Patent US4023528A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4023528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aerating means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-24
•
Granted: 1977-05-17
•
Expires: 1995-11-24
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium having a tank with a flat, built-in aerator mounted at the rear. The aerator includes a housing having a number of narrow internal baffles arranged to form a zig-zag passageway for the upward flow of air into a space in the top of the housing. The bottom of the zig-zag passageway is disposed above a clear space in the lower part of the aerator housing, and each of the baffles runs from a first end at a first side edge to termination short of the opposite side edge of the housing. The baffles extend alternately from the opposite sides of the aerator housing, and each slopes slightly upwardly from its first end to its other end within the housing. The baffles are so arranged that each adjacent pair defines a transverse leg of the zig-zag passageway extending from one side of the aerator housing to the other and diverging vertically from a restricted entrance end to a far end where the entrance to the next higher leg of the passageway is situated. The aerator housing has openings into the clear space in its lower part to admit aquarium water and compressed air. The incoming air travels upwardly through the zig-zag passageway in turbulent contact with aquarium water in the passageway. The aerator has a top outlet for the aerated water through which it is returned to the main body of water in the tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyle C. Applegate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:59
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
364 words
Aerating means for an aquarium, comprising: a relatively thin housing having closely spaced front and rear walls and two narrow side walls; and internal structure in the housing comprising a plurality of elongate baffles forming a zig-zag passageway above a clear space in the bottom of said housing, each baffle being integral along side edges thereof with said front and rear walls to form a web-like extension therebetween and having a first end integral with one of said side walls and a second end terminating short of the other of said side walls, the joints between the baffle and housing walls being fluid-tight; said baffles being arranged so as to extend in interlaced relationship from first one and then the other of the side walls of said housing means, each being positioned so as to incline slightly upwardly from said first end to said second end and all but the uppermost one forming, with the next higher baffle, a single leg of said zig-zag passageway, said leg having a restricted entrance at said second end and gradually thereafter expanding as the baffles defining its upper and lower limits diverge because of their opposite directions of inclination, said housing having at least one opening through at least one wall into the clear space in its bottom for the admission of aquarium water and having, additionally, a port for the introduction of compressed air into said clear space, said housing also having an outlet opening above an upper one of said baffles, near the lower end of that baffle; said internal structure including means cooperative with said upper one of said baffles, which means can be one of the baffles, to define, with the housing walls, a space above said upper one of said baffles, said space having a restricted entrance between said means and the upper end of said upper one of said baffles; said aerating means being adapted for use with its housing immersed in the water of an aquarium in such fashion that said outlet opening is above the level of said water, and with a compressed air line attached so as to direct compressed air through said port into said clear space;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
364 words
Aerating means for an aquarium, comprising: a relatively thin housing having closely spaced front and rear walls and two narrow side walls; and internal structure in the housing comprising a plurality of elongate baffles forming a zig-zag passageway above a clear space in the bottom of said housing, each baffle being integral along side edges thereof with said front and rear walls to form a web-like extension therebetween and having a first end integral with one of said side walls and a second end terminating short of the other of said side walls, the joints between the baffle and housing walls being fluid-tight; said baffles being arranged so as to extend in interlaced relationship from first one and then the other of the side walls of said housing means, each being positioned so as to incline slightly upwardly from said first end to said second end and all but the uppermost one forming, with the next higher baffle, a single leg of said zig-zag passageway, said leg having a restricted entrance at said second end and gradually thereafter expanding as the baffles defining its upper and lower limits diverge because of their opposite directions of inclination, said housing having at least one opening through at least one wall into the clear space in its bottom for the admission of aquarium water and having, additionally, a port for the introduction of compressed air into said clear space, said housing also having an outlet opening above an upper one of said baffles, near the lower end of that baffle; said internal structure including means cooperative with said upper one of said baffles, which means can be one of the baffles, to define, with the housing walls, a space above said upper one of said baffles, said space having a restricted entrance between said means and the upper end of said upper one of said baffles; said aerating means being adapted for use with its housing immersed in the water of an aquarium in such fashion that said outlet opening is above the level of said water, and with a compressed air line attached so as to direct compressed air through said port into said clear space;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
whereby the forcing of said compressed air into said clear space, after the aquarium water has filled said housing to substantially the level of the water outside of the housing, results in turbulent upward movement of the air through the water in the zig-zag passageway to thereby provide intimate contact between the air and aquarium water in the zig-zag passageway for efficient aeration of said water; and whereby the water in the zig-zag passageway is forced upwardly therethrough by the air until it enters said space through the restricted entrance thereto, then runs down the inclined upper surface of said upper one of said baffles and out of said housing through said outlet opening, from whence it can be returned to the main body of water in the aquarium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
whereby the forcing of said compressed air into said clear space, after the aquarium water has filled said housing to substantially the level of the water outside of the housing, results in turbulent upward movement of the air through the water in the zig-zag passageway to thereby provide intimate contact between the air and aquarium water in the zig-zag passageway for efficient aeration of said water; and whereby the water in the zig-zag passageway is forced upwardly therethrough by the air until it enters said space through the restricted entrance thereto, then runs down the inclined upper surface of said upper one of said baffles and out of said housing through said outlet opening, from whence it can be returned to the main body of water in the aquarium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
Aerating means in accordance with claim 1 in which the front wall of said housing is formed of a transparent material so that the intermixing of air and water in the housing during operation of said aerating means can be seen through said wall, and each of said baffles inclines upwardly at substantially the same angle of inclination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Aerating means in accordance with claim 2 in which said at least one opening through at least one wall is through the front wall of said housing, and said port is located at a level above said at least one opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Aerating means in accordance with claim 3 in which said at least one opening consists of a plurality of openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Aerating means in accordance with claim 4 in which the port in said housing is located in the front wall of the housing near the first end of the lowermost of said baffles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A flattened aquarium with built-in aerating means in accordance with claim 3, said aerating means being positioned in the back of the aquarium so that the rear wall of said housing forms the rear wall of said aquarium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An aquarium in accordance with claim 6 in combination with filtrant support means adapted to support a bed of filtrant above the level of said at least one opening to leave the at least one opening clear for the free circulation of aquarium water therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An aquarium in accordance with claim 7 including a filter trough for holding a quantity of activated charcoal and means for supporting the trough with a load of charcoal in such position as to receive aerated water from the outlet opening of said housing and direct the flow of said water through said charcoal and into the body of aquarium water outside of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An aquarium in accordance with claim 8 including spout means for channeling the flow of said aerated water from said outlet opening to said filter trough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
An aquarium in accordance with claim 6 in combination with a decorative frame, said frame being fitted peripherally around the aquarium to permit display of the latter against a wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |