Abstract:
A media reactor aquarium filter incorporates a simple design and allows simple media replacement. The filter includes co-axial inner and outer tubes. The outer tube includes a mounting feature and the inner tube holds the media and is removable without disturbing the outer tube. A pump at the base of the filter pumps water into the inner tube through ports at the base of the inner tube and up through the inner tube, and thus through the media. The filtered water then flows through the top wall of the inner tube and down between the inner and outer tubes, and back into the aquarium. The inner tube is rotatable to vary the alignment of the ports to adjust the water flow rate through the filter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/768,896 filed Feb. 15, 2013, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to filters and in particular to aquarium filters. 
         [0003]    Aquarium filters are utilized to maintain water purity in aquariums. While a variety of filters are available, they generally include flexible tubing, PVC pipe, ball valves, thumb screws, and various features creating unattractive clutter and complexity. Changing media in media filters is often messy and time consuming. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a media reactor aquarium filter which incorporates a simple design and allows simple media replacement. The filter includes coaxal inner and outer tubes. The outer tube includes a mounting feature and the inner tube holds the media and is removable without disturbing the outer tube. A pump at the base of the filter pumps aquarium water into the bottom of the inner tube through ports at the base of the inner tube and up through the inner tube, and thus through the filter media. The filtered water then flows though transfer ports at the top of the inner tube and down through a passage between the inner and outer tubes, and back into the aquarium. The flow is thus a sequential forward flow through the pump to the inlet ports, through the inlet ports and into the inner tube interior, up through the inner tube and filter media to the transfer ports, out through the transfer ports to the passage, down through the passage to the bottom of the filter, and out through the outlet ports into the aquarium. This flow is substantially all of the flow through the filter, notwithstanding the possibility of minor leaks and the like. The inner tube is rotatable to vary the alignment of the ports to adjust the water flow rate through the filter. 
         [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an aquarium filter allowing simple replacement of filter media. Filter media is contained in an inner tube which is removable from an outer tube of the filter, with the outer tube remaining in the aquarium. The media is replaced in the inner tube, and the inner tube is inserted back into the outer tube. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an aquarium filter allowing simple adjustment of a water flow through the filter. Filter media is contained in an inner tube. Aquarium water is pumped by a pump into the base of the inner tube, vertically up through the media material in the inner tube, out of the inner tube into a region between the inner tube and an outer tube, back to the base of the filter, and released back into the aquarium. Ports in the base of the inner filter are adjustably alignable with ports leading to the pump. A knob at the top of the inner tube allows twisting the inner tube to adjust the alignment of the ports to control the water flow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cut away side view of an aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional view of the aquarium filter according to the present invention taken along line  1 A- 1 A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an outer tube assembly of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an inner tube assembly of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an inner tube top plug of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of an inner tube base plug of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6B  is a side-top perspective view of the inner tube base plug of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an outer tube base plug of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8A  is a mounting clamp of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8B  is a mounting platform of the aquarium filter according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  shows the aquarium filter according to the present invention mounted inside an aquarium. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  shows the aquarium filter according to the present invention mounted behind the aquarium. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  shows the aquarium filter according to the present invention mounted in a sump under the aquarium. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0024]    Where the term “generally” is associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye, and not a precise measurement. Further, in the context of the present application, a cylinder and cylindrical refer to a shape having a constant round cross-section over the length of the shape. Further, the phrase forward fluid flow or forward communication refers to a flow in the normal direction of flow of aquarium water through the aquarium filter, and aquarium water refers to the water in the aquarium and outside the filter. For example, a forward fluid flow is present from the filter pump to the filter media, and from the filter media to the outlet. 
         [0025]    A cutaway side view of an aquarium filter  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  and a cross-sectional view of the aquarium filter according to the present invention taken along line  1 A- 1 A of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 1A . A cylindrical inner tube  30  having an inner tube interior  30   a  and an inner tube exterior  30   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) resides inside a cylindrical outer tube  20  having an outer tube interior  20   a  and an outer tube exterior  20   b,  both the inner tube  30  and outer tube  20  preferably having round cross-sections. Filter media  11  resides inside the inner tube  30  and the outer tube exterior  20   b  is exposed to aquarium water in the aquarium. The aquarium filter  10  includes an inlet/outlet portion  10   a  at the bottom of the aquarium filter  10 , a transfer portion at the top of the aquarium filter  10 , and a filter portion  10   b  containing the filter media  11  between the inlet/outlet portion  10   a  and the transfer portion  10   c.  The portions  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are preferably sequential and non-overlapping. 
         [0026]    A filter pump  16  draws aquarium water  15  into the aquarium filter  10  providing a forward aquarium filter flow  17   a  (unfiltered) and  17   b  (filtered) through an inlet/outlet portion  10   a  and up and inside the inner tube  30 , and through the filter media  11 , to filter aquarium water creating filtered water  17 . The filtered water  17  passes radially outward through transfer ports  31  at the top of the inner tube  30  into an annular passage  19  between the inner tube  30  and the outer tube  20 , and out exit ports  22  in the outer tube  20 , and into the aquarium  80  (see  FIGS. 9-11 ). The outer tube  20  provides a closed circumferential wall above the exit ports  22  at the base of the outer tube  20  to the transfer portion  10   c  preventing entry or escape of aquarium water into or out of the passage  19  above the inlet/outlet portion  10   a.  The inner tube  30  similarly provides a closed circumferential wall between inlet/outlet portion  10   a  at the bottom of the inner tube  30  and the transfer portion  10   c  at the top of the inner tube  30 . 
         [0027]    An exploded view of an outer tube assembly  12  of the aquarium filter  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The outer tube assembly  12  comprises an outer tube  20 , an outer tube base plug  24  (see  FIG. 7 ), and filter exit ports  22  spaced apart around the base of the outer tube  20 . The outer tube  20  may be any elongated tube, and is preferably a cylindrically shaped tube. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an inner tube assembly  14  of the aquarium filter  10 . The inner tube assembly  14  includes an inner tube  30 , an inner tube base plug  32  fixed to the base of the inner tube  30 , a lower water permeable spacer  34  resting on the base plug  32 , filter media  11 , an upper water permeable spacer  36  resting on the filter media  11 , and an inner tube top plug  40   
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the aquarium filter  10 . The filter pump  16  includes a pump spindle  16   a  inserted into a hollow interior  71   a  of an outer tube base plug spindle  71  to place the aquarium filter  10  in fluid communication with the pump  16 . The filter pump  16  includes an aquarium water inlet  16   b  drawing aquarium water  15  proximal to the aquarium filter bottom from outside the aquarium filter  10 . 
         [0030]    A detailed view of the inner tube top plug  40  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The top plug  40  includes a knob  42  for rotating the inner tube assembly  14  inside the outer tube assembly  12 , first and second outer tube positioners  44   a  and  44   b,  an inner tube seal  48 , and an inner tube positioner  52 . The positioners  44   a,    44   b,  and  52  center the inner tube inside the outer tube and the seal  48  restricts filtered water from escaping out of the top of the aquarium filter. Vertical ports  50  on the positioner  52  allow filtered water to pass through the positioner  52  into a transfer region  51  and through the transfer ports  31  (see  FIG. 3 ) into the outer tube  20 . The transfer region  51  resides in the transfer portion  10   c  of the aquarium filter  10 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6A  shows a detailed side view of the inner tube base plug  32  of the aquarium filter  10  and  FIG. 6B  shows a top-side perspective view of the inner tube base plug  32 . The base plug  32  includes inner tube base plug positioners  60   a  and  60   b  which center the base plug  32  in the inner tube  30 . Inner tube inlet ports  62  pass into an interior  61   a  of a hollow hub  61  between the positioners  60   a  and  60   b.  Entry ports  63  in the upper positioner  60   b  allow water in an entry region  64  to pass vertically into the filter portion  10   b  of the aquarium filter  10 . The base plug  32  resides in the inlet/outlet portion  10   a  of the aquarium filter  19  below the filter  11  fixed to the inner tube  30  and rotates with the inner tube  30 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a detailed view of the outer tube base plug  24  of the aquarium filter  10 . The base plug  24  is fixed in the base of the outer tube  20  by an outer tube base plug positioner  70  which includes a spindle  71  reaching up into the outer tube  20  and the inner tube  30 . The spindle  71  is hollow with an open bottom for connected through the filter pump spindle  16   a  to the filter pump  16  and includes outer tube inlet ports  26  between the spindle interior  71   a  and exterior. The inner tube base plug  32  resides over the spindle  71  and the inner tube inlet ports  62  are alignable with the inlet ports  62  allowing aquarium water pumped by the aquarium pump  16  to enter the inner tube  30 . Rotating the inner tube  30 , and thus the base plug  32 , varies the alignment of the inlet ports  26  with the inlet ports  62  thus regulating the water flow from the filter pump  16  into the inner tube  30 . The inlet ports  26  and  62  preferably have a height greater than width, and are more preferably oval shaped. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8A  shows a mounting clamp  74  of the aquarium filter  10 . The mounting clamp  74  includes a loop  78  which fits over the outer tube  20 , and may be an interference fit or attached using an adhesive. The mounting clamp  74  may include a slot  75  for sliding onto an edge of the aquarium and a screw  76  for tightening. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8B  shows a mounting platform  77  for the aquarium filter  10 . In some instances a user may choose to locate the filter  10  away from the aquarium walls. In such instances the mounting platform  77  may be positioned within the aquarium fixed to the aquarium bottom using attachments, for example, suction cups  79  attached to the pump  16  or to the platform  77 . The filter  10  is attached to the mounting platform  77  to prevent the filter  10  from rotating when the inner tube  30  is rotated to adjust the water flow. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  shows the aquarium filter  10  mounted inside an aquarium  18 . The top of the filter  10  is above a water line  82  to allow reaching the knob  42 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  shows the aquarium filter  10  mounted behind the aquarium  80  in a basin  88 . An aquarium pump  84  may be used to circulate aquarium water into the basin  88 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  shows the aquarium filter  10  mounted in a sump  92  residing in an aquarium stand  90  under the aquarium  80 . Aquarium water may be released into the sump  92  through a drain tube  94  and valve  98 , and pumped back into the aquarium  80  by the aquarium pump  84  through tube  96 . 
         [0038]    While the filter has been shown as including coaxal inner and outer elongated bodies comprising cylindrical tubes, a filter having square, rectangular, hexagonal, oval, or other cross-section, and filter media residing in a removable inner body and a water flow through the inner body, between the bodies, and back into an aquarium, is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.