Magnetically coupled aquarium filter

Claim 1

In a filter apparatus for use with a home-type aquarium having a wall defining a rim, said filter apparatus having: a power unit having a housing, a motor having a drive shaft and a first magnet member mounted on said shaft, said motor being mounted within said housing, and hanger means attached to said housing for hanging said power unit on a rim of an aquarium wall so as to suspend said power unit from an aquarium wall, said hanger means extending upwardly and including a hook-shaped member for hooking engagement over an aquarium wall rim, a separate filter unit, means for mounting said filter unit in close proximity to said power unit, said filter unit comprising a container, a pump housed in the lower portion of said container, said pump having a second magnet member to be rotated by the magnetic field of said first magnet member for the rotation of the pump impeller; the improvement comprising: said means for mounting said filter unit with respect to said power unit includes an upward facing edge defined by the exterior surface of said hook-shaped member for hanging said power unit, hanger means mounted on said filter unit container for removable engagement with said upward facing edge of said hook-shaped member, said hanger means constructed and arranged for interlocking hooking engagement with said upward facing edge, and means mounted on said power unit housing for engaging the lower end of said separate filter unit container for providing accurate alignment of said first and second magnet members for transmitting power from said first magnet member to said second magnet member to drive said pump whereby said filter unit mounting means provides for removal of said separate filter unit without disturbing said power unit and the filter unit may be serviced by lifting it away from the power unit allowing it to retain its position on an aquarium rim.