Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
384 words
An aquarium filtering device in combination with an aquarium tank having contaminated and decontaminated water therein, said filtering device comprising a spherical housing, said housing including a top cover hemispherical portion detachably associated with a bottom hemispherical portion, said bottom portion being provided with a vertically arranged partition to define 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, said first inlet chamber being provided with inlet means in a wall of said bottom portion through which contaminated water from the aquarium tank may flow, an assembly including a cup-shaped platform and a vertically extending annular conduit, said cup-shaped platform being disposed in said bottom portion with an open side directed toward said top cover portion, said cup-shaped platform being spaced above a bottom wall of said bottom portion, said conduit being arranged with a lower portion centrally disposed in said bottom portion within said open side of said cup-shaped platform, said conduit being associated with an aperture in said cup-shaped platform for fluid communication between said conduit and the space between said cup-shaped platform and said bottom wall, an upper portion of said conduit extending to a centrally located outlet opening in said top cover portion, said assembly being located within said second filtration chamber to define a third outlet chamber distinct from said second filtration chamber, said cup-shaped platform being provided with a pluRality of wall openings through said open side for communicating said second filtration chamber in fluid flow relation with said third outlet chamber, said cup-shaped platform containing a mass of filtering material therein, said conduit 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, air stream supply means disposed in said third outlet chamber which directs ingressed air from said opening means into said third outlet chamber thereby causing contaminated water from the aquarium tank to flow through said inlet means 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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
384 words
An aquarium filtering device in combination with an aquarium tank having contaminated and decontaminated water therein, said filtering device comprising a spherical housing, said housing including a top cover hemispherical portion detachably associated with a bottom hemispherical portion, said bottom portion being provided with a vertically arranged partition to define 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, said first inlet chamber being provided with inlet means in a wall of said bottom portion through which contaminated water from the aquarium tank may flow, an assembly including a cup-shaped platform and a vertically extending annular conduit, said cup-shaped platform being disposed in said bottom portion with an open side directed toward said top cover portion, said cup-shaped platform being spaced above a bottom wall of said bottom portion, said conduit being arranged with a lower portion centrally disposed in said bottom portion within said open side of said cup-shaped platform, said conduit being associated with an aperture in said cup-shaped platform for fluid communication between said conduit and the space between said cup-shaped platform and said bottom wall, an upper portion of said conduit extending to a centrally located outlet opening in said top cover portion, said assembly being located within said second filtration chamber to define a third outlet chamber distinct from said second filtration chamber, said cup-shaped platform being provided with a pluRality of wall openings through said open side for communicating said second filtration chamber in fluid flow relation with said third outlet chamber, said cup-shaped platform containing a mass of filtering material therein, said conduit 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, air stream supply means disposed in said third outlet chamber which directs ingressed air from said opening means into said third outlet chamber thereby causing contaminated water from the aquarium tank to flow through said inlet means 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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 including indicating means disposed in said first inlet chamber and responsive to flow of water from said inlet means to said second filtration chamber for signalling flow of the contaminated water through the filtering material, whereby said indicating means alternatively indicates retardation of flow through the filtering material when the filtering material is clogged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said partition is arcuate and spaced from said top cover portion for permitting water to flow from said first inlet chamber to said second filtration chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein flange means detachably connect said top cover portion to said bottom portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom portion is provided with a tripod array of three leg-like flanges upon which said spherical housing rests in an upright position within the aquarium tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said indicating means includes rotary means for visually signalling water inflow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said indicating means includes impeller means extending in said first inlet chamber and supported for rotation in the latter upon inflow of water into said first inlet chamber and outflow from the latter into said second filtration chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said impeller means includes a rotary shaft and at least one helical impeller projecting laterally from said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A filtering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said indicating means and said partition include interfitting members which are operatively associated with one another in detachable slip-on relation, said indicating means including a down-turned flange portion for overlying and resting freely on an associated interfitting member of said partition means.
Claim 11
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.