US3837015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water level control for swimming pool
Assignee: Tolo Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-14
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A valve through which water from a water supply source may be admitted to a swimming pool is located in the throat of the skimmer of the pool beneath a weir pivotally supported at the entrance of the throat and biased in yielding opposition to the flow of water into the skimmer as the water circulating system of the swimming pool is operated to draw water through the skimmer and return it to the pool. The water admitting orifice of the valve is fitted with a shroud which directs the water generally toward the inner side of the weir, and an operating lever arm for the valve is disposed beneath the weir so that the weir, upon being pivotally moved downwardly beyond a predetermined position, will engage the valve control lever and depress it, thus opening the valve to admit water into the pool.
Inventors
- 👤 B Whitaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:29
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D9/00; G05D9/02; E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/12; E04H4/1209; E04H4/1272; F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/18; F16K31/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris, of: a weir moveably mounted in the entrance to the skimmer; a water supply duct terminating in the entrance to said skimmer inwardly from the inner surface of the weir for admitting water into the pool; a valve located at the termination of said duct and having an actuating means disposed in the path of movement of said weir for controlling the admission of water from said duct into the pool; said weir being movable independent of said actuating means over a range of movement in which the water in the pool is above a pre-selected level; and means controlled by said weir for actuating said valve to cause the admission of water into the pool responsive to movement of the weir below said pre-selected level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris, of: a weir moveably mounted in the entrance to the skimmer; a water supply duct terminating in the entrance to said skimmer inwardly from the inner surface of the weir for admitting water into the pool; a valve located at the termination of said duct and having an actuating means disposed in the path of movement of said weir for controlling the admission of water from said duct into the pool; said weir being movable independent of said actuating means over a range of movement in which the water in the pool is above a pre-selected level; and means controlled by said weir for actuating said valve to cause the admission of water into the pool responsive to movement of the weir below said pre-selected level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said valve has means associated with it for maintaining said actuating means in a predetermined alignment relative to the location of the weir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said actuating means is adjustable to vary the relative positions of interengagement between the weir and said actuating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris, of; a water supply duct for admitting water into the pool; a valve for controlling the admission of water from said duct into said pool having a closure means presentable in the closure position solely by water pressure in said duct; a weir mounted in the entrance to the skimmer; and means attached to said closure means and controlled by said weir for causing said closure means in the valve to admit water into the pool responsive to the position of the weir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris, of; a water supply duct for admitting water into the pool; a valve for controlling the admission of water from said duct into said pool having a closure means presentable in the closure position solely by water pressure in said duct; a weir mounted in the entrance to the skimmer; and means attached to said closure means and controlled by said weir for causing said closure means in the valve to admit water into the pool responsive to the position of the weir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein: the admission of water is effected by displacement of said actuating means by the weir and consequent displacement of the closure means from its closure position by the attached actuating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said valve includes a second closure means effective to preclude a flow of water from said swimming pool into said duct under the circumstance that water pressure in said duct falls below the gravitational pressure of water above said valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein: the valve communicates with the duct through a passage having a circular cross section; and said second closure means is a ball having a diameter exceeding the diameter of at least a portion of said passage and adapted to seat on said portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein: the ball has a specific gravity such that upon failure as well as upon absence of the first mentioned closure means the ball will in the presence of water pressure in said duct move into position to block the admission of water into said pool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris, of: a weir mounted in the entrance to the skimmer; a water supply duct terminating in the entrance to said skimmer inwardly from the inner surface of the weir; a valve for controlling the admission of water from said duct into the entrance to the skimmer; means controlled by said weir for actuating said valve to cause the admission of water responsive to the position of the weir; and means associated with said valve for directing toward the weir the water admitted through the valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris, of: a weir mounted in the entrance to the skimmer; a water supply duct terminating in the entrance to said skimmer inwardly from the inner surface of the weir; a valve for controlling the admission of water from said duct into the entrance to the skimmer; means controlled by said weir for actuating said valve to cause the admission of water responsive to the position of the weir; and means associated with said valve for directing toward the weir the water admitted through the valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination in accordance with claim 9 wherein: the means for directing water toward the weir comprises a shrouding cap attachable to said valve and having a slot oriented toward the weir.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein: said actuating means for the valve emerges from the shrouding cap and has a portion confined in said slot and is thereby aligned predeterminedly relative to the weir.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein the slot in the shrouding cap subtends an angle of substantially 90* having one of its sides directed toward the entrance to the skimmer throat and having its other side directed toward the top of said throat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said valve and shrouding cap have cooperative interengagement components limiting to a single orientational relationship the attachment of said cap to the valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
152 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris equipped with a pivotally mounted weir in the entrance to the skimmer, of: a water supply duct; a valve body associated with the duct in terminating relation thereto and positioned inwardly of the skimmer entrance relative to the pivotal mounting of the weir; a displaceable closure member contained in said valve body for controlling the admission of water from the duct into the skimmer entrance; a control member assoCiated with said closure member and having a portion presentable in a position to be engaged by said weir and through said engagement to effect water-admitting displacement of said closure member; and a cap removably associated with said valve body having means for maintaining said control member in position to be engaged by the weir and for directing the flow of water admitted by said closure member generally toward the weir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
152 words
The combination with a swimming pool having a skimmer for skimming-off floating debris equipped with a pivotally mounted weir in the entrance to the skimmer, of: a water supply duct; a valve body associated with the duct in terminating relation thereto and positioned inwardly of the skimmer entrance relative to the pivotal mounting of the weir; a displaceable closure member contained in said valve body for controlling the admission of water from the duct into the skimmer entrance; a control member assoCiated with said closure member and having a portion presentable in a position to be engaged by said weir and through said engagement to effect water-admitting displacement of said closure member; and a cap removably associated with said valve body having means for maintaining said control member in position to be engaged by the weir and for directing the flow of water admitted by said closure member generally toward the weir.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination in accordance with claim 14 including a second closure member contained in said valve body for precluding a backflow of water from the skimmer entrance into said duct.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuating means is an arm extending laterally from said valve and is pivoted by said weir to open said valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |