US3857366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinged aquarium cover
Assignee: Metaframe Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-16
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium cover has a elongate planar frame member having two longitudinal edges. Elongate side panels generally of the same length as the frame member are integral with and hingedly connected to the planar frame member along opposite ones of the longitudinal edges. The planar frame member has an opening therein closed by a pane of glass. The panels are so arranged so as to be movable from extended positions wherein the panels are co-planar with the frame member and wherein the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium. The panels are also arranged to be turned about respective hinges to positions adjacent a planar surface of the frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto whereby the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of the panels. Apertures, including knockouts in the form of removable tabs are provided in the panels for accommodating aquarium accessories therethrough. A light assembly includes a housing which is adatped to be mounted over the frame member. The light generated by the light assembly is transmitted through the glass pane into the aquarium when the cover is mounted thereon. When stored or shipped, the light assembly housing protects the glass pane on one side thereof while the panels, when in a folded position, protect the glass pane on the other side thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 A Willinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:46
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/003; A01K63/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongated plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; a first elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions; a second elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the other of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said panels being arranged to be placed in extended positions wherein said panels are coplanar with said frame member; said panels also being arranged to be placed in folded positions wherein said panels are disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended positions of said panels while the cover can be conveniently storeD and shipped in the folded positions of said panels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongated plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; a first elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions; a second elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the other of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said panels being arranged to be placed in extended positions wherein said panels are coplanar with said frame member; said panels also being arranged to be placed in folded positions wherein said panels are disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended positions of said panels while the cover can be conveniently storeD and shipped in the folded positions of said panels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 1, wherein both said panels are arranged to be disposed adjacently to the same planar surface of said frame member in the folded positions of said panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 2, further comprising light generating means having a housing configurated to engage the other planar surface of said frame member, said housing and said panels in their folded positions together substantially surrounding said light transmitting means, whereby said light transmitting means is protected from external forces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 1, wherein said panel is hinged to said frame member by means of a hinge integral with said panel and with said frame member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said frame member and said panel being integrally formed and connected to each other along a weakened line portion about which said panel is hinged to said frame member, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said frame member and said panel being integrally formed and connected to each other along a weakened line portion about which said panel is hinged to said frame member, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 5, in combination with an aquarium having inwardly projecting lips adjacent the rim of the aquarium, wherein said frame member and said panel are dimensioned to be receivable interiorly of the aquarium in abutting relation to said inwardly projecting lips when said panel is in said extended position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 6, wherein said frame member and said panel each have a top surface when covering the aquarium, said top surfaces being substantially coextensive with said rim of the aquarium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 6, further comprising weight means associated with said panel for maintaining the latter in abutting relation to said inwardly projecting lips in an extended position when covering the aquarium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 8, wherein said panel includes an elongate channel; said weight means comprising a metallic bar receivable in said channel; and a removable lid adapted to enclose said metallic bar in said channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
235 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel; aperture means in said panel for passage of aquarium accessories therethrough when said panel is disposed in an extended position and said panel together with said frame member cover an aquarium; a plurality of series-connected removable tabs together coverIng said aperture means; and rib means for connecting said tabs to said panel and to each other, said rib means being made from a severable material, whereby the effective size of said aperture means opening may be selectively adjusted by removing a desired number of said removable tabs by severing respective ones of said rib means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
235 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel; aperture means in said panel for passage of aquarium accessories therethrough when said panel is disposed in an extended position and said panel together with said frame member cover an aquarium; a plurality of series-connected removable tabs together coverIng said aperture means; and rib means for connecting said tabs to said panel and to each other, said rib means being made from a severable material, whereby the effective size of said aperture means opening may be selectively adjusted by removing a desired number of said removable tabs by severing respective ones of said rib means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
234 words
An aquarium cover in combination with an aquarium having inwardly projecting lips adjacent the rim of the aquarium, the cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said frame member and said panel being dimensioned to be receivable interiorly of the aquarium in abutting relation to said inwardly projecting lips when said panel is in extended position, said panel having an edge extending adjacently to said rim when covering the aquarium, and further comprising at least one projecting finger configurated to engage said projecting lip to thereby prevent relative movement of said panel relative to said projecting lip when said panel covers the aquarium, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
234 words
An aquarium cover in combination with an aquarium having inwardly projecting lips adjacent the rim of the aquarium, the cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said frame member and said panel being dimensioned to be receivable interiorly of the aquarium in abutting relation to said inwardly projecting lips when said panel is in extended position, said panel having an edge extending adjacently to said rim when covering the aquarium, and further comprising at least one projecting finger configurated to engage said projecting lip to thereby prevent relative movement of said panel relative to said projecting lip when said panel covers the aquarium, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
218 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel; light generating means associated with said frame member for generating light directed through said opening into an aquarium when the frame member and said panel cover the aquarium, said light generating means comprising a housing having two spaced skirts; and further comprising two spaced retaining projections extending from said frame member, said two spaced retaining projections being adapted to engage said skirts and prevent said housing from moving in a direction normal to that of said longitudinal edges.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
218 words
An aquarium cover comprising an elongate plastic planar frame member having two longitudinal weakened line portions and an opening therein; light transmitting means extending across and covering said opening; at least one elongate side panel generally of the same length as said frame member and hingedly connected to the latter along one of said longitudinal weakened line portions, said panel being arranged to be placed in an extended position wherein said panel is co-planar with said frame member, said panel also being arranged to be placed in a folded position wherein said panel is disposed adjacent the planar surface of said frame member in substantially coextensive relation thereto, whereby the cover is adapted to cover an aquarium in the extended position of said panel while the cover can be conveniently stored and shipped in the folded position of said panel; light generating means associated with said frame member for generating light directed through said opening into an aquarium when the frame member and said panel cover the aquarium, said light generating means comprising a housing having two spaced skirts; and further comprising two spaced retaining projections extending from said frame member, said two spaced retaining projections being adapted to engage said skirts and prevent said housing from moving in a direction normal to that of said longitudinal edges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
An aquarium cover as defined in claim 12, wherein said skirts are provided at each end with cutouts adapted to engage the rim of an aquarium to thereby prevent said housing from moving in a direction parallel to that of said longitudinal weakened line portions.
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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |