Automatic Pool/Spa Cleaner With Wall Docking Feature

Abstract

An automatic pool/spa cleaner with a wall docking feature is provided. The cleaner includes a housing, a removable debris canister, a plurality of traction wheels, and an exhaust port. After completion of a cleaning cycle, the cleaner travels upward along a wall of the pool or spa to a position where at least a portion of the canister is positioned above the water line of the pool or spa, and remains in that position in order to allow an operator to detach and empty the debris canister without requiring the cleaner to be removed from the pool or spa. A cable retention system also provides for automatic supply, tensioning, and reeling in a of power and/or communications cable associated with the cleaner. A “touch-free” debris basket allows for insertion/removal of a debris basket through a passageway of the cable retention system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool/spa cleaner with a docking feature, comprising:
 a housing;   a debris canister for capturing debris;   means for driving the cleaner; and   an exhaust port for expelling water and causing the cleaner to contact a pool or spa wall,   wherein the means for driving the cleaner drives the cleaner along the pool or spa wall to a predefined location on the pool or spa wall where at least a portion of the cleaner is positioned above a water line of the pool or spa so as to facilitate emptying of the debris canister without requiring removal of the cleaner from the pool or spa.   
     
     
         2 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , further comprising means for suspending the cleaner at the predefined location on the pool or spa wall. 
     
     
         3 . The pool/spa cleaner of  2 , wherein the means for suspending the cleaner comprises at least one hanging arm for hanging the cleaner from an edge of the pool or spa when the cleaner is at the predefined location. 
     
     
         4 . The pool/spa cleaner of  2 , wherein the cleaner is suspended from a projection or ledge on the pool or spa wall. 
     
     
         5 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , wherein the debris canister is ejected from the cleaner when the cleaner arrives at the predefined location. 
     
     
         6 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , wherein the cleaner is rechargeable at the predefined location. 
     
     
         7 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , wherein a battery of the cleaner is accessible and/or removable from the cleaner when the cleaner is at the predefined location without requiring removal of the cleaner from the pool or spa. 
     
     
         8 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting when the cleaner is at the predefined location. 
     
     
         9 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , wherein the canister includes a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , wherein at least one of the cleaner or the canister is buoyant. 
     
     
         11 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , further comprising a power cord and a mechanism for extending or retracting the power cord during operation of the cleaner. 
     
     
         12 . The pool/spa cleaner of  11 , wherein the power cord is automatically extended or retracted based on a speed of the cleaner. 
     
     
         13 . The pool/spa cleaner of  1 , wherein the cleaner determines a distance between the cleaner and the predefined location. 
     
     
         14 . A cable retention system for pool/spa cleaner, comprising:
 a housing positionable on a surface adjacent to a pool or a spa;   a cable reel for storing at least a portion of a cable supplying power to a pool/spa cleaner; and   a drive mechanism for driving the cable reel,   wherein the drive mechanism and the cable reel extend the cable outside of the housing when the pool/spa cleaner performs a cleaning cycle, and wherein the drive mechanism retracts the cable into the housing when the pool/spa cleaner has completed the cleaning cycle.   
     
     
         15 . The cable retention system of  claim 14 , wherein the drive mechanism and the cable reel automatically tension the cable when the pool/spa cleaner is performing the cleaning operation. 
     
     
         16 . The cable retention system of  claim 14 , further comprising a port in the housing for receiving debris from the pool/spa cleaner, the debris stored in the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The cable retention system of  claim 16 , further comprising a pump for periodically emptying the debris from the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The cable retention system of  claim 14 , further comprising a water feature for expelling water from the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The cable retention system of  claim 18 , wherein the water feature is illuminated. 
     
     
         20 . The cable retention system of  claim 14 , further comprising a cylindrical passageway formed through the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The cable retention system of  claim 20 , wherein the housing is positionable above a skimmer and a skimmer cover or a skimmer basket are accessible through the cylindrical passageway of the housing. 
     
     
         22 . The cable retention system of  claim 21 , further comprising a skimmer basket positionable in the skimmer, the skimmer basket including a basket portion positionable in a sump of the skimmer, vertical extensions attached to the basket portion, and a handle attached to the vertical extensions. 
     
     
         23 . The cable retention system of  claim 22 , wherein the skimmer basket is removable through the cylindrical passageway of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The cable retention system of  claim 23 , wherein debris can be removed from the basket portion without requiring a user to touch the basket portion.