Filter assembly and methods for external filter for an aquarium

Abstract

An external filter for an aquarium includes a canister filter having a filter assembly removably oriented therein. The filter assembly includes at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series. The stacked trays include a compartment for holding filter media. In one embodiment, the trays are releasably secured together with a strap. In one embodiment, the filter assembly also includes a handle. In one example, the strap forms a portion of the handle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of servicing a filter assembly for an external canister filter for an aquarium; the method comprising:
 (a) removing a cover from a canister filter to access an interior of the canister filter;   (b) grasping a handle secured to a stack of trays, each of the trays in the stack being releasably secured together; and   (c) removing in a single step the stacked trays from the canister filter; at least some of the stacked trays holding removable filter media.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) after removing in a single step the stacked trays from the canister filter, unseeing each of the trays from the stack of trays. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  further comprising:
 (a) after the step of unseeing each of the trays from the stack of trays, cleaning or replacing the filter media in each of the trays to result in refurbished trays; and then 
 (b) releasably securing the refurbished trays together into a stack of refurbished trays having a handle; and then 
 (c) grasping the handle to move the stack of refurbished trays and orienting the stack of refurbished trays into the interior of the canister filter. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of removing in a single step the stacked trays from the canister filter includes breaking a seal between an open aperture in a bottom tray in the stacked trays and a closed projection extending from a bottom of the canister filter. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the step of grasping a handle secured to a stack of trays includes grasping a strap extending above the stack of trays. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the step of unseeing each of the trays from the stack of trays includes releasing engagement between a strap securing each of the trays together and a pair of protrusions extending from each of the trays. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein:
 (a) the step of releasably securing the refurbished trays together into a stack of refurbished trays having a handle includes connecting a strap to each of the refurbished trays along opposite sides of each of the trays to form the handle between the sides and above the stack. 
 
     
     
         8 . An external filter for an aquarium; the filter comprising:
 (a) a canister filter having a canister housing body and a removable cover assembly;
 (i) the cover assembly including a motor unit, a water inlet, and a water outlet; 
 (ii) the housing body having an open top closeable by the cover assembly, an interior, and a closed bottom; and 
   (b) a filter assembly removably oriented in the interior of the housing body; the filter assembly including:
 (i) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for filter media for orientation on the porous holding grid; and 
 wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray. 
   
     
     
         9 . A filter assembly for an external filter for an aquarium; the filter assembly comprising:
 (a) at least two stacked trays releasably secured together in series; each of the trays having: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and the interior volume defining a compartment for holding filter media within the interior volume for orientation on the porous holding grid; and
 (i) wherein the trays are vertically stacked to provide a bottom tray; the open top face of the bottom tray is adjacent to and covered by the porous holding grid of the tray stacked above the bottom tray; 
   (b) the stacked trays includes at least a third tray releasably secured together in series with the at least two stacked trays; the third tray includes: an outer surrounding wall defining an interior volume; an open top face, a porous holding grid extending between the surrounding wall; and filter media being within the interior volume oriented on the porous holding grid;
 (i) the porous holding grid of the third tray being adjacent to and covering the open top face of one of the other trays in the stacked trays.