Reconfigurable vacuum attachment and method

Abstract

A reconfigurable vacuum attachment may include a bell-shaped housing. The bell-shaped housing may have a bell-opening and a hose-interface. The hose-interface may be configured to hydraulically couple with a vacuum hose. A skimmer-plate may be attachable to the bell-opening and include a skimmer-aperture extending through the skimmer-plate. The reconfigurable vacuum attachment may further include a removable brush assembly. The brush assembly may host a rotatable brush coupled to a brush driver. The brush driver may be configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose and convert water flow into a torque and spin the bristles. A buoy may be attached to the housing allowing the reconfigurable vacuum attachment to be used as a pool skimmer. The reconfigurable vacuum attachment is useful for skimming a pool surface and dislodging and vacuuming matter from a pool wall.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
         1 . A reconfigurable vacuum attachment for a vacuum hose for a pool, the pool having a water surface and a pool wall, the reconfigurable vacuum attachment comprising:
 a bell-shaped housing having a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a top side, and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bell-shaped housing including, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a bell-opening, and a hose-interface, the bell-opening defining the front side of the bell-shaped housing, the hose-interface including an aperture through the bell-shaped housing, the hose-interface configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose;   a skimmer-plate, the skimmer-plate configured to removably couple to the bell-shaped housing, closing off a majority of the bell-opening, the skimmer-plate having a front-face, a rear-face, a left-side, a right-side, an upper-portion, and a lower-portion, the rear-face proximate the bell-opening and facing away towards the rear side of the bell-shaped housing, the skimmer-plate including a skimmer-aperture extending between the front-face and the rear-face, said skimmer-aperture positioned in the upper-portion of the skimmer-plate;   a brush assembly, the brush assembly configured to rotatably brush the pool wall, the brush assembly including:
 a brush driver configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose via the hose-interface and to convert water flow into a torque, 
 a center axle coupled to the brush driver such that the torque rotates the center axle about a rotation axis of the center axle, the center axle configured to rotatably couple to the bell-shaped housing, 
 a plurality of bristles radially extending from the center axle, the plurality of bristles sized and dimensioned such that a portion of the bristles extend forward of the front side of the bell; 
   a buoy, the buoy configured to provide a buoyant force when in water such that the skimmer-aperture floats partially above and partially below the water surface of the pool, the buoy being toollessly couplable to the bell-shaped housing; and   a ballast, the ballast configured to orient the bell-shaped housing in water when the buoy is coupled to the bell-shaped housing such that the bell-shaped housing lays on its side, with the water surface of the pool intersecting the bell-opening, and such that the top side is directed upward relative to water surface and the bottom side is directed downward toward the pool bottom, the ballast including at least one weighted member that is denser than water, the ballast removably attached to the bottom side of the bell-shaped housing.   
     
     
         2 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels configured to position the front-face of the skimmer-plate roll proximate to and along a surface to be cleaned, the plurality of wheels rollably attached to the bell-shaped housing. 
     
     
         3 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension pole, said extension pole sized and dimensioned to provide for the bell-shaped housing to be manually maneuvered proximate the pool wall; and
 wherein the bell-shaped housing further includes a pole-attachment configured to attach the extension pole to the bell-shaped housing.   
     
     
         4 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the extension pole includes an insertion end configured to couple with the pole-attachment, a grip end including a user grip, and an elongate member extending between insertion end and the grip end. 
     
     
         5 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the ballast includes a weight-cover configured to attach over the at least one weighted member, and to the bell-shaped housing. 
     
     
         6 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the skimmer-plate is further configured to fasten to the bell-opening. 
     
     
         7 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the bell-shaped housing includes an attachment lip configured to couple the buoy to the bell-shaped housing, the attachment lip running between the top side and the bottom side and at least partially extending from proximate the left-side of the skimmer plate to the rear side of the bell-shaped housing, and back proximate the right-side of the skimmer plate. 
     
     
         8 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the buoy includes a substantially flat structure that partially circumscribes the bell-shaped housing and extends away from the exterior surface of the bell-shaped housing. 
     
     
         9 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the buoy includes a buoyant-member made of buoyant polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         10 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the brush driver includes a paddle wheel. 
     
     
         11 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the brush driver includes an impeller. 
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the brush assembly is configured to lock the center axle into a static, non-rotating state. 
     
     
         13 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles are plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles are metal. 
     
     
         15 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the brush assembly further includes a driver housing, and the center axle is further configured to rotatably couple to the driver housing. 
     
     
         16 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the brush assembly is separable from the bell-shaped housing. 
     
