Aquarium filter arrangement with vibration isolation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023211264-A1
Application number	US-202318117701-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2023
Priority date	Nov 21, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A filter arrangement for an aquarium is disclosed. The filter arrangement can include a filter housing assembly, a pump assembly, and a transfer tube assembly. In one aspect, the housing assembly and the pump assembly are separately constructed assemblies that are connected to each other via a first dampening member to prevent vibration and sound from being transmitted from the pump assembly to the filter housing assembly. The filter arrangement can further include a second dampening member connecting the pump assembly with the transfer tube assembly to further prevent vibration and sound from being transmitted from the pump assembly to the filter housing assembly. A third dampening member can be provided at a location where the transfer tube assembly is supported within the filter housing assembly to further isolate vibration and sound from being transmitted from the pump assembly to the filter housing assembly via the transfer tube assembly.

First claim

1 . A method for dampening sound and vibration in a filter arrangement for an aquarium, the filter arrangement including,
a housing assembly having a filter housing defining an interior volume within which a filter cartridge is disposed; a pump assembly including a pump disposed within a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet; the method comprising:
(i) connecting the filter housing is to the pump housing using an elastomeric dampening member; wherein the elastomeric dampening member includes one or more openings for receiving attachment features of one or both of the housing assembly or the pump assembly.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric dampening member has a durometer in the range of between 30 and 90 on an A-scale, inclusive.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting the filter housing to the pump housing includes using a plurality of elastomeric dampening members.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the attachment features include a plurality of support arms extending into the dampening member openings.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the filter housing to the pump housing includes directly connecting the elastomeric dampening member to a first component associated to the filter housing, and directly connecting the elastomeric dampening member to a second component associated with the pump assembly.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the filter housing to the pump housing includes directly connecting the elastomeric dampening member to the filter housing.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the filter housing to the pump housing includes directly connecting the elastomeric dampening member to the pump housing.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising a transfer tube assembly operably connected to the pump assembly; and
the method further includes using a second elastomeric dampening member to couple the transfer tube assembly to the pump assembly.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second dampening member is configured as a tubular structure.

10 . A method for dampening sound and vibration in a filter arrangement for an aquarium, the filter arrangement comprising a housing assembly including a filter housing defining an interior volume within which a filter cartridge is disposed; a pump assembly including a pump disposed within a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet;
the method comprising: connecting the filter housing to the pump housing using an elastomeric dampening member; the elastomeric dampening member being directly connected to a first component associated to the filter housing and to a second component associated with the pump assembly.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first component is a mounting member fastened to the filter housing and the second component is a cover member secured to the pump housing.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the elastomeric dampening member has a durometer in the range of between 30 and 90 on an A-scale, inclusive.

13 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of connecting the filter housing to the pump housing includes using a plurality of elastomeric dampening members.

14 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of connecting the filter housing to the pump housing includes using a single elastomeric dampening member.

15 . A method for dampening sound and vibration in a filter arrangement for an aquarium, the filter arrangement including a housing assembly having a filter housing defining an interior volume within which a filter cartridge is disposed; a pump assembly including a pump disposed within a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet; a transfer tube assembly operably connected to the pump assembly; the transfer tube assembly including a tube structure extending into the filter housing; the method comprising:
(a) connecting the filter housing to the pump housing using an elastomeric dampening member; (b) coupling the pump assembly to the transfer tube assembly with a second elastomeric dampening member; and (c) supporting the tube structure into the filter housing using a third elastomeric dampening member.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of supporting the tube structure into the filter housing using the third elastomeric dampening member includes using a pair of rounded support members received into a recessed area of the filter housing.

Assignees

• Spectrum Brands Inc

Inventors

• Himes William D
• Brunner William Nathan
• Shumate John
• Newman Daniel Anderson
• Huehn Donald Barry

Classifications

• A01K63/047

  Liquid pumps for aquaria (air pumps for aquaria A01K63/042) · CPC title

• A01K63/045 Primary

  Filters for aquaria · CPC title

• B01D35/157 Primary

  Flow control valves: Damping or calibrated passages · CPC title

• B01D35/26

  Filters with built-in pumps {filters provided with a pump mounted in or on the casing (aquarium pumps or filters A01K63/04)} · CPC title

• B01D2201/16

  Valves · CPC title