Patent
Device for cleaning aquariums
| العنوان: | Device for cleaning aquariums |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 9,326,492 |
| تاريخ النشر: | May 03, 2016 |
| Appl. No: | 13/465442 |
| Application Filed: | May 07, 2012 |
| مستخلص: | A cleaning device for aquariums comprises a water-tight enclosure configured to be submerged under water and a water pump comprising an inlet for receiving water and an outlet pipe for expelling water. The outlet pipe comprises a central axis. A power source is disposed within the water-tight enclosure for powering the water pump. An adjustable nozzle comprises a nozzle outlet in fluid communication with the outlet pipe, and the adjustable nozzle is configured to be rotated about the central axis of the outlet pipe to selectively adjust a position of the nozzle outlet. In one example, water volume flow or water velocity flow expelled from the nozzle outlet can be selectively adjusted via rotational adjustment of the adjustable nozzle relative to the outlet pipe. |
| Inventors: | Rantala, Seppo J. (Chesterland, OH, US); Wellman, Raymond Robert (Sarasota, FL, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A cleaning device for aquariums, comprising: a water-tight enclosure configured to be submerged under water; a water pump comprising an inlet for receiving water and an outlet pipe for expelling water, wherein the outlet pipe comprises a central axis and at least two holes extending through a sidewall of the outlet pipe, and wherein said at least two holes are angularly displaced from each other about the central axis of the outlet pipe; a power source disposed within the water-tight enclosure for powering the water pump; and an adjustable nozzle comprising an interior wall surrounding the sidewall of the outlet pipe, the interior wall having a single opening coaxial with a nozzle outlet in fluid communication with the outlet pipe, wherein the adjustable nozzle is configured to be rotated about the central axis of the outlet pipe to selectively adjust a rotational position of the nozzle outlet with respect to the at least two holes of the outlet pipe, wherein a relative maximum water volume flow or water velocity flow is discharged out of the nozzle outlet of the adjustable nozzle when one of the at least two holes is arranged substantially coaxial with a nozzle axis of the nozzle outlet, wherein a relative minimum water volume flow or water velocity flow is discharged out of the nozzle outlet of the adjustable nozzle when the nozzle outlet is rotated to a position between the at least two holes such that substantially an entire cross-sectional area of both of the at least two holes is covered and obscured by the interior wall, and wherein water volume flow or water velocity flow expelled from the nozzle outlet is selectively increased or decreased to an intermediate amount, relative to the minimum and maximum, by rotating the nozzle outlet relative to the at least two holes of the outlet pipe to thereby selectively cover or uncover the cross-sectional area of the at least two holes with the interior wall. |
| Claim: | 2. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable nozzle further comprises a top wall arranged to generally seal and close off a top opening of the outlet pipe such that the water is forced to be discharged through the at least one hole in the sidewall of the outlet pipe. |
| Claim: | 3. A cleaning device for aquariums, comprising: a water-tight enclosure configured to be submerged under water; a water pump comprising an inlet for receiving water and an outlet pipe for expelling water, wherein the outlet pipe comprises a top opening, a central axis and at least one hole extending through a sidewall of the outlet pipe; a power source disposed entirely within the water-tight enclosure for powering the water pump; and an adjustable nozzle comprising an interior wall, a top wall, and a nozzle outlet in fluid communication with the outlet pipe and configured to be rotated about the central axis of the outlet pipe to selectively adjust a position of the nozzle outlet, further comprising a circumferential channel disposed between a periphery of the outlet pipe and the interior wall of the adjustable nozzle, and in fluid communication with the at least one hole of the outlet pipe, wherein the top wall of the adjustable nozzle is arranged to generally seal and close off the top opening of the outlet pipe such that the water is forced to be discharged through the at least one hole in the sidewall of the outlet pipe, wherein water volume flow or water velocity flow expelled from the nozzle outlet is selectively increased or decreased by selectively covering or uncovering the at least one hole with the interior wall via rotation of the adjustable nozzle relative to the outlet pipe, and wherein a relative minimum, greater than zero, water volume flow or water velocity flow can be discharged out of the nozzle outlet via the at least one hole of the outlet pipe and the circumferential channel when substantially an entire cross-sectional area of said at least one hole is covered and obscured by the interior wall of the adjustable nozzle. |
| Claim: | 4. The cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein water volume flow or water velocity flow of the water discharged from the nozzle outlet is relatively increased when the at least one hole is relatively uncovered by the interior wall of the adjustable nozzle. |
| Claim: | 5. The cleaning device of claim 4 , wherein a relative maximum water volume flow or water velocity flow is discharged out of the adjustable nozzle when the at least one hole is arranged generally coaxial with a nozzle axis of the nozzle outlet. |
| Claim: | 6. The cleaning device of claim 3 , further comprising a flexible extension hose configured to replace the adjustable nozzle and be removably coupled to the outlet pipe of the pump to direct pumped water to a desired distant location. |
| Patent References Cited: | 282801 March 1958 Lambertson 4078727 March 1978 Lingnau 4094031 June 1978 Cellini 4552515 November 1985 Endo 4589982 May 1986 Willinger 4725353 February 1988 Whitman 5094591 March 1992 Whitley, II et al. 5135647 August 1992 Childers 5542142 August 1996 Young 6019891 February 2000 Stoner 6447261 September 2002 McCook 6749134 June 2004 Arenson et al. 7178188 February 2007 Jaakola 2007/0017558 January 2007 Walton 2007/0289907 December 2007 VanHulzen |
| Other References: | Waterbuster Portable Power Pump, Attwood Corporation, Sep. 2004. cited by applicant |
| Assistant Examiner: | Bell, Spencer |
| Primary Examiner: | Ko, Jason |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Pearne & Gordon LLP |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.09326492 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |