WO1997029629A1

WO1997029629A1 - Artificial rocks

Info

Publication number: WO1997029629A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/000373
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederick Charles Coles
Original assignee: Frederick Charles Coles
Priority date: 1996-02-14
Filing date: 1997-02-12
Publication date: 1997-08-21
Also published as: AU1729797A

Abstract

A set of artificial rocks for use in a fish tank or pond, comprising a set of stackable modules (10 to 22) moulded of resin and sand to impart the appearance of stratified rock.

Description

Artificial Rocks

This invention relates to artificial rocks for use in a fish tank or fish pond.

According to the invention, there is provided a set of artificial rocks for use in a fish tank or fish pond, comprising a plurality of shaped modules moulded of resin and granular or powdered material in such a manner that the moulded modules have the appearance of stratified rock, at least two or more modules having platforms enabling the modules to be stacked.

Preferably, at least one module has a through passage for fish to swim through, and at least one module preferably has a deep recess constituting a cavern into which fish can swim.

Preferably, at least one module is generally right rectangular in shape, the top surface forming a platform as aforesaid. At least one such right rectangular module preferably includes at least one through passage or cavern, or possibly both.

Preferably, at least one module has the general shape of a truncated pyramid, the top of the pyramid forming a platform as aforesaid . This platform may be central of the module or to one side thereof.

The modules of the set are preferably stackable in such a manner that through passages or gorges are formed between adjacent modules. The modules are preferably ledged and/or stepped at opposite sides and possibly also at the front.

The set of artificial rocks may also include an analogously moulded plate-like module having a tongue for insertion into a passage or cavern, thereby to locate the plate as a forward projection from a stack of modules.

The modules are preferably moulded of resin and sand (silica). White sand, black sand, or red sand or mixtures thereof may be employed, to further the appearance of stratified rock. Additionally or alternatively, colouring material may be added into the mould to enhance the appearance of the modules with respect to stratification and weathering.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figures 1 to 6 show differing individual moulded modules constituting artificial rocks;

Figure 7 shows an additional plate-like module;

Figure 8 shows a cliff-like structure of stacked artificial rocks in accordance with Figures 1 to 6; amd

Figure 9 shows the same cliff-like structure with addition of the plate-like module of Figure 7.

In the drawings, the corners of all the modules have been squared off for reasons of clarity in distinguishing the front and sides, but in practice the corners are more rounded and uneven, more in keeping with the appearance of stratified rock.

Referring to the drawings, all the artificial rock modules of Figures 1 to 5 are moulded, in GRP/latex moulds, of resin and powdered or granular material, more especially a mineral particulate such as sand (white, red, black or a mixture thereof) and colouring agent(s) if desired, whereby to assume the final appearance of stratified, weathered rock.

The modules have various shapes, as is apparent from the drawings, but the major modules 10, 12, 14, 16 of Figures 1 to 4 are all approximately right rectangular, whereby the top and bottom surfaces are strictly parallel and sufficiently flat to enable stacking. This can be achieved by containing the material in metal parallel-sided channels. Each of these modules also has either a through passage 18 for fish to swim through, or a cavern 20 for fish to swim into, or both. Modules 10, 12 may have two passages, two caverns, or one of each, whilst modules 14, 16 may have either a passage or a cavern.

The modules 22, 24 of Figures 4 and 5 are especially suitable but not essentially intended to be used as edging rocks in a stacked assembly, for example the stacked assembly of modules shown in Figure 6. However, these modules generally of truncated pyramidal shape also have parallel top and bottom surfaces to facilitate stacking. The pyramidal module 22 of Figure 5 is symmetrical, whereas the trapezoidal/pyramidal module 24 of Figure 6 is lop-sided. Module 24 may have either a passage or a cavern. As the modules 22, 24 also have flat top surfaces, they can be used in inside positions in a stack, possibly bridged over the top by a module such as that shown in Figure 3, as well as in edging positions.

Figure 7 shows an additional plate-like module 26, analogously moulded, having a tongue 28 which enables it to be located at a passage or cavern in the stacked assembly, as shown in Figure 9, to project forwardly in the manner of a ledge. In use, small plants and corals can be grown on these ledges, which emphasise the stratified appearance of the structure, and/or the ledges can be used to receive fish food.

It can be seen that all the modules have a stratified appearance, at least in part produced by moulding the modules with projecting ledges, internally as well as externally in the case of modules having one or more through passages. A few such ledges 30 are indicated in Figure 8.

It can also be seen that, although the artificial rock modules are stackable, the modules have rough rock-like surface unevennesses and textures. Most ledges have a stepped format at their outer ends, typical of the exposed surface of stratified rock.

Claims

Clai s

1. A set of artificial rocks for use in a fish tank or fish pond, comprising a plurality of shaped modules moulded of resin and granular or powdered material in such a manner that the moulded modules have the appearance of stratified rock, at least two or more modules having platforms enabling the modules to be stacked.

2. A set as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one module has a passage for fish to swim through.

3. A set as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one module has a deep recess constituting a cavern for fish to swim into.

4. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one module is generally right rectangular in shape, the top surface forming a platform.

5. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one module has the general shape of a truncated pyramid, the top of the module forming a platform.

6. A set as claimed in claim 5, wherein the platform is central from side to side of the module.

7. A set as claimed in claim 5, wherein the platform is towards one side of the module.

8. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the modules are stackable in such a manner that through-passages are formed between adjacent modules.

9. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the modules are ledged and/or stepped at least on opposite sides thereof.

10. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, including a plate-like module having a tongue for insertion into a passage or cavern to locate the plate as a forward projection from the stack.

1 1. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the modules are moulded of resin and sand.

12. A set as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the sand is white, black or red or a mixture thereof.

13. A set as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, in which a colouring material is added to the mouldable mixture.