Aquarium

Claim 2

An aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced, unitary, top and bottom frames, at least said bottom frame including a perimetrically extending wall having a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, vertical wall means, and additional wall sections, including generally horizontal, wall supporting portions, integrally joined to said vertical wall means to define a plurality of relatively angularly disposed recess means and also including laterally inwardly extending flange means, said aquarium also comprising: a plurality of adjacent, relatively angularly disposed, at least partly transparent, side wall sections, having vertically abutting vertically extending edge portions spanning said upper and lower frames and lower edge portions received in said recess means to form an enveloping side enclosure; a bottom wall section supported by said flange means, and having edge portions in abutting engagement with said edge portions of said side wall sections; and means for sealing said side and bottom wall edge portions and said frames together including means for sealing each side wall section to the contiguous side wall section along the entire exposed vertical edge portion thereof, and sealing said bottom wall section along the entire edge portions thereof to provide a water-tight enclosure; the frame vertical wall means having internal, vertical groove means receiving protruding vertically extending edge portions of the at least partly transparent side wall sections recieved in the recess means of the contiguous, angularly disposed, frame vertical wall means.

Claim 3

The aquarium set forth in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom frames are identical and include vertically aligned openings therein, said additional wall sections comprising vertical inner wall means and an additional wall spanning said inner wall means and said vertical wall means to define a perimetrically extending, open ended slot, said flange means formed integrally with and extending inwardly from said inner wall means.

Claim 4

The frame set forth in claim 2 wherein said vertical and inner wall means comprise a pair of continuous integral walls spanned by said additionaL wall.

Claim 5

The frame set forth in claim 2 wherein said support flange means is disposed interjacent the ends of said vertical wall means.

Claim 6

The frame set forth in claim 4 wherein said inner vertical wall means has a terminal end terminating below said vertical wall means, said support flange extending inwardly of the terminal end thereof.

Claim 7

The aquarium set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal vertical groove means is provided in said vertical wall means outward of the side wall section for receiving edge portions of contiguous side wall sections.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 1 in which said bottom wall section is perimetrically undersize and elastomerically bonded over its entire perimetrical edge to said generally horizontal wall supporting flanges, said bond comprising continuous sealant bead means, which is elastic when cured, bonding said bottom wall section to said horizontal wall supporting flanges.

Claim 9

An aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced, unitary, synthetic plastic, top and bottom frames; at least said bottom frame including a perimetrically extending continuous member comprising a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, integrally connected, outer vertical wall sections connected with parallel integrally connected inner vertical wall sections spaced therefrom by integrally connected laterally extending wall section means to define a continuous perimetrical slot means therebetween; a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, side panel sections, at least some of which are transparent, received within said slot and spanning said frame sections; said slot having at least portions of a width to snugly receive each of the side panel sections and support them in upright position; said side panel sections being relatively arranged with vertically abutting lapping edges to permit said side panel sections to form a sealed side enclosure; at least one of said side panel sections having a protruding vertical edge portion extending beyond the side panel section with which the edge of said one side panel section is in vertically abutting relation; inset, vertically extending groove means provided in one of the bottom frame vertical wall sections which extends angularly to the vertical wall section in which the panel section with the protruding edge portion is received, forming a continuation of the slot means in which said panel section with the protruding edge portion is received and receiving said protruding edge portion; a bottom panel section closing said bottom frame and means for sealing engaged panel sections and frame sections to provide a watertight enclosure.

Claim 10

An aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced, unitary, synthetic plastic, top and bottom frames; at least said bottom frame including a perimetrically extending continuous member comprising a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, integrally connected, outer vertical wall sections connected with parallel integrally connected inner vertical wall sections spaced therefrom by integrally connected laterally extending wall section means to define a continuous perimetrical slot means therebetween; a plurality of relatively angularly disposed, side panel sections, at least some of which are transparent, received within said slot and spanning said frame sections; said slot having at least portions of a width to snugly receive each of the side panel sections and support them in upright position; said side panel sections being relatively arranged with vertically abutting lapping edges to permit said side panel sections to form a sealed side enclosure; at least one of said side panel sections having a protruding vertical edge portion extending beyond the side panel section with which the edge of said one side panel section is in vertically abutting relation; inset, vertically extending groove means provided in one of the bottom frame vertical wall sections which extends angularly to the vertical wall section in which the panel section with the protruding edge portion is received, forming a continuation of the slot means in which said panel section with the protruding edge portion is received and receiving said protruding edge portion; a bottom panel section closing said bottom frame and means for sealing engaged panel sections and frame sections to provide a watertight enclosure.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 8 in which said side panel sections comprise glass side parts and glass end parts received between them, and said bottom frame inner and outer vertical wall sections likewise comprise corresponding side parts and end parts; the vertical edges of the glass side parts protruding beyond the glass end parts received between them; said inset vertical recess means to receive the protruding edges being provided in the inner face of each end of the outer wall of the bottom frame end parts, opening through the tops thereof.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 8 in which an inwardly extending perimetrical lateral flange, having side and end portions, is provided on said inner vertical wall sections; and said bottom panel section is supported thereon and sealed thereto.

Claim 13

A water-tight aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced, horizontal, unitary rigid, centrally open, top and bottom injection molded, identical plastic frames; each frame including a perimetrically extending prismatic continuous wall comprising a pair of integrally connected inner and outer vertical wall sections spaced apart by lateral wall means to define a glass side panel receiving slot means between them; said identical frames being oppositely disposed with their perimetrical slots in confronting Vertical alignment; the inner vertical wall of each frame terminating in a continuous horizontal flange; a plurality of relatively perpendicularly disposed side glass panels having their upper and lower edges received within said confronting slots in said frames; said side glass sections being relatively arranged at right angles with vertically abutting lapping edges to permit said side glass sections to form a completely transparent sealed glass side enclosure; an adhesive sealant between said lapping edges and between the frames and panels; at least one of said side panels having a protruding vertical edge portion extending beyond the side panel with which the edge of said one side panel is in vertically abutting relation; said frames comprising separate, non-connected members functioning together as a jig to hold said frames and glass in assembled relation for curing of said adhesive sealant; inset, vertically extending groove means in one of the bottom frame outer vertical wall sections, forming a continuation of the slot means in which said panel section with the protruding edge portion is received, receiving said protruding edge portion; and a bottom panel sealed to said horizontal flange on the bottom frame.

Claim 14

A water-tight aquarium comprising: continuously integrally extending, vertically spaced, horizontal, unitary rigid, centrally open, top and bottom injection molded, identical plastic frames; each frame including a perimetrically extending prismatic continuous wall comprising a pair of integrally connected inner and outer vertical wall sections spaced apart by lateral wall means to define a glass side panel receiving slot means between them; said identical frames being oppositely disposed with their perimetrical slots in confronting Vertical alignment; the inner vertical wall of each frame terminating in a continuous horizontal flange; a plurality of relatively perpendicularly disposed side glass panels having their upper and lower edges received within said confronting slots in said frames; said side glass sections being relatively arranged at right angles with vertically abutting lapping edges to permit said side glass sections to form a completely transparent sealed glass side enclosure; an adhesive sealant between said lapping edges and between the frames and panels; at least one of said side panels having a protruding vertical edge portion extending beyond the side panel with which the edge of said one side panel is in vertically abutting relation; said frames comprising separate, non-connected members functioning together as a jig to hold said frames and glass in assembled relation for curing of said adhesive sealant; inset, vertically extending groove means in one of the bottom frame outer vertical wall sections, forming a continuation of the slot means in which said panel section with the protruding edge portion is received, receiving said protruding edge portion; and a bottom panel sealed to said horizontal flange on the bottom frame.