US-12618253-B2 - Cleaning accessory

US12618253B2US 12618253 B2US12618253 B2US 12618253B2US-12618253-B2

Abstract

A cleaning accessory for use in cleaning debris from the bottom of a pool, such as a swimming pool, includes a tapered nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled together by a nozzle cavity. The nozzle outlet is configured to be attached to a vacuum by a flexible hose. The body also includes an attachment cavity for attachment to a pole member. As such, the cleaning accessory allows a user to stand near the edge of the pool while controlling the movement of the nozzle inlet to vacuum debris that has accumulated in an area between the pool's bottom and sidewall.

Inventors

Jennifer Jones

Assignees

MY POOL SUPPLY, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230208

Claims (16)

1 . A cleaning accessory comprising: a body having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled by a nozzle cavity; and an attachment segment extending from said body, and not in fluid communication with said nozzle cavity, wherein said nozzle cavity includes a tapered inner section having a first inner end and a second inner end, wherein said first inner end is smaller in diameter than a diameter of said second inner end, and said first inner end being defined by said nozzle inlet, and wherein said attachment segment and said nozzle inlet are axially aligned.
2 . The cleaning accessory of claim 1 , wherein said nozzle inlet includes an edge having at least one recessed passage, wherein said at least one recessed passage includes a curved edge.
3 . The cleaning accessory of claim 2 , wherein said at least one recessed passage comprises a plurality of said recessed passages that are spaced apart by a nozzle member that form said edge.
4 . The cleaning accessory of claim 1 , wherein said nozzle inlet is opposite to said nozzle outlet.
5 . The cleaning accessory of claim 1 , wherein said nozzle inlet is parallel to said nozzle outlet.
6 . The cleaning accessory of claim 1 , further comprising a lock member carried within an attachment cavity disposed in said attachment segment, said lock member including a plurality of protrusions configured to selectively extend through corresponding apertures disposed in a wall of said attachment segment when said lock member is actuated.
7 . The cleaning accessory of claim 1 , wherein said body includes a tapered outer section having a first outer end defined by said nozzle inlet and a second outer end distal to said nozzle inlet, and wherein said first outer end is smaller in diameter than a diameter of said second outer end.
8 . A cleaning accessory comprising: a body having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled by a nozzle cavity; and an attachment segment extending from said body, and not in fluid communication with said nozzle cavity, wherein said nozzle cavity includes a tapered inner section having a first inner end and a second inner end, wherein said first inner end is smaller in diameter than a diameter of said second inner end, and said first inner end being defined by said nozzle inlet, and wherein said nozzle cavity includes a plurality of right angle bends.
9 . An unassembled cleaning accessory kit comprising: a body having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled by a nozzle cavity; an attachment segment extending from said body, and not in fluid communication with said nozzle cavity; and an attachment collar adapted to be attached at one end to a hose and said attachment collar being configured to be selectively attached at another end to the nozzle outlet, such that said hose is placed into fluid communication with said nozzle cavity, wherein said nozzle cavity includes a tapered section having a first inner end and a second inner end, wherein said first inner end is smaller in diameter than a diameter of said second inner end, and said first inner end being defined by said nozzle inlet, and wherein said attachment segment and said nozzle inlet are axially aligned.
10 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein said nozzle inlet includes an edge having at least one recessed passage.
11 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein said at least one recessed passage comprises a plurality of said recessed passages that are spaced apart by a nozzle member that form said edge.
12 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein said nozzle inlet is opposite to said nozzle outlet.
13 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein said nozzle inlet is parallel to said nozzle outlet.
14 . The kit of claim 9 , further comprising a lock member carried within an attachment cavity disposed in said attachment segment, said lock member including a plurality of protrusions configured to selectively extend through corresponding apertures disposed in a wall of said attachment segment when said lock member is actuated.
15 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein said body includes a tapered outer section having a first outer end defined by said nozzle inlet and a second outer end distal to said nozzle inlet, and wherein said first outer end is smaller in diameter than a diameter of said second outer end.
16 . An unassembled cleaning accessory kit comprising: a body having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled by a nozzle cavity; an attachment segment extending from said body, and not in fluid communication with said nozzle cavity; and an attachment collar adapted to be attached at one end to a hose and said attachment collar being configured to be selectively attached at another end to the nozzle outlet, such that said hose is placed into fluid communication with said nozzle cavity, wherein said nozzle cavity includes a tapered section having a first inner end and a second inner end, wherein said first inner end is smaller in diameter than a diameter of said second inner end, and said first inner end being defined by said nozzle inlet, and wherein said nozzle cavity includes a plurality of right angle bends.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to accessories for cleaning pools containing water, such as swimming pools. Particularly, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a pool cleaning accessory that is configured for attachment to a vacuum hose and a user-controlled pole. More particularly, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a cleaning accessory having a tapered nozzle inlet for cleaning debris that has collected on the bottom of the floor of the pool, particularly at the area between the pool's floor and side wall. BACKGROUND Swimming pools are a source of exercise, enjoyment, and relaxation for many, whether it is swimming itself, water sports, or simply wading in the water. However, because pools are not often constructed within enclosed structures, they are exposed to the outdoor environment. Thus, environmental debris, such as tree leaves and needles, dirt, sand, and trash, often finds its way into the exposed pool water. While pools typically have a filtration system that functions to circulate and filter water in the pool, the pool's filtration system is limited to filtering debris that is suspended in the circulating water itself. Thus the heavier debris, such as dirt and sand particles, as well as leaves saturated by water, that falls to the bottom of the pool to its floor cannot be captured by the pool's filtration system. As a result, this debris remains trapped on the pool's floor and diminishes the attractiveness and aesthetic beauty of the water in the pool. In some cases, this accumulated debris may cause the pool's water to become unsanitary for its users. In addition, the disintegrated leaves, dirt, and other particulates may become agitated by the feet of the pool's users, which can enter and irritate their eyes when they are using the pool. Thus, the debris trapped at the bottom of the pool is a frustration that many pool owners unfortunately have to endure. In an attempt to clean the debris that has collected on the floor of the pool, various vacuuming devices have been developed. These pool vacuuming devices are designed to be submerged into the pool's water and ride and move around upon the floor of the pool. As the vacuuming device moves, it applies a suction force to pull the debris thereon, whereupon it is pulled into an inlet and resultantly routed through an exhaust hose where it is captured by a filtration system. While these pool vacuums are effective for cleaning the generally horizontally extending surface of the pool's floor, they are ineffective for cleaning debris that accumulates at the transition area between the pool floor and the side wall of the pool, which is angled or curved. That is, given the design of the pool vacuum, it is unable to apply suitable suction force to the curved, contoured, or angled transition region that generally exists between the pool side wall and the pool floor. As a result of this ineffectiveness in cleaning, this transition area that generally extends around the perimeter of the pool's floor continues to include collected debris, which reduces the attractiveness of the pool, while potentially making the pool's water unsanitary and unsafe for its users, as previously discussed. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a pool cleaning accessory that is configured to be utilized to clean debris captured at the transition area between the pool's floor and the pool's side wall. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a pool cleaning accessory that is capable of being removably attached to an elongated pole to allow a user of the accessory to stand on the decking surface that extends about the perimeter of the opening of the pool to move the pool cleaning accessary as necessary. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a pool cleaning accessory that is capable of being removably attached to a hose-connected filtration system to remove the debris captured at the transition area between the pool's floor and the pool's side wall. Still yet, it would be desirable to provide a pool cleaning accessory that includes a nozzle inlet having a tapered shape. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a pool cleaning accessory that includes a nozzle inlet having a tapered nozzle cavity. SUMMARY In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the various embodiments disclosed herein to provide a cleaning accessory comprising a body having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled by a nozzle cavity, and an attachment segment extending from the body. Yet another aspect of the various embodiments disclosed herein is to provide an unassembled cleaning accessory kit comprising a body having a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet that are fluidly coupled by a nozzle cavity; an attachment segment extending from the body; and an attachment collar adapted to be attached at one end to a hose and the attachment collar being configured to be selectively attached at another end to the o