US 12,239,110 B2
Skimmer for aquariums
Paolo Pettenon, Cittadella (IT); Marco Pierobon, Padua (IT); Federico Carraro, Rubano (IT); and James A Rogers, Madison, GA (US)
Assigned to SEACHEM LABORATORIES, INC., Madison, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/265,898
Filed by Paolo Pettenon, Cittadella (IT); Marco Pierobon, Padua (IT); Federico Carraro, Rubano (IT); and James A Rogers, Madison, GA (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/060922
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 4, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/099989, PCT Pub. Date May 27, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102019000021591 (IT), filed on Nov. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0110301 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A01K 63/04 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 63/045 (2013.01) [A01K 63/047 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A skimmer (1) comprising a base (10) and a container (20) which is provided with at least two lateral connectors (21, 22) which comprise a main connector (22) which is configured for connecting a pump (40) for generating a mixed flow of water and air which is introduced into the container (20) through the main connector (22) and which, by rising upwards, forms a foam, and an auxiliary connector (21) which is configured for connecting an additional pump (60) for supplying water inside the container (20) or alternatively for being closed by means of a first closure element (23), the skimmer (1) further comprising a cup (30), in which the foam is collected, the base (10) comprises at least four openings (11, 12, 13, 14), a first opening (11) and a second opening (12) opening inside the container (20) and being connected to a third opening (13) and a fourth opening (14), respectively, so that the skimmer (1) can operate at least in two different configurations:
a first single-pump configuration, in which the auxiliary connector (21) is closed by means of the first closure element (23) and the third opening (13) is closed by a second closure element (13B) so that the pump (40) operates both as a water supply pump inside the container (20) and as a foaming pump for producing foam in the skimmer (1); and
a second double-pump configuration which provides for the connection of the additional pump (60), which is suitable for supplying water inside the container (20), to the auxiliary lateral connector (21) and which provides for the connection of the pump (40) to the third opening (13) of the base (10) and the main connector (22) of the container (20).