Saltwater pool skimmer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of mounting a pool skimmer to a wall of a saltwater swimming pool to prevent rusting of the wall in the skimmer mounting area. This is accomplished by interposing insulators between the corrosive salt water and the holes necessary to mount the skimmer. The front bracket of the skimmer of the present invention has cavities to accommodate the interposed insulators. The insulators are a combination of one-piece screws with metal washers, and rubber-like washers made of a TPE resin. The rubber-like washer IS sandwiched inside the cavity of the front bracket by the screw's metal washers. The interposing insulators resist salt water from leaking down a screw's threads and attacking the integrity of the metal wall of the swimming pool. The insulators form a watertight seal around the screw thus preventing salt water from corroding the wall of the metal swimming pool.

1 . Saltwater pool skimmer comprising:
 a skimmer adapted to be installed within
 an opening made in a metal wall of a salt water metal swimming pool; 
   a liner and a gasket provided to be placed between an inner edge of said opening in said wall and   a front bracket placed over said liner and said gasket, said bracket is provided with a number of holes drilled around its perimeter;   cavities formed on outer surface of said front bracket around each hole, formed in said bracket;   a number of mounting screws adapted to screw said skimmer to said wall of the swimming pool through holes made in said metal wall, said liner, said gasket and said front bracket,   an interposing buffer insulating means adapted to be inserted within said cavities formed in said front bracket, said interposing insulating buffer means are adapted to be locked within said cavities;   wherein said interposing insulating means are resistant against salt water to leak past said interposing buffer means and to attack integrity of said metal wall of said swimming pool, and wherein said interposing insulating means forms a watertight seal around said screw thus preventing salt water from corroding the wall of said metal swimming pool.   
     
     
         2 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 1 , wherein said interposing buffer insulating means is a combination of one-piece screws comprising metal washers and rubber-like washers, said rubber-like washers sandwiched inside said cavities of said front bracket by said metal washers, said metal washers and said rubber-like washers having a diameter adapted to fit snugly into said cavities of said front bracket. 
     
     
         3 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 2 , wherein said rubber-like washers are made of a TPE resin. 
     
     
         4 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 3  wherein hardness of said rubber-like washers is 52±3 on the Durometer scale, as measured by the Shore “A” Durometer. 
     
     
         5 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavities' depth is 0.140″ or 3.55 mm. 
     
     
         6 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 3 , wherein said TPE resin washers are resistant to salt water, typical pool chemicals, and UV degradation. 
     
     
         7 . Saltwater pool skimmer comprising:
 a skimmer adapted to be installed within
 an opening made in a metal wall of a salt water swimming pool; 
   a leak-preventing means provided to be placed between inner edge of said opening and   a front bracket, said bracket is provided with a number of holes drilled around its perimeter;   cavities formed on outer surface of said front bracket around each of said holes;   a number of mounting screws adapted to screw said skimmer to said wall of said swimming pool by means of holes made in said wall;   an interposing buffer insulating means comprising a combination of one-piece screws comprising metal washers and rubber-like washers, said rubber-like washers sandwiched inside said cavities of said front bracket by said metal washers, said metal washers and said rubber-like washers having a diameter adapted to fit snugly into said cavities of said front bracket,   wherein said rubber-like washers are resistant to salt water penetration and prevent an attack of the integrity of said metal wall of said swimming pool, thus forming a watertight seal around said screw's threads to prevent salt water from corroding said wall of said swimming pool, and protecting said holes formed in said metal wall of said salt water swimming pool against any corrosion.   
     
     
         8 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 7 , wherein said metal washers and said rubber-like washers have a diameter adapted to snugly fit into said cavities of said front bracket. 
     
     
         9 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 7 , wherein said rubber-like washers are made of a TPE resin. 
     
     
         10 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 7 , wherein hardness of said rubber-like washers is 52±3 on the Durometer scale, as measured by the Shore “A” Durometer. 
     
     
         11 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 7 , wherein said cavities' depth is 0.140″ or 3.55 mm. 
     
     
         12 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 9 , wherein said TPE resin washers are resistant to salt water, typical pool chemicals, and UV degradation. 
     
     
         13 . Saltwater pool skimmer comprising:
 a skimmer adapted to be installed within
 an opening made in a metal wall of a salt water swimming pool; 
   a leak-preventing means provided to be placed between inner edge of said opening and   a front bracket placed over said leak preventing means, said bracket is provided with a number of holes drilled around its perimeter;   a buffer insulating means mounted on said front bracket, said buffer insulating means are adapted to insulate said mounting screws that hold said skimmer in place against salt water, wherein salt water is arrested from corroding said metal wall of said salt water pool that is exposed by holes drilled through said wall.   
     
     
         14 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 13 , wherein said interposing buffer insulating means is combination of one-piece screws comprising metal washers and rubber-like washers, said rubber-like washers sandwiched inside said cavities of said front bracket by said metal washers, said metal washers and said rubber-like washers having a diameter adapted to fit snugly into said cavities of said front bracket. 
     
     
         15 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 14 , wherein said rubber-like washers are made of a TPE resin. 
     
     
         16 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 14  wherein hardness of said rubber-like washers is 52±3 on the Durometer scale, as measured by the Shore “A” Durometer. 
     
     
         17 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 14 , wherein said cavities' depth is 0.140″ or 3.55 mm. 
     
     
         18 . Salt water skimmer according to  claim 15 , wherein said TPE resin washers are resistant to salt water, typical pool chemicals, and UV degradation.