Filter Patents (Class 119/259)
  • Patent number: 11285407
    Abstract: A liquid cleaning element has a cleaning medium and a carrier medium connected to each other. The carrier medium is provided with a liquid connector to connect to a line for liquid to be cleaned or cleaned liquid. The liquid cleaning element has a bend in a section provided with the cleaning medium and the carrier medium. The carrier medium, prior to connection to the cleaning medium, is pre-manufactured in a final shape of the liquid cleaning element. The liquid connector has a cylindrical suction socket and is arranged at or integrated in the carrier medium. A liquid cleaning system is provided with the liquid cleaning element and a holder holding the liquid cleaning element. In a method for producing the liquid cleaning element, the carrier medium is pre-manufactured in a final shape of the liquid cleaning element and the cleaning medium is connected to the pre-manufactured carrier medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Egger, Heiko Wyhler, Alois Maier, Norbert Strassenberger
  • Patent number: 10638732
    Abstract: A filter arrangement for an aquarium is disclosed. The filter arrangement can include a housing assembly, a pump assembly, a transfer tube assembly, and a valve assembly for controlling water flow through the transfer tube assembly. The transfer tube assembly can include a tube structure within which a valve body of the valve assembly is rotatably disposed. The tube structure can be formed from a first tube half mated to a second tube half to permanently secure the valve body within the tube structure. A valve operator can be connected to the valve body to advantageously allow a user to manipulate the flow of water through the transfer tube assembly. Control of water flow through the filter arrangement is beneficial for obtaining a desired water flow for a certain aquarium size and application and for reducing flow during certain periods, such as during feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nathan Brunner, John Lewis Shumate, William D. Himes
  • Patent number: 10631526
    Abstract: An aquarium including a first water chamber providing a habitat for aquatic species, a second water chamber, wherein the second water chamber is fluidly coupled to the first water chamber, and a third water chamber, wherein the third water chamber is fluidly coupled to the second water chamber. The aquarium also includes a water discharge arrangement housed at least partially within the third water chamber, wherein the water discharge arrangement includes a pump and a discharge outlet coupled to the pump such that water within the third water chamber may discharged from the discharge outlet, and further wherein the discharge outlet is selectively rotatable such that water may be discharged either a) into one of the first water chamber or the third water chamber, or b) out of the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PETSMART HOME OFFICE INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stocker Watson, Gary Steven Chattin, Guangyu Tan
  • Patent number: 10070628
    Abstract: A water salinity control apparatus for a marine aquarium includes a filter section in which the water from a utility water supply is purified and deionized. A reservoir section includes a purified water reservoir for purified water, a salt-mixed water reservoir in which marine water at the setpoint salinity is stored, and a salt concentrate reservoir which contains fully salt-saturated water. A pump section includes pumps for pumping water from the salt-mixed water reservoir into the aquarium and for pumping water from the purified water reservoir to the aquarium. A control system adjusts the salinity of the water in the salt-mixed water reservoir and the salinity of the water in the marine aquarium. The control system receives input from salinity measuring probes that measure the salinity in the salt-mixed water reservoir and the salinity of the water of the marine aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Gerard Calabrese
  • Patent number: 9913459
    Abstract: A method of affixing an overflow system to an aquarium is disclosed. The aquarium has a bottom, at least one sidewall, an open top surrounded by a top edge, and a frame having a bottom edge. The method includes positioning an overflow device in the aquarium. The overflow device has a front wall, a back wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall all secured to a bottom wall and extending upward therefrom to create a chamber having an open top. The front wall, the back wall, and the first and second sidewalls all have a plurality of slots formed therethrough which are configured to receive water from the aquarium into the chamber, and the bottom wall has an enlarged aperture formed therethrough. A first aperture is formed through the sidewall of the aquarium and an attachment mechanism is used to attach the enlarged aperture to the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Adam John Keller
  • Patent number: 9585372
    Abstract: A water inlet system for an aquarium is disclosed along with a siphon stopper and a method of attaching the system to an aquarium. The water inlet system is designed to pass through an aperture formed in a sidewall of the aquarium. A tubular member is connected to a pump which can supply water from a reservoir to the aquarium. The tubular member passes through the aperture and into the aquarium. An adapter having a spout is connected to one end of the tubular member. In addition, a siphon stopper is secured to the adapter, above the spout, and serves to break any back siphon that may develop should the water line in the aquarium drop below a predetermined point. The method includes the steps of attaching the water inlet system to the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Adam John Keller
  • Patent number: 9451759
    Abstract: A liquid bubble separator of a circulating water system contains: a cylindrical tank, a pump, a bubble collection tank, and at least one micro bubble generating unit. The cylindrical tank included a water chamber defined by an inner wall, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, at least one air orifice, and a bubble discharging hole. The pump is coupled with the inlet pipe to pump treated water into the inlet pipe via the nitrification tank. The bubble collection tank is mounted on one side of the cylindrical tank and includes a collecting tube. Each micro bubble generating unit is disposed in the water chamber and includes a body, a first mixing room, an inlet, at least one air tube coupling with the at least one air orifice and corresponding to the inlet, and a plurality of backflow apertures formed around the body and communicating with the first mixing room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Chi-Tse Kuo
  • Patent number: 9380767
    Abstract: The present utility model discloses an aquarium with a fresh water replenishing system comprising an upper tank, a connecting cavity, a lower cabinet and a fresh water replenishing system, with the said upper tank fixed on the lower cabinet, and the said connecting cavity fixed at an inner corner of the upper tank. It effectively utilizes space to store a fresh water replenishing box with a small space occupied. It is provided with a salt water and fresh water circulating system, making it easy to keep salt water and fresh water fish. It is provided with a water baffle to reduce water velocity, reducing noise. All components of its upper tank are provided on the same wall and cover this wall, contributing to good visual effects, safety and aesthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Xiaojun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8925490
    Abstract: A biofilter is provided. The biofilter comprises a housing; an inlet defining an upstream end of the housing; an outlet defining a downstream end of the housing; a chamber comprising an upstream opening and a downstream opening, the chamber configured to contain a filtration medium; and a counter flow generator for generating a counter flow of water in an upstream direction in the chamber. Related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JLH Consulting Inc.
    Inventors: John Leslie Holder, Robert Scott McKinley
  • Publication number: 20140318466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aquarium having a filtering function so as to facilitate the growth of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, shellfishes, and aquatic plants. According to the present invention the aquarium having a filtering function is configured to include: a porous horizontal partition wall which horizontally partitions the inner space of the aquarium into an upper growing region and a lower filtering region; and a filtering device which is disposed at a predetermined portion of the horizontal partition wall and provided with a filter so as to suction and filter water in the growing region and discharge the water to the filtering region. The water, whose pollutants are filtered using the filtering device, is allowed to move through the pores of the horizontal partition wall from the lower portion to the upper portion of a floor material, such as sand or a functional material, which is stacked on the upper surface of the horizontal partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: Golden Orange Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guen Ha Park
  • Publication number: 20140223819
    Abstract: An inexpensive, complete integrated aquaponic aquarium system that uses air pressure to pump water and waste from the bottom of an aquarium into a planter where terrestrial plants are grown. Included in this system is an aquarium lighting system, unique undergravel funnel filter system, grow lights, aquarium heater, and a power regulation system that turns the grow light on and off in regular intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Ryan Coghlan
  • Patent number: 8800496
    Abstract: A water circulation pump pre-filter unit (PFU). The PFU is submerged and provides structure to camouflage the system to give a natural and aesthetic look. The PFU comprises at least two cleaning systems: (1) biological cleaning mechanism; and (2) an internal self-cleaning mechanism. Specifically, the PFU comprises several filtering surfaces that form a repository for pond debris on which fish and other aquatic creatures feed, i.e., the biological cleaning mechanism. These filtering surfaces of the PFU also provide a protective barrier that prevents large debris from entering the circulation pump. The internal self-cleaning mechanism is a spray wash water source mechanism used to clean the PFU without removing the PFU or fish from the pond or entering the water. Together these features improve the quality of the water in the pond and extend the life of a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen D. Roche
  • Publication number: 20140216351
    Abstract: An aquarium having an adjustable lighting system for enhancing the display of fluorescent objects, such as fluorescent fish, contained within the aquarium under various external lighting conditions, such as a dark room or a brightly lit room. The aquarium comprises a tank and a plurality of light sources. Each light source emits light at a different wavelength spectrum which is selected to enhance the display of the fluorescent object under each type of external lighting condition. An electronic control is provided to control the operation of the plurality of light sources such that each light source may be selectively turned on/off based on the external lighting condition, or chronological criteria, to provide the best viewing experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Yorktown Technologies, L.P.
