Patent US3576426A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3576426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermostatically controlled electric aquarium water heater
Assignee: Sternco Industries Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-28
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1988-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A water heater for home aquariums, the device being adapted for partial immersion in the aquarium water. It comprises a casing the upper portion of which has a multiple-size bracket for attachment to the rim of a selected aquarium, the lower portion housing a thermostat-float switch assembly electrically connected to an electric heating element. The said lower portion is defined by an apertured shell serving both as a water-permeable housing the protective shield for the heater and its control components. The water to be heated enters the interior of the device for coaction with the heater components, thereby performing the heatcontrolling operations itself by actuating a switch-operated float member. The device is adapted for attachment to aquariums of different rim thicknesses by said bracket which is of specially stepped construction.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Sesholtz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:48
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/06; A01K63/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
An Aquarium water heater comprising a casing and electric water heating means disposed within said casing, said casing being in shielding relation to said water heating means and having an apertured portion for the passage of aquarium water into and out of said casing, said water heating means being in communication with said apertured portion, said heating means having an electric heating element, a magnetic reed switch in series with said heating element, and a float member positioned within said casing and adapted to be floatably supported by water operatively within said casing, said float member carrying a magnetic element adapted for operative coaction with said magnetic reed switch to close it when said float member is operatively positioned at predetermined levels of water within the casing, and being in nonoperative relation to said reed switch at lower levels of said water, said heating means having a thermostat switch in series with said electric heating element and said reed switch, said reed switch being disposed laterally of said float member, said thermostat switch having an operatively connected control knob disposed at the top portion of the casing, said casing having therein a transverse wall, said heating element being supportably suspended from said latter wall, said casing also having a compartment disposed laterally with respect to said heating element, said thermostat switch and reed switch being disposed in said compartment, said thermostat switch having a shaft in threaded engagement with said transverse wall, the top of said shaft carrying said knob.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
An Aquarium water heater comprising a casing and electric water heating means disposed within said casing, said casing being in shielding relation to said water heating means and having an apertured portion for the passage of aquarium water into and out of said casing, said water heating means being in communication with said apertured portion, said heating means having an electric heating element, a magnetic reed switch in series with said heating element, and a float member positioned within said casing and adapted to be floatably supported by water operatively within said casing, said float member carrying a magnetic element adapted for operative coaction with said magnetic reed switch to close it when said float member is operatively positioned at predetermined levels of water within the casing, and being in nonoperative relation to said reed switch at lower levels of said water, said heating means having a thermostat switch in series with said electric heating element and said reed switch, said reed switch being disposed laterally of said float member, said thermostat switch having an operatively connected control knob disposed at the top portion of the casing, said casing having therein a transverse wall, said heating element being supportably suspended from said latter wall, said casing also having a compartment disposed laterally with respect to said heating element, said thermostat switch and reed switch being disposed in said compartment, said thermostat switch having a shaft in threaded engagement with said transverse wall, the top of said shaft carrying said knob.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
147 words
An aquarium water heater comprising a casing and electric water heating means disposed within said casing, said casing being in shielding relation to said water heating means and having an apertured portion for the passage of aquarium water into and out of said casing, said water heating means being in communication with said apertured portion, the upper part of said casing having a bracket for attachment to the rim of an operatively adjacent aquarium, said bracket comprising an outwardly extending arm, a downwardly extending arm joined to said latter arm, and an inwardly extending finger joined to said downwardly extending arm, the underside of said outwardly extending arm being of upwardly and outwardly stepped configuration and providing at each stepped portion a substantially vertical wall, said walls being above said finger and in coactive relation therewith for operative engagement with differently proportioned aquarium rims and walls, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
An aquarium water heater comprising a casing and electric water heating means disposed within said casing, said casing being in shielding relation to said water heating means and having an apertured portion for the passage of aquarium water into and out of said casing, said water heating means being in communication with said apertured portion, the upper part of said casing having a bracket for attachment to the rim of an operatively adjacent aquarium, said bracket comprising an outwardly extending arm, a downwardly extending arm joined to said latter arm, and an inwardly extending finger joined to said downwardly extending arm, the underside of said outwardly extending arm being of upwardly and outwardly stepped configuration and providing at each stepped portion a substantially vertical wall, said walls being above said finger and in coactive relation therewith for operative engagement with differently proportioned aquarium rims and walls, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An aquarium water heater according to claim 2, at least one of said arms being flexible.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |