Abstract:
An aquarium to be housed within a vertical wall as a window having a dual support mounting frame with transparent viewing panels held in sealing relation there against. The aquarium provides for scaleable sizing by use of interengaged retention grids securing the transparent viewing panels to the support frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to water containment structures used to house aquatic life such as fish. Such tanks are characterized by having large clear viewing surfaces of transparent material and typically have a corresponding user footprint on the floor or tabletop areas. The tanks are heavy due to the weight of the water within and therefore have placement limitations due to their size and bulk. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type address the limitations of standard aquariums by providing for wall mounting structures that are aesthetically appealing and are practical as to cost and upkeep, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,735,738, 4,353,327, 5,090,358, and 5,435,270. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,738 a wall mountable aquarium is disclosed having a support frame in which is positioned a tank. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,327 discloses an aquarium picture combination in which a three dimensional picture representation is positioned above a tank enclosure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,358 is directed to an aquarium vessel having mounting and holding structures in which a vessel is positioned. 
     A wall-mounted aquarium with an integral tank is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,270 in which a tank having an open top is mounted within a mounting and support frame in a wall surface: 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A window aquarium including a dual support frame and structural grids that form an integral enclosure with transparent front and back walls. The support frame defines a safety retention chamber within about the water enclosure and is in communication with a plurality of grid seals and associated drain lines. Grid connectors extend through the tank and between the support frame to secure the transparent walls to the frame in a sealing relationship. Hanger brackets and cables engage the support frame to suspend the aquarium structure within a wall&#39;s window opening. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the window aquarium of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembled aquarium; 
     FIG. 3 is front elevational view of the aquarium of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of a grid connector clip and supporting bars with portions broken away; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view on lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of an access panel in the window aquarium; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a grid release latch on the access panel; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a submergible grid connector assembly with associated drain fitting; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a non-submergible grid connector fastener assembly within the support frame with portions broken away; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a grid connector fastener assembly within the tank positioned above the water line; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the support frame and a perimeter connector assembly; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the window aquarium with the drain flow path graphically illustrated thereon; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the grid assembly drain line fittings within the support frame; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevational view with portions broken away of a support muntin grid bar; 
     FIG. 15 is an end plan view on lines  15 — 15  of FIG. 14 of the drawings; 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevational graphic representation of the aquarium suspension mounting assembly with portions broken away; 
     FIG. 17 is a graphic illustration of a typical mounting wall of the aquarium assembly 
     FIG. 18 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the support frame and the perimeter connector assembly within; and 
     FIG. 19 is a front graphic representation of the wall-mounted aquarium of the invention with associated aquatic life support assemblies. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, a window aquarium  10  can be seen having a pair of spaced parallel contoured frame members  11  and  12  preferably of metal and are bent at right angle radii to define a U-shaped configuration and are held in spaced parallel relation to one another. The frame members  11  and  12  form respective sidewalls  13 A and  13 B and  14 A and  14 B and integral bottoms  15 A and  15 B. 
     Pairs of edge sealing gaskets  17  and  18  extend longitudinally on the respective frame edges  11 C and  11 D and  12 C and  12 D, best seen in FIG. 18 of the drawings. An example of such gaskets  17  and  18  are cross-sectionally U-shaped of resilient material and are manufactured by Trim-Lok, Inc. of Buena Park, Calif. 
     Transparent synthetic resin panels  19  and  20  extend over and beyond the frame members  11  and  12  against the respective sealing gaskets  17  and  18  to form a water retention chamber  21  within an area defined by the walls  13 A and  13 B and internal bottom wall  15 B. 
     A pair of support and compression muntin grid assemblies  22  and  23  are made up of a plurality of interconnected muntin bars  24  secured to and between a number of cross-retaining clips  25  as seen in FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  of the drawings. In this example chosen for illustration the muntin bars  24  are of a cross-sectionally T-shaped with oppositely disposed tapered edges  26 A and  26 B. The cross-retaining clips  25  are of a flat configuration having pairs of oppositely disposed spaced parallel fingers  27  arranged in right angular configurations with a central aperture at  28  in the clip there between. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  of the drawings specifically, it will be seen that clips  25 ,  25 A and  25 B engage the independent muntin bars  24  at different junctions overlying the respective ends with their respective tapered upstanding end edges  26 A and  26 B extending between the paired fingers  27  of clips  25 . As assembled, the mullion grids  22  and  23  having Teflon tape TT on their engagement surfaces engage the outer surface of the respective panels  19  and  20  being secured thereto and each other by a plurality of multiple grid connector assemblies  28 A- 31  that extend through the respective clips as illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  8 - 11  of the drawings. The respective connector assemblies  28 A- 31  are designed to meet a variety of installation environments within the window aquarium  10  for retaining the panels  19  and  20  as hereinbefore described. Referring now to FIGS. 8-11 of the drawings, the connector assembly  28 A can be seen in FIG. 8 having a threaded bolt  32  with gasketed abutting sleeves  33  thereon and a drainage fitting  34 . The sleeves  33  isolate the bolt  32  from water W held within the chamber  21  at this position. The drainage fittings  34  have an inlet at  34 A and an outlet at  34 B for any seepage that may occur within the respective connector assemblies. The drainage fittings  34  are interconnected by conduits  35  to a main drainage outlet assembly  36  in the bottom  15 B of the frame member  11 , best seen in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings. The main drain outlet assembly  36  has a gasketed threaded fitting  36 A extending through an aperture  36 B in the bottom  15 A with an inlet T-fitting  36 C which is in communication with the conduit  35 . This arrangement will drain seepage into the area between the respective frame bottom members  15 A and  15 B which defines a secondary water containment chamber  21 A between the frame members  11  and  12 . A frame drainage outlet fitting  37  extends through an aperture  37 A in the frame bottom member  15 A which in turn has a drain conduit  38  extending there from through the wall W to the outside when used on an exterior wall, as noted. The uppermost fittings  34  will also act as an over flow device never allowing the water level WL to rise there above. 
