AU2008207448B2

AU2008207448B2 - Improved Mollusc Cultivation Enclosure

Info

Publication number: AU2008207448B2
Application number: AU2008207448A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wayne Scott
Original assignee: TOOLTECH Pty Ltd
Current assignee: TOOLTECH Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-23
Filing date: 2008-08-21
Publication date: 2014-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-21
Also published as: AU2008207448A1

Abstract

A mollusc cultivation enclosure 20 comprising a plurality of panels 21, 30 and at least one hinge 33 which is integrally formed with the panels 21, 30 and which hinges the panels 21, 30 to each other. 44-4 41-| 45-- -43 41- I E -H -42 30-t-- -3 - -31 --30 S-32- 1-23- -23- -2 F -- 42 44; MII 41-- -II 41----43 44/-C 34 21 52 34

Description

IMPROVED MOLLUSC CULTIVATION ENCLOSURE Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to enclosures and, in particular, to mollusc cultivation enclosures. 5 Although the invention will be described with particular reference to the cultivation of oysters, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used to cultivate other types of molluscs. For example, the invention may be used to cultivate clams, mussels, eye winkles or scallops. 10 Brief Discussion of the Prior Art Two methods are commonly used to culture oysters. In both cases oysters are cultivated to the size of "spat" which is the term used in the art to describe an oyster larva which is able to attach itself to a substrate. They may be allowed to mature further to form "seed" oysters. In either case they are then set out on a 15 substrate to mature. They may be distributed over existing oyster beds and left to mature naturally, to be collected using the methods for fishing wild oysters. Or they may be put in racks, cage enclosures or bags and held above the sea bottom. The oysters are harvested by lifting the racks, cage enclosures or bags to the surface and removing the mature oysters. 20 Published Australian Innovation Patent No. 2006900167 (Tooltech Pty. Ltd.) discloses an example of a prior art mollusc cultivation cage enclosure which is adapted to be suspended from a cable by suspension hooks. The prior art enclosure comprises a relatively large number of separately manufactured components that need to be assembled together to form the complete enclosure. 25 It would be desirable to provide an improved mollusc cultivation enclosure which is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble compared to other known mollusc cultivation enclosures. It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, that reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part 30 of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

2 Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. 5 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a 10 mollusc cultivation enclosure comprising a plurality of panels, and at least one hinge which is integrally formed with the panels and which hinges the panels to each other. Integrally forming the at least one hinge of the mollusc cultivation enclosure with the panels of the enclosure enables the panels and the hinge to be manufactured as a single unit which can simplify both the manufacture and assembly of the 15 enclosure. The enclosure is preferably able to be put into a collapsed configuration or an erected configuration by suitably pivoting the panels relative to each other. It is preferred that the enclosure is substantially flat when the enclosure is in the collapsed configuration. Two or more of the panels are preferably able to be nested with each 20 other when the enclosures are in the collapsed configuration so as to facilitate transportation and storage of the enclosures. The mollusc cultivation enclosure may be any suitable type of enclosure. For example, the mollusc cultivation enclosure may be a cage enclosure which is adapted to be suspended from a suspension line or the like. 25 Preferably, at least one of the panels of the mollusc cultivation enclosure is a mesh panel. In a particular preferred form, the panels of the mollusc cultivation enclosure include a lower panel. The lower panel preferably includes a bottom portion and a pair of side portions which extend from the bottom portion. The side portions are 30 preferably inclined relative to the bottom portion. The panels of the enclosure may also include a pair of upper panels hinged to the lower panel. Each of the upper panels preferably includes a top portion and a side 3 portion. The side portion is preferably inclined relative to the top portion. Preferably, one of the upper panels includes a stud, and the other upper panel includes an opening for receiving the stud. The stud preferably includes at least one catch for catching against the upper panel which includes the opening for receiving 5 the stud. One of the upper panels may include a pair of adjacent lugs for engaging with a suspension hook for suspending the mollusc cultivation enclosure from a suspension line or the like. The other upper panel may include an opening for receiving the lugs. At least one of the lugs preferably includes at least one catch for 10 catching against the upper panel which includes the opening for receiving the lugs. It is preferred that the lower panel includes a plurality of lower support portions, and that each of the upper panels includes at least one upper support portion for resting on a respective one of the lower support portions. The mollusc cultivation enclosure preferably also has at least one end panel. 15 The at least one end panel may be hinged to the rest of the enclosure. The at least one end panel may be integrally formed with the rest of the enclosure. Each end panel is preferably a mesh panel. Each end panel preferably has a lower side, and a lip which extends around a perimeter of the end panel from one end of the lower side to the other end of the lower side. Preferably, each end panel includes a catch for securing 20 the end panel relative to the rest of the enclosure. The at least one hinge which is integrally formed with the panels of the enclosure may be any suitable type of hinge. In a preferred form, the at least one hinge is a flexible hinge. The at least one hinge and the panels are preferably integrally moulded with each other. 25 The mollusc cultivation enclosure may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials. The enclosure is preferably fabricated from a polymer. For example, the enclosure may be fabricated from polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The mollusc cultivation enclosure may be fabricated/manufactured by any 30 suitable fabrication/manufacturing process. Preferably, the enclosure is fabricated using an injection moulding process.

4 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 is a reverse plan view of a mollusc cultivation enclosure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the enclosure is in a collapsed configuration; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mollusc cultivation enclosure depicted in figure 1; 10 Figure 3 is an end elevation of the mollusc cultivation enclosure depicted in figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mollusc cultivation enclosure depicted in figure 1 when the enclosure is in an erected configuration; Figure 5 is a reverse plan view of the erected enclosure depicted in figure 4; 15 Figure 6 is a side elevation of the erected enclosure depicted in figure 4; and Figure 7 is an end elevation of the erected enclosure depicted in figure 4. Detailed Description of the Drawings Figures 1 to 3 depict a mollusc cultivation enclosure 20 according to a 20 preferred embodiment of the present invention when the enclosure 20 is in a collapsed configuration. Enclosure 20 is fabricated from injection moulded polymer and includes a lower mesh panel 21 which comprises a generally planar bottom portion 22 and a pair of opposing and generally planar side portions 23. Side portions 23 extend from the bottom portion 22 such that they are inclined relative to the bottom portion 25 22. The bottom portion 22 has a pair of protruding end portions 24. Each side portion 23 has a respective pair of hollow lower support portions 25. Each lower support portion 25 includes a male locating portion 26. A pair of opposing upper mesh panels 30 is hinged to the lower mesh panel 21. Each upper mesh panel 30 has a generally planar top portion 31 and a generally 30 planar side portion 32 which extends from the top portion 31 such that the side portion 32 is inclined relative to the top portion 31. The side portion 32 of each upper mesh panel 30 is hinged to a respective one of the side portions 23 of the lower mesh 5 panel 21 by a respective flexible hinge 33 such that the upper mesh panels 30 are able to be pivoted relative to the lower mesh panel 21. Hinges 33 are integrally moulded with both the lower and upper mesh panels 21, 30 of the mollusc cultivation enclosure 20. The top portion 31 of each upper mesh panel 30 includes a pair of protruding end 5 portions 34. The end portions 34 of each upper mesh panel 30 are located at opposite ends of the panel 30. A respective pair of hollow upper support portions 35 extends from the side portion 32 of each upper mesh panel 30. Each upper support portion 35 includes a female locating portion 36. A pair of studs 40 and two pairs of adjacent hollow lugs 41 extend from the 10 top portion 31 of one of the upper mesh panels 30. The top portion 31 of the other upper mesh panel 30 has a pair of openings 42 for receiving the studs 40, and a pair of openings 43 for receiving the lugs 41. Each stud 40 and lug 41 has a plurality of catches 44 which are designed to catch against the top portion 31 of the upper panel 30 which includes the openings 42, 43 when the studs 40 and lugs 41 are inserted into 15 the openings 42, 43 so that the catches 44 are able to inhibit the studs 40 and lugs 41 from being unintentionally withdrawn from the openings 42, 43. A respective aperture 45 in the upper panel 30 which includes the studs 40 and lugs 41 extends between each pair of adjacent lugs 41. Enclosure 20 also has a pair of end mesh panels 50 which are fabricated from 20 injection moulded polymer. Each end mesh panel 50 has a lower side 51 and a lip 52 which extends around the perimeter of the panel 50 from one end of the lower side 52 to the other end of the lower side 51. Each end panel 50 also has a respective pair of catches 53. Rather than being separate to the rest of the enclosure 20 as depicted in 25 figure 1, the end panels 50 may be integrally moulded with the rest of the enclosure 20 and may be hinged to the rest of the enclosure 20 by hinges which are integrally moulded with the end panels 50 and the rest of the enclosure 20 so that the enclosure 20 as a whole is formed as a single unit. This would further reduce the amount of time required to assemble the enclosure. 30 When the enclosure 20 is in the substantially flat collapsed configuration depicted in figures 1 to 3, it may be nested with other enclosures 20 which are also in the collapsed configuration to facilitate transportation and storage of the enclosures 6 20. Figures 4 to 7 depict the mollusc cultivation enclosure 20 when the enclosure 20 is in an erected configuration. Enclosure 20 is erected by firstly pivoting the upper mesh panel 30 which includes the studs 40 and lugs 41 relative to the lower mesh 5 panel 21 so that each of the upper support portions 35 of the pivoted panel 30 rest on top of a respective one of the lower support portions 25 of the lower mesh panel 21. The female locating portions 36 of the upper support portions 35 receive the male locating portions 26 of the lower support portions 25 which the upper support portions 35 rest on. 10 Next, the other upper mesh panel 30 is pivoted relative to the lower mesh panel 21 so that each of the upper support portions 35 of that panel 30 rest on top of a respective one of the lower support portions 25 of the lower mesh panel 21. The female locating portions 36 of the upper support portions 35 receive the male locating portions 26 of the lower support portions 25 which the upper support portions 35 rest 15 on. Also, each opening 42 receives a respective stud 40, and each opening 43 receives a respective pair of adjacent lugs 41 such that the catches 44 of the studs 40 and the lugs 41 inhibit the studs 40 and the lugs 41 from being unintentionally withdrawn from the openings 42, 43. In this way, the top portions 31 of the upper mesh panels 30 are secured to each other. The lower mesh panel 21 and the upper 20 mesh panel 30 form an open-ended six-sided tubular structure 60. Each end of the tubular structure 60 is covered by a respective one of the end mesh panels 50. The lower side 51 of each panel 50 rests on top of a respective end portion 24 of the lower mesh panel 21, and the lip 52 of each panel 50 extends around the outer perimeter of the tubular structure 60. The catches 53 of the end panels 50 25 engage with the upper mesh panels 30 such that the end panels 50 are thereby secured to the structure 60. The erected enclosure 20 may, for example, be suspended from a suspension line by inserting a spindle of a suspension hook into each adjacent pair of hollow lugs 41 and then attaching the hook to the suspension line. 30 Throughout the specification and the claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise", or-variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to apply the inclusion of the stated integer or group of integers but 7 not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms. 5 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

1. A mollusc cultivation enclosure comprising, a plurality of panels, including a pair of upper panels each having a top portion and a side portion, at least one of the plurality of panels having a mesh portion with a plurality of apertures therein, and at least one hinge, which is integrally formed with the panels and which hinges the panels to each other, wherein at least one panel is movable to form an opening such that when the at least one panel is closed the enclosure has no openings greater than the size of the apertures in the mesh portion.

2. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is able to be put into a collapsed configuration or an erected configuration by suitably pivoting the panels relative to each other.

3. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 2, wherein the enclosure is substantially flat when it is in the collapsed configuration.

4. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 2 or 3, wherein two or more of the enclosures are able to be nested with each other when the enclosures are in the collapsed configuration.

5. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panels include a lower panel.

6. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 5, wherein the lower panel includes a bottom portion and a pair of side portions which extend from the bottom portion.

7. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 5 or 6, wherein the upper panels are hinged to the lower panel.

8. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 7, wherein one of the upper panels includes a stud and the other upper panel includes an opening for receiving the stud.

9. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 8, wherein the stud includes at least one catch for catching against the upper panel which includes the opening for receiving the stud.

10. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein one of 9 the upper panels includes a pair of adjacent lugs for engaging with a suspension hook.

11. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 10, wherein the other upper panel includes an opening for receiving the lugs.

12. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 11, wherein at least one of the lugs includes at least one catch for catching against the upper panel which includes the opening for receiving the lugs.

13. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the lower panel includes a plurality of lower support portions and each of the upper panels includes at least one upper support portion for resting on a respective one of the lower support portions.

14. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of any one of the preceding claims further comprising at least one end panel.

15. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of claim 14, wherein the at least one end panel is hinged to the rest of the enclosure.

16. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one hinge is a flexible hinge.

17. The mollusc cultivation enclosure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one hinge and the panels are integrally moulded with each other.

18. A mollusc cultivation enclosure substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.