2 Aquaculture basket cross-staking attachment The present invention relates to an attachment for an object such as an aquaculture basket used for the cultivation of various sea creatures including sea urchins and molluscs 5 such as oysters and abalone, which enables the object to be suspended in multiple directions by support stakes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common for molluscs such as oysters to be grown on a commercial scale in 0 artificial environments. Typically, the oysters are grown inside baskets that are suspended in the ocean and have perforated walls. The perforations enable water to flow through the baskets where the oysters use the water flow to obtain nutrients from the water as well as flushing impurities away. The oyster baskets themselves are largely tubular mesh baskets that are fastened at 5 least at either end and suspended above the ocean floor. In intertidal environments a single basket is typically hung in the water whilst in sub tidal environments it is known to hang a number of baskets vertically one above the other in a ladder arrangement. The typical basket that is in use is an elongate and flattened tubular cross-section and is made of mesh material such as metal or plastic having ends caps fitted at either end 0 of the basket. Sea water flows not only through the perforations in the basket wall but also the end caps. The contents of the basket are accessed by removing one or both of the end caps. Depending on the growth environment, baskets such as these are typically suspended in the water, or hung in a vertical arrangement, or supported on solid rods 25 extending through the baskets. The present invention relates to the suspended configuration and, in particular, baskets suspended from cross-stakes which straddle between pairs of longitudinal joists. The horizontal joists are supported by vertical posts which are typically embedded into the sea floor or can be floating posts. There is presently no attachment means known to the present Applicant which is 30 capable of suspending baskets, or any other object for that matter, from cross-stakes in an aquaculture environment without either spearing through the basket or through designated holes associated therewith. Furthermore, such baskets are generally configured to only 3 receive the cross-stakes in one direction, typically such that the baskets extend in the same direction as the joists and perpendicular to the direction of the cross stakes. In fact, a basket will typically be suspended beneath cross-stake pairs. This configuration is adequate if the water current is moving in the longitudinal direction, however, when water 5 current moves across the joist perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, the likelihood of the cultivated sea creatures accumulating in say one end of the basket increases. This is undesirable because it can cause damage to them and can adversely affect their quality. There is therefore a need in aquaculture environments, as well as others, for an all-purpose attachment between cross-stakes and objects adapted to be suspended therefrom. 10 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cross-stake attachment for aquaculture baskets that obviates or alleviates any one of the abovementioned problems, or at least provides the public with a useful alternative. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachment between a cross-member body such as a cross-stake and an object adapted to be suspended therefrom 15 such as an aquaculture basket. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an aquaculture basket attachment for suspending an aquaculture basket from one or more cross-stakes in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the cross-stakes, providing for a user to select between the two directions. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a broad aspect the invention could be said to reside in an attachment for connecting an oyster basket to a supporting cross-member body in an aquaculture environment, said attachment including: a rigid body including an enclosed cavity adapted to receive the stake through the body, 25 the rigid body including an extension extending generally downwardly so as to attach to the oyster basket, the rigid stake therefore supporting the oyster basket. In preference the extension an aperture through which a correspondingly cross sectioned shaft associated with an attachment member of said oyster basket is adapted to extend, thereby enabling said oyster basket to rotate about an axis extending through said 30 aperture.
4 In preference the extension includes an aperture through which a correspondingly cross-sectioned shaft associated with an attachment member of said oyster basket is adapted to extend, and at least one wing disposed alongside said aperture said wing including a free end extending beyond said aperture and adapted to abut with a surface of 5 said oyster basket, thereby preventing said oyster basket from movement. In preference the extension includes a longitudinal attachment member including a supporting member at an end thereof adapted to engage the oyster basket, said attachment member being of a resilience to enable rotation of said oyster basket about the attachment member's longitudinal axis. 10 In preference, said attachment further including a second extension extending generally outwardly from the top or from a side of said rigid body, said second extension being configured identically to an extension defined in any one of claims 2-4, yet being different to said extension, to enable attachment of said rigid body to a variety of oyster baskets. 15 In a further form of the invention there is proposed an attachment for connecting an aquaculture basket to at least one support stake, said attachment including: a rigid body including two perpendicularly offset apertures for receiving a support stake in one of two perpendicularly offset directions; a first connection means including a tongue attached to an upper or lower face of the cube 20 shaped body, said tongue including a first connection means aperture extending in the same direction as one of the perpendicularly offset apertures; and a second connection means including a plate attached to an opposed face to the first connection means, said plate including a second connection means aperture extending in the same direction as the first connection means aperture, and at least one wing disposed 25 alongside said plate, said wing terminating in an edge which extends beyond the connection means aperture and abutting with a surface of said basket, thereby preventing said basket from movement when attached thereto. Advantageously said basket is an oyster basket for cultivating oysters. Preferably said at least one support stakes are cross-stakes extending between two 30 spaced apart, longitudinal joists adapted to carry a plurality of cross-stakes.
