AU2016101347A4 - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container, wherein the container includes a wall enclosure, a floor, at least one fluid inlet and a weir arranged receive fluid when excessive fluid is added to the container. C\j C\j cy) C5) OD C\j C\j V. co cy) C\j CY) C\j C\j C\j CY) C\j co Figure 2

Description

CONTAINER

Field of the Invention [0001 ] The present invention generally relates to a container.

Background of the Invention [0002] Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods. They have an exoskeleton and many are free-living aquatic animals. Examples include crabs, lobsters, crayfish and shrimp. They are popular foods for consumption in Australia and the rest of the world.

[0003] Conventionally, aquaculture focused on crustaceans requires large spaces and ponds to grow the juvenile crustaceans. When crabs specifically are considered, they are indiscriminate omnivores, and housing them in ponds can lead to cannibalism reducing stock and damaging portions of the livestock via damaged limbs and other body parts. This is particularly true for some breeds of crab, such as mud crabs where large volumes of brackish water are used. Where steps are taken to manage cannibalism, through actions such as tying claws, the crabs do not eat, leading to malnourishment or to deaths. Ponds are also susceptible to inclement weather, or if indoor to the spread of disease within common bodies of water.

[0004] Some attempts have been made to house crabs in individual pens that are sized and shaped to house an individual crab. These attempts have resulted in systems that allow the stacking of pens both vertically and horizontally, greatly increasing the density of crabs being able to be matured and grown in a given land size.

[0005] The individual systems currently available use multiple polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes that run through each individual pen, taking up space in the pen and allowing leakage where connections are found within the pen. These systems also lack drainage leaving the crabs to live in potentially dirty or stale water. The arrangement of these systems result in the PVC piping running horizontally through adjoining pens, with the pens side walls abutting.

[0006] Reference to cited material or information contained in the text should not be understood as a concession that the material or information was part of the common general knowledge or was known in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [0007] In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a container for growing a crustacean, wherein the container is of a size to house a fully grown crustacean and includes a wall enclosure, a floor, at least one fluid inlet and a weir arranged receive fluid when excessive fluid is added to the container.

[0008] Preferably, the container includes drainage holes in the floor.

[0009] Preferably, the container includes a door in the wall enclosure.

[0010] Preferably, the at least one fluid inlet is located in the wall enclosure.

[0011] Preferably, a pipe supplies fluid to the fluid inlet and does not extend into an internal space defined by the wall enclosure and walls.

[0012] Preferably the pipe connects to the wall enclosure through a connector.

[0013] Preferably, food is supplied to the container via one of the fluid inlets.

[0014] Preferably the weir extends the length of the wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0015] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art container;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is perspective view of the container of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the container of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top view of the container of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an end view of the container of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a reverse end view of the container of Figure 2; and Figure 8 is a side view of the container of Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Invention [0016] The following description, given by way of example only, is described in order to provide a more precise understanding of the subject matter of a preferred embodiment or embodiments.

[0017] Broadly, the present invention relates to a vertically stackable container 21 for housing a growing crab to an appropriate size for market. The containers 21 are of a size that a crab can be introduced to the container 21 as a juvenile and remain within the container 21 until removed for eating, sale or freezing for sale. The container 21 feeds fluid into the container and allows fluid to drain from it whilst minimising the amount of PVC pipe passing through it. Containers 21 are arranged so that water drained from one container 21 is collected via a collection pipe in the container 21 underneath it. A weir 23 is connected to the internal space of the container 21 to receive overflow of fluid. Drainage holes 29 are located in the base of the container 21 to allow changing of fluids and removal of waste automatically.

[0018] In one embodiment, additional materials such as food, supplements that can be transported via PVC pipe are also fed into the internal space of the container 21 for consumption by the crab.

[0019] The skilled addressee will recognise that whilst the containers 21 are described as being for a crab, such as a mud crab, containers 21 are suitable for the housing and growth of a number of crustaceans.

[0020] With reference to Figure 1, a prior art container 11 for growing a crab is illustrated. The container 11 includes a base 18, side walls 19, central partition 16 and end doors 20. The internal space between these elements being of a size to house a fully grown crab of suitable size for sale and consumption. The central partition 16 splits the container in half creating two internal spaces to receive crabs. PVC pipe 42 provides fluid into the container 11. PVC pipes 22 pass into the internal space through side openings 14. A central PVC T-section 12 provides an outlet that is arranged to receive over flow from a weir or a drain in an above container 11. Fluid can, and commonly leaks from the connection between PVC pipe 22 and T-section 12. Additionally, fluid drained from a weir in an above container 11 is typically a result of excess water in the above container 11. This results in water that is unsoiled from an above overflowing weir being drained via an additional PVC pipe that takes up room within a container 11. The T-section 12 extends the PVC pipe 22 completely through the internal space of the container 11. To feed the crabs, end doors 20 are opened via hinge 18 and a handler provides food to the crab.

[0021] With reference to Figures 2 to 8, a container 21 for the housing of crabs during growth is illustrated. The container 21 includes a base 28, side walls 27, central partition 26 and end doors 30 connected via hinges 31. The internal space between these elements being of a size to house a fully grown crab of suitable size for sale and consumption. The central partition 16 splits the container in half creating two internal spaces to receive crabs. At one end of the central partition 26 is located a weir 23 to receive over flow from the internal space when excessive water is added. The weir includes apertures 44 partway up its height to drain fluid, when the fluid reaches the predetermined height of the apertures 44.

[0022] In one embodiment the weir has height equal to the height of the side walls 27. In an alternative embodiment the weir has a height shorter than the height of the side walls 27.

[0023] PVC pipe 32 enters the internal space at side recesses 24 through connection 35 and passes through the container 21 The pipe includes a T-section connected to the drain in an above container 21 to drain water from an above container 11. A second PVC pipe 33 also is connected to the internal space through connection 27 at recess 25 and extends into the internal space of the container 21. The second PVC pipe provides water to the container 21.

[0024] The weir 23 of container 21 is not connected to a PVC pipe underneath it and drains directly into the weir underneath it. When multiple containers 21 are vertically stacked a weirs will drain through all of weirs of the vertically stacked containers 21. This removes the need for drainage pipes from each weir.

[0025] As PVC pipes 32 and 33 enter from the side of container 21 through recesses 24 and 25, there must be a space between adjacent columns of vertically stacked containers 21 to allow supply connections (not shown) to be connected to PVC pipes 32 and 33.

[0026] The base 28 includes drainage passageway 29 to allow the internal space of the container 21 to be drained of fluid. The drainage passageway 29 can be plugged or valved to allow fluid within the internal space of the container 21 to be selectively drained. One drainage hole 29 is located underneath the weir 23 and is left open to ensure that overflow water into the weir is drained away.

[0027] In one embodiment the base is tapered towards drainage hole 29.

[0028] In one embodiment the passageway 29 is an aperture. In an alternative embodiment the passageway includes pipe that extends outwardly from the container 21.

[0029] Vertical channels 27 run along the outside of the container 21 and are arranged to align with vertical channels 27 on containers stacked above or below each other. The vertical channels in stacked containers 21 can attach stacked containers together with an insert extending between the vertical channels 27. Alternatively the top of vertical channels 27 may be arranged as an opening to receive a protrusion extending downwardly from the bottom of vertical channels 27.

[0030] Although the container of the present invention illustrates a central partition 26 to split the container 21 in half, it is within the scope of the present invention for the container 21 to have no central partition and for the container to end at the central partition 26.

Example [0031] A non-limiting example of the present invention will now be given.

[0032] A plurality of containers 21, are stacked on top of each other. A number of these groups of stacked containers 21 are placed next to each other with sufficient space between horizontally adjacent groups to allow PVC pipes 32 and 33 to extend from and connect to a water supply line without touching the horizontally adjacent groups.

[0033] Water is supplied to the PVC pipes 32 to allow the container 21 to partially fill with water. The door 30 is opened and a juvenile crab is entered into the container, the door being shut behind the crab. The crab is fed either through the door 20 or via pipe 33 and channel 25.

[0034] Water is drained from the container 21 through drainage holes 29 when valves or plugs are removed into the T-section of PVC pipe 32. This drains away waste present in the water in the container 21. If excessive water is added to the container it overflows into weir 32 and is automatically drained away.

[0035] The central partition 26 stops a crab from moving throughout the container 21 and allows two crabs to be housed in a single container.

[0036] Once the crab has grown to the desired size for sale, the crab is removed from the container 21 through door 30.

Variations and Modifications [0037] It will be realised that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations 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.

[0038] In this specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one element or action from another element or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order. Where the context permits, reference to an integer or a component or step (or the like) is not to be interpreted as being limited to only one of that integer, component, or step, but rather could be one or more of that integer, component, or step etc.

[0039] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the above described invention.

[0040] In the specification the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term “including”and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A container for growing a crustacean, wherein the container is of a size to house a fully grown crustacean and includes a wall enclosure, a floor, at least one fluid inlet and a weir arranged receive fluid when excessive fluid is added to the container.
2. 2. The container as claimed in Claim 1, including at least one drainage hole in the floor.
3. 3. The container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a door in the wall enclosure.
4. 4. The container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including, a pipe arranged to supply fluid to the fluid inlet, wherein the pipe does not extend into an internal space defined by the wall enclosure and floor.
5. 5. The container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe connects to the wall enclosure through a connector.