Residential swimming pools are not uncommon. They can be above ground pools or in ground pools. Typically, the above ground pools hold about 3,000 gallons to about 15,000 gallons water and the in ground pools hold about 10,000 gallons to about 30,000 gallons water. In all cases, the water must be run through a filter apparatus to remove debris, including airborne material such as fallen leaves, other plant material, insects, and material brought into the pool by the swimmer such as hair and lint.
The typical pool has a water intake line which draws water from at least the surface of the pool and ideally from both the surface and the bottom of the pool. The water at the surface level is initially pulled into a skimmer and passed through a skimmer basket. The skimmer basket is a rigid mesh basket which filters out larger debris, e.g. leaves. The water then is conveyed by a pipeline to a primary filter apparatus to filter out more minute debris. There are different filter apparatus. Sand or diatomaceous earth are common filter medias. Periodically, the filter media in the filter apparatus becomes clogged and must be replaced. This involves a fairly arduous task of disassembling the filter apparatus, removing the filter media, discarding the filter media, adding fresh filter media to the filter apparatus, and reassembling the filter apparatus. Needless to say, the typical swimming pool owner would rather be swimming.
There is a need for a filter system to lessen or even eliminate the current necessity of periodic replacing of filter media in the filter apparatus. In accord with the need, there have been developed pre-main filter apparatus systems. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,020 and 5,672,271 disclose devices for placement in the swimming pool's skimmer basket. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,020 appears costly to manufacture. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,271 appears difficult to use.
In accord with a continued need for a pre-primary filter apparatus filtering system, there has now been developed an assembly for use in the pool's skimmer. The assembly is economical to produce, easy to use and efficient in operation. The assembly of the invention effectively filters debris from the swimming pool water before it reaches the pool's primary filter assembly. The assembly is very conveniently cleaned and reused.