Apparatus for removing a pool deck lid and basket and for collecting a water sample

Abstract

An apparatus that is utilized with a pool skimming system to remove a deck lid from a skimmer reservoir and a skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir while the user remains in a standing position. The apparatus has an elongated handle and an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism, which is at a lower end of the handle, has an inverted U-shaped engaging member with a pair of spaced apart outwardly extending engaging projections that engage slots in the deck lid to remove the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and then engage a basket handle of the basket to remove the basket from the skimmer reservoir. The apparatus can include an adjusting mechanism to adjust the distance between the engaging projections of the engaging mechanism and/or a sampling mechanism having an integral correct depth indicating mechanism to obtain a water sample from a body of water.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a skimming system having a skimmer reservoir covered by a deck lid and a skimmer basket removably disposed inside the skimmer reservoir, said apparatus comprising: a handle having an elongated handle body defining a first end and a second end of said handle, said handle having an elongated handle axis through said handle body from said first end to said second end thereof; and an engaging mechanism at said second end of said handle, said engaging mechanism structured and arranged to engage at least one of a first slot and a second slot in the deck lid to remove the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and to engage the skimmer basket to remove the skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir, said engaging mechanism comprising an engaging member disposed in an inverted U-shaped configuration so as to define a first side, a second side, an upper end, a lower end, a front side and a back side of said engaging mechanism, said engaging mechanism further comprising a first engaging projection extending outwardly in a forwardly direction from said first side of said engaging mechanism and a second engaging projection extending outwardly in an opposite facing rearwardly direction from said second side of said engaging mechanism, said first engaging projection sized and configured to be received in the first slot of the deck lid, said second engaging projection sized and configured to be received in the second slot of the deck lid when said first engaging projection is in the first slot so as to separate the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir, each of said first engaging projection and said second engaging projection being further sized and configured to engage a basket handle of the skimmer basket, wherein said handle and said engaging mechanism are cooperatively structured and arranged to allow a user to separate the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and to remove the skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir while the user is in a standing position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said first engaging projection and said second engaging projection are sized and configured to be received under the basket handle of the skimmer basket after the basket handle is received in a gap between said first side and said second side of said engaging mechanism and said engaging mechanism is rotated toward the basket handle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said engaging member is configured with said first engaging projection is approximately 75 degrees to 90 degrees relative to said first side of said engaging mechanism and said second engaging projection is approximately 75 degrees to 90 degrees relative to said second side of said engaging mechanism to engage said skimmer basket.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said first engaging projection and said second engaging projection are sized and configured to extend, respectively, beyond a slot edge of said first slot and said second slot of the deck lid to engage the deck lid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adjusting means associated with at least one of said engaging mechanism and said handle for adjusting an engaging width between said first side and said second side of said engaging mechanism so as to allow the user to adjust the position of the first engaging projection and second engaging projection to correspond to said first slot and said second slot of said deck lid and to said basket handle of said skimmer basket.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said adjusting means comprises a flexible V-shaped center section associated with said engaging member between said first side and second side of said engaging mechanism and said handle has an elongated inner handle member that is slidably associated with a moveable section of said handle to move said engaging mechanism between a wide first engaging width and a narrow second engaging width.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said center section is at a lower end of said inner handle member to be flexibly engaged by said moveable section of said handle so as to move said engaging mechanism between said first engaging width and said second engaging width.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said center section is received inside an interior chamber of said inner handle member and secured to said inner handle member by one or more connecting devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein an upper end of said inner handle member is attached to a fixed section of said handle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sampling means for obtaining a water sample from a body of water, said sampling means comprises a water bottle at said first end of said handle and an inlet aperture associated with said water bottle so as to receive the water sample therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said sampling means further comprises one or more venting apertures associated with said handle so as to create a water jet sound that starts when at the correct depth and stops when said water bottle is full.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said venting apertures are located on an elongated inner handle member that is slidably associated with a moveable section of said handle, said inner handle member and said moveable section being cooperatively structured and arranged to allow said moveable section to move relative to said inner handle member so as to expose said venting apertures to obtain the water sample from the body of water into said water bottle through said inlet aperture.

13. An apparatus for use with a skimming system having a skimmer reservoir covered by a deck lid and a skimmer basket removably disposed inside the skimmer reservoir, said apparatus comprising: a handle having an elongated handle body defining a first end and a second end of said handle, said handle having an elongated handle axis through said handle body from said first end to said second end thereof; and an engaging mechanism at said second end of said handle, said engaging mechanism structured and arranged to engage each of a first slot and a second slot in the deck lid to remove the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and to engage a basket handle of the skimmer basket to remove the skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir, said engaging mechanism comprising an engaging member disposed in an inverted U-shaped configuration so as to define a first side, a second side, a gap between said first side and said second side, an upper end, a lower end, a front side and a back side of said engaging mechanism, said engaging mechanism further comprising a first engaging projection extending outwardly relative to said handle axis in a forwardly direction from said lower end of said first side of said engaging mechanism and a second engaging projection extending outwardly relative to said handle axis in an opposite facing rearwardly direction from said lower end of said second side of said engaging mechanism, said first engaging projection sized and configured to be received in the first slot of the deck lid, said second engaging projection sized and configured to be received in the second slot of the deck lid when said first engaging projection is in the first slot so as to separate the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir, each of said first engaging projection and said second engaging projection being further sized and configured to engage the basket handle of the skimmer basket and/or an upper rim or wall of the skimmer basket when the basket handle is at or in said gap, wherein said handle and said engaging mechanism are cooperatively structured and arranged to allow a user to separate the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and to remove the skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir while the user is in a standing position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said engaging member is configured with said first engaging projection being perpendicular to said first side of said engaging mechanism and said second engaging projection is perpendicular to said second side of said engaging mechanism.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of said first engaging projection and said second engaging projection are sized and configured to extend, respectively, beyond a slot edge of said first slot and said second slot of the deck lid to engage the deck lid.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an adjusting means associated with at least one of said engaging mechanism and said handle for adjusting an engaging width between said first side and said second side of said engaging mechanism so as to allow the user to adjust the position of the first engaging projection and second engaging projection to correspond to said first slot and said second slot of said deck lid and to said basket handle of said skimmer basket.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said adjusting means comprises a flexible V-shaped center section associated with said engaging member between said first side and second side of said engaging mechanism and said handle has an elongated inner handle member that is slidably associated with a moveable section of said handle to move said engaging mechanism between a wide first engaging width and a narrow second engaging width.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a sampling means for obtaining a water sample from a body of water, said sampling means comprises a water bottle at said first end of said handle, an inlet aperture associated with said water bottle so as to receive the water sample therein and one or more venting apertures associated with said handle to vent air from inside said handle so as to create a water jet sound that starts when said water bottle is at the correct depth and stops when said water bottle is full.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said venting apertures are located on an elongated inner handle member that is slidably associated with a moveable section of said handle, said inner handle member and said moveable section being cooperatively structured and arranged to allow said moveable section to move relative to said inner handle member so as to expose said venting apertures to obtain the water sample from the body of water into said water bottle through said inlet aperture.

20. An apparatus for use with a skimming system having a skimmer reservoir covered by a deck lid and a skimmer basket removably disposed inside the skimmer reservoir, said apparatus comprising: a handle having an elongated handle body defining a first end and a second end of said handle, said handle having an elongated handle axis through said handle body from said first end to said second end thereof; an engaging mechanism at said second end of said handle, said engaging mechanism structured and arranged to engage each of a first slot and a second slot in the deck lid to remove the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and to engage a basket handle of the skimmer basket to remove the skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir, said engaging mechanism comprising an engaging member disposed in an inverted U-shaped configuration so as to define a first side, a second side, an upper end, a lower end, a front side and a back side of said engaging mechanism, said engaging mechanism further comprising a first engaging projection extending outwardly in a forwardly direction from said first side of said engaging mechanism and a second engaging projection extending outwardly in an opposite facing rearwardly direction from said second side of said engaging mechanism, said first engaging projection sized and configured to be received in the first slot of the deck lid, said second engaging projection sized and configured to be received in the second slot of the deck lid when said first engaging projection is in the first slot so as to separate the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir, each of said first engaging projection and said second engaging projection being further sized and configured to engage the basket handle of the skimmer basket, said handle and said engaging mechanism being cooperatively structured and arranged to allow a user to separate the deck lid from the skimmer reservoir and to remove the skimmer basket from inside the skimmer reservoir while the user is in a standing position; an adjusting means associated with at least one of said engaging mechanism and said handle for adjusting an engaging width between said first side and said second side of said engaging mechanism so as to allow the user to adjust the position of the first engaging projection and second engaging projection to correspond to said first slot and said second slot of said deck lid and to said basket handle of said skimmer basket; and a sampling means for obtaining a water sample from a body of water, said sampling means comprises a water bottle at said first end of said handle, an inlet aperture associated with said water bottle so as to receive the water sample therein and one or more venting apertures associated with said handle to vent air from inside said handle so as to create a jet sound that starts when said water bottle is at a correct depth and stops when said water bottle is full.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art swimming pool having a skimming system showing the components thereof with the skimmer basket in the skimmer reservoir;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the prior art skimmer deck lid of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the prior art skimmer basket of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of an apparatus for removing the prior art skimmer deck lid and skimmer basket of FIGS. 1-3 from the skimmer reservoir of FIG. 1 that is configured according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a back view of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is an isolated front view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 that better illustrates the engaging mechanism thereof;

(8) FIG. 7 is an isolated side view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 showing the forward and rearward facing engaging sections of the engaging mechanism;

(9) FIG. 8 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 shown in use by a user engaging and lifting the skimmer deck lid from the skimming system of FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 shown in use by a user engaging and lifting the skimmer basket;

(11) FIG. 10 is a front view of an apparatus for removing the prior art skimmer deck lid and skimmer basket of FIGS. 1-3 from the skimmer reservoir of FIG. 1 that is configured according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown having an adjustable width engaging mechanism for use with different sizes of deck lids having different spacing distances between the slots thereof and/or different sizes of skimmer baskets and shown with a sample bottle for use to capture a sample of the water of the swimming pool, with the engaging mechanism of the apparatus shown in its widest position;

(12) FIG. 11 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 10 with the engaging mechanism in its narrowest position and with the venting apertures in an inner tubular member shown exposed in their open condition;

(13) FIG. 12 is a front view of the inner tubular member of FIG. 10 with the engaging mechanism attached thereto and shown in a first engaging width;

(14) FIG. 13 is a front view of the inner tubular member of FIG. 12 with the engaging mechanism shown in a second engaging width as a result of a collapsing force being applied thereto;

(15) FIG. 14 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 shown with the venting apertures in their open condition to collect water into the sample bottle; and

(16) FIG. 15 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention using one a single tube to capture water in a removable water sample bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures are illustrative of several potential preferred embodiments and, therefore, are included to represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and shown in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the description and figures included herewith generally describe and show particular materials, shapes and configurations for the various components of the apparatus of the present invention, as well as an example of a pool skimming system, including a skimmer deck lid, skimmer basket and skimmer reservoir thereof, with which the new apparatus may be utilized, persons who are skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is not so limited. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown and described herein with only those components that are required to disclose the present invention. As such, it may be possible that some of the necessary elements for attaching and using the present invention are not shown or necessarily described below, but which are well known to persons who are skilled in the relevant art. As will be readily appreciated by such persons, the various elements of the present invention that are described below may take on any form which is consistent with forms that may be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art having knowledge of pool skimming systems and means of removing the skimmer deck lid and skimmer basket therefrom.

(18) An apparatus that is configured pursuant to preferred embodiments of the present invention is referred to generally as 10 in FIGS. 4-5, 8-11 and 14-15. As set forth in more detail below, the new apparatus 10 of the present invention is structured and arranged to be utilized with a skimming system 12 of a swimming pool, spa or the like (collectively referred to as swimming pool 14) having a body of water 15 with a water surface 16 that is, typically, defined by a pool deck 18 which defines the perimeter of the body of water 15, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 14-15. As set forth in more detail below, the new apparatus 10 is configured to assist a user, shown as 19 in FIGS. 8-9 and 14-15, with maintaining the cleanliness and water quality of the body of water 15 in the swimming pool 14 having a skimming system 12 which is configured to collect and remove organic material such as leaves, twigs, dead birds, mice, works, slugs and other surface debris from the body of water 14. A standard skimming system 12 comprises a skimmer reservoir 20 embedded in the pool deck 18 that is hydraulically connected to the body of water 15 of the swimming pool 14 by a skimmer opening 21 to receive therein twigs, leaves, branches, flowers, feathers and slim foreign matter, biological matter such as frogs, snakes and rats, and other debris from the body of water 15. The skimmer reservoir 20 is sized and configured to removably enclose a skimmer basket 22, as shown in FIG. 1, that is utilized to capture and remove debris from the body of water 15 of the swimming pool 14. A typical skimmer basket 22, having an upper rim 24 and a mesh or mesh-like wall 26, is cooperatively sized and configured with the skimmer reservoir 20 to allow water from the body of water 15 to flow into the basket 22. The mesh wall 26 of the basket 22, best shown in FIG. 3, is configured to allow water to pass therethrough and flow back into the body of water 15 while retaining the debris inside the skimmer basket 22 when the basket 22 is positioned inside the skimmer reservoir 20, as shown in FIG. 1, and the skimming system 12 is operating to remove debris from the swimming pool 14. The typical basket 22 also has a transversely positioned rod or bar that functions as a basket handle 28, as best shown in FIG. 3, that is utilized by the user 19 to remove the basket 22 from the skimmer reservoir 20 and then place the basket 22 back into the reservoir 20 after he or she empties the debris from the basket 22.

(19) To prevent persons from falling into the skimmer reservoir 20 when they are walking on the pool deck 18, most skimming systems 12 have a deck lid 30, which is best shown in FIG. 2, that is sized and configured to fit on and cover the opening into the reservoir 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The deck lid 30 is configured to be removed from the reservoir 20 so the user 19 can access the basket 22 in the reservoir 20 and, as may be necessary, remove and clear out the debris from the basket 22. The lid body 32 of the deck lid 30, which is mostly solid and sufficiently rigid to allow persons to walk across the skimmer reservoir 20, typically comprises a removable cap 34 and a pair of slots, shown as first slot 36 and second slot 38, on either side of the cap 34, as shown in FIG. 2. The cap 34 closes an opening 40 which can be utilized to add chemicals, in solid or liquid form, to the body of water 15 through the skimming system 12. The size and shape of the slots 36/38 in the are defined by slot edges 42. The slots 36/38 are utilized by the user 19 to remove the deck lid 30 from the skimmer reservoir 20, to which the deck lid 30 is threadably or otherwise engaged, so the user 19 can access, remove and replace the basket 22 without using their hands to clean out debris that has been collected inside the basket 22 during operation of the skimming system 12.

(20) As well known to persons who are familiar with pool skimming systems 12, the person who retrieves and empties the skimmer basket 22 from the skimmer reservoir 20 has to bend over the reservoir 20, squat down next to the reservoir 20 or kneel on the pool deck 18 next to the reservoir 20 and use their hands to disengage and remove the deck lid 30 from the reservoir 20 and pull the basket 22 out of the reservoir 20 to empty the debris from the basket 22 and to place the basket 22 back into the reservoir 20 and re-engage the deck lid 30 to cover the reservoir 20. Often the person will stand up or otherwise move around to empty the debris out of the basket 22 onto the nearby ground or into a trash or other container. For many people, the up and down motion to remove the deck lid 18 and basket 22 can be somewhat painful due to problems with sore knees, backs, shoulders and other body joints or parts. For persons who can become dizzy by such motion, the up and down movement can be dangerous. Even persons without sore body joints or parts or dizziness issues, this repetitive movement can be tiresome or annoying and, as a result, can lead to less cleaning of the skimming system 12 than would be considered necessary. As also well known, persons who clean swimming pools 14 professionally can develop sore or injured body joints and body parts due to such repetitive motions. In addition, reaching into the reservoir 20 to grasp the basket handle 28 usually requires the person having to reach into water from the body of water 15, which can be quite cold and slimy due to well aged animal and plant debris.

(21) As set forth in detail below, the apparatus 10 of the present invention is structured and arranged to engage the slots 36/38 in the body 34 of the deck lid 30 and the basket handle 28 of the basket 22 in a manner which allows the user 19 to remove and replace the deck lid 30 and basket 22 while the user 19 remains in a standing position, as shown in FIGS. 8-9 and 14-15. As will be readily appreciated by persons familiar with pool maintenance, this will eliminate the need for the user 19 of the new apparatus 10 to have to bend over, squat down or kneel on the pool deck 18 to remove and replace the deck lid 30 and the basket 22. In addition, the user 19 will not have to place his or her hand in the cold water, which often has slimy contents, in order to grab onto and remove the basket 22, which is located well below the pool deck 18m from the reservoir 20. As such, persons with bad knees, backs, shoulders and/or other body joints or parts and persons who are susceptible to dizziness will be able to easily, painlessly and safely engage, remove and replace the deck lid 30 and skimmer basket 22 when performing regular or routine pool maintenance. In addition, professional pool cleaning personnel will be able to perform the task of removing and replacing the deck lid 30 and basket 28 without having to repeatedly bend over, squat down or kneel on the pool deck 18 and keep their arms and hands out of the often cold pool water.

(22) The new apparatus 10 generally comprises an elongated handle 44 and an engaging mechanism 46 that, as set forth in more detail below, are sized and configured to allow the user 19 to engage, remove and replace the deck lid 30 and basket 22 while he or she is in a standing position, shown as 48 in FIGS. 8-9 and 14-15. The elongated handle 44 has a handle body 50 that defines a first or upper end 52 and a second or lower end 54, as best shown in FIGS. 4-5, 8-11 and 14-15. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-7, the handle 44 is a single, elongated tubular member that is made out of PVC or other plastic, fiberglass, aluminum or other material that is relatively lightweight and substantially corrosion resistant so as to be able to be easily handled and resist corrosion in response to exposure to the body of water 15 and the outdoor environment in which the apparatus 10 will typically be utilized. Preferably, the material for handle 44 of the new apparatus 10 is selected so as to not get too hot for the user 19 to comfortably hold when the apparatus 10 is left outside in the sun, which is likely to be typical. In other embodiments, the handle 44 can be made out of two or more elongated members that are connected together and/or are configured in engaging or telescoping arrangement, as shown with regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 10-15. In the first embodiment of the new apparatus 10, the handle 44 has a first end cap 56 located at the first/upper end 52 and a second end cap 58 located at the second/lower end 54 of the handle body 50, as shown in FIGS. 4-9. The end caps 56/58, which may be attached to or integral with the handle body 50, are utilized to close the interior of the tubular handle body 50 in order to prevent water, dirt and other materials from getting inside the handle 44. As best shown in FIGS. 4-7, 10-11 and 14-15, the engaging mechanism 46 is located at the second/lower end 54 of handle 44.

(23) For purposes of describing the present invention, the handle 44 may be any type of elongated member that is, preferably, sized and configured to be easily and comfortably held in the hand of the user 19 and to allow the user 19 to engage the deck lid 30 and basket 22 while in a standing position 48. In addition, for purposes of describing the use and relative location of the various components of the present invention, the terms “upper”, “upward”, “upwardly”, “upper” and “top” and the like and the terms “lower”, “downward”, “downwardly” and “bottom” and the like refer to the direction, respectively, of the first/upper end 52 and second/lower end 54 of the handle 44 when it is held in its normal upright position when in use to engage the deck lid 30 and the basket 22 with the engaging mechanism 46, which is at the second/lower end 54 of the handle 44, as shown with the apparatus 10 in use in FIGS. 8-9. Likewise, the terms “front”, “forward”, “forwardly” and the like and the terms “back”, “rearward”, “rearwardly” and the like are utilized to refer to the direction components of the engaging mechanism 46 are outwardly directed (relative to the elongated handle axis HA through the center of the handle 44, as shown in FIGS. 4-7).

(24) The engaging mechanism 46, which is fixedly attached to or integrally formed with the second/lower end 54 of the handle 44, is structured and arranged to allow the user 19 to easily and securely engage, raise and lower both the deck lid 30 and the apparatus 22 from and to the skimmer reservoir 20 from the standing position 48, as shown in FIGS. 8-9. In one of the preferred embodiments of the apparatus 10 of the present invention, the engaging mechanism 46 comprises a stainless steel or other corrosion resistant wire-like engaging member 60 formed into an inverted U-shaped configuration, as shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 8-15. The resulting U-shaped engaging member 60 defines a first side 62, second side 64, first or upper end 66, second or lower end 68, front side 70 and back side 72 of the engaging mechanism 46. The inverted U-shaped configuration of the engaging member 60 defines an engaging width EW between the first side 62 and second side 64 of the engaging mechanism 46, as shown in FIG. 6. To engage the slots 36/36 of deck lid 30 in a manner which will allow the user 19 to rotatably remove and lift the deck lid 30 off of the skimmer reservoir 20, each side 62/64 of the second/lower end 68 of engaging mechanism 46 has an outwardly disposed (relative to handle axis HA) engaging projection, shown as first engaging projection 74 and second engaging projection 76, that extend outward in opposite directions from each other, as best shown in FIG. 7. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first engaging projection 74 projects perpendicularly outward in a first or forwardly direction 78 and second engaging projection 76 projects perpendicularly outward in a second or rearwardly direction 80 from the handle axis HA so as to be disposed parallel to each other.

(25) The engaging projections 74/76 are sized and configured to extend sufficiently outward so as to engage the slots 36/38 in the prior art deck lid 30 by extending into the body 32 of the deck lid 30 beyond the respective slot edges 42 so as to engage the slots 36/38 of deck lid 30. To engage the deck lid 30, the user 19 lowers the engaging mechanism 46 down to the deck lid 30 until the one of the engaging projections 74/76 is in one of the slots 36/38 of the body 32 of deck lid 30, as shown in FIG. 8. In one specific use, the user 19 (while standing) lowers the engaging mechanism 46 to position the first engaging projection 74 into the first slot 36 and the second engaging projection 76 into the second slot 38. With the two engaging projections 74/76 in the slots 36/38, the user 19 rotates the engaging mechanism 46 in the direction the two engaging projections 74/76 project until the two engaging projections 74/76 extend beyond the respective slot edges 42. In a typical use, when the engaging mechanism 46 is fully engaged with the deck lid 30, the vertical portion of the engaging member 60 that forms the engaging mechanism 46 will be abutting the respective slot edges 42 of the slots 36/38. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, with the slots 36/38 engaged, continued rotation of the handle 44 of the apparatus 10 will rotate the deck lid 30 to allow the user 19 to remove the deck lid 30 off of the skimmer reservoir 20, as shown in FIG. 8. Using the apparatus 10, the user 19 then places the deck lid 30 out of the way so the user 19 can utilize the apparatus 10 to access the skimmer basket 22.

(26) To engage the basket 22, the user 19 lowers the engaging mechanism 46 down into the skimmer reservoir 20 until the basket handle 28 is positioned in the gap 82 between the first side 62 and second side 64 (with gap 82 shown in FIG. 6) of the engaging mechanism 46 with the engaging projections 74/76 facing toward the basket handle 28 and then he or she rotates the engaging mechanism 46 toward the basket handle 28 until both of the engaging projections 74/76 are positioned under the basket handle 28 (typically with the vertical portion of the engaging member 60 that forms the engaging mechanism 46 abutting the basket handle 28). To remove the skimmer basket 22 from the skimmer reservoir 20, the user 19 then lifts the handle 44 upward, which will raise the basket 22 out of the reservoir 20, as shown in FIG. 9. The user 19 can grab the basket 22 at one or more of the rim 24, walls 26 and/or handle 28 thereof to empty any debris therein and, as may be necessary, rinse the debris out of the basket 22. After emptying the debris out of the basket 22, the user 19 positions the basket 22 back into the reservoir 20 by re-engaging the basket handle 28 with the engaging mechanism 46 of the apparatus 10, lowering the basket 22 back into the reservoir 20 and then rotating the engaging mechanism 46 in the opposite direction from that described above (i.e., moving the engaging projections 74/76 away from the basket handle 28). The user 19 replaces the deck lid 30 on the opening of the reservoir 20 by re-engaging the engaging projections 74/76 with the slots 36/38 in the body 32 of the deck lid 30, lowering the deck lid 30 to the reservoir 20 and rotating the deck lid 30, by rotating the handle 44, to engage the deck lid 30 with the reservoir 20 to place the skimming system 12 back in condition for operation, as shown in FIG. 1.

(27) As well known to persons skilled in the art, there are different sizes and configurations of deck lids 30 and skimmer baskets 22. In addition, even for same sizes of deck lids 30 and skimmer baskets 22, some deck lids 30 may have differently sized and positioned slots 36/38 and/or some skimmer baskets 22 may have different sized and positioned basket handles 28. In light of such possible differences, it may be beneficial for some embodiments of the new apparatus 10 to have an adjustable engaging mechanism 46 (i.e., having an adjusting mechanism 84) that allows the user 19 to selectively modify the configuration of the engaging mechanism 46 to correspond to particular deck lids 30 and skimmer baskets 22. As well known, many users 19 who are responsible for cleaning debris from the skimmer basket 22 of the pool skimming system 12 are also the person who is responsible for obtaining a sample of water from the body of water 15 for purposes of testing the sample to see what chemicals need to be added to the body of water 15 to ensure it is safe to swim in, will look clean and will not damage the pool and/or associated pool equipment.

