Patent ID: 6543386
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
An assembly for separating aquatic animals within a display tank filled with water, comprising:(a) a removable separator, said separator comprising (1) a transit chamber, said transit chamber being formed of a substantially transparent material, and having an outer wall and an interior passageway, and (2) plural divider plates formed of a substantially transparent material and securely affixed to said outer wall of said transit chamber, (a) said divider plates having side edges and top and bottom edges, (b) said divider plates being positioned symmetrically about the periphery of said transit chamber, and (c) each divider plate having a passage aperture therethrough aligned with said interior passageway of said transit chamber, (b) at least one guide rail for at least one divider plate of said removable separator, said guide rail being oriented vertically and attached to an inner surface of said display tank, (1) said guide rail having one or more vertically oriented slots defining an inner slot region, (2) said inner slot region of said guide rail being positioned and sized to permit slidable insertion of a side edge of a divider plate of said removable separator, (3) each guide rail being positioned such that when said side edge of a divider plate of said removable separator is inserted within said inner slot region of said guide rail, the top edges of the divider plates of said removable separator extend slightly above the surface water level of said display tank, and said transit chamber is completely submerged, and (4) each guide rail being positioned with respect to the inner surfaces of said display tank such that when said side edge of a divider plate of said removable separator is inserted within said inner slot region of said guide rail, aquatic animals larger than a selected size cannot pass between said guide rail and the inner surfaces of the display tank, nor between the side edges of the divider plates of the removable separator and the inner surfaces of the display tank, nor between the bottom edges of the divider plates of the removable separator and the inner surfaces of the display tank.