Abstract:
A combination aquarium and furniture system constructed to accommodate small animals in a human-like setting and for enhancing the aesthetic nature of various living environments, which includes both saltwater and freshwater. To complement the system, a backdrop including a panoramic scene is optionally secured onto an aquarium. The furniture and related items provide an environment which includes a resting place, drinking source, illumination and/or heat source, and an oxygen generating device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the invention 
     The present invention relates generally to aquariums. More specifically, the invention is a combination aquarium and furniture system which simulates amphibious, water restricted and/or land restricted habitats with human-like living quarters for a variety of small animals. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It would not be uncommon to find an aquarium that houses small animals in most households. People have paid an exorbitant amount of money to create the perfect setting for inside their aquariums whether it is for amusement or aesthetic values. The following design patents illustrate a wide variety of ornamental items used for both fluid and non-fluid filled tanks. 
     U.S. Des. Pat. No. 134,953, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 134,954, and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 134,955, all issued to Albert Green berg on Feb. 2, 1943, display a variety of designs used as aquarium ornaments. One ornamental design includes several rocks attached to a base. Another ornamental design includes several rocks and shells attached to a base. The other design includes a lighthouse mold attached to a base. 
     U.S. Des. Pat. No. 211,953, issued to Willis J. Whit taker on Aug. 13, 1968, also illustrates an ornamental design of a light house mold attached to a base. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 279,317, issued to Gold man et al. On Jun. 18, 1985, displays an ornamental design of an aquarium vase. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 294,129, issued to Otto Grunt on Feb. 9, 1988, shows an ornamental design for an aquatic sculpture. The sculpture includes fish figures suspended on a string from a plant-like object. The plant like object is attached to a base. 
     U.S. Des. Pat. No. 327,142, issued to Noel I. Pilgrim, Jr., on Jun. 16, 1992, displays an ornamental design for an aquarium base including several figures attached to the base. The figures include a plurality of fish, a mermaid, a light house, plants, and a rock assembly. U.S. Des. Pat. No. 400,312, issued to Tony Pg Tang Wing on Oct. 27, 1998, illustrates an ornamental design for a toy used in an aquarium. The toy is in the shape of a scuba diver and treasure chest. 
     The following patents explain different types of aquarium items and objects. U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,062, issued to Hitch, et al. On May 7, 1957, describes a toy diver which is attached to a conically shaped base. The toy diver is to simulate in appearance a frogman from a military mission. The main feature of the toy frogman is for it to sink feet first in a vessel of water. Then, the frogman will stand upright on the bottom of the vessel while remaining submerged and continue in an upright position while automatically rising from the bottom. Finally, the frogman will tilt into a face down swimming position as it partially emerges from the surface of the water. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,179, issued to Kazumi Yamakawa on Mar. 16, 1971, details a swimming toy assembly which includes a swimmer body, power unit, and an amphibious car. The power unit includes a functional motor which allows the assembly to move within the water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,945, issued to Gold man, et al. On Mar. 9, 1982, explains an underwater aquarium decoration assembly. The assembly includes a plurality of irregularly shaped shells each having side walls and a top wall. The shells are arranged to provide a random variegated rock-like pattern. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,545, issued on Dec. 4, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,596, issued on Nov. 2, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,884, issued on Nov. 22, 1994, all with inventorship belonging to Richard L. Jones discusses an ornamental assembly for use in aquariums or the like. The ornamental assembly for the first two patents by Jones is for use in a fluid-filled viewing tank for enhancing the aesthetic nature of the tank. 
     The devices in the above mentioned patents may include a decorative body member and an affixed retaining member for semi-permanently securing each device to an inner surface of a viewing tank. The later patent by Jones is an ornamental assembly for use in non-aquatic viewing cages. The assembly includes a body member formed from a natural piece of driftwood and a fastening assembly for semi-permanently securing the body member to any surface of the viewing cage. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,228, issued to Daniel Boyle on Jan. 28, 1997, describes an aquarium landscaping system. Each landscape provides a partition to create different multiple leveled terrains. A light source is located beneath the tank and provides illumination lights up into carrying tubes. 
     Aquarium items used to display underwater-type ocean and diving scenes are getting old. An ideal set of aquarium items for amusement and aesthetic value would include human-like furniture arranged in human-like settings that also have a functional aspect. A set of aquarium furniture and related items could be interchangeably used to create human-like living quarters or be arrange to look like a back yard. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a aquarium furniture and related items solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is aquarium furniture and similar items adapted to accommodate small animals and for enhancing the aesthetic nature of fluid and non-fluid filled aquarium tanks. To complement the present invention, a backdrop including a panoramic scene can be optionally secured onto the back wall of an aquarium. 
     The aquarium furniture and related items are dimensioned and configured to fit inside a typical glass aquarium having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall or floor. Each assembly of aquarium furniture and related items give the illusion of human-like living quarters, an office, and back yard. 
     The furniture and related items can be adapted to provide a resting place, drinking water, an illumination device, a heat source, and a bubbling device. Most of the aquarium furniture will be made from a mold of plastic or ceramic type materials. The aquarium furniture are constructed and made of materials to withstand both saltwater and freshwater fluid-filled aquarium tanks as well as non-fluid filled tanks. 
     Some aquarium furniture and related items provide the same function to some animals as they would to humans. For example, a sofa is would allow a snake to actually curl up, rest, or sleep upon it. All the aquarium furniture and related items are constructed and arrange for their aesthetic value and amusement. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a set of aquarium furniture and related items to give the illusion of human-like living quarters, an office, and back yard for amusement purposes. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide aquarium furniture and related items to be constructed and arranged for their aesthetic values. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide aquarium furniture and related items that is adapted to provide a resting place, drinking water, an illumination device, a heat source, and a bubbling device. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide aquarium furniture to be constructed and made of materials that withstand both saltwater and freshwater fluid-filled aquarium tanks as well as non-fluid filled tanks. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof aquarium furniture and related items for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental view of aquarium furniture and related items organized to appear as a human-like living room for live animals housed in an aquarium according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an environmental view of aquarium furniture and related items organized to appear as a human-like a back yard for live animals housed in an aquarium of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an environmental view of aquarium furniture and related items organized to appear as a human-like a dining room for live animals housed in an aquarium of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an environmental view a backdrop adapted to complement the arrangement of the aquarium furniture and related items of the present invention. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to aquarium furniture and similar items designated as  10  in the drawings. The aquarium furniture would be constructed to accommodate small animals and to enhance the aesthetic nature of both fluid and non-fluid filled aquarium environments. To complement the present invention, a backdrop including a panoramic scene can be optionally secured onto the back wall of an aquarium. 
     The aquarium furniture and related items are small replica molds of household and office furniture, and back yard items that have been adapted to accommodate small animals that can live in aquarium-like environments. The aquarium furniture and related items are dimensioned and configured to fit inside a typical glass aquarium having a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall or floor. Each wall has an inner and outer surface. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the assembly of aquarium furniture and related items  10  to give the illusion of human-like living quarters for a dry environment such as a non-fluid filled aquarium  20  which houses small animals  30 . This assembly is one example in how to assimilate a living room which includes a sofa  32 , Jacuzzi  34 , a plurality of wall pictures  36 , floor rug  38 , and lamp  40 . Most of the aquarium furniture  10  will be made from a mold of plastic or ceramic type materials. The sofa  32  is constructed to accommodate a small aquarium animal  30  such as a snake. The sofa  32  is large enough to allow a small animal  32  to actually curl up on the sofa  32  and sleep, rest, eat, or clean itself. 
     The Jacuzzi  34  would be constructed to hold actual drinking water  42  for a small animal  30 . The lamp  40  can be constructed to receive an illumination device or heating element  44  which gives off heat in the same fashion as an aquarium bulb. As a result, the lamp  40  could replace the aquarium bulb in providing sufficient heat for inside the aquarium  20 . Any power supplying means conventional in the art of supplying electricity to illuminate a bulb such as an electric cord or batteries will suffice. 
     Each wall picture  36  comprises a front  46  and back  48  surface. The back surface  48  of each wall picture  36  includes a plurality of suction cups  50  for securely attaching the back  48  of the picture frame  36  to the inside of the aquarium  20  wall. The rug  38  and all of the above mentioned furniture can be constructed for aesthetic purposes as well. 
     FIG. 2 displays the assembly of aquarium furniture and related items  10  to give the illusion of a landscape scene in a non-fluid filled aquarium  20  for small animals  30 . The aquarium items  10  are displayed to assimilate a landscape or a back yard which includes a hammock  52 , trees  54 , a gazebo  56 , diving pool  58 , and barbecue  60 . Some of the aquarium furniture and items  10  in this landscape scene will also be made from a mold of plastic or ceramic type materials. 
