Aquarium cleaner

• US 20060174840A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oceanetics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oceanetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Rafailovich, Milan H.
• Application Number:
  US11/335,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174840A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/264
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/10 Cleaning bottoms or walls of ponds or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/03 cleaning both sides of a window simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/09 for cleaning one side with access from the other side only

Abstract

Disclosed is an aquarium cleaning system that is configured to automatically and efficiently clean an aquarium. The cleaning system can be programmed to perform aquarium cleaning on a regular basis without requiring human intervention during the cleaning process. The cleaning system is configured to move along the side walls of the aquarium and clean the side walls during such movement.

Claims

1. An aquarium cleaning system, comprising:

an inner member adapted to be positioned adjacent an interior surface of a sidewall of the aquarium;

an outer member adapted to be positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the sidewall such that the sidewall is interposed between the inner and outer members;

an attachment mechanism that retains the inner member and the outer member in a fixed position relative to one another;

a cleaning member mounted on the inner member, wherein the cleaning member is adapted to clean the interior surface of the sidewall; and

a control system adapted to cause the inner and outer member to collectively move around the side wall of the aquarium such that the cleaning member cleans the interior surface of the side wall during such movement.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the outer member includes at least one wheel that enables the outer member to move along the sidewall.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the control system includes a drive motor coupled to at least one wheel, wherein the drive motor is energized to cause the wheel to rotate and move the inner and outer members along the side wall.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the control system includes means for programming an operating schedule for the cleaning system, wherein the operating schedule specifies at least one date and time in which the cleaning system should clean the aquarium.

5. A system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one navigational member that assists the cleaning system in navigating along the side wall.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the navigational member includes an upper limit switch mounted on an upper edge of the outer member, wherein the upper limit switch is configured to detect when the cleaning system is positioned at or near an upper edge of a side wall of the aquarium.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein the navigational member includes an lower limit switch mounted on an lower edge of the outer member, wherein the lower limit switch is configured to detect when the cleaning system is positioned at or near a lower edge of a side wall of the aquarium.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein the navigational member includes an corner switch mounted on a side edge of the outer member, wherein the corner switch is configured to detect when the cleaning system is positioned at or near a corner of a side wall of the aquarium.

9. A system as in claim 5, wherein the navigational member is located on the inner member and wherein the navigational member is adapted to detect the presence of an obstruction in a movement path of the cleaning system.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is removably attached to the inner member.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning member comprises a pad.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning member comprises a blade.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein multiple cleaning members are mounted on the inner member.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism uses a magnetic force to retain the inner member and the outer member in a fixed position relative to one another.

16. A method as in claim 14, further comprising causing the inner and outer members to move in a zig-zag manner along the side wall.

17. A method as in claim 14, wherein the inner member includes a cleaning member that contacts the side wall and cleans the side wall.

18. A method as in claim 14, wherein the outer member includes at least one wheel that facilitates movement along the sidewall.

15. A method of cleaning an aquarium, comprising:

mounting an inner member and an outer member of a cleaning system on an aquarium side wall such that the aquarium side wall is interposed between the inner member and outer member; and

energizing the cleaning system to cause the inner and outer members to collectively move around the side wall of the aquarium such that the inner member cleans the interior surface of the side wall during such movement.