The present disclosure relates generally to apparatuses for cleaning aquarium walls. In particular, magnetic rotating cleaning apparatuses for cleaning aquarium walls are described.
Known aquarium cleaning devices are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing magnetic cleaning devices include two magnetically paired structures with inner and outer surface cleaning pads in surface-to-surface contact with the inner and outer surfaces of an aquarium wall, respectively. The outer magnetic pair is moved by hand over the outer surface of the aquarium wall. Concurrently, the inner magnetic pair is slid over the inner surface of the aquarium wall.
The back and forth hand powered movement described above is insufficient for thorough cleaning of the inner surface wall, which often accumulates a sticky and/or thick layer of organic matter and other debris during normal usage. What's more, the hand powered movement is physically taxing on a user and requires physical exertion over a long period of time. In other words, the cleaning process is slow and requires a high degree of physical effort from the user. Further, conventional magnetic cleaning devices easily become unpaired (i.e., magnetic pairing is disrupted) during vigorous movement.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,109 to Rofen (hereinafter referred to as “Rofen”) is directed to a hand powered magnetically paired cleaning device for an aquarium wall. Rofen describes that magnetic pairs are easily disengaged and therefore a floatation device attached to the inner magnetic pair enables retrieval when magnetic pairing is disrupted. Evidently, vigorous and/or rapid movement of magnetically paired cleaning devices sufficient for cleaning of an inner surface of an aquarium wall is problematic. The complete disclosure of the above patent is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Thus, there exists a need for apparatuses for cleaning an aquarium wall that improve upon and advance the design of known devices and methods. Examples of new and useful apparatuses for cleaning an aquarium wall relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
The present disclosure is directed to magnetic rotating cleaning apparatuses for cleaning of an aquarium wall. A magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus includes a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly magnetically paired to the first magnetic assembly. An aquarium wall is disposed between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly such that an anti-friction pad of the first magnetic assembly contacts the outer surface of the aquarium wall and a scouring pad of the second magnetic assembly contacts the inner surface of the aquarium wall. A coupling mechanism selectively couples a rotation mechanism to the first magnetic assembly. The rotation mechanism is configured to drive rotation of the coupling mechanism, while rotation of the coupling mechanism drives rotation of the first magnetic assembly and rotation of the first magnetic assembly causes synchronistic rotation of the second magnetic assembly.
In some examples, the magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus includes specific features to maximize magnetic pairing between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly. In other examples, the magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus includes specific features to minimize friction between the anti-friction pad and the aquarium wall during operation.
The disclosed magnetic rotating cleaning apparatuses will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various magnetic rotating cleaning apparatuses are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
With reference to
The first magnetic assembly has an anti-friction pad 22 fixedly attached to one end so that the anti-friction pad contacts an outer aquarium wall surface 30. The anti-friction pad can be a soft and/or finely grained material that is suitable for reducing friction between the first magnetic assembly and the aquarium wall during rotation. Further, the anti-friction pad can include one or more openings that are configured to provide one or more open spaces between the first magnetic assembly and the aquarium wall. The one or more openings decrease the surface area of the anti-friction pad which makes surface-to-surface contact with the aquarium wall, thereby further reducing friction and/or heat during operation of the magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus. Furthermore, the one or more spaces collect surface debris and/or acrylic particles that can accumulate during operation of the magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus and potentially increase friction.
The second magnetic assembly has a scouring pad 24 fixedly attached to one end so that the scouring pad contacts an inner aquarium wall surface 32. The scouring pad can be made of a rougher and/or more porous material than the material comprising the anti-friction pad. In other words, the scouring pad is more abrasive than the anti-friction pad.
In a second example, shown in
Functionally, for operation of the first and second example magnetic rotating cleaning apparatuses, the rotation mechanism (e.g., an electric drill) is activated by a user. The rotation mechanism drives rotation of the coupling mechanism and rotation of the coupling mechanism drives rotation of the first magnetic assembly. Because the first magnetic assembly is magnetically paired to the second magnetic assembly, rotation of the first magnetic assembly causes synchronistic rotation of the second magnetic assembly.
The scouring pad is then rotated at a high speed (a speed that is greater than rotation by hand) over the inner surface of the aquarium wall. The user merely has to operate the drill and move it over the surface of the aquarium. The arrangement of magnetically attractable elements allows for the first magnetic assembly to remain magnetically paired to the second magnetic assembly during operation. The features provided to reduce friction allow the first magnetic assembly to rotate quickly without damaging the outer surface of the aquarium wall and/or the cleaning apparatus itself. Thus, the presently described magnetic rotating cleaning apparatuses function to more effectively and quickly remove organic matter and/or other debris from the inner surface of the aquarium wall than known aquarium cleaning devices, while requiring less physical exertion from a user.
As can be seen in
Magnetically paired to first magnetic assembly 12 is second magnetic assembly 14. Second magnetic assembly 14 is disposed on inner aquarium wall surface 32. Second magnetic assembly 14 includes a second assembly main body 36, a plurality of magnetically attractable elements 28, and scouring pad 24. Scouring pad 24 is disposed between second assembly main body 36 and aquarium wall 20, making surface-to-surface contact with inner aquarium wall surface 32. The second assembly main body may be comprised of a stiff material (e.g., resin, wood, metal, etc.).
