Ring for surrounding a pool drain

Abstract

A ring for surrounding a pool drain to permit a pool cleaner to easily traverse the pool drain without interfering with the traversing movement of the pool cleaner includes a central portion positioned to surround a pool drain. The central portion has a predetermined height. An outer portion is displaced a predetermined distance relative to the central portion. The outer portion has substantially the same predetermined height as the central portion. An intermediate portion extends from the outer portion to the central portion. The intermediate portion provides a surface of substantially the same height as the central portion and the outer portion for enabling a pool cleaner to easily traverse a pool drain.

1 . A ring for surrounding a pool drain to permit a pool cleaner to easily traverse the pool drain without interfering with the traversing movement of the pool cleaner comprising: 
 a central circular portion adapted to be positioned to surround a pool drain, said central circular portion having a predetermined height;    an outer circular portion displaced a predetermined distance relative to the central circular portion, said outer circular portion having substantially the same predetermined height as said central circular portion; and    an intermediate portion extending from said outer circular portion to said central circular portion, said intermediate portion including a plurality of radially extending slots extending from said outer circular portion to said central circular portion for providing a surface of substantially the same height as the central circular portion and the outer circular portion for enabling a pool cleaner to easily traverse a pool drain.    
   
   
       2 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein said central circular portion is spaced relative to a pool drain for providing communication therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined height of said central circular portion is less than a height of a pool drain.  
   
   
       4 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer circular portion projects upwardly said substantially the same predetermined distance from a floor of a pool wherein a pool cleaner can easily traverse the outer circular portion, the intermediate portion and thereafter traverse the ring by riding on a reverse side of the ring.  
   
   
       5 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the central circular portion is constructed of hard plastic.  
   
   
       6 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer circular portion is constructed of hard plastic.  
   
   
       7 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion is constructed of flexible vinyl.  
   
   
       8 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radially extending slots extend from an upper surface of said intermediate portion to a lower surface of said intermediate portion.  
   
   
       9 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 2 , wherein said central circular portion, said intermediate portion and said outer circular portion have a uniform height.  
   
   
       10 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 1 , wherein gravity mounts said ring relative to a pool drain.  
   
   
       11 . A ring for surrounding a pool drain to permit a pool cleaner to easily traverse the pool drain without interfering with the traversing movement of the pool cleaner comprising: 
 a central portion adapted to be positioned to surround a pool drain, said central portion having a predetermined height;    an outer portion displaced a predetermined distance relative to the central portion, said outer portion having substantially the same predetermined height as said central portion; and    an intermediate portion extending from said outer portion to said central portion, said intermediate portion providing a surface of substantially the same height as the central portion and the outer portion for enabling a pool cleaner to easily traverse a pool drain.    
   
   
       12 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein said central portion is spaced relative to a pool drain for providing communication therebetween.  
   
   
       13 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined height of said central portion is less than a height of a pool drain.  
   
   
       14 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein said outer portion projects upwardly said substantially the same predetermined distance from a floor of a pool wherein a pool cleaner can easily traverse the outer portion, the intermediate portion and thereafter traverse the ring by riding on a reverse side of the ring.  
   
   
       15 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein the central portion is constructed of hard plastic.  
   
   
       16 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer portion is constructed of hard plastic.  
   
   
       17 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein the intermediate portion is constructed of flexible vinyl.  
   
   
       18 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of radially extending slots extend from an upper surface of said intermediate portion to a lower surface of said intermediate portion.  
   
   
       19 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 12 , wherein said central portion, said intermediate portion and said outer portion have a uniform height.  
   
   
       20 . The ring for surrounding a pool drain according to  claim 11 , wherein gravity mounts said ring relative to a pool drain.