    Inventor: Alan Blake
  • Patent number: 8726840
    Abstract: An aquarium is disclosed that includes a plurality of exterior walls that define a tank, a cylindrical wall within the tank that defines a cylindrical viewing area, a first upright interior wall adjacent the cylindrical wall that defines a water inlet chamber between the cylindrical wall and the one of said exterior walls, a spillover riser in the water inlet chamber, and a water inlet in communication with one side of the spillover barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Todd Furgalus
  • Publication number: 20140123904
    Abstract: An aquarium suitable for displaying jellyfish includes a chamber having interior walls that divide the chamber into a series of compartments. The first compartment is the viewing area having openings in the side walls that permit water to flow out of the viewing area while retaining jellyfish and flow into viewing area in a manner that keeps jellyfish suspended. A spillover riser is located between the first and second compartment that defines a channel through which the first and second compartment communicate. The second compartment has an air inlet providing the motive force to circulate water throughout the aquarium and introduce air bubbles to operate a foam fractionating device the inside the aquarium. The third compartment provides an area for placement of filter media and other necessary devices to keep jellyfish alive. The channel below the viewing area provides communication between the second and third compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: Todd Furgalus
  • Publication number: 20140096718
    Abstract: An aquarium includes a first chamber arranged to contain a first volume of liquid, a dry chamber that is adjacent the first chamber and defines a second volume, and a removable element at least partially disposed within the dry chamber. The removable element is selectively removable from the dry chamber. The aquarium also includes a filter at least partially disposed within the removable element, and a pump including an intake and an outlet. The intake is arranged to draw a flow of liquid from the first volume of liquid during pump operation. The aquarium also includes a tube having a first end connected to the outlet and a second end movable between a first position in which the flow of liquid passes through the filter and is then discharged into the first volume and a second position in which the flow of liquid flows directly into the first volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Elive LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen, Thomas Lutz
  • Patent number: 8679330
    Abstract: Disclosed are filter assemblies for an aquarium tank. The disclosed assemblies include a filter basket assembly in which one or more filter baskets are connected, either directly or indirectly, to a filter pump basket. The filter pump basket typically is located upstream of the one or more filter baskets and pumps water upwards through the filter basket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Central Garden and Pet Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Mihlbauer, Andrew S. Hudson, Thomas Robert Lutz
  • Publication number: 20130284107
    Abstract: An aquarium system having a tank supported by a base, the base having a drawer that that retains the operational components of the filtration system. An overflow chute is positioned within the tank, the chute having an open top such that water from the tank may flow into the chute and into the drawer. The drawer has a receiving compartment located beneath the chute and a return compartment separated from the receiving compartment by a filter such that water is drawn through the filter and into the return compartment by a pump. The pump then delivers the filtered water from the return compartment into the tank through a conduit passing up through the chute. The filtration system is fully operational with the drawer closed or partially open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Nick Lari
  • Patent number: 8551329
    Abstract: Dosing chambers, for use with pressurized water filters of the type used with ponds, require isolation before accessing to prevent water egress. The invention comprises a chamber in which dosing substances may be placed, a water inlet and a water outlet, a lid for sealingly closing the chamber, a valve for closing the water inlet and an interlock means for operating the valve to close the water inlet as the lid is removed, so that when dosing substances are placed into the chamber pressurized water is prevented from issuing through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew Paxton
  • Patent number: 8524077
    Abstract: A shower tube cleaning device for a filter for a water tank in which clean water from the filter is returned to the interior of the water tank through the shower tube, which is provided with a plurality of nozzles, wherein an operating rod (11) passing through the interior of the shower tube (5) is linked to a cleaner (10) slidably provided within the shower tube (5), a knob (12) is fixed to the free end of the operating rod (11), and pushing and pulling the knob (12) makes the cleaner (10) reciprocatingly slide to thus scrape off foreign matter within the shower tube (5). This enables an inner face of the shower tube to be cleaned while the shower tube is linked to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Soichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8453605
    Abstract: An aquarium system for aquatic organisms easily performs maintenance of a purifying device and a circulation pump and downsizes a purifying zone. The system includes an aquarium, a partition wall dividing the aquarium into a nurturing zone and a purifying zone, a circulation pump for circulating water between the nurturing zone and the purifying zone, and a purifying device selected from a filter for filtering water by making the water pass through a filtering material, a protein skimmer for removing proteins contained in the water by making the proteins adhere to air bubbles, and an ultraviolet light irradiator for sterilizing the water by irradiating ultraviolet light to the water. The circulation pump and the purifying device are mounted on a mounting frame and are accommodated in the purifying zone in a removably inserted manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tominaga Jyushi Kogyosho
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tominaga, Ryuzo Arita
  • Patent number: 8440073
    Abstract: An aquarium detritus removal and filtration system of the present invention is different from the conventional aquarium filtration system which are not able to deliver detritus settle in an aquarium bottom right to a lift pump for removal. The present invention is mainly comprised of a flow generating device, a flow guiding structure, a screen plate and a lift pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Zuoliang Chen
  • Patent number: 8347820
    Abstract: A system for filling and draining an aquarium. An aquarium tank is fitted with a drain and fill system. An aquarium comprises a tank fitted with a drain line that connects to a sediment collector at a first end and terminates in a connector at a second end. Interposed between the first end and the second end and proximate to the first end is a diverter valve. Interposed between the second end and the diverter valve is a “T” connector that connects the drain line to a vertical fill line. The fill line extends to a height above the height of the tank and extends over the opening of the tank to facilitate the disposition of water into the tank. The cleaning of the tank may be performed by turning the diverter valve to an open position. Filling the tank may be performed when the diverter valve is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Gerald Wayne Sigmon, Sheila Y. Sigmon
  • Patent number: 8206579
    Abstract: An aquarium filtration system with enhanced features comprising a continuous flow of filtered and processed water as well as a continuous drain system is herein disclosed. In such a manner, the water is continually changed over time, thus minimizing required emptying and/or cleaning. Additionally the system holds and maintains the desired pH level and water hardness, while controlling ammonia and nitrite levels. A filter on the incoming water line removes chlorine and other chemicals before the water passes onto the aquarium. The system works in conjunction with a conventional automatic water level controller. Automatic check valves control water flow and prevent back flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: Leon Shaw
  • Patent number: 8141515
    Abstract: A method of aquaculture is applicable to a novel culture arrangement for diversified farming of generally deep sea fin fishes, shrimps, and shellfishes. A pre-manufactured enclosed cultivation tank is provided and air compressor facility is included for pressurization and oxygenation so as to make the interior of the cultivation tank a pressurized water environment of predetermined high pressure. A low pressure siphon tube is included for sucking and removing excrements from the cultivation tank and to realize water replacement in a natural manner thereby providing a deep sea mimicked clean cultivation environment. The drained water is subjected to multiple steps of filtration and purification for separating the excrements from the water and for purifying water to allow cyclic use of the water. An arrangement of multiple cultivation tanks allows for diversified and multi-species cultivation of fishery products and deep sea fishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Te-Chih Nien
  • Patent number: 8132533
    Abstract: An aquarium overflow device capable of preventing adverse effects by suction noise of an overflow pipe. The aquarium overflow device according to the present invention is equipped with a water storing portion 52 for storing water W in an aquarium, an overflow pipe 54 extended upwardly in the water storing portion 52 and having an upper end opening for introducing the water W stored in the water storing portion 52 and a lower end opening for discharging the water which is open to a bottom wall side of the water storing portion 52, and a sound preventing cover 47 provided in the water storing portion 52 so as to cover the entire region of the above-water portion of the overflow pipe 54.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tominaga Jyushi Kogyosho
    Inventors: Ryuzo Arita, Kazutoshi Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8132534
