Patent US4013042A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4013042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Net tending system
Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Co
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Filing: 1975-06-02
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1995-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A supporting apparatus for use in connection with suspending a flexible enclosure into a body of water for containing a valuable product is disclosed. The support is an elongated supporting rod, vertically adjustable in a mount secured to a platform, with the upper portion of the enclosure secured to the mount and the lowermost portion of the enclosure secured to the lower portion of the rod. A plurality of such supports is used to provide the stiffening members to ensure that the enclosure contains a constant volume. A method of exchanging enclosures such that the product remains below the surface of the water, thereby protected from harm or loss is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester Donald Ingold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:18
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K61/00; A01K61/60; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A means for defining a fixed volume of water in which marine life is confined within a larger volume and below the surface of said water, comprising: a flexible enclosure means suitable for the care and propagation of marine life including side walls and a bottom wall formed from flexible porous materials allowing said water to pass through said walls; a plurality of supporting members extending vertically above and below said water surface, said supporting members being spaced horizontally from one another to expand and fixedly support the flexible enclosure means to substantially its maximum volume; upper connector means extending from the upper portion of said supporting members to the uppermost portion of said enclosure side walls to position the uppermost portion of said enclosure above surface; lower connector means extending from the lower portion of said supporting members to the lowermost portion of said enclosure to position the bottom wall a distance below said surface and to define the maximum volume of said enclosure; and a supporting frame, above and adjacent to said water surface, to which the supporting members are adjustably attached wherein said supporting frame supports the weight of the volume defining means and permits adjustments of its volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A means for defining a fixed volume of water in which marine life is confined within a larger volume and below the surface of said water, comprising: a flexible enclosure means suitable for the care and propagation of marine life including side walls and a bottom wall formed from flexible porous materials allowing said water to pass through said walls; a plurality of supporting members extending vertically above and below said water surface, said supporting members being spaced horizontally from one another to expand and fixedly support the flexible enclosure means to substantially its maximum volume; upper connector means extending from the upper portion of said supporting members to the uppermost portion of said enclosure side walls to position the uppermost portion of said enclosure above surface; lower connector means extending from the lower portion of said supporting members to the lowermost portion of said enclosure to position the bottom wall a distance below said surface and to define the maximum volume of said enclosure; and a supporting frame, above and adjacent to said water surface, to which the supporting members are adjustably attached wherein said supporting frame supports the weight of the volume defining means and permits adjustments of its volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
The volume defining means of claim 1 wherein said supporting members, comprise: elongated rod means having a first fastening means located on said lower portion thereof for fastening said lower connector means to said rod means, a second fastening means located on said upper portion thereof for fastening said upper connector means to said rod means, the distance between said fastening means being greater than the length of said enclosure side walls; and mounting means, fixed to said supporting frame, providing surfaces for adjustably supporting said rod means, wherein the volume of the enclosure below said water surface is adjustable while the substantially maximum volume of the flexible enclosure is maintained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The volume defining means of claim 2 wherein said mounting means is provided with a third fastener to which the upper connector is attached and fourth fastener to which the lower connector is attached; and said lower connector means extends from the lower portion of the enclosure through the first fastening means on said rod means to be secured above said surface to the fourth fastener on the mounting means, which arrangement allows the rod means to be adjusted in the mounting means to an elevated position with respect to the liquid surface without bearing the weight of said lower portion of said enclosure while substantially maintaining the substantially maximum volume of said flexible enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The volume defining means of claim 1 wherein said supporting frame floats upon the water surface and substantially surrounds said enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The volume defining means of claim 1 wherein said supporting frame is fixed to the bottom of said larger volume of water as a dock with piling means that supports said frame above the water surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The volume defining means of claim 1 wherein the larger water volume comprises a channel having opposing embankments and said supporting frame is provided by said embankments.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of transfering marine life from a first enclosure, attached to a supporting frame which supports said first enclosure so that the uppermost portion of the enclosure is just sufficiently above a water surface to contain said marine life, to a second enclosure without the loss of said marine life to the water outside of said enclosure, comprising the steps of: reducing the volume beneath the water surface within said first enclosure by raising said first enclosure while the marine life remains in the reduced volume defined by the enclosure below said surface; positioning said second enclosure beneath the raised first enclosure with the uppermost boundaries of said second enclosure located above said water surface and attached to said supporting frame; nd lowering a portion of the uppermost boundaries of the first enclosure below said water surface but within the uppermost boundaries of said second enclosure thereby permitting said marine life to flow out of said enclosure into said second enclosure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of transfering marine life from a first enclosure, attached to a supporting frame which supports said first enclosure so that the uppermost portion of the enclosure is just sufficiently above a water surface to contain said marine life, to a second enclosure without the loss of said marine life to the water outside of said enclosure, comprising the steps of: reducing the volume beneath the water surface within said first enclosure by raising said first enclosure while the marine life remains in the reduced volume defined by the enclosure below said surface; positioning said second enclosure beneath the raised first enclosure with the uppermost boundaries of said second enclosure located above said water surface and attached to said supporting frame; nd lowering a portion of the uppermost boundaries of the first enclosure below said water surface but within the uppermost boundaries of said second enclosure thereby permitting said marine life to flow out of said enclosure into said second enclosure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said marine life is fish.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 7, including: increasing the volume of said second enclosure below said surface by lowering said second enclosure until the uppermost portion of the second enclosure is just sufficiently above the surface to contain said marine life.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |