Animal husbandry – Aquatic animal culturing – Aquarium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-08-21
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Aquatic animal culturing
Aquarium
C119S248000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276302
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates to an aquarium. More specifically, this present invention relates to an improved aquarium which requires a less amount of water while minimizing water poisoning.
Aquariums are quite popular to raise aquatic animals and plants as pets, as well as for aesthetic purposes. Aquariums are also used for business, scientific and educational purposes. However, such an aquarium generally occupies large spaces since there should be provided a filter device therein as well as about between 10 and 20 gallons of water. Some larger aquarium requires substantially more water.
It is also commonly understood that frequent water change is expected due to secretes of aquatic animals and food waste which are known to pollute the water in the aquarium. To meet the need there have been introduced various filter devices to minimize the frequency of water change.
Further, it has heretofore been necessary to maintain a large volume of water in both fresh water and salt water aquariums so as to avoid poisoning of the aquatic animals. For example, each gold fish typically requires 10 gallons of water to avoid poisoning, even when the aquarium water is purified by typical filtration system driven by an electric motor.
The aquarium according to the present invention will support aquatic animals and plants in a lesser volume of water than has been heretofore possible. One application of the present invention is an aquarium with several aquatic animals that can be readily mounted on a wall like a painting of photograph because the water inside the aquarium can have as narrow a span from the wall as one inch or less.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aquarium which substantially decreases water poisoning caused by secretes of aquatic animals and wastes of their food.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an aquarium which requires a least amount of water volume and accordingly occupies least space for aquarium installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the aforementioned objects and other objects, an aquarium according to the present invention comprises a container forming a main cavity and a bottom cavity inside the container, the bottom cavity being below the main cavity, a dividing plate separating the main cavity and the bottom cavity and a filtration system for purifying water in the aquarium. The dividing plate provides a barrier to fluid communication between the main cavity and the bottom cavity along all but a small fraction of the length or depth, or both, of the container. The dividing plate further provides limited fluid communication between the same portions of the aquarium along a substantial part of the length of the container.
Meanwhile, the volume of the bottom cavity is substantially less than the volume of the main cavity. The depth of the container can be about one inch or less.
The limited fluid communication between the main and the bottom cavities can be provided by a narrow gap between the dividing plate and a wall of the container, or by a plurality of holes in the dividing plate.
Further, the filtration system can be located adjacent to one side of the container. The filtration system can have a vacuum pump and as many as four or more filters. One of the filters can have a mechanical filter for removing microorganisms and organic matters; another, activated charcoal for removing harmful chemicals and organic matters from the water; another, an ammonia removing substance for removing ammonia from the water; and another, biological filter balls for mixing air into the water and cultivating nitrifying bacteria in the water.
The filtration system can also have first, second and third conduits. The first conduit can conduct polluted water down through the filters to purity it. The third conduit can conduct the purified water from a bottom part of the filtration system up to the main cavity of the aquarium.
The benefits according to the present invention are numerous. They are: (1) aquariums with much lower water volume than has been heretofore practical can be constructed and used without poisoning; (2) aquariums of standard size and configuration can successfully carry substantially larger quantities of aquatic animals than has been previously practical; (3) the effective filtration system enables a minimal size of decorative aquarium, for example, which can be mounted on a wall; and (4) ammonia as a sedimentary pollutant from the aquatic animals can be more efficiently removed since water circulation and filtration starts from the bottom of the aquarium.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, the detailed description and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5026477 (1991-06-01), Yen
patent: 5108594 (1992-04-01), Giovanetti et al.
patent: 5294335 (1994-03-01), Chiang
patent: 5306421 (1994-04-01), Weinstein
patent: 5560318 (1996-10-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 5705057 (1998-01-01), Hoffa
patent: 5746921 (1998-05-01), Gargas et al.
Jordan Charles T.
Park John K.
Park & Sutton LLP
Shaw Elizabeth
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