Patent US3630364A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3630364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand-manipulated, particle-removing device for aquariums
Assignee: Aquaria Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-01
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-04-01
Abstract
Abstract An elongated tubular body terminating in a nozzle at its lower end, an air outlet at its upper end, and an elongated lateral opening therein; a tube for compressed air substantially coextensive with said body and having its lower air-discharging end opening into the body adjacent the nozzle thereof; a longitudinal adjustable sleeve on the body provided with a downwardly directed tubular extension in communication with the mentioned lateral opening in the body for discharging water-borne particles received from the nozzle end thereof when immersed in the water of an aquarium, the discharged air entering the body and, in the form of bubbles, percolating upwardly through the water in said body and, finally, venting from the upper end of the body; a longitudinally adjustable scraper fitting on the nozzle end of the body for loosening accumulations of matter desired to be removed so particles thereof are buoyed upwardly and into the influence of the upwardly percolating air bubbles and carried thereby toward the mentioned downwardly directed extension, and a filter bag on the end of said extension to receive and pass water entering the same while intercepting particles of matter entering therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy B Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:41
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/14; E04H4/16; E04H4/1618; E04H4/1636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A particle-removing device for aquariums comprising: an elongated, tubular body open at both ends, one end constituting an air vent and the other, when immersed in the water of an aquarium, constituting an inlet nozzle for water from the bottom of the aquarium, a tube to conduct compressed air to the interior of said body adjacent to said inlet nozzle to produce air bubbles that percolate upwardly in said water in the body interior and carry foreign particles in said water, an elongated port in the wall of said elongated body, a sleevelike member slidably adjustably mounted on said body and provided with a downwardly directed tubular extension, said member being formed with a longitudinal slit in which the mentioned compressed air tube is disposed to retain the body and said member relatively nonrotational, the downwardly directed tubular extension being in communication, through said elongated port, with the interior of the body and receiving particle-containing water from the interior of the body, two longitudinally spaced abutments on said body, the spacing therebetween being greater than the length of the port, whereby the interior of the body and the downwardly directed extension are in communication in all adjusted positions along the body between the abutments, and filter means connected to the outlet end of the tubular extension to allow water to pass therethrough and intercept particles in said water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A particle-removing device for aquariums comprising: an elongated, tubular body open at both ends, one end constituting an air vent and the other, when immersed in the water of an aquarium, constituting an inlet nozzle for water from the bottom of the aquarium, a tube to conduct compressed air to the interior of said body adjacent to said inlet nozzle to produce air bubbles that percolate upwardly in said water in the body interior and carry foreign particles in said water, an elongated port in the wall of said elongated body, a sleevelike member slidably adjustably mounted on said body and provided with a downwardly directed tubular extension, said member being formed with a longitudinal slit in which the mentioned compressed air tube is disposed to retain the body and said member relatively nonrotational, the downwardly directed tubular extension being in communication, through said elongated port, with the interior of the body and receiving particle-containing water from the interior of the body, two longitudinally spaced abutments on said body, the spacing therebetween being greater than the length of the port, whereby the interior of the body and the downwardly directed extension are in communication in all adjusted positions along the body between the abutments, and filter means connected to the outlet end of the tubular extension to allow water to pass therethrough and intercept particles in said water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A particle-removing device according to claim 1 in which the inlet nozzle has a flattened form and in which the end of the compressed air tube enters the interior of the body spaced from the flattened nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A particle-removing device according to claim 1 provided with a longitudinally adjustable fitting for scraping foreign accumulations from the bottom of the aquarium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A particle-removing device according to claim 3 in which said fitting is formed to have a bottom-scraping and sand-dislodging blade, whereby particles loosened by the blade are buoyed by the aquarium water to move into the influence of the compressed air entering the body and to be caught up in bubbles formed by said compressed air rising toward the mentioned downwardly directed extension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A particle-removing device according to claim 4 in which the blade of the mentioned fitting when fully retracted, extends beyond the nozzle of the body, thereby, the blade at all times spaces the nozzle from the aquarium bottom.
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) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |