EP-4739864-A1 - AUTOMATIC POOL/SPA CLEANER WITH WALL DOCKING FEATURE

Abstract

An automatic pool/spa cleaner with a wall docking feature is provided. The cleaner includes a housing, a removable debris canister, a plurality of traction wheels, and an exhaust port. After completion of a cleaning cycle, the cleaner travels upward along a wall of the pool or spa to a position where at least a portion of the canister is positioned above the water line of the pool or spa, and remains in that position in order to allow an operator to detach and empty the debris canister without requiring the cleaner to be removed from the pool or spa. A cable retention system also provides for automatic supply, tensioning, and reeling in a of power and/or communications cable associated with the cleaner. A "touch-free-" debris basket allows for insertion/removal of a debris basket through a passageway of the cable retention system.

Inventors

• CARTER, JAMES
• RENKEN, TROY
• CARTNER, Craig
• Hayes, Graham

Assignees

• Hayward Industries, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240705

Claims (20)

1. 1. A pool/spa cleaner with a docking feature, comprising: a housing; a debris canister for capturing debris; means for driving the cleaner; and an exhaust port for expelling water and causing the cleaner to contact a pool or spa wall, wherein the means for driving the cleaner drives the cleaner along the pool or spa wall to a predefined location on the pool or spa wall where at least a portion of the cleaner is positioned above a water line of the pool or spa so as to facilitate emptying of the debris canister without requiring removal of the cleaner from the pool or spa.
2. 2. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, further comprising means for suspending the cleaner at the predefined location on the pool or spa wall.
3. 3. The pool/spa cleaner of 2, wherein the means for suspending the cleaner comprises at least one hanging arm for hanging the cleaner from an edge of the pool or spa when the cleaner is at the predefined location.
4. 4. The pool/spa cleaner of 2, wherein the cleaner is suspended from a projection or ledge on the pool or spa wall.
5. 5. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, wherein the debris canister is ejected from the cleaner when the cleaner arrives at the predefined location.
6. 6. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, wherein the cleaner is rechargeable at the predefined location.
7. 7. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, wherein a battery of the cleaner is accessible and/or removable from the cleaner when the cleaner is at the predefined location without requiring removal of the cleaner from the pool or spa.
8. 8. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting when the cleaner is at the predefined location.
9. 9. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, wherein the canister includes a rechargeable battery.
10. 10. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, wherein at least one of the cleaner or the canister is buoyant.
11. 11. The pool/spa cleaner of 1 , further comprising a power cord and a mechanism for extending or retracting the power cord during operation of the cleaner.
12. 12. The pool/spa cleaner of 11, wherein the power cord is automatically extended or retracted based on a speed of the cleaner.
13. 13. The pool/spa cleaner of 1, wherein the cleaner determines a distance between the cleaner and the predefined location.
14. 14. A cable retention system for pool/spa cleaner, comprising: a housing positionable on a surface adjacent to a pool or a spa; a cable reel for storing at least a portion of a cable supplying power to a pool/spa cleaner; and a drive mechanism for driving the cable reel, wherein the drive mechanism and the cable reel extend the cable outside of the housing when the pool/spa cleaner performs a cleaning cycle, and wherein the drive mechanism retracts the cable into the housing when the pool/spa cleaner has completed the cleaning cycle.
15. 15. The cable retention system of Claim 14, wherein the drive mechanism and the cable reel automatically tension the cable when the pool/spa cleaner is performing the cleaning operation.
16. 16. The cable retention system of Claim 14. further comprising a port in the housing for receiving debris from the pool/spa cleaner, the debris stored in the housing.
17. 17. The cable retention system of Claim 16, further comprising a pump for periodically emptying the debris from the housing.
18. 18. The cable retention system of Claim 14, further comprising a water feature for expelling water from the housing.
19. 19. The cable retention system of Claim 18, wherein the water feature is illuminated.
20. 20. The cable retention system of Claim 14, further comprising a cylindrical passageway formed through the housing.

Description

AUTOMATIC POOL/SPA CLEANER WITH WALL DOCKING FEATURE SPECIFICATION BACKGROUND RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/525,359 filed on July 6, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of swimming pool/spa cleaning devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a swimming pool or spa cleaner having a wall docking feature. RELATED ART [0003] Swimming pool and spa cleaners are well-known devices often used by pool owner and/or maintainers to ensure removal of dirt, debris, and other objects from the surfaces (e.g., floors and w^alls) of swimming pools and spas. These pool cleaners are generally categorized by their source of power and include positive pressure pool cleaners, suction (negative pressure) pool cleaners, and robotic/electric pool cleaners. Positive pressure pool cleaners are in fluidic communication with a source of pressurized water. This source of pressurized water could include, for example, a booster pump or pool filtration system. Generally, this requires a hose running from the pump or system to the swimming pool cleaner through which pressurized water is provided to the pool cleaner. Some positive pressure pool cleaners discharge the pressurized water through one or more internal nozzles to create a suction effect at a bottom opening of the swimming pool cleaner, drawing debris through the bottom opening and into a retention device, e.g., a debris bag, of the swimming pool cleaner. Additionally, some positive pressure pool cleaners discharge a portion of the pressurized water externally through one or more nozzles to cause locomotion of the pool cleaner. [0004] On the other hand, suction pool cleaners are in fluidic communication with a suction source that draws w ater from the pool through the suction pool cleaner. This is often achieved through the implementation of a suction hose that is connected between the suction pool cleaner and the suction source, which can be a wall fitting in communication with the suction side of a pool pump. This suction effect causes water and debris to be drawn through the suction pool cleaner and in turn the suction hose to a filter basket where the debris is collected. Additionally, suction pool cleaners can utilize the water being drawn therethrough to cause the pool cleaner to move across the pool walls. [0005] Finally, many robotic/ electric pool cleaners utilize electric power provided through an electrical cable or wire from an external power source or from an internal power source (e.g., internal battery) to move and operate. In particular, the electrical power received by the pool cleaner is often used to power various internal motors and pumps. The motors can be utilized to turn wheels or circulate continuous tracks in order move the pool cleaner along the pool walls. Additionally, the motors and/or pumps can be used to generate a suction effect at a bottom opening of the pool cleaner to draw debris into a container within or on the pool cleaner. [0006] While robotic/electric cleaners offer convenient cleaning of pools/spas without requiring fluidic connections to pool/spa filtration systems, one drawback of such cleaners is that they must be removed from the pool/spa in order to empty the debris canister of the cleaner or to perform other functions, such as recharging or replacing a rechargeable battery of the cleaner or to perform other functions associated with the cleaner. Since such cleaners are often heavy, it can be tedious and/or dangerous for a homeowner or other individual to have to lift the cleaner out of the pool. Accordingly, what would be desirable is an automatic pool/spa cleaner with a wall docking feature which addresses these, and other, needs. SUMMARY [0007] The present disclosure relates to an automatic pool/spa cleaner with a wall docking feature. The cleaner includes a housing, a removable debris canister, a plurality of traction wheels, and an exhaust port. During a cleaning cycle, the cleaner cleans debris from surfaces of a pool or spa. At the completion of the cleaning cycle, the cleaner travels upward along a wall of the pool or spa, toward an upper edge of the pool or spa (e.g., toward a coping stone surrounding the periphery of the pool or spa), such that at least a portion of the canister is positioned above the water line of the pool or spa, and remains in that position in order to allow an operator to detach the debris canister from the cleaner, thereby allowing for easy access to, and emptying of. the canister and without requiring the cleaner to be removed from the pool or spa. Additionally, when docked against the wall, the cleaner can be easily recharged. Further, easy access to a rechargeable battery of the cleaner is provided, as well as other components of the cleaner. Docking can be facilitated by one