WO2008096324A2

WO2008096324A2 - Pool cleaner device

Info

Publication number: WO2008096324A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/050441
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Victor Vos
Original assignee: Aquavac Pool Technologies (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2008-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-14
Also published as: WO2008096324A3; ZA200801328B; WO2008096324A8

Abstract

The invention provides a swimming pool cleaner device which includes a foot assembly (14) and a head assembly mounted on the foot assembly. The foot assembly (14) includes a foot support (69) and a cleaner disk (22) rotatably mounted on the foot support (69). A slip bearing arrangement (68) comprising two smoothly faced annular slip washers (70) is mounted between the flexible cleaner disk (22) and an opposed surface of the foot support (69) to facilitate relative rotation therebetween to improve steering of the pool cleaning device.

Description

POOL CLEANER DEVICE

THIS INVENTION relates to swimming pool cleaning accessories. In particular, the invention relates to a pool cleaner device and related components for the pool cleaner device.

A self-propelled vacuum/suction-type pool cleaning device may comprise a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly, the foot assembly including a foot support defining a tubular shaft on which a flexible pool cleaner disk is mounted and relative to which the cleaner disk can rotate. The invention extends to aspects relating to components of the pool cleaner device, in particular to a flexible cleaner disk slip bearing arrangement to facilitate rotation of the flexible cleaner cleaner disk relative to the rest of the device.

The invention also relates to a buoyancy and balancing arrangement to position the pool cleaner device operatively in contact with submersed pool surface.

The invention even further provides a tubular resilient valve member or valve diaphragm for a valve assembly of the pool cleaner device, and to a method of mounting a resilient valve member forming part of a self-propelling system for the pool cleaner device.

A person ordinarily skilled in the art may be aware of a pool cleaner device which is conventionally referred to as an automatic vacuum/suction-type pool cleaner.

Broadly, a suction-type pool cleaner device may comprise a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly, and a flexible pool cleaner disk mounted operatively to rotate on a support shaft formation forming part of the foot assembly. Moreover, the pool cleaner device typically provides a main flow passage through it for connecting a main inlet port, which is defined by the foot assembly, in flow communication with a main outlet port provided by the head assembly, which main outlet port is typically connected to a flexible pool hose end. A pool cleaner device may also comprise a propelling arrangement, in use, automatically to advance the pool cleaner device along a submersible pool surface under influence of an induced flow through the main flow passage, the flow being induced by a swimming pool pump/filtering system to which the flexible hose is connected. One such propelling arrangement includes a valve assembly having an elongated resilient tubular valve member or tubular valve diaphragm, in flow communication in-line with the main flow passage, the valve diaphragm being characterized thereby that, in use, it pulsates between a pinched condition and an open condition, under influence of pressure differences created by pool water flowing through the main flow passage and an auxiliary flow passage defined around the main flow passage, respectively. The pulsating actuation of the valve diaphragm, in turn, creates a pulsating water flow pattern through the main flow passage, which advances the pool cleaner device over the submerged pool surfaces. A valve member of this type is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,742,593.

The pool cleaner device also includes a steering arrangement, which typically includes the flexible cleaner disk which is rotatably mounted on the foot support. Relative rotation between the flexible cleaner disk and the foot support results in the direction of the driving force acting on the device changing which facilitates extrication of the pool cleaner device when it collides with an obstruction, such as a pool wall.

Steering operations inherent to the pool cleaner may also be influenced by balancing and buoyancy arrangements to facilitate proper contact of a footing member and cleaner disk with the pool surface, and to aid resuming its operational position after an instance in which the pool cleaner was dislodged or delaminated from the submersible pool surface.

By virtue of a pressure difference across the disk it is urged towards the surface of the pool. As a result, an undersurface of the disk is urged into contact with an opposed surface of the foot support. Friction between the contacting surfaces can inhibit relative rotation between the disk and the foot support which can result in the device becoming stuck. According to the invention there is provided a swimming pool cleaner device which includes a foot assembly, a head assembly mounted on the foot assembly, the foot assembly including: a foot support; a cleaner disk rotatably mounted on the foot support; and a slip bearing arrangement positioned between the cleaner disk and the foot support to facilitate relative rotation between the cleaner disk and the foot support.

The slip bearing arrangement may include at least one and preferably two annular slip washers rotatably mounted on the foot support between opposed surfaces of the foot support and the cleaner disk. The slip washers may be stacked one on top of the other between the opposed surfaces.

The slip bearing arrangement may include at least one additional annular slip washer mounted on the foot support such that slip washers are provided on opposite sides of the disk.

A flexible pool cleaner disk may bend or be deflected when in use, in particular under influence of a pool surface urging the pool cleaner disk towards the head assembly, for example, if pool cleaner encounters a corner formed between two relatively angled surfaces, such as side wall meeting a floor of the pool, the leading side of the flexible cleaner disk may be urged towards the head assembly as it moves through the corner. In such instances, the head assembly may press against a proximate part of the flexible cleaner disk, and sandwich the pool cleaner disk between the pool surface and the head assembly which impairs turning of the head assembly relative to the cleaner disk, and hence extrication of the pool cleaner device from such surface and/or obstructions.

The head assembly may extend upwardly from the foot assembly such that it overhangs at least part of the pool cleaner disk, the pool cleaner device including an anti-catch arrangement which includes at least one rotatable bearing member attached or attachable to the head assembly, the rotatable bearing member being arranged to come into contact with the pool cleaner disk when it is urged towards the overhanging portion of the head assembly, to permit relative rotation between the head assembly and the pool cleaner disk even when the pool cleaner disk is sandwiched between the head assembly and a surface of the pool.

The anti-catch arrangement may include a socket or seat provided at an operatively leading side of the head assembly above the cleaner disk, the socket being downwardly open and the bearing member being rotatably mounted in the socket and protruding downwardly therefrom such that in use a protruding portion of the bearing member comes into contact with an upper surface of the leading side of the pool cleaner disk when the pool cleaner disk and head assembly are urged towards each other.

The pool cleaner device may include a balancing-and-buoyancy arrangement which includes: at least two buoyancy weight members mounted in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly, and arranged more-or-less on an operative central vertical plane, one trailing the other, the plane being taken on a central line of the pool cleaner device in the direction of forward travel, at least one weight member being located in a conceptual leading zone and at least one other weight member being located in a conceptual trailing zone, the relative masses and locations or elevations of the buoyancy weight members being selected automatically to bias the pool cleaner device to an operative upright position when dislodged from an inclined submerged pool surface, and to contribute to a desired operative buoyancy for the pool cleaner device to facilitate proper contact of the pool cleaner device on the pool surface.

The pool cleaner device may have two weight members having masses of

80 g and 240 g, respectively.

The balancing arrangement may include a weight member mounting arrangement for mounting each buoyancy weight member on the head assembly, the mounting arrangement including two fin members projecting in opposite directions co- planar from a valve housing, which plane is taken vertically in the direction of forward travel, each fin member defining an aperture at a desired elevation for snuggly seating its associated buoyancy weight member. The cleaner disk may include a flexible annular body having a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge, the thickness of the disk at the radially inner edge being greater than the thickness of the radially outer edge.

The body may comprise three concentric annular sections, namely an annular inner section having a maximum thickness of about 3 mm, a second or intermediate annular section having a maximum thickness of about 2 mm, and a third or outer annular section having a maximum thickness of about 1 mm.

The annular disk may define a plurality of apertures, the combined opening area and spread pattern being selected to permit a predetermined flow rate and flow pattern of water from a body of water contained in a swimming pool through the flow apertures and into the main inlet port.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the disk may include eight apertures which are circular and have a diameter of between 1 1 .5 mm and 15 mm.

The foot support may include: two annular foot members; and a joining arrangement for releasably connecting the two foot members in axially aligned end-to-end relationship.

The pool cleaner device may include a plurality of surface contact pads for contacting a surface of a swimming pool, the contact pads being spaced more-or-less equi-angularly on a major foot face, each pad having an inclined leading edge to facilitate negotiating irregularities on the pool surface.

The pool cleaner device may include a valve assembly comprising: a tubular valve housing defining a valve chamber; a tubular extension member attached or attachable in flow communication longitudinally to an associated end of the tubular valve housing; an inner tubular member arranged longitudinally inside the tubular extension member; and a resilient valve member located longitudinally inside the valve housing, an upstream end of the resilient valve member having at least one keying formation for mating with a complementary keying formation provided on a rigid adaptor member fixedly mounted transversely inside the valve housing member, a downstream end of the resilient valve member including a plurality of keying formations circumferentially spaced apart and shaped to co-operate with mating keying formations defined downstream inside the valve housing member.

The resilient tubular body may include a longitudinally extending intermediate section over which a passage defined by the body decreases in width from opposed ends of the intermediate section, the passage having a mouth at which the width is a minimum and which is positioned closer to one end of the intermediate section than the other.

The resilient tubular body may include on opposite sides of the body a set of external transversely spaced apart parallel gussets or fins fixed juxtaposed in an obtuse angle corner defined at the portion of minimum width.

Each set of parallel spaced apart fins may include between five to seven fins transversely spaced equidistantly across the width of the tubular valve member.

The valve housing may include a screw-threaded socket at a downstream end thereof, a screw threaded portion being defined on an inside surface of a side wall of the socket.

The socket may include two circumferentially extending ribs or shoulders, both longitudinally spaced apart from an end mouth of the socket, one rib or shoulder projecting radially inwardly from an inside surface of the valve housing and the other rib or shoulder projecting radially outwardly from an outside surface of the valve housing.

The inside shoulder may define a plurality of spaced apart cut-away rebates to form the mating keying formations on the inside of the valve housing. The keying formations located at the downstream end of the tubular valve member may include a plurality of tabs projecting wing-like fashion transversely from the tubular valve member, free ends of the tabs being curved complementary to fit snugly in abutment with and inside the surface of the tubular valve housing, an upstream facing surface of each tab resting on the inside shoulder, each tab having a key projecting from the axially facing surface which mate snugly with the cut-away rebates defined by the inner shoulder.

The tubular extension member may include an elongated longitudinally tapering open ended conduit, defining a hose adaptor socket or nipple, as the case may be, at its narrow end, and a screw threaded nipple radially smaller than the wide end of the tubular extension member, which nipple projects longitudinally outwardly from the wide end of the tubular extension member, so as to form an annular ridge around the base of the screw threaded nipple, the tubular extension member being connected screw-threadedly to the housing end socket of the housing member, the annular ridge abutting flush with the outer shoulder of the housing member.

The swimming pool cleaning device may include a swivel coupler defining a flow passage through it which is connected to a main outlet port of a head assembly of the pool cleaning device, another end of the swivel coupler being configured for connection to an end of a flexible pool hose.

The invention extends to an anti-catch (trap) arrangement for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly overhanging at least part of a pool cleaner disk mounted operatively to rotate on a shaft forming part of a foot assembly, on which foot assembly the head assembly is mounted, the anti-catch arrangement including: at least one rotatable bearing member attached or attachable to the head assembly, the rotatable bearing member being arranged to press against the pool cleaner disk when it is urged towards the overhanging portion of the head assembly, abutment with the rotatable bearing member thus permitting the head assembly to rotate relative to the pool cleaner disk, thereby to prevent sandwiching or entrapment of the pool cleaner disk between the pool surface and the head assembly. The at least one rotatable bearing member may include a socket or seat adjacent a leading side of the pool cleaner disk and the overhanging part of the head assembly, an open end of the socket being directed downwardly towards the leading side of the pool cleaner disk. In such case, the rotatable bearing member may be seated and held captive by the socket-seat free to rotate and exposed proximate to the leading side of the pool cleaner disk. The rotatable element may be in the form of a ball-and-socket bearing mounted on the head assembly, so that the ball presses against the leading side of the pool cleaner disk when the pool cleaner disk and the head assembly are urged towards each other.

The invention extends further to a method of preventing a pool cleaner disk from entrapment between a pool surface and part of a head assembly overhanging the pool cleaner disk, when the pool surface urges the pool cleaner disk towards the head assembly, which method includes: intercepting the pool cleaner disk with a rotatable bearing member attached or attachable to the head assembly before it makes contact with a stationary part of the head assembly, the rotatable bearing element permitting rotation of the head assembly relative to the pool cleaner disk, thereby to prevent jamming of the pool cleaner disk.

Already mentioned, is the significance of balancing and buoyancy of a pool cleaner device to facilitate proper operation, in particular in respect of proper footing or surface contact of a footing arrangement forming part of the foot assembly of the pool cleaner device.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a balancing-and-buoyancy arrangement for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly defining a main inlet port, to facilitate desired operational contact of the foot assembly, in particular for a foot member and a flexible cleaner disk forming part of the foot assembly, with a submersed pool surface, which balancing arrangement includes: at least two buoyancy weight members mounted in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly, and arranged more-or-less on a operative central vertical plane one trailing the other, the plane being taken along a central line of the pool cleaner device in the direction of forward travel, at least one weight member being located in a conceptual leading zone and at least one other weight member being located in a conceptual trailing zone, the two zones being conceptually divided by a vertical plane taken transverse to the forward traveling direction through a centre of the main inlet port, the relative masses and locations or elevations of the buoyancy weight members being selected automatically to bias the pool cleaner device to an operative upright position when dislodged from a submersed pool surface, and to contribute to a desired operative buoyancy for the pool cleaner device to facilitate proper contact of the pool cleaner device on the pool surface.

The at least two weight members may include two weights having a mass of about 8Og and 24Og.

The balancing arrangement may also include a weight member mounting arrangement for mounting each buoyancy weight member on the head assembly. The mounting arrangement may include two fin members projecting in opposite directions coplanar from a valve housing, which plane is taken vertically in the direction of forward travel. Each fin member may define an aperture at a desired elevation for snugly seating its associated buoyancy weight member.

The apertures or weight seats may be circular, in which case, the associated weight members may each be in the form of a ball. The ball may be formed from a lead-alloy material and powder coat treated before installation.

The invention also provides a method of orientating a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly, to facilitate desired operational contact of the foot assembly with a submersed pool surface, which method includes: mounting at least two buoyancy weight members in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly, arranged more-or-less in a vertical plane taken on a central line in the direction of forward travel of the pool cleaner device, at least one weight member being located in a conceptual leading zone and at least other weight member being located in a conceptual trailing zoned, the zones being divided conceptually by a plane taken transverse to the forward traveling direction through a centre of a main inlet port. The method may include selecting relative masses from the weight members and locations on the head assembly, in use, to bias the pool cleaner device to an operative upright position when dislodged from a submersed pool surface, and to contribute to predetermined buoyancy for the pool cleaner device when submersed in pool water.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a cleaner disk for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly which pool cleaner disk is mountable operatively to rotate on a shaft forming part of a foot assembly, which pool cleaner disk includes: a flexible annular body characterized thereby that its thickness decreases progressively from and inner peripheral edge towards an outer peripheral edge of the annular body.

The thickness of the annular body may decrease steps of three annular sections, a first or inner annular section having a thickness of about 3 mm, a second or intermediate annular step having a thickness of about 2 mm, and a third or outer annular section having a thickness of about 1 mm tapers to edge

Further, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a cleaner disk for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly having a foot support, which pool cleaner disk includes: a flexible annular disk body mountable on the foot support of the foot assembly; the disk body defining a plurality of apertures spread around an radially inner edge of the annular disk body, their combined opening area and spread pattern being selected to permit a predetermined flow rate and flow pattern of pool water being sucked, in use, from above the flow apertures through them into the main inlet port defined by the foot assembly.

The flow apertures may be circular having a diameter of between 15 mm and

1 1 .5 mm. In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a foot support assembly forming part of the foot assembly, which foot support assembly includes: two foot member each of which includes a flanged member; a joining arrangement for releasable connecting the two foot members in axially aligned end-to-end relationship, with their flanged members free, one flange member forming part of an attachment arrangement for mounting the head assembly to the foot support arrangement, and the other flange member forming part of a footing arrangement for the pool cleaner device.

The two annular foot support members may each include a tubular stub axle, a wall of which projects perpendicularly from a circumferentially extending inner annular edge of their flange members, opposed annular faces of the annular members being smoothly finished, so as to reduce frictional contact with them.

The foot support joining arrangement may include latching formations, or quick-fit-and-release formations for releasable connecting the two annular foot members in axially aligned end to end relationship.

The attachment arrangement forming part of the one annular foot support member may define a circumferentially extending radially inwardly open channel along its peripheral edge, for receiving keying formations from a head assembly to mount the head assembly on the foot support arrangement.

The other flange member forming part of the foot assembly may include a plurality of pads spaced more-or-less equiangular on the major foot face, each pad having an inclined leading edge to facilitate negotiating irregularities in the pool surface.

A tubular valve member having an end section which is a generally circular in transverse section, may be attached to a relevant end of a conduit by slipping the end section tightly over an end section of the conduit, and then circumferentially clasped or clamped by, for example, a retainer ring. The applicant has found that a tubular valve member attached in this fashion to an end of a conduit, may slip circumferentially around the conduit end out of alignment with an opposite end of the tubular valve member. In such instance, the misalignment of the opposed ends or twisting of the resilient body may compromise operation of the tubular valve diaphragm.

Broadly, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tubular valve member for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly defining a main flow path there through, which main flow path forms part of a valve assembly, the tubular valve member including: a resilient tubular valve body having opposite open ends for connection inline in flow communication with the main flow passage; and at least one keying formation projecting at each end of the tubular valve body, which keying formation is shaped an sized to mate with a complementary keying formation provided on a rigid valve housing, the keying formations being of adequate rigidity to anchor the ends of the tubular valve member fixedly relative to the rigid valve housing, and to each other.

The resilient body may include an end sealing arrangement for sealing tightly with an end of a conduit member to which it is attachable.

The at least one keying formation may consist of a plurality of keying formations, in which case, the plurality keying formations may be equiangularly spaced circumferentially around an end of the tubular valve member. The keying formations extend transversely over an auxiliary flow path defined between the tubular valve member and the valve housing, adjacent keying formations defining between them an opening to allow pool water to flow through the auxiliary flow passage.

The tubular valve member may include a plurality of keying formations at one end and a singular keying formation at and opposite end.

The invention also provides a valve assembly for a pool cleaner device, which valve assembly includes: a tubular valve housing defining a valve chamber; a tubular extension member attached or attachable in flow communication longitudinally to an associated end of the tubular valve housing; an inner tubular member arranged longitudinally inside the tubular extension member; and a resilient valve member located longitudinally inside the valve housing, an upstream end of the resilient valve member having at least one keying formation for mating with a complementary keying formation provided on a ridged adaptor member fixedly mounted transversely inside the valve housing member, a downstream end of the resilient valve member including a plurality of keying formations circumferentially spaced apart and shaped to cooperate with mating keying formations defined downstream inside the valve housing member.

The resilient tubular body may include a longitudinally extending intermediate section over which the resilient tubular body depletes or collapses progressively more towards one end of the resilient tubular body, a most collapsed end of the intermediate section defining an elongated transverse mouth opening, from where the tubular body flares rapidly to end in an end portion which is generally circular in transverse section.

The resilient tubular body may also include on opposite sides of the body a set of transversely parallel spaced apart gussets or fins fixed juxtaposed in an obtuse angle corner formed between the most depleted end portion of the intermediate section and a rapidly opening or flaring end portion of the resilient tubular body. Preferably, the set of parallel spaced apart fins include a set of between five to seven fins transversely spaced equidistantly across the width of the tubular valve member, to facilitate operative closure of the mouth opening, in use.

The valve housing member may include a screw-threaded socket at a downstream end thereof, a screw-threaded portion being defined on an inside surface of a side wall of the socket. The socket may include two circumferentially extending ribs or shoulders, both longitudinally spaced apart from an end mouth of the socket, one rib or shoulder projecting radially inwardly from an inside surface of the valve housing member and the other rib or shoulder projecting radially outwardly from an outside surface of the valve housing member.

