Swimming pool vacuum hose attachment with relief port for spot cleaning and system incorporating the same

Abstract

A spot cleaning device for a swimming pool cleaning system having a vacuum source and a vacuum hose having an end portion forming a vacuum inlet. The device includes a releasable connector for releasably mounting it on the pole and has a hollow body to which the vacuum hose is coupled and an inlet port which communicates with the inlet port of the vacuum hose. A vacuum relief port is provided in the hollow body adjacent the inlet port. The device is arranged to be positioned adjacent material, e.g., leaves, mud, algae, stones, etc., to be removed from the pool so that when the vacuum source is operated suction at the inlet port pulls that material directly into the inlet port without creating a cloud of debris, and with the vacuum relief port preventing the device from becoming hung up or stuck to a surface of the pool.

1 . A spot cleaning vacuum head for a swimming pool cleaning system including a vacuum source and a vacuum hose, the vacuum hose being coupled to the vacuum source and having a free end, said spot cleaning vacuum head comprising a body having a free end, said body comprising a releasable connector, a tubular section, an outlet port and an inlet port, said tubular section including a sidewall having a longitudinal axis and terminating in an opening, said opening having a periphery defining said inlet port, said inlet port forming the free end of said body and being in fluid communication with said outlet port, said outlet port being arranged to be releasably coupled to the free end of the vacuum hose, said releasable connector being arranged to be releasably secured to an end portion of an elongated pole to mount said spot cleaning vacuum head on the pole, whereupon said spot cleaning vacuum head can be moved by manipulation of the pole into position within a swimming pool so that said free end of said body is below the surface of water within the pool and immediately adjacent material desired to be removed, said spot cleaning vacuum head being arranged so that when the vacuum source is operated suction is created at said inlet port to pull the material directly into said inlet port, thereby resulting in the spot cleaning of the swimming pool, said tubular section including a vacuum relief port located adjacent said inlet port.  
   
   
       2 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 1  wherein vacuum relief port comprises a recess in said tubular section contiguous with said inlet port.  
   
   
       3 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 2  wherein said recess is generally V-shaped.  
   
   
       4 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 1  wherein said vacuum relief port comprises a window in said tubular section adjacent said inlet port.  
   
   
       5 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 1  wherein vacuum relief port comprises a plurality of apertures in said tubular section adjacent said inlet port.  
   
   
       6 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 1  wherein said tubular sidewall includes a first slightly conically shaped sidewall portion which tapers in diameter from said inlet port towards said outlet port, and a second slightly conically shaped sidewall portion which tapers in diameter to said outlet port from an intermediate location between said inlet port and said outlet port.  
   
   
       7 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 1  wherein the elongated pole includes a hollow end portion adapted t be releasably secured to said spot cleaning vacuum head, and wherein said releasable connector comprises a trough shaped member extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tubular section for receipt within the hollow end portion of the elongated pole.  
   
   
       8 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 1  wherein said releasable connector additionally comprises an intermediate section located between said sidewall of said tubular section and said trough shaped member.  
   
   
       9 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 7  wherein said releasable connector additionally comprises an intermediate section located between said sidewall of said tubular section and said trough shaped member.  
   
   
       10 . The spot cleaning vacuum head of  claim 9  wherein said spot cleaning vacuum head is an integral unit molded of a plastic material.  
   
   
       11 . A swimming pool cleaning system comprising spot cleaning vacuum head, a vacuum hose, and a pole, said vacuum hose being arranged to be coupled to a vacuum source and having a free end, said spot cleaning vacuum head comprising a body having a free end, said body comprising a releasable connector, a tubular section, an outlet port and an inlet port, said tubular section including a sidewall having a longitudinal axis and terminating in an opening, said opening having a periphery defining said inlet port, said inlet port forming the free end of said body and being in fluid communication with said outlet port, said outlet port being arranged to be releasably coupled to said free end of said vacuum hose, said releasable connector being arranged to be releasably secured to an end portion of said elongated pole to mount said spot cleaning vacuum head on said pole, whereupon said spot cleaning vacuum head can be moved by manipulation of said pole into position within a swimming pool so that said free end of said body is below the surface of water within the pool and immediately adjacent material desired to be removed, said spot cleaning vacuum head being arranged so that when the vacuum source is operated suction is created at said inlet port to pull the material directly into said inlet port, thereby resulting in the spot cleaning of the swimming pool, said tubular section including a vacuum relief port located adjacent said inlet port.  
   
   
       12 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 11  wherein vacuum relief port comprises a recess in said tubular section contiguous with said inlet port.  
   
   
       13 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 12  wherein said recess is generally V-shaped.  
   
   
       14 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 10  wherein said vacuum relief port comprises a window in said tubular section adjacent said inlet port.  
   
   
       15 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 10  wherein vacuum relief port comprises a plurality of apertures in said tubular section adjacent said inlet port.  
   
   
       16 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 10  wherein said tubular sidewall includes a first slightly conically shaped sidewall portion which tapers in diameter from said inlet port towards said outlet port, and a second slightly conically shaped sidewall portion which tapers in diameter to said outlet port from an intermediate location between said inlet port and said outlet port.  
   
   
       17 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 10  wherein said elongated pole includes a hollow end portion adapted t be releasably secured to said spot cleaning vacuum head, and wherein said releasable connector comprises a trough shaped member extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said tubular section for receipt within said hollow end portion of said elongated pole.  
   
   
       18 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 10  wherein said releasable connector additionally comprises an intermediate section located between said sidewall of said tubular section and said trough shaped member.  
   
   
       19 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 17  wherein said releasable connector additionally comprises an intermediate section located between said sidewall of said tubular section and said trough shaped member.  
   
   
       20 . The swimming pool cleaning system of  claim 19  wherein said spot cleaning vacuum head is an integral unit molded of a plastic material.