Abstract:
An aquarium aerator unit includes an anchor that is weighted by an aquarium bedding material. The anchor includes a lower portion that has a defined edge and spaced-apart side sections proximate to the lower portion. An inner space is formed between the side sections above the lower portion. The defined edge provides a shovel edge that eases the lower portion into the bedding material and the inner space storing the bedding material to enhance stability and aesthetics.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional counterpart to and claims priority from U.S. Ser. No. 60/923,082 filed on Apr. 12, 2007, which is pending and which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes in its entirety. 
         [0002]    This application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. Serial No. 29/298,482 filed on Dec. 6, 2007, which is pending and which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to aquarium and water treatment devices and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to an assembled unit, e.g., an aquarium aerator unit, including an aeration stone or tube, i.e. diffuser, an anchor device, and a method of using the assembled unit. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Aquariums are typically used for pet fish. Aerators may be used to oxygenate the water in an aquarium, and may also provide an aesthetically pleasing element. Aerators typically function by bubbling air from the bottom of a tank to add oxygen to the water. Oxygenation of the water may be improved by reducing the size of the bubbles and thereby increasing the total surface area in contact with the water relative to the amount of air being disbursed. Aerators have typically been plastic tubes having holes therein, which may be positioned underneath the stones or sand in the aquarium. Aerators should counteract the tendency of the air tube or other device to float. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a system and device for providing an even distribution of fine bubbles from an aeration device with an integrated anchor system. 
         [0006]    An aquarium aerator unit includes an anchor that is weighted by an aquarium bedding material. The anchor includes a lower portion that has a defined edge and spaced-apart side sections proximate to the lower portion. An inner space is formed between the side sections above the lower portion. The defined edge provides a shovel edge that eases the lower portion into the bedding material and the inner space storing the bedding material to enhance stability and aesthetics. 
         [0007]    An aquarium aerator system includes a plurality of anchors. Each anchor includes a lower portion, a side portion, and an inner space defined between the side portions above the lower portion. The inner space receives aquarium bedding material to weight the anchors. The system further includes a plurality of diffusers. Each diffuser is supported by at least one anchor of the plurality of anchors above the bedding material. At least one anchor comprises an air inlet for receiving pressurized air and at least one anchor comprises a receiving portion configured to communicate pressurized air from one to diffuser to another diffuser. 
         [0008]    A method is also disclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of an airstone aerator. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of an airstone aerator. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of an airstone aerator. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates the first exemplary airstone aerator with a first exemplary anchor system from a perspective view. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates the first exemplary airstone aerator with the first exemplary anchor system from a side view. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates the second exemplary airstone aerator with the first exemplary anchor system from a perspective view. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates the second exemplary airstone aerator with the first exemplary anchor system from a side view. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates the third exemplary airstone aerator with a second exemplary anchor system from a perspective view. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates the third exemplary airstone aerator with the second exemplary anchor system from a side view. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a fourth exemplary aerator system with a third exemplary anchor system from a perspective view. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates the fourth exemplary aerator system with the third exemplary anchor system with a side view. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates an extension of the fourth exemplary aerator system with the third exemplary anchor system including an extension anchor system from a perspective view. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  from a side view. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates a further extension of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12  from a perspective view including two extension anchor systems. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  illustrates the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14  from a side view. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  illustrates the first exemplary airstone aerator in a cross-sectional view. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  illustrates the second exemplary airstone aerator in a cross-sectional view. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  illustrates an exemplary intake air connector in a cross-sectional, bottom view. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  illustrates the exemplary intake air connector in a side view. 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  illustrates an exemplary anchor system in a front view. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  illustrates the exemplary anchor system in a side view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates the first exemplary embodiment of airstone aerator  100 , e.g., diffuser. Although, the application uses an airstone aerator, any other suitable aerator may be used. Airstone aerator  100  connects to intake air connector  110  which is connected to an air pressure source. Airstone aerator  100  may be formed into the shape of a conical frustum, also referred to herein as a truncated cone. The conical frustum of airstone aerator  100  is a cone that is created by slicing the top off a cone, with the cut made parallel to the base. Alternative angles for the slice, the base, and/or the sides of airstone aerator  100  are also possible. Airstone aerator  100  may include end section  101 , side surface  102 , and base section  103 . Airstone aerator  100  may be substantially hollow to allow the passage of pressurized air throughout the interior of airstone aerator  100 . 
         [0031]    Airstone aerator  100  may be composed of a porous material that allows the passage of air from an interior to an exterior portion of the airstone aerator  100 . In particular, airstone aerator may be composed of an epoxy resin compound that may include sand or another fine material. 
         [0032]    Intake air connector  110  may be comprised of plastic or another suitable material. Intake air connector  110  may include base  111 , stem  112 , and air passageway  113 . Base  111  may be in the shape of a disc or another appropriate shape, and may be adapted to contact in an airtight manner base section  103  of airstone aerator  100 . Stem  112  may be adapted to connect to an air hose in an airtight manner and may have a tapering cross-section to facilitate attachment to an air hose. Air passageway  113  may be adapted to communicate pressurized air from an air hose to an interior of airstone aerator  100 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates the second exemplary embodiment of airstone aerator  200 , e.g., diffuser. Airstone aerator  200  connects to intake air connector  110  which is connected to an air pressure source. Airstone aerator  200  also may be formed into the shape of a conial frustum, with dimensions varying for the plane and angles in the same manner as airstone aerator  100 . Airstone aerator  200  may include end section  201 , side surface  202 , and base section  203 . In particular, Airstone aerator  200  may have a longer side surface  202  than airstone aerator  100 , so that the angle between either of the plane sections of end section  201  or base section  203  and side surface  202  may be closer to 90 degrees than the embodiment of airstone aerator  100 . 
         [0034]    Airstone aerator  200  which also may be composed of a porous material that allows the passage of air from an interior to an exterior portion of the airstone aerator  200 . In particular, airstone aerator may be composed of an epoxy resin compound that may include sand or another fine material. Airstone aerator  200  may be substantially hollow to allow the passage of pressurized air throughout the interior of airstone aerator  200 . Airstone aerator  200  may also attach to intake air connector  110  as a source of pressurized air in the same manner as airstone aerator  100 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows airstone aerator  300  which is in the form of a cylinder and which is also composed of a porous material which may be of the same type as airstone aerators  100  or  200 . Airstone aerator  300  may include cylindrical portion  302  and opposite face  301  and intake face  303 . Intake face  303  includes a hole located approximately in the center of intake face  303  which may lead to an interior space that extends the length of airstone aerator  300 . Opposite face  301  may also include a centrally located hole, which may be the same size as the hole in intake face  303 . Therefore, opposite face  301  and intake face  303  may be interchangeable. 
         [0036]    Airstone aerator  300  connects to intake air connector  310  which also may be composed of plastic or another suitable material. Intake air connector  310  may be of a different form than intake air connector  110 . Intake air connector  310  may extend into airstone aerator  300  some distance. The portion of intake air connector  310  which extends into the interior of airstone aerator  300  may include periodically spaced openings to allow the even distribution of pressurized air to the interior portion of airstone aerator  300 , thereby allowing air to be evenly distributed into the porous interior of airstone aerator  300 . In this manner, pressurized air may be expelled from airstone aerator  300  in an even manner. Intake connector  310  may include base  311 , stem  312 , and air passageway  313 . Base  311  may be in the shape of a disc or another appropriate shape, and may be adapted to contact in an airtight manner intake face  303  of airstone aerator  300 . Stem  312  may be adapted to connect to an air hose in an airtight manner and may have a tapering cross-section to facilitate attachment to an air hose. Air passageway  313  may be adapted to communicate pressurized air from an air hose to an interior of airstone aerator  300 . 
         [0037]    Opposing stop  320  which also may be composed of plastic or another suitable material. Opposing stop  320  may include base  321  and stem  322 . Base  321  may be in the shape of a disc or another appropriate shape, and may be adapted to contact in an airtight manner opposite face  301  of airstone aerator  300 . Stem  322  may be adapted to connect to an anchoring system. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates airstone aerator  100  and intake air connector  110  connected to anchor system  400  to form an aquarium aerator unit. Intake air connector  110  may connect to anchor system  400  by inserting intake air connector  110  through a hole in anchor system  400  which may be circular or of another shape which matches the shape of stem  112  of intake air connector  110 . 
         [0039]    Alternatively, stem  112  of intake air connector  110  may be pressed into a U-shaped form that may provide a friction grip with stem  112 . 
         [0040]    Anchor system, e.g., anchor,  400  may comprise a substantially L-shape and includes upright portion  410 , lower portion  420 , and side sections  430  and  440 . Upright portion  410  may be substantially planar and may be orientated substantially vertically in a position of use of the airstone aerator, e.g., diffuser. Lower portion  420  may have a curve or may be of a similar shape to promote the insertion of anchor system  400  into a sandy or gravel material in the bottom of an aquarium, e.g., bedding material. Additionally, lower portion  420  may terminate in a defined edge  450 , which facilitates insertion of anchor system  400  in sand or gravel. Side portions  430  and  440  may extend from an end of lower portion  420  to upright portion  410  and/or may extend to the top of lower portion  440 . Side portions  430  and  440  may provide a barrier for sand or gravel that is shoveled into anchor system  400  during the emplacement of airstone aerator of  100  by preventing the sand or gravel from escaping out the sides of anchor system  400 . 
         [0041]    As is evident in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , anchor  400  is wider at edge  450  and narrows where lower upright portion  410  and lower portion  420  meet to permit easier grasping by a user as the lower portion is inserted as well as for more easily retaining bedding material. The anchor includes a first inner space defined by lower portion  420  and portions of side members  430  and  440  that are proximate to the lower portion. The anchor further includes the upright portion that retains the bedding material and also elevate the airstone aerator above the bedding material. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of airstone aerator  100  including intake air connector  110  and anchor system  400 , including upright portion  410 , lower portion  420 , and edge  450 . Side portions  430  and  440  are also shown in this side view and the shape of side portions  430  and  440  is shown. Intake air connector  110  in  FIG. 5  does not include a disc shaped portion, but rather includes cylindrical positioning element  500  which is adapted to contact upright portion  410  to position airstone aerator  100 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  illustrates airstone aerator  200  and intake air connector  110  connected to anchor system  400  to form an aquarium aerator unit, which may operate in substantially the same manner as the system shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of airstone aerator  200  including intake air connector  110  and anchor system  400 , which may operate in substantially the same manner as the system shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  illustrates airstone aerator  300  and intake air connector  310 . Also shown in  FIG. 8  is anchor system  800  which includes anchor portion  810  and anchor portion  820 . Anchor portion  810  connects to intake air connector  310  by a hole or U-shaped friction fit in center portion  830  of anchor system  810 . Anchor system  810  may include lower portion  840  and side portions  850  and  860 . Center portion  830  may connect to side portions  850  and  860  by cross bars  870  and  880 , respectively. Center portion  830  may connect to lower portion  840  by vertical bar  890 . Alternative methods of connecting center portion  830  to anchor system  810  are also possible. Lower portion  840  may be implanted in the sand or gravel and the base of an aquarium in order to anchor system  800  and airstone aerator  310  in the bottom of the aquarium during usage. Lower portion  840  may be buried in the sand or gravel and the weight of the sand or gravel may counterbalance any flotation effect caused by the pressurized air forced into airstone aerator  300 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows airstone aerator  300  and anchor system  800  in a side view that form an aquarium aerator unit. Anchor portion  820  is illustrated as connecting to opposite portion  320  and may be arranged in a similar manner as anchor portion  810 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  illustrates anchor bubbler  1000 , e.g., diffuser, connected to anchor system  1010 . Anchor bubbler  1000  may be a plastic tube which includes porosities which allow pressurized air which has been inserted into the interior of anchor bubbler  1000  to escape through the porosities and create a distribution of fine bubbles in an aquarium. Anchor bubbler  1000  may connect to anchor portion  1020  of anchor system  1010  by inserting anchor bubbler  1000  into a receiving portion  1040  of anchor portion  1010 . Receiving portion  1040  may provide a friction fit with anchor bubbler  1000 . Receiving portion  1040  may also include an intake air connector  1050  for receiving pressurized air from a pressurized air source, and providing that pressurized air source, and providing that pressurized air into an interior portion of anchor bubbler  1000 . 
