POOL PUMP WITH MULTIPLE OFFSET OUTLETS

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to pumps and, more particularly, to inground pumps for use in connection with in-ground fluid circulation systems for swimming pools, spas and other recreational bodies of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inground pool pump assemblies are a common method of fluid circulation when constructing a pool for use with a home. Inground assemblies allow for better water circulation in larger pools as well as plumbing that is more discreet than above ground pool assemblies. Unlike above ground pool assemblies, access to the pump assemblies in these configurations is by way of an access panel where all or most of the pump itself can be accessed. Typically, when initially building a pool, inground plumbing is carefully planned out with respect to the inground pump to allow for maintenance.

Although, while careful planning is made during construction of the pool, access to the pool pump assembly for further repairs or changing of parts may be limited due to plumbing constraints.

Further, introducing an ionizer for the removal of unwanted contaminants, as described in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 18/654,210, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, into a pool system would typically require direct mounting into pool plumbing by drilling into or cutting pipes. Any further repair of the ionizer would thus also require cutting into the pipes that house the ionizer.

Thus, there is a need for a pool pump assembly selecting the position of the outlet which involved less manual handling of the pump with easier selection of the outlet position to suit different operational requirements and configurations of the fluid circulation system. There is also a need for improvement of situating an ionizer in the circulation system to maximize removal of unwanted contaminants and avoiding costly instillation and repair techniques. There is furthermore a need for easier positioning of the ionizer given the plumbing constraints surrounding the inground pump assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inground pump assembly that can be easily adapted to installation of an ionizer in multiple configurations of pool systems and plumbing.

It is a further object to eliminate the need to cut into plumbing for flowing, circulating fluid to mount an ionizing mechanism.

It is a further object to allow for accessibility to the ionizer for when replacement of the ionizer is required.

These and other objects are explicitly attained by the present invention which is directed to an inground pool assembly which contains at least three outlet ports and can be adapted to different existing pool systems. The swimming pool pump assembly described herein has multiple outlet ports, wherein one or more of the outlet ports are configured to receive an ionizer or cap.

The swimming pool pump assembly described herein further includes an inground pump assembly which has a casing with a double outside shell to minimize expansion and obtain the benefit of thinner walls to save in material costs and minimize the visible internal shell expansion. An additional ionizer port is included for the end user to insert an ionizer and allow for easy accessibility to the component. A cap for the outlet port allows the end user to seal the outlet port when not in use or, in a configuration that contains multiple outlet ports, select the desired outlet without manually disengaging the inground pump to change its configuration. The front side of the inground pump assembly is cylindrical in shape and contains an aperture to accommodate a filter basket. The rear side contains a cavity to accommodate a rotor for movement of the fluid. Both the cylindrical aperture and rear side cavity contain drain plugs located near the bottom of the inground pump assembly. Grounding plates for water bonding may be built into the swimming pool pump assembly to conform to state and federal ordinances.

An advantage of the present invention is that it can be easily adapted to many inground pool system configurations and, with the added outlet port, allows for the pool pump assembly to be easily combined with an ionizer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front right side perspective view from above of the inground pump assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front left side perspective view from above of the inground pump assembly;

FIG. 3 is a rear left side perspective view of the inground pump assembly;

FIG. 4 is a front right side perspective view from above similar to FIG. 1, and illustrating a controller 400 mounted on a motor and coupled to an ionizer;

FIG. 5 is a rear left side perspective of the inground pump assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a rear right side perspective of an alternative embodiment of the inground pump assembly shown in FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 7 is a front right side perspective of an alternative embodiment of the inground pump assembly shown in FIGS. 1-5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Regarding all figures, inground pump assembly 100 includes a casing 101 having an outer shell 101a and an inner shell 101b concentrically disposed within outer shell 101a and spaced apart therefrom (See FIG. 3). Inground pump assembly 100 includes an outlet port 110 extending in a vertical direction. Outlet port 110 can include an internal thread 111 and an external thread 112 and is oriented in a direction normal to incoming fluid flow. In a preferred embodiment, the inground pump assembly 100 includes first and second ionizer ports 200a,b, which can further include internal threads 111 extend in opposite directions perpendicular to the outlet port 110. Ionizer ports 200a,b having external threads are also contemplated. Additionally, it is further contemplated that both outlet port 110 and ionizing ports 200 can be reversed threaded. Preferably, the ionizing ports 200 are of the same size and configuration, although they may be constructed of different sizes and configurations if desired. An inlet 120 for water, which can also include internal threads 111 and external threads 112, is provided leading into a filter basket 121. The filter basket 121 comprises the front end of the inground pump assembly and is in fluid communication with the casing 101 containing the outlet ports 110 by filter hole 130 (See FIG. 3). The filter basket 121 can be closed with a filter basket cap 122. The bottom of inground pool assembly 100 contains drain holes 140 disposed substantially towards the bottom of unit which can be closed with drain plugs 141.

In another embodiment, as seen in FIG. 6, the ionizing port 200 may be located on the backplate 150 connected to the rear of the casing 101. In a further embodiment, as seen in FIG. 7, the ionizing port 200 may be located on a pipe 300 extending from the outlet port 110. Any combination of an ionizing port 200 located on the sides, rear, or top of the inground pump assembly 100 are contemplated. Placement of the ionizing port near the controller 400 is preferred in order for the ionizer 202 to draw power from the controller 400 rather than an external power source.

The invention further includes at least one cap 201, as seen in FIG. 4, which may be configured and dimensioned to fit on and close an ionizing port 200. Typically, cap 201 will have an internal thread configured and dimensioned to engage the external thread 112 of the ionizing ports 200. However, it is also possible for the cap to have an external thread adapted to engage the internal thread 111 of the ionizing port 200 to be closed.

In an inground pump 100 having has two or more ionizing ports 200, only one of the ports would typically house an ionizer 202 while the additional ports would remain capped. While an ionizer 202 is described for use with an ionizing port, other pool pump accessories may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, the ionizer 202. Alternatively, when the pool pump assembly is not in use with an ionizer 202, all of the ionizing ports 200 may be capped with cap 201.

A significant feature of the invention is the option given to the end user to select the desired ionizer port location with a minimum of handling. For example, if the pool pump assembly 100 is constrained by plumbing on one side assembly 100, an end user may install the ionizer 202 on the ionizer port 200 on the unimpeded side allowing for replacement of the ionizer 202 once expired without the need for cumbersome disassembly or modification to the pool pump 100 or surround plumbing. The inground pump casing 101 and outlet port 110 are stationary and do not rotate relative to the filter basket 121 or motor 500. Additional manipulation of swimming pool pump assembly 100 is not needed for the purpose of ionizer port 200 selection, thereby providing a fluid pump 100 with reduced complexity, lower cost and greater adjustability and user convenience.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inground pump assembly 100 can be further combined with a conventional motor 500 that operates a rotor within the cavity of the inner shell 101b on the rear facing side of the inground pump assembly 100. The rotor can be adapted to mate with the filter hole 130 and freely rotate within the cavity of the inner shell to facilitate water flow from the inlet to a respective outlet. Further, when an ionizer port 200 is engaged with an ionizer 202, a controller 400 may be added for use with the ionizer 202.

While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. For example, the swimming pool pump assembly can be in connection with fluid circulation systems for swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, whirlpools, and any other bathing facilities. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

The preceding description of the present invention is merely exemplary, and not intended to limit the scope thereof.