Battery powered automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components

Abstract

An automatic swimming pool cleaner may include a modular battery block attachable to a component of the automatic swimming pool cleaner. The modular battery block may include at least one battery or other source of electrical power that is accessible from externally of the chassis. A venting system or arrangement may be included for venting the modular battery block, such as venting gas produced by at least one battery. Supplying electrical power to an automatic swimming pool cleaner having a chassis and an motor may include (i) attaching a modular battery block to the chassis so as to form an integrated device, and (ii) causing an electrical connection within the integrated device between the motor and at least one battery of the modular battery block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic swimming pool cleaner comprising
 a chassis; and   at least one battery block attached to the chassis and accessible from externally of the chassis, wherein the battery block further comprises a controller and at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the battery block based on information detected by the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic swimming pool cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the battery block forms an external surface of the automatic swimming pool cleaner. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic swimming pool cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis defines an interior cavity and a recess external to the interior cavity, and wherein the battery block is attached to at least the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic swimming pool cleaner of  claim 1 , where the chassis defines an interior cavity, and wherein the battery block is external from the interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic swimming pool cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the battery block is indirectly connected to the chassis. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic swimming pool cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a venting system for selectively venting the battery block. 
     
     
         7 . A charging system for an automatic swimming pool cleaner, the charging system comprising:
 a base; and   one or more electrically conductive portions for charging or recharging the automatic swimming pool cleaner,   wherein the charging system is configured to support an entirety of the automatic swimming pool cleaner on the base and at an incline.   
     
     
         8 . The charging system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more electrically conductive portions comprise one or more springs. 
     
     
         9 . The charging system of  claim 7 , further comprising a connecting system for connecting the base to a source of electrical power. 
     
     
         10 . The charging system of  claim 7 , wherein the base is freestanding. 
     
     
         11 . The charging system of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more feet. 
     
     
         12 . The charging system of  claim 7 , wherein the base comprises an inclined base surface. 
     
     
         13 . The charging system of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more supports for supporting the automatic swimming pool cleaner on the base. 
     
     
         14 . The charging system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more supports are configured to position the automatic swimming pool cleaner relative to the one or more electrically conductive portions. 
     
     
         15 . The charging system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more electrically conductive portions are on the base. 
     
     
         16 . A charging system for an automatic swimming pool cleaner, the charging system comprising:
 a base;   one or more supports for supporting the automatic swimming pool cleaner on the base; and   one or more electrically conductive portions for charging or recharging the automatic swimming pool cleaner, wherein the one or more electrically conductive portions comprise one or more springs,   wherein the charging system is configured to support an entirety of the automatic swimming pool cleaner on the base.   
     
     
         17 . The charging system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more electrically conductive portions are on the base. 
     
     
         18 . The charging system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more electrically conductive portions are in one or more recesses in the base. 
     
     
         19 . The charging system of  claim 16 , wherein the base is configured to orient the automatic swimming pool cleaner at an incline. 
     
     
         20 . The charging system of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more supports for supporting the automatic swimming pool cleaner on the base and such that the automatic swimming pool cleaner is at an incline.