GB2136665A - Handling eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

A liner for a hatching box is used instead of conventional particulate material, such as sawdust, to minimise the risk of egg breakage. The liner 2 covers the floor area of a box and comprises a dished receptacle of semi-rigid plastics sheet material with sloping wall portions 6 and a base portion 8 which has an uneven or roughened surface to restrict the eggs from rolling freely around the surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to handling eggs The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to handling eggs, particularly to containers for receiving newly laid eggs.

In the handling of newly laid eggs for a hatchery, it is customary for the birds to lay their eggs in a hatching box, the floor of which is covered by sawdust or other reasonably soft textured material to minimise the risk of breakages. However, it will be readily appreciated that the material soon becomes contaminated and requires replacement at frequent intervals in the interests of hygiene. Moreover, the material, being particulate, tends to migrate around the floor of the hatching box and does not always maintain adequate protection for the eggs and an unacceptably high number are damaged and thus rendered useless. Existing materials encourage avian parasites and also need to be replenished at regular intervals thus increasing labour costs.

The invention provides a liner for a hatching box, the liner being adapted to cover at least the interior floor area thereof and comprising a dished receptacle having sloping wall portions and a base portion adapted to receive a plurality of eggs.

Advantageously the liner is formed from an initially flat semi-rigid sheet of plastics material and may be pressed or moulded into a dished configuration.

Conveniently, the base portion is provided with an uneven or roughened interior surface which may comprise a plurality of recessed areas, the presence of which restricts the free movement of eggs within the liner. Preferably, the interior surface may be slightly convex to counteract any tendency for the eggs to accumulate at a central region thereof.

In use, the liner may be removed with ease whenever required and, if undamaged, may be washed and re-used.

There will now be described an example of a liner according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a liner; and Figure 2 is an end view of the liner of Figure 1.

The Figures show a liner 2 which has been shaped by heat and pressure from a semi-rigid sheet of plastics material. The liner comprises a flange 4 surrounding a continuous wall portion 6 having a smoothly stepped inward slope towards a base portion 8 of the liner.

The base portion 8 is provided with a plurality, in the present example twelve, recesses 10 which form a roughened or otherwise uneven surface and so reduces the risk of the free movement of eggs over the base with the attendant risk of collisions between the eggs and hence breakage. Although the primary purpose of the recesses 10 is to form the roughened surface, in practice, some of the eggs may tend to lodge in individual recesses and be retained therein.

Thus the portions of the base 8 between the recesses 10 tend to keep the eggs separate from one another where possible so as to minimise the risk of breakage. If desired, the recesses adjacent to the wall portion may be deeper than those at a central region of the base 8, so as to counteract any tendency for the eggs to accumulate in the central portion and to encourage their more even arrangement in the liner.

The plastics material of the liner is readily washable and may be chosen to permit sterilising treatment if required.

In use, any eggs which by reason of the hen's movements become positioned against the walls of the liner will be restrained from undue displacement by the stepped nature of the wall portion 6 which prevents the egg readily being pushed completely out of the liner and provides a slope which slows the descent of an egg towards the base portion 8 thereof.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following

claims.

CLAIMS 1. A liner for a hatching box, the liner being adapted to cover at least the interior floor area thereof and comprising a dished receptacle having sloping wall portions and a base portion adapted to receive a plurality of eggs.

2. A liner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liner has a dished configuration and is formed from semi-rigid plastics sheet material.

3. A liner as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the base portion thereof is provided with an uneven or roughened interior surface.

4. A liner as claimed in claim 3 wherein the surface of the base portion comprises a plurality of recesses.

5. A liner as claimed in claim 4, wherein recesses provided adjacent to the wall portions are deeper than those at a central region of the base portion.

6. A liner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the surface of base portion is at least partially convex.

7. A liner as claimed in any one of the precedig claims wherein the sloping wall portions are stepped.

8. A liner as claimed in claim 2 wherein the liner is formed from an initially flat sheet of semi-rigid plastics material by means of heat and pressure.

9. A liner for a hatching box, constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to handling eggs The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to handling eggs, particularly to containers for receiving newly laid eggs. In the handling of newly laid eggs for a hatchery, it is customary for the birds to lay their eggs in a hatching box, the floor of which is covered by sawdust or other reasonably soft textured material to minimise the risk of breakages. However, it will be readily appreciated that the material soon becomes contaminated and requires replacement at frequent intervals in the interests of hygiene. Moreover, the material, being particulate, tends to migrate around the floor of the hatching box and does not always maintain adequate protection for the eggs and an unacceptably high number are damaged and thus rendered useless. Existing materials encourage avian parasites and also need to be replenished at regular intervals thus increasing labour costs. The invention provides a liner for a hatching box, the liner being adapted to cover at least the interior floor area thereof and comprising a dished receptacle having sloping wall portions and a base portion adapted to receive a plurality of eggs. Advantageously the liner is formed from an initially flat semi-rigid sheet of plastics material and may be pressed or moulded into a dished configuration. Conveniently, the base portion is provided with an uneven or roughened interior surface which may comprise a plurality of recessed areas, the presence of which restricts the free movement of eggs within the liner. Preferably, the interior surface may be slightly convex to counteract any tendency for the eggs to accumulate at a central region thereof. In use, the liner may be removed with ease whenever required and, if undamaged, may be washed and re-used. There will now be described an example of a liner according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a liner; and Figure 2 is an end view of the liner of Figure 1. The Figures show a liner 2 which has been shaped by heat and pressure from a semi-rigid sheet of plastics material. The liner comprises a flange 4 surrounding a continuous wall portion 6 having a smoothly stepped inward slope towards a base portion 8 of the liner. The base portion 8 is provided with a plurality, in the present example twelve, recesses 10 which form a roughened or otherwise uneven surface and so reduces the risk of the free movement of eggs over the base with the attendant risk of collisions between the eggs and hence breakage. Although the primary purpose of the recesses 10 is to form the roughened surface, in practice, some of the eggs may tend to lodge in individual recesses and be retained therein. Thus the portions of the base 8 between the recesses 10 tend to keep the eggs separate from one another where possible so as to minimise the risk of breakage. If desired, the recesses adjacent to the wall portion may be deeper than those at a central region of the base 8, so as to counteract any tendency for the eggs to accumulate in the central portion and to encourage their more even arrangement in the liner. The plastics material of the liner is readily washable and may be chosen to permit sterilising treatment if required. In use, any eggs which by reason of the hen's movements become positioned against the walls of the liner will be restrained from undue displacement by the stepped nature of the wall portion 6 which prevents the egg readily being pushed completely out of the liner and provides a slope which slows the descent of an egg towards the base portion 8 thereof. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. CLAIMS

1. A liner for a hatching box, the liner being adapted to cover at least the interior floor area thereof and comprising a dished receptacle having sloping wall portions and a base portion adapted to receive a plurality of eggs.

2. A liner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liner has a dished configuration and is formed from semi-rigid plastics sheet material.

3. A liner as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the base portion thereof is provided with an uneven or roughened interior surface.

4. A liner as claimed in claim 3 wherein the surface of the base portion comprises a plurality of recesses.

5. A liner as claimed in claim 4, wherein recesses provided adjacent to the wall portions are deeper than those at a central region of the base portion.

6. A liner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the surface of base portion is at least partially convex.

7. A liner as claimed in any one of the precedig claims wherein the sloping wall portions are stepped.

8. A liner as claimed in claim 2 wherein the liner is formed from an initially flat sheet of semi-rigid plastics material by means of heat and pressure.

9. A liner for a hatching box, constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.