Aquarium

Abstract

Aquarium (1) with a liquid-tight container (2) which has a container base (3), a front wall (4), a back wall (6) and two upright side walls (8.1, 8.2) comprising, which are connected to each other in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the container (2) is designed to receive soil (10), in particular gravel, sand and nutrients, which can be filled into the container (2) and which covers the bottom of the container (3) as a fill with a predetermined height (H), characterized in that the front wall (4) comprises a first transparent wall section (4a) arranged vertically with a lower longitudinal edge (12) extending at a distance (A) from the bottom of the container (3) and a second wall section (4b) adjoining the first wall section (4a), extending from the lower longitudinal edge (12) towards the bottom of the container (3) and inclined at an angle (α) to the bottom of the container (3), which is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the first wall section (4a) as well as to the bottom of the container (3) and the adjacent side walls (8.1, 8.2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an aquarium according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Aquariums for fish and plants are well known in the art and usually have a cuboid or cubic container made of glass, which comprises a container base and four side walls arranged upright on this base, which are connected to each other and to the container base in a liquid-tight manner.

[0003] In freshwater aquariums, a substrate several centimeters deep, consisting of nutrient substrate plus gravel or sand, is usually placed into the tank as a nutrient medium for plants. Various objects such as stones, roots, and branches can be arranged on top of this substrate to provide a suitable habitat for the animals and plants and offer the viewer a visually appealing glimpse into the underwater world. In saltwater aquariums, a substrate several centimeters deep, consisting of calcareous gravel, marble gravel, dolomite gravel, coral rubble, or shell rubble, is placed on top of which stones, rock formations, and corals, for example, can be placed.

[0004] The problem with aquariums is that the several centimetres high gravel layer appears to the viewer to be a sectional view due to the front wall being positioned at a right angle to the base plate, which considerably diminishes the visual impression of a natural underwater world. Furthermore, this design encourages an increased build-up of contaminants on the front wall below the top of the gravel or sand layer, which can form, for example, through the natural decomposition of dead biological material and the growth of green, brown or red algae. This requires more frequent cleaning of the inside of the front panel in this area, which in turn requires the corresponding removal or replacement of the gravel or sand layer, at least in the area of ​​the front wall.

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aquarium which provides a more natural visual appearance to the viewer and which requires reduced cleaning effort.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by an aquarium having the features of claim 1.

[0007] Further features of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

[0008] The invention is described below with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 a schematic spatial side view of an empty aquarium, Fig. 2 a schematic spatial side view of an aquarium filled with substrate up to a height H, and Fig. 3 a further embodiment of the aquarium, in which the side walls are also provided with an inclined second side wall section.

[0009] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, an aquarium 1 comprises a liquid-tight, preferably cuboid or cubic container 2, which has a container bottom 3, a front wall 4, a rear wall 6, and two upright side walls 8.1, 8.2, which are connected to one another in a liquid-tight manner, for example by bonding with silicone or by another suitable adhesive or kit. The container 2 is, as shown in Fig. 2, is designed to receive so-called substrate 10, which consists in particular of nutrient substrate, gravel or sand and in freshwater aquariums usually also preferably contains nutrients, the latter being used, for example, as a food source for Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, which can be embedded in the substrate. The substrate 10 covers the container bottom 3 as a fill with a predetermined height H, which, depending on the size of the aquarium 1, can be, for example, 2-5 cm.

[0010] The aquarium 1 according to the invention is characterized in that the front wall 4 has a vertically arranged first transparent wall section 4a, which serves as a viewing window through which the plants and animals as well as any objects accommodated in the aquarium 1, such as stones, roots, branches, shells and corals, can be observed.

[0011] The first wall section 4a of the front wall 4 is preferably rectangular or square in front view and has a preferably horizontally extending lower longitudinal edge 12, which is arranged at a clear distance A from the container bottom 3. The longitudinal edge 12 advantageously determines the height up to which the substrate 10 can be filled into the container 2 as bulk material.

[0012] As the representation of the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 can still be removed, the front wall 4 comprises a second wall section 4b, which adjoins the first wall section 4a at the level of the lower longitudinal edge 12 and from there runs inclined downwards towards the container bottom 3, to which it is connected in a liquid-tight manner at a front longitudinal edge 5 of the container bottom 3.

[0013] According to the invention, the second wall section 4b of the front wall is arranged at an angle α relative to the tank base 3. This results in the second wall section 4b, which is preferably designed as a flat strip, extending downwards or backwards away from the viewer when viewing the aquarium 1 and is thus excluded from the actively viewed viewing area. This creates the optical effect that the aquarium appears to float above the surface on which the tank base 3 rests, since, in particular, the substrate 10 adjacent to the second wall section 4b is not actively perceived by the viewer.

[0014] The first wall section 4a is connected to the second wall section 4b as well as to the adjacent upright side walls 8.1, 8.2 using a suitable adhesive or kit, as is commonly used to join the glass walls of aquariums. The side walls 8.1 and 8.2 have a recess in the front area of ​​the container 2, which is preferably adapted to the course of the inclined arrangement of the strip-shaped second wall section 4b, so that a continuous free space is created below the lower longitudinal edge 12. In other words, the two side walls 8.1 and 8.2 in the area of ​​the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 are beveled relative to the bottom edge of the respective side wall 8.1, 8.2 at an angle that corresponds to the angle of inclination α of the second wall section 4b relative to the plane of the container bottom 3.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle of inclination α, by which the second wall section 4b originating at the tank bottom 3 is inclined relative to the surface of the tank bottom 3, lies in a range between 20° and 70°, and is preferably 30° and 60°, particularly preferably 45°. This results in the optical impression of a floating underwater world, characteristic of the aquarium 1 according to the invention, across a large solid angle range at which an observer views the front wall of the aquarium.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clear distance A between the lower longitudinal edge 12 of the first wall section 4a of the front wall 4 and the underside of the container base 3 is advantageously 6% - 30%, preferably 8% - 20% and particularly preferably 16% of the total height of the liquid-tight container 2, which is determined by the height of the side walls 8.1, 8.2 and their upper edge. The latter runs, as shown in the Fig. 1-3, preferably horizontally, and is at the same height as the upper edge of the front wall 4 and preferably also the rear wall 6.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the container 2 has a total height of 35 cm, and the clear distance A between the underside of the container base 3 and the lower longitudinal edge 12 of the first wall section 4a is preferably 3 - 7 cm and particularly preferably approximately 5.5 cm.

[0018] According to a further concept underlying the invention, the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 is colored or solid-colored, or alternatively provided with a colored or translucent coating, or covered with a film. In this case, it is advantageous, particularly for aquariums set up in dimly lit, dark rooms, if the second wall section is colored or coated in a dark or even black color. This means that the wedge-shaped layer of gravel extending from the front wall 4, or generally the substrate 10, is almost completely hidden from the observer, which significantly reinforces the visual impression of a floating floor, particularly in an illuminated aquarium interior.Particularly advantageously, the outside of the second wall section 4b is covered with a black film, which can be inexpensively glued to the outside of the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 after the container 2 has been assembled. The use of adhesive films offers the further advantage that they can also be easily removed and replaced with a new or differently colored film, which, for example, has the color of the surface on which the aquarium 1 is placed. According to a further alternative embodiment, it can also be provided that the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 is provided with a reflective film or coating, which has the advantage that the outside of the second wall section 4b has the same color as the surface for the observer, which further supports the spatial impression of a "floating" aquarium.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the front wall 4 and the side walls 8.1, 8.2, and preferably also the container base 3 and the rear wall 6, are made of glass, and the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 is made of solid-colored or coated glass, plastic, or metal. Alternatively, the front wall 4 and the side walls 8.1, 8.2, and preferably also the container base 3 and the rear wall 6, can be made of transparent plastic, in particular acrylic glass, and the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 can be formed of solid-colored or coated plastic, glass, or metal.

[0020] According to a further embodiment of the invention, in which the optical impression of a "floating" aquarium 1 also arises when looking at the side walls thereof, each of the side walls 8.1, 8.2 of the container 2 comprises, in the same way as the front wall 4, a first transparent side wall section 8.1a, 8.2a with a lower longitudinal edge 12 running at a distance A from the container bottom 3 and a preferably opaque or translucent second side wall section 8.1b, 8.2b adjoining this, running from the lower longitudinal edge of the first transparent side wall section 8.1a, 8.2a towards the container bottom 3, which is preferably inclined at the same angle to the plane of the container bottom 3 and has the same color / coloring.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous if the second wall section 4b of the front wall 4 and the second side wall sections 8.1b, 8.2b of the side walls 8.1, 8.2 have the same clear height H and preferably also color, such that a continuous, uniform second wall section is obtained running around the two side walls 8.1, 8.2 and the front wall 4.

[0022] The invention further relates to an aquarium 1 designed as described above, in which the container 2 is filled with the substrate 10 up to a height H which essentially corresponds to the clear distance A between the container bottom 3 and the lower longitudinal edge 12 of the first transparent wall section 4a of the front wall 4. This results in the advantage that only the tip of the substrate 10, which widens backwards in a wedge shape from the front wall 4, is directly visible from the front side, but not the remaining rear part of the substrate layer 10, which covers the generally horizontally running container bottom 3.

[0023] In order to keep production costs as low as possible in the last-described embodiment, the rear wall 6 of the container 2 is preferably designed as a single piece in the conventional manner, comprising only a continuous, flat wall section. These sections can accommodate receiving devices and compartments (not shown in detail) for pumps, filters, heating devices, lighting devices, or feed containers. List of reference symbols 1 aquarium 2 liquid-tight containers 3 Container bottom 4 front wall 4a first wall section of the front wall 4b second wall section of the front wall 5 front longitudinal edge of the container bottom 6 Rear wall 8.1 first side wall 8.2 second side wall 8.1a first transparent side wall section of the first side wall 8.2a first transparent side wall section of the second side wall 8.1b second opaque side wall section of the first side wall 8.2b second opaque side wall section of the second side wall 10 Substrate / Gravel / Sand 12 lower longitudinal edge of the first wall section A clear distance between the container bottom and the lower longitudinal edge H Height of the filling above the container bottom α Angle between the surface of the container bottom and the second wall section

Claims

[1] Aquarium (1) with a liquid-tight container (2) which comprises a container bottom (3), a front wall (4), a rear wall (6) and two upright side walls (8.1, 8.2) which are connected to one another in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the container (2) is designed to receive substrate (10), in particular gravel, sand and nutrients, which can be filled into the container (2) and which covers the container bottom (3) as a fill with a predetermined height (H), characterized bythat the front wall (4) comprises a first transparent wall section (4a) arranged upright with a lower longitudinal edge (12) running at a distance (A) from the container base (3) and a second wall section (4b) adjoining the latter, running from the lower longitudinal edge (12) towards the container base (3) and inclined at an angle (α) with respect to the container base (3), which is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the first wall section (4a) and to the container base (3) and the adjacent side walls (8.1, 8.2). [2] Aquarium according to claim 1, characterized by that the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4) originates at the container bottom (3) and is arranged inclined at an angle (α) of 20 - 70°, preferably 30 - 60°, particularly preferably 45°, relative to the surface of the container bottom (3). [3] Aquarium according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the clear distance (A) between the lower longitudinal edge (12) of the first wall section (4a) of the front wall (4) and the underside of the container base (3) is 6% - 30%, preferably 8 - 20%, and particularly preferably 16% of the total height of the liquid-tight container (2). [4] Aquarium according to claim 3, characterized by that the container (2) has a total height of 35 cm, and that the clear distance (A) between the underside of the container base (3) and the lower longitudinal edge (12) of the second wall section (4b) is preferably 3 - 7 cm and particularly preferably approximately 5.5 cm. [5] Aquarium according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4) is colored or colored throughout, or that the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4) is provided with a colored or translucent or reflective coating, preferably a colored film, particularly preferably a black film, which is glued to the outside of the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4). [6] Aquarium according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the front wall (4) and the side walls (8.1, 8.2) and preferably also the container base (3) and the rear wall (6) are made of glass, and that the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4) is made of solid-colored or coated glass, plastic or metal, or that the front wall (4) and the side walls (8.1, 8.2) and preferably also the container base (3) and the rear wall (6) are made of transparent plastic, in particular acrylic glass, and that the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4) is formed from solid-colored or coated plastic, glass or metal. [7] Aquarium according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat each of the side walls (8.1, 8.2) of the container (2) comprises, in the same way as the front wall (4), a first transparent side wall section (8.1a, 8.2a) with a lower longitudinal edge (12) running at a distance (A) from the container base (3), and a preferably opaque or translucent second side wall section (8.1b, 8.2b) adjoining the first transparent side wall section (8.1a, 8.2a) and running from the lower longitudinal edge (12) of the first transparent side wall section (8.1a, 8.2a) towards the container base 3, which second side wall section is inclined at an angle to the plane of the container base (3) which is preferably the same size as the angle α. [8] Aquarium according to claim 7, characterized bythat the second wall section (4b) of the front wall (4) and the second side wall sections (8.1b, 8.2b) of the side walls (8.1, 8.2) have the same clear height (A) and color as the wall section (4b) of the front wall (4), such that a continuous second wall section is created running around the two side walls (8.1, 8.2) and the front wall (4). [9] Aquarium according to one of the preceding claims, which is filled with water and substrate (10), characterized by that the container (2) is filled with the base (10) up to a height (H) which essentially corresponds to the clear distance (A) between the container base (3) and the lower longitudinal edge (12) of the first transparent wall section (4a) of the front wall (4). [10] Aquarium according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the rear wall (6) of the container (2) is conventionally designed and has only a flat, continuous wall section.

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