Pool cleaner

Abstract

A pool cleaner that may include a removable floatation and skimmer device, a submerged unit, a controller and a mechanism; wherein the submerged unit comprises a propulsion module and a filter. The controller may be configured to receive or generate a connection indication that indicates whether the removable floatation and skimmer device is connected to the submerged unit; operate the pool cleaner in an operational mode selected out of a skimmer mode and a submerged cleaning mode, based, at least, on the connection indication; and change the operational mode of the pool cleaner.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pool cleaner, comprising a removable floatation and skimmer device, a submerged unit, a controller and a mechanism; wherein the submerged unit comprises a propulsion module and a filter.
 wherein the controller is configured to:   receive or generate a connection indication that indicates whether the removable floatation and skimmer device is connected to the submerged unit;   operate the pool cleaner in an operational mode selected out of a skimmer mode and a submerged cleaning mode, based, at least, on the connection indication; and   change the operational mode of the pool cleaner.   
     
     
         2 . The pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to (a) control the mechanism to connect the removable floatation and skimmer device to the submerged unit, during the skimmer mode; and (b) control the mechanism to disconnect the removable floatation and skimmer device from the submerged unit, following the skimmer mode. 
     
     
         3 . The pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the removable floatation and skimmer device is without a propulsion module 
     
     
         4 . The pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism is configured to rigidly connect the removable floatation and skimmer device to the submerged unit, during the skimmer mode. 
     
     
         5 . The pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism comprises at least one structural element and at least one holding mechanism that is configured to hold, under the control of the controller, the at least one structural element. 
     
     
         6 . The pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the mechanism comprises multiple structural elements and multiple holding mechanisms that are configured to hold, under the control of the controller, the multiple structural elements, wherein a first structural element belongs to the submerged unit and a second structural element belongs to the removable floatation and skimmer device. 
     
     
         7 . The pool cleaner according to  claim 1  comprising at least one sensor for aligning the submerged unit and the removable floatation and skimmer device before connecting the submerged unit to the removable floatation and skimmer device. 
     
     
         8 . A method for cleaning a pool by a pool cleaner, the method comprises:
 operating the pool cleaner in a skimmer mode during which (a) a submerged unit of the pool cleaner is connected to a removable floatation and skimmer device of the pool cleaner, (b) the removable floatation and skimmer device follows movements of the submerged unit, and (c) the removable floatation and skimmer device collects debris from a waterline;   disconnecting the removable floatation and skimmer device from the submerged unit;   operating the pool cleaner in a submerged cleaning mode during which the submerged unit is configured to clean submerged regions of the pool.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the removable floatation and skimmer device is idle during the submerged cleaning mode. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the removable floatation and skimmer device is without a propulsion module. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  comprising rigidly connecting the removable floatation and skimmer device to the submerged unit, during the skimmer mode. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8  comprising automatically switching from the skimmer mode to the submerged cleaning mode. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8  comprising automatically switching from the skimmer mode to the submerged cleaning mode, after completing a certain movement pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8  comprising automatically switching from the skimmer mode to the submerged cleaning mode, after sensing that the removable floatation and skimmer device is full.