    Abstract: An aquarium overflow device is capable of preventing inadvertent supply of water in an aquarium from being supplied to an outside during, e.g., power failure. An aquarium overflow device is for supplying the water in an aquarium to an external device outside the aquarium. The device is equipped with a reversed U-shaped siphon pipe for supplying the water in the aquarium to an outside of the aquarium, the siphon pipe having an inlet side end portion disposed in the aquarium and an inlet side end portion disposed with the outlet side end portion disposed outside the aquarium, a suction device for sucking an inside of the siphon pipe, the suction device being connected to an upper portion of the siphon pipe, and an air introduction device for introducing air to an upper portion in the siphon pipe when suction by the suction device stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tominaga Jyushi Kogyosho
    Inventors: Ryuzo Arita, Kazutoshi Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8006645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for aquaculturing marine life forms such as coral utilizing a rotating tray that exposes the marine life forms to variable water flow conditions during each revolution of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Karen R. Spartz
  • Patent number: 8006646
    Abstract: An aquarium system for containing water and aquatic life therein is disclosed that includes a reservoir and an aquarium that is mounted generally above the reservoir. The aquarium has an outlet in liquid communication with the reservoir through an outlet conduit that includes a discharge mechanism, preferably an inverted U-shaped siphon conduit, that periodically discharges a portion of the water from the aquarium to the reservoir therethrough once the water has reached a maximum water level. A pumping mechanism pumps water from the reservoir up to the aquarium through an inlet conduit that is in fluid communication with the reservoir and an inlet of the aquarium. As such, when the water reaches the maximum level in the aquarium, the siphon conduit substantially fills with water which begins to flow out through the outlet conduit, drawing a portion of water from the aquarium rapidly through the outlet conduit until the water in the aquarium reaches the open bottom end of the siphon conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Grad
  • Publication number: 20110168103
    Abstract: The invention comprises an aquarium drain line attachment or guard apparatus and method for the application thereof. During use, the attachment affixes to the top of an aquarium drain stand pipe. The guard contains a water flow path passing through an opening having physical dimensions limiting passage of snails and/or invertebrates. The silencer includes one or more of: a snail or invertebrate barrier, an angled overflow, a housing, a cap, a drain line size adaptor, and an auto-leveler and/or placement fitting or ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Behar
  • Publication number: 20110162584
    Abstract: A system for filling and draining an aquarium. An aquarium tank is fitted with a drain and fill system. An aquarium comprises a tank fitted with a drain line that connects to a sediment collector at a first end and terminates in a connector at a second end. Interposed between the first end and the second end and proximate to the first end is a diverter valve. Interposed between the second end and the diverter valve is a “T” connector that connects the drain line to a vertical fill line. The fill line extends to a height above the height of the tank and extends over the opening of the tank to facilitate the disposition of water into the tank. The cleaning of the tank may be performed by turning the diverter valve to an open position. Filling the tank may be performed when the diverter valve is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Gerald Wayne Sigmon, Sheila Y. Sigmon
  • Publication number: 20110162585
    Abstract: An aquarium system for aquatic organisms capable of easily performing maintenance of a purifying device and a circulation pump, etc., and downsizing a purifying zone is provided. The system of the present invention includes an aquarium 1, a partition wall 2 dividing the aquarium into a nurturing zone 11 and a purifying zone 12, a circulation pump 81 for circulating water between the nurturing zone 11 and the purifying zone 12, and at least one purifying device selected from a filter 50 for filtering water by making the water pass through a filtering material, a protein skimmer 70 for removing proteins contained in the water by making the proteins adhere to air bubbles, and an ultraviolet light irradiator for sterilizing the water by irradiating ultraviolet light to the water. The circulation pump and the at least one purifying device constitute a unit member. The unit member is mounted on a mounting frame to thereby form a purification unit 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOMINAGA JYUSHI KOGYOSHO
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tominaga, Ryuzo Arita
  • Patent number: 7931801
    Abstract: An aquarium filter system mainly has a base and an uprightly mounted filtering cylinder; the filtering cylinder is provided therein with a pump unit, it can be optionally used to spray forceful water jet on the surface board of the base or to pump air into the filtering cylinder to form air bubbles in water in the filtering cylinder; after filtering, seawater in an aquarium can be kept clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Eiko Electric Products Corp.
