Patent Abstract:
A vivarium wall device system comprising: a piece of coral or a piece of wood, the piece having a glass-side surface, upper surface, lower surface, and three side surfaces, and where the glass-side surface is generally flat and regular; a vivarium wall attachment means comprising: a first inside magnet, generally permanently attached to the glass-side surface; a first outside magnet, configured to be removeably and magnetically attachable to the first inside magnet; where when the first inside magnet is configured to be located inside the vivarium and magnetically attach to a first outside magnet located outside of the vivarium, and where the magnetic attraction occurs across a vivarium wall, and the coefficient of friction of the vivarium wall and the magnetic force tend to hold the piece of coral in place on the vivarium wall.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 661/620,133 to Richard P. Moewe, entitled “Coral Shelf System”, filed on Apr. 4, 2012, and which provisional application is fully incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to vivariums for displaying or exhibiting animals, and more particularly, to a vivarium wall device system that can be attached to a wall of the vivarium. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Vivariums include terrariums and aquariums. Aquariums are generally four sided glass tanks which are filled with water and used to display fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic life. It is not uncommon for an aquarium to have rocks and rock formations, tree branches, and other decorative artifacts placed on the bottom of tank for the marine life to move around, through and about. If there is a substantial volume of this material, it will not only cover the bottom of the tank but do so to a depth that the material starts to cover the bottom portion of the sidewalls of the aquarium as well. It sometimes may be desirable, for the overall appearance of the aquarium, to attach an object to an inside wall of the tank at a level above that of the other material placed in the tank. Heretofore, that has been difficult to do. For example, an artifact could be taped or glued to the wall of the tank, but this requires draining the tank and refilling it. In addition, prolonged submersion in the water may cause the glue or tape to lose its adhesiveness, causing the object to dislodge. A hole could be drilled through the sidewall of the aquarium to allow the object to be set in place using a screw or the like. This again requires draining and refilling of the tank, in addition to providing a waterproof seal about the hole. If the object is later removed, the hole must be filled which may leave an unsightly appearance. 
         [0004]    In addition, it has been difficult to attach any sort of shelf or shelves to the walls of an aquarium. 
         [0005]    In addition, similar problems for attaching shelves or other items to terrariums and vivariums in general are known. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need for a system that can overcome the above and other limitations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The disclosed invention relates to a vivarium wall device system comprising: a piece of coral, the piece of coral having a glass-side surface, upper surface, lower surface, and three side surfaces, and where the glass-side surface is generally flat and regular; a vivarium wall attachment means comprising: a first inside magnet, generally permanently attached to the glass-side surface; a first outside magnet, configured to be removeably and magnetically attachable to the first inside magnet; where when the first inside magnet is configured to be located inside the vivarium and magnetically attach to a first outside magnet located outside of the vivarium, and where the magnetic attraction occurs across a vivarium wall, and the coefficient of friction of the vivarium wall and the magnetic force tend to hold the piece of coral in place on the vivarium wall. 
         [0008]    The disclosed invention also relates to a vivarium wall device system comprising: a wood piece, the wood piece having a glass-side; a vivarium wall attachment means comprising: a first inside magnet, generally permanently attached to the glass-side; a first outside magnet, configured to be removeably and magnetically attachable to the first inside magnet; where when the first inside magnet is configured to be located inside the vivarium and magnetically attach to a first outside magnet located outside of the vivarium, and where the magnetic attraction occurs across a vivarium wall, and the coefficient of friction of the vivarium wall and the magnetic force tend to hold the wood piece in place on the vivarium wall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the vivarium wall device system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the vivarium wall device system installed on an vivarium wall; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of another embodiment of the vivarium wall device system; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a wood embodiment of the vivarium wall device system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the disclosed vivarium wall device system  10 . A natural piece of coral  14  comprises the shelf section of the system. The coral  114  may be naturally shaped on all but the glass-side surface  18  that is that all other sides of the coral may retain its natural shape. The glass-side  18  of the coral will be cut or machined to a flat surface. The coral  14  may also be cut to form a generally “shelf” shape, with an upper surface  22 , lower surface  26 , and three side surfaces  30 ,  34 ,  38  in addition to the glass-side  18  surface. The upper surface  22 , lower surface  26 , and three side surfaces  30 ,  34 ,  38  may be relatively flat and uniform having a generally man-made shelf shape, or in other embodiments, the coral  14  may have a very irregular shape, such as may occur in nature with coral. The coral may be any suitable coral rock, including but not limited to BRS Pukani Dry Eco Aquarium Live Rock sold by Bulk Reef Supply, 672 Mendelssohn Avenue North, Golden Valley, Minn. 55427, pukani rock, or live rock. The coral  14  may have one or more holes  42  cut into the upper surface  22 . These holes  42  may be used to receive a plant plug  46 . In one embodiment the plant plugs  46  may be inserted into the hole  42  so that plant  46  generally grows out of the top upper surface  22 . In other embodiments, the plant  46  may grow out of any of the upper surface  22 , lower surface  26 , and three side surfaces  30 ,  34 ,  38 . One or more holes  50  are cut into the glass-side surface  18 . In each hole  50  is an attachment means  54 , which include but are not limited to threaded members, threaded screws, non-ferrous threaded members, non-ferrous screws. The attachment means  54  may be held in place in the hole  50  by a marine epoxy  66  or glue. A magnet  58  is attached to each attachment means  54  by mechanically screwing the attachment means  54  partially into magnet  58 , In this arrangement, the surface of the coral  14  does not touch the vivarium wall  70 , thus preventing scratching and other damage to the vivarium wall  70 . In addition there is gap  72  between the glass-side  18  of the coral and the inner side  74  of the wall. This gap  72  allows for circulation of water on all sides of the coral  14 , thereby allowing for natural growth conditions on and around the coral. In another embodiment, there is a marine glue  62   62  used to assist in attaching the magnet  58  to the glass side surface  18 . The marine glue  62  may be configured to adhere to rubber. A vivarium wall  70  is shown. The vivarium wall  70  will have an inner side  74 , that faces the interior of the vivarium, and an outer side  78  that faces outside of the vivarium. Another set of magnets  82  are configured to be magnetically attracted to magnets  58 . Thus, the coral  14  can be held against the vivarium wall  70  due to the magnetic forces of magnets  58  and  82 , and the coefficient of friction between the magnets  58 ,  82  and the vivarium wall  70 . The magnets  58 ,  82  may be any suitable magnet, and may include, but are not limited to, rubberized magnets, rubber coated magnets, plastic coated magnets, neodymium magnets coated in rubber or plastic. The rubber or plastic coating on the magnets will protect the vivarium walls from scratching and other damage. There may be multiple sets of magnets  58 , 82  along the length and or height of the coral  14  in order to provide more force to hold up the coral shelf. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vivarium  86 . In this embodiment, two corals  14  are attached to the inner side  74  of a rear vivarium wall  70 . The magnets  82  located on the outer side  78  are partially visible. Depending on the size of the vivarium more or less than two corals may be attached to the rear vivarium wall  70 . In other embodiments, one or more corals configured either in shelf or flat wall shapes may be attached to the side and front walls of the vivarium. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is side view of another embodiment of a vivarium wall device system  90 . A plastic glue disc  94  is attached to the glass-side surface  18  of the coral  14  using a suitable adhesive, such as, but not limited to a marine adhesive, or a marine silicone. Attached to the other side of the plastic glue disc  94  is an inside magnet  58 . The inside magnet  58  may be a marine waterproof coated magnet. In one embodiment, the magnet attaches to the disc  94  with a resin epoxy adhesive. One reason for using epoxy is that epoxy generally will not adhere to the rock and silicone generally will not adhere to the magnet properly. The disc  94  also provides a flat surface for both attachments. The disc  94  replaces the screw  54  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , thus making for a simpler design. The inside magnet  58  may be attached to the plastic glue disc  94  via any suitable adhesive, including, but not limited to a marine adhesive. Attached to the other side of the inside magnet  58  (opposite the plastic glue disc side) is a plastic spacer  98 . The plastic spacer  98  is attached to the magnet  58  via any suitable adhesive, including but not limited to a marine adhesive or resin epoxy adhesive. The plastic spacers may allow for use of adhesives compatible with each respective surface. The plastic spacers protect the surface of the inner side  74  of the vivarium wall  70  and gives a generally calculable coefficient of surface friction between the spacer  98  and vivarium wall  70 . In this embodiment, there is no glue or adhesive between the plastic spacer  98  and the inner side  74  of the vivarium wall  70 . An outside magnet  82  is located near the outer side  78  of the vivarium wall  70 . The inner surface of the outside magnet  82  is attached to an outer plastic spacer  102 . The outside magnet  82  may be attached to the plastic spacer  102  via any suitable adhesive, including but not limited to a marine adhesive or resin epoxy adhesive. The outside magnet  82  is in magnetic attraction with the inside magnet  58 , and it is the magnetic attraction between the two magnets  58 ,  82  and the coefficient of friction between the plastic spacers  98 ,  102  and the vivarium wall  70  that generally hold the coral  14  in place relative to the wall  70 . In another embodiment, an adhesive may be used to attach the plastic spacers  98 ,  102  to the vivarium wall  70 . The coral may vary from six inches in any direction to eighteen inches in any direction. The magnets  58 ,  82  may, in one embodiment, be sized at about one inch square and about ⅛ th  inch in thickness covered with a marine grade sealer paint or vinyl. There may be multiple sets of magnets  58 ,  82  along the length and or height of the coral  14  in order to provide more force to hold up the coral shelf 
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment  106  of the vivarium wall device system. In this embodiment, wood piece  110  is used as the element to hang on the vivarium wall  70 . The wood piece  110  may have a shelf-like shape, similar to the coral  14 , or as shown, be more decorative and without a shelf-like shape. The wood piece may be freshwater compatible or may be salt water compatible. The wood piece  110  may be custom cut, or may be simply found driftwood. Wood piece  110  may be selected from any suitable type of wood, including but not limited to Manzenita or Malaysian Driftwood. The wood piece  110  may vary from six inches in any direction to eighteen inches in any direction. A screw  114  within a hollow jacket  118  is used to attach the wood piece  110  to a magnet  58 . The screw  114  is screwed into the wood piece  110  until wood piece  110  is generally flush with the plastic jacket  118 . The screw  114  may be any suitable type of screw, including but not limited to a non-ferrous screw. The jacket  118  may be any suitable type of jacket, including but not limited to a round plastic jacket. The magnet  58  has a hole  60  that allows the screw  114  to slide through until the head  116  of the screw  114  (which is bigger than the hole) is stopped. The hole may unthreaded in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the hole may be threaded, and the screw is screwed into the hole in magnet. The hole  60  may be countersunk so that the screw head  116  is flush with the surface of the magnet  58 . The jacket  118  is slid onto the screw after the screw is attached to the magnet, then the screw is screwed into the wood piece  110 . Attached to the other side of the magnet  58  is a plastic spacer  98 . The plastic spacer  98  is attached to the magnet  58  via any suitable adhesive, including but not limited to a marine adhesive. An outside magnet  82  is located near the outer side  78  of the vivarium wall  70 . The inner surface of the outside magnet  82  is attached to an outer plastic spacer  102 . The outside magnet  82  may be attached to the plastic spacer  102  via any suitable adhesive, including but not limited to a marine adhesive. The outside magnet  82  is in magnetic attraction with the inside magnet  58 , and it is the magnetic attraction between the two magnets  58 ,  82  and the coefficient of friction between the plastic spacers  98 ,  102  and the vivarium wall  70  that generally hold the wood piece  110  in place relative to the wall  70 . There may be multiple sets of magnets  58 , 82  along the length and or height of the coral  14  in order to provide more force to hold up the wood piece  110 . 
         [0018]    The disclosed device has many advantages. The disclosed vivarium wall attachable coral system will not scratch or damage the vivarium glass. The device provides natural support for industry live specimen “frag plugs” without use of artificial supports that cultivate unattractive algae, Growth attachment between the live specimen “frag” onto adjacent natural coral eliminates the need for relocation from unnatural support to natural support upon maturation. The device eliminates the risk of lime contamination from cement artificial rock. The use of rubber magnets protect the vivarium glass, and provide for additional friction to help maintain the positioning of the coral with respect to the vivarium wall. The coral is a natural material that does not look artificial. The Pukani coral is a “dead” coral when harvested and reduces environmental impact to the ocean environment normally associated with “live rock” harvesting. The disclosed system eliminates the need for vertical support, other than the magnets. The entire mounting system is marine compatible and will not deteriorate. Due to the strength of the magnets, and the rubber coated magnets, the coral will not slide down the vivarium wall. For vivarium wall  70  thicknesses above ⅜ of an inch, an additional magnet  82  may be magnetically attached to the surface of the inner magnet  58  for added pulling strength. Magnet  82  may have larger pulling strength than magnet  58  to reduce the size of magnet  58  for aesthetical reasons. 
         [0019]    There may be water circulation all around the coral when the invention is used in an aquarium. The disclosed system is not limited to use with only aquariums, the system may also be used with terrariums and other types of vivariums. 
         [0020]    It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
         [0021]    While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0