US3337889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical device for cleaning the interior of large aquarium tanks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1966-03-11
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Granted: 1967-08-29
•
Expires: 1986-03-11
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter L West
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:26
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/087; A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF A TANK COMPRISING (A) A CASING; (B) SAID CASING COMPRISING AN OUTER COMPARTMENT AND AN OPEN INNER COMPARTMENT NESTING WITHIN AND SPACED FROM SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT; (C) SAID INNER COMPARTMENT HAVING A FIRST ORIFICE TO PARTMENTS; (D) THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE OPENING OF SAID INNER COMPARTMENT BEING JOINED TO SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT TO FORM A CONTINUOUS SURFACE AROUND THE OPENING OF SAID INNER COMPARTMENT, SAID SURFACE BEING ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO AND LIE ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID TANK; (E) A PLURALITY OF SECOND ORIFICES ON SAID CONTINUOUS SURFACE, SPACED ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF, TO ALLOW FLUID FLOW INTO THE OUTER COMPARTMENT; (F) POWER-DRIVEN MOVING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CONTINUOUS SURFACE TO ENABLE THE CASING TO MOVE ALONG THE INTERIOR TANK SURFACES; (G) MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CASING TO DRIVE SAID MOVING MEANS; (H) TUBE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CASING TO CONVEY CLEANING SOLUTION INTO THE INNER COMPARTMENT SO THAT SAID SOLUTION WILL CONTACT THE INTERIOR TANK SURFACES OPPOSITE THE INNER COMPARTMENT OPENING DURING OPERATION OF THE DEVICE; (I) MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CASING TO EVACUATE BOTH COMPARTMENTS AND CREATE A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN, WHICH PARTIAL VACUUM ENABLES THE CASING TO ADHERE TO THE WALL SURFACE DURING OPERATION OF THE DEVICE AND CAUSES CLEANING SOLUTION TO BE DRAWN INTO THE INNER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE SAID CLEANING SOLUTION CONVEYING TUBE MEANS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF A TANK COMPRISING (A) A CASING; (B) SAID CASING COMPRISING AN OUTER COMPARTMENT AND AN OPEN INNER COMPARTMENT NESTING WITHIN AND SPACED FROM SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT; (C) SAID INNER COMPARTMENT HAVING A FIRST ORIFICE TO PARTMENTS; (D) THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE OPENING OF SAID INNER COMPARTMENT BEING JOINED TO SAID OUTER COMPARTMENT TO FORM A CONTINUOUS SURFACE AROUND THE OPENING OF SAID INNER COMPARTMENT, SAID SURFACE BEING ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO AND LIE ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID TANK; (E) A PLURALITY OF SECOND ORIFICES ON SAID CONTINUOUS SURFACE, SPACED ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH THEREOF, TO ALLOW FLUID FLOW INTO THE OUTER COMPARTMENT; (F) POWER-DRIVEN MOVING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CONTINUOUS SURFACE TO ENABLE THE CASING TO MOVE ALONG THE INTERIOR TANK SURFACES; (G) MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CASING TO DRIVE SAID MOVING MEANS; (H) TUBE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CASING TO CONVEY CLEANING SOLUTION INTO THE INNER COMPARTMENT SO THAT SAID SOLUTION WILL CONTACT THE INTERIOR TANK SURFACES OPPOSITE THE INNER COMPARTMENT OPENING DURING OPERATION OF THE DEVICE; (I) MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CASING TO EVACUATE BOTH COMPARTMENTS AND CREATE A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN, WHICH PARTIAL VACUUM ENABLES THE CASING TO ADHERE TO THE WALL SURFACE DURING OPERATION OF THE DEVICE AND CAUSES CLEANING SOLUTION TO BE DRAWN INTO THE INNER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE SAID CLEANING SOLUTION CONVEYING TUBE MEANS.
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) | 1970-08-28 | 1971-02-27 | 1971-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1974-08-28 | 1975-02-27 | 1975-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1978-08-28 | 1979-02-27 | 1979-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |