| US 7,543,607 B2 | ||
| Automatic pool cleaner power conduit including stiff sections and resilient axially flexible couplers | ||
| Melvyn L. Henkin, Ventura, Calif. (US); and Jordan M. Laby, Ventura, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Henkin-Laby, LLC, Ventura, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 27, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/320,215. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0144602 A1, Jun. 28, 2007 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. F16L 11/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 138—120 [138/119; 15/1.7; 174/68.3; 464/19; 464/21; 464/92; 464/64.1; 464/62.1] | 8 Claims |

| 1. A pool cleaning system including:
a pool cleaner body responsive to energy supplied thereto for moving through a water pool along a substantially random travel
path and for capturing debris as it moves along said path;
a stationary fitting for supplying energy; and
a conduit configured to couple energy from said stationary fitting to said cleaner body for propelling said body along said
travel path without forming persistent coils or knots in said conduit, said conduit comprising:
a first axially stiff elongate member configured to transfer energy therealong from a first end to a second end;
a second axially stiff elongate member configured to transfer energy therealong from a first end to a second end;
an axially flexible means configured to transfer energy therealong from a first end to a second end;
said first and second axially stiff members being respectively connected to said first and second ends of said axially flexible
means to form an energy transfer path for transferring energy from said first axially stiff member first end to said second
axially stiff member second end;
a proximal coupling means for coupling said first axially stiff member first end to a stationary fitting;
a distal coupling means for coupling said second axially stiff member second end to said cleaner body;
said axially flexible means being configured to allow said first and second axially stiff members to assume a substantially
aligned axial orientation and a wide range of axially nonaligned orientations; and wherein
said axially flexible means includes bias means for resiliently biasing said first and second axially stiff members to said
substantially aligned axial orientation.
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