Guiding apparatus for operating a pool cleaner

Abstract

This invention provides a guiding apparatus 10 for use in operating a pool cleaner. The apparatus 10 includes a housing configured for connection to a hose of the pool cleaner. The housing has front and rear parts 12, 14 configured to pivot in relation to each other about a zone of contact between the front and rear parts 12, 14. The apparatus 10 also includes a driven member having a ratchet 20 and an arm 22 housed within the housing and arranged to be driven by the to and fro motion of the hose. The apparatus 10 further includes a transducer housed within the housing, connected to the driven member, and adapted to transduce motion of the driven member to motion to be imparted to pivot the front and rear parts 12, 14 in relation to each other in order to influence movement of the body of the pool cleaner.

1 . A method of operating a pool cleaner which pool cleaner, in use, passes water from a head in a pool cleaner body via a hose into and through a pump system of a pool, the flow stream of water being cyclically interrupted in the pool cleaner body to cause a stop-start motion in the body and a cyclic water hammer action and to and fro motion in the hose, the method including the steps of: 
 connecting a housing to the hose of the pool cleaner so that front and rear parts of the housing are arranged substantially in line with each other in substantially the direction in which the hose is received by the housing; and    mechanically, continually or continuously pivoting the front and rear parts in relation to each other in order to influence movement of the body of the pool cleaner accordingly.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivoting of the front and rear parts in relation to each other occurs in a cyclical oscillating manner.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes the step of harnessing the to and fro motion of the hose in order to pivot the front and rear parts in relation to each other.  
   
   
       4 . A guiding apparatus for use in operating a pool cleaner which pool cleaner, in use, passes water from a head in a pool cleaner body via a hose into and through a pump system of a pool, the flow stream of water being cyclically interrupted in the pool cleaner body to cause a stop-start motion in the body and a cyclic water hammer action and to and fro motion in the hose, the apparatus including 
 a housing configured for connection to the hose of the pool cleaner, the housing including front and rear parts configured to pivot, in use, in relation to each other;    a driven member housed within the housing and arranged to be driven by the to and fro motion of the hose; and    a transducer housed within the housing, connected to the driven member, and adapted to transduce motion of the driven member to motion to be imparted to pivot the front and rear parts in relation to each other.    
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , which is configured to receive the hose of the pool cleaner through the housing.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the housing includes outer connection means for connection to an outer surface of the hose of the pool cleaner.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , which includes a flexible pipe configured for connection to an end of the hose of the pool cleaner, the end of the hose being an end opposite the body of the pool cleaner.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the pipe is configured for connection to the pump system of the pool so that the pipe is able to pass water from the hose of the pool cleaner into and through the pump system of the pool.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises 
 a mounting member on which the driven member and the transducer are mounted; and    an outer casing connected to the mounting member by way of at least one hinge, the outer casing being configured to allow for pivoting of the front and rear parts in relation to each other.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the outer casing includes 
 front, middle, and rear portions which are made from a rigid material; and    two intermediate flexible portions located intermediate the front and middle portions of the casing and the middle and rear portions of the casing, respectively, so that the front and rear portions of the casing are able to pivot in relation to each other.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the driven member includes a ratchet and an arm, a first end of the arm being connected to the ratchet to drive the ratchet.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the arm is configured to hang, in use, under the influence of gravity from the ratchet so that the to and fro motion of the hose, in use, causes the arm to rotate the ratchet thereby driving the ratchet.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a lower portion of the arm opposite the first end of the arm is weighted so that, in use, the to and fro motion of the hose causes the ratchet to move to and fro while a free end of the lower portion remains relatively still which in turn causes the arm to rotate the ratchet thereby driving the ratchet.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the arm is in the form of a cradle hanging from the ratchet, a lower portion of the cradle being weighted so as to remain relatively still during the to and fro motion of the hose.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the transducer includes 
 an axle for the ratchet, the axle being connected in a fixed manner to the ratchet so that the ratchet, in use, drives the axle; and    a driven wheel having an axle, the driven wheel and the ratchet axle being configured so that the ratchet axle rotates the driven wheel about the driven wheel axle when the ratchet axle is driven by the ratchet.    
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the wheel is a cog wheel and the ratchet axle includes a worm gear which co-operates with the cog wheel in order to rotate, in use, the cog wheel about the driven wheel axle.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the driven wheel includes a protrusion from a side surface of the driven wheel, the protrusion extending substantially parallel to the driven wheel axle and spaced a predetermined distance from the driven wheel axle.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein either one of the front or rear parts includes a slot extending substantially longitudinally within such part, the slot being shaped and configured for receiving the protrusion of the driven wheel thereby limiting movement of the protrusion to to and fro movement within the slot so that rotation of the driven wheel about the driven wheel axle causes the front and rear parts to pivot in relation to each other.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the transducer includes a hinged elongate member, wherein 
 a first end of the elongate member is connected to a part of the outer casing associated with the front part of the housing, the connection being made at a pre-selected distance from a first hinge connecting the mounting member to the part of the outer casing associated with the front part of the housing;    a second end of the elongate member is connected to a part of the outer casing associated with the rear part of the housing, the connection being made at a pre-selected distance from a second hinge connecting the mounting member to the part of the outer casing associated with the rear part of the housing; and    the hinge of the elongate member is connected to the driven wheel at a predetermined distance from the driven wheel axle, so that, in use, rotation of the driven wheel is translated to substantially longitudinal to and fro motion of the elongate member resulting in pivoting of the part of the outer casing associated with the front part of the housing in relation to the part of the outer casing associated with the rear part of the housing.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the elongate member includes at least one transversely extending indent allowing resilient bending of the elongate member about the indent.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the transducer includes at least one intermediate wheel configured intermediate the driven member and the driven wheel, the at least one intermediate wheel being driven by the driven member and being configured to in turn drive the driven wheel at a slower rate than if the driven member were to drive the driven wheel directly.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , which includes a rigid guiding member having one part pivotally connected to the rear part of the housing and another part configured for pivotal connection to a weir of the pool, which rigid guiding member aids in influencing the movement of the body of the pool cleaner so as to reduce the possibility of the body of the pool cleaner getting stuck in a corner of the pool.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the rigid guiding member is V-shaped having the point thereof configured for pivotal connection to the weir of the pool and the two ends thereof pivotally connected to opposite sides of the rear part of the housing.  
   
   
       24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)