US3824957A

US3824957A - Spat collector

Info

Publication number: US3824957A
Application number: US00325157A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Halaunbrenner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-10
Filing date: 1973-01-19
Publication date: 1974-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-23

Abstract

Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stackable plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a series of strips disposed in the form of a louver and is provided with a central orifice, and a central member adapted to pass through said orifices to locate said plates in a stack.

Description

United States Patent [191 Halaunbrenner [451 July 23,1974

[ SPAT COLLECTOR [76] Inventor: Lazare Nathan Halaunbrenner, 17,

Boulevard Edgar Quinet, 92-Colombes, France [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,157

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 25, 1972 France 72.12473 [52] US. Cl. 119/4 [51] Int. Cl A01k 61/00 [58] Field of Search 119/2-4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,029,785 Q4/1962 Maheo 119/4 Fischer 119/4 Fordam 1 19/4 Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrisebois & Kruger [5 7 ABSTRACT Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stack-able plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a series of strips disposed in the form of a louver and is provided with a central orifice, and a central member adapted to pass through said orifices to locate said plates in a stack.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuLzsm SHEEI 2 BF 5.

1 SPAT COLLECTOR SUMMARY ()F THE INVENTION This invention relates to a spat collector comprising a plurality of parts, which is relatively inexpensive and is particularly simple and effective to use.

It is known that the spawn of shellfish and, in particular, that of oysters, must be collected on supports which are generally coated with lime and immersed in the sea in appropriate areas. The spawn attaches itself to the collector and develops thereon until it attains a larger size, when it is removed therefrom.

This known operation consists in separating the spat from its support in order to place it in receptacles or appropriate places in which the shellfish attains its adult size.

The present invention relates to a spat collector which facilitates the satisfactory collection of shellfish spawn, and'retains them so as to insure their satisfactory development, and which by its structure and the material of which it is made facilitates the separation of the spat at the appropriate time.

The present invention isaccordingly directed to a new articleof manufacture which consists of a spat collector characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of stackable plates, each of which has a series of strips positioned as louvers, said plates being made of a semi-rigid plastic material and being mounted on each other by means of a central member which passes through an orifice in the central portion thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plates are square or rectangular in shape and comprise at each corner positioning abutments which fit into each other during the stacking of the plates.

In one embodiment of the invention the central member which connects the different plates is cylindrical in shape, as are the holes in the central portions of these plates.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the strips positioned in the form of louvers have a section shaped like a flattened S and are slightly inclined with respectto a plane perpendicular to the plane of the plates.

Also in a preferred embodiment of the invention the strips are attached principally to the side members of the plates, which consist of a median bar and two side bars, the median bar being connected to all of the ends of the strips, whereas the side bars are connected either to all of the strips or only to certainones among them.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to impart to the plate a deformability sufficient to permit ready removal of the spat by bending the plate or by tapping the plate on a solid obstacle so as to create vibrations which assure the detachment of the spat.

In the embodiment of the invention in which the plates are square or rectangular in shape it is advantageous to arrange the strips parallel to a diagonal to the plate] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the strips have their surfaces slightly striated in a longitudinal direction so as to facilitate the attachment of the lime with which the collector is coated before beingimmersed to collect the spat.

In a particularly simple and economical method of making the collector the strips to which the spat is to become attached are generally S-shaped' and are alternately positioned to create a configuration in the form of an elongated Greek fret.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the strips are themselves made of bars which extend parallel to each other longitudinally of the strips, said bars being held together by continuous cross bars positioned on at least one side of the strips.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the neighboring strips define between them openings, which may be crossed by bars, and which prevent the accumulation of debris during their use in the sea.

In this embodiment the strips are preferably positioned parallel to one side of the plate.

In accordance with the invention the plates which have just been described are made of a semi-rigid plastic material such, for example, as low pressure polyethylene of polyvinylchloride.

In one particular embodiment of theinvention the central member which holds the stack of plates together is cylindrical in its outer shape and carries a flange at its lower edge which is pressed against the central part of the lowest, plate, while the upper plate and the central part of the upper plate have a group of cooperating sectors which, in a given angular position, make it possible to position the upper plate on the central body and then, after angular pivoting of the upper plate with respect to the body, lock the plates on the body.

' A pin, key or like device then prevents the upper plate from returning to the angular position which would permit their separation.

The central member is advantageously made of a plastic material. It may, for example, be hollow and filled with sand when it isdesired to immerse the collector in the water. It may also act as a float when the collectors are intended to float while being held in place by a cord connected to a weight at the bottom of the sea.

In order that the invention may be better understood, two embodiments thereof will now be described, purely by way of illustration and example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a collector plate according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on a larger scale of the lower left corher of the plate shown on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view on a larger scale taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view partially in section of a spat collector comprising a stack of plates such as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view on a larger scale showing the abutment means mounted at the corners of the plate;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken through one embodiment of the striated strips;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view on a larger scale taken along the line VIII-VIII on FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of one surface of a strip taken as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 shows in elevation a plate for collecting spat in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This plate is square in shape. It has four

side members

1, 2, 3 and 4 which support parallel strips 5 arranged like louvers.

