Magnetic support for aquarium fittings.

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The present invention relates to a magnetic support for sustaining aquarium fittings, such as a pump, a filter or others. The magnetic supports of the prior art are made up of two support elements, each provided with a magnet and they are coupled by interposing an aquarium glass wall between them. A first support element is positioned inside the aquarium and is suitable for supporting a fitting as indicated above, whereas the other support element is positioned outside the aquarium. The magnetic force which is generated between the two magnets attracts the two element supports together clamping them against the aquarium wall and, then, locking them on the wall, exactly as in a vice. These devices are simple, functional and suitable for easily sustaining different fittings usually used in aquariums. However, these devices have some drawbacks. In fact, it is known, the magnetic force operates suddenly and strongly when the two magnets approach each other, hi fact, when the two support elements are moved closer to the aquarium wall, one element on one side of the wall and the other element on the opposite side of the wall, at a certain point the magnetic force is triggered and an attraction force is produced between the two support elements and, consequently, they are locked on the wall.

It is worth noting that the magnetic force which operates between the two elements has to be sufficiently strong as to avoid the detachment of the two elements, hi fact a fitting, such as a pump or a filter, is mounted on the support element positioned inside the aquarium. This fitting not only has a predetermined weight, but it is positioned away from the aquarium wall, namely it projects from the wall, thereby the attraction force has to be quite strong in order to sustain the fitting and to prevent the accidental detachment of the support elements.

Then, the locking not only occurs suddenly and strongly, but there is a more serious problem which occurs when it is necessary to separate the two support elements for one reason or another, such as to carry out the maintenance operations, cleaning, or substitution of the fitting mounted on one of the two support elements; or if we want to clean the aquarium or if it is necessary to place the pump or the filter in a different position.

In this situation, due to the attracting magnetic force which operates beteween the two support elements, it is not easy to separate the two support elements, hi fact, it is necessary to apply a strong detachment force on both the support elements and, only when the force reaches a predetermined value equal to the attracting force, which is very strong as already mentioned above, the detachment and separation of the two support elements occurs.

Likewise in the locking operation which occurs in a sudden and strong way, the separation also occurs suddenly and strongly. In fact, as soon as the detachment occurs, the attraction force immediately reduces to zero, while with the hands we are still exerting a strong detachment force, and this causes the sudden detachment of the two support elements.

Moreover, this strong detachment action may damage the magnetic support, and with time, may cause the accidental detachment of the two support elements, thus making the magnetic support useless. The aim of the present invention is to find a way so that the attracting force between the two elements, generated by the two magnets, gradually increases, so that the coupling of the two support elements and consequently the locking operation to the aquarium wall occurs gently. Above all, the magnetic support has to be made so that the necessary force to be applied in order to cause the detachment of the two support elements is reduced, as to facilitate the separation of one support element from the other one, by applying a weak force thus avoiding considerable effort or sudden pulls. The detachment has to occur in a simple and easy way, without the risk of damaging the two support elements during this operation. This aim is reached by a magnetic support for aquariums of the initially indicated type, comprised of a first support element suitable for sustaining an aquarium fitting and a second support element, each of said first and second elements comprises at least one magnet so that by coupling said first and second support elements by interposing an aquarium wall between them, the attracting magnetic force operating between said two magnets locks said first and second support elements against said wall, characterized in that at least one of said first or second support elements comprises an essentially flat element made up of flexible material having a projecting peripheral lip, so that when said two support elements are coupled

together by interposing said wall, said peripheral lip of said support element is flattened against said wall, thus creating a suction effect which gradually and firmly locks said first and second support elements to said wall.

In particular, each of said first and second support element comprises an essentially flat element made up of flexible material having a projecting peripheral lip.

Is is evident that, in addition to the magnetic attracting force, there is also a suction effect which remarkably improves the locking action.

In so doing, the magnets may be smaller, or in any case, of such a dimension so that their magnetic field generates a reduced magnetic force because the two support elements act like a sucker when they are moved closer to the wall and the projecting lips have been flattened against the wall. Therefore an adhesion force is generated between each support element and the aquarium wall and this force is added to the above-said magnetic force, so generating a total force which definitively assure the locking of the magnetic support to the aquarium wall. It is clear that the locking operation of the magnetic support to the wall occurs gradually since the magnetic attracting force is weak. Even the unlocking operation is easy, since it is sufficient to gently act on the two lips, for example to slightly bend the two supports thus eliminating the suction effect and, then, making the detachment operation of the two support elements very easy to be carried out. These and other advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the following detailed description of an embodiment made only for an illustrative and not limitative purpose with reference to the following drawings wherein:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a support according to the present invention;

- figure 2 is a transverse section view of a magnetic support according to the present invention where the two support elements are represented separated from each other;

- figure 3 is a cross-section similar to those of fig.l wherein the two support elements are placed and locked against an aquarium wall; figure 4 is a transverse section of a magnetic support according to a variant of the invention wherein the two support elements are placed and locked against an aquarium wall;

- figure 5 is a perspective view of an element of the magnetic support of figure 4;

- figure 6 is a transverse section of the support element of figure 5;

- figure 7 is a transverse section of the magnetic support applied on an aquarium wall according to a variant of the support of figures 4, 5 and 6;

- figure.8 is a transverse section of the support element of figure 7.

In figure 1 a magnetic support is generally indicated with reference 10 for the sustaining of fittings for aquariums. The magnetic support 10 comprises a first support element 20a and a second support element 20b.

The first support element 20a is fixed to the outside wall of an aquarium, whereas the second support element 20b is fixed to the inside wall of the aquarium. In particular, the second support element 20b has a ball joint 12 suitable for sustaining a fitting for aquariums such as a filter, a pump or others.

In the following description, since the two support elements 20a,20b, have many components in common, for an easy reference letter "a" will be used for the first support element 20a and letter "b" will be used for the second support element 20b. As better noted from figures 2 and 3, each of said support elements 20a,20b is composed of a circular cup 22a,22b forming a cylindrical cavity 24a,24b. A magnet 26a,26b is firmly and respectively positioned inside each circular cup 22a,22b. Each magnet 26a,26b has a hollow cylindrical shape the diameter of which is essentially equal to the diameter of cylindrical cavity 24a,24b wherein each magnet is inserted, so that the ouside cylindrical surface of each magnet 26a,26b is in contact with the cylindrical cavity 24a,24b of the respective circular cup 22a,22b.

Each cylindrical cavity 24a,24b is then covered respectively by a circular element 40a,40b essentially flat made up of flexible materal, in particular an elastomer. The peripheral edge 28a,28b of each circular cup 22a,22b has a circular cavity 30a,30b wherein a circular projection 42a,42b respectively of the flat element 40a,40b is inserted, so as to facilitate the assembly of each flat element 40a,40b on the respective circular cup 22a,22b. Furthermore, each peripheral edge 28a,28b of each cup 22a,22b has a locking projecting tooth 32a,32b which penetrates inside a corresponding recess 44a,44b made in the respective flat element 40a,40b, thereby obtaining ¹ the secure locking of the flat element 40a,40b to the respective cup 22a,22b.

At its outside circular edge, each flat element 40a,40b has a peripheral projecting lip 46a,46b which extends beyond the peripheral edge 28a,28b of the respective support element 20a,20b so as to form a sucker. For an efficient action, the peripheral

projecting lips 46a,46b of each of said two support elements 20a,20b projects an amount comprised of between lmm and 5mm.

In figure 3, the magnetic support 10 is depicted and applied on the wall 50 of an aquarium .where the second support element 20b is positioned inside the aquarium. The magnetic attracting force which operates between the two magnets 26a,26b flattens the peripheral projecting lips 46a,46b of the respective flat elements 40a,40b against the aquarium, thus generating a suction effect which cause the support elements 20a,20b to better adhere to the wall 50.

Consequently, the magnetic force generated by the two magnets 26a,26b may be even very weak since part of the locking force between the two support elements

20a,20b and the wall 50 is generated by the suction effect of each flat element

40a,40b.

During the mounting operation of the magnetic support 10, not only does the locking occur gradually and gently, but also the unlocking operation occurs easly and rapidly. In fact, it is sufficient to first eliminate the suction effect, for example slightly folding the two support elements 20a,20b, so as to raise the peripheral lips

46a,46b and finally to separate the two support elements 20a,20b from the wall 50.

Since the magnetic support does not undergo high amounts of stress during the disassembly operation, it is also reliable and durable. In figure 4 a variant of the magnetic support is entirely indicated with reference 100 wherein elements corresponding to those used in the magnetic support 10 are indicated with the same number plus 100.

The magnetic support 100 (see figures 5 and 6) is composed of two identical support elements 120a,b, the first one indicated with the lettter "a" and the second one with letter "b". Each support element 120a, 120b is made with flexible material, such as an elastomer, and is cap-shaped with a peripheral projecting lip 146a, 146b having a circular shape in order to form a sucker.

Each support element 120a,b has a cylindrical cavity 124a, 124b inside which a respective magnet 126a, 126b is inserted. A spherical seat 121 a, 121b is made at the top of each support element 120a, 120b. A joint ball 122 is inserted in the spherical seat 121b of the second support element

120b so as to sustain an aquarium fitting.

In figure 4 the magnetic support 100 is applied on the glass wall of an aquarium and,

similarly to the magnetic support 10, it can be noted that the peripheral lips

146a, 146b are flattened against the wall 50. Due to the flexibility of the material, the peripheral lips 146a, 146b are flattened, so creating a suction effect as already described above. hi order to facilitate the assembly and the disassembly of the magnetic support 100, each support element 120a, 120b is respectively provided with a tab 148a, 148b placed near the peripheral lip 146a, 146b.

The magnets 26a,26b, 126a, 126b are preferably made of Nd-Fe-B, that is an alloy of neudymium, iron, boron which is able to generate a powerful magnetic field, so allowing for further reduction of the dimension of the magnetic support, but maintaining unchanged the capability of sustaining any fitting.

Alternatively, the magnets 26a,26b, 126a, 126b can be made of elements belonging to rare earths.

The magnets 26a,26b, 126a, 126b have a parillenic covering, thus assuring an optimum resistance to the aggression of water, even salt water. This characteristic is highly desiderable in an environment such as that of an aquarium.

Figure 7 shows a magnetic support 200 which represents a simple variant of the magnetic support 100 previously described with reference to figures 4,5 and 6.

The magnetic support 200 is similar to the magnetic support 100, except that an interconnecting element 202a,b is interposed between the magnet 126a,b and the support element 120a,b having a cylindrical shape with a base, preferably made of an elastomer.

The cylindrical wall of the interconnecting element 202a,b wraps the magnet 126a,b around its cylindrical surface which is in contact with the support element 120a,b, whereas the base of the interconnecting element 202a,b covers the front surface of the magnet 126a,b which comes into contact with the glass wall 50 of the aquarium.

An annular projection 204a,b is made on the cylindrical wall of the interconnecting element 202a,b which engages a corresponding annular groove made in the support element 120a,b. In so doing, the following advantages are reached: the magnet 126a,b is better protected against the aggression of the water contained in the aquarium;

- the support element 120a,b can be easily attached and detached from the wall 50

of the acqaurium, so facilitating its assembly and removal when required. It is evident that any conceptually or functionally equivalent change or variation falls inside the scope of the present invention.

For example, it is possibile to use different means to fix the flat element to the circular cup, or the various components of the magnetic support may have a shape different from the circular shape described above.

The flat element made of flexible material could be used only in the second support element where the maxiumum adhesion force to the aquarium wall is required, since it has to sustain a fitting such as a pump or a filter. Alternatively, it is possible to use more flat elements made of flexible material, such as more than one sucker for each support element.