Nancy C Stone

US Patent:

54389593, Aug 8, 1995

Filed:

Sep 12, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/304268

Inventors:

Ray Stone - San Jose CA
Nancy Stone - San Jose CA
Terry Hoppins - San Jose CA

International Classification:

A01K 6300

US Classification:

119248

Abstract:

An aquarium includes a water tank received in a picture-frame-shaped housing suitable for either mounting on a wall or being supported on a stand. The housing includes a hidden storage space for neatly storing an air pump. A vertical sheet or partition extending between the sides of the tank divides the tank into a full-width, but relatively thin and flat, bubble conduit behind the partition for carrying air bubbles, and a habitation compartment in from of it for keeping fish. The lower edge of the partition is spaced above the bottom of the tank to form a gap or water intake, and the upper edge of the partition is spaced below the water line to form a water return. An elongated air diffuser substantially extends between the side edges of the bubble conduit near its bottom. When supplied air by the pump, the diffuser emits a wide sheet of air bubbles that rise upwardly through the bubble conduit to aerate the water. The rapidly rising air bubbles also create an upwardly moving water current in the bubble conduit that circulates water from the habitation compartment, through an under-gravel filter positioned at the bottom thereof, through the intake under the partition, up the bubble conduit, and back into the habitation compartment.