Cover unit for aquarium and aquarium

Abstract

To reduce a labor required for open and close work of a lid of an aquarium.SOLUTION: A cover unit 20 includes: a frame 30 covering an upper part of an aquarium 10 and placed on the upper part of the aquarium 10; a lid 40 closing an opening 30a included in the frame 30; and a slide mechanism 50 slidably supporting the lid 40. The slide mechanism 50 has a first rail groove 37 and a second rail groove 38 formed in the frame 30, and a plurality of balls 60 rolling along the first rail groove 37 and the second rail groove 38. The slide mechanism 50 supports the lid 40 by the plurality of balls 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover unit for an aquarium and to an aquarium. [Background technology]

[0002] Display tanks for storing live seafood for sale are used in general retail fishmongers, restaurants, etc. Such display tanks are generally equipped with a lid that covers the opening at the top in order to prevent water from scattering and evaporating from the tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-057795 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The lid of the tank needs to be opened and closed (attached and detached) frequently each time live seafood is added or removed from the tank according to an order. If the tank is large, the lid also becomes large and heavy. For this reason, opening and closing the lid of the tank conventionally required a great deal of effort.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to reduce the effort required to open and close an aquarium lid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The cover unit for an aquarium disclosed herein is a cover unit for an aquarium equipped with a lid that covers an opening at the top of the aquarium, and includes a frame placed on top of the aquarium and a sliding mechanism that slidably supports the lid, and the sliding mechanism has a linear groove formed in the frame and a plurality of balls that roll along the groove, and the lid is supported by the plurality of balls.

[0007] The cover unit for an aquarium disclosed herein uses a sliding mechanism to slide the lid open and close, eliminating the need to remove and attach the lid when opening and closing the opening. Furthermore, the cover unit disclosed herein reduces the operating force required to open and close the lid by rolling the ball when the lid is slid. Therefore, the cover unit disclosed herein reduces the effort required to open and close the lid.

[0008] (2) In the cover unit according to the above-mentioned embodiment (1), it is preferable that the groove width of the groove is smaller than the diameter of the ball, and the ball contacts the edge portion at the upper end of the groove. In this case, the rolling resistance of the balls rolling along the grooves can be reduced, which makes it possible to slide the lid with less operating force, further reducing the effort required to open and close the lid.

[0009] (3) In the cover unit according to the above-described (1) or (2), the slide mechanism further includes a spacer that maintains the spacing between the plurality of balls in the direction in which the grooves are formed. With this configuration, the balls can be reliably rolled along the grooves.

[0010] (4) In the cover unit according to any one of the above embodiments (1) to (3), it is preferable that the lid includes a first lid and a second lid positioned lower than the first lid, and the slide mechanism includes a first slide mechanism that slidably supports the first lid and a second slide mechanism that slidably supports the second lid. In this case, by dividing the lid into two parts, the weight of the lid can be reduced, which makes it possible to slide the lid with a smaller operating force.

[0011] (5) In the cover unit according to the above embodiment (4), it is preferable that the plurality of balls include a first ball and a second ball having a smaller diameter than the first ball, and that the ball constituting the first slide mechanism is the first ball and the ball constituting the second slide mechanism is the second ball. In this case, the installation height of the second lid can be kept low, ensuring a sufficient gap between the first and second lids. This prevents the first and second lids from rubbing against each other when sliding the lids. This ensures that the operating force required to slide the lids can be reduced.

[0012] (6) It is preferable that the cover unit according to any one of the above aspects (1) to (5) further includes a cover member that covers the slide mechanism from above the lid. In this case, the balls that make up the slide mechanism can be made less visible from the outside, which improves the aesthetic appearance of the cover unit and reduces the possibility of the balls being removed.

[0013] (7) The aquarium disclosed herein is an aquarium equipped with a lid that covers an opening at the top, and includes a frame provided above the opening and a sliding mechanism that supports the lid so that it can slide relative to the frame. The sliding mechanism has a linear groove formed in the frame and a plurality of balls that roll along the groove, and the lid is supported by the plurality of balls.

[0014] The aquarium of the present disclosure allows the lid to be opened and closed by sliding it using a sliding mechanism, eliminating the need to remove and attach the lid when opening and closing the opening. Furthermore, the aquarium of the present disclosure reduces the operating force required to open and close the lid by rolling the ball when the lid is slid. Therefore, the aquarium of the present disclosure reduces the effort required to open and close the lid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present disclosure, the effort required to open and close the lid of the aquarium can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an aquarium to which a cover unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cover unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cover unit according to another embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the door stop members. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the cover members. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] [Aquarium and cover unit] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an aquarium to which a cover unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. FIG. 1 shows an aquarium 10 and a cover unit 20. The aquarium 10 shown in FIG. 1 is one embodiment of an aquarium to which the cover unit 20 according to the present disclosure is applied. The cover unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a cover unit for an aquarium according to the present disclosure. In the following description, the front-to-rear direction, left-to-right direction, and up-down direction of the aquarium 10 and the cover unit 20 are defined as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 , the aquarium 10 is a container (tank) having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a seal that allows it to store water. The aquarium 10 shown in this embodiment is used, for example, by storing water (seawater or freshwater) and live seafood inside. The aquarium 10 has four side panels 11 that form the front, rear, left, and right sides, and a bottom panel 12 that forms the bottom. The side panels 11 in this embodiment are made of, for example, acrylic panels, and are at least partially transparent. This allows live seafood stored inside the aquarium 10 to be viewed from the outside. Note that this embodiment illustrates an example in which the cover unit 20 is applied to an aquarium 10 used for displaying live seafood, but the aquarium to which the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure can be applied is not limited to this. The cover unit 20 of the present disclosure can also be applied to, for example, aquariums used for transporting live seafood.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the aquarium 10 has a mounting portion 13 at its upper end. The mounting portion 13 is made up of a plate-like member that extends from the upper end of each side panel 11 toward the inside of the aquarium 10. The upper surface of the mounting portion 13 is flat. The mounting portion 13 is used as a portion on which the cover unit 20 is placed. The mounting portion 13 may be a portion that is originally provided on the aquarium 10, or may be a portion that is added to the aquarium 10 in order to install the cover unit 20.

[0020] The water tank 10 has an opening 14 inside the mounting portion 13. Live fish and shellfish can be put in and taken out of the water tank 10 through the opening 14 formed in the top surface.

[0021] 1, the cover unit 20 is placed on the placement portion 13 and disposed above the opening 14. The cover unit 20 closes the opening 14. The cover unit 20 has a frame 30 and a lid 40.

[0022] The frame 30 is a rectangular resin member that forms the framework of the cover unit 20. The frame 30 has an opening 30a. The frame 30 supports the lid 40. The lid 40 covers the opening 14 of the aquarium 10 and the opening 30a of the frame 30. The frame 30 may be made of any material that does not rust or corrode, and may be made of metal (SUS), for example.

[0023] The lid 40 is composed of a plate-shaped member. In the cover unit 20 of this embodiment, the lid 40 is composed of an acrylic plate and is transparent. The lid 40 of this embodiment includes a first lid 41 and a second lid 42. In other words, the lid 40 is divided into the first lid 41 and the second lid 42. The first lid 41 covers approximately the right half of the opening 14, and the second lid 42 covers approximately the left half of the opening 14. The first lid 41 and the second lid 42 have an overlapping portion in the center of the opening 14 in the left-right direction in a plan view. Note that although the lid 40 of this embodiment is divided into two members, it may also be divided into three or more members. Note that the lid 40 may be made of a material other than an acrylic plate as long as it is not susceptible to rust or corrosion. Furthermore, the lid 40 does not have to be transparent.

[0024] The first lid 41 and the second lid 42 are supported by the frame 30 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. The first lid 41 and the second lid 42 have handles 43. A user can slide the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 in the left-right direction using the handles 43 as a handle. Note that, in the cover unit 20 of this embodiment, both the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 are configured to be openable and closable, but it is sufficient that at least one of them is openable and closable, and the other may be fixed to the frame 30.

[0025] The first lid 41 is positioned higher than the second lid 42. When the first lid 41 is slid to a position where it abuts against the right edge of the frame 30, it "closes" approximately the right half of the opening 14. The first lid 41 can be slid leftward from this position. The first lid 41 can be slid to a position where it abuts against the left edge of the frame 30. When the first lid 41 is slid leftward, the right portion of the opening 14 is opened.

[0026] When the second lid 42 is slid to a position where it abuts against the left edge of the frame 30, it "closes" approximately the left half of the opening 14. The second lid 42 can be slid to the right from this position. The second lid 42 can be slid to a position where it abuts against the right edge of the frame 30. When the second lid 42 is slid to the right, the left portion of the opening 14 is opened.

[0027] In this way, the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure makes it possible to easily open and close the opening 14 of the aquarium 10 without attaching or detaching the lid 40. Furthermore, with the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure, there is no need to secure space to store the removed lid.

[0028] [Cover unit detailed configuration] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cover unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cover unit 20 includes a frame 30, lids 40 (first lid 41 and second lid 42), balls 60, and spacers 70.

[0029] The frame 30 has an outer wall portion 31, a lid support portion 32, a first guide wall 33, and a second guide wall 34. The outer wall portion 31 is a wall portion formed at the outermost position in the left-right and front-rear directions of the frame 30, and extends in the up-down direction. The outer wall portion 31 is rectangular in plan view. The front and rear sides of the outer wall portion 31 function to regulate displacement of the first lid 41 in the front-rear direction and to guide the first lid 41 in the left-right direction. The left and right sides of the outer wall portion 31 function to regulate displacement of the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 in the left-right direction.

[0030] The first guide wall 33 is a wall formed inside the outer wall 31 and extends in the vertical direction. The height of the top of the first guide wall 33 is lower than the height of the top of the outer wall 31. The first guide wall 33 regulates the displacement of the second lid 42 in the front-to-rear direction and also serves to guide the second lid 42 in the left-to-right direction.

[0031] The second guide wall 34 is a wall portion formed further inward than the first guide wall 33 and extends in the vertical direction. The height of the top of the second guide wall 34 is lower than the height of the top of the first guide wall 33. The frame 30 has an opening 30a formed inward than the second guide wall 34.

[0032] The lid support portion 32 is a portion that supports the lid 40 and is located inside the outer wall portion 31 in a plan view. A pair of lid support portions 32 are provided on the front and rear sides. The lid support portion 32 has a first bottom surface 32a located between the outer wall portion 31 and the first guide wall 33, and a second bottom surface 32b located between the first guide wall 33 and the second guide wall 34. The second bottom surface 32b is located at a lower position than the first bottom surface 32a.

[0033] The frame 30 further includes a first guide groove 35. The first guide groove 35 is a groove portion surrounded by the outer wall portion 31, the first bottom surface 32a, and the first guide wall 33. The first guide groove 35 extends continuously across the entire left-right area of ​​the lid support portion 32. The first guide groove 35 accommodates a ball 60 and a spacer 70. The first guide groove 35 guides the spacer 70 along the formation direction of the first guide groove 35 (left-right direction). In the following description, the ball 60 accommodated in the first guide groove 35 will also be referred to as a first ball 61, and the spacer 70 accommodated in the first guide groove 35 will also be referred to as a first spacer 71. In this embodiment, the first ball 61 is a glass ball. The first spacer 71 in this embodiment is made of resin.

[0034] The frame 30 further includes a second guide groove 36. The second guide groove 36 is a groove portion surrounded by the first guide wall 33, the second bottom surface 32b, and the second guide wall 34. The second guide groove 36 extends continuously across the entire left-right area of ​​the lid support portion 32. The second guide groove 36 accommodates a ball 60 and a spacer 70. The second guide groove 36 guides the spacer 70 along the formation direction of the second guide groove 36 (left-right direction). The second guide groove 36 is formed below the first guide groove 35. In the following description, the ball 60 accommodated in the second guide groove 36 will also be referred to as a second ball 62, and the spacer 70 accommodated in the second guide groove 36 will also be referred to as a second spacer 72. In this embodiment, the second ball 62 is a glass ball. The second spacer 72 in this embodiment is made of resin.

[0035] Frame 30 further includes a first rail groove (groove) 37 formed in the bottom (first bottom surface 32a) of first guide groove 35. First rail groove 37 extends continuously across the entire left-right area of ​​first guide groove 35. First rail groove 37 guides multiple first balls 61 housed in first guide groove 35 in the left-right direction. First balls 61 roll on a straight line parallel to first rail groove 37, which is formed linearly. First rail groove 37 causes first balls 61 to roll along the formation direction of first rail groove 37 (left-right direction).

[0036] First rail groove 37 has a groove width smaller than the diameter of first ball 61, and contacts first ball 61 at edge portion 37a located at the upper end of first rail groove 37. With this configuration, cover unit 20 reduces contact resistance between first rail groove 37 and first ball 61. It is more preferable that first rail groove 37 has a groove width and groove depth that prevent first ball 61 from contacting the groove bottom.

[0037] The frame 30 further includes a second rail groove (groove) 38 formed in the bottom (second bottom surface 32b) of the second guide groove 36. The second rail groove 38 extends continuously across the entire left-right area of ​​the second guide groove 36. The second rail groove 38 guides the multiple second balls 62 housed in the second guide groove 36 in the left-right direction. The second balls 62 roll on a straight line parallel to the linearly formed second rail groove 38. The second rail groove 38 causes the second balls 62 to roll along the direction in which the second rail groove 38 is formed (the left-right direction).

[0038] The groove width of second rail groove 38 is smaller than the diameter of second ball 62, and second rail groove 38 contacts second ball 62 at edge portion 38a located at the upper end of second rail groove 38. With this configuration, cover unit 20 reduces contact resistance between second rail groove 38 and second ball 62. It is more preferable that second rail groove 38 have a groove width and groove depth that prevent second ball 62 from contacting the groove bottom.

[0039] The frame 30 further includes connecting portions 39 that connect the front and rear lid support portions 32. The connecting portions 39 are made of flat plate-shaped members and extend in the front-to-rear direction at positions adjacent to the inside of the left and right outer wall portions 31. The connecting portions 39 are located above the mounting portion 13 of the aquarium 10. The connecting portions 39 increase the rigidity of the frame 30 and also contribute to stably mounting the cover unit 20 on the mounting portion 13.

[0040] As described above, in the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure, the balls 60 include first balls 61 and second balls 62. In the lid support portion 32, the lid 40 (first lid 41 and second lid 42) is supported by a plurality of balls 60 (first balls 61 and second balls 62). This allows the lid 40 to be opened and closed with a small operating force by the balls 60 rolling. Note that in the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure, there are 12 first balls 61 and 12 second balls 62, but the number of balls 60 can be set appropriately taking into consideration the size of the frame 30 in the sliding direction of the lid 40, the weight of the lid 40, etc.

[0041] The cover unit 20 further includes a spacer 70. The spacer 70 holds the balls 60 rotatably while maintaining a constant distance between the balls 60. For example, without the spacer 70, the arrangement of the balls 60 may become uneven in the left-right direction, which may make it difficult to smoothly slide the lid 40.

[0042] As described above, the spacer 70 includes a first spacer 71 and a second spacer 72. The first spacer 71 has a width that is approximately equal to (but slightly smaller than) the width of the first guide groove 35 and is composed of a flat plate-like member extending in the longitudinal direction of the first guide groove 35. The second spacer 72 has a width that is approximately equal to (but slightly smaller than) the width of the second guide groove 36 and is composed of a flat plate-like member extending in the longitudinal direction of the second guide groove 36. The first spacer 71 and the second spacer 72 have multiple holes 73 for holding the balls 60. The diameter of the holes 73 is slightly larger than the diameter of the balls 60 to be accommodated therein. The length of the spacer 70 is shorter than the lengths of the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 36. The length of the portions of the first guide groove 35 and the second guide groove 36 where the spacer 70 is not present is approximately equal to the distance of left-right movement of each ball 60 (from its center point) when the lid 40 is displaced to the maximum extent in the left-right direction.

[0043] The first spacer 71 holds a plurality of (12 in this embodiment) first balls 61 at equal intervals aligned in a straight line along the first rail groove 37. The second spacer 72 holds a plurality of (12 in this embodiment) second balls 62 at equal intervals aligned in a straight line along the second rail groove 38. By including the spacer 70, the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure can reliably roll all of the balls 60, thereby reliably reducing the operating force required to open and close the lid 40.

[0044] In the cover unit 20, the first lid 41 is placed on a plurality of first balls 61 (12 in this embodiment) lined up along a pair of front and rear first rail grooves 37. The cover unit 20 supports the first lid 41 so that it can slide using the plurality of first balls 61. When the first lid 41 is displaced left and right in the cover unit 20, the first balls 61 roll left and right accordingly, and the first spacer 71 is displaced left and right. By supporting the first lid 41 using the first balls 61 that can roll left and right, the cover unit 20 allows the first lid 41 to slide left and right with a small operating force.

[0045] In the cover unit 20, the second lid 42 is placed on a plurality of second balls 62 (twelve in this embodiment) lined up along a pair of front and rear second rail grooves 38. The cover unit 20 slidably supports the second lid 42 with the plurality of second balls 62. When the second lid 42 is displaced left and right in the cover unit 20, the second balls 62 roll left and right accordingly, and the second spacer 72 is displaced left and right. By supporting the second lid 42 with the second balls 62 that can roll left and right, the cover unit 20 allows the second lid 42 to slide left and right with a small operating force.

[0046] The cover unit 20 of the present disclosure can be easily retrofitted to an existing aquarium by being made to fit the size of the existing aquarium.

[0047] [Slide mechanism] The cover unit 20 includes a slide mechanism 50 that slidably supports the lid 40. In the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure, the slide mechanism 50 includes a first slide mechanism 51 and a second slide mechanism 52. The first slide mechanism 51 is a mechanism that supports the first lid 41 so that it can slide in the left-right direction. The first slide mechanism 51 is configured to include at least a first guide groove 35, a first rail groove 37, a first ball 61, and a first spacer 71. The first slide mechanisms 51 are arranged in pairs, separated in the front-rear direction. The first lid 41 is slidable in the left-right direction by having its front and rear edges supported by the first slide mechanisms 51, respectively.

[0048] The second slide mechanism 52 is a mechanism that supports the second lid 42 so that it can slide in the left-right direction. The second slide mechanism 52 is configured to include at least the second guide groove 36, the second rail groove 38, the second ball 62, and the second spacer 72. The second slide mechanisms 52 are arranged in pairs, separated in the front-rear direction. The second lid 42 is able to slide in the left-right direction by having its front and rear edges supported by the second slide mechanisms 52, respectively.

[0049] In the cover unit 20 of this embodiment, the sliding direction of the lid 40 by the slide mechanism 50 may be the front-to-rear direction.

[0050] [Another embodiment of the cover unit 20] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cover unit according to another embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first ball 61 and the second ball 62 have the same diameter. In this case, the size of the gap between the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 is defined as distance D1. The resin lid 40 may bend under its own weight over time. The bent and drooping first lid 41 may come into contact with the second lid 42.

[0051] The cover unit 20 of the present disclosure preferably has the configuration shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, in the cover unit 20 according to another embodiment, the diameter of the second ball 62 is smaller than the diameter of the first ball 61. In this case, the height at which the second lid 42 is located in the vertical direction can be suppressed to be lower. Thereby, the size of the gap between the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 can be made a distance D2 larger than the distance D1 (D1 < D2). Therefore, when the cover unit 20 according to another embodiment is adopted, the drooping first lid 41 is less likely to come into contact with the second lid 42. As a result, the state in which the lid 40 can be opened and closed with a small operating force can be maintained for a longer period, and an increase in the labor required for opening and closing the lid 40 can be reliably suppressed.

[0052] The cover unit 20 shown in this embodiment is separate from the water tank 10 and separable from the water tank 10, but the water tank 10 and the cover unit 20 may be integrated (in other words, the cover unit 20 is a part of the water tank 10), and the water tank 10 and the cover unit 20 may be configured to be inseparable. The water tank 10 having the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure may be used not only for containing water and live fish and shellfish but also for breeding small animals such as mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

[0053] [Door stop member] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the door stop member. As shown in FIG. 5, the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure further includes a door stop member 80. The door stop member 80 is composed of a resin member having elasticity such as rubber or sponge. The door stop member 80 is provided at a position where the right end face of the first lid 41 contacts on the right side of the frame 30 and at a position where the left end face of the second lid 42 contacts on the left side of the frame 30. By providing the door stop member 80 in the cover unit 20, the impact when the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 contact the frame 30 can be reduced. Thereby, damage to the lid 40 and the frame 30 can be suppressed, and noise generated when the lid 40 is opened and closed (especially when closed) can be suppressed.

[0054] [Cover material] 3, 4, and 6, the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure preferably further includes a cover member 90 that covers the upper portions of the first sliding mechanism 51 and the second sliding mechanism 52.

[0055] The cover unit 20 and aquarium 10 (see FIG. 1) of the present disclosure are often installed in a location where they can be freely viewed by an unspecified number of customers. If the lid 40 is made of transparent acrylic, the balls 60 that make up the first and second sliding mechanisms 51 and 52 are visible from the outside. If the first and second sliding mechanisms 51 and 52 are visible, this could spoil the atmosphere and aesthetics of the store. Furthermore, it is believed that young children, in particular, tend to be interested in the balls 60, and if the balls 60 are visible from the outside, there is a concern that they may be removed.

[0056] The cover unit 20 of the present disclosure is provided with the cover member 90, thereby making it difficult to see the first slide mechanism 51 and the second slide mechanism 52 from the outside. With this configuration, the cover unit 20 of the present disclosure can improve the aesthetic appearance and reduce the possibility of the balls 60 being removed.

[0057] [Actions and Effects of the Above Embodiments] (1) The cover unit 20 of the above embodiment is a cover unit for an aquarium equipped with a lid 40 that closes the opening 14 at the top of the aquarium 10. The cover unit 20 of the above embodiment includes a frame 30 placed on top of the aquarium 10 and a slide mechanism 50 that slidably supports the lid 40. The slide mechanism 50 has linear grooves (first rail groove 37 and second rail groove 38) formed in the frame 30 and a plurality of balls 60 that roll along the grooves. In the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the slide mechanism 50 supports the lid 40 with the plurality of balls 60.

[0058] According to the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the slide mechanism 50 allows the lid 40 to slide along the grooves (first rail groove 37 and second rail groove 38) to open and close, eliminating the need to remove the lid 40 when opening or closing. Furthermore, according to the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the ball 60 rolls when the lid 40 is slid, thereby reducing the operating force required to open and close the lid 40. Therefore, according to the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the effort required to open and close the lid 40 can be reduced.

[0059] (2) In the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the groove width of the first rail groove 37 among the grooves is smaller than the diameter of the first ball 61, and the groove width of the second rail groove 38 among the grooves is smaller than the diameter of the second ball 62. In the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the ball 60 contacts the upper edge portions 37a, 38a of the first rail groove 37 and the second rail groove 38. This configuration reduces the rolling resistance of the balls 60 rolling along the first rail groove 37 and the second rail groove 38. This allows the lid 40 to slide with less operating force, further reducing the effort required to open and close the lid 40.

[0060] (3) In the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the slide mechanism 50 has the spacer 70 that maintains the spacing between the plurality of balls 60 in the direction in which the first rail groove 37 and the second rail groove 38 are formed (the left-right direction). With this configuration, the plurality of balls 60 can be reliably rolled along the first rail groove 37 and the second rail groove .

[0061] (4) In the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the lid 40 includes a first lid 41 and a second lid 42 that is positioned lower than the first lid 41. The slide mechanism 50 includes a first slide mechanism 51 that slidably supports the first lid 41 and a second slide mechanism 52 that slidably supports the second lid 42. In this case, by dividing the lid 40 into two (first lid 41 and second lid 42), the lid 40 can be slid with less operating force, thereby further reducing the effort required to open and close the lid 40.