The inside shoulder may define a plurality of spaced apart cut-away rebates to form the keying mating formations on the inside of the valve housing member. In one embodiment of the tubular valve member, the keying formations located at the downstream end of the tubular valve member may include a plurality of tabs projecting wing-like fashion transversely from the tubular valve member, free ends of the tabs being curved complementary to fit snugly in abutment with and inside surface of the tubular valve housing. An upstream facing surface of each tab may, in use, rest on the inside shoulder, each tab having a key projecting from the axially facing surface which mates snugly with the cut-away rebates defined by the inner shoulder.

The tubular extension member may include an elongated longitudinally tapering open ended conduit, defining a conventional hose adaptor socket or nipple, as the case may be, at its narrow end, and a screw threaded nipple radially smaller than the wide end of the top tubular extension member, which nipple projects longitudinally outwardly from the wide end of the tubular extension member, so as to form an annular edge around the screw-treaded nipple. The tubular extension member, in particular the screw-threaded nipple, may be connected screw-threadedly to the housing end socket of the housing member, the annular ridge being for abutment flush with the outer shoulder of the housing member.

The invention also provides a method of mounting a tubular valve member inside a ridged tubular valve housing, which method includes: anchoring a resilient valve member with at least one keying formation at each end thereof to complementary mating keying formations provided inside the ridged tubular valve housing, the keying formations being adequately ridgid to secure the ends of the tubular member rigidly to the tubular valve housing, and therefore relative to each other.

The invention yet further extends to a pool cleaner device embodying any one or more of the aspects of the invention as defined above.

The pool cleaner device may include a swivel coupler defining a flow passage through it, which swivel coupler may be connected to a main outlet port of a head assembly of the pool cleaner device, another end of the swivel coupler being adapted for connection to an end of a flexible pool hose. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a pool cleaner device, in accordance with the invention, which comprises broadly a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly;

Figure 2A is an elevational view of a cleaner housing forming part of the head assembly in Figure 1 ;

Figure 2B is a plan view of the cleaner housing in Figure 2A; Figure 3 shows a side elevational view of a top pipe forming another part of the head assembly in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows one of a pair of cleaner covers in side elevational view forming another part of the head assembly;

Figure 5A shows a side elevational view of a lock nut member forming part of the foot assembly; Figure 5B shows a plan view of the lock nut member in Figure 5A;

Figure 6A shows an inverted side elevational view of a foot member forming part of the head assembly;

Figure 6B shows a bottom plan view op the foot member in Figure 6A; Figure 7A shows a side elevational view of a cleaner disk member forming part of the foot assembly;

Figure 7B shows a plan view of the cleaner disk member in Figure 7A; Figure 8 shows a transverse sectional view of the foot assembly, as taken along a diametrical line thereof;

Figure 9A shows an elevational view from one side of a tubular valve member; Figure 9B shows an elevational view of the tubular valve member in Figure 9A, as seen from another side;

Figure 9C shows a view from one end of the tubular valve member in Figure 9A; Figure 9D shows a three-dimensional view of the tubular valve member in Figure 9A; Figure 10 shows a side elevational view of an inner pipe member forming part of the head assembly;

Figure 1 1 A shows a side elevational view of a tubular valve adaptor member; Figure 1 1 B shows a plan view of the tubular valve adaptor member in Figure 1 1 A; and Figure 12 shows part of the cleaner housing in Figure 2A, in particular and downstream part of the cleaner housing.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally refers to a pool cleaner device, in accordance with the invention. Broadly, the pool cleaner device 10 is a vacuum/suction-type pool cleaner which consists of a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly, generally indicated by reference numerals 12 and 14 respectively. In its assembled form, the pool cleaner device 10 defines a main flow passage through it, the main flow passage extending between a main inlet port, at 18, defined by the foot assembly 14 and a main outlet port, at 20, defined by the head assembly 12.

In conventional fashion, a flexible pool hose 21 is employed for connecting the main outlet port, at 20, in flow communication with a pool filtration system inlet which is typically located at a weir of the pool, to induce a flow of pool water through the main flow passage of the pool cleaner device 10 from the inlet port 18 to the outlet port 20. The induced suction through the pool cleaner device 10 is capitalized on by a propelling or valve arrangement inside the head assembly 12, which includes a tubular flow- actuated pulsating valve member or diaphragm, explained in more detail below, automatically to advance the pool cleaner device 10 along the submersed pool surface.

Operatively, continuous advancement of the pool cleaner device 10 along the pool surface is desirable, so is complete pool surface coverage by the pool cleaner device 10, in other words, reliable propelling and steering operations are important for effective pool cleaner device operation.

As can best be seen in Figure 8 of the drawings, the foot assembly 14 includes an annular flexible cleaner disk 22 which is mounted operatively to rotate relative to a foot support 71 on which it is mounted, the foot support 71 defining the main inlet port, at 18, (see Figure 6). Operational rotation of the flexible cleaner disk 22 relative to the support 71 forms part of the inherent steering operation of the pool cleaner device 10 and contributes to the extrication of the pool cleaner device 10 when it collides with an obstruction, such as a pool wall. Generally, a flexible pool cleaner disk, such as the pool cleaner disk 22, may bend from time to time, in particular under influence of a pool surface when the pool cleaner device 10 negotiates a corner of the swimming pool, for example, the pool cleaner device 10 may negotiate a corner formed between a side wall and a floor wall of the pool, during which a leading side of the flexible cleaner disk is bent or urged towards an overhanging part of the head assembly 12. In such instances, the head assembly 12 can abut against a proximate part of the flexible cleaner disk 22, and sandwich the pool cleaner disk 22 between the pool surface and the head assembly 12 which impairs relative rotation between the head assembly12 and the pool cleaner disk 22, and hence impairs extrication of the pool cleaner device 10 from the corner and/or other obstructions, or even cause seizure of the pool cleaner device.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an anti-catch (trap) arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 24, for a pool cleaner device 10 of the type having a head assembly 12 overhanging at least part of the pool cleaner disk 22 mounted operatively to rotate on a tubular shaft portion 71 of the foot support 69 forming part of a foot assembly 14. The anti-catch arrangement 24 includes at least one rotatable bearing member 28 attached or attachable to the head assembly 12. The rotatable bearing member 28 is positioned in an overhanging portion 29 of the head assembly 12 to form the point of contact with the pool cleaner disk 22 when it is urged towards the head assembly 12. Provision of the rotatable bearing member 28 permits relative rotation between the head assembly 12 and the disk 22 even when the disk 22 is sandwiched between the bearing member 28 and a surface of the pool.

The rotatable bearing member 28 is arranged so that it depends from the head assembly 12 overhanging a leading side 25 of the pool cleaner disk 22, so that the rotatable bearing member 28 is first to be reached by the leading side 25 of the pool cleaner disk 22 when it is urged towards the housing assembly 12. The bearing member 28 permits the head assembly 12 to rotate relative of the pool cleaner disk 22 when pressing against it, thereby enabling the pool cleaner device 10 to change its direction of movement. The bearing member 28 is mounted in a socket or seat 30 (Figure 2) between the overhanging part 29 of the head assembly 12 and the pool cleaner disk 22.

