Patent US3479327A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4714547A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4714547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aquarium tubules
Assignee: Willinger Brothers Inc
•
Filing: 1986-05-05
•
Granted: 1987-12-22
•
Expires: 2006-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An aquarium water treatment module comprising a tubule formed of biologically acceptable thermoplastic material. The tubule has a specific gravity proximate that of water. The tubule can be inserted within a filter device such as an internal aquarium filter or a filter cartridge. The tubule is light in weight so that it can disperse within the filter. The tubule supports the propagation of organisms useful in the biological filtration of the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan H. Willinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:09
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; A01K63/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
In combination, an aquarium filter cartridge for use in aquarium filtering by placement in a flow path of a recirculating system of water from the aquarium and a plurality of tubules disposed within the cartridge, said cartridge comprising a frame member and a filter envelope, said filter envelope being formed of a filter material and having a front wall and a back wall and a closed bottom which is closed on three of the four perimeter edges, said frame being positioned within said envelope, said tubules formed of a biologically acceptable thermoplastic material, for supporting the propagation of organisms which are active in the biological filtration of aquarium water, to provide biological filtration within the filter cartridge, said tubules in conjunction with said frame member serving to retain said walls in spaced apart relationship such that aquarium water can flow into one wall, traverse said frame member, pass through the tubules and exit from the opposing wall, said tubules being disposed within the cartridge sufficiently to disperse the water traversing between the walls to provide a distribution of the water across substantially the entire opposing wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
In combination, an aquarium filter cartridge for use in aquarium filtering by placement in a flow path of a recirculating system of water from the aquarium and a plurality of tubules disposed within the cartridge, said cartridge comprising a frame member and a filter envelope, said filter envelope being formed of a filter material and having a front wall and a back wall and a closed bottom which is closed on three of the four perimeter edges, said frame being positioned within said envelope, said tubules formed of a biologically acceptable thermoplastic material, for supporting the propagation of organisms which are active in the biological filtration of aquarium water, to provide biological filtration within the filter cartridge, said tubules in conjunction with said frame member serving to retain said walls in spaced apart relationship such that aquarium water can flow into one wall, traverse said frame member, pass through the tubules and exit from the opposing wall, said tubules being disposed within the cartridge sufficiently to disperse the water traversing between the walls to provide a distribution of the water across substantially the entire opposing wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as in claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the tubules proximates that of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination as in claim 1, wherein the tubules are resilient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as in claim 1, and further comprising additional filtering material in the envelope, the tubule serving to disperse the additional filtering material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as in claim 4, wherein the walls of the tubules are between 5/1000th and 30/1000th of an inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as the claim 1, wherein the density of the tubules approximates the density of water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as in claim 1, and comprising means for varying the density of the tubules to suitably adjust its specific gravity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as in claim 7, wherein said means for varying the density includes a filler material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as in claim 1, wherein the material of the tubules is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as in claim 1, wherein said tubules comprise thin walled generally tubular sections, the walls being adopted to support propagation of organisms, which are active in the biological filtration of aquarium water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
An aquarium kit for aquarium filtration comprising a substantially rigid filter cartridge framework, an envelope of filter material having a front wall and a back wall and a closed bottom which is closed on three of the four perimeter edges defining an inner space therebetween and receiving therein said framework, said framework acting to separate said walls, carbonaceous material for insertion into the inner space for filtering of water passing through the cartridge, cylindrical thermoplastic tubules for insertion into the inner space for aiding in the separation of the walls, providing a distribution of water across substantially the entire surface of the walls, and aiding in the filtration and means for closing the envelope which when assembled provides a filtration system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
An aquarium kit for aquarium filtration comprising a substantially rigid filter cartridge framework, an envelope of filter material having a front wall and a back wall and a closed bottom which is closed on three of the four perimeter edges defining an inner space therebetween and receiving therein said framework, said framework acting to separate said walls, carbonaceous material for insertion into the inner space for filtering of water passing through the cartridge, cylindrical thermoplastic tubules for insertion into the inner space for aiding in the separation of the walls, providing a distribution of water across substantially the entire surface of the walls, and aiding in the filtration and means for closing the envelope which when assembled provides a filtration system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A kit as in claim 11, wherein the tubules are thin walled, resilient, and have a specific gravity proximate that of water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
An aquarium filter cartridqe comprisinq a substantially rigid filter cartridge framework, an envelope for filter material said envelope being formed of a filtering material and having a front wall and a back wall and a closed bottom which is closed on three of the four perimeter edges defining an inner space therebetween and receiving therein said framework, said framework acting to separate said walls, carbonaceous material in the inner space for filtering of water passing through the cartridge, cylindrical thermoplastic tubules in the inner space for aiding in the separation of the walls and providing biological filtration in said filter cartridge, and means for closing the envelope.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
An aquarium filter cartridqe comprisinq a substantially rigid filter cartridge framework, an envelope for filter material said envelope being formed of a filtering material and having a front wall and a back wall and a closed bottom which is closed on three of the four perimeter edges defining an inner space therebetween and receiving therein said framework, said framework acting to separate said walls, carbonaceous material in the inner space for filtering of water passing through the cartridge, cylindrical thermoplastic tubules in the inner space for aiding in the separation of the walls and providing biological filtration in said filter cartridge, and means for closing the envelope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3357563A
Cited
US3968034A
Cited
US3882027A
Cited
US4005010A
Cited
US4401447A
Cited
US4312752A
Cited
US4483769A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-21 | 1991-06-22 | 1991-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-21 | 1995-06-22 | 1995-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-21 | 1999-06-22 | 1999-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |