Abstract:
An aquarium device having a compartment for a video playing device that is viewable through an aquarium tank for conveniently enhancing the viewing experience. The device includes a filtration system that is concealed from the viewer and that filters the water around the video device without exposing the device to water or any other elements of the aquarium&#39;s habitat.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to aquariums and video systems, more particularly, it relates to an aquarium system that incorporates a video playing device. 
         [0003]    Discussion of Prior Art 
         [0004]    Aquariums have been known for a considerable amount of time. They vary in size and shape, but in most instances are generally intended to hold fish and other organisms that live in the water, along with various decorations for people&#39;s viewing enjoyment. Such aquariums generally include filtration systems that are designed to maintain the cleanliness of the aquarium. However, while often pleasing to the eye, these displays tend to be somewhat static in nature, as replacing the decorations can be tedious, burdensome and costly. Such displays are also limited to organisms and decorations that can fit and survive in a small confined space. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a simple and convenient means for enhancing the visual experience while also providing a simple and convenient means for dynamically changing the experience. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention is a single unit aquarium system that includes three compartments to create a dynamic viewing experience. The first compartment is a tank compartment, which is to be filled with water to create a habitat for fish and other water-based organisms. The second compartment is a video device compartment, which is sized to hold a video playing device, such as, for example, an APPLE IPAD, SAMSUNG tablet, or a common laptop. The third compartment is a filtration compartment that includes a filtration system to clean and recycle the water held in the tank compartment. The video device compartment is situated between the tank compartment and the filtration compartment such that the video device is visible to a viewer through the tank compartment. 
         [0007]    The video playing device is used to dynamically play any number of different types of videos, including, for example, videos of underwater or deep sea explorations, videos of a child&#39;s favorite cartoon character, or advertisements for a given business. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the device according to the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is top view of the device showing the filtration compartment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the device showing the base and lower portion of the tank compartment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1-6  illustrate an aquarium device  100  according to the invention that is a single unit that includes a tank compartment  10 , video device compartment  30 , and filtration compartment  50 . The device  100  is configured such that the tank compartment  10  is the foremost compartment that is in a position that is most visible to a viewer, the video device compartment  30  is placed behind the tank compartment  10 , and the filtration compartment  50  is in the back of the device  100  behind the video device compartment  30 . 
         [0017]    The tank is filled with water and whatever organisms and decorations the owner of the device wishes to view, such as fish and commonly available decorations. A video playing device V is placed in the video device compartment  30  and a video is activated. For example, a user may fill the tank  10  with water and small tropical fish, and then use the video device to play a video of a tropical underwater exploration, thus providing a deeper and more dynamic experience for the viewers. There are a number of suitable video playing devices, such as an APPLE IPAD or other similarly sized electronic tablet. Behind the video device compartment  30  is the filtration compartment  50  which contains a common filtration system to filter the water in the tank compartment  10 . 
         [0018]    The tank compartment  10  is a water tight container that is largely transparent so as to allow an observer to view the contents.  FIG. 4  illustrates the tank  10  having a rear side  12  that includes a transparent viewing window  13  that is roughly the size and shape of the video playing device V. The tank has a front side  14  that may be any suitable shape. In the embodiment shown, the front  14  is rectangular and the tank has two sides  16  that connect the front side  14  to the rear side  12  which has a colored outer edge  18  that frames the video device V. In another embodiment not shown, the front side  14  is curved and connects directly to the rear side  12 . 
         [0019]    The video device compartment  30  contains an open slot  32  on at least one side of the device  100  where a video device V is insertable into a viewing position. The compartment  30  is sized to fit the video device firmly in the proper viewing position. In the embodiment shown, the frame  18  obscures the outer edge of the video device V as well as any cables that may be attached to the video device V. The video compartment  30  has a top  34  that is water tight so as to protect the video device V from water that is passing between the tank  10  and filtration compartment  50  and a bottom  36  to support the device in its desired position. As water is pumped from the filter compartment  50  into the tank compartment  10  the water level rises until water flows through one or more small water flow notches  38  near the top of the tank compartment  50  where it flows over the water tight top  34  of the video compartment  30  and back into the filtration compartment  50 . Additional overflow notches  39  may be provided to allow water to pass between chambers in the event that the water flow notches  38  become clogged or otherwise inoperable. 
         [0020]    The filtration compartment  50  receives water through the small water notches  38 , filters the water with any suitable filtration system, and then returns the filtered water to the tank through filtration pump  58  and hose  59 . In the embodiment shown, the filtration system  50  includes a water reservoir  52 , a filter media chamber  54 , and a pump chamber  56  for storing the pump  58 . A number of filtration systems are suitable, for example, a standard wet/dry system. The water reservoir  52  may also include a heating element (not shown). 
         [0021]    Additional components may also be provided, for example, lighting  60  and speaker  70  systems. In the embodiment shown, three lights  62  and two speakers  72  are provided. The tank  100  has a base  80  that supports the device  100  and conceals the wires and sensors necessary to control the lighting  60  and speaker  70  systems. The lights are connected to an external power source (not shown), and are controlled by RF sensors  82  that are located in the base  80 . The speakers  72  connect to power cords  74  that run through the base  80  to an external power source (not shown). The speakers  72  connect via Bluetooth to the video playing device V. A tank compartment cover  11  and filter compartment cover  51 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be provided. A slot  31  is also provided to secure a video device cover (not shown) on the side of the video compartment  30 . USB ports  84 , shown in  FIG. 6 , that are connected to an external power source are also provided. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment not shown the video device compartment  30  is open on both the side  32  and the bottom  34  to allow an open laptop (not shown) to be used as the video device V and inserted into the video device compartment  30 . In this case, the laptop&#39;s monitor is visible in the video device compartment  30  through the tank compartment  50  and the remainder of the laptop is positioned beneath the tank compartment  10 . In this embodiment additional support elements (not shown) are added beneath the tank compartment  10  and the filtration compartment  50  to support the weight of the device  100  above the portion of the video device that is beneath the tank compartment  10 . 
         [0023]    It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the aquarium device may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims.