Patent ID: 7360502

Claim:
An accessory for a cleaning apparatus for an aquarium having a granular substance covering a bottom surface of the aquarium, the accessory comprising: (a) a rigid handle having: (1) a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, the handle being hollow such that fluid can freely flow therethrough from the handle distal end to the handle proximal end, and (2) a connecting portion structured and configured to connect the handle proximal end in fluid flow communication with the cleaning apparatus; (b) an input device having a longitudinal channel therethrough, a device proximal end, and a device distal end, wherein the device proximal end is releasably securable to the handle distal end of the handle, the input device including a shoulder that operatively abuts the handle distal end and wherein the device proximal end is frictionally and releasably securable to the handle distal end; (c) a filter device mounted internally within, and completely spanning, the channel through, the input device, the filter device including a screen with mesh openings dimensioned small enough to prevent the granular substance from passing therethrough but dimensioned large enough to allow waste and uneaten food particles in, on and stirred up from the granular substance to pass therethrough; and (d) a plurality of arcuately shaped stirring elements extending longitudinally outwardly from the device distal end of the input device, each of the plurality of stirring elements having a central portion spaced in a side by side arrangement with the central portion of each of the other stirring elements of the plurality of stirring elements, the plurality of stirring element further including a band encircling the side by side arrangement at the central portions of the plurality of stirring elements; and (e) wherein the input device and the plurality of stirring elements are dimensioned and spaced such that the magnitude of suctioning operably provided therethrough by the cleaning apparatus is sufficient to pull waste and uneaten food particles in, on and stirred up from the granular substance through the input device but is not sufficient to pull the granular substance through the input device.