Abstract:
An aquarium includes a base and at least one side wall coupled to the base that together define an interior of the aquarium. The aquarium also includes a non-magnetic mat sized to fit within the aquarium such that a bottom surface of the mat engages the base and a top surface of the mat is exposed to the interior. The aquarium also includes at least one magnetic element coupled to the mat, and a removable décor feature that is magnetically attracted toward the at least one magnetic element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/940,024, filed Feb. 14, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Aquariums often include inanimate features that make up the décor of the aquarium. For example, plants (real or artificial), rocks, coral (real or simulated), or other objects are often placed in an aquarium to enhance the look. Some of these features can be difficult to place in the desired position. For example, artificial plants often float making it difficult to anchor them on the bottom of the aquarium. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with one construction, an aquarium includes a base and at least one side wall coupled to the base that together define an interior of the aquarium. The aquarium also includes a non-magnetic mat sized to fit within the aquarium such that a bottom surface of the mat engages the base and a top surface of the mat is exposed to the interior. The aquarium also includes at least one magnetic element coupled to the mat, and a removable décor feature that is magnetically attracted toward the at least one magnetic element. 
         [0004]    In accordance with another construction, an aquarium includes a base and at least one side wall coupled to the base that together define an interior of the aquarium. The aquarium also includes a flexible, magnetic mat sized to fit within the aquarium such that a bottom surface of the flexible, magnetic mat engages the base and a top surface of the flexible, magnetic mat is exposed to the interior, wherein the flexible, magnetic mat includes at least one magnetic element selected from a group consisting of a plurality of magnetic wires, a plurality of magnetic strips, a magnetic sheet, a plurality of magnetic particles, and an electrically powered wire. 
         [0005]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a magnetic mat embodying an aspect of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the magnetic mat of  FIG. 1  illustrating a magnetic element; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the magnetic mat of  FIG. 1  illustrating another magnetic element; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the magnetic mat of  FIG. 1  illustrating another magnetic element; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the magnetic mat of  FIG. 1  illustrating another magnetic element; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of several décor features for use with the mat of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the décor features of  FIG. 6  placed on the mat of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a mat positioned within an aquarium and including a wireless power transfer arrangement. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a mat  10  or substrate that is suitable for placement in the bottom of an aquarium  15 . The illustrated mat  10  is rectangular and is sized to fit a typical rectangular aquarium  15 . Of course other sizes and shapes could be made to accommodate virtually any size or shape of aquarium  15 . In addition, while the present description describes the mat  10  as being used in an aquarium  15 , it could be applied in many other applications in addition to the aquarium  15 . 
         [0016]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the mat  10  includes a bottom surface  20  that is placed against a base  25  of the aquarium  15 , side surfaces  30  that preferably abut the side walls  35  of the aquarium  15 , and a top surface  40  that is exposed to the interior of the aquarium  15 . In preferred arrangements the top surface  40  is colored to match the desired environment. For example, a sandy or tan color could be employed and a sand texture could be applied to make the top surface  40  look like the sandy bottom of a body of water. Of course, other colors or textures could be employed to match virtually any desired environment. 
         [0017]    The mat  10  is preferably manufactured from a foam or other plastic material that allows the mat  10  to be flexible. The flexibility should be sufficient to allow the mat  10  to be rolled for shipping or storage (e.g., able to be rolled at least 360 degrees about an axis) as well as to allow the mat  10  to be positioned on and conform to a base  25  that is not planar. In addition, the material selected should be suitable for use in a moist or a submerged environment. If the material selected is buoyant, features are provided to affix the mat  10  to the bottom or base  25  of the aquarium  15 . For example, double sided tape, adhesives, VELCRO, fasteners, hooks, or the like could be employed to assure that the mat  10  does not float to the surface of the aquarium  15  when water is added. 
         [0018]    The mat  10   a  also includes a magnetic element  45  that is attached to, embedded within, or formed as part of the mat  10   a .  FIG. 2  illustrates one possible magnetic element  45  that includes a plurality of magnetic wires  50 . In the illustrated construction, the magnetic wires  50  extend from one side of the mat  10   a  to the opposite side of the mat  10   a  and are spaced apart from one another in a direction normal to their direction of extension to largely fill the space defined by the top surface  40  of the mat  10   a . The spacing of the wires  50  allows the mat  10   a  to be rolled up as desired without damaging the wires  50  or the mat  10   a . The wires  50  are formed from a naturally magnetic material or include a magnetized ferromagnetic material such that no electricity is required to produce a magnetic field. In preferred constructions, the wires  50  are embedded or formed within the foam material that makes up the mat  10   a . However, in preferred constructions, the wires  50  are placed as close as possible to, or on the top surface  40  to enhance the strength of the magnetic field at the top surface  40 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a mat  10   b  similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  including a magnetic element  45  formed from strips  55  of magnetic material arranged in a pattern similar to that of the wires  50  of  FIG. 2 . As with the construction of  FIG. 2 , the strips  55  are arranged to assure the desired level of flexibility without damaging the strips  55  or the mat  10   b . The strips  55  are made from a naturally magnetic material or a magnetized ferromagnetic material and are placed as close as possible to, or on the top surface  40  to enhance the strength of the magnetic field at the top surface  40 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates yet another construction of a mat  10   c  in which a magnetic sheet  60  is embedded within or placed on the top surface  40  of the mat  10   c . The magnetic sheet  60  is such that the mat  10   c  is still flexible enough to be rolled up but durable enough to not damage the magnetic sheet  60  or the mat  10   c . In preferred constructions, the sheet  60  is placed as close as possible to, or on the top surface  40  to enhance the strength of the magnetic field at the top surface  40 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates yet another arrangement of the magnetic element  45  in the mat  10 . The mat  10  of  FIG. 1  is formed from a foam material that contains or is doped with small magnetic particles  65  that are dispersed throughout the mat during formation. In preferred constructions, naturally magnetic particles  65  or magnetized ferromagnetic particles  65  are employed. When the mat  10  is formed, a magnetic field is applied to align the particles  65  to enhance the magnetic field produced by the mat  10 . The particles  65  are sized, and the density of the particles  65  is selected to assure that the mat  10  remains flexible enough to roll up for storage and shipping. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates another arrangement of a mat  10   d  which includes a magnetic element  45  that is electrically-powered. In preferred constructions, the magnetic element  45  includes a magnet wire  70  arranged in one or more coils  75  to produce a magnetic field. The wire  70  or coils  75  are embedded within or formed as part of the mat  10   d  and preferably disposed as near to the top surface  45  as possible. The wire  70  or coils  75  are arranged to assure that the mat  10   d  remains flexible and is able to be rolled up for storage or shipping. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a power cord  80  is provided to direct power from an electrical source such as a wall outlet to the wire  70  or coils  75  within the mat  10   d.    
         [0023]    In another construction illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a wireless power supply  99  is used to direct electrical power from outside of the aquarium  15  to the mat  10  inside the aquarium  15 . In this construction an exterior inductor  100  is positioned adjacent an interior inductor  105  that is part of the mat  10  or electrically connected to the mat  10 . The exterior inductor  100  produces a magnetic field in response to the flow of electrical power therethrough. The interior inductor  105  is positioned within the magnetic field of the exterior inductor  100  and produces a current in response to that magnetic field. The current is used to induce the magnetic field in the mat  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates several different décor features  85  that are suitable for use with the magnetic mat  10  of  FIGS. 1-5 . The features  85  illustrated include rocks, plants, and a castle but should not be limited to these items. For example, other décor features  85  could include corals, basking platforms, pots for live plants, etc. As one of ordinary skill will realize virtually any desired feature  85  could be used with the invention described herein. 
         [0025]    Each of the features  85  includes a base  90  that is used to attach the feature  85  to the mat  10 . The feature  85  includes a base  90  that preferably includes a magnet (natural or electrical) or a ferromagnetic portion that magnetically engages the mat  10  when placed in proximity. The base  90  should be covered with a thin plastic coating or other cover that inhibits contact between the base  90  and the water to inhibit unwanted corrosion while still allowing for the magnetic connection between the base  90  and the mat  10 . 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the features  85  can be positioned anywhere on the mat  10  that a user desires. The magnetic field of the mat  10  cooperates with the base  90  of the individual features  85  to attach the features  85  to the mat  10  and hold them in the desired position. 
         [0027]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.