US20060070175A1 - Swimming pool overflow device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A pool overflow device controls water level in a swimming pool. The swimming pool includes an interior wall having an upper end. An overflow port passes through the interior wall at an elevation below the upper end of the interior wall. A drain member has a drain passage therethrough in fluid communication with the overflow port for passing fluid from the pool. One embodiment of the device comprises a 90-degree elbow having a first port, a second port, and a flow passage for passing water between the first and second port. The elbow rotatably mates with a tubular segment about an axis of rotation passing through the first port. The second port is radially spaced from the axis of rotation. The body may be selectively rotated to adjust the elevation of the second port, and thus to control the elevation at which water passes from the pool through the overflow port.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The invention relates to a pool overflow device for preventing pool overflow. In particular, the invention relates to a device for adjusting the level at which water will discharge from the pool through an overflow port.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• A conventional swimming pool has an interior wall for retaining pool water. The interior wall is generally concave, extending upwardly to an upper end of the interior wall. The upper end of the interior wall typically intersects a deck or coping. An overflow port is commonly included in the interior wall at some elevation below the upper end. When the water level in the pool reaches the overflow port, water from the pool passes through the overflow port into an overflow passage that exits to a drain or reservoir. The overflow port thereby prevents the water level in the pool from rising to the upper end and “overflowing” from the pool over the edge.
• A number of factors may raise water level in a pool. Rain, for example, may fall in unpredictable quantities. Likewise, a garden hose used to fill the pool may be left on inadvertently. In such circumstances, the overflow port is desirable, to prevent inadvertent overflow from the pool. In other circumstances, however, it is undesirable for water to drain through the overflow port. For example, when people get in and use the pool, the volume of their bodies displaces water and raises the water level. Additionally, people often place objects in the pool, such as floatation devices or even pets who like to swim, and doing so increases the volumetric displacement. When the people and objects exit the pool, water may have drained through the overflow port, and the water level has been undesirably lowered. Water must then be re-added to the pool to raise the water level again. The volumetric displacement caused during such normal use is typically not sufficient to raise the water level to the edge of the pool, and it is therefore unnecessary to pass water through the overflow port.
• An improved pool overflow device and method are therefore desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A pool overflow device controls water level in a swimming pool. The swimming pool includes an interior wall for retaining water. The interior wall has an upper end and an overflow port passing through the interior wall at an elevation below the upper end for passing fluid from the pool. The device comprises a body having a first port, a second port, and a flowpath for passing water between the first and second port. The body is rotatable about an axis of rotation passing through the first port. The second port is radially spaced from the axis of rotation. A connecting member has a throughbore in fluid communication with the first port for rotatably securing the body to the swimming pool with the first port in fluid communication with the overflow port. A sealed flowpath is provided between the first port and the overflow port.
• In some embodiments, the body comprises a pipe fitting defining the flowpath between the first and second port, the flowpath having at least one bend. In particular, the body may comprise a 90-degree elbow. The connecting member may further comprise a pipe segment rotatably mating with the body such that the axis of rotation passes through the throughbore. A seal ring may be included for sealing between the body and the pipe segment, an axis of the seal ring being substantially aligned with the axis of rotation. The seal ring seals between an OD of the body and an ID of the pipe segment.
• In some embodiments, the connecting member may comprise a flange securable to the interior wall or to the overflow line extending to the storm drain. A gasket may seal between the flange and the interior wall. A pair of threaded fasteners may pass through the flange and into the interior wall or the overflow line, the threaded fasteners being positioned opposite one another with respect to the first port.
• The body may be selectively rotated to adjust the elevation of the second port, and thus to control the elevation at which water passes from the pool through the overflow port.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a pool overflow device for controlling water level in a swimming pool.
• FIG. 2 shows an alternate view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 shows a top view of an alternate, lower-profile embodiment.