The socket 30 (see Figure 2A) is directed downwardly towards the upper surface of the operatively leading side 25 of the pool cleaner disk 22. The socket 30 is generally semi- spherical, and receives a complementary sized bearing member 28 which is in the form of a ball, the ball 28 being held loosely rotatable by the semi-spherical socket 30. At least part of the ball 28 is exposed to the pool cleaner disk 22, the ball 28 also being positioned so that it abuts against the upper surface of the leading side 25 of the flexible disk 22 when a curved pool surface urges the leading side 25 of the flexible disk 22 toward the head assembly 12.

The cleaner housing 16 forming part of the head assembly 12, broadly comprises an annular housing base plate 34 defining a central aperture, and an elongated tubular housing member 32 protruding operatively upwardly from the housing base plate 34 to form an acute angle with the housing base plate member 34. The housing base plate member 34 includes a circumferentially extending skirt edge 46 projecting perpendicularly from a peripheral edge of the base plate 34. Two keying formations 40, 48 project radially outwardly diametrically opposite each other from the skirt edge 46 for cooperative connection to a lock nut member 86 of the foot assembly 14, explained in more detail below.

The pool cleaner device 10 also includes a balancing (buoyancy) arrangement indicated generally by reference numerals 15 and 17, for a pool cleaner device. The balancing arrangement 15, 17 is to facilitate desired operational contact of the foot assembly 14, in particular for a foot member 73 (see Figures 6A and 6B) and for the flexible cleaner disk 22, with a submersed pool surface. The balancing arrangement 15 and 17 includes at least two weight members, at 42 and at 44, mounted in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly 12. The weight members, at 42, 44 are arranged one behind the other more-or-less on a central line of the pool cleaner device as seen in the direction of forward travel (see arrow 61 ). One weight member, at 44, is in a conceptual trailing zone and the other weight member, at 42, is in a conceptual leading zone. The zones are conceptually divided by a plane 37 taken transverse to the traveling direction 61 through a centre of the main inlet port, at 18. The relative masses of the weights, at 42, 44, and their relative orientation and elevation, are selected automatically to bias the pool cleaner device 10 to an operative upright position when dislodged from the submersed pool surface. The buoyancy arrangement 15, 17 also contributes to a desired operative buoyancy of the pool cleaner device 10 to urge it in contact with the pool surface to be cleaned.

The two weight members, at 42 and 44, in this embodiment of the invention have a weight ratio of about 8 g to 240 g, respectively. The weight of the device 10 is about 1 .45 kg.

The balancing arrangement 15, 17, also includes a weight member mounting arrangement 16 for each buoyancy weight member, 44, 42. The mounting arrangement 16 is in the form of generally planar fin members 36 and 38 projecting in a common plane in opposite directions from a valve housing member 32 of the head assembly 12. The fin members 36, 38 define circular apertures, at 47, 49 at a desired elevation for seating the buoyancy weight members 42, 44. A spherical float 45 is positioned in a complementary aperture in the fin member 36.

The weight members 42, 44 are in the form of balls which relate in diameter to their respective circular apertures 47, 49. The balls are formed from a lead-alloy material and powder coat treated before installation. The socket 30 is provided on the fin 38.

As can best be seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, the annular disk body 64 comprises three concentric annular sections. A first or inner annular section 74 has a maximum thickness of about 3 mm, a second or intermediate annular section 76 which has a thickness of about 2 mm and a third or outer annular section 78 which has a maximum thickness of about 1 mm.

In addition, the disk body 64 has a plurality of flow apertures 66 spread around its central opening. The combined opening area and spread pattern of the flow apertures 66 are selected to permit a predetermined flow rate and flow pattern of pool water being sucked, in use, from above the flow apertures 66 through them into the main inlet port 18 defined by the foot assembly 14. One embodiment of the flexible pool cleaner disk 22 includes, as illustrated

(see Figures 7A and 7B), eight circular apertures 66, equiangularly spaced apart on a conceptual pitch circle, so that a flow of pool water can be induced through them, in use. The circular apertures 66 each have a diameter of between 1 1 ,5 and 15 mm. The pool cleaner disk has a diameter of about 370 mm.

The foot assembly 14 includes two annular foot members 73, 86, each including a flange formation, 85 and 88 respectively, at one end. Each annular foot member 73, 86 includes a flat-walled rim 81 , 98, (see Figures 6A and 5A) projecting axially from an inner peripheral edge of the foot member 73, 86.

A joining arrangement comprising latching-formations 80 (quick-fit and- release formations), is provided spaced apart along a peripheral edge of a free end of the rim 81 , for assembling the two annular foot members 73, 86 in axially aligned end to end relationship. When assembled, the two foot members 73, 86 form a ridged bobbin- shaped foot support 69 for the foot assembly 14. The foot support 69 thus, when assembled, forms an open-ended tubular shaft 71 extending between the inner peripheral edges of the foot members 73, 86, the pool cleaner disk 22 being rotatably mountable on the tubular shaft 71 .

One flange member 86 forms part of an attachment arrangement 90 for mounting the head assembly 12 onto the foot support 69, and the other flange member

74 forms part of a foot for the pool cleaner device 10. Those annular faces of the foot members 73, 86 which face each other, are smoothly finished to reduce friction between them and the pool cleaner disk 22 and/or slip washers 70.

The flange 88 of the foot member 86, hereinafter referred to as a lock nut 86, includes a circumferentially extending rim 96, and a radially inwardly directed flange 90 projecting from a free peripheral edge of the rim 96, so as to form a radially inwardly open channel 92. Two circumferentially spaced cut-away rebates 100 are defined by the flange 90 and sized complementary to pass the keying formations 40, 48 of the base plate member 34, so that the keying formations 40, 48 can gain access to the channel 92. Ridges 102 extend partly along the channel 92 progressively to decrease a cross section of the channel 92, which reduction in cross section facilitates a frictionally tight fit of the keying formations 40, 48 when slid tightly into the channel 92 by axial rotation of the base plate 34 relative to the lock nut 86.

Arrow 61 indicates a forward direction normally traveled by the pool cleaner device 10. Irregularities in a pool surface, protuberance and recesses, can have sharply defined edges which can pose difficulty for the pool cleaner device 10 to pass them.

Thus, the other flange member 74, hereafter refer to as the foot 73, includes a plurality of surface contact pads 82 spaced equiangularly on a major foot face of the foot 73. Each pad 82 is chamfered to provide an inclined leading edge to facilitate negotiating an irregularity in the surface of the pool. Each pad 82 includes a shallow roughly oblong shaped body, when viewed in plan view (see Figure 6A) having rounded corners, a radially inner edge of the pad 82 being convexly shaped.