    Inventor: Yu-Chin Wang
  • Patent number: 7927483
    Abstract: An aquarium filter arrangement including a filter housing and a filter cartridge having self-spacing structure. The self-spacing structure being designed to automatically space the filter cartridge in an operable filtering position. The operable filtering position being a position at which the filter cartridge is seated against a single rib formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tetra Holding (US), Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Barry Huehn
  • Patent number: 7867386
    Abstract: It is proposed to avoid an excessive formation of foam in the collection vessel of a protein separator by throttling the feed of air to a foam generator according to the foam generation rate in the separator. The foam generation rate in the separator can be measured by the amount of phase water that is separated in a second separator, which is located between the foam collection vessel and a first separator, in which second separator the mixture generated by the foam generator is freed from liquid constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tunze Aquarientechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Tunze, Claude Hug
  • Publication number: 20110000436
    Abstract: A foam filter for an aquarium having a function for purifying water and air which is capable of facilitating a replacement and maintenance of components due to an abnormality of a filtering device and an execution of a washing operation (including water refill) of the aquarium by making it convenient to be manufactured and installed depending on a simplified construction of a product which can be selectively disassembled or assembled, and also capable of satisfying user's visual curiosity by improving an externality of the aquarium, wherein the foam filter for the aquarium having the function for purifying water and air can be achieved by being provided with an installation case provided with a pair of container installation holes which are symmetrical to each other at left and right lateral surfaces based upon a filter installation hole, and having a fluid inlet which is formed through the filter installation hole at central front portion of a bottom surface of the installation case, a multi-layer filter sli
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SHARON KOREA ITEM COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Bong-Sun Jang, Jae Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7832358
    Abstract: An aquarium includes a filter housing disposed in a container, the housing includes a number of spaced guide fins extended into the housing and arranged to form a peripheral passage around the guide fins, a filter member engaged in the guide fins, and a water pump attached to the housing for pumping the water into the passage of the housing and for guiding the water to flow through the guide fins and to flow from various directions into the filter member and for allowing the water to be guided to flow through an outer peripheral portion of the filter member and for preventing the water from flowing through only a small portion of the filter member and for preventing the filter member from being quickly blocked by dirt or contaminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Hsueh-Lee Tsai
  • Publication number: 20100206239
    Abstract: A wall mountable tank system for holding live flora or fauna includes an integrally formed tank including a rear panel, a bottom panel, and at least one of a front panel, first side panel, and second side panel. The panels define a tank interior for containing the flora or fauna. The rear panel includes a mounting portion having a receiving groove. A mounting member capable of being fixedly coupled to a vertical mounting surface is provided. The mounting member includes a tongue portion receivable in the receiving groove for engaging the mounting member to the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Narda Margerum, Linda R. McCoy
  • Patent number: 7771592
    Abstract: An aquarium filter assembly is mounted to an aquarium tank and defines a water flow path therethrough from upstream to downstream from an inlet to an outlet. A replaceable filter element is mounted in a filter chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Newa Tecno Industria s.r.l.
    Inventors: Brad L. Mihlbauer, Christopher L. Hawker, David R. Troop, II, Lonnie Austin Ready, Giacomo Guoli, Fabio Bellia
  • Publication number: 20100058992
    Abstract: A breeding apparatus comprises a main water tank 10 in which deep-sea organisms are housed along with seawater; a hot water supplying device 20; and a hot water discharging device 30. A hot water pipe 22 extends from a hot water tank 21 to the bottom of the main water tank 10, an end configuring a spouting hole 22a which emits hot water upwardly. The hot water discharging unit 30 is positioned above the spouting hole 22a and circulates the hot water ascended from the spouting hole 22a back to the warm water tank 23, which is outside of the main water tank 10, via a hot water discharging pipe 31. The hot water emitted from the spouting hole 22a forms a cold water zone 12 and a localized hot water zone 11, while the interface between this hot water zone 11 and the cold water zone 12 is formed in a rapidly ascending fashion in respect to the vertical cross section of the seawater in the main water tank 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicants: JAPAN AGENCY FOR MARINE-EARTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ENOSHIAM PFI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyake, Tetsuya Miwa, Mitsugu Kitada, Kazuhisa Hori
  • Patent number: 7651609
    Abstract: An aquarium filter arrangement including a filter housing and a filter cartridge having self-spacing structure. The self-spacing structure being designed to automatically space the filter cartridge in an operable filtering position. The operable filtering position being a position at which the filter cartridge is seated against a single rib formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Tetra Holding (US), Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Barry Huehn
  • Patent number: 7631616
