Aquarium viewing window

• US 4,037,563 A
• Filed: 03/29/1976
• Issued: 07/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John M. Pflueger
• Original Assignee: John M. Pflueger
• Inventors: Hutcheson, William A., Pflueger, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chamblee, Hugh R.
• Application Number:
  US05/671,536
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 119/5, 114/66, 52/169, 52/208, 4/172, 4/172.14, 4/172.19
• US Class Current: 119/269
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/003 Aquaria; Terraria A01K63/04, A01K63/06 take precedence

Abstract

A viewing window structure for an aquarium tank and the like includes a removable water pressure resistive viewing panel which presents a substantially uniform water-tight face to the water side thereof. The window structure comprises supporting seat means embedded in a tank wall adapted to receive the water encountering viewing panel. A flange of the supporting seat means is operative to sealably confront the water side of the window panel and to provide a substantially flush water-tight seal. Pressure retaining frame means and supporting hardware are provided on the dry side of the window panel.

Claims

1. An aquarium tank viewing window having at least one fenestration comprisng:

a water pressure resistive transparent viewing panel having a dry side and an opposing water side;

flange means along the margin of said fenestration protruding inwardly in a common plane operative to confront said water side adjacent the margins of said viewing panel in a substantially flush fitting joint;

bar frame means operative to confront said dry side adjacent the margins of said viewing panels;

means supporting said bar frame against said dry side for maintaning a water-tight seal between said flange means and said water said;

means shrouding said bar frame means and said bar frame supporting means and a second viewing panel mounted in said shrouding means for protecting an area between said water pressure resistive viewing panel and said second viewing panel;

means hinging said shroud means to said fenestration for permitting ready access to said protected area; and

means for locking said shrouding means to said fenestration for preventing unauthorized access to said protected area.

2. A viewing window for an aquarium tank having at least one fenestration comprising:

a unitary water-pressure resistive transparent viewing panel having a viewing side and an opposing submersible side;

said panel being capable of bearing a substantial distributed pressure load on the surface of said submersible side and an equal opposing load along the periphery of said viewing side;

a lateral load bearing flange circumscribing the margin of said fenestration having one side confronting the periphery of said submersible side and an opposing side with a substantially uniformly smooth surface;

means interposed between said flange means and said submersible side periphery for sealing said fenestration to said viewing panel;

adjustable bracing means along said viewing side periphery for supporting said unitary viewing panel; and

means for urging said bracing means against said viewing side periphery thereby to maintain said sealing means in water-tight seal along said submersible side periphery.

3. An aquarium viewing window according to claim 2 wherein said flange means varies from a plane parallel to said viewing panel by less than 1/4-inch per four feet of panel surface linear dimension.

4. An aquarium viewing window according to claim 3 wherein said viewing panel is plexiglass.

5. An aquarium viewing window according to claim 3 wherein said flange means is substantially flush with and parallel to said submersible side for inhibiting accumulation of contaminants.

6. An aquarium viewing panel according to claim 5 further including a cushion gasket between said bracing means and said viewing side.

7. An aquarium tank viewing window according to claim 6 wherein said means for urging said bracing means against said viewing side periphery comprises a plurality of bolts compressible against said bracing means.

8. An aquarium tank viewing window according to claim 2 further comprising means for protecting said water pressure resistive viewing panel, said viewing panel protecting means comprising means for shrouding the periphery of said fenestration including said bracing means;

a second viewing panel mounted to said shrouding means for enclosing an area between said water pressure resistive panel said second viewing panel; and

hinge means mounting said viewing panel protecting means to said fenestration.

9. An aquarium tank viewing window according to claim 2 wherein said sealing means comprises a compression-type gasket seal.