US3746168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aquarium filtration indicator
Assignee: Metaframe Corp
•
Filing: 1971-11-23
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-11-23
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium filtering device comprising a housing in which is provided a partition for separating the housing into first and second chambers in communicating relation. The housing is provided with at least one opening through which water may enter into the first chamber from an external water-carrying source. The second chamber includes a filtering assembly for cleansing water which has entered the first chamber and which, thereafter, flows into the second chamber. An air conduit is provided for directing air into the second chamber for drawing water through the filtering assembly. Likewise, a conduit is provided for directing both air and cleansed water out of the second chamber after the water has been cleansed by the filtering assembly. A rotary indicator is provided for signalling visually the rate of inflow of water into the first chamber and outflow from the latter into the second chamber so as to guide adjustment and cleansing of the filtering device.
Inventors
- 👤 A Willinger
- 👤 A Dinnerstein
- 👤 A Kagan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:34
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
An aquarium filtering device in combination with an aquarium tank having contaminated and decontaminated water therein, said filtering device comprising in combination a housing provided with three chambers defining a first inlet chamber in fluid flow relation with the aquarium tank and a second filtration chamber in fluid flow relation with said first inlet chamber and a third outlet chamber in fluid flow relation with said second filtration chamber, a mass of filtering material in said second filtration chamber, said third outlet chamber being provided with opening means for ingress of air into said third outlet chamber and egress of decontaminated water out of said third outlet chamber into the aquarium tank, said first inlet chamber being provided with inlet means comprising an inlet through which contaminated water from the tank may flow, an air stream supply means disposed in said third outlet chamber which directs ingressed air from said opening means into said third outlet chamber thereby when the filtering material is unclogged causing contaminated water from the aquarium tank to flow through said inlet into said first inlet chamber and therefrom into said second filtration chamber where the contaminated water is substantially decontaminated by the filtering material before flowing into said third outlet chamber and being egressed through said opening means into the aquarium tank, and indicating means associated with said first inlet chamber and responsive to flow of water from said inlet to said second filtration chamber for signalling flow of the contaminated water through the filtering material, said indicating means including a rotary shaft supported in said first inlet chamber, said shaft being provided with at least one helical impeller for indicating rate of flow of the water from said inlet to said second filtration chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
An aquarium filtering device in combination with an aquarium tank having contaminated and decontaminated water therein, said filtering device comprising in combination a housing provided with three chambers defining a first inlet chamber in fluid flow relation with the aquarium tank and a second filtration chamber in fluid flow relation with said first inlet chamber and a third outlet chamber in fluid flow relation with said second filtration chamber, a mass of filtering material in said second filtration chamber, said third outlet chamber being provided with opening means for ingress of air into said third outlet chamber and egress of decontaminated water out of said third outlet chamber into the aquarium tank, said first inlet chamber being provided with inlet means comprising an inlet through which contaminated water from the tank may flow, an air stream supply means disposed in said third outlet chamber which directs ingressed air from said opening means into said third outlet chamber thereby when the filtering material is unclogged causing contaminated water from the aquarium tank to flow through said inlet into said first inlet chamber and therefrom into said second filtration chamber where the contaminated water is substantially decontaminated by the filtering material before flowing into said third outlet chamber and being egressed through said opening means into the aquarium tank, and indicating means associated with said first inlet chamber and responsive to flow of water from said inlet to said second filtration chamber for signalling flow of the contaminated water through the filtering material, said indicating means including a rotary shaft supported in said first inlet chamber, said shaft being provided with at least one helical impeller for indicating rate of flow of the water from said inlet to said second filtration chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 including means for controlling the amount of air directed into said third outlet chamber and, thereby, controlling the rate of movement of said indicating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft is rotatively connected to a cover portion of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of said housing is constituted of opaque material for concealing said filtering means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes a body disposed externally of said housing and operatively associated with said shaft for movement when said shaft undergoes rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicating means includes a body disposed externally of said housing and fixedly supported on said shaft for rotation together with said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said body includes markings which undergo rotation therewith for emphasizing rotation of said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 including securing means disposed within said housing for detachably connecting said indicating means to said filtering device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said securing means and said filtering device include interfitting members which are operatively associated with one another in detachable slip-on relation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said securing means includes a down-turned flange portion for overlying and resting freely on an upper portion of a vertically extending partition member disposed in said housing, said partition member separating said first inlet chamber from said second filtration chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said securing means includes a down-turned flange portion for overlying and resting freely on an associated interfitting member of said filtering device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said interfitting members include arcuate extents respectively engageable with one another transversely of the down-turned extent of said flange portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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US3276586A
Cited
US3477580A
Cited
US3487809A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |