# US 8,782,934 B2 · Apparatus for housing artificial features and improved internal magnets for use in artificial features > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,782,934 B2 - Document ID: US8782934B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/105,600 - Filed: 2011-05-11 - Published: 2012-11-15 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-11 - Assignees: Edizone, LLC - Applicants: Terry V. Pearce - Inventors: Terry V. Pearce - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782934B2 ## CPC - A01K 63/003: {Aquaria; Terraria (A01K63/04, A01K63/06 take precedence)} - A47F 3/00: Show cases or show cabinets - A63H 11/00: Self-movable toy figures - A63H 23/08: Cartesian or other divers - A63H 33/26: Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068}) - A63H 33/42: Toy models or toy scenery not otherwise covered (models or scenery for general purposes G09B) - G09F 19/00: Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract Disclosed is an enclosure for artificial features such as artificial fish and artificial plants. The enclosure has one or more walls and is configured to house a liquid therein. One or more electromagnets are provided to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure. A controller is configured to control electric currents that generate magnetic fields from the one or more electromagnets. The controller is configured to selectively reverse the magnetic polarity of at least one of the one or more electromagnets. Also disclosed is an artificial feature such as an artificial fish or artificial plant with a body made of elastomeric gel. The artificial feature may include multiple permanent magnets housed in a body where the permanent magnets are aligned based on an orientation of a north pole and a south pole of each permanent magnet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for housing artificial features, comprising: an enclosure having one or more walls and configured to house a liquid therein; one or more electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure, wherein at least one of the one or more electromagnets is situated outside the enclosure; a corresponding ferrous object situated inside the enclosure, wherein the ferrous object adjusts the shape of a magnetic field generated by the at least one of the one or more electromagnets; and a controller configured to control one or more electric currents that generate a magnetic field from the one or more electromagnets, wherein the controller is configured to selectively reverse a direction of one of the one or more electric currents, wherein a polarity of a magnetic field of at least one of the one or more electromagnets is reversed responsive to the selectively reversed direction of the one or more electric currents. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a programmable portion, and wherein the programmable portion of the controller comprises a microcontroller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of specific operating sequences causes movement of artificial features away from one or more corners of the enclosure, or toward one of the top of the enclosure, the bottom of the enclosure, and to an end of the enclosure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls two or more electromagnets comprising a first electromagnet and a second adjacent electromagnet, wherein the first electromagnet is arranged in reverse orientation to the second adjacent electromagnet such that a polarity of a magnetic field of the first electromagnet is opposite to a polarity of a magnetic field of the second adjacent electromagnet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls one or more H-bridge elements to start, reverse, and stop the current flow to one or more of the one or more electromagnets using a single voltage power supply. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first power supply and a second power supply, wherein the controller uses switching devices to supply current from one of the first power supply and the second power supply to generate a magnetic field of one of a first polarity and a second reverse polarity, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively provide power from the first and second power supply to the one or more electromagnets. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller operates a switching device that electronically connects the one or more electromagnets to one of the first and second power supplies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to pulse width modulate the one or more electric currents to adjust the magnetic field generated by the one or more electromagnets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a liquid pump and an air pump, wherein the one or more of the liquid pump and the air pump is configured to generate a liquid current within the liquid housed in the enclosure, wherein the one or more of the liquid pump and the air pump is controlled by the controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to operate the one or more of a liquid pump and an air pump in coordination with at least one of the one or more electromagnets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of valves connected to at least one of the one or more of a liquid pump and an air pump, wherein each of the plurality of valves is independently operated by the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first liquid pump and a second liquid pump, wherein the first and second liquid pumps are independently operable by the controller to alter the flow of the liquid housed in the enclosure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more light emitting diodes configured to illuminate, wherein illumination of the light emitting diodes is controlled by the controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the light emitting diodes in coordination with operation of at least one of the one or more electromagnets, a liquid pump, and an air pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more electromagnets comprises a core having a coil configured around the core, wherein a portion of the core extends beyond the coil in an axial direction on at least one side of the coil. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more electromagnets comprises a core having a coil configured around the core, wherein a portion of the core is flush with the coil in an axial direction on at least one side of the coil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more artificial features that move in response to the magnetic field generated by the one or more electromagnets. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising liquid disposed within the enclosure wherein the liquid comprises a surfactant solution. ### Claim 20 An apparatus for housing artificial features, comprising: an enclosure having one or more walls and configured to house a liquid therein; one or more electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure; a controller configured to control one or more electric currents that generate a magnetic field from the one or more electromagnets, wherein the controller is configured to selectively reverse a direction of one of the one or more electric currents, wherein a polarity of a magnetic field of at least one of the one or more electromagnets is reversed responsive to the selectively reversed direction of the one or more electric currents; and a multi-voltage power supply configured to output a first output voltage and a second output voltage, wherein the first output voltage generates a magnetic field of a first polarity in response to being connected to an electromagnet and wherein the second output voltage generates a magnetic field of a second reverse polarity in response to being connected to an electromagnet. ### Claim 21 An apparatus for housing artificial features, comprising: an enclosure having one or more walls and configured to house a liquid therein; one or more electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure, at least one of the one or more electromagnets comprising a core having a coil configured around the core, wherein a portion of the core extends beyond the coil in an axial direction on at least one side of the coil, wherein the coil and at least a portion of the core are situated outside the enclosure and wherein the portion of the core that extends beyond the coil in an axial direction extends into one of the enclosure and a recess in the enclosure; and a controller configured to control one or more electric currents that generate a magnetic field from the one or more electromagnets, wherein the controller is configured to selectively reverse a direction of one of the one or more electric currents, wherein a polarity of a magnetic field of at least one of the one or more electromagnets is reversed responsive to the selectively reversed direction of the one of the one or more electric currents. ### Claim 22 An apparatus for housing artificial features, comprising: an enclosure having one or more walls and configured to house a liquid therein; one or more electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure, wherein at least one of the one or more electromagnets is situated outside the enclosure; a corresponding ferrous object situated inside the enclosure, wherein the ferrous object adjusts the shape of a magnetic field generated by the at least one of the one or more electromagnets; and a controller configured to control one or more electric currents that generate a magnetic field from the one or more electromagnets, wherein the controller is configured to selectively reverse a direction of one of the one or more electric currents, wherein a polarity of a magnetic field of at least one of the one or more electromagnets is reversed responsive to the selectively reversed direction of the one of the one or more electric currents, and wherein the controller is programmed to have a plurality of specific operating sequences to cause movement of one or more artificial features within the enclosure, and wherein the plurality of specific operating sequences are selectable by a user. ### Claim 23 An apparatus for housing artificial features, comprising: an enclosure having one or more walls and configured to house a liquid therein; one or more electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within the enclosure, wherein at least one of the one or more electromagnets comprises a core having a coil configured around the core, wherein one end of the core is inside the limits of the coil in an axial direction on at least one side of the coil; and a controller configured to control one or more electric currents that generate a magnetic field from the one or more electromagnets, wherein the controller is configured to selectively reverse a direction of one of the one or more electric currents, wherein a polarity of a magnetic field of at least one of the one or more electromagnets is reversed responsive to the selectively reversed direction of the one of the one or more electric currents.