US 6,742,477 B1 · Decorative background assembly with illustrated display panel, fluorescent light, and mirror, for use with an aquarium

Abstract

A decorative background assembly for an aquarium, having a plurality of interchangeable illustrated display panels, for enhancing the appearance of the aquarium. The assembly has a waterproof housing which encloses a frame which selectively holds one of the display panels. The housing also encloses a fluorescent light fixture and an angled mirror in proximity to the light fixture. The housing has hooks for selective attachment of the decorative background assembly to the rear wall of the aquarium. The fluorescent light fixture and the mirror are mounted in proximity to the lower portion of the housing. In use, a user chooses one of the illustrated display panels for insertion into the frame. The user then selectively attaches the decorative background assembly to the rear wall of the aquarium by fitting the hooks over the rear wall of the aquarium. The fluorescent light is then illuminated, thereby illuminating the display panel with light reflected by the angled mirror.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A decorative background assembly, for use with an aquarium having a transparent front wall and a transparent rear wall, said decorative background assembly being selectively positioned behind the rear wall of the aquarium, comprising:

a display panel, having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion, wherein the front surface is illustrated with an image, and is oriented so as to face the front wall of the aquarium, so that the image may be viewed through the transparent front wall and rear wall of the aquarium;
a fluorescent light fixture for holding a fluorescent light bulb, wherein said fixture is attached to said background assembly in proximity to the lower portion of the front surface of said display panel;
and
a mirror located in proximity to said fluorescent light bulb, said mirror positioned so as to reflect light from the light bulb onto the front surface of said display panel.

1 more element

A method of using a decorative background assembly by a user, in conjunction with an aquarium having a substantially transparent front surface and a substantially transparent rear surface, for enhancing the appearance of the aquarium, said background assembly having a display panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion, wherein the front surface of the display panel is illustrated with an image, said background assembly further having a fluorescent light fixture for holding a fluorescent light bulb, wherein said fixture is attached to said background assembly in proximity to the lower portion of the front surface of said display panel, said background assembly additionally having a mirror in proximity to said fluorescent light bulb for reflection of light from the light bulb onto the front surface of said display panel, said decorative background assembly also having a housing having a transparent front surface, a rear surface, and a housing base, said housing being used to contain therein the fluorescent light fixture, the mirror, and the display panel, comprising the steps of:

a) positioning the aquarium by the user at a location which provides an unobstructed view of the front wall of the aquarium, said location having an unobstructed surface and space above said surface behind the rear wall of the aquarium, for placement on said surface of the decorative background assembly;
b) positioning the decorative background assembly by the user, behind the rear wall of the aquarium, with the front surface of the display panel facing forward, thereby allowing an unobstructed view of the display panel through the transparent front wall and the transparent rear wall of the aquarium;
c) illuminating the light bulb and thereby illuminating the front surface of the display panel;
and
d) viewing the aquarium by the user, with the illuminated display panel facing the viewer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Decorative background assembly with illustrated display panel, fluorescent light, and mirror, for use with an aquarium

Life of this patent

Decorative background assembly with illustrated display panel, fluorescent light, and mirror, for use with an aquarium

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9