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CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for 5 collecting waste and cleaning water retained within an enclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10
Some enclosures retain water and are maintained for productive, recreational, decorative or aesthetic purposes. Some enclosures may require cleaning to remove sediment, waste or debris from the enclosure. Some cleaning devices 15 use a vacuum source to draw the water through a filter to clean the water within the enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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The present invention provides a cleaning device for removing particles, sediment, debris or waste from an enclosure retaining water. The cleaning device includes a housing and a receptacle removably connected to the housing. The 25 housing includes an inlet passage and an outlet passage defined within the housing. The inlet passage receives the fluid flow from the enclosure and empties the fluid flow into the receptacle. The inlet passage includes an inlet aperture at the end of the inlet passage emptying into the receptacle. The 30 outlet passage receives fluid flow out of the receptacle. The outlet passage includes an outlet aperture at an end of the outlet passage receiving fluid flow from the receptacle.
The receptacle includes a bottom surface at an end of the receptacle opposite the housing. In some constructions, the 35 inlet aperture and outlet aperture are both disposed vertically above the bottom surface of the receptacle, and may be disposed completely vertically above the entire receptacle. Particles within the water may be gravitationally drawn downwardly within the receptacle toward the bottom sur- 40 face.
In some constructions, the cleaning device may include a tube connected to the inlet passage. The tube extends outwardly from the inlet passage into the enclosure. The fluid from the enclosure may be drawn into the inlet passage 45 through the tube.
In some constructions, the cleaning device may include a filter connected to the outlet passage that prevents relatively large particles in the water from entering the outlet passage. The filter may include several apertures that permit fluid to 50 pass through the filter, but prevent particles from passing through the filter.
In some constructions, the cleaning device may include a pump that creates a fluid flow through the cleaning device. 55 The fluid flow flows through the cleaning device along a flow path at least partially defined by the inlet passage, the receptacle and the outlet passage.
In some constructions, the cleaning may include an outlet tube connected to the housing and the pump. The outlet tube 60 is in fluid communication with the outlet passage and the pump. The outlet tube may include a valve that controls fluid flow through the outlet tube and the cleaning device.
Independent features and independent advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in 65 the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings.
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a cleaning device for cleaning an enclosure retaining water.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the cleaning device of FIG.
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FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the cleaning device of FIG.
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FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cleaning device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cleaning device taken along line 6—6 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a cleaning device for cleaning an enclosure retaining water, the cleaning device having a faucet pump.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet pump of the cleaning device of FIG. 7 having a valve in an open condition.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the faucet pump of the cleaning device of FIG. 7 having a valve in a closed condition.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the valve of the faucet pump taken along line 10—10 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cleaning device of FIG. 7.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Although references may be made below to directions, such as left, right, up, down, top, bottom, front, rear, back, etc., in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a cleaning device 10 for cleaning an enclosure retaining a fluid and removing particles from the fluid retained within the enclosure. The cleaning device 10 may also be used empty the enclosure and refill the enclosure. The enclosure may include a pond, aquarium, pool, spa, fountain or other similar structures that retain a fluid. Such enclosures generally retain water.
In the illustrated construction, the cleaning device 10 includes a housing 14 and a receptacle 18. The receptacle 18 may be removably connected to the housing 14. In the illustrated construction, the receptacle 18 and the housing 14 include threads, and the receptacle 18 threadedly engages the housing 14, similar to a jar and a lid, to create a seal between the receptacle 18 and the housing 14. The receptacle 18 generally includes an opening 20 near an upper portion, and the housing 14 is positioned over the opening 20 to enclose the volume within the receptacle 18. The cleaning device 10 may include an O-ring, gasket, or other similar sealing mechanism to improve the seal between the housing 14 and the receptacle 18. The cleaning device 10 generates a fluid flow through the cleaning device 10, and collects particles within the fluid flow in the receptacle 18.