     The hammock  52  would be constructed of a sturdy flexible rope-like material that is dimensioned and configured to hold a small animal  30  such as a gerbil, mouse, rat, or hamster. The trees  54  could be secured to the sides or bottom of the aquarium tank  20  by any conventional first fastening means  62  in the art of affixing an item to glass. Such removable first fastening means  62  may include suction cups and adhesives like glue, melted wax, and silicon. 
     The diving pool  58  could be constructed to hold actual drinking water  42  for a small animal  30 . The diving board  64  could serve as a platform for the small rodent  30  to rest on while the animal is taking a drink. The gazebo  56  is constructed to house a plurality of small animals  30  for resting or sleeping. The barbecue  60  can be constructed to include an illumination device  64  for producing light and heat. This illumination device  64  within the barbecue  60  could replace the bulb normally utilized in a non-fluid filled aquarium  20 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the assembly of aquarium furniture and related items  10  to give the illusion of a dining room in a fluid filled aquarium  20  for aquatic fish  30 . The aquarium furniture  10  would be made out of mold of plastic or ceramic that is resistant to corrosion in both freshwater and saltwater. The dining room scene may include the following aquarium furniture  10  such as a dining room table  66  and chairs  68 , a fireplace  70 , a plurality of book shelves  72 , and a china cabinet  74 . 
     The dining room table  66  and chair  68  assembly can be arranged in the traditional fashion. Fish and other aquatic animals  30  can swim through and around all the aquarium furniture  10 . A china cabinet  74  can include doors  76  that are hingedly connected to allow the doors  76  to remain in the open position so that small aquatic animals  30  such as snails and fish may wander inside the cabinet  74 . The cabinet  74  may be made of a sturdy non-corrosive transparent or translucent material in order to view the aquatic animals  30  moving within the cabinet  74 . 
     The fireplace  70  may be constructed to include an illumination device  78  for producing both light and heat. This illumination device  78  within the fireplace  70  could replace the heating units typical used in both saltwater and freshwater aquariums  20 . A bookshelf  72  could also be utilized in the aquarium  20  for aesthetics and amusement purposes. As fish swim  30  by the bookshelf  72 , the fish  30  could appear to look like they are reading the titles of the books  80 . A candle  82  holder display may also function and replace a bubbling device  84  which is typically used in fluid-filled aquariums  20 . 
     For example, a dining room arrangement may include small mold replicas of paintings, pictures, glassware, rugs, candles, vases, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, sculptures, dining room table and chair set, china cabinet, armoire, etc. A Kitchen arrangement may include appliances, counters, food items, decorative items, dishes, utensils, table and chairs, etc. 
     A living room arrangement may include a fireplace, mantle, television, stereo, plants, clocks, lamps, games, movie type theater seating, magazines, sofa, loveseat, chairs, recliners, fainting couches, etc. A back yard arrangement may include patio furniture, hammocks, trees/plants, shrubs, decks, gardening items and appliances, grill greenhouse, gazebo, picnic table, umbrella, spa, pool/dive board, driveway, road, houses, etc. A bedroom arrangement may include bed, endtables, mirrors, linens, desks, books, record, vanities, etc. 
     A library arrangement may include pool tables, ping pong table, computers, exercise equipment, fishing pole, boats, etc. A bathroom arrangement may include a washer/dryer and related bathroom items. An office arrangement may include items and furniture such as cameras, telescopes, and small replicas of people. The above items listed are not exclusive and can include a variety of similar and related items. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the attachment of the complementary backdrop  86  which includes a scenic view of the theme the user is trying to display such as a dining room. The backdrop  86  includes a sheet of material comprising either plastic, paper, wax, or foil-like substance. The backdrop  86  includes printed side  88  with indicia of a panoramic scene, living quarters, or landscape scenery. 
     The printed side  88  of the backdrop  86  attaches to the outer surface of the back wall of an aquarium  20 . The preferred second fastening means used on the backdrop  86  can be transparent or translucent tape (not shown). However, any second fastening means which is conventional in the art that does not interfere will suffice with the scenic picture on the printed side  88 . 
     Most of the aquarium furniture and related items  10  are adapted to accommodate small animals  30  that can live in aquariums  20 . All the aquarium furniture and related items  10  are constructed and arrange for their aesthetic values. The composition of each aquarium furniture and/or related items  10  will depend on their function and role they play to accommodate the small animals  30 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.