Circulation and filtration device for a pool or spa

Abstract

A pool debris blocker, a pool circulation and filtration device, and a pool are disclosed. The pool debris blocker includes a housing and a filter basket. The housing is provided with an inlet, an outlet, and a water passage chamber. The inlet and the outlet are respectively connected to the water passage chamber. The inlet is located on a side wall of the housing and is connected to a water storage chamber of the pool. The filter basket is fixedly or removably installed within the water passage chamber of the housing to filter and block debris from the water entering through the inlet. When applied to a pool circulation and filtration device, the pool debris blocker may use the filter basket to collect debris floating on the surface of the pool water. It may also prevents floating debris in the pool from entering the filter core.

1 . A filter basket configured for installation into an inlet of a debris blocker of a pool and structured to capture debris floating in the pool, the filter basket comprising:
 a filter mesh cover having at least one mesh opening formed through a mesh wall of the filter mesh cover, the at least one mesh opening sized to permit passage of water from an interior of the filter basket through the mesh wall and sized to discourage passage of the debris sized larger than the at least one mesh opening;   an inlet cover having at least one inlet opening formed through an inlet cover wall of the inlet cover, the at least one inlet opening sized to permit passage of water from the pool to the interior of the filter basket through the mesh wall, the at least one inlet opening sized to permit passage of the debris; and   an inner cavity defined between the filter mesh cover and the inlet cover when the filter mesh cover is attached to the inlet cover, the inner cavity sized to contain the debris that passed from the pool and through at least one inlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The filter basket of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet door panel configured to be moveable from a closed position to an open position, the closed position oriented to discourage the debris from passing from the inner cavity and through the at least one inlet opening. 
     
     
         3 . The filter basket of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the inlet door panel includes a door hinge component configured to provide hinged movement such that the inlet door panel rotates about a hinge axis between the closed position and the open position.   
     
     
         4 . The filter basket of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet door panel further comprises a pocket configured to provide buoyancy to the inlet door cover. 
     
     
         5 . The filter basket of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet door panel includes a panel pilot connection configured to define, with a mesh pilot connection of the filter mesh cover, a piloting connection between the filter mesh cover and the inlet door panel. 
     
     
         6 . The filter basket of  claim 2 , wherein the filter mesh cover includes a gripper configured to extend from an exterior surface of the filter mesh cover and structured to provide a user with a surface to grasp when assembling the filter mesh cover with the inlet cover. 
     
     
         7 . The filter basket of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet cover defines a cover hinge component structured to engage the door hinge component of the inlet door panel, the inlet door panel operable to rotate relative to the inlet cover. 
     
     
         8 . The filter basket of  claim 3 , wherein the hinge axis is above a center of mass of the inlet door panel to define a vertical offset of the center of mass from the hinge axis, the vertical offset encouraging the inlet door panel to rotate about the hinge axis to the open position when a flow of water into the inlet cover through the at least one inlet opening impinges on the inlet door panel, the vertical offset also encouraging the inlet door panel to rotate about the hinge axis to the closed position when no water flows into the inlet cover through the at least one inlet opening. 
     
     
         9 . The filter basket of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet cover further comprises a handle configured to be grasped by a user when moving the filter basket relative to the inlet of the debris blocker. 
     
     
         10 . The filter basket of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one inlet opening includes a first inlet opening and a second inlet opening, the handle positioned between the first inlet opening and the second inlet opening. 
     
     
         11 . The filter basket of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mesh cover is releaseably attached to the inlet cover such that the filter mesh cover is separable from the inlet cover to remove the debris after which the filter mesh cover may be re-attached to the inlet cover. 
     
     
         12 . The filter basket of  claim 8 , wherein the filter mesh cover is attached to the inlet cover through one of a threaded connection, a snap-fit connection, and an interference fit connection. 
     
     
         13 . The filter basket of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mesh cover includes one of a first positioning protrusion and a first positioning opening, and the inlet cover includes the other of the first positioning protrusion and the first positioning opening. 
     
     
         14 . The filter basket of  claim 13 , wherein the inlet cover includes one of a second positioning protrusion and a second positioning opening, the second positioning protrusion and the second positioning opening configured to engage the inlet of the debris blocker. 
     
     
         15 . The filter basket of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet cover extends between a first cover end and a second cover end, the first cover end having a cover face configured to be exposed to water in the pool, the second cover end configured for receiving the filter mesh cover, the inlet cover further comprising a cover flange extending outward from the cover face and positioned between the first cover end and the second cover end. 
     
     
         16 . The filter basket of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mesh cover extends between a first mesh end and a second mesh end, the filter mesh cover further comprising a filter mesh flange positioned between the first mesh end and the second mesh end, the second mesh end configured for engagement with an end of the inlet cover. 
     
     
         17 . The filter basket of  claim 16 , wherein the second mesh end includes a nesting portion configured to nest inside the inlet cover. 
     
     
         18 .- 74 . (canceled)