Swimming pool skimmer leaf restraint

Abstract

Provided is a debris guard disposable in a pool to prevent debris floating on the surface of the water from entering the pool skimmer. The debris guard forms a barrier around the skimmer opening at the water surface to keep debris out of the skimmer to allow water to circulate through the skimmer and the water filter. In this regard, the debris guard does not significantly reduce or inhibit the flow rate of water flowing through the pool filtration system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A debris guard for use in a pool including a pool wall having a skimmer opening which communicates with a skimmer box, the debris guard comprising:
 a surface barrier member disposable in the pool to form a barrier within the pool about the skimmer opening at the water surface and to partially define an opening about an axis substantially perpendicular to the water surface; and   an attachment mechanism connected to the surface barrier member and connectable to the skimmer box to couple the surface barrier member thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The debris guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface barrier member includes a frame and a mesh guard connected to the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The debris guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the surface barrier member is configured to be transitional between a deployed orientation wherein the surface barrier member defines a generally arcuate configuration and a stowed orientation wherein the surface barrier member defines a generally planar configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The debris guard recited in  claim 3 , wherein the surface barrier member is biased toward the stowed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The debris guard recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a deployed support member being attachable to the surface barrier member to maintain the surface barrier member in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The debris guard recited in  claim 5 , wherein the deployed support member includes an elongate rod. 
     
     
         7 . The debris guard recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a tether and a suction device connected to the tether, the tether being connectable to the surface barrier member and the suction device engageable with the skimmer box. 
     
     
         8 . The debris guard recited in  claim 7 , wherein the distance along the tether between the surface barrier member and the suction device is adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . A debris guard for use with a pool having a circulation system including a water inlet, the debris guard comprising:
 a surface barrier member disposable in the pool to extend within the pool about the water inlet at the water surface to form a debris barrier and to define a fluid passageway to allow fluid to flow from the pool to the fluid inlet; and   an attachment mechanism connected to the surface barrier member, the attachment mechanism being configured to substantially maintain the surface barrier member at the water surface about the water inlet.   
     
     
         10 . The debris guard recited in  claim 9 , wherein the surface barrier member is configured to be transitional between a deployed orientation wherein the surface barrier member defines a generally arcuate configuration and a stowed orientation wherein the surface barrier member defines a generally planar configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The debris guard recited in  claim 10 , wherein the surface barrier member is biased toward the stowed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The debris guard recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a deployed support member being attachable to the surface barrier member to maintain the surface barrier member in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The debris guard recited in  claim 12 , wherein the deployed support member includes an elongate rod. 
     
     
         14 . The debris guard recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a tether and a suction device connected to the tether, the tether being connectable to the surface barrier member and the suction device engageable with the skimmer box. 
     
     
         15 . The debris guard recited in  claim 14 , wherein the distance along the tether between the surface barrier member and the suction device is adjustable. 
     
     
         16 . A debris guard for use with a pool having a circulation system including a water inlet, the debris guard comprising:
 a surface barrier member disposable in the pool to extend within the pool about the water inlet at the water surface to form a debris barrier and to define a fluid passageway to allow fluid to flow from the pool to the fluid inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The debris guard recited in  claim 16 , wherein the surface barrier member is configured to be transitional between a deployed orientation wherein the surface barrier member defines a generally arcuate configuration and a stowed orientation wherein the surface barrier member defines a generally planar configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The debris guard recited in  claim 17 , wherein the surface barrier member is biased toward the stowed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The debris guard recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a deployed support member being attachable to the surface barrier member to maintain the surface barrier member in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The debris guard recited in  claim 16 , wherein the surface barrier member includes a frame and a mesh guard connected to the frame.