Abstract:
An aquarium includes a wall separating an internal environment within the enclosure from an external environment outside of the enclosure, and a power transmission system that transmits power wireless through the wall. The power transmission system includes a power source and an external inductor coupled to the power source, the external inductor coupled to the wall. The power transmission system also includes an internal inductor coupled to the wall and separated from the external inductor by the wall, and an internal element disposed within the enclosure, the internal element coupled to the internal conductor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/765,278, filed Feb. 15, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to lighting and decor for aquariums. More particularly, the present invention relates to providing power to lighting and decor in an aquarium. 
         [0003]    Residential aquarium keeping is a mature and established industry in the United States and around the world. A basic version of an aquarium includes a transparent container for aquatic life to be viewed and housed within. These containers are typically constructed of either glass or a transparent plastic material such as acrylic or polystyrene, but may be made of other transparent or semi-transparent materials. Basic aquatic environments of this nature are limited in their ability to sustain suitable conditions and water quality for all but a handful of robust and hearty fish. Often more appropriate for the health and well-being of the aquatic organisms is the addition of filtration, lighting, oxygenation, temperature control, chemical and biological balance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In accordance with one construction, an aquarium includes a wall separating an internal environment within the enclosure from an external environment outside of the enclosure, and a power transmission system that transmits power wireless through the wall. The power transmission system includes a power source and an external inductor coupled to the power source, the external inductor coupled to the wall. The power transmission system also includes an internal inductor coupled to the wall and separated from the external inductor by the wall, and an internal element disposed within the enclosure, the internal element coupled to the internal conductor. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another construction, an aquarium includes a base defining a base perimeter and a wall extending from the base perimeter and surrounding the base to define a substantially water tight interior space, at least a portion of the wall being substantially transparent to visible light. A power source is disposed outside of the interior space and operable to receive an AC power supply and to output an external power supply. An external inductor is coupled to the wall and receives the external power supply from the power source. An internal inductor is disposed in the interior space adjacent the external inductor. The internal inductor is operable to output an internal power in response to the receipt of the external power at the external inductor. An electrical element is electrically connected to the internal inductor and operable in response to receipt of a portion of the internal power. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a wireless power transmission system according to one construction for powering an internal element within an aquarium. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wireless power transmission system according to another construction for powering a plurality of internal lighting elements within an aquarium, each of the internal lighting elements coupled to the same internal inductors. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a wireless power transmission system according to another construction for powering a plurality of internal lighting elements within an aquarium, each of the internal lighting elements coupled via a wire to separate internal inductors. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wireless power transmission system according to another construction for powering an internal element or elements within an aquarium, each of the internal lighting elements coupled wirelessly to separate internal inductors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a wireless power transmission system  10  for powering an internal element  14  within an aquarium  18  or other container. The internal element  14  is a light, a motor, a pump, or any other device within the aquarium  18  that can be run electrically through a wireless connection. 
         [0011]    The aquarium  18  includes a base  20  and a removable top (not shown). The illustrated aquarium  18  is constructed of glass, acrylic, clear plastic, or other material that separates and defines an internal environment  22  and an external environment  26 . The aquarium  18  includes a glass wall  30  that extends from the base  20  and is clear and transparent, although in some constructions the wall  30  or a portion of the wall  30  is opaque. The internal environment  22  is substantially water tight enabling it to contain an aquatic environment. In some constructions the internal environment  22  is dry or semi-arid in order to contain other animals such as snakes, lizards, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, spiders, crickets, frogs, toads, etc. 
         [0012]    With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  includes a power source  34  having one or more plug-in locations  36  disposed thereon, an external inductor  38 , and at least one wire  42  that extends from one of the plug-in locations  36  and couples the power source  34  to the external inductor  38  to provide power from the power source  34  to the external inductor  38 . A power cord  40  supplies power to the power source  34  (e.g., from a common AC electrical outlet). In some constructions the system  10  includes one or more rectifiers/inverters in the power source  34  (or elsewhere) to convert current as needed to power the internal elements  14 . 
