Patent US1487651A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4577567A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3897338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cane filter device
Assignee: Syntex USA LLC
•
Filing: 1973-12-11
•
Granted: 1975-07-29
•
Expires: 1993-12-11
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium filter and aerator adapted to be introduced into an aquarium containing a body of liquid and a gravel bed comprises a rigid elongated tubular member defining a filtration and aeration chamber, closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, and adapted to be inserted into and through all or a portion of the gravel bed, and having foraminous structure at its lower portion permitting flow of liquid into said member from the aquarium. A foraminous air dispersing means is supported in the interior of the elongated tubular member at a point slightly above the foraminous portion. An air inlet tube extends downwardly through the interior of the upper portion of the elongated tubular member therewith to supply air via the air dispersing means to the interior of the tubular member at a point slightly above the foraminous portion thereof. The air stream acts as an air lift, drawing aquarium liquid into the device and aerating it by means of fine air bubbles provided by the action of the air distribution means, permitting confined aeration to take place. Purified liquid is discharged from the upper end of the elongated tubular member back into the aquarium.
Inventors
- 👤 John P Bennett
- 👤 George D Bliss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:23
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A FILTRATION AND AERATION DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED TO AN AQUARIUM CONTAINING A BODY OF LIQUID AND A GRAVEL BED, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER WHICH IS (I) CLOSED AT ITS LOWER END WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR WALL SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND OF LARGER DIAMETER THAN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER THEREBY PRODIDING A BASE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SAID APPARATUS AND (II) OPEN AT ITS UPPER END THEREBY DEFINING A CHAMBER, SAID LOWER END ADAPTED TO BE INERTED INTO OR THROUGH ALL OR A PORTION OF SAID GRAVEL BED SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER BEING PROVIDED AT ITS LOWER PORTION WITH FORAMINOUS STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES FOR SUPPLYING WATER FROM THE AQUARIUM INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHILE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF GRAVEL INTO SAID INTERIOR, B. AIR DISPERSION MEANS FOR SUPPLYING DISPERSED AIR TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AT A POINT SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE UPPERMOST LEVEL OF SAID PASSAGES, C. AN AIR INLET TUBE MEANS POSITIONED IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND ENTERING SAID INTERIOR AT THE UPPER END OF SAID ELONAGTED TUBULAR MEMBER FOR SUPPLYING AIR TO SAID AIR DISPERSING MEANS WHEREBY LIQUID IS DRAWN FROM THE AQUARIUM THROUGH SAID GRAVEL BED AND THROUGH SAID PASSAGES INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND AERATED AND AIR LIFTED THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND DISCHARGED VIA SAID OPEN END.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A FILTRATION AND AERATION DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED TO AN AQUARIUM CONTAINING A BODY OF LIQUID AND A GRAVEL BED, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER WHICH IS (I) CLOSED AT ITS LOWER END WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR WALL SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND OF LARGER DIAMETER THAN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER THEREBY PRODIDING A BASE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SAID APPARATUS AND (II) OPEN AT ITS UPPER END THEREBY DEFINING A CHAMBER, SAID LOWER END ADAPTED TO BE INERTED INTO OR THROUGH ALL OR A PORTION OF SAID GRAVEL BED SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER BEING PROVIDED AT ITS LOWER PORTION WITH FORAMINOUS STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES FOR SUPPLYING WATER FROM THE AQUARIUM INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHILE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF GRAVEL INTO SAID INTERIOR, B. AIR DISPERSION MEANS FOR SUPPLYING DISPERSED AIR TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AT A POINT SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE UPPERMOST LEVEL OF SAID PASSAGES, C. AN AIR INLET TUBE MEANS POSITIONED IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND ENTERING SAID INTERIOR AT THE UPPER END OF SAID ELONAGTED TUBULAR MEMBER FOR SUPPLYING AIR TO SAID AIR DISPERSING MEANS WHEREBY LIQUID IS DRAWN FROM THE AQUARIUM THROUGH SAID GRAVEL BED AND THROUGH SAID PASSAGES INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND AERATED AND AIR LIFTED THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF SAID ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER AND DISCHARGED VIA SAID OPEN END.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air dispersal means comprises a foraminous disc supported in the interior of said elongated tubular member at a point slightly above the uppermost level of said passages and transversely to the axis of the tubular member, said disc being provided with a central opening of approximately the same diameter as said air inlet tube means and wherein said air inlet tube means extends through said central opening in approximately close fit therewith for a distance such that the lower end of said air inlet tube is located slightly above the upper level of said passage openings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the upper end of said elongated tubular member is curved to permit discharge of liquid and air in a direction parallel to the upper surface of said body of liquid, and is provided with an opening coaxial with the axis of said elongated tubular member through which said air inlet tube extends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said elongated tubular member includes interior supporting means for said foraminous disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said air inlet tube passes through said opening in the upper end of the elongated tubular member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said opening in the upper end of the elongated member is provided with sealing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes means for vertically movably positioning said air inlet tube in said tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said elongated tubular member includes means permitting telescoping or extension of the length of said member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air inlet tube enters the interior of said elongated tubular member through the open upper end of said elongated tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air dispersal means comprises plurality of passages in the lower portion of said air inlet tubes for supplying air, in a dispersed condition, from said air inlet tube to said interior and wherein the lower end of said air inlet tube is closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said air inlet tube enters the interior of said elongated tubular member through the open upper end of said elongated tubular member.
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) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |