Secondary swimming pool filter run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer and methods for marketing and using said secondary filter

Abstract

A secondary pool filter apparatus for use in filtering swimming pool debris and configured such that the filter can be substantially “flush-mounted” within a conventional pool skimmer channel so as to minimize the possibility of swimmers or other objects in a pool bumping into the filter. The filter comprises a liner having a main body adapted for removing floating debris from swimming pool water and a biasing element for enabling continuing operation of said skimmer system and to prevent the filter from backing out of a skimmer channel and floating or sinking. The filter main body and the biasing element are configured such that the filter has a substantially universal fit for use in many conventional swimming pool skimmer channels. A method for marketing a secondary pool filter apparatus run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer comprises determining a market for the secondary pool filter apparatus run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer channel having a given configuration and marketing the secondary pool filter apparatus having a configuration which matches the swimming pool skimmer channel configuration. A method for using a secondary pool filter apparatus run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer comprises using a secondary pool filter apparatus having a configuration which matches a swimming pool skimmer channel having a given configuration and inserting the secondary pool filter apparatus having at least one flange into the swimming pool skimmer channel until the at least one flange is flush with a swimming pool wall.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pool filter apparatus for use with a pool for removing floating debris positioned adjacent or within a pool flowing channel of a skimmer system, comprising: 
 a filtering structure configured for being completely or at least partially flush-mounted within the skimmer system.    
     
     
         2 . A pool filter apparatus for use with a pool for removing floating debris positioned adjacent or within a pool flowing channel of a skimmer system, comprising: 
 a porous body mounted within the skimmer system and being prevented from moving, floating, or traveling.    
     
     
         3 . A pool filter apparatus for use with a pool for removing floating debris positioned adjacent or within a pool flowing channel of a skimmer system, comprising: 
 a liner having a main body adapted for removing floating debris from swimming pool water; and    part of said filter including at least one flange and a biasing element for enabling continuing operation of said skimmer system and to prevent said filter from floating out of the skimmer channel or sinking.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the main body of said liner comprises a platform and at least one wall attached thereto, and wherein said at least one wall is oriented in a plane that lies at an angle with respect to said platform.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter has at least one flange mounted to said main body with said at least one flange being adapted for resting against a swimming pool side wall so as to prevent said filter from traveling within a skimmer system channel in such a way as to interfere with the operation of said skimmer system.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the main body of said liner comprises a platform having first and second side walls and an end wall attached thereto, said side walls and end wall being positioned and oriented such that they lie in planes all of which are at an angle with respect to said platform, and wherein said liner has an interior in communication with an open top and an open entrance.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein said first and second side walls and said end wall are integrally formed with said platform such that the main body is one substantially contiguous surface so as to facilitate manufacturing said filter.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter is has an open top and an open entrance in communication with the interior so as to facilitate inspection and access to trapped debris and to foster cleaning, and wherein such a configuration enables said filter to be substantially cleaned by merely flipping it over—and shaking out the contents if necessary.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter is sized and proportioned such that substantially all of said filter may be installed within said skimmer channel so as to be substantially flush-mounted within the skimmer channel.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing element comprises a brush mounted to said main body, and wherein said brush forcibly contacts an interior surface of said skimmer channel so as to hold said filter substantially in place within the skimmer channel, and wherein said brush is flexible and has a sufficient length such that said filter may be installed in skimmer channels having a variety of dimensions, and wherein said flexible brush enables said filter to have a substantially universal fit in many conventional skimmer channels.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing element is both flexible and porous so as to have a dual-purpose for securing said filter within the skimmer channel and for filtering water passing over the top of said liner main body.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing element is formed from a dual-characteristic material which is flexible so as to be useable for exerting a biasing force on a surface within the skimmer channel and at the same time is also porous for aiding in the filtering of water passing therethrough.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing element is configured so as to secure said filter within the channel, and wherein said biasing element forcibly contacts or is releaseably connected to some surface—or object—within the channel or pool.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing element is integrally formed with said liner main body.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said biasing element has a modular configuration with respect to said filter and is removably attached thereto, and wherein only said biasing element would need to be replaced if said biasing element becomes overly worn and the remainder of said filter could continue to be used.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of said biasing element is adapted to be slidably mounted to a surface of said main body, and wherein said surface of said main body is adapted to slotably receive at least a portion of said biasing element.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of said main body of said liner is formed from a porous material so as to filter out floating debris in pool water passing through said main body.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter has a porous configuration for minimizing drag on water flowing through said filter so as to help minimize any degradation of pool water circulation pump efficiency.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said pool flowing channel has a given configuration, and wherein said filter has a configuration which is different from the given configuration of the said channel of the skimmer system, and wherein said filter may still be substantially flush-mounted in the channel.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter includes a base for supporting said filter on the skimmer channel floor so as to create a bypass gap which allows water to pass under said liner, and wherein said bypass gap helps maintain fluid communication between a channel inlet and the skimmer system downstream of said filter, and wherein such a configuration allows continual water flow under said liner in the event that said main body becomes clogged with debris, and wherein the continual flow of water past said filter helps prevent the pool circulation pump from burning out due to a lack of water flow through the pool circulation system.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the combination of said biasing element and said base creating said water bypass gap is configured so as to prevent said filter from being sucked too firmly within the channel when subject to pool pump suction forces, and wherein such a configuration fosters ready removal of said filter if a person's long hair, long necklace, or the like were caught or entangled within said filter.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein said base includes at least one standoff being formed from material having buoyant properties or being made in such a way as to have buoyant properties so as to help prevent said filter from sinking, and whereby said base has a dual-function of supporting said filter on the channel floor and buoying said filter in water.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein said base is formed by the combination of said at least one standoff and at least one fastening element for detachably mounting a handle to said platform, and wherein said at least one fastening element forms a downwardly extending protrusion which serves as at least one leg of said base.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein said at least one fastening element or said at least one standoff is adjustable so as to increase or decrease said bypass gap to vary the suction force on the filter or vary the amount of allowable water flow past the filter.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter has a buoyant material selectively attached to said filter to help prevent said filter from sinking.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said platform has at least one angled slat oriented at an angle with respect to the platform so as to help retain debris such as leaves, insects, and the like within the filter.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said platform has a plurality of angled slats oriented at an angle with respect to the platform, and wherein the combination of said plurality of angled slats creates at least one fence structure for entrapping debris such as leaves, insects, and the like within the filter.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter includes a handle mounted to said main body so as to foster handling and placement of said filter.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said handle is configured to function as a diverter for separating the flow of water into said filter interior such that incoming water is more equally filtered along the surfaces of the left and right regions of the filter as viewed from the open entrance of said filter.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said handle includes a detachable extension configured to facilitate removing the filter from or installing the filter into said skimmer channel without having to kneel down or reach a hand into the skimmed pool water residue to retrieve or install the filter.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein said handle extension comprises a tubular extension, at least one protrusion, and a plate, and wherein said plate is configured to help stabilize said filter in a horizontal mode when manipulating said filter with said handle extension.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter includes a trap-wall being detachably mounted to said main body and being configured to foster handling of said filter and also to aid in capturing debris within said filter.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said trap-wall has a multi-function V-shape configuration, and wherein said multi-function, trap-wall is adapted and configured for serving as a handle for carrying and positioning said pool filter, and also for entrapping debris within the interior of said liner so as to prevent the debris from floating back out of the liner, and also for minimizing the possibility of a person—or an unsuspecting child—reaching his or her hand into said filter.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter is sized and proportioned having a wedge-shaped configuration so as to have a substantially universal fit into many conventional skimmer channels having a wedge-shaped configuration and so as to conform substantially with the interior shape of a conventional skimmer channel such that said filter is not inadvertently reoriented within said channel.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter has a rectangular configuration.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter has a triangular configuration.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter has a curved configuration.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter includes a plurality of bumpers attached to the outer surface of said liner, said bumpers being configured to maintain space between said liner and the inner side walls of the skimmer channel, and wherein said bumpers help prevent said filter from being turned sideways or inadvertently reoriented within the channel and thereby possibly affecting the efficiency of said filter, and wherein said space helps maintain fluid communication between a channel inlet and the skimmer system downstream of said filter so as to foster continual water flow past said filter and downstream into the pool circulation system as well as ready removal of said filter from the channel when a pool circulation pump creates a suction force on said filter.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter is substantially formed of a material having a light shade of color or is white so as to enhance the contrast between the color of said filter and any debris, insects, leaves or the like trapped therein, and wherein said color contrast will aid a person in inspecting said filter from a distance in order to confirm whether or not said filter is filled with debris and the like.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of said filter is formed of a solid, non-porous material or various materials having suitable properties such as flexibility, rust resistance, corrosion resistance or having a light-weight depending on the environment in which said filter is used.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said filter includes a porous overlay that is removably mounted so as to substantially overlie the interior of said main body and if desired the inner surface of said biasing element to further facilitate cleaning out said filter.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to  claim 41  wherein said overlay is formed from a flexible, porous material adapted to be re-used or discarded after using said overlay to help filter pool water containing substances such as slimy algae, oils or lotions, sticky materials, etc., that might otherwise be hard to remove from the surfaces of said filter.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 41  wherein said overlay includes at least one fastening member whereby said overlay may be removably mounted to said filter.  
     
     
         44 . A pool filter apparatus for use with a pool for removing floating debris positioned adjacent or within a pool flowing channel of a skimmer system, and wherein said apparatus is mounted within a skimmer channel so as to be substantially flush-mounted within said channel in order to minimize contact by swimmers or objects floating in the pool, comprising: 
 a liner having a main body adapted for removing floating debris from swimming pool water,    at least one flange attached to said main body for preventing said filter from traveling within a skimmer system channel in such a way as to interfere with the operation of said skimmer system;    a biasing element for securing said filter at a desired location with respect to said skimmer channel inlet so as to prevent said filter from moving into or floating or sinking in the swimming pool and thereby possibly releasing back into the pool any leaves or debris caught and trapped in said filter; and    a handle mounted to said main body so as to foster installing or removing said filter.    
     
     
         45 . The apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said liner has a main body formed from a platform and at least one wall attached to said platform with said at least one wall being oriented in a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to said platform and with said main body being formed from a porous material adapted to filter leaves and debris from incoming pool water as it passes through the main body of said liner.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus according to  claim 45  wherein said biasing element includes a brush mounted to said main body and having bristles extending upwardly in an orientation which is substantially parallel with said at least one wall, whereby said brush forcibly contacts a ceiling of said skimmer channel and whereby an opposing force is transmitted through said filter downwardly against the skimmer channel floor thereby holding said filter substantially in place within the skimmer channel so as to prevent said filter from, moving, floating or sinking in the swimming pool and thereby possibly releasing back into the pool any leaves or debris caught and trapped in said filter.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said filter includes a base for supporting said filter above the skimmer channel floor so as to create a bypass gap which allows water to pass under the liner in the event that debris clogs the interior surfaces of the main body of said liner and prevents adequate water flow therethrough.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said handle includes a detachable extension configured to facilitate removing the filter from or installing the filter into said skimmer channel without having to kneel down or reach a hand into the skimmed pool water residue to retrieve or install said filter.  
     
     
         49 . A method for marketing a secondary swimming pool filter run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer comprising the steps of: 
 determining a market for a secondary swimming pool filter run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer having a given configuration; and    marketing said secondary swimming pool filter having a configuration which matches the swimming pool skimmer channel configuration.    
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a wedge-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 49 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a rectangular configuration.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a triangular configuration.  
     
     
         53 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a curved configuration.  
     
     
         54 . A method for using a secondary swimming pool filter run in tandem with a swimming pool skimmer comprising the steps of: 
 using a secondary swimming pool filter having a configuration which matches a swimming pool skimmer channel having a given configuration; and    inserting said secondary swimming pool filter having at least one flange into the swimming pool skimmer channel until said at least one flange is flush with a swimming pool wall.    
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a wedge-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a rectangular configuration.  
     
     
         57 . The apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a triangular configuration.  
     
     
         58 . The apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a curved configuration  
     
     
         59 . The apparatus according to  claim 54 , wherein said secondary swimming pool filter has a curved-shaped configuration to be marketed and used for skimmer channels having a different configuration than said curved-shaped configuration, and wherein such a configuration has a flush mounted at least one flange.