POOL MAINTENANCE TOOL

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosures herein relate to pool maintenance. Specifically, the disclosed invention relates to a multifunction device and method for water sample collection.

Background

Various bodies of water require water testing for any number of reasons. This includes swimming pools, lap pools, other recreational pools and hot tubs, along with certain artificially creative decorative pools and ponds. Other natural bodies of water also require collection of water for testing. The traditional method involves use of a small testing bottle to collect a quantity of water from the body to be sampled for testing. Certain applications, however, require collecting a sample from the bottom or at some depth below this surface. As an example, the water in recreational swimming pools requires periodic chemical testing for pH level, chlorine level, and other parameters.

Typically the pool owner, technician, or other maintenance personnel (hereinafter, the “tester”) collects a quantity of water from about arm's length below the pool surface using a small testing bottle and then tests the sample for pH, chlorine, or other parameter. “Arm's length” may mean between about twelve (12) and about twenty-four (24) inches.

There are multiple problems, however, associated with this traditional approach. The method requires the tester positioning themselves close to the pool edge for collection of water near the surface but does not enable collection of a water sample from deeper in the pool. The depth from which a sample can be collected is limited by the length of the tester's arm. This method can also be physically demanding, requiring the tester to bend, crouch, or otherwise position themselves on the ground close to the pool surface, thereby risking getting their clothing wet or soiled.

Consequently, a convenient and effective means for water sample collection is needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various embodiments of a swimming pool maintenance tool are disclosed herein. The tool includes a cradle for securing a sampling bottle and may include a telescoping rod for tester control of the tool. The disclosed embodiments are means for an inexpensive and easy-to-use tool and method that facilitates pool water testing and other pool maintenance tasks.

Disclosed is a pool maintenance tool comprising a body having a spine with a circumference, a first (upper) end, and a second (lower) end; a cradle coupled to the first (upper end); and a hook coupled to the second (lower) end; wherein the cradle and the hook are disposed about 180° on the spine circumference from the hook.

In some embodiments, the cradle is formed from two convex-curved members configured to engage and at least partially encircle the bottle. In some embodiments, the tool further comprises a handle coupled to the first (upper) end of the spine. In some embodiments, the tool further comprises an attachment feature disposed at the first (upper) end of the spine configured to removably couple with a receiver on a handle. In some embodiments, the attachment feature and the receiver comprise complementary threads. In some embodiments, the attachment feature and the receiver comprise complementary threads.

Disclosed is a method of using a pool maintenance tool with steps comprising obtaining a bottle configured for a pool maintenance tool; inserting the bottle into a cradle of the pool maintenance tool; submerging the cradle containing the bottle into a pool; collecting a water sample; retrieving the cradle containing the bottle from the pool; and removing the bottle containing the water sample from the cradle.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step telescoping a handle to any adjustable length and then locking the handle at this length. In some embodiments, the collecting step is performed at a depth of greater than about three (3) feet. In some embodiments, the collecting step is performed at a depth of greater than about seven (7) feet.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following more particular description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting use of a pool maintenance tool collecting a sample from a swimming pool;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of a pool maintenance tool with a testing bottle and a collapsed telescoping handle;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a body of a pool maintenance tool;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a body of a pool maintenance tool;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a body of a pool maintenance tool;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pool maintenance tool with an extended telescoping handle;

FIG. 7 is an illustration depicting use of a pool maintenance tool extracting equipment from a swimming pool; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting steps of a method of using a pool maintenance tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments of a pool maintenance tool and methods of use are described herein.

Certain terms should be afforded their broadest reasonable meaning as interpreted by a person of skill in the art. For example, “optionally” is intended to introduce a non-limiting example. The phrases “in one embodiment” and “in some embodiments” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), although they may. Furthermore, the phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments,” as used herein, do not necessarily refer to a different embodiments, although they may. The various example embodiments as described herein may be readily combined without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosed inventions. The term “or,” unless otherwise specified, is inclusive and is equivalent to “and/or.” The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for use based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Throughout the written description, the meaning of “a,” “an,” “and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “ion” includes “in” and “on.” The terms “comprises” and “comprising,” as used herein, specify that certain features are present in the described embodiment(s), however this phrase should not be interpreted to preclude the presence or addition of additional step, operations, features, components, and/or groups thereof.

Disclosed is a swimming pool testing and maintenance tool. The description of various example embodiments of a pool maintenance tool are written for use in a swimming pool, however this is not meant to be limiting. In some embodiments, other bodies of water are tested. For example, as used herein, “pool” means a body of water, whether outdoors or in a building or other enclosure, and includes a swimming pool, a decorative pool or artificial pond, and other bodies or water. “Pool” does not include a natural body of water such as a pond, lake, ocean, or the like.

As used herein, “bottle” means a container having a single open end which may be formed from glass, plastic, metal or metal allow, or other material, without limitation.

As used herein, “upper” refers to a direction toward or closer to a more central part, such as toward the hand or body of a person using one of the disclosed devices.

As used herein, “lower” refers to a direction away from a more central part, such as away from a user of one of the disclosed devices and towards a pool containing water to be sampled using one of the disclosed devices.

