Patent Publication Number: US-7211188-B2

Title: Solar powered aquarium

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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   DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
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   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to the field of aquariums and more specifically to a solar powered aquarium. 
   Aquariums are well known. Small aquariums for holding fish and other water born animals are an enjoyable addition to a home or office. Watching the swimming patterns and other habits of water born creatures through the clear glass or plastic walls of a table top aquarium can be quite entertaining and interesting. 
   millions of table top aquariums have been sold since their introduction over fifty years ago. 
   Aquariums can be very simple affairs such as a glass bowl with gravel at the bottom, to very complex designs with water filters, heaters, lights and other equipment needed to keep the water environment ideal for the fish or other animals that live in it. Water filtration in particular has been shown to be a most important component in the process of keeping an aquarium a health place for fish to live in as well as helping to maintaining water clarity for optimal viewing pleasure. 
   Unfortunately, water filters require some sort of pumping means that requires household power. This means that the table top aquarium must be connected by a pair of insulated wires to a power source. The need to plug in the filtration pump can be restrictive to where the aquarium can be placed. For example, if a person wanted to place a small aquarium on his of her desk top, it would mean that an unsightly power cord would be visible trailing across the desk to the aquarium. Additionally, many filtration pumps are somewhat noisy because traditional pumps include diaphragms or pistons that oscillate quickly and somewhat loudly. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the invention is to provide a table top aquarium that has a water filtration means that does not require the user to use normal household power. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a table top aquarium whose filtration system is relatively quiet. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed solar powered aquarium comprising: a water holding container suitable for use as a table top aquarium, one or more solar cells, a standard solar cell recharging circuit including one or more rechargeable batteries, said aquarium container including a secondary bottom held up from the main bottom by a side wall, a centrally located cylindrical portion mounted between said main bottom and said secondary bottom, a downwardly extending skirt located below said main bottom, a centrally located DC motor mounted below said main bottom and within said skirt, a ferrous metal plate mounted to the shaft of said DC motor, a magnetic spinning member located within said centrally located cylinder, said magnetic spinning member located in close proximity to said metal plate so that the turning of said metal plate induces the rotation of said spinning member, said recharging circuit and said rechargeable batteries located within said skirt area, and said solar cells mounted on an outside surface of said aquarium. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side section view of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the magnetic pump portion of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  we see a perspective view of the invention. A main water retaining vessel comprised of side wall  32  and integral base plate  52  is adaptable of housing a plurality of fish or other waterborne animals or plants. The construction of the vessel or container  32  is made of clear material such as glass or acrylic type plastic. A centrally located secondary base plate  4  is supported by side wall  48  which is in turn attached to base plate  52 . Side wall  48  has a plurality of notches or openings at the bottom thereof, one of which is designated by reference number  60 , which allow passage of water therethrough. Between base plate  52  and secondary base plate  4  is a small cylindrical member  6 . A plurality of small apertures  8  allow water to flow from the top of secondary base plate  4  into small cylinder  6 . Aperture  2  at the bottom of small cylinder  6  allows water to exit the cylinder  6 . The spinning of magnetic stirring member  20  causes a pumping action that causes water to be drawn into apertures  8  and then out through aperture  2 . The total area of apertures  8  is approximately equal to the area of aperture  2  so that no excess water pressure is built up within cylinder  6  thereby allowing for the smooth flow of water into and out of the cylinder  6 . Solar panels  28  power a small DC motor  18  located within bottom skirt  34 . The motor shaft terminates in a ferrous metal plate  40  as shown in the section view in  FIG. 2 . Vessel base plate  52  is relatively thin, approximately sixty thousandths of an inch, so that magnetic attractive force of magnetic stirring member  20  can be felt on the spinning metal plate  2 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a more detailed view of the pump mechanism. Magnetic stirring member  20  is known in the chemical mixing industry as a standard method of mixing liquids within a sealed glass beaker or the like, but is not typically used as a pumping means as I have shown in the present invention. The addition of a thin foam plastic layer  70  under magnetic stirrer  20  helps create a more silent spinning action so that when the present invention is place in a quiet environment such as a persons desk, or other location, the sound of the spinning magnetic member  20  is not objectionable. Standard aquarium pumps that use reciprocating pistons or diaphragms tend to produce a rather annoying buzzing noise. Referring back to  FIG. 2  we see that The DC motor  18  is held under the base plate  52  by support member  16 . Wires  22  connect the motor  18  to a charging circuit  24  that includes rechargeable batteries  26 , the spinning metal plate  40  can be seen just under base plate  52  but not touching it. Because the force to rotate the magnetic spinning member  20  is so small, motor  18  can use very little power, approximately one hundred and fifty milliamps, which can be fairly easily generated by solar panels  28  in moderate daylight. My experiments show that exposure to direct sunlight is not necessary, and that enough electrical power is stored in the rechargeable batteries  26  during the day that the motor  18  continues to spin through the night on the stored energy. 
   The pumping action caused by magnetic spinner  20  causes fish  14  related debris in the water  12  to be drawn into the gravel bed  10  where it is trapped. Periodically, the user has to exchange the debris filled gravel for new clean gravel. The solar cells  28  are mounted on frictional hinges  30  so that they can be optimally adjusted to face a light source. Additionally, the solar panels can be folded to be close to the skirt for purposes. The above described and illustrated aquarium allows a person to place the unit on a surface such as a desk or table, and to have a means to keep the water in the aquarium clean without the need to plug the unit into a standard household power source. The unit is also extremely quiet so that it is not bothersome when a person is in close proximity to it for long periods of time such as when sitting at an office desk. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.