• FIG. 4 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment having an irregular or block-shaped body secured to the pool without a flange using a pipe fitting with two male ends.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROFFERED EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of apool overflow device10 for controlling water level in a swimming pool. The swimming pool includes aninterior wall12 for retaining water. The interior wall generally extends from and includes a pool floor (not shown), and transitions upwardly to anupper end14, which intersects adeck16 near the pool's edge. Anoverflow port18 passes through theinterior wall12 at an elevation below theupper end14. Theoverflow port18 is preferably positioned within eighteen inches of theupper end14, and more preferably between three and nine inches. Anoverflow fitting20 installed with the swimming pool has apassage22 therethrough in fluid communication with theoverflow port18 for passing water from the pool. Thedrain passage22 may extend to a reservoir (not shown) or other location so that water exiting the pool through theoverflow port18 can be disposed, stored, or otherwise diverted. For example, thedrain passage22 may be in communication with home plumbing that ultimately drains to a storm drain.
• The particular embodiment of the overflow fitting20 and/ordrain passage22 is non-standard and may vary according to manufacturer and design. Most pools, however, include some form of a fixed-level overflow port18 leading to apassage22 for passing water from the pool. Theoverflow port18 is intended to prevent overflow by passing water from the pool before it reaches theupper end14. A typical swimming pool (i.e. not having the device10) includes a grate over theoverflow port18 with a crude filter for filtering large particles or objects.
• Abody24 of thedevice10 has afirst port26, asecond port28, and a flowpath30 for passing water from thesecond port28 to thefirst port26 along a path indicated generally at29. Thebody24 is rotatable about an axis ofrotation32 passing through thefirst port26. Thesecond port28 is radially spaced from the axis of rotation. A connectingmember40 rotatably secures thebody24 to the swimming pool about theaxis32, with thefirst port26 in fluid communication with theoverflow port18. The connectingmember40 has a throughbore36 in fluid communication with thefirst port26. Theflowpath29 is sealed between thefirst port26 and theoverflow port18, meaning that water passing from thefirst port26 to theoverflow port18 does not leak appreciably. If water leaked or escaped, it could impair the functionality of the device by limiting its ability to pass water from the pool to thedrain passage22. The term “sealed flowpath” does not, however, refer to spatial or relative positioning of any sealing members—for instance, o-ring38 inFIG. 1 is not spatially positioned between thefirst port26 and theoverflow port28, but it nevertheless helps prevent leakage between thebody24 and thepipe segment34, and thus contributes to the sealed flowpath from thefirst port26 to theoverflow port18.
• Thebody24 may comprise a pipe fitting defining the flowpath30 between the first andsecond port26,28. The connectingmember40 may comprise thepipe segment34 as shown, which rotatably mates with thebody24 such that the axis ofrotation32 passes through the throughbore36. The term “pipe fitting” as defined herein includes pipe segments, such aspipe segment34, as well as a variety of pre-fabricated fittings used to join pipe segments, such as elbows. A pipe fitting may thus include at least one bend. In particular, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, thebody24 is anelbow24 defining the flowpath30 and having abend25. Thebend25 spaces thesecond port28 from the axis ofrotation32. In practice, a 90-degree elbow is preferred, but elbows having bends greater or less than 90 degrees may alternatively be used to spaced thesecond port28 from the axis ofrotation32.
• Aseal ring38 seals between thebody24 and thepipe segment34. An axis of theseal ring38 is substantially aligned with the axis ofrotation32. As shown, theseal ring38 may seal between an OD of thebody24 and an ID of the connecting member (in this case, pipe segment34). In other embodiments, a seal ring may instead seal between an ID of the body and the OD of the connecting member or pipe segment.
• The connectingmember40 preferably further comprises theflange42 secured to thepipe segment34 and secured to theinterior wall12 or to the overflow line to support thedevice10. A pair of threadedfasteners46 pass through theflange42 and into theinterior wall12 or overflow line to secure theflange42 to theinterior wall12. The flange may be recessed into a pocket in the side of the pool wall, with the flange pocket originally designed to receive the flange of the grate. The threadedfasteners46 are preferably positioned opposite one another with respect to thefirst port26. Alternatively, there may be any other number of threaded fasteners that are not necessarily oppositely positioned with respect to thefirst port26. In other embodiments, the flange may instead be cemented to theinterior wall12. Agasket44 seals between theflange42 and either the overflow line or theinterior wall24. In the embodiment shown, the o-ring38 and thegasket42 help seal theflowpath29 between thefirst port26 and theoverflow port18, so that water may flow along thepath29 from the pool, through the flowpath30 of thebody24, through theoverflow port18, and into thedrain passage22. In particular, the o-ring helps rotatably seal thebody24 with the connectingmember40, such that theflowpath29 remains sealed when thebody24 is rotated.
• With the structure of apreferred overflow device10 thus illustrated, the use and advantages of thedevice10 may now be described. In a conventional pool system, without inclusion of thedevice10, the water will begin to drain when the water level reaches theoverflow port18. This prevents water from rising to theupper end14 of theinterior wall12 and overflowing. A significant improvement offered by thedevice10 is the ability to raise and adjust the water level at which water will be drained from the pool into thepassage22. Because thesecond port28 is radially spaced from theaxis32, theelbow24 may be selectively rotated to adjust the elevation of thesecond port28. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, thesecond port28 is rotated so that thesecond port28 is at an uppermost position above theaxis32. The uppermost position of thesecond port28 should be at an elevation below theupper end14, or else water would overflow from the pool before it could enter thesecond port28. This compensates for the normal, temporary increase in water level that occurs when the pool is in use. When the pool is not being used, theelbow24 may again be rotated downward. Thesecond port28 may also be extended to an elevated position before adding water to the pool or prior to an anticipated rain, thereby raising the water level and conserving water.
• A pool user may simply rotate theelbow24 by hand. For example, rotating theelbow24 by 90 degrees from the position ofFIG. 1 will position thesecond port28 at about the same level as theoverflow port18, allowing water to drain at about the same level that it would without thedevice10. Note that rotating theelbow24 to position thesecond port28 below theoverflow port18 will not lower the level at which water drains below theoverflow port18. In other words, the level at which water drains through theoverflow port18 can be raised, but typically cannot be lowered, with the use of thedevice10.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an alternative, lower-profile embodiment of the device50, looking down at thedevice10. The device50 includes a body54 having a flattenedsecond port52. The flattenedsecond port52 decreases the distance the device50 projects outwardly from thewall12. The lower profile design thereby decreases the risk of damaging the device50, and minimizes the device's intrusiveness into the swimming area. For example, pool users are less likely to inadvertently impact the device50. The device50 may also be more resistant to damage due to a decreased moment-arm of the device being spaced more closely to theinterior wall24.
• In some embodiments, the flowpath30 may have more than one bend to achieve the radial spacing of thesecond port28 from theaxis32. In still other embodiments, the flowpath may be substantially straight (zero bends), and instead angled to space thesecond port28 from theaxis32. Furthermore, thebody24 need not be a thin-wall or constant diameter pipe fitting, and may instead comprise an irregularly shaped body or block having a first port and a second port spaced from the axis of rotation. For example,FIG. 4 conceptually illustrates a side view of a block-shaped body60 having abent flowpath62 extending between thefirst port64 andsecond port66. The block-shaped body60 is not a preferred embodiment, however, due to increased manufacturing complexity, size, and weight as compared withelbow24.
• Other means of rotatably, sealably securing the body to theinterior wall12 may be provided. In some embodiments (not shown), the connecting member may be secured to theinterior wall12 or to the overflow line without the use of aflange42. For example, as further shown inFIG. 4, the connecting member generally indicated at68 may comprise a pipe fitting70 having a firstmale end72 for inserting into thefirst port64 of the body60, and an opposingmale end74 for inserting into theoverflow port65 at theoverflow fitting20. The firstmale end72 may have a snug fit or an interference fit with the body60, providing a rotatably fixed connection between the body60 and the pipe fitting70 and/or may include an o-ring77 between the firstmale end72 and the body60. The secondmale end74 may likewise have a snug fit or an interference fit between the pipe fitting70 and overflow fitting20, and/or may include another o-ring75 between the secondmale end74 and theoverflow fitting20. Less preferably, a threaded connection (not shown) may alternatively be provided between the firstmale end72 and body60, and between the secondmale end74 and the overflow fitting20, and a snug thread fit or plumbing tape wrapped around the threads could seal the interconnection. The connecting member68 would thus rotatably support the body60 on theinterior wall12. The interference fit and/or seals75,77 would ensure a sealed (i.e. non-leaking) flowpath between thefirst port64 and theoverflow port65, such that water could pass from the pool, into thesecond port66, through theflowpath63, through the pipe fitting70, and into thedrain passage22.
• Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of explaining the various aspects of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow. Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment shown and described is exemplary, and various other substitutions, alterations, and modifications, including but not limited to those design alternatives specifically discussed herein, may be made in the practice of the invention without departing from its scope.

Claims (20)

1. A pool overflow device for controlling water level in a swimming pool, the swimming pool including an interior wall for retaining water, the interior wall having an upper end and an overflow port passing through the interior wall at an elevation below the upper end for passing fluid from the pool, the pool overflow device comprising:

a body having a first port, a second port, and a flowpath for passing water between the first and second port, the body rotatable about an axis of rotation passing through the first port, the second port being radially spaced from the axis of rotation;

a connecting member having a throughbore in fluid communication with the first port for rotatably securing the body to the swimming pool about the axis of rotation with the first port in fluid communication with the overflow port; and

a sealed flowpath between the first port and the overflow port.

2. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 1, wherein the body comprises:

a pipe fitting defining the flowpath between the first and second port, the flowpath having at least one bend.

3. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 1, wherein the pipe fitting comprises:

an elbow.

4. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises:

a pipe segment rotatably mating with the body and the axis of rotation passing through the throughbore.

5. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 1, further comprising:

a seal ring for sealing between the body and the connecting member, an axis of the seal ring being substantially aligned with the axis of rotation.

6. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 5, wherein the seal ring seals between an OD of the body and an ID of the connecting member.

7. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises:

a flange securable to the interior wall.

8. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 7, further comprising:

a gasket for sealing between the flange and the interior wall.

9. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 7, further comprising:

a pair of threaded fasteners passing through the flange and into the interior wall, the threaded fasteners opposite one another with respect to the first port.

10. A pool overflow device for controlling water level in a swimming pool, the swimming pool including an interior wall for retaining water, the interior wall having an upper end and an overflow port passing through the interior wall at an elevation below the upper end for passing fluid from the pool, the pool overflow device comprising:

an elbow having a first port, a second port, and a flowpath with at least one bend between the first and second port;

a pipe segment having a throughbore, the elbow rotatably mating with the pipe segment about an axis of rotation passing through the first port, the second port being radially spaced from the axis of rotation;

a flange secured to the pipe segment, the flange securable to the interior wall of the pool with the first port in fluid communication with the overflow port; and

a sealed flowpath between the first port and the overflow port.

11. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 10, further comprising:

a seal ring for sealing between an ID of the pipe fitting and an OD of the pipe segment.

12. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 10, further comprising:

a gasket for sealing between the flange and the interior wall.

13. A pool overflow device as defined inclaim 10, further comprising:

a pair of threaded fasteners passing through the flange and into the interior wall, the threaded fasteners opposite one another with respect to the first port.

14. A method of controlling water level in a swimming pool, the swimming pool including an interior wall for retaining water, the interior wall having an upper end and an overflow port passing through the interior wall at an elevation below the upper end for passing fluid from the pool, the method comprising:

providing a body having a first port, a second port, and a flowpath therethrough for passing water between the first and second port, the body rotatable about an axis of rotation passing through the first port, the second port being radially spaced from the axis of rotation;

rotatably securing the body to the swimming pool with the first port in fluid communication with the overflow port;

providing a sealed flowpath between the first port and the overflow port; and

selectively rotating the body about the axis of rotation to adjust the elevation of the second port.

15. A method as defined inclaim 14, wherein rotatably securing the body to the swimming pool comprises:

securing a flange to the connecting member about the first port; and securing the flange to the interior wall.

16. A method as defined inclaim 15, further comprising:

positioning a gasket between the flange and the interior wall for sealing between the flange and the interior wall.

17. A method as defined inclaim 14, further comprising:

securing the body with a pair of threaded fasteners passing through the interior wall, the threaded fasteners opposite one another with respect to the first port.

18. A method for controlling water level in a swimming pool, the swimming pool including an interior wall for retaining water, the interior wall having an upper end and an overflow port passing through the interior wall at an elevation below the upper end for passing fluid from the pool, the method comprising:

providing an elbow having a first port, a second port, and a flowpath for passing water between the first and second port;

providing a pipe segment having a throughbore;

rotatably mating the elbow with the pipe segment about an axis of rotation passing through the first port, the second port being radially spaced from the axis of rotation;

securing a flange to the pipe segment;

securing the flange to the interior wall of the pool;

providing a sealed flowpath between the first port and the overflow port; and

selectively rotating the elbow about the axis of rotation to adjust the elevation of the second port.

19. A method as defined inclaim 18, further comprising:

positioning a seal ring between the elbow and the pipe segment.

20. A method as defined inclaim 18, wherein securing the flange to the interior wall comprises:

passing a pair of threaded fasteners through the flange and into the interior wall, the threaded fasteners opposite one another with respect to the first port.

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