Patent US3696789A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3696789A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aquarium with improved optical qualities
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-02-26
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium of transparent material and of prismatic shape, provided with a vertical elongated lamp or lamps adjacent a rear corner, with an opaque shield between the lamps and the corner. Light rays from the lamps enter the aquarium through its walls and are refracted and dispersed, leaving the front wall in dispersed spectral form, thereby providing unusual prismatic rainbow effects. Because of the angular relationship between the walls, internal reflection effects are also provided, multiplying the images of the objects in the aquarium.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene D Richard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:32
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An illuminated aquarium tank comprising a transparent vessel of vertical prismatic shape having a rear vertical corner and a front main vertical wall, a substantially linear vertical light source mounted adjacent said rear vertical corner, and vertical opaque light shield means mounted between said light source and said rear vertical corner and blocking direct view of the light source from the front of the aquarium, said light source being located to illuminate a side portion of the vessel forwardly of the shield means and provide at least one vertical light beam which can be refracted and dispersed horizontally through the vessel and emerge through said front vertical wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An illuminated aquarium tank comprising a transparent vessel of vertical prismatic shape having a rear vertical corner and a front main vertical wall, a substantially linear vertical light source mounted adjacent said rear vertical corner, and vertical opaque light shield means mounted between said light source and said rear vertical corner and blocking direct view of the light source from the front of the aquarium, said light source being located to illuminate a side portion of the vessel forwardly of the shield means and provide at least one vertical light beam which can be refracted and dispersed horizontally through the vessel and emerge through said front vertical wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 1, and wherein said transparent vessel is of polygonal horizontal cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 2, and wherein said polygonal horizontal cross-section has at least one front corner subtending an acute angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 3, and wherein said shield means comprises a vertical strip of opaque material disposed between said rear corner and the linear vertical light source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 4, and wherein said vertical light source is located closely adjacent to the intermediate portion of said vertical strip of opaque material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 5, and wherein said light source comprises an elongated vertical lamp bulb and said strip is provided with a lamp socket in which said lamp bulb is mounted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 6, and wherein an opaque housing is mounted over said lamp bulb, said housing being formed with a longitudinal slit located on a radius directed forwardly and toward the adjacent side wall surface of the transparent vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 7, and wherein said front corner subtending said acute angle is located at the same side of said transparent vessel as said side wall surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 2, and wherein said transparent vessel has two front corners, each subtending an acute angle, and wherein two substantially linear light source are provided, spaced on opposite sides of the apex of said rear vertical corner, said light shield means comprising a vertical strip of opaque sheet material of V-shaped cross-section interposed between said light sources and said rear vertical corner and blocking direct view of the light sources from the front of the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 9, and wherein respective lamp sockets are secured to the V-shaped vertical strips on opposite sides of the apex thereof, and said light sources comprise vertical elongated lamp bulbs mounted in said lamp sockets and extending closely adjacent to the midportions of respective sides of the V-shaped strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The illuminated aquarium tank of claim 10, and wherein said lamp bulbs are provided with opaque housings formed with longitudinal slits located on radial lines directed toward the intermediate portions of the adjacent side walls of the transparent vessel.
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) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |