US20060090278A1

US20060090278A1 - Aquarium having foldable cleaner

Info

Publication number: US20060090278A1
Application number: US10/978,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Yao Hang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-02
Filing date: 2004-11-02
Publication date: 2006-05-04

Abstract

A magnetic cleaning assembly includes an inner and an outer magnetic cleaner member for attaching onto inner and outer peripheral surfaces of an aquarium, the inner magnetic cleaner member includes two blocks rotatably secured together with a pivot device and foldable relative to each other, two magnetic elements are attached to the blocks, and the outer magnetic cleaner member includes one or more magnetic elements to act with the magnetic elements of the inner magnetic cleaner member, and to move the inner magnetic cleaner member along the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium, the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member are foldable relative to each other for moving over corner areas of the aquarium.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aquarium, and more particularly to an aquarium having a magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly for cleaning inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the aquarium, and for cleaning corner areas of the aquarium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical aquariums have been developed and comprise a cleaning device disposed therein. However, normally, the typical cleaning device is disposed in the bottom portion of the aquarium, and may be provided for cleaning the bottom portions of typical aquariums only.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,811 to Huang et al. discloses one of the typical cleaning device that is stably disposed in the bottom portion of the aquarium, and may not be moved relative to the aquarium, such that the typical cleaning device may only be used to clean the bottom portions of typical aquariums only, and may not be used to clean the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the aquariums, and also may not be used to clean the corner areas of the aquariums.
The other typical cleaning devices have been developed and comprise two magnetic and movable cleaner members disposed in the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the aquariums respectively, and the inner magnetic cleaner member is movable on the inner peripheral surfaces of the aquariums by the outer magnetic cleaner member, in order to clean both the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the aquariums.
However, the inner magnetic cleaner member may be easily disengaged from the inner peripheral surfaces of the aquariums when the inner magnetic cleaner member is moved across the corner areas of the aquariums, or moved across particles, such that the typical cleaning devices may not be suitably used to clean the corner areas of the aquariums.
In addition, when the outer magnetic cleaner member is slightly moved away from the inner magnetic cleaner member and the aquariums, no attracting force may be applied onto the inner magnetic cleaner member, such that the inner magnetic cleaner member may also be easily disengaged from the inner peripheral surfaces of the aquariums inadvertently.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional aquariums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an aquarium including a magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly for cleaning inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the aquarium, and for cleaning corner areas of the aquarium.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide an aquarium including a magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly having an inner magnetic cleaner member attachable to the inner peripheral surfaces of the aquariums with sucker members, for preventing the inner magnetic cleaner member from being disengaged from the inner peripheral surfaces of the aquariums even when the outer magnetic cleaner member has been moved away from the inner magnetic cleaner member and the aquariums.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic cleaning assembly for cleaning an aquarium, the magnetic cleaning assembly comprising an inner magnetic cleaner member for attaching onto an inner peripheral surface of the aquarium, the inner magnetic cleaner member including two blocks rotatably secured together with a pivot device, to allow the blocks to be rotated or folded relative to each other, a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element attached to the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member respectively, an outer magnetic cleaner member for attaching onto an outer peripheral surface of the aquarium. The outer magnetic cleaner member includes at least one third magnetic element attached thereto, to act with either of the first or the second magnetic element, and to move the inner magnetic cleaner member along the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium by the outer magnetic cleaner member, the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member are foldable relative to each other for moving over corner areas of the aquarium.
The blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member and the outer magnetic cleaner member each includes a recess formed therein, to receive the first and the second and the third magnetic element respectively.
A first block of the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member includes a notch formed therein and defined between two ears, a second block of the blocks includes a protrusion extended therefrom and engaged into the notch of the first block and rotatably attached to the ears with the pivot device.
Each of the ears includes an orifice formed therein, the protrusion of the second block includes a channel formed therein, the pivot device includes two latches, and a spring member engaged between the latches, to bias the latches to engage into the orifices of the ears, and to rotatably secure the first and the second blocks together.
The protrusion of the second block includes two end peripheral ribs extended into the channel thereof, and the latches each includes a peripheral stop extended therefrom, for engaging with the end peripheral ribs of the protrusion and for preventing the latches from being disengaged from the protrusion.
The blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member and the outer magnetic cleaner member each includes a cleaning member attached thereto, for shielding the first and the second and the third magnetic element respectively, and for engaging onto and for cleaning the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces of the aquarium.
One of the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member includes a scraper attached thereto, and the other block includes a brush attached thereto, for cleaning the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium.
Either of both of the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member include at least one sucker element attached thereto, for securing either of both of the blocks onto the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium.
Each of the blocks of the inner magnetic cleaner member includes a rounded outer flange for allowing the blocks to be easily folded relative to each other.
The outer magnetic cleaner member may also include two blocks rotatably secured together with a pivot device, to allow the blocks to be rotated or folded relative to each other. The third magnetic element is attached to a first block of the blocks of the outer magnetic cleaner member, and the outer magnetic cleaner member includes a fourth magnetic element attached to a second block of the blocks of the outer magnetic cleaner member.
One of the blocks of the outer magnetic cleaner member includes a handle extended therefrom, for moving the outer magnetic cleaner member along the outer peripheral surface of the aquarium.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an aquarium having a magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly for the aquarium;
FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the operation of the magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly for cleaning corner areas of the aquarium; and
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the operation of the magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 6-7, a magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly 3 in accordance with the present invention is provided for attaching to an aquarium 10, and for cleaning inner and outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 and/or corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10, and comprises an inner magnetic cleaner member 30 slidably attached onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10, and an outer magnetic cleaner member 40 slidably attached onto the outer peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10.
Each of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 includes two blocks 31, 32; 41, 42 rotatably or pivotally secured together with a pivot device 50, to allow or to permit the blocks 31, 32; 41, 42 to be rotated or pivoted or folded relative to each other. For example, one of the blocks 31, 41 of each of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 includes a notch 33, 43 formed therein and defined between two ears 34, 44, in which each of the ears 34, 44 includes an orifice 35, 45 formed therein. Each of the other blocks 32, 42 includes a protrusion 36, 46 extended therefrom and engaged into the notch 33, 43 of the blocks 31, 41 and rotatably attached to the ears 34, 44 with the pivot devices 50.
Each of the blocks 31, 32; 41, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 includes a recess 37, 47 formed therein, for receiving and securing a magnetic element 60 therein, and for allowing the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 to be attracted toward each other (FIGS. 1, 6), and to be forced against or onto the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 of the aquarium 1, and thus for allowing the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 to be moved along or around the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 by the outer magnetic cleaner member 40.
It is preferable that a pad or mop or cloth or cleaning member 61 is attached onto each of the blocks 31, 32; 41, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 and/or engaged onto the magnetic elements 60, for shielding or blocking the magnetic element 60, and for engaging onto and for cleaning the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 of the aquarium 10, when the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 are moved along or around the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 of the aquarium 10.
Each of the blocks 31, 32; 41, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 further includes a slot 38, 48 formed therein, and preferably parallel to the pivot devices 50, for receiving and securing a scraper 62 or a brush 63 therein respectively, which may also be engaged onto and may also be used for cleaning the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 of the aquarium 10 (FIG. 6), when moving along or around the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 of the aquarium 10.
One or more sucker elements 64 may further be provided and secured onto each of the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 with such as latches, fasteners (not shown), adhesive materials, or the like, for engaging or attaching onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10, and for detachably or slidably attaching the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10, and for allowing the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 to be attached onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 even when the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 is moved away from the outer peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 (FIG. 7).
It is to be noted that the sucker elements 64 may be used to secure or suck the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10, and also to allow the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 to be moved along or around the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 by the outer magnetic cleaner member 40. Each of the cleaning members 61 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 includes one or more openings 65 formed therein, for receiving the sucker elements 64, and for allowing the sucker elements 64 to be engaged out through the cleaning members 61 and to be engaged onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, it is preferable that each of the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 includes a rounded outer corner or flange 39, for allowing the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 to be easily folded and moved over the corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10, best shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. One blocks 41, 42 of the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 includes a handle 49 extended therefrom, for allowing the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 to be easily moved along or around the outer peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 with the handle 49.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, it is preferable that the protrusion 36, 46 of each of the blocks 32, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 includes a channel 51 formed therein for receiving a spring member 52 and two latches 53 of the pivot devices 50 therein respectively, in which the spring member 52 is engaged between the latches 53, to bias the latches 53 out of the protrusion 36, 46, and to engage into the orifices 35, 45 of the ears 34, 44 of the blocks 31, 41 respectively, and thus to rotatably or pivotally secure the blocks 31, 32; 41, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 together.
It is preferable that the protrusion 36, 46 of each of the blocks 32, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40 includes two end peripheral ribs 54 extended into the channel 51 thereof, and the latches 53 of the pivot devices 50 each includes a peripheral stop 55 extended radially and outwardly therefrom, for engaging with the end peripheral ribs 54 of the protrusions 36, 46, and for limiting the latches 53 to move relative to the protrusions 36, 46, and for preventing the latches 53 from being disengaged from the protrusions 36, 46 of the blocks 32, 42 of the inner and the outer magnetic cleaner members 30, 40.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 may be moved along or around the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 by the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 with the handle 49, in order to clean either or both the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces 11, 12 and/or the corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10 with the cleaning members 61. The provision or the formation of the rounded outer corner or flange 39 in the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 allows the blocks 31, 32 to be easily folded and moved over the corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10.
As shown in FIG. 7, the sucker elements 64 may attach the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10, even when the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 is moved away from the outer peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10, to allow the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 to be easily and readily forced against or onto the inner peripheral surface 11 of the aquarium 10 again by the outer magnetic cleaner member 40.
It is to be noted that the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 that are rotatably or pivotally secured together allow the blocks 31, 32 to be easily folded and moved over said corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10, to allow the corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10 to be easily cleaned by the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30. However, it is not necessarily that the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 includes two blocks 41, 42 rotatably or pivotally secured together; the outer magnetic cleaner member 40 may include only one block 41, 42 that may also be used to move the blocks 31, 32 of the inner magnetic cleaner member 30 along or around the inner peripheral surface 11 and/or the corner areas 13 of the aquarium 10.
Accordingly, the aquarium in accordance with the present invention includes a magnetic and movable and foldable cleaning assembly for cleaning inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the aquarium, and for cleaning corner areas of the aquarium.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A magnetic cleaning assembly for cleaning an aquarium, said magnetic cleaning assembly comprising:

an inner magnetic cleaner member for attaching onto an inner peripheral surface of the aquarium, said inner magnetic cleaner member including two blocks rotatably secured together with a pivot device, to allow said blocks to be rotated or folded relative to each other,

a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element attached to said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member respectively,

an outer magnetic cleaner member for attaching onto an outer peripheral surface of the aquarium, and

said outer magnetic cleaner member including at least one third magnetic element attached thereto, to act with either of said first or said second magnetic element, and to move said inner magnetic cleaner member along the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium by said outer magnetic cleaner member,

said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member being foldable relative to each other for moving over corner areas of the aquarium.

2. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member and said outer magnetic cleaner member each includes a recess formed therein, to receive said first and said second and said at least one third magnetic element respectively.

3. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first block of said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member includes a notch formed therein and defined between two ears, a second block of said blocks includes a protrusion extended therefrom and engaged into said notch of said first block and rotatably attached to said ears with said pivot device.

4. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said ears includes an orifice formed therein, said protrusion of said second block includes a channel formed therein, said pivot device includes two latches, and a spring member engaged between said latches, to bias said latches to engage into said orifices of said ears, and to rotatably secure said first and said second blocks together.

5. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said protrusion of said second block includes two end peripheral ribs extended into said channel thereof, and said latches each includes a peripheral stop extended therefrom, for engaging with said end peripheral ribs of said protrusion and for preventing said latches from being disengaged from said protrusion.

6. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member and said outer magnetic cleaner member each includes a cleaning member attached thereto, for shielding said first and said second and said at least one third magnetic element respectively, and for engaging onto and for cleaning the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces of the aquarium.

7. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first block of said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member includes a scraper attached thereto.

8. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first block of said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member includes a brush attached thereto.

9. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first block of said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member includes at least one sucker element attached thereto, for securing said first block onto the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium.

10. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein a second block of said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member includes at least one sucker element attached thereto, for securing said second block onto the inner peripheral surface of the aquarium.

11. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said blocks of said inner magnetic cleaner member includes a rounded outer flange for allowing said blocks to be easily folded relative to each other.

12. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer magnetic cleaner member includes two blocks rotatably secured together with a pivot device, to allow said blocks to be rotated or folded relative to each other.

13. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one third magnetic element is attached to a first block of said blocks of said outer magnetic cleaner member, and said outer magnetic cleaner member includes a fourth magnetic element attached to a second block of said blocks of said outer magnetic cleaner member.

14. The magnetic cleaning assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first block includes a handle extended therefrom, for moving said outer magnetic cleaner member along the outer peripheral surface of the aquarium.