Automated swimming pool cleaner with projecting pivot members for changing direction of movement at an adjacent side wall of a pool

Abstract

A self-propelled apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surfaces of a pool or tank in a predetermined regular pattern includes a reversible drive means for propelling the apparatus in opposite directions corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. A housing is formed by front and rear walls and depending side portions defining the periphery of the apparatus. A plurality of supporting wheels are coupled to the housing to enable motion of the apparatus. A projecting pivot member extends beyond the periphery of the the housing from at least one of the supporting wheels, wherein the end of the projecting pivot member serves as a pivot point when it contacts an adjacent side wall of the pool to change the orientation of the apparatus with respect to the side wall of the pool.

1 . A self-propelled apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surfaces of a pool or tank, the apparatus comprising:
 reversible drive means for propelling the apparatus in opposite directions corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus; and   a housing having a front portion, a rear portion and opposing side portions defining the periphery of the apparatus, said front portion being defined with respect to forward directional movement of the apparatus;   a plurality of supporting wheels coupled to the housing to enable movement of said apparatus; and   at least one projecting pivot member extending beyond a side portion of the housing, said projecting pivot member having a free end which serves as a pivot point when in contact with a side wall of the pool to change the orientation of the apparatus with respect to the side wall of the pool.   
     
     
         2 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one at least one of said wheels projects beyond the periphery of the housing in a direction of movement. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said wheels projects laterally from the housing to function as a pivot point during contact with the side wall of the pool. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein wheels on opposing ends of a common side portion project beyond the housing to provide translational pivot axes. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of wheels are mounted on caster axles for limited pivoting movement defining an arc in a translational plane passing through the center of the wheels. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first pair of wheels are mounted on a transverse axle at one end of the housing and a second pair of wheels are mounted on a transverse axle at the opposite end of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transverse axles are mounted in angular relation to each other so that the wheels on one side of the apparatus are closer together than those on the opposite side. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one end of one of the transverse axles is mounted in a slot to produce movement in a curved path when the apparatus travels in one direction and movement in a straight line when the apparatus travels in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transverse axles are parallel to each other and normal to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and the wheels on one side of the apparatus are smaller in diameter than the wheels on the opposite side. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first pair of wheels are mounted on a transverse axle at one end of the housing and a second pair of wheels are mounted on a transverse axle at the opposite end of the housing, each of said four wheels being independently caster mounted so that all four wheels move together either parallel to the longitudinal axis when the apparatus moves in one direction and at an angle “L” to the longitudinal axis when the apparatus moves in the opposite direction. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first pair of wheels are mounted on a transverse axle at one end of the housing and a second pair of wheels are mounted on a transverse axle at the opposite end of the housing, said four wheels being caster mounted so that the four wheels swivel in unison when the apparatus changes direction. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a common end of both transverse axles is mounted in a slot so that the wheels adjacent the slots slide forward and back to be either parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or at an angle thereto, depending on the direction of movement of the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one projecting pivot member extends from at least one of said transverse axles. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which comprises a pair of projecting pivot members extending laterally beyond each of the side portions proximate the front and rear portions. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said four wheels are caster-mounted and set for a predetermined angular displacement when the direction of movement of said apparatus changes. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one projecting pivot member extends from a hub of a wheel attached to the axle.