     The connector assemblies  29 , as seen in FIG. 10, are designed to be used within the chamber  21  above a water level WL which does not require sealing isolation from the water. Each of the respective connectors  29  have a bolt  32 A within a single sleeve spacer  39  thereon between the respective panels  19  and  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the fastener assemblies  30  can be seen to be used in the water containment chamber  21 A between the frame members  11  and  12  as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings having a bolt  32 B. Each of the respective connector assemblies  28 A- 30  are assembled with the muntin grids  22  and  23  in the following common sequence. The bolts  32 ,  32 A and  32 B extend through the respective clips  25  which are in turn engages over the respective ends of the muntin bars  24  as hereinbefore described. A first compression sealing gasket  40  provides a seal between the clip  25  and the respective bolts  32 ,  32 A and  32 B (bolts) and the apertured panel  19  through which it extends. The (bolts) extends through the chamber  21  and through an aligned aperture in the remaining panel  20  with a second sealing gasket  41  positioned thereon. The clip  25  and muntin bars  24  are secured to the free end of the (bolts) by a pair of nuts  42  that secure the oppositely disposed muntin grids  22  and  23  together compressing against the respective panels  19  and  20  and sealing same to the hereinbefore-described edge gasket members  17  and  18 . A decorative end cap nut  43  is threadably disposed on the exposed end of the (bolts) over the nuts  42  completing the respective connector assemblies  28 A- 30  as described above. 
     The connector assembly  31  can be seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings which is to be used anywhere within the drainage chamber  21 A as needed. The connector assembly  31  is comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed threaded bolts  44  adjustably engaged into a threaded end rod coupler  45 . The bolts  44  are counter sunk just below the surfaces of respective panels  19  and  20  as illustrated to provide additional connection points and greater compression between the respective frame members  11  and  12 . Additional connector assemblies  31  can be used for increased sealing pressure as the depth of the water increases, as illustrated in FIG. 16 of the drawings. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, an access door  45  can be seen formed from a portion of the hereinbefore-described interior panel  19 . The door  45  is of a generally rectangular shape and is positioned above the water line WL. Portions of the muntin bars  24  at  46  extend across the door  45  and are pivotally secured thereto by pivot bolts  47 , best seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The pivoting bar portions  46  align with and are engaged at the respective ends under remaining corresponding bar portions  48  extending from oppositely disposed clip fastener junctions  49  and  50 . The pivoting bar portions  46  have angularly disposed ends at  51  and  52  that register with corresponding angular bar ends on the remaining bar portions  48  thus holding the door  45  in position in the vertical plane of the panel in which it is placed. 
     To remove the access door  45  the respective pivoted bar portions  46  are rotated as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 6 of the drawings from a vertical position to an angular offset position which will free the door  45 , allowing it to be removed for access to the window aquarium  10 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17 of the drawings, the window aquarium  10  can be seen mounted within a window opening  53  in a wall W. In FIG. 16, a primary pair of U-shaped brackets  54 A and  54 B have a support pin  54  extending there between. The support pin  54  extends through openings in the respective inner frame members  11  and  12  adjacent their respective free ends. Each of the brackets  54 A and  54 B have a mounting screw  55  that extends there through into a window header  56  that extends across the top of the window opening  53  in the wall W. In essence, the window aquarium  10  is supported by its frame members  11  and  12  within the opening  53 . A pair of secondary frame members  57 A, and  57 B extend between the hereinbefore described primary aquarium frame member  11  with a secondary mid-span support cable assembly  58  which extends from an apertured lug  58 A on the bottom member  15 B to an adjustment turnbuckle  58 B and then through the representative secondary frame members  57 A and  57 B to a hanging bolt  58 C into the window header  56 . A wind deflection stop  71  extends from the bottom  15 A of the frame member  11  for registry with an upstanding sill stop  72  extending from a sill  73 . This will prevent movement by wind pressure there against. FIG. 17 illustrates a complete wall mounting and discloses an alternate aquarium support brackets  53 C that engage both frame members  11  and  12  with a pin  54 ′. Traditional window framing and trim techniques are used to properly enclose the window aquarium  10  of the invention within the conventional wall W as will be well known by those skilled in the art. 
     It will be evident from the above description that the window aquarium  10  of the invention can be positioned within an exterior or interior wall of a structure. 
     Referring now to FIG. 19 of the drawings, an alternate top cap plate  59  can be seen (graphically) extending over the top of the respective frame elements  11  and  12  having access openings therein for the support cable  58  and aquarium accessories as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     As required, artificial light sources  61  can be selectively mounted from the connector assemblies to provide illumination for the aquatic life (not shown) and viewing thereof. Life support equipment for the aquatic life within the aquarium  10  is generally indicated at  63  and will include a water recirculation pump  64  having a pressure water supply line  65  extending into the chamber  21  along the inner surface  66  of the frame element  13 A. A plurality of longitudinally spaced outlet nozzles  67  create a water circulation path within the chamber  21  indicated by flow arrows  68 . A return water line  69  is positioned on the bottom surface  15 B with a layer of sand and gravel  70  extending there over. As is well known within the art, sand and gravel layers act as a filter medium through which water is circulated returning to the water recirculation pump  64 . 
     It will be evident that the other common and well known aquatic life support equipment will be used as would be found in any aquatic life supporting environment depending on the needs of the selective environment. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and useful window aquarium has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.