(28) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-15, the apparatus 10 has an adjusting mechanism 84, best shown in FIGS. 10-12, to adjust the width of the engaging mechanism 46 and a sampling mechanism 86, shown in use in FIGS. 14-15 to assist the user 19 with easily and quickly obtaining a water sample (shown as WS in FIG. 15) from the body of water 15. In this embodiment, the adjusting mechanism 84 is telescopically configured and structured and arranged to allow the user 19 to easily and quickly move the engaging mechanism 46 between a relatively wide first engaging width 88, shown in FIG. 10, and a narrower second engaging width 90, shown in FIG. 11. As best shown in FIGS. 11-13, the adjusting mechanism 84 comprises an inner handle member 92 (which is incorporated into the handle 44) having an elongated, tubular member body 94 defining a first or upper end 96, a second or lower end 98 and (in a preferred embodiment) an interior chamber 100 therein and a flexible, inverted generally V-shaped center section 102 associated with the engaging mechanism 46, as best shown in FIGS. 10-12. In this embodiment, which also has the sampling mechanism 86, the entire handle body 50 of the handle 44, which includes member body 94, is tubular and comprises an upper fixed section 104 which is grasped by the user 19 and lower moveable section 106 that interacts with the V-shaped center section 102 of the engaging member 60 of the engaging mechanism 46 to move the engaging mechanism 46 between the first engaging width 88 and second engaging width 90, as best shown in FIGS. 10-11. In other embodiments of the new apparatus 10, such as those not having sampling mechanism 86, just the lower moveable section 106 may need to be tubular (although having the entire handle 44 being tubular also lowers the weight of the apparatus 10).

(29) As shown in FIGS. 10-12, the first/upper end 96 of the inner handle member 92 is attached to or integral with the fixed section 104 of the handle 44 and the moveable section 106 of the handle 44 is slidably engaged with the inner handle member 92 to move upward and downward relative to the inner handle member 92 and, by the fixed connection, to the fixed section 104 of the handle 44. As best shown in FIG. 12, the V-shaped center section 102 of the engaging mechanism 46 has an upper end or apex 108 that is fixedly attached to or integral with the second/lower end 98 of the inner handle member 92 so as to not move relative to inner handle member 92. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the upper end 108 of the V-shaped center section 102 is received inside the interior chamber 100 of the inner handle member 92 and secured in place with one or more connecting devices 110, such as a screw, bolt, pin or the like. The V-shaped center section 102 of engaging mechanism 46 is made out of material, which may be the same for the entire engaging member 60, that is sufficiently flexible such that when a collapsing force, which is shown as CF in FIGS. 12-13, is placed against the sides of the V-shaped center section 102, as shown in FIG. 13, the engaging width EW of engaging mechanism 46 will move to or at least slide toward its second engaging width 88, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. When the user 19 removes the collapsing force CF from the V-shaped center section 102, by moving the moveable section 106 upward, the engaging width EW of the engaging mechanism 46 will move to or toward its first engaging width 88, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, which is the default engaging width EW for engaging mechanism 46.

(30) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-15, the collapsing force CF is provided by movement of the moveable section 106 of the handle 44 by the user 19, as may be needed to for the engaging projections 74/76 to engage the slots 36/38 of the deck lid 30 or the basket handle 28 of the skimmer basket 22. As shown in FIGS. 10-13, when the engaging mechanism 46 is in its first engaging width 88 and the moveable section 106 is moved downward, relative to the inner handle member 92 (as shown in FIG. 11), the lower end of the moveable section 106 will engage the V-shaped center section 102 and apply the collapsing force CF thereto to move the engaging mechanism 46 toward its second engaging width 90, as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 13. When the user 19 moves the moveable section 104 back upward, he or she will release the collapsing force CF and allow the engaging mechanism 46 to move back to or toward its first engaging width 88. In this manner, the user 19 simply has to move the moveable section 106 of the handle 44 in an upward and downward direction, typically with one hand while the other hand is holding the fixed section 104, to adjust the engaging width EW of engaging mechanism 46.

(31) In an alternative configuration, the adjusting mechanism 84 can comprise the engaging member 60 itself being telescopically or otherwise adjustably configured to move the engaging mechanism 46 between the first engaging width 88 and second engaging width 90 (i.e., extending or retracting the position of the engaging projections 74/76) to increase or decrease the engaging width EW, to correspond with the position of the slots 36/38 in the deck lid 30 and/or the size of the basket handle 28 of the skimmer basket 22. In one possible configuration, the engaging width EW can be selectively modifiable by allowing both sides 62/64 of the engaging member 60 of the engaging mechanism 46 to be able to move inward and outward, thereby moving the engaging projections 74/76 inward and outward, relative to the handle axis HA. In another possible adjusting configuration, the engaging width EW can be selectively modifiable by allowing only one of the sides 62/64 of the engaging mechanism 46 to move one of the engaging projections 74/76 inward and outward. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, a variety of different configurations can be utilized with the new apparatus 10 to allow the user 19 to adjust the engaging width EW of the engaging mechanism 46 to correspond to the slots 36/38 of the deck lid 30 and the basket handle 28 of the skimmer basket 22.