     
         17 . A reconfigurable vacuum attachment, the reconfigurable vacuum attachment comprising:
 a bell-shaped housing having a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a top side, and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bell-shaped housing including, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a bell-opening, and a hose-interface, the bell-opening defining the front side of the bell-shaped housing, the hose-interface including an aperture through the bell-shaped housing, the hose-interface configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose;   a skimmer-plate, the skimmer-plate configured to removably couple to the bell-shaped housing, closing off a majority of the bell-opening, the skimmer-plate having a front-face, a rear-face, a left-side, a right-side, an upper-portion, and a lower-portion, the rear-face proximate the bell-opening and facing away towards the rear side of the bell-shaped housing, the skimmer-plate including a skimmer-aperture extending between the front-face and the rear-face, said skimmer-aperture positioned in the upper-portion of the skimmer-plate;   a brush assembly, the brush assembly configured to rotatably brush the pool wall, the brush assembly including:   a brush driver configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose via the hose-interface and to convert water flow into a torque,   a center axle coupled to the brush driver such that the torque rotates the center axle about a rotation axis of the center axle, the center axle configured to rotatably couple to the bell-shaped housing,   a plurality of bristles radially extending from the center axle, the plurality of bristles sized and dimensioned such that a portion of the bristles extend forward of the front side of the bell;   a buoy, the buoy configured to provide a buoyant force when in water such that the skimmer-aperture floats partially above and partially below the water surface of the pool, the buoy being toollessly couplable to the bell-shaped housing; and   a ballast, the ballast configured to orient the bell-shaped housing in water when the buoy is coupled to the bell-shaped housing such that the bell-shaped housing lays on its side, with the water surface of the pool intersecting the bell-opening, and such that the top side is directed upward relative to water surface and the bottom side is directed downward toward the pool bottom, the ballast including at least one weighted member that is denser than water, the ballast removably attached to the bottom side of the bell-shaped housing;   further comprising a plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels configured to position the front-face of the skimmer-plate roll proximate to and along a surface to be cleaned, the plurality of wheels rollably attached to the bell-shaped housing;   further comprising an extension pole, said extension pole sized and dimensioned to provide for the bell-shaped housing to be manually maneuvered proximate the pool wall; and   wherein the bell-shaped housing further includes a pole-attachment configured to attach the extension pole to the bell-shaped housing;   wherein the extension pole includes an insertion end configured to couple with the pole-attachment, a grip end including a user grip, and an elongate member extending between insertion end and the grip end;   wherein the ballast includes a weight-cover configured to attach over the at least one weighted member, and to the bell-shaped housing;   wherein the skimmer-plate is further configured to fasten to the bell-opening;   wherein the exterior surface of the bell-shaped housing includes an attachment lip configured to couple the buoy to the bell-shaped housing, the attachment lip running between the top side and the bottom side and at least partially extending from proximate the left-side of the skimmer plate to the rear side of the bell-shaped housing, and back proximate the right-side of the skimmer plate;   wherein the buoy includes a substantially flat structure that partially circumscribes the bell-shaped housing and extends away from the exterior surface of the bell-shaped housing;   wherein the buoy includes a buoyant-member made of buoyant polyethylene foam;   wherein the brush driver includes a paddle wheel;   wherein the brush driver includes an impeller;   wherein the brush assembly is configured to lock the center axle into a static, non-rotating state;   wherein the plurality of bristles are plastic;   wherein the plurality of bristles are metal;   wherein the brush assembly further includes a driver housing, and the center axle is further configured to rotatably couple to the driver housing;   wherein the brush assembly is separable from the bell-shaped housing;   
     
     
         18 . The reconfigurable vacuum attachment of  claim 17 , further comprising set of instructions; and
 wherein the reconfigurable vacuum is arranged as a kit.   
     
     
         19 . A method of attaching a reconfigurable vacuum attachment to a pool hose, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a reconfigurable vacuum attachment, the reconfigurable vacuum attachment having a bell-shaped housing having a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a top side, and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bell-shaped housing including, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a bell-opening, and a hose-interface, the bell-opening defining the front side of the bell-shaped housing, the hose-interface including an aperture through the bell-shaped housing, the hose-interface configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose;   a skimmer-plate, the skimmer-plate configured to removably couple to the bell-shaped housing, closing off a majority of the bell-opening, the skimmer-plate having a front-face, a rear-face, a left-side, a right-side, an upper-portion, and a lower-portion, the rear-face proximate the bell-opening and facing away towards the rear side of the bell-shaped housing, the skimmer-plate including a skimmer-aperture extending between the front-face and the rear-face, said skimmer-aperture positioned in the upper-portion of the skimmer-plate;   a brush assembly, the brush assembly configured to rotatably brush the pool wall, the brush assembly including:
 a brush driver configured to hydraulically couple with the vacuum hose via the hose-interface and to convert water flow into a torque, 
 a center axle coupled to the brush driver such that the torque rotates the center axle about a rotation axis of the center axle, the center axle configured to rotatably couple to the bell-shaped housing, 
 a plurality of bristles radially extending from the center axle, the plurality of bristles sized and dimensioned such that a portion of the bristles extend forward of the front side of the bell; 
   a buoy, the buoy configured to provide a buoyant force when in water such that the skimmer-aperture floats partially above and partially below the water surface of the pool, the buoy being toollessly couplable to the bell-shaped housing; and   a ballast, the ballast configured to orient the bell-shaped housing in water when the buoy is coupled to the bell-shaped housing such that the bell-shaped housing lays on its side, with the water surface of the pool intersecting the bell-opening, and such that the top side is directed upward relative to water surface and the bottom side is directed downward toward the pool bottom, the ballast including at least one weighted member that is denser than water, the ballast removably attached to the bottom side of the bell-shaped housing; and   mating the pool vacuum hose to the hose-interface;   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the brush assembly into the aperture of the hose-interface;   attaching the substantially flat structure of the buoy to the attachment lip of the bell-shaped housing; and   affixing the skimmer-plate to the bell-shaped housing.