Abstract:
Mussels are commonly grown on ropes which have been seeded with immature molluscs. Past techniques for farming mussels have suffered from low product yields because of the low surface area of a mussel rope, and mussel detachment from the rope. Existing devices for solving these problems are cumbersome and difficult to use. The present invention solves the problems by providing a mussel farming device including a planar body with a slot in one side thereof for receiving a rope or mesh bag, an aperture at the center of the body, and a clip in the aperture for attaching the body to the rope or bag. A plurality of such devices are attached to a rope or bag at intervals along its length, thereby providing a large surface area for mussel attachment and creating stable platforms on which the mussels can mature.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to a device for the aquatic farming of molluscs and in particular mussels.  
           [0003]    Historically, like other marine life, mussels have been harvested from the wild, but diminishing stocks, greater demand and the need for a high quality produce have resulted in the growth of a mussel aquaculture industry.  
           [0004]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Existing mollusc farming devices include a cage-like enclosure with a series of trays, which are seeded with immature molluscs. The enclosure is lowered into the water and left in place until the molluscs mature.  
           [0006]    A much simpler and less expensive method of forming mussels is to seed a weighted rope, which is lowered into the water. The mussels remain attached to the rope as they develop, and are easily harvested by winching up the rope and feeding it through a device for stripping the mussels from the rope. This approach to mussel farming suffers from two serious drawbacks: firstly, mussels are sensitive to changes in water temperature and may detach from the rope if the temperature varies too much over the growing season, and secondly, the small surface area of a rope limits the number of mussels which can be grown on one rope. A device that solves both of these problems would significantly increase the yield and result in a positive economic benefit.  
           [0007]    One attempt to increase the yield of a mussel farming rope is disclosed by Canadian Patent Application 2,130,999 (Hitchins et al) published on Sep. 2, 1993. The inventors propose a funnel-shaped, mesh net to be placed at discrete intervals along a rope to provide support and habitat for the mussels. Several obvious problems are anticipated with the use of such a net, including difficulty in attaching the nets to the rope, and the strong likelihood of entanglements.  
         GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide a device to be used with the rope method of farming mussels which will increase crop yields by providing a greater surface area for attachment and growth of the mussels.  
           [0009]    Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will reduce the loss of mussels by detachment from the mussel rope due to water temperature.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide a device, which is easy to use and to attach to a mussel farming rope.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, the invention relates to a mollusc aquaculture device comprising a planar body; an aperture in said body for receiving a rope and a clip in said aperture connected to said body for securing the body at a fixed location on the rope whereby a rope can be inserted through the body into engagement with the clip to affix the body to the rope. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention is described hereinafter in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of an aquacultural device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the aquaculture device of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of the aquaculture device of FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of the aquacultural device of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a side view of the device of FIG. 4;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a top view of a third embodiment of the aquacultural device of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 6;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a top view of a fourth embodiment of the aquacultural device of the present invention,  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a side view of the device of FIG. 8;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a top view of a fifth embodiment of the aquaculture device of the present invention in the open condition;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a top view of the device of FIG. 10 in the closed or use position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a cross section taken generally along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 10;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a latch used in the device of FIGS.  10  to  12 ;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a top view of the latch of FIG. 13;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 15 is a cross section taken generally along line  15 - 15  of FIG. 14;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the device of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 17 is a top view of a seventh embodiment of the device of the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a latch used in the device of FIG. 17.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , a first embodiment of the aquacultural device includes a disc-shaped, planar body generally indicated at  1 , which is reinforced by a flange  2 , which extends upwardly and downwardly from the periphery of the body  1 . The body  1  is further reinforced by top and bottom ribs  3  and  4 , respectively extending radially between the flanges  2  and the sides of a generally bell-shaped aperture  5  in the center of the body  1 . Additional, arcuate reinforcing ribs  7  (FIG. 2) are provided on both the top and bottom of the body  1 . A slot  8  extends between the outer periphery of the body  1  and a straight end  9  of the aperture  5 , so that a rope  10  (FIG. 1) can be introduced into the aperture. It will be noted that the flange  2  continues along the sides of the slot  8  and around the interior of the aperture  5 . A cylindrical clip  12  is provided in the aperture  5  for securing the body  1  to the rope  10 . The clip  12  is slightly smaller in diameter than the rope  10  for gripping the latter.  
         [0032]    As best shown in FIG. 3, the clip  12  is taller than the flange  2 , providing a large rope gripping surface. The clip  12  is connected to the body  1  on the side of the aperture  5  opposite the slot  8  by an arm  14 , which is reinforced by gussets  15  (FIG. 2).  
         [0033]    The side of the clip  12  facing the slot  8  includes an opening bordered by outwardly diverging, resilient arms  17 , which guide the rope  10  into the clip. Reinforcing flanges  18  extend around the middle of the clip  12  from the gussets  15  to the arms  17 . During insertion of a rope  10  into the clip  12 , the arms  17  flex outwardly into generally V-shaped recesses  20  at the outer, slot end of the aperture  5 , and then return to the rest position (FIG. 2) in which the rope is clamped in the clip.  
         [0034]    It will be appreciated that, in its simplest form, the device of FIGS.  1  to  3  need not include a slot  8 . By making the aperture containing the clip  12  sufficiently large, a rope  10  can be threaded through the body  1  and then pressed into the clip  12 .  
         [0035]    Because most embodiments of the invention have several features in common, in the following description of FIGS.  4  to  11 , the same reference numerals are used to identify elements which are the same or similar to elements shown in FIGS.  1  to  3 .  
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in a second embodiment of the invention, the aperture  5  and the slot  8  more or less define one continuous opening in one side of the body  1 . The inner end of the aperture  5  is defined by a semicylindrical wall  21 , which is integral with the body  1 . The outer, slot end of the clip  12  is defined by the diverging inner ends  22  of a pair of resilient arms  23 . The arms  23  extend inwardly from the outer ends of the slot  8  (i.e. the sides of the outer end of the slot), converging through most of their length, and then being substantially parallel proximate their inner ends  22 . The inner ends  25  of the sides of the slot  8  diverge, leaving room for the arms  23  to move apart when a rope  10  is pressed into the slot. Once the rope  10  enters the aperture  5 , the arms  23  spring back to their rest positions (FIG. 4) to lock the body  1  on the rope.  
         [0037]    The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is virtually identical to that of FIGS. 4 and 5, except that the inner ends  26  of the arms  23  and the inner ends  27  of the sides of the slot  8 , respectively are arcuate.  
         [0038]    With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, in a fourth embodiment of the invention, the outer side of the clip is defined by the straight inner end  29  of a resilient, L-shaped arm  30 . The arm  30  extends inwardly from one side of the outer end of the slot  8 , and functions in essentially the same manner as the arms  23  (FIGS. 6 and 7) to retain a rope  10  in the aperture  5 . A recess  32  in one side of the inner end of the slot  8  adjacent the aperture  5  receives the inner end  29  of the arm  30  when the latter is displaced during insertion of a rope  10  into the aperture  5 . Once the rope enters the semicylindrical inner end  21  of the aperture  5 , the arm  30  springs back to the rest position (FIG. 8).  
         [0039]    In use, a plurality of the devices are placed at spaced apart locations on a rope suspended in the water. The bodies  1  provide support for immature mussels as they are growing, and reduce the risk of detachment of the molluscs from the rope.  
         [0040]    A fifth embodiment of the invention ( FIGS.  10  to  15 ) includes a disc-shaped body  34  defined by two semi-circular sections  35  and  36 , which are joined on one side by a hinge  37  defined by a thin area of the flange  2 . The flange  2  continues around the periphery of each section  35  and  36 . A plurality of pins or spears  39  extend inwardly from the semicircular central portions  40  of the flange  2  for penetrating a mesh bag  41 , whereby the disc is securely attached to the bag  41 . A plurality of bags  41  and bodies  34  are suspended from a rope (not shown) for growing mussels.  
         [0041]    The two sections  35  and  36  of the body  34  are locked together by a latch indicated generally at  42  (FIG. 11). As best shown in FIGS.  13  to  15  the latch  42  includes a rectangular cross section, arrow-shaped bolt  44  on one section  35  of the body for sliding through a notch  45  in the other section  36  of the body  34 . When the sections  35  and  36  of the body  34  are closed, the bolt  44  enters a loop  47  in a recess  48  in the section  36 . During entry, the resilient head  49  of the bolt  44  is deformed, and then springs back to its original shape to lock the sections  35  and  36  together.  
         [0042]    A pair of alignment pins  51  (FIGS. 10 and 11) also extend outwardly from the straight side of the section  35 . The pins  51  are similar to the bolt  44 , but do not include heads. When the sections  35  and  36  are closed, the pins  51  slide through notches  52  into loops  47  in recesses  48  in the section  36 .  
         [0043]    Referring to FIG. 16, a sixth embodiment of the device of the present invention, which is similar to the device of FIGS.  1  to  3 , includes a hollow, circular body indicated generally at  55 . The body  55  is defined by three concentric rings  56 ,  57  and  58  interconnected by radially extending ribs  60 . The inner ends of the ribs  60  support a wall  61  defining a bell-shaped aperture similar to the aperture  5  in the body  1  (FIG. 1). A slot  62  extends between the outer ring  56  and the straight end  63  of the wall  61  for introducing a rope  10  into the central aperture.  
         [0044]    A cylindrical clip  65  is provided in the aperture for securing the body  55  on the rope  10 . The clip  65  is connected to the wall  61  by an arm  66 . Access to the clip  65  is gained via an opening in one side of the wall  61 , which is bordered by outwardly diverging, resilient arms  67 . As in the case of the first embodiment of the invention, when a rope  10  is slid into the slot  62 , the arms  67  are forced apart so that the rope enters the aperture, and then the arms return to the rest position (FIG. 16) so that the wall  61  grips the rope  10 .  
         [0045]    The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is similar to that of FIGS.  10  to  12 , except that the two sections  70  and  71  of the body are hollow, i.e. they are defined by concentric, semicircular bars  72 ,  73 ,  74  and  75  interconnected by a plurality of radially extending ribs  76 , and straight inner walls  77  and  78  which abut when the body is closed. The sections  70  and  71  are interconnected by a thin hinge  79 . Pins or spears  80  extend inwardly from the semicircular central areas of the walls  77  and  78  for penetrating a mesh bag  41 , whereby the body is securely attached to the bag.  
         [0046]    The two sections  70  and  71  are locked together in the closed position by three similar latches indicated generally at  81  (FIG. 18). Each latch  81  includes an arrow-shaped bolt  82  extending outwardly form the inner wall  77  of the body section  70 . The head  83  of the bolt  82  includes a longitudinally extending notch  84  in the free end thereof, facilitating flexing of the head during insertion of the head through a notch  86  in the inner wall  78  of the body section  71 , and through a tapering loop or sleeve  87  on the section  71 .  
         [0047]    Referring to FIG. 18, the outermost loop  87  projects upwardly from a plate  88 , which extends from the bottom of the wall  78 . Ribs  90  and  91  extend between the bars  72  and  73 , and the sleeve  87  and the plate  88 , respectively.  
         [0048]    The last embodiment of the invention is used in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The sections  70  and  71  are locked together so that the spears  80  penetrate a mesh bag  41 . The spears  80  can also be used to penetrate a rope for holding the body on a rope. A plurality of bodies are mounted on a bag  41  in this manner, and a plurality of bags are suspended at spaced apart locations from a rope for supporting molluscs.