuing with the current through said inlet portion where is it captured by the circular secondary current between said receiving zone and said collection zone.

A skimming apparatus for removing floating debris from a surface of a pool of water, the pool having an edge surrounding an interior and a circulating current therein, said skimming apparatus comprising:

• a. a support means rigidly positioning a frame in opposing relation to the current so that the surface generally bisects said frame, said frame being thus partially submerged and extending from the edge into the interior of the pool;
• b. said frame with an inlet portion positioned generally perpendicular to said current to receive floating debris brought by the current therethrough and an outlet portion covered with a first permeable material to retain floating debris from the current passing therethrough, said frame also with a first end and a second end;
• c. a collection basket positioned at said first end of said frame, said basket covered with a second permeable material providing a relatively low resistance to current flow therethrough, said basket having an open end with a leading edge, said open end perpendicular to said inlet portion and facing said second end, said second permeable material inducing a secondary circular lateral current by impeding water flow through said collection basket sufficiently to cause a differential in current force between the current flowing across said open end and current flowing through said second permeable material covering said collection basket, whereby floating debris is urged into said collection basket by said secondary lateral current and free flow of water through said outlet portion is maintained by said secondary circular lateral current which tends to bring floating debris accumulating at and inhibiting current flow through said outlet portion into said collection basket.

A method for removing floating debris from a pool of water having an edge and a current therein, said method comprising:

• a. positioning adjacent to the edge of the pool a frame having an inlet portion generally perpendicular to said current and an outlet portion covered with a permeable material, said frame with a first end and a second end, so that floating debris is brought through said inlet portion by the current;
• b. positioning at said first end a collection basket covered with a permeable material providing a relatively low resistance to current flow therethrough and having an open end with a leading edge, said open end perpendicular to said inlet portion and facing said second end;
• c. inducing by the choice of said permeable material a secondary circular lateral current, whereby said permeable material impedes water flow through said collection basket sufficiently to cause a differential in current force between the current flowing across said open end and current flowing through said collection basket;
• d. collecting floating debris in said collection basket, the floating debris being urged into said collection basket by said secondary lateral current;
• and
• e. maintaining free flow of water through said outlet portion by means of said secondary circular lateral current which tends to bring floating debris accumulating at said outlet portion into said collection basket.