U.S. patent application number 15/475921 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for aquarium and non-disruptive filtration system.
This patent application is currently assigned to PetSmart Home Office, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is PetSmart Home Office, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lisa Beilke, Gary Steven Chattin, Jeffrey Stocker Watson.
Application Number | 20180279588 15/475921 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63639328 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180279588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watson; Jeffrey Stocker ; et
al. |
October 4, 2018 |
AQUARIUM AND NON-DISRUPTIVE FILTRATION SYSTEM
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments include an aquarium having a
low-current filtration system. In one aspect, an apparatus includes
a tank having a closed end and an open end, a base that receives
and supports the closed end, and a lid removably positioned over
the open end. The apparatus also includes a filter base disposed
onto an interior surface of the closed end, and a filler housing
that engages a housing support structure disposed onto the filter
bass. The filter housing includes a filter cartridge separating a
first chamber from a second chamber, a pump disposed within the
second chamber, and a reservoir disposed within the second chamber
at a distal end of the filter housing. The reservoir includes an
outlet structure having multiple discharge locations, and is
connected to the pump across an elongated tube.
Inventors: |
Watson; Jeffrey Stocker;
(Phoenix, AZ) ; Chattin; Gary Steven; (Phoenix,
AZ) ; Beilke; Lisa; (Phoenix, AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PetSmart Home Office, Inc. |
Phoenix |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PetSmart Home Office, Inc.
Phoenix
AZ
|
Family ID: |
63639328 |
Appl. No.: |
15/475921 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 63/045 20130101;
A01K 63/047 20130101; B01D 35/26 20130101; A01K 63/003 20130101;
B01D 29/05 20130101; A01K 63/06 20130101; C02F 1/001 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 63/04 20060101
A01K063/04; A01K 63/00 20060101 A01K063/00; A01K 63/06 20060101
A01K063/06; C02F 1/00 20060101 C02F001/00; B01D 29/05 20060101
B01D029/05; B01D 29/92 20060101 B01D029/92; B01D 35/26 20060101
B01D035/26 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a tank having a closed end and an open
end; a filter base dimensioned to be removably positioned over an
interior surface of the closed end, the filter base including
inlets and a housing support structure; a filter housing having a
proximal end dimensioned to removably receive the housing support
structure; a filter cartridge disposed within the filter housing,
the Filter cartridge separating a first chamber of the filter
housing from a second chamber of the filter housing; a pump
disposed within the second chamber of the filter housing, the pump
having an input in fluid communication with the second chamber, and
an output connected to a proximal end of an elongated tube; and a
reservoir dimensioned to be removably positioned within the second
chamber at a distal end of the filter housing, the reservoir being
connected to a distal end of the elongated tube and including an
outlet structure, wherein: the pump operates to mechanically draw
water from the tank through the inlets, into the first chamber
through an opening in the housing support structure, and across the
filter cartridge into the second chamber; the pump operates to
mechanically pump the drawn water through the elongated tube and
into the reservoir; and the reservoir discharges the pumped water
into the tank through the outlet structure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a
cylindrical tank having a circular cross section.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the filter base comprises a
circular filter base, the inlets being disposed at corresponding
angular positions along a surface of the circular filter base, and
being elongated in a radial direction across the surface of the
circular filter base.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the interior surface of the
closed end includes a circumferential groove dimensioned to
removably receive and support a circumferential edge of the
circular filter base.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pumped water discharges
through the outlet structure at a constant flow rate.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pumped water discharges
through the outlet structure at a flow rate of twenty gallons per
hour.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the distal end of the filter
housing comprises a surface oriented perpendicular to an axis of
the tank; and the outlet structure comprises a discharge lip having
a curved surface, the curved surface of the discharge lip
contacting the surface of the distal end at corresponding discharge
locations.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pumped water fills the
reservoir and discharges across the discharge lip at the
corresponding discharge locations.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, along the axis of the tank,
the discharge lip of the reservoir is disposed at a position above
a surface of the stored water.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the filter housing is
dimensioned to removably receive and support the pump within the
second chamber, the pump being disposed at the proximal end of the
filter housing; and the filter housing is dimensioned to removably
receive and support the filter cartridge.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lid dimensioned
to removably receive the open end of the tank, the lid comprising
an aperture and an aperture cover.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a lighting unit
disposed on an interior surface of the lid, the lighting unit
including a lighting element that emits light illuminating the
interior of the tank.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base dimensioned
to removably receive and support the closed end of the tank.
14. A filtration system, comprising: a filter base including inlets
and a housing support structure; a filter housing having a proximal
end dimensioned to removably receive the housing support structure;
a filter cartridge disposed within the filter housing, the filter
cartridge separating a first chamber of the filter housing from a
second chamber of the filter housing; a pump disposed within the
second chamber of the filter housing, the pump having an inlet in
fluid communication with the second chamber, and an outlet
structure connected to a proximal end of an elongated tube; and a
reservoir dimensioned to be removably positioned within the second
chamber at a distal end of the filter housing, the reservoir being
connected to a distal end of the elongated tube and including an
outlet structure, wherein: the pump operates to mechanically draw
water through the inlets, into the first chamber through an opening
in the housing support structure, and across the filter cartridge
into the second chamber; the pump operates to mechanically pump the
drawn water through the elongated tube and into the reservoir; and
the reservoir discharges the pumped water through the outlet
structure.
15. The filtration system of claim 14, wherein the filter base
comprises a circular filter base, the inlets being disposed at
corresponding angular positions along a surface of the circular
filter base, and being elongated in a radial direction across the
surface of the circular filter base.
16. The filtration system of claim 14, wherein the pumped water
discharges through the outlet structure at a flow rate of twenty
gallons per hour.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the distal end of the
filter housing comprises a surface oriented perpendicular to an
axis of the filter housing; and the outlet structure comprises a
discharge lip having a curved surface, the curved surface of the
discharge lip contacting the surface of the distal end at
corresponding discharge locations.
18. The filtration system of claim 17, wherein the pumped water
fills the reservoir and discharges across the discharge lip at the
corresponding discharge locations.
19. The filtration system of claim 14, wherein: the filter housing
is dimensioned to removably receive and support the pump within the
second chamber, the pump being disposed at the proximal end of the
filter housing; and the filter housing is dimensioned to removably
receive and support the filter cartridge.
20. The filtration system of claim 14, wherein: the filter base is
dimensioned to be removably positioned over an interior surface of
a closed end of the tank; the interior surface includes a
circumferential groove dimensioned to removably receive and support
a circumferential edge of the circular filter base; the pump
operates to mechanically draw the water from the tank through the
inlets; and the reservoir discharges the pumped water into the tank
through the outlet structure.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Aquariums housing aquatic life provide an aesthetically
pleasing, relaxing display of motion and color that promote a
viewer's curiosity and interest. Certain aquatic life, including
species of fish commonly housed in aquariums, thrive in aquatic
environments characterized by minimal hydrodynamic current and
fluid motion. Nonetheless, aquarium maintenance, including proper
water filtration and circulation, is essential to establishing a
healthy aquatic environment for these fish species. Many
conventional aquarium filtration systems face challenges in
balancing the demands of proper water filtration and circulation
with the desired fluid-dynamic characteristics of the aquatic
environment.
SUMMARY
[0002] In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a tank having a
closed end and an open end, a filter base dimensioned to be
removably positioned over an interior surface of the closed end,
and a filter housing having a proximal end dimensioned to removably
receive the housing support structure. In one aspect, the filter
base includes inlets and a housing support structure. The apparatus
also includes a filter cartridge is disposed within the filter
housing and separating a first chamber of the filter housing from a
second chamber of the filter housing. The apparatus further
includes a pump disposed within the second chamber of the filter
housing, and including an input in fluid communication with the
second chamber, and an output connected to a proximal end of an
elongated tube. A reservoir is dimensioned to be removably
positioned within the second chamber at a distal end of the filter
housing, and the reservoir is connected to a distal end of the
elongated tube and including an outlet structure. In some aspects,
the pump operates to mechanically draw water from the tank through
the inlets, into the first chamber through an opening in the
housing support structure, and across the filter cartridge into the
second chamber. The pump also operates to mechanically pump the
drawn water through the elongated tube and into the reservoir, and
the reservoir discharges the pumped water into the tank through the
outlet structure.
[0003] In certain aspects, the tank is a cylindrical tank having a
circular cross section, and the filter base is a circular filter
base, and the inlets are disposed at corresponding angular
positions along a surface of the circular filter base and elongated
in a radial direction across the surface of the circular filter
base. Additionally, in some aspects, the interior surface of the
closed end includes a circumferential groove dimensioned to
removably receive and support a circumferential edge of the
circular filter base.
[0004] In other aspects, the pumped water discharges through the
outlet at a constant flow rate. Additionally, or alternatively, the
pumped water discharges through the outlet at a flow rate of twenty
gallons per hour.
[0005] The distal end of the filter housing also includes a surface
oriented perpendicular to an axis of the tank, and the outlet
structure includes a discharge lip having a curved surface, the
curved surface of the discharge lip contacting the surface of the
distal end at corresponding discharge locations. The pumped water
fills the reservoir and discharges across the discharge lip at the
corresponding discharge locations and, when measured along the axis
of the tank, the discharge lip of the reservoir is disposed at a
position above a surface of the stored water.
[0006] In additional aspects, the filter housing is dimensioned to
removably receive and support the pump within the second chamber at
the proximal end of the filter housing, and the filter housing is
dimensioned to removably receive and support the filter cartridge.
Further, the apparatus includes a lid dimensioned to removably
receive the open end of the tank. In some instances, the lid
includes an aperture and an aperture cover. The apparatus also
includes a lighting unit disposed on an interior surface of the
lid, the lighting unit including a lighting element that emits
light illuminating the interior of the tank. In other aspects, the
apparatus includes a base dimensioned to removably receive and
support the closed end of the tank.
[0007] In another embodiment, a filtration system includes a filter
base having inlets and a housing support structure, and a filter
housing having a proximal end dimensioned to removably receive the
housing support structure. The filtration system also includes
filter cartridge disposed within the filter housing to separate a
first chamber of the filter housing from a second chamber of the
filter housing, and a pump having an inlet in fluid communication
with the second chamber. The pump is disposed within the second
chamber of the filter housing and includes an outlet connected to a
proximal end of an elongated tube. The filtration system further
includes a reservoir connected to a distal end of the elongated
tube, and an outlet structure is dimensioned to be removably
positioned within the second chamber at a distal end of the filter
housing. In some aspects, the pump operates to mechanically draw
water through the inlets, into the first chamber through an opening
in the housing support structure, and across the filter cartridge
into the second chamber. The pump also operates to mechanically
pump the drawn water through the elongated tube and into the
reservoir, and the reservoir discharges the pumped water through
the outlet structure.
[0008] In certain aspects, the filter base is a circular filter
base, and the inlets are disposed at corresponding angular
positions along a surface of the circular filter base and are
elongated in a radial direction across the surface of the circular
filter base. Additionally, in some aspects, the pumped water
discharges through the outlet at a flow rate of twenty gallons per
hour. In other aspects, the distal end of the filter housing
includes a surface oriented perpendicular to an axis of the filter
housing, and the outlet structure includes a discharge lip having a
curved surface, the curved surface of the discharge lip contacting
the surface of the distal end at corresponding discharge locations.
In some instances, the pumped water fills the reservoir and
discharges across the discharge lip at the corresponding discharge
locations.
[0009] Additionally, the filter housing is dimensioned to removably
receive and support the pump within the second chamber, the pump is
disposed at the proximal end of the filter housing. The filter
housing is also dimensioned to removably receive and support the
filter cartridge. In further aspects, the filter base is
dimensioned to be removably positioned over an interior surface of
a closed end of the tank, which includes a circumferential groove
dimensioned to removably receive and support a circumferential edge
of the circular filter base. The pump operates to mechanically draw
the water from the tank through the inlets, and the reservoir
discharges the pumped water into the tank through the outlet.
[0010] These and other embodiments will become apparent to one of
skill in the art upon the reading and understanding of the attached
figures and associated detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The following will be apparent from elements of the figures,
which are provided for illustrative purposes and are not
necessarily to scale.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aquarium, according to
certain disclosed embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an aquarium illustrating a
tank, a base and lid, a filter base, a filter housing, a filter
cartridge, a pump, a reservoir, and an elongated tube connecting
the pump and reservoir, in accordance with certain disclosed
embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an interior surface of a tank lid,
according to certain disclosed embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 4A is a top plan view of an aquarium, according to
certain disclosed embodiments.
[0016] FIGS. 4B and 4C are sectional views of an aquarium,
according to certain disclosed embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a reservoir, according to
certain disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to
be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to
be considered part of the entire written description.
[0019] The following description of the present subject matter is
provided as an enabling teaching of the present subject matter and
its best, currently-known embodiment. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that many changes can be made to the embodiments
described herein while still obtaining the beneficial results of
the present subject matter. It will also be apparent that for some
embodiments, some of the desired benefits of the present subject
matter can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the
present subject matter without utilizing other features.
Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that many
modifications and adaptations of the present subject matter are
possible and may even be desirable in certain circumstances and are
part of the present subject matter. Thus, the following description
is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present
subject matter and not in limitation thereof and may include
modification thereto and permutations thereof. While the following
exemplary discussion of embodiments of the present subject matter
may be directed towards or reference aquariums and non-disruptive
filtration systems, it is to be understood that the discussion is
not intended to limit the scope of the present subject matter in
any way and that the principles presented are equally applicable to
other systems and/or methods for non-disruptive filtration and
circulation within aquariums and similar aquatic habitats.
[0020] Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that many
modifications to the exemplary embodiments described herein are
possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
subject matter. Thus, the description is not intended and should
not be construed to be limited to the examples given but should be
granted the full breadth of protection afforded by the appended
claims and equivalents thereto.
[0021] With reference to the figures where like elements have been
given like numerical designations to facilitate an understanding of
the present subject matter, various embodiments of aquariums and
non-disruptive filtration systems are described.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aquarium 100, according
to certain disclosed embodiments. In FIG. 1, aquarium 100 includes
a tank 102, a base 104, a lid 106, and a filtration system that
includes a filter base 108 and a filter housing 110, and electrical
connectors 112 and 114. Lid 106 also includes an aperture 116,
which facilitates access to an interior of tank 102 (e.g., to add
water and other fluids into the interior of tank 102, etc.), and an
aperture cover 118, which may be disposed in an open position or a
closed position. In some aspects, tank 100 may be constructed from
a transparent material that includes, but is not limited to, glass,
acrylic, plastic, or other similar materials. Further, although
depicted in FIG. 1 and described herein as a hollow, right-circular
cylinder, tank 102 is not limited to this exemplary shape, and in
other embodiments, tank 102 may be formed from other shapes (e.g.,
a cube, a polyhedron, a frustum, a globular shape, etc.), which
will necessitate similar shaping for the base 104 and lid 106.
[0023] Additionally, as depicted in FIG. 1, filter base 108 is
generally circular in shape, and includes a plurality of inlets 109
that facilitate a flow of water through filter base 108. For
example, in FIG. 1, inlets 109 are being disposed at corresponding
angular positions along a surface of filter base 108, and are
elongated in a radial direction across the surface of filter base
108. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to these exemplary
inlets and inlet orientations, and in other instances, filter base
108 may include inlets having any additional or alternate shape
(e.g., squares, circles, polygons, etc.) or orientation that would
facilitate the flow of water through filter base 108. Further, and
in some aspects, filter base 108 also includes a housing support
structure (not depicted in FIG. 1) that engages filter housing 110
at a proximal end and supports filter housing 110 within tank 102.
As described below in greater detail below, filter housing 110 is a
hollow, elongated structure dimensioned to removably receive a
filter cartridge, a reservoir, and a mechanical pump interconnected
to the reservoir through an elongated tube (not depicted in FIG.
1), which collectively function to filter and redistribute water
throughout tank 102 in a manner that does not disturb fish and
other aquatic life housed within aquarium 100.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, tank 102 includes an open end 202 and a
closed end 204, and an interior surface of closed end 202
establishes a bottom surface 206 of tank 102. In one aspect, base
104 is be dimensioned to receive and support closed end 204. For
example,, base 104 includes a support lip 208, which may engage a
circumferential portion of closed end 204, and closed end 204 may
be affixed to lip 208, and to base 104, by an appropriate
mechanical fastener or adhesive (e.g., a glue or a resin epoxy). In
some aspects, filter base 108 is dimensioned to be removably
positioned over bottom surface 206, and includes the housing
support structure, e.g., housing support structure 210 of FIG. 2,
which engages and is received into a proximal end 212 of filter
housing 110. Further, and as described below, housing support
structure 210 includes an opening 210A that facilitates fluid
communication between an interior of filter housing 110 and tank
102, e.g., through inlets 109 in filter base 108. In some aspects,
filter housing 110 is dimensioned to removably receive the
mechanical pump (e.g., pump 216 of FIG. 2, which is connected to an
external power source by electrical connector 112), the elongated
tube (e.g., tube 218 of FIG. 2), the reservoir (e.g., reservoir 220
of FIG. 2), and the filter cartridge (e.g., filter cartridge 222 of
FIG. 2). Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, filter housing 110
includes a distal surface 214A disposed at a distal end 214 and
oriented perpendicular to an axis of tank 102. In certain aspects,
described in greater detail below, distal surface 214A may be
dimensioned to engage with and support an outlet of reservoir 220
when reservoir 220 is removably positioned within the filter
housing.
[0025] Aquarium 100 also includes lighting units 224A, 224B, and
224C, which are interconnected by interior electrical connections
226A and 226B. In some aspects, each of lighting units 224A, 224B,
and 224C includes a lighting element (not depicted in FIG. 2), such
as, but not limited to, a light emitting diode (LED), and is
disposed on an interior surface of lid 106 such that light emitted
by the corresponding lighting element illuminates the interior of
tank 102. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary disposition of lighting
units 224A, 224B, and 224C, and of electrical connections 226A and
226B, along an interior surface 302 of lid 106 in accordance with
certain disclosed embodiments. Aquarium 100 is, however, not
limited to this exemplary orientation of lighting units along
interior surface 302, and in other embodiments, aquarium 100 may
include other number of lighting units and other types of lighting
elements (e.g., incandescent or fluorescent lamps) disposed across
interior surface 302 (or on other portions of aquarium 100) in any
additional or alternate orientation.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, lid 106 includes a circumferential edge
304 and a lip 306 disposed on interior surface 302 and displaced
from circumferential edge 304 by a distance in a radial direction
(e.g., by 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm, etc.). Further, a plurality of groove
supports 308 are positioned at corresponding angular positions
along a portion of interior surface 302 disposed between
circumferential edge 304 and lip 306. In one aspect, and described
below, circumferential edge 304, lip 306, and groove supports 308
are dimensioned to establish a groove 310 that removably receives
and supports open end 202 of tank 102. Additionally, lid 106
includes a pathway 312 formed into circumferential edge 304 and lip
306 to permit a passage of electrical connectors 112 and 114 from
an interior of tank to the external source of electrical power.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, lid 106 is dimensioned to
removably receive open end 202 of tank 102 and to isolate an
interior of tank 102 from a surrounding environment (while also
facilitating passage of electrical connectors 112 and 114 from the
interior of tank 102 through pathway 312 to the external power
source). For example, in FIG. 4B, open end 202 of tank 102 may be
positioned within groove 310, as established by circumferential
edge 304 and lip 306, and may rest upon groove supports 308. In
some aspects, groove supports 308 may support lid 106 when
removably positioned onto open end 202 of tank 102.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 4B, filter base 108 is removably
positioned over bottom surface 206 of tank 102, and includes a
circumferential lip 402 that engages a surface of a groove 404
formed into closed end 202 of tank 102. In some aspects, the
engagement of lip 402 into the surface of groove 404 stabilizes
filter base 108 within the interior of tank 102 and limits a
movement of filter base 108, and thus, filter housing 110, during
operation of pump 216 and usage of aquarium 100. The engagement of
lip 402 into the surface of groove 404 also displaces filter base
108 from bottom surface 206, and facilitates, through inlets 109
and opening 210A, fluid communication between the interior of tank
102 and a hollow interior of filter housing 110, as described
below.
[0029] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, proximal end 212
(as shown in FIG. 2) of filter housing 110 is dimensioned to
removably receive and engage housing support structure 210, which
supports and stabilizes filter housing 110 within tank 102 during
use of aquarium 100 Filter housing 110 may also be dimensioned to
removably receive and support filter cartridge 222, and the
positioning of filter cartridge 222 within the hollow interior of
filter housing 110 may partition the hollow interior into a first
chamber 406 and a second chamber 408 (e.g., as separated by
positioned filter cartridge 222). By way of example, filter
cartridge 222 may include an elongated, planar base structure
surrounded by a natural or synthetic filter material, and filter
housing 110 may include filter support structures 410 positioned
along an interior surface of filter housing 110 and dimensioned to
removably receive and support filter cartridge 222. The disclosed
embodiments are, however, not limited these exemplary filter
cartridges, and in further aspects, aquarium 100 may include a
filter cartridge having another shape, formed from other materials,
and/or supported within filter housing 110 by other support
structures.
[0030] Pump 216 is removably positioned within second chamber 408
at proximal end 212 of filter housing 110, and in some instances,
is disposed onto and supported by a portion of housing support
structure 210 (e.g., which engaged proximal end 212 of filter
housing 110). Although not depicted in FIGS. 4A-4C, pump 216 may be
connected to the external power source by electrical connector 112,
and may be supported on the portion of housing support structure
210 by one or more non-permanent support structures, which include,
but are not limited to, suction cups or adhesives. Pump 216 also
includes an input in fluid communication with second chamber 408,
and an outlet connected to a proximal end of elongated pipe 218, a
distal end of which is connected to an inlet 412 of reservoir 220.
As described above, reservoir 220 is dimensioned to be removably
positioned within second chamber 408 at distal end 214 of filter
housing 11. For example, reservoir 220 includes an outlet structure
414, which is dimensioned to engage distal surface 214A and
removably position reservoir 220 within filter housing 110. In
certain aspects, described in greater detail below with reference
to FIG. 5, outlet structure 414 may include a discharge lip having
a curved surface 416, portions of which are in contact with distal
surface 214A to discharge water from reservoir 220 into the
interior of task 102.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, reservoir 220 includes a body portion
502 having a closed end 504, which is connected to elongated tube
218 via inlet 412, and outlet structure 414 is aligned with and
affixed onto an open end of body portion 502. Further, in some
aspects, outlet structure 414 includes the discharge lip described
above, and curved surface 416 may be associated with one or more
local maxima, e.g., local maxima 522, 524, and 526, and one or more
local minima, e.g., local minima 532 and 534. As shown in FIG. 5,
each of local minima 532 and 534 are disposed a first distance
above closed end 504 along an axis of reservoir 220, and local
maxima 522, 524, and 526 are disposed a second distance above
closed end 504 that exceeds the first distance.
[0032] In some embodiments, each of local minima 532 and 534
contact distal surface 214A when reservoir 220 is removably
positioned within filter housing 110, and each of local minima 532
and 534 establish discharge locations from which outlet structure
414 (e.g., the discharge lip described above) discharges water into
the interior of tank 102. For example, tank 102 stores a certain
volume of water, and local minima 532 and 534 of curved surface 416
are disposed, along the axis of tank 102, at a position above a
surface of the stored water. In certain aspects, and upon
connection of pump 216 to the external power source, pump 216
operates to mechanically draw the stored water from the interior of
tank 102, through inlets 109, into first chamber 406 of filter
housing 110 through opening 210A in housing support structure 210,
and across filter cartridge 222 into second chamber 408. Pump 216
further operates to mechanically pump the drawn and filtered water
through elongated tube 218 and into reservoir 220 via inlet 412.
The pumped water gradually and continuously fills reservoir 220 to
a depth consistent with the first distance above closed end 504
(i.e., the axial location of local minima 532 and 534 of outlet
structure 414), after which the pumped water discharges from
reservoir 220 at the discharge locations established by local
minima 532 and 534 of curved surface 416. For example, in some
instances, the discharged water may cascade gently from the
discharge locations of outlet structure 416 and along outer surface
of filter housing 110 and into the tank.
[0033] In some instances, outlet structure 414 discharges water
through the established discharge locations at a flow rate that is
substantially invariable over time. The flow rate includes, for
example, a flow rate of twenty gallons per minute, which also
corresponds to a rate at which pump 216 operates to mechanically
draw and pump stored water into reservoir 220. The disclosed
embodiments are, however, not limited to mechanical pumps
exhibiting these exemplary flow rates, or to outlet structures and
discharge lips characterized by curved surfaces having multiple
discharge locations. In additional aspects, aquarium 100 may
include mechanical pumps capable of drawing and pumping water at
other appropriate flow rates, and outlet structures having other
shapes that include other numbers of discharge locations, including
an outlet structure having a flat discharge lip without
curvature.
[0034] The continuous discharge of water from reservoir 220 across
the multiple discharge locations (e.g., established the contact
between local minima 532 and 534 of curved surface 416 and distal
surface 214A) circulates filtered water through tank 102 at a rate
sufficient to sustain fish and other aquatic life without
establishing a hydrodynamic current within the tank. For example,
certain fish, such as betta fish, thrive in low-current aquatic
environments, and certain of the disclosed embodiments generate
aquatic environment within aquarium 100 that especially conducive
to betta fish and similar aquatic life.
[0035] Although examples are illustrated and described herein,
embodiments are nevertheless not limited to the details shown,
since various modifications and structural changes may be made
therein by those of ordinary skill within the scope and range of
equivalents of the claims.
* * * * *