Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Using solid work treating agents
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-03-27
Carrillo, S. (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Using solid work treating agents
C134S006000, C134S022100, C134S042000, C015S220200, C119S245000, C119S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206978
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is aquarium care products and the invention relates more particularly to magnetic aquarium cleaners utilizing a handle portion which has a magnet on the outer surface of the aquarium and a cleaner portion which also has a magnet which is attracted to the handle portion.
A magnetic aquarium cleaner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,090. This cleaner has a motive or controller member
6
which moves a moving or follower member
5
. The motive member is manipulated on the outside of the aquarium and the follower member rides along the inner surface of the aquarium wall. The follower is generally rectangular in shape and has two sponges along each edge. While such device is adequate for old style aquariums of the type having flat glass walls, such flat pads are not capable of cleaning the curved inner surface of modern aquariums made of plexiglass.
Window cleaners have been used which also utilize magnets and one such window cleaner is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,507,559. The magnets used are cylindrical and wrapped in a rectangular pouch
15
.
Another magnetic window cleaning device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,634,444. In this case, a rectangular magnet is used and the magnet is wrapped with a cleaning material.
A magnetic stirring apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,518,758. The stirrer is rotated by a rotating magnet held below the base of the flask.
The problem that exists is two fold. The inner curved corners are very difficult to clean without putting one's hand and arm inside the fish tank. Because of the potential for transferring germs to or from the aquarium water, this is not desirable. If all the algae is not removed, it quickly forms a nucleus for new hard algae growth. Also, many fish tanks have a canopy which extends over the outer top edge of the tank. The classic magnetic cleaners follow the exterior handle and thus, are not able to reach beyond the overhang of the canopy. Since this leaves a layer of algae, it again forms a nucleus for further algae growth.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic cleaner for a fish tank which is capable of cleaning both the inner curved surface of a curved corner and the inner surface of an aquarium covered by the exterior flange of a canopy.
The present invention is for an aquarium tank inner wall cleaning tool having an outer wall magnet-containing handle and an inner wall magnet-containing cleaner. The improvement of the present invention comprises a curved edge on the wall-contacting face of the cleaner. Preferably, the wall-contacting face has a rigid, generally rectangular face with a top edge, a bottom edge, a first edge wherein the first edge has an extension, and a second edge wherein the second edge has an arcuate curve and the wall-contacting face is covered with a deformable cleaning pad. The deformable cleaning pad is preferably made from the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening assembly. The wall-contacting face of the cleaner is preferably larger than the tank-contacting face of the handle. Also, preferably the first edge of the cleaner extends past the rectangular body of the cleaner.
The present invention also comprises a process for cleaning an interior surface of an aquarium tank which has at least one curved vertical corner. The steps include placing an outer wall magnet-containing handle against an area of the outer surface of the vertical wall of the aquarium. Next, an inner wall magnet-containing cleaner is moved against an area of the inner surface of a vertical wall of the aquarium adjacent the handle so that the magnet in the handle attracts the magnet in the cleaner. The cleaner has a curved edge having a radius of curvature no more than the radius of curvature of the curved inner surface of the aquarium to be cleaned. Next, the curved edge of the cleaner is aligned with the curved inner surface of the aquarium and the handle is moved vertically up and down so that the curved edge rides along the curved inner surface of the aquarium and cleans the curved inner surface. The process also includes steps which permit the cleaner to be moved from one flat inner surface to an adjacent flat inner surface. This comprises the steps of moving the handle along the inner edge of one of the flat surfaces in a generally horizontal direction and orienting the handle so that a curved edge of the cleaner is vertically aligned with the inner curved edge of the aquarium. Next, the handle is moved around the outer surface of the corner and because of the curved edge of the cleaner, the cleaner is never separated from the handle enough so that the force of attraction between the magnet of the cleaner and the magnet of the handle holds the cleaner as it goes around the curved corner.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2507559 (1950-05-01), D'Andrea
patent: 2518758 (1950-08-01), Cook
patent: 2634444 (1953-04-01), Coleman
patent: 3208090 (1965-09-01), Roesel, Jr.
patent: 4921614 (1990-05-01), Frickman et al.
patent: 5515570 (1996-05-01), Muscroft
patent: 5988109 (1999-11-01), Rofen
patent: 2042148 (1971-12-01), None
patent: 3630324 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 2105977 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 406142013 (1994-05-01), None
Carrillo S.
Cooper & Dunham LLP
Roger Williams General Hospital
White John P.
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