         [0048]    Anchor portion  1030  of anchor system  1010  may also include an anchor bubbler receiving portion  1060  which may include a cap portion  1070  which may prevent the escape of the pressurized air from the interior of anchor bubbler  1000 . Anchor portion  1020  may include side portions  1080  and  1090 , and anchor portion  1030  may include side portions  1100  and  1110 . Side portions  1080  and  1090  may be angled downwards from receiving portions  1040 , and may connect to bottom section  1120 . Side portions  1100  and  1110  may be angled downwards from receiving portion  1060  and may connect to bottom section  1130 . Anchor portions  1020  and  1030  may operate to hold anchor bubbler  1000 , e.g., diffsuser, at the bottom of an aquarium by depositing sand and gravel on the top side of bottom portions  1120  and  1130  and stabilizing the sand and gravel using side portions  1080 ,  1090 ,  1100 , and  1110 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of anchor bubbler  1000  and anchor system  1110 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  illustrates anchor bubbler  1000  connected to another anchor bubbler  1200  using connector anchor portion  1210 . Connector anchor portion  1210  may include receiving portion  1220  and receiving portion  1230  which may be arranged opposed to receive anchor bubbler  1000  and anchor bubbler  1200  from opposite directions. Receiving portions  1220  and  1230  may communicate pressurized air between the interiors of anchor bubbler of  1000  and anchor bubbler  1200 . The side portions and bottom portions of connector anchor portion  1210  may operate in a similar fashion to anchor portions  1020  and  1030 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  illustrates the anchor bubbler system shown in  FIG. 12  from the side. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  illustrates that additional anchor bubbler  1400  may be connected using additional anchor portion connector  1410  to allow for longer sections of anchor bubblers to be connected in one portion. Anchor bubblers  1000 ,  1200 , and  1400 , e.g., diffusers, may be of various lengths, including but not limited to 6 inch and 9 inch sections, and therefore may be combine in any number of different ways to provide varying length bubblers. 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of the anchor bubbler system shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 16  shows a cross-sectional view of anchor aeration stone  100 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , anchor stone  100  has an interior surface  1600  which may parallel the external shape of air stone aerator  100 . Interior surface  1600  defines interior space  1610 . The thickness of the walls of airstone aerator are indicated by thickness  1620 , and may be substantially uniform. Thickness  1620  may be approximately 4.5 mm, or any other appropriate thickness. Airstone aerator may have a total length of  1640 , which may be approximately 25 mm, and interior space  1610  may have a depth of  1630 , which may be approximately 20 mm. 
         [0055]      FIG. 17  illustrates a cross-sectional view of air stone aerator  200 , e.g., diffuser.  FIG. 17  shows a cross-sectional view of anchor aeration stone  200 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , anchor stone  200  has an interior surface  1700  which may parallel the external shape of airstone aerator  200 . Interior surface  1700  defines interior space  1710 . The thickness of the walls of airstone aerator are indicated by thickness  1720 , and may be substantially uniform. Thickness  1720  may be approximately 4.5 mm, or any other appropriate thickness. Airstone aerator may have a total length of  1740 , which may be approximately 50 mm, and interior space  1710  may have a depth of  1730 , which may be approximately 46 mm. 
         [0056]      FIG. 18  illustrates a cross-sectional, bottom view of intake air connector  110 . Intake air connector  110  may include cylindrical positioning element  500 , stem  112 , and air passageway  113 . Stem  112  may connect to cylindrical positioning element  500 , which may at the point of connection form connector region  1810  of stem  112 , and positioning surface  1820  of cylindrical positioning element  500 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of intake air connector  110 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 20  illustrates a front view of anchor system  400 . Anchor system  400  may include receiving region  2000  on upright portion  410 . Receiving region  2000  may be configured to receive connector region  1810  of stem  112  of intake air connector  110  to form a friction fit between anchor system  400  and intake air connector  110 . Upright portion  410  may be configured to interact with positioning surface  1820  of cylindrical positioning element  500  of intake air connector  110  to position and stabilize intake air connector  110  with respect to anchor system  500 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 21  illustrates a side view of anchor system  400 . 
         [0060]    The specific embodiments of the airstone aerator and anchor system provided herein are merely exemplary in nature, and are not intended to limit the breadth of this disclosure.