The foot assembly 14 also includes a slip bearing arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 68, to facilitate rotation of the flexible cleaner disk 22 on the shaft 71 of the foot support 69. The slip bearing arrangement 68 includes two smoothly faced annular slip washers 70, mounted to rotate on the tubular shaft 77. The two slip washers 70 are stacked one on top of the other, between the pool cleaner disk 22 and the smooth annular face of the foot 73.

The slip bearing arrangement 68 can include one or more additional annular slip washers (not shown), in which case it can be mounted on the shaft 73, between the cleaner disk 22 and a smooth annular face of the lock nut 86.

The pool cleaner device 10 includes a valve assembly comprising a tubular valve member, generally indicate by reference numeral 1 10. The tubular valve member 1 10 includes a resilient tubular valve body 1 1 1 having opposite open ends, at 1 14 and 1 16, for connection in-line in flow communication with the main flow passage.

The tubular valve member 1 10 also includes keying formations 1 18, 120 projecting transversely at each end 1 14, 1 16 of the tubular valve body 1 1 1 . The keying formations 1 18, 120 are shaped and sized to mate with complementary keying formations 124 and 138 respectively, provided inside the housing 32 of the valve assembly. The keying formations 1 18 and 120 are formed rigidly enough to anchor the ends 1 14 and 1 16 of the tubular valve member 1 10 fixedly to the rigid housing 32, to prevent misalignment of the ends and hence twisting of the valve body, which could impair operation of the valve member 1 10.

The resilient body 1 1 1 includes an end sealing arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 126, for sealing tightly with an end of the conduit member 128 to which it is attached, as explained in more detail below.

In this embodiment of the invention, a plurality of keying formations 120 is provided at the end 1 14 of the resilient body 1 1 1 . The keying formations 120 are equiangular spaced circumferentially near the end 1 16 of the tubular valve member 1 10. More specifically, the tubular valve member 1 10, includes four keying formations 120 near the end 1 16 of the tubular valve member 1 10, and one keying formation 1 18 at the opposite end 1 14 of the tubular valve member 1 10.

The keying formations 120 are operatively located at the downstream end of the tubular valve member 1 10, and are in the form of four tabs or tongues radiating wing-like fashion transversely from the tubular valve member 1 10. The radially outwardly directed length and the shape of the free ends of the tabs 120, which ends are convexly curved in this embodiment, are complementary sized and shaped to fit snugly inside the tubular valve housing 32. In such case, an axially facing surface 132 of each tab 120 rests on an inside shoulder 134 projecting transversely from an inner surface of the ridgid housing 32. Each tab 120 includes an elongated key 136 generally extending across an axially upstream facing surface of the tabs 120. The keys 136 are sized to mate snugly with associated complementary shaped rebates 138 (see Figure

12) defined by the inner shoulder 134 projecting inwardly form the valve housing member 32.

The one keying formation 1 18 at the opposite end 1 14 of the tubular valve member 1 10, is shaped to mate with a complementary shaped rebate 124 defined in an adaptor member, generally indicated reference numeral 142 (Figure 1 1 ). The adaptor member 142 defines a central opening 144 shaped to receive the end 1 14 of the valve body 1 1 1 mouth-to-mouth in a sealing arrangement. The adaptor member 142 includes a plurality of spaced apart bridging members 148 radiating outwardly and connecting to an outer part of the adaptor member 142. The adaptor member 142 also includes a slanting major side 150 and latching formations 152 for latching in position inside the tubular valve housing at 145 (see Figure 2A).

The valve assembly includes the tubular valve housing 32 which defines a valve chamber 154 there through, in which chamber 154 the resilient valve body 1 1 1 fits axially.

A tubular extension member 57 is attached or attachable in flow communication to an associated end, at 156, of the tubular valve housing 32. The valve assembly also includes the inner tubular member 128 arranged longitudinally inside the tubular extension member 128. The resilient valve member 1 10 is located longitudinally inside the valve housing 32, with its keying formations 120 upstream and with its keying formation 1 18 at a downstream end 1 12 of the resilient valve member 1 10.

The resilient tubular body 1 1 1 is formed to include a longitudinal intermediate section 158 along which the width of the flow passage defined by the resilient tubular body 1 1 1 decreases progressively more towards the end 1 16 of the tubular body 1 1 1 . At 160 (see Figure 9C) width of the flow passage is at a minimum, at which position a transversely elongated mouth opening 162 is defined.

Two sets of transversely parallel spaced apart gussets or fins 164 is juxtaposed fixed in an obtuse corner formed between the mouth portion 160 of the intermediate section 158 and a rapidly raising adjacent end portion 166 of the resilient tubular body 1 1 1 . In this example, each set of parallel spaced apart fins 164 includes a set of seven planar fins transversely spaced across the width of the tubular valve member 1 10, to facilitate operative closure of the mouth opening, in use.

The tubular housing member 32 defines a female screw-threaded portion 50 on an inside surface of the side wall of the housing member 32, and a circumferentially extending external rib 52, as described above. The screw threaded portion 50 is for attaching the extension member 57, having a complementary male screw treaded portion, to the housing 32.

The housing extension member 57 is in the form of an elongated longitudinally tapering open ended pipe or conduit, hereinafter referred to as the top pipe 57. The top pipe 57 defines a hose adaptor 54 at its narrow end, and a screw threaded nipple 58 projecting longitudinally outwardly from a wide end of the top pipe 57, the nipple 58 being diametrically smaller than that of the wide end of the top pipe 57, so as to form an annular edge 60. The top pipe 52 is connectible to the housing tubular member 32 by cooperating screw-threadedly with the housing end socket 62. The ridge 60 abuts flush against the circumferentially extending rib 52 of the housing tubular member 32.

The valve member 1 10 is installed inside the valve chamber with the tab formations 120 resting on the inner shoulder 134, the keys 136 provided on the tabs 120 fitting snugly in the rebates 138 defined by the shoulder 134. An end edge of the nipple 58 abuts the tabs 120 when the extension member 57 is screw-threadedly attached to the housing 32, so that the tabs are sandwiched between the inner shoulder 134 and the end edge of the nipple 58.

The pool cleaner device 10 includes a swivel coupler 23 connected in flow communication to the main outlet port, at 20, of the head assembly 12. The swivel coupler 23 includes a connection arrangement, such as a socket or nipple, for connecting it to an end of a flexible pool hose.

Figure 4 shows one of a pair of covers 59 which snap-fits over the tubular housing 32 from opposite sides thereof, to conceal the housing 32 with its fins 36, 38 and buoyancy weights and the socket 32. Each cover 59 has a pair of lateral stabilizing fins protruding therefrom.

Advantageously, the Applicant believes that a pool cleaner device 10, in accordance with the aspects of the invention, facilitates reliability of its propelling and steering operations. In particular, the anti-catch (trap) arrangement for the pool cleaner device 10 permits the head assembly 12 to rotate relative to the pool cleaner disk 22, where it otherwise may have been trapped between it and the pool surface. The balancing (buoyancy) arrangement 15, 17 for the pool cleaner device 10 automatically biases the pool cleaner device 10 to an operative upright position so that it can land on its foot 74 after being dislodged from a submersed pool surface. The buoyancy arrangement 15, 17 also contributes to a desired operative buoyancy to accomplish a predetermined operational contact pressure between the foot 73 and the pool surface.

The pool cleaner disk 22, in accordance with the invention, having the flexible annular body 64 which decreases progressively in thickness towards an outer peripheral edge of the annular body 64, and which defines a plurality of apertures spread around its inner opening, enhance the induced suction of pool water by the pool cleaner device 10.

The foot support 69, advantageously, comprises a two part only construction viz the two annular foot members 73, 86. The foot assembly 14 also includes, advantageously, a plurality of foot pads 82 spaced apart on the major foot face. The chamfered curving edges 83 of the pads 82 facilitate bridging of obstructions and irregularities on the pool surface, which otherwise could have hampered advancement of the pool cleaner device 10.

The slip bearing arrangement 68 including the at least two stacked annular slip washers 70 further enhance freedom of rotation for the pool cleaner disk 22 on the shaft 71 on which it and the slip washers 70 are mounted.

Moreover, in accordance with the invention, the tubular valve member 1 10 includes keying formations 136, 1 18 at both ends, for mounting both ends rigidly to the tubular housing 32, thereby to prevent misalignment of the ends relative to each other, and to avoid twisting of the valve body 1 1 1 which can impair its self-actuating pulsating operation. Moreover, a set of seven transversely parallel spaced apart gussets or fins 164 across the width of the tubular valve member 1 10, advantageously facilitates operative closure of the mouth opening 162, in use and extends the working life of the valve member 1 10.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A pool cleaner device which includes a foot assembly and a head assembly mounted on the foot assembly, the foot assembly including a foot support; a cleaner disk rotatably mounted on the foot support; and a slip bearing arrangement to facilitate relative rotation between the cleaner disk and the foot support.

2. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the slip bearing arrangement includes at least one annular slip washer rotatably mounted on the foot support between opposed surfaces of the foot support and the cleaner disk.

3. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 2, in which the slip bearing arrangement includes at least two annular slip washers stacked one on top of the other between the opposed surfaces.

4. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which the slip bearing arrangement includes at least one additional annular slip washer mounted on the foot support such that slip washers are provided on opposite sides of the disk.

5. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the head assembly extends upwardly from the foot assembly such that it overhangs at least part of the pool cleaner disk, the pool cleaner device including an anti-catch arrangement which includes at least one rotatable bearing member attached or attachable to the head assembly, the rotatable bearing member being arranged to come into contact with the pool cleaner disk when it is urged towards the overhanging portion of the head assembly, to permit relative rotation between the head assembly and the pool cleaner disk, even when the pool cleaner disk is sandwiched between the head assembly and a surface of the pool.

6. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 5, in which the anti-catch arrangement includes a socket or seat provided at an operatively leading side of the head assembly above the cleaner disk, the socket being downwardly open and the bearing member being rotatably mounted in the socket and protruding downwardly therefrom such that in use a protruding portion of the bearing member comes into contact with an upper surface the leading side of the pool cleaner disk when the pool cleaner disk and the head assembly are urged towards each other.

7. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a balancing-and-buoyancy arrangement including at least two buoyancy weight members mounted in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly, and arranged more-or-less on a operative central vertical plane one trailing the other, the plane being taken along a central line of the pool cleaner device in a direction of forward travel, at least one weight member being located in a conceptual leading zone and at least one other weight member being located in a conceptual trailing zone, the relative masses and locations or elevations of the buoyancy weight members being selected automatically to bias the pool cleaner device to an operative upright position when dislodged from an inclined submersed pool surface, and to contribute to a desired operative buoyancy for the pool cleaner device to facilitate proper contact of the pool cleaner device on the pool surface.

8. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 8, which includes two weight members having masses of 8Og and 24Og, respectively.

9. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, in which the balancing arrangement includes a weight member mounting arrangement for mounting each buoyancy weight member on the head assembly, the mounting arrangement including two fin members projecting in opposite directions coplanar from a valve housing, which plane is taken vertically in the direction of forward travel, each fin member defining an aperture at a desired elevation for snugly seating its associated buoyancy weight member.

10. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cleaner disk includes a flexible annular body having a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge, the thickness of the disk at the radially inner edge being greater than the thickness at the radially outer edge.

1 1 . A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 10, in which the body comprises three concentric annular sections, namely an inner annular section having a maximum thickness of about 3 mm, a second or intermediate annular section having a maximum thickness of about 2 mm, and a third or outer annular section having a minimum thickness of about 1 mm.

12. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the annular disk defines a plurality of apertures, the combined opening area and spread pattern being selected to permit a predetermined flow rate and flow pattern of water from a body of water contained in a swimming pool through the flow apertures and into a main inlet port.

13. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 12, which includes eight apertures which are circular and have a diameter of between 1 1 .5 and 15 mm.

14. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the foot support includes: two annular foot members; and a joining arrangement for releasable connecting the two foot members in axially aligned end-to-end relationship.

15. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 14, which includes a plurality of surface contact pads spaced more-or-less equiangularly on a major foot face, each pad having an inclined leading edge to facilitate negotiating irregularities in the pool surface.

16. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a valve assembly comprising: a tubular valve housing defining a valve chamber; a tubular extension member attached or attachable in flow communication longitudinally to an associated end of the tubular valve housing; an inner tubular member arranged longitudinally inside the tubular extension member; and a resilient valve member located longitudinally inside the valve housing, an upstream end of the resilient valve member having at least one keying formation for mating with a complementary keying formation provided on a rigid adaptor member fixedly mounted transversely inside the valve housing member, a downstream end of the resilient valve member including a plurality of keying formations circumferentially spaced apart and shaped to co-operate with mating keying formations defined downstream inside the valve housing member.

17. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 16, in which the resilient tubular body includes a longitudinally extending intermediate section over which a passage defined by the body decreases in width from opposed ends of the intermediate section, the passage having a mouth at which the width is a minimum, the mouth being positioned closer to one end of the intermediate section than the other.

18. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 17, in which the resilient tubular body includes on opposite sides of the body a set of external transversely spaced apart parallel gussets or fins fixed juxtaposed in an obtuse angle corner defined at the portion of minimum width.

19. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 18, in which each set of parallel spaced apart fins includes between five to seven fins transversely spaced equidistantly across the width of the tubular valve member.

20. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, inclusive, in which the valve housing includes a screw-threaded socket at a downstream end thereof, a screw threaded portion being defined on an inside surface of a side wall of the socket.

21 . A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 20, in which the socket includes two circumferentially extending ribs or shoulders, both longitudinally spaced apart from an end mouth of the socket, one rib or shoulder projecting radially inwardly from an inside surface of the valve housing and the other rib or shoulder projecting radially outwardly from an outside surface of the valve housing.

22. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 21 , in which the inside shoulder defines a plurality of spaced apart cut-away rebates to form the keying mating formations on the inside of the valve housing member.

23. A pool cleaner device as claimed in claim 22, in which the keying formations located at the downstream end of the tubular valve member include a plurality of tabs projecting wing-like fashion transversely from the tubular valve member, free ends of the tabs being curved complementary to fit snugly in abutment with and inside the surface of the tubular valve housing, an upstream facing surface of each tab resting on the inside shoulder, each tab having a key projecting from the axially facing surface which mate snugly with the cut-away rebates defined by the inner shoulder.

24. A pool cleaner device as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 23, inclusive, in which the tubular extension member includes an elongated longitudinally tapering open ended conduit, defining a hose adaptor socket or nipple, as the case may be, at its narrow end, and a screw threaded nipple radially smaller than the wide end of the tubular extension member, which nipple projects longitudinally outwardly from the wide end of the tubular extension member, so as to form an annular ridge around the base of the screw threaded nipple, the tubular extension member being connected screw- threadedly to the housing end socket of the housing member, the annular ridge abutting flush with the outer shoulder of the housing member.

25. A pool cleaning device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a swivel coupler defining a flow passage through it which is connected to a main outlet port of a head assembly of the pool cleaning device, another end of the swivel coupler being configured for connection to an end of a flexible pool hose.

26. An anti-catch arrangement for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly overhanging at least part of a pool cleaner disk mounted operatively to rotate on a shaft forming part of a foot assembly, on which foot assembly the head assembly is mounted, the anti-catch arrangement including: at least one rotatable bearing attached or attachable to the head assembly, the rotatable bearing member being arranged to press against the pool cleaner disk when it is urged towards the overhanging portion of the head assembly, abutment with the rotatablθ bearing member thus permitting the head assembly to rotate relative to the pool cleaner disk, thereby to prevent sandwiching or entrapment of the pool cleaner disk between the pool surface and the head assembly.

27. A method of preventing a pool cleaner disk from entrapment between a pool surface and part of a head assembly overhanging the pool cleaner disk, when the pool surface urges the pool cleaner disk towards the head assembly, which method includes: intercepting the pool cleaner disk with a rotatable bearing member attached or attachable to the head assembly before it makes contact with the stationery part of the head assembly, the rotatable bearing element permitting rotation of the head assembly relative to the pool cleaner disk, thereby to prevent jamming of the pool cleaner disk.

28. A balancing and buoyancy arrangement for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly defining a main inlet port, to facilitate desired operational contact of the foot assembly, in particular for a foot member and a flexible cleaner disk forming part of the foot assembly, with a submerged pool surface, which balancing arrangement includes: at least two buoyancy weight members mounted in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly, and arranged more or less on an operative central vertical plane one trailing the other, the plane being take along the central line of the pool cleaner device in the direction of forward travel, at least one weight member being located in a conceptual leading zone and at least one other weight member being located in a conceptual trailing zone, the two zones being conceptually divided by a vertical plane taken transverse to the forward traveling direction through a centre of the main inlet port, the relative masses and locations or elevations of the buoyancy weight members being selected automatically to bias the pool cleaner device to an operative upright position when dislodged from a submerged pool surface, and to contribute to a desired operative buoyancy for the pool cleaner device to facilitate proper contact of the pool cleaner device on the pool surface.

29. A method of orientating a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly, to facilitate desired operational contact of the foot assembly with a submerged pool surface, which method includes mounting at least two buoyancy weight members in spaced apart relationship on the head assembly, arranged more-or-less in a vertical plane taken on a central line in the direction of forward travel of the pool cleaner device, at least one weight member being located in a conceptual leading zone and at least one other weight member being located in a conceptual trailing zone, the zones being divided conceptually by a plane taken transverse to the forward traveling direction through the centre of a main inlet port.

30. A cleaner disk for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly which pool cleaner disk is mountable operatively to rotate on a shaft forming part of the foot assembly, which pool cleaner disk includes: a flexible annular body characterised thereby that its thickness decreases progressively from an inner peripheral edge towards an outer peripheral edge of the annular body.

31 . A cleaner disk for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly mounted on a foot assembly having a foot support, which pool cleaner disk includes: a flexible annular disk body mountable on the foot support of the foot assembly; the disk body defining a plurality of apertures spread around a radially inner edge of the annular disk body, a combined opening area and spread pattern being selected to permit a predetermined flow rate of pool water being sucked, in use, from above the flow apertures through them into a main inlet port defined by the foot assembly.

32. A foot support assembly forming part of a foot assembly of a pool cleaning device, which foot support assembly includes: two foot members, each of which includes a flanged member; a joining arrangement for releasably connecting the two foot members in axially aligned end-to-end relationship, with their flange members free, one flange member forming part of an attachment arrangement for mounting to the head arrangement to the foot support arrangement, and the other flange member forming part of a foot arrangement for the pool cleaning device.

33. A tubular valve member for a pool cleaner device of the type having a head assembly defining a main flow path therethrough, which main flow path forms part of a valve assembly, the tubular valve member including: a resilient tubular valve body having opposite open ends for connection inline in flow communication with the main flow passage; and at least one keying formation projecting at each end of the tubular valve body, which keying formation is configured to mate with a complementary keying formation provided on a rigid valve housing, the keying formations being of adequate rigidity to anchor the ends of the tubular valve member fixedly relative to the rigid valve housing, and to each other.

34. A valve assembly for a pool cleaner device, which valve assembly includes: a tubular valve housing defining a valve chamber; a tubular extension member attached or attachable in flow communication longitudinally to an associated end of the tubular valve housing; an inner tubular member arranged longitudinally inside the tubular extension member; and a resilient valve member located longitudinally inside the valve housing, an upstream end of the resilient valve member having at least one keying formation for mating with a complementary keying formation provided on a rigid adaptor member fixedly mounted transversely inside the valve housing member, a downstream end of the resilient valve member including a plurality of keying formations circumferentially spaced apart and shaped to co-operate with mating keying formations defined downstream inside the valve housing member.

35. A method of mounting a tubular valve member inside a rigid tubular valve housing, which method includes: anchoring a resilient valve member with at least one keying formation at each end thereof to complementary mating keying formations provided inside the rigid tubular valve housing, the keying formations being adequately rigid to secure the ends of the tubular member rigidly to the tubular valve housing, and therefore relative to each other.