4a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the 5 description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a known aquaculture basket; Figures 2a-2c illustrate perspective views of aquaculture basket cross-staking attachments 5 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention including a connection means which allows a suspended basket to rotate; Figures 3a-3c illustrate perspective views of aquaculture basket cross-staking attachments in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention including a connection means which prevents a suspended basket from rotating; 0 Figures 4a-4c illustrate perspective views of aquaculture basket cross-staking attachments in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention including a long line connection means; Figures 5a-5c illustrate in enlarged assembled views how each of the attachments of Figures 2-4 engage an aquaculture basket; 5 Figures 6a-6e illustrate multiple views of an aquaculture basket cross-staking attachment in accordance with a third and preferred embodiment of the present invention including both rotating and non-rotating connection means; Figure 7 illustrates the suspension of multiple aquaculture baskets from cross-stakes in a direction perpendicular to the cross-stakes using attachments Z0 embodying the present invention; and Figure 8 illustrates the suspension of multiple aquaculture baskets from cross-stakes in a direction parallel to the cross-stakes using attachments embodying the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 25 The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the 6 same and like parts. Dimensions of certain of the parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration. The Figures illustrate cross-staking attachments lOa-Od for oyster baskets 12. Whilst an oyster basket is exemplified, it will be appreciated that the attachments may be 5 used with other types of aquaculture baskets. Furthermore, it is to be understood from the outset that the attachments 1 Oa- 1 Od are not intended to be limited to suspending aquaculture baskets from support stakes, but could equally well be used to connect and in particular suspend any object including other types of containers such as fish boxes, monitoring equipment including water flow meters and water sampling devices, additional 0 support rods, etc, thereto. The oyster basket 12 shown in Figure 1 has two end caps 14 and a mesh wall 16 extending between the end caps where one of the caps may be configured to enable access to inside the basket, and the other end may be fixed. The basket 12 has a relatively rigid rim 18 at either end that assists in maintaining the shape of the basket. Retaining loops 20 5 are positioned at the top at each end of the basket. Hooks (not shown) are typically fitted underneath the loops and the hooks are used to either suspend the basket from a supporting line of from an upper basket to form a ladder of baskets. In broad terms, the cross-stake attachment lOa-Od embodying the present invention includes at least one cross-stake aperture 22 or 23 for receiving a cross-stake 24, 0 and at least one connection means 26, 28 or 30 to the basket 12 which will vary in configuration depending on the required growth environment of the oysters. For example, one growth environment may require a basket 12 to be suspended so that it is able to rotate slightly with the water current. Another growth environment may require the basket 12 to be suspended from the cross-stakes in a fixed arrangement, and yet another may require 25 the baskets to be suspended from a flexible long line. It is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one type of connection means. A cross-stake attachment 10a according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 2a-2c. The attachment lOa in Figure 2a includes a substantially cube-shaped body 32 having two square-shaped, cross-stake apertures 22 and 30 23 which are slightly smaller in dimension to the side faces of the body 32 and which extend horizontally there through. The apertures 22 and 23 extend perpendicularly to one 7 another providing for insertion of a cross-stake 24 through the body 32 in one of two directions. It is to be understood that the shape of the cross-stake apertures 22 and 23 is not to be limited to only square shaped, and may well be other shapes. For example, the stakes 5 could have a circular cross section, in which case circular cross-stake apertures (not shown) may be more suitable. Furthermore, the apertures may not necessarily need to be apertures extending all the way through the body 32, they could simply be to a depth sufficient to receive the ends of stakes. Suspended from the bottom face of the body 32 is connection means 26 which is in 0 the form of a tongue 34 extending downwardly from approximately a centre portion of the bottom face, the tongue including a circular aperture 36 which extends in the same direction as cross-stake aperture 22. The aperture 36 is used for connection to the oyster basket loops 20 and although a particular method of achieving this is explained in the next paragraph, the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one method of 5 connection. Each basket 12 will preferably use two attachments to suspend it from one or more cross-stakes 24, that is, one on either end of the basket. The connection means aperture 36 is adapted to be coaxially aligned with the retaining loops 20 above the basket 12, thereby allowing for insertion therethrough of a pin (not shown) or other like fastening means. The 0 connection means 26 allows for rotation of the basket 12 about a pivot axis extending through the centre of the connection means aperture 36. The skilled addressee would realise that when the cross-stake aperture 23 which extends perpendicularly to the direction of the connection means aperture 36 is used, the basket 12 will be suspended from two spaced apart cross-stakes 24 and aligned 25 perpendicularly thereto. This is shown in Figure 7 which illustrates a plurality of baskets 12 aligned perpendicularly relative to a plurality of cross-stakes 24 which are supported above two spaced apart, longitudinal joists 37 supported just above the water level. Alternatively, when the cross-stake aperture 22 which extends in the same direction as the connection means aperture 36 is used, the basket 12 will be suspended from a single cross 30 stake 24 and aligned parallel thereto as shown in Figure 8. Therefore, an oyster farmer equipped with the attachment 1 Oa of Figure 2a can use the attachment to suspend oyster baskets 12 from cross-stakes 24 in a direction either 8 perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cross-stakes 24. One factor which may influence this decision is the direction of water current at that particular time as described in the preamble of the invention, however, there could well be other factors. As shown in Figures 2b Figure 2c, the attachment 1Oa need not necessarily include 5 both apertures 22 and 23, but could include any one of the apertures 22 or 23. Under these circumstances, an oyster farmer could carry with them both of these attachments, and may choose between the two depending on which direction the baskets 12 should be suspended. Figures 3a-3c illustrate another attachment 10b having an alternate connection 0 means 28, and which may also be adapted to have a parallel cross-stake aperture 22, a perpendicular cross-stake aperture 23, or both parallel and perpendicular cross-stake apertures 22 and 23 as shown respectively. The connection means 28 includes a plate 38 suspended from approximately the centre of the bottom face of the body 32, and again, a circular aperture 40 extending there through. However, the connection means 28 also 5 includes two outwardly diverging wings 42 and 44 disposed on either side of and across the ends of plate 38, the wings 42 and 44 diverging outwardly from lower side edges of the body 32 to a point below the connection means aperture 40. The wings 42 and 44 thus provide a surface along their lower edges which is adapted to abut with an upper surface of the basket wall 16 when attached thereto. The skilled addressee would realise that such 0 a connection means 28 will prevent any rotation of the basket 12 with respect to the attachment 1 Ob. Figures 4a-4c illustrate yet another attachment 10c having a different connection means 30, and which may also be adapted to have a parallel cross-stake aperture 22, a perpendicular cross-stake aperture 23, or both parallel and perpendicular apertures 22 and 25 23. The connection means is a "long-line" connection means which includes a tether portion 46 suspended from approximately the centre of the bottom face of the body 32 which terminates in a supporting means being a cylindrical member 48 adapted to engage a loop 20 of the basket 12 as is known. The tether portion 46 could be longer than shown, or could have an adjustable length, and is adapted to be made of a flexible rubber type or 30 other suitable material which allows the cylindrical member 48 to be rotated with respect to the vertical axis of the attachment 10c. The reader would appreciate that this rotatability 9 will enable the oyster basket 12 to be positioned at different angles relative to the cross stakes 24. Figures 5a-5c show attachments 10a, 1Ob and 1Oc, and the allowable range of movement of the attached baskets 12 with respect to the attachment bodies 36 through 5 which the cross-staves 24 extend. Figures 6a-6e illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention which shows how attachments 10a and 10b (or in fact any combination of connection means 26, 28 and 30) could be combined into the one attachment 1Od. Attachment 1Od includes the same cube-shaped body 32, both the parallel cross-stake aperture 22 and the perpendicular 0 cross-stake aperture 23 to allow for selection between basket direction relative to the cross-staves 24, and connection means 26 extending upwardly from the top face and connection means 28 suspended downwardly from the bottom face to allow for selection between the two connection means. The reader will appreciate that reference numerals relating to the previous embodiments have been used. 5 The reasons for having the alternative cross-stake aperture configurations will not be described again with respect to attachments 10b, 10c and 10d for the purpose of brevity, as they are the same reasons as for attachment 1 Oa. The skilled addressee should now understand that an oyster farmer having attachments 1Oa, lOb, and 1Oc, or attachment 1Od for example, in his/her possession 0 would allow them to set up an oyster farm to their own requirements, that is, according to a particular growth environment (fixed or rotating baskets) and according to the direction of water current at any one time (parallel or perpendicular to the cross-stakes). For example, Figure 7 shows the how the baskets 12 could be configured using the attachments of the present invention when the water current 50 is moving perpendicular to 25 the joists 37, and Figure 8 shows how the baskets 12 could be configured using the attachments of the present invention when the water current 52 is moving parallel to the joists 37. The attachments embodied in the present invention essentially provide a user with far greater flexibility than hitherto known attachment means for cross-stake oyster farm 30 systems. The attachments also make it a lot easier for farmers to experiment with different growth environments and basket directions, and the impact this has on the cultivated molluscs.
10 Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the 5 invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be 0 associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.