         [0013]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the external inductor  38  is coupled to an outer surface  46  of the wall  30 . In some constructions the power source  34  is coupled directly to the external inductor  38  without the use of an exposed wire  42 . In addition, some constructions include a power source having one or more wires permanently attached and extending from the power source to one or more inductors. 
         [0014]    The system  10  further includes an internal inductor  50  and a wire  54  that couples the internal inductor  50  to the internal element  14  within the aquarium  18  to provide power from the internal inductor  50  to the internal element  14 . In some constructions the internal inductor  50  is coupled directly to the internal element  14  without the use of the exposed wire  54 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the internal inductor  50  is coupled to an inner surface  58  of the wall  30 , directly opposite the external inductor  38 . 
         [0015]    The wall  30  provides a separation barrier between the internal and external environments  22 ,  26  through which power is transferred wirelessly and inductively from the external inductor  38  to the internal inductor  50 . Electromagnetic principles enable power transmission through the wall  30 , which is typically an electrical insulator or electrically non-conductive material. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate constructions that include a variety of internal elements  14  in the form of lights  15 . In the illustrated constructions each of the lights  15  includes a light-emitting diode (LED)  62  that operates in response to the flow of internal power to emit light. Of course, other constructions might use other light sources in place of or in conjunction with the LEDs  62 . 
         [0017]    In one construction illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each of the lights  15  includes an exposed wire  54  between the light  15  and the internal inductor  50 , and a single exposed wire  42  is disposed between the internal conductor  50  and the power source  34 . Thus, the arrangement of  FIG. 2  delivers all of the power necessary for the lights  15  from the power source  34  to one external inductor  38 . The single external inductor  38  wirelessly delivers that power to the single internal inductor  50  which then distributes that power evenly to all of the lights. In this arrangement, any controls (e.g., dimmers) applied to the external power path would have a substantially equal effect on all of the lights  15 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative arrangement in which the internal element  15  includes three separate lights  14 . Each of the lights  14  is similar to the lights  14  of  FIG. 2 . However, each of the lights of  FIG. 3  receives power from a separate internal inductor  50 . While the internal inductors  50  are substantially the same as the internal inductor of  FIG. 2 , there are more of them. Each internal inductor  50  is positioned adjacent separate external inductors  38 . As with the internal inductors  50 , the external inductors  38  are similar to the external inductors  38  of  FIG. 2  but there are more of them. Each external inductor  38  received power via a separate wire  42  that is connected to a separate plug-in location on the power source  34 . Thus, the arrangement of  FIG. 3  provides three separate flow paths for power from the power source  34  to the lights  15 , thereby allowing for variation in the power delivered to individual lights  15  if desired. In a variation of the construction of  FIG. 3 , the three wires  42  could all connect to the power source  34  at a single plug-in location if desired. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates another construction that is similar to the construction of  FIG. 3 . However, rather than providing a wire between the interior inductors  50  and the lights  15 , the lights  15  are directly connected to or formed as part of the internal inductors  50   
         [0020]    The power transmission system  10  eliminates the need for the power cord  40  to extend over a top edge of the aquarium  18  and into the aquarium  18 , thus alleviating problems (e.g., impingements from aquarium covers, filters, and other structures, water dripping down the power cord, pinching of the power cord, crimping of the power cord, animals chewing, clawing, or burrowing into the power cord, etc.) that exist in current power transmission applications, as well as providing a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
         [0021]    As discussed herein, the internal inductor  38  and the external inductor  50  are disposed on opposite sides of the wall  22  and are preferably connected to the wall  22 . Many options are available for connecting the internal inductor  38  and the external inductor  50  to the wall including but not limited to, double-sided tape, adhesives, magnets, suction cups, brackets or fixtures, and the like. 
         [0022]    Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.