Patent Publication Number: US-2023135266-A1

Title: Automatic Feeding Apparatus For An Aquarium

Description:
FIELD 
     The present specification relates generally to aquariums, and more particularly to aquatic feeding systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Keeping an aquarium is a popular hobby in the United States. Aquariums and the creatures living in them add a vibrant element to any home. The fish and coral in an aquarium bring color and motion to a room during the day and cast a magical glow at night. Aquariums are wonders enjoyed by ages young and old. 
     Maintaining an aquarium requires some effort, however. Typically, equipment must be purchased, water must be replaced, tanks must be cleaned. And, of course, the owner has to stock the aquarium with fish. These fish become pets, with characteristics and personalities that endear them to their owners. 
     Like many pets, aquarium fish are left at home when the owner travels. When an owner leaves home for the day, the fish are left home without worry. When an owner travels for a day or two, some fish can be fed in advance, without the need for a sitter to stop in and check on them. But prolonged trips require a different solution. Over-feeding the fish before the start of the trip is dangerous, as the fish can overeat at first and then starve later. Moreover, some types of fish food are kept frozen until they are delivered to the fish. Frozen fish foods must be fed to the fish or discarded; they cannot stagnate at room temperature or they will spoil. As such, there is no way to feed frozen food to the fish without having someone come to the house to manually feed the fish each time. An improved method for feeding fish is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing food to an aquarium includes a reservoir, a pump, and a draw line coupled between the reservoir and the pump to draw solution from the reservoir and pass the solution downstream to the pump. The draw line is routed through the pump. A supply line and return line are respectively configured to supply and return water from and to the aquarium. A mixing connection is downstream from the pump and couples the draw line with the supply and return lines. The reservoir, pump, draw line, supply line, return line, and mixing connection are all contained within a refrigerated compartment to keep the aquarium food from spoiling. 
     In embodiments, the pump is a peristaltic pump. A stirrer is within the reservoir. A magnetic base is below the reservoir and is configured to create a rotating magnetic field to impart rotation to the stirrer in the reservoir. The stirrer includes an impeller. The reservoir includes a spout extending along a sidewall of the reservoir and having an open bottom coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir at a bottom of the reservoir. The draw line is applied to the spout to draw solution from the reservoir through the open bottom of the spout. 
     In an embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing food to an aquarium includes a refrigerated compartment containing and keeping cold a reservoir, a pump, a draw line extending from the reservoir, through the pump, to a mixing connection, a supply line extending from an inlet in the compartment to the mixing connection upstream from the draw line, and a return line extending from the mixing connection, downstream from the draw line, to an outlet in the compartment. 
     In embodiments, the pump is a peristaltic pump. A stirrer is within the reservoir and has an impeller. A magnetic base is below the reservoir which induces rotation to the stirrer in the reservoir. The reservoir includes a spout extending along a sidewall of the reservoir and has an open bottom coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir at a bottom of the reservoir. The draw line is applied to the spout to draw solution from the reservoir through the open bottom of the spout. 
     In an embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing food to an aquarium includes a refrigerated compartment including a door and an inlet and outlet in a wall of the compartment. The compartment contains a reservoir, a pump, a mixing connection downstream from the pump, a draw line extending from the reservoir, through the pump, to the mixing connection, a supply line extending from the inlet to the mixing connection, and a return line extending from the mixing connection to the outlet. 
     In embodiments, the pump is a peristaltic pump. A stirrer is within the reservoir. A magnetic base is below the reservoir and is configured to create a rotating magnetic field to impart rotation to the stirrer in the reservoir. The stirrer includes an impeller. The reservoir includes a spout extending along a sidewall of the reservoir and having an open bottom coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir at a bottom of the reservoir. The draw line is applied to the spout to draw solution from the reservoir through the open bottom of the spout. 
     The above provides the reader with a very brief summary of some embodiments described below. Simplifications and omissions are made, and the summary is not intended to limit or define in any way the disclosure. Rather, this brief summary merely introduces the reader to some aspects of some embodiments in preparation for the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an automatic feeding apparatus and an aquarium; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of an interior of the automatic feeding apparatus showing a pump and a reservoir for holding a food solution to be dispensed to the aquarium; 
         FIG.  3    is a lower perspective view of the interior of the automatic feeding apparatus, with the reservoir removed, illustrating an underside of the pump; and 
         FIG.  4    is a side perspective of the pump and reservoir in isolation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now is made to the drawings, in which the same reference characters are used throughout the different figures to designate the same elements. Briefly, the embodiments presented herein are preferred exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of all possible embodiments, but rather to provide an enabling description for all possible embodiments within the scope and spirit of the specification. Description of these preferred embodiments is generally made with the use of verbs such as “is” and “are” rather than “may,” “could,” “includes,” “comprises,” and the like, because the description is made with reference to the drawings presented. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes may be made in the structure, arrangement, number, and function of elements and features without departing from the scope and spirit of the specification. Further, the description may omit certain information which is readily known to one having ordinary skill in the art to prevent crowding the description with detail which is not necessary for enablement. Indeed, the diction used herein is meant to be readable and informational rather than to delineate and limit the specification; therefore, the scope and spirit of the specification should not be limited by the following description and its language choices. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an automatic feeding apparatus  10  for dispensing food to an aquarium  11 . The apparatus  10  includes a refrigerated compartment  12 , a reservoir  13  for holding food, and a pump assembly  14  for delivering the food to the aquarium  11  through a series of conduits. The apparatus  10  is coupled in fluid communication to the aquarium  11  with an exterior supply line  15  and an exterior return line  16 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates the apparatus  10  in greater detail. An interior  20  of the refrigerated compartment  12  (hereinafter, the “compartment  12 ”) is shown. The interior  20  is bound and defined between walls  21  of the compartment  12  and a door  17  mounted to the front of the compartment  12 . The door  17  is shown in a closed configuration on the front of the compartment  12  in  FIG.  1    in broken line for transparency. The door  17  opens to provide access to the interior  20  of the compartment  12 . In some embodiments, a small refrigerator can serve as the compartment  12 . In other embodiments, the compartment  12  is custom-built for the apparatus  10 . An inlet  22  and an outlet  23  are set into one of the walls  21 . The inlet  22  and outlet  23  are both ports, sealed to the inner and outer surfaces of the compartment  12  to mitigate thermal transfer through the holes in which the inlet  22  and outlet  23  are set. On the outside of the compartment  12 , the exterior supply line  15  couples to the inlet  22  and the exterior return line  16  couples to the outlet  23 . 
     The interior  20  of the compartment has a flat top  24 , a flat bottom  25 , and a flat back  26  opposite the door  17 . The reservoir  13  is on a base  30  resting on the bottom  25 . The base  30  is a wide, short platform extending between a flat top  31  and parallel, flat bottom  32 . The base  30  fits snugly between the walls of the compartment  12  and locates the reservoir  13  upon it centrally in the compartment  12 . In embodiments, the flat top  31  has a central depression for receiving and seating the reservoir  13  with respect to the base  30 , preferably in a registered disposition. In other embodiments, the flat top  31  is entirely flat and the reservoir  13  simply sits upon the top  31 . In other embodiments, the reservoir  13  is integrally formed to the top  31  of the base  30 . 
     The base  30  is a magnetic base which drives a magnetic stirrer  33  within the reservoir  13 . Inside the platform of the base, a motor has an upstanding rotor containing a magnet. In some embodiments, the magnet is an elongate bipolar magnet, while in other embodiments, the magnet is offset from the rotor. Rotation of the motor establishes a rotating magnetic field, such that corresponding rotation is imparted on the magnetic stirrer  33 , such as along the arcuate line A in  FIG.  2   . In other words, the magnetic base  30  induces rotation to the magnetic stirrer  33  despite a lack of physical contact with the stirrer  33 . 
     The reservoir  13  sits upon the base  30  and is thus held within the compartment  12 . The reservoir  13  includes a chamber  34  having a continuous sidewall  35  formed integrally to a bottom endwall  36 , thereby defining a continuous, fluid impermeable hold for receiving and holding a liquid. In some embodiments, the chamber  34  is formed integrally to the base  30 , such that the base  30  and the reservoir  13  are not separate. The sidewall  35  is preferably transparent or semi-opaque so that the contents of the chamber  34  are visible. The sidewall  35  extends upwardly to an open top  37 . 
     A spout  40  extends vertically alongside of the exterior of the sidewall  35  from the base  30  to the open top  37  of the sidewall  35 . The spout  40  is a hollow cylinder formed integrally to the sidewall  35 . The spout  40  has an open top  41  and an open bottom  42 , as seen in  FIG.  4   . The open top  41  is parallel to and level with the open top  37  of the sidewall  35 . The open bottom  42 , however, is transverse to both: it is a hole or bore formed through the sidewall  35 . The open bottom  42  couples the spout  40  to the chamber  34  in fluid communication. The spout  40  holds a draw line coupled to the pump assembly  14  so that the pump assembly  14  can draw fluid from the reservoir  13  without interfering with the operation of the stirrer  33 . 
     A lid  43  is fit to the chamber  34 . The lid  43  covers both the open top  37  of the sidewall  35  and the open top  41  of the spout  40 . A bore  44  is formed through the lid  43  and is registered over the spout  40 . The lid  43  has a large mouth  45  with a hinged flap  46  covering the mouth  45 . The mouth  45  is large enough to place frozen fish food cubes through. The flap  46  closes to ensure there is no spillage out of the chamber  34  during mixing. 
     Food placed in the chamber  34  may be frozen, thawed, or partially thawed. Water may also be placed within the chamber  34 , and if so, the food and water mixes to form a food solution. If not, the food thaws to form a food solution. The stirrer  33  within the chamber  34  mixes the food solution and ensures it is homogenous. The stirrer  33  has a central base  50  and two outwardly extending impellers  51 . The impellers  51  are large fins projecting radially outwardly and upwardly from the base  50 . The base  50  is elongate and magnetic, with opposed ends of preferably opposed magnetic polarity, such that the base  50  responds to the presence and movement of a magnetic field. When the motor within the base  30  spins to create a moving magnetic field, the base  50  responds and rotates as well. The stirrer  33  thus spins, and the impellers  51  move through and disturb the food solution. In this way, the food solution is mixed thoroughly. 
     The pump assembly  14  draws the food solution from the chamber  34  and supplies it downstream to the aquarium  11 . With reference to  FIGS.  2  and  3    primarily, the pump assembly  14  includes a pump  60 , a draw line  61 , a supply line  62 , a return line  63 , and a mixing connection  64  between the draw, supply, and return lines  61 ,  62 , and  63 . 
     The pump  60  shown in this embodiment is a peristaltic pump. In other embodiments, the pump  60  is another kind of pump, such as a diaphragm pump or otherwise. The pump  60  here includes a number of rollers  70  mounted in circumferentially-spaced apart positions, all radially offset from a central drive shaft  71  driven by a motor. The motor is not shown in these illustrations but one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the motor is an electric motor or the like, coupled to the drive shaft  71 . The draw line  61  is routed around the pump  60 , between the rollers  70  and a circumferential wall  72  for compression. As the motor operates to rotate the pump  60  in a clockwise direction, the rollers  70  sequentially compress portions of the draw line  61 , thereby drawing fluid through the draw line  61 . The spacing between the rollers  70  causes the pump  60  to draw discrete amounts of fluid, and by timing the rotational speed of the pump  60 , the amount of drawn fluid can be determined and thus controlled. 
     The draw line  61  is disposed within the reservoir  13 , so that operation of the pump  60  draws food solution up from the chamber  34 . The draw line  61  has an upstream end  73  and an opposed downstream end  74 . The upstream end  73  is shown in  FIG.  4   ; it is disposed in the spout  40  proximate the open bottom  42  thereof. The upstream end  74  is thus proximate to and disposed in fluid communication with the bottom of the chamber  34  where it can draw food solution therefrom. The draw line  61  then extends up from the upstream end  74 , through the spout  40 , through the bore  44  in the lid  43  and then up above the reservoir  13 . In the embodiment shown here, the draw line  61  makes a ninety-degree bend and is then fit in a coupling  75 . The coupling  75  is an optional feature and allows the draw line  61  to be broken so that the reservoir  13  and pump assembly  14  can be easily separated. The draw line  61  continues from the coupling  75  and is routed through the pump  60 , between the rollers  70  and the wall  72 . In the embodiment shown herein, a separate but connected line actually is routed through the pump  60 , and the draw line  61  is coupled thereto, but that separate line constitutes part of the draw line  61  and in some embodiments is an integral portion thereof. The draw line  61  terminates at the downstream end  74 , which is coupled to the mixing connection  64 . The mixing connection  64  is thus downstream from the pump  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3    primarily, the supply and return lines  62  and  63  also terminate at the mixing connection  64 . The supply line  62  is relatively short. It is coupled to the inlet  22  in the wall  21  of the compartment  12 . The supply line  62  is thus joined in fluid communication to the external supply line  15  and supplies water from the aquarium  11  to the apparatus  10 . The supply line  62  extends from the inlet  22  to the mixing connection  64 . Similarly, the return line  63  is short, extending from the mixing connection  64  to the outlet  23  in the wall  21 . The return line  63  is joined in fluid communication to the external return line  16  to return water to the aquarium  11  from the apparatus  10 . 
     The mixing connection  64  mixes water from the aquarium  11  with food solution from the chamber  34 . The mixing connection  64  is a wye with three ports  80 ,  81 , and  82 . As used in this apparatus, two ports  80  and  81  are upstream or inlet ports and one port  82  is a downstream or outlet port. The draw line  61  is coupled to one of the inlet ports  80 , and the supply line  62  is coupled to the other inlet port  81 . As such, food solution is supplied to the mixing connection  64  through the inlet port  80  and aquarium water is supplied to the mixing connection  64  through the inlet port  81 . The return line  63  is coupled to the outlet port  82 . The mixture of water and food solution communicates from the mixing connection  64  through the outlet port  82  and downstream through the return line  63  to the aquarium  11 . 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus is timer-or computer-controlled. In timer-controlled embodiments, the base  30  and the pump assembly  14  are each coupled in electronic control to a timer in the apparatus  10 . A submersible pump  85  in the aquarium is also coupled to the timer. The timer activates the motor in the base  30  to rotate the magnetic stirrer  33  and activates the pump assembly  14  to draw and dispense food solution. The user can program the timer to operate at certain times of the day. 
     In computer-controlled embodiments, the apparatus  10  includes an onboard programmable logic controller or like computing device. In embodiments, the user can directly program the logic controller. In other embodiments, the user can interact with a GUI on the apparatus  10  to program the apparatus  10 . In other embodiments, the logic controller is coupled in wireless data communication with a server, and the user can program the apparatus  10  with an online portal or a mobile application. In still other embodiments, the logic controller is coupled in wireless data communication, such as Bluetooth or Zigbee, with a mobile application. With any of these embodiments, the user is able to program the timer to instruct the apparatus to start and stop each of the pump  60 , the submersible pump  85 , and the magnetic stirrer  33 . In some embodiments, the user can program the operating time while in other embodiments, he programs the amount of food solution to be dispensed. 
     The logic controller is connected in electronic communication with the base  30  and the pump assembly  14  to start and stop operation of each. The logic controller thereby can initiate rotation of the stirrer  33  for a predetermined period, wait for the food solution to become homogenized, and then instruct the pump assembly  14  to operate to draw food solution up from the chamber  34  to be mixed with water from the aquarium  11 . The logic controller is also coupled in electronic communication with the submersible pump  85  in the aquarium  11  to initiate operation of the pump  85  such that it selectively supplies water to the apparatus  10 . Preferably, the pump  85  operates to not only supply water through the supply lines  15  and  62  to mix with the frozen food from the chamber  34 , but also to rinse the frozen food from the mixing connection  64  and the return line  63  after the food solution has been dispensed. In the latter situation, the pump  85  pumps water through the supply lines  15  and  62  so that such water can simply cycle back and return to the aquarium through the return lines  63  and  16 . 
     In operation, the apparatus  10  is useful to automatically mix and dispense a food solution to an aquarium  11 . The owner of the aquarium  11  may use the apparatus  10  to automate feeding while he is away, but the apparatus  10  is equally useful for automated feeding even when the owner is home. 
     To use the apparatus  10 , the owner first places the apparatus  10  in a location sufficiently close to the aquarium  11  such that both the external supply and return lines  15  and  16  can reach into the aquarium  11 . The owner places the ends of those lines  15  and  16  into the aquarium  11 , ensuring that the end of the supply line  15  is securely coupled to the submersible pump  85  so that it can pump water through the line  15 . 
     The owner then readies the compartment  12 . First, the owner ensures the interior  20  of the compartment  12  is cooled. The interior  20  is preferably maintained at a temperature just above freezing, to allow food kept within the reservoir  13  to thaw but also to prevent it from spoiling. Once the interior  20  is cooled to the desired temperature, the owner can place the food therein. 
     Opening the door  17  of the compartment  12 , the owner can remove the reservoir  13  or leave it in place within the interior  20  while he adds food. If the owner desires to remove the compartment  12 , he first disconnects the draw line  61  from the coupling  75  before lifting the reservoir  13  off the base  30 . In embodiments in which the reservoir  13  and the base  30  are an integral unit, the owner simply lifts the reservoir  13  and base  30  out together. 
     The owner next lifts the flap  46  in the lip  43  of the reservoir  13 . The lifted flap  46  exposes the mouth  45 . The owner drops the frozen food through the mouth  45 , which is large enough to allow the food to pass through even in solid state. Sometimes, this is all the owner need do. He closes the flap  46 , puts the reservoir  13  back in the interior  20 , and closes the door  17  of the compartment  12 . Other times, the owner may wish to dilute the food. He does so by adding water through the open mouth  45 , then closes the flap  46  and replaces the reservoir  13  in the compartment  12 . Still other times, the owner may wish to thaw the frozen food slightly. He can thaw the food and place it in the chamber  34 . Thawing the food before placing it in the chamber  34  assures the owner that the food will definitely not be frozen when the apparatus  10  attempts to dispense it to the aquarium  11 . The owner can thaw the food with or without additional water for dilution. 
     After the owner returns the reservoir  13  to the interior  20  of the compartment  12 , he closes the door  17 . He sets the timer or programs the programmable logic controller for desired times, durations, or metered amounts to dispense the food solution. After finishing this, the owner can leave the apparatus  10  to run. 
     When the time comes for the apparatus  10  to dispense, the motor in the base  30  begins to rotate. This creates a rotating magnetic field. The magnetic stirrer  33  rotates in response to creation of the rotating magnetic field. The stirrer  33  spins, and the impellers  51  mix the food solution. The motor rotates for a predetermined time deemed sufficient to mix the food solution into homogeneity. 
     Once that mixing time has passed, the pump  60  begins moving. The stirrer  33  preferably, but not necessarily, continues to operate while the pump  60  is active. The pump  60  rotates, drawing food solution up the draw line  61  from the bottom of the chamber  34 . The food solution passes through the portion of the draw line  61  routed through the pump  60 , where the rollers  70  impinge the draw line  61  to cause the movement of the food solution. Exiting the pump  60 , the food solution leaves the draw line  61  and enters the mixing connection  64 , where it mixes and dilutes with water supplied by the pump  85  in the aquarium. The diluted food solution then travels out the outlet port  82  of the mixing connection  64 , through the return line  63 , through the outlet  23  in the wall  21 , and back through the external return line  16  to the aquarium  11 , thereby providing food to the aquarium  11  habitat. 
     The pump  60  continues to operate for a predetermined time, as set by the owner. This time may be sufficient to draw all food solution from the reservoir  13 . Alternatively, this time may be sufficient to draw only a portion of the food solution from the reservoir  13 . In the latter situation, the food solution remaining in the reservoir  13  is held until the next scheduled feeding. The compartment  12  keeps the remainder food solution cool so that it does not spoil before the next feeding. 
     Regardless of whether the food solution in the chamber is depleted or not, the apparatus  10  preferably undergoes a cleaning cycle after each dispensation. This helps maintain the cleanliness and reliable operation of the apparatus  10 . To run the cleaning cycle, the apparatus  10  instructs the submersible pump  85  to run while the peristaltic pump  60  does not run. The pump  85  draws water from the aquarium  11 , pumps it through the external supply line  15 , through the supply line  62  within the compartment  12 , through the mixing connection  64 , and then out the return lines  63  and  16  back to the aquarium  11 . This allows clean aquarium water to flush out most of the tubing in the apparatus  10  to remove any food products left behind. 
     A preferred embodiment is fully and clearly described above so as to enable one having skill in the art to understand, make, and use the same. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made to the description above without departing from the spirit of the specification, and that some embodiments include only those elements and features described, or a subset thereof. To the extent that modifications do not depart from the spirit of the specification, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.