Further, any directional references as used herein, such as right, left, up, down, top, bottom, and the like are intended for convenience of description and do not limit the disclosed structures to any particular positional or spatial orientation.

The pool maintenance device, in many embodiments, comprises a body formed into a cage for a sample bottle, In some embodiments, the body additionally includes a hook configured to engage with items associated with a swimming pool, such as a filter basket handle, for example.

Reference will now be made to various example embodiments as illustrated in the several drawing figures. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following descriptions that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the inventions as described.

With the foregoing prefatory comments in mind, disclosed herein is a pool maintenance tool comprising a tool having a cradle and a hook, some embodiments. The cradle is configured to removably receive a testing bottle. A coupling feature is disposed on the tool opposite the cradle for removably coupled the tool to a handle, in some embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting use of a pool maintenance tool collecting a sample from a swimming pool. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of a pool maintenance tool with a testing bottle and a collapsed telescoping handle. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, tool 100 includes a cradle 103 configured to securely hold a testing bottle 110. Cradle 103 is supported by a spine 104 having a first (upper) end 105 and a second (lower) end 106. In the embodiments shown in the several drawing figures, cradle 103 is coupled to spine 104 at first end 105. Cradle 103 is configured to removably receive testing bottle 110, as shown. For example, in some embodiments, cradle 103 is formed from two opposing C-shaped members coupled to first end 105 of spine 104. The C-shaped members inwardly present generally concave surfaces configured to frictionally engage with the generally outer convex surfaces of bottle 110, retaining bottle 110 within cradle 103 during use of tool 100, as shown.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a body of a pool maintenance tool. FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a body of a pool maintenance tool. FIG. 5 is a side view of a body of a pool maintenance tool. FIGS. 3-5 show body 102 of tool 100. Body 102 comprises spine 104 to which is coupled to cradle 103 for removably retaining a sample bottle, such as bottle 110. In some embodiments, body is formed as a unitary body. Body 102 is generally elongate, although, in some embodiments, body 102 may be shorter relative to the distance between first end 105 and second end 106, such as situations wherein bottle 110 has a relatively small length to diameter ratio. Consequently, the relative dimensions of body 102 as shown in FIGS. 3-5 are for illustration and not meant to be limiting. FIGS. 3-5 show cradle 103 extending from one side (i.e., downward) and hook 104 extending from an opposite side (i.e., upward) of a circumference of spine 104. This arrangement allows bottle 110 to be inserted or removed from cradle 103 without encountering interference by hook 104. In other words, cradle 103 is disposed one hundred eighty degrees (180°) along a circumference 107 of spine 104 from hook 108. Hook 104 and cradle 103 are additionally disposed at opposite ends of body 102; i.e., cradle 103 is disposed at first end 104 of spine 104 and hook 108 is disposed opposite hook 108 at second end 106 of spine 104, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3-5, e.g. Note that although a partial circle is shown in FIG. 3 to indicate circumference 107, “circumference 107” means the total distance around spine 104; i.e., a full 360°.

Note from the several drawing figures that cradle 103 is dimensionally configured to receive bottle 110. A user 101 of tool 100 can easily insert and remove bottle 110 into and from cradle 103 by overcoming the static friction between the opposing arms of cradle 103 and the outer surface of bottle 110. In some embodiments, a material forming cradle 103 is uncovered, such as bare aluminum, steel alloy, or plastic, for example. In some embodiments, however, cradle 103 is coated with a material to increase a static friction between cradle 103 and bottle 110. For example, cradle 103 may be formed from aluminum or metal alloy and coated with a flexible plastic such as a polyamide, a nylon-based polymer, or a polytetrafluoroethylene or similar fluor-based polymer. These materials are offered by example only and not meant to be all-inclusive.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pool maintenance tool with an extended telescoping handle.

FIG. 7 is an illustration depicting use of a pool maintenance tool extracting equipment from a swimming pool. In some embodiments, a hook 108 projects from second end 106 of spine 104. Hook 108 has a variety of potential uses related to retrieving objects from within or around a swimming pool or artificial pond. In some embodiments, hook 108 is formed in a “J”-shape, as shown in the drawing figures. Hook 108 is configured to engage a handle on a removably pool skimmer basket, for example. User 101 of tool 100 can engage and move, i.e., lift and lower, a skimmer basked in the pool's skimmer filter system. Is shown in FIG. 7, the cover/lid of a pool skimmer is removed thereby exposing the skimmer basket therein. Use of tool 100 enables user 101 to engage the skimmer basked from a distance, and without the need to stoop or bend over. Engaging a skimmer basked handle facilitates lifting and manipulation of the skimmer basket for emptying, cleaning, inserting chlorine tablets, etc. User 101 may alternatively use hook 108 to manipulate rocks or plants on the bottom or to retrieve foreign bodies from the surface or bottom of an artificial pond or water feature, for example, while standing alongside the pond.

An attachment feature 109 extends from first end 105 opposite cradle 103. Attachment feature 109 is configured to engage a complementary feature on a handle 120, in some embodiments. For example, outer threads may be cut into first end 105 whereupon end 105 may be engaged with corresponding inner threads displayed within a hollow handle 120. Non-threaded complementary interacting features displayed by feature 108 hand handle 120 are also complicated, such as ridges, rings, “twist-lock” features, and the like. In some embodiments, handle 120 is removable from spine 104. Handle 120 may be a telescoping handle from a plurality of nested sections 124 coupled together and collapsible at joints 121. In some embodiments, handle 120 is permanently secured and not removable from spine 104.

The use of tool 100 is further facilitated by coupling to handle 120 particularly, in some embodiments wherein handle 120 is telescoping, adjustable, and lockable at a continuum of lengths, as known in the art. In such embodiments, handle 120 may telescope to any adjustable length and then be locked at this length by user 101, according to the embodiment. Then fully extended, handle 120 may be anywhere between about six (6) feet and about twenty-five (25) feet, in some embodiments. User 101 can adjust the length of handle 120 according to the depth of the pool, the distance of the water sampling depth or the distance from user 101 to the object to be manipulated by hook 108, for example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a method 200 of using a pool maintenance tool to collect a water sample. As shown in FIG. 8, method 200 comprises an obtaining step 210, an inserting step 220, a submerging step 230, a collecting step 240, a retrieving step 250, and a removing step 260.

Obtaining step 210, in some embodiments, comprises obtaining a bottle configured for a pool maintenance tool. The bottle may be formed from metal, plastic polymer, or glass, according to the embodiment. It is anticipated that a semirigid plastic, such as polypropylene or poly ethyl terephthalate (PET) will be used in a majority of cases, but this is not meant to be limiting. The bottle will necessarily be configured; i.e., dimensioned, to fit within a cradle of the pool maintenance tool.

Inserting step 220, in some embodiments, comprises inserting the bottle into a cradle of a pool maintenance tool. The bottle is selected having a shape and size corresponding to an inner curvature of two opposing arms of a cradle extending from a second (lower) end of a body of a pool maintenance tool such that the bottle is held in place by friction with the cradle arms contacting the bottle surface

Submerging step 230, in some embodiments, comprises submerging the cradle containing the bottle into a pool. This may involve a user of the pool maintenance tool lowering the cradle containing the bottle into the water to be sampled. To prevent entry of water into the bottle before the sample location is reached, the user may rotate the handle of the tool such that the cradle faces the bottom of the pool and the bottle mouth is oriented downward. In some embodiments, submerging step comprises orienting the handle of the tool such that a bottle mouth wherethrough water will enter the bottle is oriented facing downward at a position deeper than the remainder of the bottle, with the remainder of the bottle extending upward towards the water surface. In this way, air is retained within the sample bottle and water is excluded from entering the bottle by the air therein until such time as the user has positioned the bottle at the desired depth and location for collection of a water sample.

In some embodiments, submerging step 230 includes telescoping a handle of the pool maintenance tool to extend the usable length of the tool, wherein the user can submerge the bottle an extended depth below the water surface, such as greater than 3 feet, greater than 4 feet, greater than 5 feet, greater than 6 feet, or greater than 7 feet below the surface of the water, for example.

Collecting step 240, in some embodiments, comprises collecting a water sample. This may be done by re-orienting the handle such that the bottle opening is turned away from the deepest position facing the pool bottom towards a more shallow position with respect to the bottle body such that air escapes through the mouth and a water sample enters the bottle. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by the user turning the handle to rotate the body of the tool such that the cradle now faces upwards toward the water surface.

Retrieving step 250, in some embodiments, comprises retrieving the cradle containing the bottle from the pool. In some embodiments, retrieving step is performed by the user collapsing a telescoping handle such that multiple sections of the handle are nested together and the handle assumes a shorter length. In some embodiments, retrieving step simply comprises lifting the tool from the pool. Care is taken by the user to keep the bottle opening facing upwards to avoid loss of the water sample from the bottle.

Removing step 260, in some embodiments, comprises removing the bottle containing the water sample from the cradle. This may be performed by grasping the bottle in one hand while stabilizing the body of the tool in the other hand and then pulling the bottle from the cradle. Care is taken by the user to keep the bottle opening facing upwards to avoid loss of the water sample.

In some embodiments, a bottle having a cover that obstructs the opening to prevent water from entering or exiting the bottle regardless of the bottle's orientation may be used. In such embodiments, an actuation mechanism is employed to retract the cover, allowing water to enter the bottle when the user has determined the bottle is at the desired depth and location for collection of a water sample. In some embodiments, the actuation mechanism is a cord, a wire, a cable, a rod, or similar device mechanically coupled to the cover to overcome a biasing member, such as a spring, maintaining the cover opposed to the bottle opening, occluding the opening. By moving the actuator, the user may open or close the cover, thus controlling when water may or may not enter or exit the bottle.

A pool maintenance tool is disclosed herein. Embodiments of the device allow a user to collect a water sample from deep within the pool, at a desired depth and location without bending or crouching down. The tool may be formed from inexpensive materials, is easy to use, and facilitates convenient, controlled pool water testing and other pool maintenance tasks.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible, in light of the teachings herein above.