In this example, plurality of magnetically attractable elements 26 and plurality of magnetically attractable elements 28 are each a plurality magnets. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the first and second magnetic assemblies may have a different arrangement of magnets (e.g., square arrangement, star arrangement, triangular arrangement, etc.), more or fewer magnets may be included (e.g., 1, 2, 3 . . . 7, 8, 9, etc.), and/or magnets may have different polarities on magnetically mating face of the first and second magnetic assemblies (e.g., all negative, all positive, etc.). In additional alternative embodiments, either of the first or the second plurality of magnetically attractable elements may be a magnetically attractable material or combination of materials that are not magnets (e.g., iron, steel, nickel, and/or other ferromagnetic materials). Further, the main body of either or both of the first and second magnetic assemblies may have other than a cylindrical shape (e.g., triangular prism, hexagonal prism, octagonal prism, etc.).
Returning to
The anti-friction pad can include one or more openings, such as opening 38 shown in
Further, a space disposed within opening 38 is configured to collect surface debris and/or acrylic particles. Accumulation of debris and/or acrylic particles onto the anti-frication pad could increase friction and heat. It is therefore advantageous that the majority of debris and/or acrylic particles collect in the space rather than accumulating on the anti-friction pad.
A third anti-friction pad 56 includes a plurality of openings 62. In this specific example, plurality of openings 62 includes ten openings with a space disposed within each opening, each of the openings being of a similar size and evenly distributed throughout the anti-friction pad. It will be appreciated that the plurality of openings may include more or fewer openings, the openings may be of differing sizes, and/or the openings may be unevenly distributed throughout the anti-friction pad.
Returning again to
As depicted in
In this example, drill bit 64 is permanently fixed within opening 66 in order to prevent wear of the opening over repeated use. Thus, the drill bit is an attachment portion (i.e., coupling member) of the first magnetic assembly. In other words, the drill bit and the first magnetic assembly are one piece. The first magnetic assembly may be molded around the drill bit. Alternatively, the drill bit may be fixed with an adhesive. In other embodiments, the drill bit may be selectively coupled to the opening. In these other embodiments, the drill bit is a separate piece from the first magnetic assembly.
An opposing end of the drill bit (i.e., an end opposing the portion of the drill bit fixedly attached within the opening in the first magnetic assembly) is exposed and extends away from the first magnetic assembly main body. The exposed end of the drill bit is a shank, which may be selectively coupled to a chunk of the drill.
In operation of magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus 10, the shank of the drill bit is selectively secured within the chunk of the drill. Operation of the drill drives rotation of the drill bit, and rotation of the drill bit drives rotation of the first magnetic assembly. As the first magnetic assembly is magnetically paired to the second magnetic assembly, rotation of the first magnetic assembly causes synchronistic rotation/movement of the second magnetic assembly.
Rotational movement of the scouring pad over the inner surface of the aquarium wall effectively removes organic matter and/or debris (i.e., cleans the inner surface of the aquarium wall). The arrangement of the magnetically attractive elements allows for the first and second magnetic assemblies to remain magnetically paired during rotation/movement that occurs while cleaning the aquarium wall. The configuration of the anti-friction pad combined the first magnetic assembly to move substantially smoothly over the aquarium wall without overheating.
Turning attention to
As can be seen in
The first magnetic assembly has an anti-friction pad (not specifically indicated) fixedly attached so that the anti-friction pad contacts an outer aquarium wall surface. The second magnetic assembly has a scouring pad (not specifically indicated) fixedly attached so that the scouring pad contacts an inner aquarium wall surface. The anti-friction pad and the scouring pad may include any of the features and/or embodiments described above in reference to anti-friction pad 22 and scouring pad 24.
Rotation mechanism 116 is selectively coupled to first magnetic assembly 112 via coupling mechanism 118. Coupling mechanism 118 may include the features described above in reference to coupling mechanism 18. As in the example described above, rotation mechanism 116 is an electric drill, but may alternatively be a hand powered rotation device.
Notably, rotation mechanism 116 includes a lubricant spraying mechanism 122 configured to spray a liquid lubricant 124 onto the outer surface of the aquarium wall 120. Lubricant spray mechanism 122 may be permanently or releasably attached to rotation mechanism 116. Lubricant spray mechanism 122 includes a liquid storage compartment 126 and a pumping mechanism 128. Lubricant spray mechanism 122 can be configured to automatically spray liquid lubricant 124 during operation of the electric drill. Alternatively, the lubricant spray mechanism may be configured to spray liquid lubricant via operation that is independent of operation of the electric drill.
The lubricant spray mechanism is configured to spray liquid lubricant onto the surface of the aquarium wall in the general location of where the first magnetic assembly contacts the aquarium wall. The liquid lubricant is provided to further reduce friction between the anti-friction pad and the aquarium wall during rotation. The liquid lubricant may be any liquid lubricant that can be sprayed through the lubricant spray mechanism and reduce friction between the anti-friction pad and the aquarium wall (e.g., water, diluted soap mixture, diluted viscous mixture, etc.).
In operation of magnetic rotating cleaning apparatus 110, one end of the coupling mechanism is selectively coupled to the drill and an opposite end is coupled to the first magnetic assembly. Operation of the drill drives rotation of the coupling mechanism, and rotation of the coupling mechanism drives rotation of the first magnetic assembly. Immediately before or during rotation, the lubricant spray mechanism sprays lubricant onto the outer surface of the aquarium wall generally in an area of where the first magnetic assembly contacts the aquarium wall.
As the first magnetic assembly is magnetically paired to the second magnetic assembly, rotation of the first magnetic assembly causes synchronistic rotation/movement of the second magnetic assembly. Rotational movement of the scouring pad over the inner surface of the aquarium wall effectively removes organic matter and/or debris (i.e., cleans the inner surface of the aquarium wall). The arrangement of the magnetically attractive elements allows for the first and second magnetic assemblies to remain paired during rotation/movement that occurs while cleaning the aquarium wall. The configuration of the anti-friction pad combined with the liquid lubricant allows the first magnetic assembly to move substantially smoothly over the aquarium wall without overheating.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.