    Abstract: The aquarium creates a smooth circulation of water flowing through mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration mechanisms. The three filtration mechanisms are housed in a vertical first compartment and a vertical second compartment, both along a back side of the aquarium body, and a lateral third compartment along a bottom side of the body, respectively. A water pump draws water from the third compartment into the second compartment. After a first filtration processes, the water is poured back into the body. Due to the suction of the water pump, water flows from the body into the second compartment to undergo a second filtration process and then enters the third compartment, where a third filtration process is conducted. The water is finally drawn into the second compartment to complete the circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hi-Q Bio-Tech International Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Hui Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7628913
    Abstract: An aquarium filter cartridge including activated carbon or the like and a housing wherein the water traces an S-shaped path is disclosed. In the S-shaped path the water flows horizontally through a floss type filter, downward to the bottom of the housing, horizontally into the bottom of the carbon cartridge, up through the carbon filter, and out the top or upper side of the housing back into the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: J.W. Pet Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Willinger
  • Publication number: 20090255480
    Abstract: An aquarium includes a filter housing disposed in a container, the housing includes a number of spaced guide fins extended into the housing and arranged to form a peripheral passage around the guide fins, a filter member engaged in the guide fins, and a water pump attached to the housing for pumping the water into the passage of the housing and for guiding the water to flow through the guide fins and to flow from various directions into the filter member and for allowing the water to be guided to flow through an outer peripheral portion of the filter member and for preventing the water from flowing through only a small portion of the filter member and for preventing the filter member from being quickly blocked by dirt or contaminant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: Hsueh-Lee Tsai
  • Patent number: 7601258
    Abstract: An improved water return system for water reservoirs such as aquariums and ponds that provides a return of filtered water through a series of holes rather than a curved weir or spillway. The use of the holes provides for high oxygenation of the water prior to its return to the water reservoir to the benefit of life in the water reservoir. Further, the use of the holes provides reduced noise upon the return of the water because of the surface tensions attracting adjacent streams to each other. Also, placement of the holes provides a damming effect for the filter media that can become a site for the cultivation of beneficial bacteria that are necessary to remove ammonia and nitrites from the water by positioning the media mostly out of water, thereby allowing necessary oxygen to be freely available to grow bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventor: Leon Helfet
  • Patent number: 7594998
    Abstract: An aquarium filter assembly includes a housing having a filter cartridge and a water pump and defining a flow path therethrough from upstream to downstream from an inlet to an outlet. A replaceable filter element is mounted in one or more designated orientation positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Newa Tecno Industria s.r.l.
    Inventors: Brad L. Mihlbauer, David R. Troop, II, Lonnie Austin Ready, Giacomo Guoli, Fabio Bellia
  • Patent number: 7591233
    Abstract: A device for dispensing CO2, that is to say carbon or carbon dioxide, which can be fitted in aquariums or containers for holding live fish, comprising a dispenser casing (11) or body, equipped with a mixing chamber (15) into which a flow of water is delivered by a pump (12) and a flow of CO2 from an infeed duct (18). The mixing chamber (15) being bordered by at least one filtering element (13) which occupies the lower half of the dispenser body (11), closed at the front by a mesh cover (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ferplast S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Vaccari
  • Publication number: 20090229533
    Abstract: Closed top home aquarium for setting up and maintaining a sea water aquatic environment in particular. The aquarium includes a transparent open topped box-like enclosure, a compartment integrally formed with and behind the box-like enclosure, and a hinged dual position fan cooled hood. The compartment includes a water circulation system and a multistage filtration system. The hood includes a lighting system for daytime and nighttime illumination, and a built-in 24 programmable timer. The aquarium includes a thermostat controlled water temperature system and a below water level splash proof power center for safely and aesthetically connecting all electrical aquarium components to a mains electricity outlet. Home aquariums can be provided with an integrally formed below water level splash proof power center for use with off-the-shelf electrical aquarium appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Neil H. Marks, Eli Nissemberg, Sharon Ram
  • Patent number: 7578262
    Abstract: A filtration device (10) for aquarium tanks comprises a body (11), divided using special baffles (12) into a set number of intercommunicating chambers (I, II, III etc . . . ) can be housed so that during the filtration process the water follows a zigzag route; it al comprises an infeed point (15) for the water to be purified, a temperature regulation unit (13) and a pump (14) enabling the recirculation of the water. The body (11) is fitted entirely inside the tank and the filtration elements (A; B; C etc . . . ) are located between at least one pump (14) and at least one infeed point (15) to enable entry of the water into the filtration system mainly from below upwards and exit of the water from above downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Ferplast SpA
    Inventor: Carlo Vaccari
  • Patent number: 7569139
    Abstract: An aquarium filter assembly includes a housing having a filter cartridge and a water pump and defining a flow path therethrough from upstream to downstream from an inlet to an outlet. A replaceable filter element is mounted in one or more designated orientation positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Newa Tecno Industria S.r.l.
    Inventors: Brad L. Mihlbauer, David R. Troop, II, Lonnie Austin Ready, Giacomo Guoli, Fabio Bellia