The plate has a central cylindrical orifice 6 defined by a wall 7. The

side members

1, 2, 3 and 4 are identical, and each comprise three bars, to wit, a central T- shape bar 8, and two

side bars

9 and 10, each having an angular section. Except near the corners these bars are connected to each other only by the ends of the strips 5. As may be seen on FIG. 3 the ends of the strips 5 are connected by extensions 11 alternately to the

side bars

9 and 10. This structure has the double advantage of permitting free circulation of water through the sides of the plates and making it easy to remove the spat because the flexibility of the resulting assembly permits vibrations and deformations to propagate easily through the various strips 5. As may be seen on FIG. 5, each plate comprises at each end an upwardly extending flange 12 in the form of a'corner and a lower flange 13 alsoin the shape of a corner.

I The shape of the flanges 12'and 13 is such that when the various plates are stacked on each other as shown in FIG. '4 thelower side bar 9 of an upper plate is posi-' tioned above the upper sidebar of a lower plate while the flange 13 of the upper plate seats in the inner corner of the lower plate and the flange 12 of the lower plate received the outer edge of the corner of the upper plate,

FIG. 5 shows on a larger scale the corners of two plates stackedone upon the other.

The lower plate is shown in solid lines and the upper plate in broken'lines.

The reference numerals for the upper plate have been indicated with a prime mark, for example, the upper bar of the upper plate is indicated by. whereas the corresponding bar of the lower plate is indicated by reference numeral 10.

FIG. 5 clearly shows how the adjacent bars 10 and 9' of the two plates come into contact while the flange 13 of the upper plate seatsinside the bar'10 of the lower plate, the flange 12 of the lower plate being located outside the upper'plate.

This results in a satisfactory location and stacking of the various plates one upon the other.

FIG. 2 shows the

flanges

12 and 13 and the two abutments 14 which are adapted to hold laterally the flange 13 of the upper plate which is to be seated in the plate shown on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a spat collector made of a plurality of plates such as have just been described. In this embodiment the central member 15 is a hollow cylinder made of plastic material.

The member 15 is provided with the orifices 16 at its lower end. These are adapted to facilitate subsequent mooring by means of the suitable cordage. It also has an orifice 17 in its upper part which is adapted for the same purpose.

The lower part of the member 15 is provided with a collar 18 which is adapted to support the stack of plates as shown on FIG. 4. In the embodiment illustrated, the collector comprises a stack of seven plates which are all identical, except for the upper plate 19, which has a de-' vice for fastening the stack on the centralmember 15. For this purpose the internal wall 7 of the plate 19 is provided with ribs 20 positioned in regularly spaced part-circular arcs. The upper part of the hollow body 15 also has ribs 21 extending along corresponding arcs.

It will be appreciated that, under these circumstances, if the ribs of the upper plate 19 are regularly space and can pass between the ribs 21 of the central member, there is an angular position in which it is possible to slide the plate 19 down over the member. It will also be appreciated that the assembly consisting of the upper plate 19 and all the plates which are situated therebelow can then be pivoted to bring the

ribs

20 and 21 into registration with each other.

To insure that the upper plate remains in this position with respect to the member 15 it is possible to use keys 22 which are engaged both in a wall of the member 15 and in recesses formed in the upper part of the wall 7 of the plate 19.

It will be seen that this method of assembly makes it easy to stack the various plates which are effectively held in position on top of each other, partly by the centralm'ember 1, and partly by the flanges 12 and 13jat each corner.

The separation of the plates is also very easy and the spat may be removed by twisting the plates or by tapping them with something hard in order to set up vibrations in the plate. The fact that the strips are parallel to a diagonal of the plate facilitates that removal.

Finally, FIG. 6 is a sectional view through an embodiment of a strip 5 which is provided with small longitudinal striations which facilitates the attachment of the lime and the spat.

FIG. 7 shows a plate according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention which, as in the embodiment already described, has a central orifice 6 defined bya wall 7, an upper flange 12 and lower, flange 13, to permit correct stacking of the plates at each corner. The edges of the plates also consist of central bars 8 and upper and

lower side bars

9 and 10.

FIG. 9 shows clearly, and FIG. 8 shows on a larger scale, how the strips according to the invention are arranged. While in the first embodiment the strips, which have a generally S-shape, are positioned parallel to each other asin a louver, in the second embodiment of the invention the strips are positioned in facing pairs to form symmetrical structures having the form of an elongated Greek fret. As in the first embodiment of the invention, the strips are mounted on the body of the plates by being fixed to the central bars and by means of extensions 11. In the embodiment illustrated on FIGS. 7-11 the strips consist of longitudinal members 23 which are connected to each other by transverse bars 24 and 25.-This arrangement results in a trellis, the structure of which is clearly shown on FIGS. 10 and 1 1. It will be noted that, as a consequence of the latter type of construction, of the longitudinal members 23, it is possible to remove the plate from the mold without any particular difficulty.