[0062] (5) In the cover unit 20 of the above embodiment, the plurality of balls 60 include a first ball 61 and a second ball 62 having a smaller diameter than the first ball 61. The ball 60 constituting the first slide mechanism 51 is the first ball 61, and the ball 60 constituting the second slide mechanism 52 is the second ball 62. In this case, the installation height of the second lid can be kept low, making it possible to reliably secure a gap between the first lid 41 and the second lid 42. As a result, the first lid 41 and the second lid 42 do not rub against each other when opening or closing the first lid 41 and the second lid 42. This makes it possible to slide the lid 40 with less operating force, further reducing the effort required to open and close the lid 40.

[0063] (6) The cover unit 20 of the above embodiment further includes the cover member 90 that covers the slide mechanism 50 (the first slide mechanism 51 and the second slide mechanism 52) from above the lid 40. In this case, the balls 60 constituting the first slide mechanism 51 and the second slide mechanism 52 can be made difficult to see from the outside. This improves the aesthetic appearance of the cover unit 20 and reduces the possibility of the balls 60 being removed.

[0064] (7) The water tank 10 of the above embodiment includes a lid 40 that closes the upper opening 14, a frame 30 provided above the opening 14, and a slide mechanism 50 that supports the lid 40 so that it can slide relative to the frame 30. In the water tank 10 of the present disclosure, the slide mechanism 50 has linear first and second rail grooves 37 and 38 formed in the frame 30, and a plurality of balls 60 that roll along the first and second rail grooves 37 and 38, and the lid 40 is supported by the plurality of balls 60.

[0065] According to the aquarium 10 of the above embodiment, the slide mechanism 50 allows the lid 40 to slide along the grooves (first rail groove 37 and second rail groove 38) to open and close, eliminating the need to remove the lid 40 when opening or closing. Furthermore, according to the aquarium 10 of the above embodiment, the ball 60 rolls when the lid 40 is slid, thereby reducing the operating force required to open and close the lid 40. Therefore, according to the aquarium 10 of the above embodiment, the effort required to open and close the lid 40 can be reduced.

[0066] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10. Aquarium 20 Cover unit 30 frames 37 First rail groove (groove) 37a Edge 38 Second rail groove (groove) 38a Edge 40 Lid 41 1st lid 42 2nd lid 50 Slide mechanism 51 First slide mechanism 52 Second slide mechanism 60 balls 61 1st ball 62 2nd ball 70 spacer 90 Cover member

Claims

1. A cover unit for an aquarium, comprising a lid that closes an opening at the top of the aquarium, a frame placed on top of the water tank; a slide mechanism that slidably supports the lid; Equipped with The slide mechanism is a linear groove formed in the frame; a plurality of balls that roll along the groove; and A cover unit for an aquarium, wherein the lid is supported by the plurality of balls.

2. The groove width of the groove is smaller than the diameter of the ball, 2. The cover unit for an aquarium according to claim 1, wherein the ball contacts an upper edge of the groove.

3. 3. The cover unit for an aquarium according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer for maintaining a distance between the plurality of balls in the direction in which the grooves are formed.

4. The lid includes a first lid and a second lid positioned lower than the first lid, 3. The cover unit for an aquarium according to claim 1, wherein the slide mechanism includes a first slide mechanism that slidably supports the first lid, and a second slide mechanism that slidably supports the second lid.

5. The plurality of balls includes a first ball and a second ball having a smaller diameter than the first ball, the ball constituting the first slide mechanism is the first ball, 5. The cover unit for an aquarium according to claim 4, wherein the ball constituting the second slide mechanism is the second ball.

6. 3. The cover unit for a water tank according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member that covers the slide mechanism from above the lid.

7. A water tank provided with a lid that closes an opening at the top, a frame provided above the opening; a slide mechanism that supports the lid slidably relative to the frame; Equipped with The slide mechanism is a linear groove formed in the frame; a plurality of balls that roll along the groove; and The lid is supported by the plurality of balls.

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