(32) As set forth above, the embodiments of the new apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 10-15 includes a sampling mechanism 86 that can be utilized by the user 19 to obtain a water sample WS from the body of water 15 at an appropriate depth below the water surface 16, as shown in FIGS. 14-15, without having to kneel or lay down on the pool deck 18 and without having to insert his or her arm into the body of water 15. As shown in these figures, using the apparatus 10 of the present invention, the user 19 can obtain the water sample WS from the desired depth while he or she is in the standing position 48. In this embodiment, the sampling mechanism 86 comprises a sample bottle 112 that is removably attached to the first/upper end 52 of the handle body 50 (which is on the bottom when the apparatus 10 is utilized to obtain a water sample WS), one or more inlet apertures 114 at or near the sample bottle 112 and one or more venting apertures 116 through the member body 94, as shown in FIGS. 10-15. In one embodiment, the sample bottle 112 is threadably attached to the first/upper end 52 of the handle 44, which is the upper end of the fixed section 104. To use the sampling mechanism 86, the user 19 will flip the apparatus 10 upside down (i.e., opposite the positioning that is normally utilized to remove the deck lid 30 and skimmer basket 22) with the moveable section 106 of the handle 44 moved to uncover the venting apertures 116 and position the water bottle 112 into the body of water 15, as shown in FIGS. 14-15. The new apparatus 10 also has a correct depth indicating mechanism that is configured to help the user 19 collect a water sample from the desired depth in the body of water 15, which is typically twelve to eighteen inches below the water surface 16. The user 19 lowers the water bottle 112 of the apparatus 10 into the body of water 15 until the venting apertures 116 are positioned just above the surface of the water 16. The user 19 will hear vented air jetting out of the venting apertures 116, creating a water jet sound, indicating that the water collection has started when the water bottle 112 is at the correct depth in the body of water 15. This water jet sound will stop when the water bottle 112 is full, letting the user 19 know that he or she can lift the apparatus 10 up to pull the water bottle 112 out of the body of water 15 and use the collected water sample WS for testing purposes. As shown in FIGS. 14-15, air inside the interior chamber 100 of the inner handle member 92 will vent out through the venting apertures 116 and water from the body of water 15 will flow into the water bottle 112 through the water inlet apertures 114 to collect inside the water bottle 112 as the water sample WS. In a preferred configuration of the sampling mechanism 86, the user 19 disconnects (i.e., by unthreading) the water bottle 112 from the handle 44 and uses the water sample WS therein to test to see what chemicals and what quantity of chemicals may need to be added to the body of water 15 so the body of water 15 can be safe for swimming and not harm the swimming pool 14 and its associated equipment. In one embodiment, sampling mechanism 86 has a plurality of inlet apertures 114 and venting apertures 116 and the water bottle 112 is plastic. As will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the relevant art, a variety of different configurations can be utilized for the sampling mechanism 86. For instance, water bottle 112 can be fixedly attached to or integral with the handle 44 and can have a separate discharge opening that is opened to allow the user 19 to pour the water sample WS out for testing.

(33) As will also be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the new apparatus 10 can be utilized to remove other equipment, whether pool and/or swimming related or not, other than the skimmer basket 22 and deck lid 30 shown in the figures and described above. For instance, the apparatus 10 of the present invention can be utilized to remove items that are configured similar to the deck lid 30 and skimmer basket 22. Specifically, the new apparatus 10 can be utilized to engage and lift other items that have slots 36/38 and/or to engage and remove items that are similar to the skimmer basket 22 having a component similar to the basket handle 28 which can be engaged by the engaging projections 74/76. In addition, the new apparatus 10 can be utilized to obtain liquid samples other than water samples WS from a body of water 15 in a swimming pool 14. For instance, the apparatus 10 can be utilized to obtain a sample of a liquid from a river, lake, pond, water treatment tank or other body of water or from non-water liquid sources in which it would be desirable, if not necessary, to obtain a sample below the surface of the liquid. As such, the term “water” which is utilized herein is not limited to water but is intended to include any liquid which from which a sample of the liquid can be beneficially obtained in a standing position.

(34) While there are shown and described herein specific forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there may be numerous components of the embodiments described herein that can be readily replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives and obtain the desired aspects of the present invention. The various embodiments set forth herein are intended to explain the best mode of making and using the present invention as currently known to and appreciated by the present inventor(s) and to enable other persons who are skilled in the relevant art to make and utilize the present invention. Although, the described embodiments may comprise different features, not all of these features are required in all embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, as will be readily appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art, certain embodiments of the present invention only utilize some of the features and/or combinations of features disclosed herein.