Aquarium filtering system

The present invention provides an aquarium filtering system having a pump housing and a filter assembly which is detachably secured to the pump housing for cleaning or replacement. The pump housing includes two conduits which register with and telescopically receive two conduits on the filter assembly as the filter assembly is connected to the pump housing thus fluidly connecting the pump housing and filter assembly together. A yoke is slidably mounted to the pump housing and movable between a locking and unlocking position. In its locking position, the yoke engages two locking tabs on the filter assembly thus mechanically attaching the filter assembly to the pump housing. Conversely, in its unlocking position, the yoke enables the filter assembly to be removed from the pump housing. In addition, a valve is contained within each conduit on the pump housing and these valve automatically close upon disconnection of the filter assembly from the pump housing and prevent fluid flow through the pump housing conduits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to aquarium filtering systems and, 
more particularly, to an aquarium filtering system having a filter 
assembly detachably secured to a pump housing. 
II. Description of the Prior Art 
There are a number of previously known aquarium filter systems which 
utilize a pump housing mounted to the aquarium tank and a filter assembly 
which is detachably secured to the pump housing. This filter assembly 
typically comprises a container having a bag coated with a filtering 
material such as diatomaceous earth, as well as an inlet port and an 
outlet port. Typically, the pump housing includes two ports which register 
with the fluid ports on the filter assembly so that, upon activation of 
the pump, the pump pumps water through the filter assembly. 
These previously known filter assemblies typically include a threaded end 
which is screwed into an internally threaded portion on the pump housing 
in order to fluidly connect the pump housing and filter assembly together. 
After a period of time, the filtering material in the filtering assembly 
must be replaced or cleaned which necessitates the removal of the filter 
assembly from the pump housing. In order to do this, it is necessary to 
stop the pump and then unscrew the filter assembly from the pump housing. 
One disadvantage of these previously known aquarium filtering systems, 
however, is that spillage of aquarium water occurs whenever the filter 
assembly is removed from the pump housing. Furthermore, with these 
previously known devices, once the filter assembly is removed from the 
pump housing, the water pump must be reprimed before operation of the 
filtering system can be resumed. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention provides an aquarium filtering system which overcomes 
all of the above mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices. 
In brief, the aquarium filtering system of the present invention comprises 
a pump housing having a pair of conduits which are spaced apart but 
parallel to each other and protrude outwardly from the pump housing. These 
conduits form both an outlet port and inlet port adapted for connection 
with the filter assembly. 
The filtering system further includes a filter assembly having two conduits 
which form both an inlet and outlet port from the filter assembly. 
Preferably, the filter assembly is in the form of a cannister having a bag 
coated with diatomaceous earth or other filtering material. Consequently, 
the filter assembly removes impurities from the water as it flows from one 
filter port and to the other filter port. 
The filter assembly is detachably mounted to the pump housing so that, upon 
attachment, the filter assembly conduits are telescopically received 
within the interior of the pump housing conduits thus fluidly connecting 
these conduits together and fluidly connecting the filter assembly to the 
pump housing. In addition, a valve is contained within each conduit on the 
pump housing and these valves automatically close upon disconnection of 
the filter assembly from the pump housing. These valves thus not only 
prevent leakage of water from the pump housing upon disconnection of the 
filter assembly but also eliminate the necessity of repriming the pump 
after replacement of the filter assembly. 
In order to secure the filter assembly to the pump housing, the filter 
assembly preferably includes a pair of tabs which are slidably received 
through receiving slots formed in the pump housing. A yoke is slidably 
mounted to the pump housing between a locking and an unlocking position. 
In its locking position, the yoke extends through apertures formed in the 
tabs thereby attaching the filter assembly to the pump housing in the 
desired fashion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 3, a preferred embodiment of a filter 
aquarium system is thereshown and comprises a pump housing 10 containing 
an electric water pump 12. The pump housing 10 is typically mounted to and 
fluidly connected with an aquarium tank (not shown). 
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the pump housing 10 includes a generally 
cylindrical housing portion 14 having a lower end 16. A first conduit 18 
and a second conduit 20 are integrally formed with the housing portion 14 
and extend downwardly from the end 16 of the housing portion 14. 
Furthermore, these conduits 18 and 20 form fluid ports to the pump 12 and 
aquarium and are each open at their lower ends 22 and 24, respectively, 
and are spaced apart but parallel to each other. 
Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, a valve member 26 is contained within 
the housing portion 14 coaxial with and adjacent the upper end of the 
first conduit 18. A spring 28 urges the valve member 26 against a valve 
seat 30 formed at the upper end of the conduit 18 and thus fluidly closing 
or preventing fluid flow through the conduit 18 when the valve member is 
in its closed position. 
Similarly, a second valve member 32 is contained within the second conduit 
20. A spring 34 urges the second valve member 32 against a valve seat 36 
at a midpoint of the conduit 20. Consequently, with the valve member 32 in 
its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 3, the valve member 32 prevents 
fluid flow through the conduit 20. 
Both valve members 26 and 32 include valve guides 40 and 42, respectively, 
which maintain their alignment with their respective conduits 18 and 20. 
Likewise, each valve seat 30 and 36 preferably includes a seal member or 
O-ring to enhance the fluid seal between the valve members 26 and 42 and 
their valve seats 30 and 36. 
With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the aquarium filtering system 
further includes a filter assembly 50 having an upper cap 52 secured in 
any conventional fashion to a lower jar or container 54. In the preferred 
form of the invention, a filter bag 56 (FIG. 3) is contained within the 
jar 54 and coated with diatomaceous earth or other filtering material. 
A pair of tubular conduits 60 and 62 are integrally formed with the cap 52 
and these conduits 60 and 62 are spaced apart and parallel to each other. 
In addition, as best shown in FIG. 3, the conduits 60 and 62 have their 
lower ends 64 and 66, respectively, fluidly secured to the filter bag 56 
via 68 and turbulence tubes 70 and thus form fluid ports to the filter 
assembly 50. Consequently, fluid flow through the conduit 62 enters into 
the filter bag 56 which removes any impurities contained within the water. 
The filtered water then ultimately exits from the filter assembly 50 
through the other conduit 60. 
With reference now particularly to FIG. 4, the conduits 60 and 62 on the 
filter assembly 50 are dimensioned to be telescopically received within 
the interior of the conduits 18 and 20 on the pump housing 10. 
Furthermore, an O-ring or similar seal member 70 is carried on the outer 
periphery of each conduit 60 and 62 adjacent its upper or free end. These 
seal members 70 sealingly engage the interior bore of the pump housing 
conduits 18 and 20 upon the partial insertion of the filter assembly 
conduits 60 and 62 to the position shown in FIG. 4. At this time, however, 
the springs 28 and 34 maintain the valve members 26 and 32, respectively, 
in their closed position. 
With reference now particularly to FIG. 5, upon the further insertion of 
the filter assembly conduits 60 and 62 into their respective receiving 
conduits 18 and 20, the conduits 60 and 62 engage the spring guides 40 and 
42 thus moving the valve members 26 and 32 to their open position as shown 
in FIG. 5. In doing so, fluid communication is established between the 
conduit 60 and a pump housing chamber 80 which is fluidly connected by 
means not shown to the aquarium tank. Simimlarly, as the valve member 32 
is moved to its open position, fluid communication is established between 
the filter assembly conduit 62 and a transverse conduit 82 (FIGS. 1 and 2) 
which is fluidly connected by means not shown to the outlet of the pump 12 
thus fluidly connecting the filter assembly ports in series with the pump 
housing ports. Consequently, with the filter assembly 50 connected to the 
pump housing 10 as shown in FIG. 5, activation of the pump causes fluid 
flow from the pump housing 10, through the filter assembly conduit 62 and 
filter bag 56 (FIG. 3) and the filtered water exits from the filter 
assembly 50 through the conduit 60, pump housing chamber 80 and to the 
aquarium. 
With reference particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to retain the filter 
assembly 50 on the pump housing 10 when in the position shown in FIG. 5, 
the cap 52 includes a pair of upwardly extending tabs 86 each of which has 
an opening 88 adjacent its upper or free end. These tabs 86 are slidably 
received through slots 90 (FIG. 2) formed in the bottom 16 of the housing 
portion 14. 
With reference to FIG. 2, a bar or yoke 92 having two free legs 94 is 
slidably mounted to the pump housing portion 14 above its bottom 16 and 
slidable between a locking position, illustrated in phantom line, and a 
unlocking position, illustrated in solid line. The yoke legs 94 are 
dimensioned so that, with the filter assembly 50 in the position shown in 
FIG. 5, movement of the yoke 92 from its unlocking position and to its 
locking position forces the yoke legs 92 through the tab openings 98 thus 
mechanically connecting the filter assembly 50 to the pump housing 10. In 
order to subsequently disconnect the filter assembly 50 from the pump 
housing 10, it is merely necessary to move the yoke 92 to its retracted or 
unlocking position and then pull the filter assembly 50 downwardly and 
away from the pump housing. 
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a 
unique aquarium filtering system in which the filter assembly 50 can be 
easily and rapidly connected to or disconnected from the pump housing 10. 
Furthermore, upon disconnection of the filter assembly 50 from the pump 
housing 10, the valve 26 and 32 automatically close thus eliminating the 
necessity to reprime the pump when a clean filter assembly 50 is 
subsequently reattached to the pump housing 10. Furthermore, upon 
reconnection of the filter assembly 50 to the pump housing 10, the valves 
26 and 32 are automatically opened thus re-establishing the fluid 
connection between the aquarium pump 12 and the filter assembly 50. 
A still further advantage of the aquarium filtering system of the present 
invention is that the seal members 70 sealingly engage the inner periphery 
of the pump housing conduits 18 and 20 upon partial insertion of the fluid 
assembly conduits 60 and 62 into their receiving pump housing conduits 18 
and 20. This construction thus minimizes water leakage during the initial 
connection of the filter assembly 50 to the pump housing 10. Any small 
water leakage which may occur during the connection or disconnection of 
the filter assembly 50 to or from the pump housing 10 is entrapped within 
a chamber 100 (FIG. 4) formed by an outer ring 102 on the filter assembly 
cap 52. 
Having described my invention, however, many modification thereto will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without 
deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the 
appended claims.