# US 6,292,969 B1 · Swimming pool cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,292,969 B1 - Document ID: US6292969B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/379,585 - Filed: 1999-08-24 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1997-08-21 - Assignees: Oak Nominees (PTY) LTD - Inventors: Carl Frederick Wilhelm Supra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6292969B1 ## CPC - E04H 4/1636: {Suction cleaners} - E04H 4/1663: {the propulsion resulting from an intermittent interruption of the waterflow through the cleaner} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A pool cleaner which includes an integrally moulded body with an elongate float which is embedded in the body and which has a length which is at least 25% of the length of the body. A biasing weight is also embedded in the body on an opposing side of the passage. A flow interrupting device controls water flow through a passage in the body. The float may be separately formed or it may be formed by foaming material from which the body is made. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pool cleaner comprising: a unitary one piece body with first and second non-coaxial passages that extend through the body with an inlet to the first and second passages and an outlet from the first and second passages at respective opposed ends of the passages, each of the first and second passages being selected from the following two constructions, (1) passage A with a minimum cross-sectional area at a position between the inlet and the outlet and with a cross-sectional area monotonically increasing in magnitude in each direction extending away from the position towards each respective end of the passage A, and (2) passage B with a minimum cross-sectional area at one end of the passage B and with a cross-sectional area monotonically increasing in magnitude in a direction extending away from the one end of the passage B towards an opposed end of the passage B; a chamber adjacent to the inlet; and a water flow interrupting device in the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pool cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a formation at the outlet for connection of the first and second passages to a suction hose. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first and second passages are separated by a planar longitudinal partition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pool cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the partition is formed separately from the body and engages grooves interior to the body thereby to form part of each of the first and second passages. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pool cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a closure member, with at least one aperture, which is releasably engaged with the body to enclose the water flow interrupting device in the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pool cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising flotation means which is elongate, extending in the general direction of the first and second passages, and which has a length which is in excess of 25% of the length of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pool cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the flotation means is formed integrally with the body by foaming material from which the body is made during manufacture of the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pool cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising flotation means comprising a plurality of flotation components which are respectively positioned at spaced intervals from each other in an array which extends in the general direction of the first and second passages between the inlet and the outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pool according to claim 1, further comprising flotation means which is located on what in use is an upper side of the body on one side of the first and second passages, and which includes biasing means which is located on a lower side of the body on a directly opposing side of the first and second passages. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The poll cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means which is located on a lower side of the body and wherein the biasing means is formed by a solid portion of the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first and second passages have the same length. ### Claim 12 A pool cleaner comprising: a unitary, one-piece body with a hollow passageway through said body that opens to an outlet at one end of said body and to an inlet at another end of said body, said passageway having longitudinal grooves on opposing interior sides; a generally planar longitudinal partition in said passageway with opposite edges that are carried in said grooves, said partition dividing said passageway into first and second passages that each extends a length of said passageway, each of said first and second passages having a minimum cross-sectional area at an end thereof and a cross-sectional area that monotonically increases towards another end thereof, an end of said partition at said inlet having a generally V-shaped groove; and a generally wedge-shaped water flow interrupter at said inlet, an apex of said wedge-shaped interrupter fitting into said V-shaped groove, said wedge-shaped interrupter being movable to interrupt water flow alternately to said first and second passages, said wedge-shaped interrupter having a range of motion defined by said V-shaped groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pool cleaner of claim 12, further comprising a cover plate that holds said wedge-shaped interrupter in said passageway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The pool cleaner of claim 12, wherein the first and second passages have the same length. ### Claim 15 A pool cleaner comprising: a unitary, one-piece body with a hollow passageway through said body that opens to an outlet at one end of said body and to an inlet at another end of said body, said passageway having longitudinal grooves on opposing interior sides; a generally planar longitudinal partition in said passageway with opposite edges that are carried in said grooves, said partition dividing said passageway into first and second passages that each extends a length of said passageway, each of said first and second passages having a minimum cross-sectional area at a position between said inlet and said outlet and a cross-sectional area that monotonically increases towards ends thereof from the position, an end of said partition at said inlet having a generally V-shaped groove; and a generally wedge-shaped water flow interrupter at said inlet, an apex of said wedge-shaped interrupter fitting into said V-shaped groove, said wedge-shaped interrupter being movable to interrupt water flow alternately to said first and second passages, said wedge-shaped interrupter having a range of motion defined by said V-shaped groove. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pool cleaner of claim 15, further comprising a cover plate that holds said wedge-shaped interrupter in said passageway. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The pool cleaner of claim 15, wherein the first and second passages have the same length.