Toilet aquarium assembly

Abstract

A two-piece toilet aquarium assembly is disclosed. The assembly is adapted to replace a conventional toilet water tank in an existing two-piece toilet assembly and comprises a separate aquarium tank and a toilet water tank adapted to be mounted on a toilet bowl. The toilet water tank provides water for flushing of the toilet bowl and includes a push-button that is operably connected to a toilet flapper flush mechanism. The aquarium tank is removably coupled to the toilet water tank and defines an interior space for holding a water reservoir where aquatic creatures, ornamental objects, a terrarium and the like can be enclosed. A lid substantially covers the top of the toilet aquarium assembly. The aquarium tank and toilet water tank are generally transparent.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toilet tank aquarium assembly with a detachable aquarium tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Two-piece toilet fixtures comprising a toilet bowl and an attached toilet water tank are found in bathrooms of many residential structures. From an aesthetic standpoint, a bathroom toilet fixture is often overlooked and a variety of decorative techniques have been employed to try to enhance the appearance of a bathroom by placing an aquarium on or near the toilet fixture.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,411 issued to Demoret, for example, discloses an aquarium for fish and other creatures that is built into a toilet water tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,537 issued to Cummings, III discloses an aquarium for aquatic life that is interconnected with the water supply means in a toilet water tank.

The toilet aquarium assembly of the present invention substantially departs from the above aquarium inventions and provides for a separate aquarium tank that is easily removable from a toilet water tank to facilitate aquarium cleaning and maintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the toilet aquarium assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toilet water tank of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the toilet water tank of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the aquarium tank of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new toilet tank aquarium assembly for housing aquatic creatures, terrariums and the like to enhance the aesthetic appearance of a bathroom toilet fixture.

The assembly comprises a toilet water tank that can be operatively coupled to the toilet bowl of a two-piece toilet fixture and a separate aquarium tank removably attached to the toilet water tank. The invention is adapted to replace the toilet water tank of a two-piece toilet fixture.

With reference to FIG. 1, the toilet tank aquarium assembly 10 of the invention is shown coupled to a toilet bowl 22 and comprises a separate aquarium tank 12, suitable for housing a water reservoir or a terrarium and the like, the aquarium tank having one or more mounting tabs 30 for detachably securing the aquarium tank to a toilet water tank 14. A removable top lid 16 is adapted to cover the top of the toilet tank aquarium assembly.

The toilet water tank defines an interior space 28 for holding a toilet water reservoir and a toilet flushing assembly 26 that fluidly connects the toilet water reservoir to the toilet bowl, the top of the toilet water tank having an opening into the interior space 28.

A push-button assembly 18 is mounted on the toilet water tank and is operatively connected to the toilet flushing assembly such that the toilet flushing assembly may be actuated by the push button to affect flushing of the toilet bowl. The pushbutton assembly is easily accessed through an opening 24 in the top lid 16 and is adapted to allow the lid to be easily removed without causing flushing of the toilet bowl. The lid has a portal 20 for introducing materials such as nutrients, maintenance chemicals and the like into the aquarium tank.

The toilet water tank and the aquarium tank are made of generally transparent materials so that the water level in the toilet water tank may be viewed from the outside through the aquarium tank. As such, fish and other aquatic creatures in the aquarium tank can appear to float above the receding water level in the toilet tank when the toilet is flushed.

With reference to FIG. 2, the top edge 64 of the toilet water tank 14 has one or more mating recesses 32, adapted to receive one or more aquarium tank mounting tabs 30 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) to support the aquarium tank on the toilet water tank.

A pushbutton recess 56 on the top edge 64 of the toilet water tank is adapted to receive and support the pushbutton assembly 18 by means of a dovetail mounting tab 36. Additional accessory recesses 38 and 40 can be provided to receive and support a variety of tank accessories and sensors.

In an embodiment of the invention, the pushbutton assembly 18 is operationally connected to the toilet flushing assembly 26 by lever means 50 and lanyard means connected to the toilet tank flapper portion of the toilet flushing assembly (not shown), well known in the art. In operation, when the pushbutton is depressed to flush the toilet bowl, the lever means raises the flapper to open the toilet water tank discharge pipe 60 (as shown in FIG. 3) and permit water in the toilet tank to empty into the toilet bowl. A water inlet valve pipe 62 (shown in FIG. 3), coupled to the toilet flushing assembly, is adapted to fill the toilet water tank reservoir as is well known in the art.

A mounting bolt channel 54, adapted to slidably receive toilet water tank mounting bolts 52, is recessed in the bottom surface 66 of the toilet water tank, as is more fully represented in FIG. 3.

With reference to FIG. 3, the toilet water tank 14 is coupled to a toilet bowl by means of toilet water tank mounting bolts 52, each bolt having a head 58 adapted to be slidably inserted into the mounting bolt channel 54. As such, the toilet water tank can be coupled to different toilet bowl configurations.

With reference to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the aquarium tank 12 of the invention is shown. The aquarium tank is adapted to be removably coupled to a toilet water tank by means of aquarium tank mounting tabs 30 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4). The tabs are configured to readily engage the toilet water tank recesses 32 in the top edge 64 of the toilet water tank 14 (as shown in FIG. 2) to support the aquarium on the toilet water tank.

The embodiment shown reflects a separate aquarium tank configured to wrap around the toilet tank and be easily removable therefrom. The aquarium tank has a one-piece construction with an interior space 34 suitable for housing a water reservoir or terrarium and the like and can be fabricated with acrylic material using an injection molding process.

In addition, the aquarium tank can be configured with a replacable filtration assembly 42 to enable the aquarium to be filled with water without removing the aquarium from the toilet tank.

The above description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Accordingly, although the various features of novelty that characterize the invention have been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, in view of the disclosure herein. As such, the present invention is not limited by the recitation of the preferred embodiments, but is instead intended to be defined solely by reference to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toilet aquarium assembly comprising: a toilet bowl to provide water for flushing said bowl, said aquarium tank means removably coupled to said toilet water tank means and separate therefrom, said aquarium tank means adapted to hold a reservoir for water, terrariums and the like.

aquarium tank means; and

toilet water tank means operatively coupled to

2. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said toilet water tank means includes a toilet flushing assembly operative to fluidly connect said water reservoir to said toilet bowl.

3. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 2 wherein said toilet flushing assembly is actuated by a push button.

4. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said toilet tank means defines an interior space for holding a toilet water reservoir, the top of said toilet water tank means having an opening into said interior space.

5. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 having a top lid substantially covering the top of said toilet aquarium assembly.

6. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said aquarium tank means is generally transparent.

7. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said toilet water tank means is generally transparent.

8. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said aquarium tank means is removably coupled to said toilet water tank means using mounting tab means on said aquarium tank means said mounting tab means adapted for coupling to mating recesses in said toilet water tank means.

9. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said toilet water tank means is operably coupled to said toilet bowl using mounting bolts, said mounting bolts having bolt heads adapted to be slidably inserted into a mounting bolt channel in said toilet water tank means.

10. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said aquarium tank means is configured to wrap around said toilet water tank means.

11. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said aquarium tank means is a one-piece tank.

12. The toilet aquarium assembly of claim 1 wherein said aquarium tank means includes a replacable filtration assembly.