Water aerating device for aquarium

A water aerating device for an aquarium includes a container having an entrance and an exit arranged to allow water to flow into and out of a space of the container, and having a housing. A pumping device is disposed in the container for pumping the water into and out of the space of the container, and simultaneously for pumping air into the housing and the space of the container. A rotor is rotatably received in the housing, a receptacle secured to the rotor and having one or more paddle blades received in the space of the container, to pump the water. The receptacle includes a chamber having one or more fan blades to draw air into the receptacle.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water aerating device, and more particularly to a water aerating device for attaching to aquariums and for effectively pumping air into the aquariums.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical water aerating devices and/or water filtering devices have been developed for being attached to aquariums and for pumping air into the aquariums and/or for filtering the water.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated is one of the typical water aerating devices for supplying air into the inner portion 91 of the aquariums 90, and comprising a housing 1 for attaching or securing to inner portions 91 of aquariums 90 with such as sucker members, a pump 10 disposed in the housing 1, and a fan or paddle device 12 attached to the spindle 11 of the pump 10, and received in a chamber 13 of the housing 1, for being rotated or driven by the pump 10.

The housing 1 includes an inlet tube 14 attached thereto and communicating with the chamber 13 thereof, for allowing water to flow into the chamber 13 of the housing 1. A filter 15 is attached to the inlet tube 14, to filter and to prevent dirt or contaminants or particles from flowing into the chamber 13 of the housing 1.

The housing 1 further includes an outlet tube 16 attached thereto and communicating with the chamber 13 thereof, for allowing the water to flow out of the chamber 13 of the housing 1 and to flow into the aquarium 90. A hose 18 may be coupled to a port 17 of the outlet tube 16, to supply air into the outlet tube 16, and to allow the air to be drawn into the aquarium 90 by the water pumped through the outlet tube 16 of the housing 1.

However, the water pumped and flowing through the outlet tube 16 of the housing 1 includes a smaller flowing speed and may not be used to suitably or effectively draw the air through the outlet tube 16 of the housing 1.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, some of the typical water aerating devices include a hose 18 coupled to the inlet tube 14 with a coupler 19, to supply air into the inlet tube 16 and the chamber 13 of the housing 1, and to allow the air to be drawn or pumped into the aquarium 90 through the outlet tube 16 of the housing 1 by the pump 10.

However, the air will be drawn into the chamber 13 of the housing 1, such that the pump 10 may have a good chance to pump the air only, but not the water, such that the pump 10 may have a good chance to be idled without pumping water.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional water aerating devices for aquariums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a water aerating device for attaching to aquariums and for effectively pumping air into the aquariums.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a water aerating device for an aquarium, the water aerating device comprising a water aerating device for an aquarium, the water aerating device comprising a container for being attached to the aquarium, and including a space formed therein, and including an entrance and an exit arranged to allow water to flow into and out of the space of the container, the container including a housing disposed therein and having a port, and a pumping device for pumping the water into and out of the space of the container, and simultaneously for pumping air into the housing and the space of the container.

The pumping device includes a rotor rotatably received in the housing, a receptacle secured to the rotor and rotated in concert with the rotor and having at least one paddle blade extended therefrom and received in the space of the container, to pump the water into and out of the space of the container.

The rotor includes a casing rotatably received in the housing, and having a bore formed therein and communicating with the port of the housing, to allow air to flow into the receptacle via the bore of the casing. The rotor includes at least one magnet engaged onto the casing.

The rotor includes a pipe engaged in the bore of the casing, and having an air passage formed therein, for communicating the receptacle with the port of the housing, to allow air to flow into the receptacle via the air passage of the pipe.

The casing includes at least one depression formed therein, the receptacle includes at least one projection extended therefrom and engaged into the depression of the casing, to allow the receptacle and the casing to be solidly secured together.

The receptacle includes a chamber formed therein and having at least one fan blade provided therein, for drawing air into the receptacle when the rotor and the receptacle are rotated relative to the housing by the actuating device. The paddle blade of the receptacle includes a groove formed therein, to allow the air to flow out of the chamber of the receptacle and to flow into the space of the container.

The pumping device includes an actuating device for actuating the rotor and the receptacle to rotate relative to the housing, and to operate the paddle blade of the receptacle to propel the water into and out of the space of the container. The actuating device includes a stator disposed in the container to actuate the rotor. The stator is attached onto the housing.

A water resistive glue may further be provided and engaged onto the stator, to enclose and protect the stator. A hose may further be provided and coupled to the port of the housing, to supply air into the housing via the port of the housing.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating an attachment of a typical water aerating device to an aquarium;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the water aerating device for aquariums as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating an attachment of another typical water aerating device to the aquarium;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the water aerating device for aquariums as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating an attachment of a water aerating device in accordance with the present invention to an aquarium;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the water aerating device, in which one half of the water aerating device has been cut off, to show an inner structure of the water aerating device;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the water aerating device for aquariums;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial exploded view of the water aerating device;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the water aerating device, taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 5-9, a water aerating device in accordance with the present invention is generally designated with a reference numeral 2, and is provided for attaching to an aquarium 90, for pumping air into the water contained within an inner portion 91 of the aquarium 90, and/or for circulating the water in the aquarium 90.

The water aerating device 2 comprises a container 20 received in the aquarium 90 and attachable to the aquarium 90 with such as sucker members. The container 20 includes a partition 21 disposed in an inner portion thereof, to separate the inner portion thereof into a space 22 and a chamber 23, and includes an entrance 24 and an exit 26 formed or provided thereon and communicating with the space 22 thereof, for allowing the water to flow into and to flow out of the space 22 of the container 20.

A filter device 25 may be attached to the entrance 24 of the container 20, to filter dirt or contaminants or particles, and to prevent the dirt or contaminants or particles from flowing into the space 22 of the container 20. It is preferable that the entrance 24 of the container 20 and the filter device 25 are disposed or arranged to be faced downwardly, best shown in FIG. 5.

The container 20 includes a housing 27 disposed or formed in the inner portion thereof, such as extended into the chamber 23 thereof from the partition 21, and having a bore 28 formed therein and communicating with the space 22 of the container 20, and having a port 29 communicating with the bore 28 of the housing 27 and communicating with the chamber 23 of the container 20.

A pump 3 is received in the container 20. For example, the pump 3 includes a stator 30 received in the chamber 23 of the container 20, or engaged onto or around the housing 27, and a rotor 31 rotatably received in the housing 27, and to be actuated or operated or driven by the stator 30 of the pump 3 when the stator 30 is energized.

The rotor 31 includes a casing 32 rotatably received in the housing 27 and having a bore 33 formed therein and aligned with or communicating with the port 29 of the housing 27, and includes one or more magnets 34 secured onto the casing 32 and rotated in concert with the casing 32. A pipe 35 is secured in the bore 33 of the casing 32, and includes one end rotatably received or engaged in the port 29 of the housing 27, and includes an air passage 36 formed therein for allowing air to flow through the air passage 36 of the pipe 35 and thus to flow through the casing 32.

A hose 37 may include one end engaged into the chamber 23 of the container 20, and coupled to the port 29 of the housing 27, and/or engaged onto the one end of the pipe 35, and may include the other end extended out of the aquarium 90 (FIG. 5), for supply air or the like into or through the pipe 35. A water resistive glue 38 or rubber material or the like may be engaged onto the stator 30, to enclose or to seal and to protect the stator 30.

A receptacle 40 may further be provided and may be secured to the casing 32 with fasteners (not shown), adhesive materials, or by welding processes, to solidly secure the receptacle 40 to the casing 32, and to allow the receptacle 40 and the casing 32 to be rotated in concert with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the receptacle 40 may include one or more projections 41 extended therefrom and engaged into corresponding depressions 39 of the casing 32, to allow the receptacle 40 and the casing 32 to be further solidly secured together, and to be prevented from rotating relative to the other.

The receptacle 40 includes one or more fan blades 43 provided therein or extended therefrom and engaged or disposed or provided around the pipe 35 (FIG. 10), to draw the air into a chamber 44 of the receptacle 40, via the pipe 35 and the hose 37, when the receptacle 40 and the casing 32 of the rotor 31 are driven or rotated by the stator 30.

The receptacle 40 further includes one or more paddle blades 45 provided thereon or extended outwardly therefrom and engaged or disposed or received within the space 22 of the container 20, to pump the water into and out of the space 22 of the container 20, and thus to circulate the water in the aquarium 90. Each of the paddle blades 45 includes a groove 46 formed therein and communicating with the chamber 44 of the receptacle 40, to allow the air to flow from the chamber 44 of the receptacle 40 into the space 22 of the container 20, and then into the inner portion 91 of the aquarium 90.

It is to be noted that the receptacle 40 and the casing 32 may also be solidly secured together or formed integral with each other as an one-integral piece, to allow the receptacle 40 and the casing 32 of the rotor 31 to be effectively driven or rotated by the stator 30.

In operation, when the stator 30 is energized, the rotor 31 and thus the receptacle 40 may be actuated or operated or driven or rotated by the stator 30 of the pump 3, such that the paddle blades 45 may be driven or rotated or actuated to propel the water from the entrance 24 toward the exit 26 of the container 20.

In addition, when the rotor 31 and the receptacle 40 are driven or rotated by the stator 30 of the pump 3, the fan blades 43 may also be rotated or driven to draw the air into the chamber 44 of the receptacle 40, via the pipe 35 and the hose 37, and to allow the air to flow into the space 22 of the container 20, and then to flow into the inner portion 91 of the aquarium 90 together with the water pumped by the paddle blades 45.

It is to be noted that, when the water is propelled or pumped from the entrance 24 toward the exit 26 of the container 20, the water flowing through the container 20 may also form or provide a sucking or drawing force to draw the air out of the groove 46 of the paddle blades 45, to allow the air to be effectively drawn or supplied into the aquarium 90.

Accordingly, the water aerating device in accordance with the present invention includes may be attached to aquariums to effectively pump the air into the aquariums.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A water aerating device for an aquarium, said water aerating device comprising:

a container for being attached to the aquarium, and including a space formed therein, and including an entrance and an exit arranged to allow water to flow into and out of said space of said container, said container including a housing disposed therein and having a port, and
means for pumping the water into and out of said space of said container, and simultaneously for pumping air into said housing and said space of said container.

2. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pumping means includes a rotor rotatably received in said housing, a receptacle secured to said rotor and rotated in concert with said rotor and having at least one paddle blade extended therefrom and received in said space of said container, to pump the water into and out of said space of said container.

3. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rotor includes a casing rotatably received in said housing, and having a bore formed therein and communicating with said port of said housing, to allow air to flow into said receptacle via said bore of said casing.

4. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rotor includes at least one magnet engaged onto said casing.

5. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rotor includes a pipe engaged in said bore of said casing, and having an air passage formed therein, for communicating said receptacle with said port of said housing, to allow air to flow into said receptacle via said air passage of said pipe.

6. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said casing includes at least one depression formed therein, said receptacle includes at least one projection extended therefrom and engaged into said at least one depression of said casing, to allow said receptacle and said casing to be solidly secured together.

7. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said receptacle includes a chamber formed therein and having at least one fan blade provided therein, for drawing air into said receptacle when said rotor and said receptacle are rotated relative to said housing by said actuating means.

8. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one paddle blade of said receptacle includes a groove formed therein, to allow the air to flow out of said chamber of said receptacle and to flow into said space of said container.

9. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pumping means includes means for actuating said rotor and said receptacle to rotate relative to said housing, and to operate said at least one paddle blade of said receptacle to propel the water into and out of said space of said container.

10. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said actuating means includes a stator disposed in said container to. actuate said rotor.

11. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said stator is attached onto said housing.

12. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a water resistive glue engaged onto said stator, to enclose and protect said stator.

13. The water aerating device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a hose coupled to said port of said housing, to supply air into said housing via said port of said housing.

14. A water aerating device for an aquarium, said water aerating device comprising:

a container for being attached to the aquarium, and including a space formed therein, and including an entrance and an exit arranged to allow water to flow into and out of said space of said container, said container including a housing disposed therein and having a port,
a rotor rotatably received in said housing,
a receptacle secured to said rotor and rotated in concert with said rotor, said receptacle including at least one paddle blade extended therefrom and received in said space of said container, to pump the water into and out of said space of said container, and
means for actuating said rotor and said receptacle to rotate relative to said housing, and to operate said at least one paddle blade of said receptacle to propel the water into and out of said space of said container.
Patent History
Publication number: 20050232766
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 20, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventor: Ting Tsai (Taichung)
Application Number: 10/830,292
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 415/232.000