IE83570B1 - A marine trap - Google Patents

Description

INTRODUCTION The invention relates to fish cages such as cages for fish farming, or marine traps for crustaceans such as lobster, crab, or prawn traps ("pots").

At present, conventional lobster pots comprise a steel frame and chafing rope wound around the frame members and supporting a net. However, such pots suffer from having a short useful life because of rusting of the frame and damage to the chafing rope and net. An example is the lobster pot described in GB2365306A.

Also, cages for fish farming are typically of steel frame construction in their rigid portions. An example is that disclosed in FR28l8093.

The invention is therefore directed towards providing a more robust construction of fish cage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a fish cage comprising a frame and a mesh, wherein the frame comprises frame members having a metal core and a plastics coating, and joints having sockets into which the frame members are inserted.

This provides very high strength frame members, and interconnection in a simple and robust manner.

In one embodiment, the frame members comprise a metal core inserted in a plastics sleeve.

This provides a particularly good combination of strength and corrosion resistance.

In another embodiment, the metal core is of steel material.

In a further embodiment, at least some of the joints are of plastics material.

In one embodiment, at least one frame member is heat sealed at an end to a socket of a joint.

This provides both additional strength to the joints, and helps prevent water ingress to the metal cores.

In another embodiment, the heat seal extends in a ring between the socket and the tube.

In a further embodiment, the frame comprises at least one corner joint having three mutually orthogonal sockets.

In one embodiment, the frames comprises at least one T-joint having a pair of opposed in-line sockets and an orthogonal socket.

In another embodiment, the sleeves are of polyethylene material.

In a further embodiment, the mesh is of stiff p1astics—c0ated steel material.

In one embodiment, the mesh is mounted within the frame.

In another embodiment, the mesh is secured to the frame by ties tying the mesh to frame members.

In a further embodiment, the fish cage is a marine trap comprising a bait holder and an inlet.

In one embodiment, the cage further comprises a protective web of material extending around at least one joint.

In another embodiment, at least one bar extends through the protective web.

In a another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing a fish cage comprising the steps of: inserting metal cores into plastics sleeves to provide bars; and interconnecting the bars by inserting the bars into sockets of joints.

In one embodiment, the joints are of plastics material.

In another embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of applying heat in a ring around a joint socket to heat fuse the socket to the bar.

In a further embodiment, the heating temperature is in a range of 120°C to 140°C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. l is a perspective view from above of a lobster pot of the invention in which mesh and trap details have been largely omitted for clarity; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing inlets and a bait holder of the pot; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a corner joint in more detail and connection of a mesh to the frame; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a corner joint in more detail; Fig. 5 is a cross—sectional view of a frame bar; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another joint of the frame; Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) are perspective views showing joint protective covers; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative lobster pot of the invention.

Description of the Embodiments Referring to Fig. l a lobster pot 1 of the invention is illustrated. The pot 1 comprises a frame 2 and a stiff mesh cage 3. The frame 2 comprises a series of longitudinal bars 4 forming a planar base and an arch, a pair of transverse bars 5, a pair of arch bars 6 at "gable ends", and an end opening arched bar 7. The bars are interconnected as illustrated by T—joints l0 and corner joints ll. The mesh cage 3 is only illustrated generally in Fig. 1. In this embodiment an end opening is formed by an arched bar and mesh panel, however, another arrangement such as one having a mesh panel only may be used.

Referring to Fig. 2 the pot l also comprises lobster inlets 20 and 21 and a bait holder 22, all of nylon netting material. These are of conventional construction. A hook 23 is attached to the end of an elasticated rope 24 which is wrapped at its far end around the bait holder 22. The rope 24 is arranged so that when the hook 23 is pulled over to connect to mesh within the arched bar 7 to hold it closed, it tightens around the bait holder 22 to prevent access.

