Stick-on aquarium thermometers and the like

• US 5,304,003 A
• Filed: 06/23/1993
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willinger Bros., Inc. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Willinger Bros., Inc. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Winninger, Allan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US08/081,652
• Time in Patent Office: 300 Days
• Field of Search: 374/150, 374/162, 374/208
• US Class Current: 374/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/06 Arrangements for facilitating reading, e.g. illumination, magnifying glass

Abstract

An aquarium stick-on liquid crystal thermometer with visual temperature indicator to be viewed through a first wall of an aquarium and including a transparent layer of adhesive over the temperature indicator for attaching the visual material in airtight connection to the exterior of a second wall of the aquarium. The temperature indicators are then viewed through the aquarium water and the aquarium walls. Because of the airtight coupling of the thermometer, the temperature indicators appear clear, bright and distinct when viewed.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal thermometer for use in an aquarium, the aquarium having at least a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, and a side wall portion, with water therebetween, the thermometer comprising:

a front and rear face with visual material on the front face for viewing through the aquarium; and

a transparent wetting material over the front face of the thermometer and covering the visual material, so that the thermometer may be secured to the exterior of the rear or side wall of the aquarium with the visual material directed to the interior of the aquarium, said wetting material forming a substantially airtight coupling to the rear or side wall portions so that the visual material may be clearly viewed through the front of the aquarium and through the aquarium water.

2. A liquid crystal thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said wetting material is an adhesive layer.

3. The liquid crystal thermometer according to claim 2, wherein:

said liquid crystal thermometer is a stick-on thermometer and said visual material is temperature indications to be viewed through the aquarium.

4. The liquid crystal thermometer according to claim 3, and further comprising a removable cover over the adhesive layer.

5. The liquid crystal thermometer according to claim 4, and further comprising an insulating layer adhered to the rear face over the thermometer.

6. The liquid crystal thermometer according to claim 4 and further comprising an adhesive layer over the rear face of the thermometer, a removable cover over the adhesive layer on the rear face of the thermometer, and wherein the removable cover over the adhesive layer on the front face is transparent.

7. A stick-on liquid crystal aquarium thermometer for viewing through a front wall of an aquarium, comprising:

a liquid crystal thermometer having a front face and a rear face, said front face having visual indications of temperature;

a transparent adhesive layer means on the front face of the thermometer and covering the visual indications for adhesively attaching the thermometer to the exterior of a rear or side wall of the aquarium in an airtight coupling with the front face directed toward the interior of the aquarium; and

a removable cover over the adhesive layer means, which cover is removed to expose the adhesive for attachment to the aquarium.

8. A stick-on thermometer according to claim 7, and further comprising:

an insulating layer on the rear face of the thermometer to protect against ambient temperatures and drafts affecting the temperature readings.

9. A stick-on thermometer according to claim 7, and further comprising:

an adhesive layer on the rear face of the thermometer for alternatively adhesively attaching the thermometer to the exterior of the front wall of the aquarium for direct viewing of the thermometer;

a removable cover over the adhesive layer on the rear face, which cover is removed to expose the adhesive for attachment to the aquarium with the front face directed away from the aquarium; and

wherein said cover over the adhesive means on the front face of the thermometer is transparent.