Skimmer Assembly with Skimmer Basket Having a Rotatable Handle for Securable Engagement with a Skimmer Housing

Abstract

A skimmer assembly includes a basket, a handle, and a housing. The handle is coupled to the basket and configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation. The handle includes an outwardly-extending, oblong-shaped first end. The housing includes a wall defining an opening configured to receive the basket. The wall includes an aperture configured to receive the oblong-shaped first end. The aperture is defined in part by a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposing the first lateral wall. The first and second lateral walls are configured to (i) engage the oblong-shaped first end to inhibit translation of the basket when the handle is in the first orientation, and (ii) allow the oblong-shaped first end to translate between the first and second lateral walls when the handle is in the second orientation.

1 . A skimmer assembly comprising:
 a basket;   a handle coupled to the basket and configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation, the handle including an outwardly-extending, oblong-shaped first end; and   a housing including a wall defining an opening configured to receive the basket, the wall including an aperture configured to receive the oblong-shaped first end, the aperture defined in part by a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposing the first lateral wall, the first and second lateral walls configured to (i) engage the oblong-shaped first end to inhibit translation of the basket when the handle is in the first orientation, and (ii) allow the oblong-shaped first end to translate between the first and second lateral walls when the handle is in the second orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured to rotate relative to the basket about an axis of rotation extending in a first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the oblong-shaped first end defines a major cross-sectional axis. 
     
     
         4 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the major cross-sectional axis extends through the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the axis of rotation is offset from a center of the major cross-sectional axis. 
     
     
         6 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the oblong-shaped first end forms a pear-shaped cam. 
     
     
         7 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber configured to receive the basket. 
     
     
         8 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first lateral wall includes a first upper surface and a first lower surface,   the second lateral wall includes a second upper surface and a second lower surface,   the first upper surface and the second upper surface define a first distance therebetween,   the first lower surface and the second lower surface define a second distance therebetween, and   the first distance is less than the second distance.   
     
     
         9 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the oblong-shaped first end is configured to rotate from the first orientation to the second orientation between the first lower surface and the second lower surface. 
     
     
         10 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the oblong-shaped first end is configured to translate between the first upper surface and the second upper surface in the second orientation. 
     
     
         11 . A skimmer assembly comprising:
 a basket assembly including a basket and a handle coupled to the basket for rotation about an axis of rotation extending in a first direction, the handle including a first end extending outwardly from the basket and configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation about the axis of rotation; and   a housing configured to receive the basket assembly, the housing including a first aperture configured to receive the first end and inhibit movement of the basket assembly in a direction transverse to the first direction when the first end is in the first orientation.   
     
     
         12 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first end defines an oblong shape having a major cross-sectional axis. 
     
     
         13 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the major cross-sectional axis extends through the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the axis of rotation is offset from a center of the major cross-sectional axis. 
     
     
         15 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first end forms a pear-shaped cam. 
     
     
         16 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a wall disposed between the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the wall includes the first aperture, and the first aperture is defined in part by opposed lateral walls. 
     
     
         17 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the opposed laterals walls include a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall,   the first lateral wall including a first upper surface and a first lower surface,   the second lateral wall including a second upper surface and a second lower surface,   the first upper surface and the second upper surface defining a first distance therebetween,   the first lower surface and the second lower surface defining a second distance therebetween, and   the first distance is less than the second distance.   
     
     
         18 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first end is configured to rotate from the first orientation to the second orientation between the first lower surface and the second lower surface. 
     
     
         19 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first end is configured to translate between the first upper surface and the second upper surface in the second orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The skimmer assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the handle includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end extending outwardly from the basket and configured to rotate between a third orientation and a fourth orientation about the axis of rotation, and   the housing including a second aperture configured to receive the second end and inhibit movement of the basket assembly in the direction transverse to the first direction when the second end is in the third orientation.