As shown in Fig. 3 the cage is of stiff plastics-coated wire mesh. It is self-supporting, having a configuration fitting within the frame 2 and merely being connected to it by deformable metal ties 30. In another embodiment these may be of the plastics single- use type referred to as "tie-wraps". However they may be of any other suitable material. Because the mesh 3 is stiff and self—supporting extensive connections to the frame 2 are not required.

Referring also to Figs. 4 to 6, the bars are interconnected during manufacture by simply push-fitting the end of a bar into a socket 40 of the corner joint ll or a socket 50 of the T-joint 10. This is a friction fit. The connection is completed by applying heat at 120°C to 140°C in a ring 41 or 51 around the end ofthe socket 40 or 50. This thermally fuses the socket to the bar, which is of polyethylene material on the outside.

As shown in Fig. 5 each bar 4, 5, 6, and 7 has a steel core 45 of 13 mm diameter fitted tightly into a polyethylene sleeve 46 having an internal diameter of 13 mm and an outside diameter of 20 mm. Thus, the bars 4, 5, 6, and 7 have a high strength provided by the steel core 45. The arched bars are produced by push—fitting steel cores 45 into sleeves 46 and then bending them. The steel core is protected from corrosion by the polyethylene sleeve 46, which also provides a degree of mechanical strength. Also, the polyethylene sleeve 46 allows the bar to be bonded to the relevant joint 10 or 11 with a high strength friction fit and heat fusion bond which prevents ingress of water and maintains structural integrity with repeated impact on the sea bed, quay, and boat.

Referring to Fig. 7(a), the corner joints ll may have additional protection provided by a strip 60 of rubber material wrapped around the joint and having one bar extending through it at an aperture 61. An alternative arrangement is shown in 7(b), in which the strip 60 is held in place by having two bars extending through it at apertures 71. Plastics ties may be used to assist with holding the strips in place. The sleeves 60 provide additional protection at the corner joints, absorbing much of the impact forces and thus helping to prevent slippage of a bar out of a joint socket.

Referring to Fig. 8 an alternative lobster pot, 100, of the invention is illustrated. The pot 100 has a frame ll0 with an additional central arched bar l0l for increased strength. This arrangement requires cross-shaped joints 102. The joints 102 have sockets similar to those of the joints l0 and 11 and the bars are connected in a similar manner. In this embodiment, the longitudinal bars which engage the arched bar 101 are shorter than the equivalent bars of the pots, and are indicated by the numeral 103.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a marine trap which:— has a very high strength by virtue of the frame 2 and the stiff cage 3, is not prone to corrosion by virtue of the bar and mesh construction, and does not require chafing ropes because the cage is stiff.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail. For example, the bar sleeve/coating may be of any other suitable corrosion-resistant material such as ABS, polypropylene, or nylon. The steel may be high tensile steel. Also, the same constructional features could be applied to other fish cages, such as fish farming cages. In the latter embodiment the frame may be the "rigid" part of the fish cage, possibly supporting downwardly-depending netting.

Claims (1)

1.Claims A fish cage comprising a frame and a mesh, wherein the frame comprises frame members having a metal core and a plastics coating, and joints having sockets into which the frame members are inserted. A fish cage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame members comprise a metal core inserted in a plastics sleeve. A fish cage as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the metal core is of steel material. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the joints are of plastics material. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one frame member is heat sealed at an end to a socket of a joint. A fish cage as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heat seal extends in a ring between the socket and the tube. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises at least one corner joint having three mutually orthogonal sockets. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frames comprises at least one T-joint having a pair of opposed in-line sockets and an orthogonal socket. A fish cage as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the sleeves are of polyethylene material. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mesh is of stiff plastics-coated steel material. A fish cage as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mesh is mounted within the frame. A fish cage as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mesh is secured to the frame by ties tying the mesh to frame members. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fish cage is a marine trap comprising a bait holder and an inlet. A fish cage as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a protective web of material extending around at least one joint. A fish cage as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one bar extends through the protective web. A marine trap substantially as described with reference to