It will also be seen that the openings 26 between the adjacent strips permit the elimination of any debris which may reach the plates. Moreover, the structure of the strips which has just been described, with the openings and numerous edges which they provide, is particularly well adapted to facilitate the attachment of the spat to the collector. In addition, the lime which is intended to cover the collector is effectively held on strips having such a structure.

The device which has just been described has the advantage of being relatively easy to make, and providing a substantial surface for the collection of spat, while permitting a regular circulation of the water in which the collector is immersed, all of which facilitate the effective collection of spat. Moreover, the surfaces in the form of an elongated Greek fret attached according to the invention to the upper bars and lower bars are particularly useful in facilitating spat removal.

The collectors which have just been described are in the form of parallelepipedic or cubical units which are easy to handle and may be positioned in the water in any position. It is easy to coat them with lime by immersing the entire collector unit in a conventional lime bath.

It will of course be appreciated that the embodiment which has just been described has been given purely by way of illustration and example and may be modified as to-detail without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention. In particular, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to square plates. In like manner the assembly of the various plates may be car ried out by means of a central member having a shape and dimensions different from theone illustrated. Finally, it goes without saying that the structure of the strips themselves may be different, so long as this structure facilitates the attachment of the spat and the lime.

What is claimed is:

1. Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stackable plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a frame and a series of parallel strips disposed in the form of a louver, said strips having a section in the shape of a flattened S and being slightly inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the plate to which they are attached, each of said plates being provided with a central circular orifice, and a central cylindrical member adapted to pass through said orifices to locate said plates in a stack, with said stack of plates resting on a collar at the bottom of the central member, the upper plate and on the upper part of the central member being provided with ribs extending in part-circular arcs and positioned to permit said upper plate to slide down on said central member when said upper plate occupies one angular position relative to said central member, but preventing movement of said upper plate longitudinally of said central member when said upper plate occupies a different angular po- 6 sition relative to said central member.

2. Collector as claimed in claim 1 comprising latch means which prevents the upper plate from pivoting to return to the angular position which permits its longitudinal movement on the central member.

3. Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stackable plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a frame and a series of parallel spaced strips disposed in the form of a louver, the individual strips of said series having a section in the shape of a flattened S and a median plane slightly inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the plate to which they are attached, each of said plates being provided with a central orifice, and a central member adapted to pass as a close fit through said orifices to hold said plates in a vertically aligned stack.

4. Collector as claimed in claim 3 in which the strips are made of bars extending parallel to each other longitudinally of the strips, said bars being held together by transverse bars positioned on at least one side of the strips.

5. Collector as claimed in claim 3 in which adjacent strips have spaces therebetween.

6. Collector as claimed in claim 3 in which the plates are rectangular in shape.

7. Collector as claimed in claim 6 in which the plates have mounting flanges on at least one corner which receive the corner of an adjacent plate when the plates are stacked.

8. Collector as claimed in claim 3 in which the plate comprises side members consisting of a central bar connected to the ends of all the strips and two side bars connected to at least some of said strips.

9. Collector as claimed in claim 3 which is made of a semi-rigid plastic material selected from the group consisting of low pressure polyethylene and polyvinylchloride.

10. Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stackable plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a frame and a series of parallel spaced strips having a generally S-shaped section positioned in opposed pairs so as to create a configuration in the form of an elongated Greek fret, each of said plates being provided witha central circular orifice, and a central cylindrical member adapted to pass as a close fit through said orifices to hold said plates in a stack.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,824,957 i Dated July 23 197! Inventor(s) LAZARE NATHAN HALAUNBRENNER It is certified that error appears in the above-idntifid patent and xthat said Lia'tters' Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

I Foreign Application Priority Data France 72.02378 January 25, 1972 April 10, 1972 France Signed andv sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN USCOMM-DC 60370-F'69 flu.s. eovzmmzm' PRINTING OFFICE; nu o-ass-su.

FORM PO-1050 (10-69)

Claims

1. Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stackable plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a frame and a series of parallel strips disposed in the form of a louver, said strips having a section in the shape of a flattened S and being slightly inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the plate to which they are attached, each of said plates being provided with a central circular orifice, and a central cylindrical member adapted to pass through said orifices to locate said plates in a stack, wiTh said stack of plates resting on a collar at the bottom of the central member, the upper plate and on the upper part of the central member being provided with ribs extending in part-circular arcs and positioned to permit said upper plate to slide down on said central member when said upper plate occupies one angular position relative to said central member, but preventing movement of said upper plate longitudinally of said central member when said upper plate occupies a different angular position relative to said central member.

10. Spat collector which comprises a plurality of stackable plates made of a semi-rigid material, each of which plates comprises a frame and a series of parallel spaced strips having a generally S-shaped section positioned in opposed pairs so as to create a configuration in the form of an elongated Greek fret, each of said plates being provided with a central circular orifice, and a central cylindrical member adapted to pass as a close fit through said orifices to hold said plates in a stack.