Patent ID: 6086760
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: A01K,C02F

Abstract:
An ultraviolet sterilizer assembly for use in fish tanks, said ultraviolet sterilizer assembly comprising:a vertically oriented elongated tubular housing having a top end, a bottom end, a height H1 in the range of 5-24 inches, a width W1 in the range of 1.5-6 inches, an inner surface, an outer surface and a sterilizer chamber formed in said tubular housing;a vertically oriented elongated ultraviolet lamp having a top end, a bottom end, a width W2 in the range of 0.3-1.5 inches, a height H2, and electrical terminals; said ultraviolet lamp being positioned in said sterilizer chamber of said tubular housing;a first and a second inner tubular member each having a top end, a bottom end, an inner surface, a height H3 and a width W3; said inner tubular members being positioned in said sterilizer chamber on diametrically opposite sides of said ultraviolet lamp; a tubular connector having its opposite ends secured to the respective bottom ends of said first and second inner tubular members and passing directly under said bottom end of said ultraviolet lamp;at least one attachment member connecting said ultraviolet lamp to said respective first and second inner tubular members for supporting said ultraviolet lamp between said respective first and second inner tubular members in said tubular housing;a bottom cap secured to and closing said bottom end of said tubular housing;a top cap removably secured to and closing said top end of said tubular housing; means connecting said top ends of said first and second inner tubular members to said top cap so that their combined structure can be removed from said tubular housing along with said ultraviolet lamp as a single unit for the purpose of changing said ultraviolet lamp;means for connecting an outside supply of water to be sterilized to said top end of said first inner tubular member so that water can pass downwardly through said first inner tubular member along the length of said ultraviolet lamp, then through said tubular connector and upwardly through said second inner tubular member along the length of said ultraviolet lamp and then exit said ultraviolet sterilizer assembly into an external container for the water that has been sterilized; andmeans for electrically connecting said electrical terminals of said ultraviolet lamp to a source of electrical power and said means passing through said top cap.