Pump cradle assembly

Abstract

A pump cradle assembly for use with a liquid reservoir that includes a sleeve portion for housing a pump that pumps liquid out of the liquid reservoir and an intake portion that is attached to an end of the sleeve portion and positioned to reduce the amount of debris that enters the sleeve portion. The pump cradle assembly may further include a handle portion that enables the pump cradle assembly to be carried.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pump cradle assembly for supporting a submersible pump in a water environment comprising:
 a sleeve portion for receiving the submersible pump;   an intake portion connected to an intake end of the sleeve portion, the intake portion including a bottom wall portion and a top wall portion; and   at least one handle portion;   wherein the bottom wall portion is located an intake opening bottom wall distance above a floor of the water environment and the top wall portion is located an intake opening top wall distance above the floor of the water environment; and   wherein the sleeve portion is positioned at a preferred operating angle with respect to the floor of the water environment.   
     
     
         2 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the intake portion expands vertically from an end away from the sleeve portion to an end closest to the sleeve portion. 
     
     
         3 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 2  wherein the top wall portion of the intake portion is located a clearance distance away from a minimum water level. 
     
     
         4 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one handle portion comprises two handle portions. 
     
     
         5 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 4  wherein the two handle portions are parallel with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 4  wherein the two handle portions are not parallel to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the handle portion positions the sleeve portion at the preferred operating angle. 
     
     
         8 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve portion, the intake portion and the at least one handle portion form a pump cradle. 
     
     
         9 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a base for supporting the pump cradle. 
     
     
         10 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 9  where the base further comprises a set of holes for receiving ropes. 
     
     
         11 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 9  wherein the base is curved at both ends. 
     
     
         12 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 9  wherein the base is made from plastic or metal. 
     
     
         13 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 9  where the base is comprises a set of ridges. 
     
     
         14 . The pump cradle assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a set of feet for supporting the sleeve portion.