US4399770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for fish growth acceleration
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-03-22
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Granted: 1983-08-23
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Expires: 2002-03-22
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure is concerned with novel cover arrangements for providing dark stacking and rest areas in confined water volumes for fish growth acceleration, including salmonoids and the like, and involving pluralities of closely spaced covers contacting the water and providing successive dark areas while influencing water circulation by the edges of the covers to swirl feed thereat; forms of these arrangements being adapted both for land-constructed pools or ponds, and confined effective pool or pond volumes in the sea constructed as netted sea cages bordered by floating or exposed walkways and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert H. Knowles
- 👤 Robert H. Rines
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:11
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K61/00; A01K61/70; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/80; Y02A40/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A process for accelerating the growth of fish in a contained water volume bounded by a border at least at the surface of the water comprising providing the water volume with a plurality of light-blocking covers, each in contact with the water surface so as to form a dark area thereunder for the stacking and resting of fish, disposing the covers in the water volume in an array providing a peripheral uncovered water region between the array of covers and the border for the circulation of feed to the fish, and a central uncovered water region within the array of covers, and circulating feed past the edges of the covers in said peripheral water region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for accelerating the growth of fish in a contained water volume bounded by a border at least at the surface of the water comprising providing the water volume with a plurality of light-blocking covers, each in contact with the water surface so as to form a dark area thereunder for the stacking and resting of fish, disposing the covers in the water volume in an array providing a peripheral uncovered water region between the array of covers and the border for the circulation of feed to the fish, and a central uncovered water region within the array of covers, and circulating feed past the edges of the covers in said peripheral water region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 and in which the fish are salmonoids and the like.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the covers is spaced from the adjacent covers and the covers are disposed to provide substantial stillness of the water in said central region during circulation of feed in the peripheral region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 and in which each of the covers is spaced from the adjacent water-volume border and from the adjacent covers to define illuminated feed regions therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which the spaces from the border are small compared with the cover dimension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which the spaces between covers are small compared with the cover dimension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which the edges of the covers contact the water to cause deflection of the circulating water current, carrying the feed into the spaces between the covers and the covers and the borders.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which the covers are held in fixed relative positional relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which the covers are of substantially circular contour and floating on lips contacting the water surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as claimed in claim 9 and in which the covers are provided with internal central apertures defined by lips contacting the water and of cross-dimension small compared with that of the covers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 9 and in which the cover is of substantially convex contour.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which the covers are of substantially trapezoidal contour floating on peripheral lips contacting the water surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process as claimed in claim 12 and in which the lips are of varying height between opposing edges of the covers to provide an air space of increasing dimensions therebetween and to provide an outer inclined cover to roll fish back into the pool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 and in which which the underside of the covers contains an air space above the water surface to assist in keeping the cover clean.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 and in which the air space is of varying dimensions between the edges of the covers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for accelerating the growth of fish comprising in combination, means defining a contained water volume bounded by a border at least at the surface of the water, a plurality of light-blocking covers each disposed within said border in contact with the water surface and forming a dark area thereunder for the stacking and resting of fish, the covers being disposed in an array providing a peripheral uncovered water region between the array of covers and the border, for the circulation of feed to the fish, and a central uncovered water region within the array of covers, and means for circulating feed past the edges of the covers in said peripheral water region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus for accelerating the growth of fish comprising in combination, means defining a contained water volume bounded by a border at least at the surface of the water, a plurality of light-blocking covers each disposed within said border in contact with the water surface and forming a dark area thereunder for the stacking and resting of fish, the covers being disposed in an array providing a peripheral uncovered water region between the array of covers and the border, for the circulation of feed to the fish, and a central uncovered water region within the array of covers, and means for circulating feed past the edges of the covers in said peripheral water region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as defined in claim 16, wherein each of the covers is spaced from the adjacent covers and the covers provide substantial stillness of the water in said central region during circulation of feed in said peripheral region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 16 and in which the covers are at least partly submerged below the water surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 16 and in which the covers extend substantially along a curved line, including within a circle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein each of the covers is spaced from adjacent volume border and from the adjacent covers to define deflecting water-circulating feed regions therebetween.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 20 and in which the spaces from the border and the spaces between successive covers are small compared with the cover dimensions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 21 and in which the covers are of substantially circular contour with respective lips floating each cover of the array of covers on the water surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 20 and in which the covers are of polygon contour with lips floating the covers on the water surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 23 and in which the covers are of substantially trapezoidal shape with an increasing air space thereunder across the cover.
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) | 1986-08-22 | 1987-02-21 | 1987-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-22 | 1991-02-21 | 1991-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-22 | 1995-02-21 | 1995-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |