Buoyant automatic cleaners for spas and other water-containing vessels

Abstract

Autonomous, mobile cleaners for water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas are detailed. The cleaners are especially useful for cleaning spas, although they may function adequately in connection with certain other vessels as well. They may be designed and constructed in particular to avoid high centering so as not to become stuck when encountering obstacles within the spas or other vessels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic cleaner for a water-containing vessel, comprising:
 a. a body comprising an inlet, an outlet, a rear, and a bottom surface extending from the inlet to the rear;   b. a front motive element and a rear motive element for moving the body along a surface of the water-containing vessel; and   c. means for exhausting water from the body through the outlet in a first direction,   wherein the first direction forms an acute angle with the surface of the water-containing vessel when the body is moving along the surface of the water-containing vessel, and   wherein the bottom surface slopes upward so as to be closer to the surface of the water-containing vessel at the front motive element than at the rear motive element.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bottom surface has a generally planar portion;   an acute angle is formed between the generally planar portion of the bottom surface and the surface of the water-containing vessel; and   the acute angle formed between the bottom surface and the surface of the water-containing vessel differs from the acute angle formed between the first direction and the surface of the water-containing vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The automatic cleaner according to  claim 2 , wherein the acute angle formed between the generally planar portion of the bottom surface and the surface of the water-containing vessel is approximately 20° and the acute angle formed between the first direction and the surface of the water-containing vessel is approximately 60°. 
     
     
         4 . An automatic cleaner for a water-containing vessel, comprising:
 a. a body comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a bottom surface;   b. means, comprising a front motive element and a rear motive element, for moving the body along a surface of the water-containing vessel; and   c. means for exhausting water from the body through the outlet in a first direction,   wherein:   each of the first direction and at least a portion of the bottom surface forms an acute angle with the surface of the water-containing vessel when the body is moving along the surface of the water-containing vessel; and   the bottom surface slopes upward so as to be closer to the surface of the water-containing vessel at the front motive element than at the rear motive element.   
     
     
         5 . The automatic cleaner according to  claim 4 , wherein the acute angle formed between the first direction and the surface of the water-containing vessel is approximately 60°, and the acute angle formed between the at least a portion of the bottom surface and the surface of the water-containing vessel is approximately 20°. 
     
     
         6 . An automatic cleaner for a water-containing vessel, comprising:
 a. a body comprising an inlet, an outlet, a front portion, a rear, and a bottom surface extending from the inlet to the rear;   b. means, comprising at least one driven front motive element and at least one driven rear motive element, for moving the body along a surface of the water-containing vessel; and   c. means for exhausting water from the body through the outlet in a first direction, wherein:
 (i) the first direction forms an acute angle of approximately 60° with the surface of the water-containing vessel when the body is moving along the surface of the water-containing vessel; 
 (ii) the bottom surface slopes upward so as to be closer to the surface of the water-containing vessel at the at least one driven front motive element than at the at least one driven rear motive element; 
 (iii) the at least one driven front motive element comprises a scrubber; 
 (iv) the at least one driven rear motive element comprises a wheel; and 
 (v) the scrubber is driven at a higher rotation speed than the wheel. 
   
     
     
         7 . The automatic cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein an acute angle is formed between at least a portion of the bottom surface and the surface of the water-containing vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic cleaner according to  claim 7 , wherein the acute angle formed between the at least a portion of the bottom surface and the surface of the water-containing vessel is approximately 20°.