Cleaning devices with waterline and surface cleaning abilities and methods for same

Abstract

An automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) for swimming pools and spas may skim a waterline of a swimming pool or spa while the APC is on a surface of the swimming pool or spa. The APC may include two inlets—a first inlet may receive or collect water during a surface-cleaning operation of the APC, and a second inlet may receive or collect water during a skimming operation of the APC. Optionally, at least one of the two inlets is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) configured to skim a waterline of a pool while the APC is on a surface of the pool. 
     
     
         2 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the APC is configured to clean the surface while skimming the waterline of the pool. 
     
     
         3 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the APC comprises a first inlet for receiving water into a filter of the APC during a skimming operation and a second inlet for receiving water into the filter during a surface-cleaning operation. 
     
     
         4 . The APC of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first inlet or the second inlet is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The APC of  claim 3 , wherein the first inlet is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration based on a position of the APC relative to the waterline. 
     
     
         6 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the APC comprises:
 a body comprising a first inlet of the APC; and   a filter positionable within the body, the filter movable between a stowed position and a deployed position while the APC is within the pool, the filter comprising a filter opening as a second inlet of the APC.   
     
     
         7 . The APC of  claim 6 , wherein the APC further comprises a filter displacement mechanism biasing the filter towards the stowed configuration or the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The APC of  claim 7 , wherein the filter displacement mechanism comprises a magnet or a spring. 
     
     
         9 . An automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) comprising a filter, a first inlet configured to collect water during a surface-cleaning operation of the APC, and a second inlet configured to collect water during a skimming operation of the APC. 
     
     
         10 . The APC of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first inlet or the second inlet is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The APC of  claim 9 , wherein the APC further comprises a body, wherein the first inlet is on the body, and wherein the second inlet is on the body or on the filter. 
     
     
         12 . The APC of  claim 9 , wherein the second inlet is configured to collect water during the skimming operation and while the APC is on a surface of the swimming pool or spa. 
     
     
         13 . The APC of  claim 9 , wherein the APC is configured to simultaneously collect water via the first inlet and the second inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The APC of  claim 9 , wherein the second inlet is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration based on a pressure within a body of the APC. 
     
     
         15 . An automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) comprising a filter, a first inlet for receiving water from a swimming pool and directing the water to the filter, and a second inlet for receiving water from a swimming pool and directing the water to the filter, wherein at least one of the first inlet or the second inlet is adjustable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The APC of  claim 15 , wherein the first inlet is configured to receive water during a skimming operation and wherein the second inlet is configured to receive water during a surface-cleaning operation, and wherein at least the first inlet is adjustable between the open configuration and the closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The APC of  claim 16 , wherein the second inlet is adjustable based on a position of the APC relative to a waterline of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         18 . The APC of  claim 15 , further comprising a body, wherein the first inlet is on the body, and wherein the second inlet is on the body or on the filter. 
     
     
         19 . The APC of  claim 15 , wherein the filter is movable relative to a body of the APC and between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein:
 in the stowed configuration, the filter is substantially contained within the body; and   in the deployed configuration, a portion of the filter comprising a filter opening extends outwards from the body, wherein the filter opening is the second inlet.   
     
     
         20 . The APC of  claim 19 , further comprising a filter displacement mechanism biasing the filter towards the stowed configuration or the deployed configuration.