FR3064883A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PRESENTATION OF LIVE AQUATIC ORGANISMS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for dynamic presentation of living aquatic organisms, this device comprising a reservoir (1) at least partially substantially transparent, having a bottom (10) and an opening (11) at its end opposite to the bottom, the reservoir having in its bottom a plurality of holes (40) for the passage of water and / or air under pressure.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

064 883

52963

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : A 01 K 63/00 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 05.04.17. (© Applicant (s): NORMANDIE APPATS Company by (© Priority: simplified actions - FR. @ Inventor (s): LOPUSZANSKI MICHEL. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 12.10.18 Bulletin 18/41. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): NORMANDIE APPATS Company by related: simplified actions. ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): CABINET BENECH.

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PRESENTATION OF LIVING AQUATIC ORGANISMS.

(5g) The present invention relates to a device for the dynamic presentation of living aquatic organisms, this device comprising a reservoir (1) at least partially substantially transparent, comprising a bottom (10) and an opening (11) at its end opposite the bottom , the reservoir comprising in its bottom a plurality of holes (40) intended for the passage of water and / or pressurized air.

FR 3 064 883 - A1

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC PRESENTATION OF LIVING AQUATIC ORGANISMS

The present invention relates to a device and a method for the dynamic presentation of living aquatic organisms.

The invention finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application for sea worms, in particular American worms which are used as live bait for recreational fishing at sea.

These organisms are generally delivered to the points of sale in large cardboard boxes allowing the transport of more than a hundred live worms per box.

These worms are then repackaged at points of sale, when purchased by a consumer.

In order to facilitate the work of sellers, packaging and long-term preservation systems have already been proposed for sea worms, comprising a stack of retention trays and means for supplying water recycled from above the battery. Mention may in particular be made in this regard of documents FR 2 847 767 and FR 2 963 871.

Each of these trays constitutes a sales package, in which the worms are packaged in small quantities.

These packaging systems are fully satisfactory because they allow the worms to be stored for several months while avoiding any manipulation during the sale, which saves sellers time.

However, potential buyers know that these fishing worms are fragile organisms that are unable to live outside their natural environment for a long time. However, these packaging do not allow buyers to easily control the health of the worms.

In some points of sale, the worms are kept in a tank, which should allow buyers to see them well before making their purchase.

However, this is not the case in practice because the natural instinct of these worms is to hide. They can for example slip behind stones, algae or even bury themselves in the marine substrate present at the bottom of the aquarium, position themselves in a hidden corner of the aquarium or even regroup in a tight ball, thus making their invisible ends. In addition, in many cases, these worms merge with the relief and the color of the seabed and they are all the less visible to a buyer that they remain flat on the ground and flee from the light.

Thus, even presented in a fishpond, it is not easy for a user to see these sea worms correctly, so that they can control their state of health.

The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device and a method for the dynamic presentation of living aquatic organisms, making them visible to consumers, while guaranteeing their good state of health.

Thus, the subject of the invention is in particular a

device dynamic presentation of organizations aquatic alive, this device comprising a tank at least partially substantially

transparent, comprising a bottom and an opening at its end opposite the bottom, the tank comprising in its bottom a plurality of holes intended for the passage of water and / or air under pressure.

Thus, when the tank is filled with water, currents are generated inside the tank, which makes it possible to move the aquatic organisms and to make them always perfectly visible to an outside observer placed near the device and this , whatever its angle of view.

Particularly advantageously, the

device also includes a tube placed at Inside of the tank, open to both ends, and at least partially substantially

transparent, the lower end of the latter being positioned at a distance from the bottom of the tank and plumb with the holes, while its upper opening is at least partly located closer

from the bottom of tank that the upper end of the tank. Thanks to this provision it is possible a

Once the tank is full of water, create updrafts and downdrafts inside the tank and thus fully control the positioning and movement of aquatic organisms such as worms in the device.

It is thus possible to obtain a movement of the worms from bottom to top or from top to bottom, whose speed can be regulated and which will give the impression that the sea worms dance a strange ballet.

This device thus makes it possible to create special effects contributing to the development of the aquatic organisms it contains.

In advantageous embodiments, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following provisions:

the holes are perforations of a grid whose section is inscribed in that of the tube;

- the tank is cylindrical;

- the tube is cylindrical;

- the reservoir and the tube are substantially concentric;

- the device comprises a removable cover;

- the tube is integral with the cover;

- the wall of the tube is partially cut in its upper part;

- The connection between the cover and the tube is made by the uncut upper part of the tube;

- At its upper end, the wall of the tube is cut on a sector between 180 ° and 300 ° and, preferably, about 270 °;

- the volume of the tube represents from 30 to 50% of the volume of the reservoir;

the distance between the bottom of the tank and the lower end of the tube is preferably between 2 and 3 centimeters.

- the lower part of the wall of the tube is cut so that the distance between the bottom of the tank and the lower end of the tube is shorter in the area directly above the uncut upper part of the wall than in the area directly above the cut-out upper part of the wall.

- The device comprises means for lighting the tank.

- comprising a discharge opening in the wall of the tank, and an anti-clearance device for aquatic organisms.

The invention also provides a process for the dynamic presentation of living aquatic organisms in which a device according to the invention is filled with water and currents are generated in water, by means of water jets and / or air, so as to entrain said organisms according to these currents.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of embodiments of a device according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the device according to the invention in operation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view partially illustrating the upper part of the device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating in more detail the lower part of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of a device illustrated in FIG. 1.

The elements common to the different figures will be designated by the same references.

Reference is first made to Figures 1 and 2 which show an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

This comprises an external reservoir 1, for example made of transparent plexiglass, here of cylindrical shape.

However, the invention is not limited to this shape and the reservoir could generally have a parallelepiped shape.

This tank has at one end a bottom 10, surrounded by a wall 14, and it is open at its end 11 opposite the bottom.

The bottom 10 is intended to rest on a support when it is in operation and the open end 11 then constitutes the upper end of the tank 1.

Inside the tank 1, a tube 2 is arranged here which is, in turn, open at its two ends 20 and 21.

The reservoir 1, like the tube 2, is preferably made of a transparent material. They can also be made only partially from a transparent or substantially transparent material.

They may in particular be made of plastic or glass.

When the reservoir is cylindrical in shape, its height may for example 2 to 3 times greater than its diameter.

Furthermore, the diameter of the tube 2 may represent approximately between 30 and 50% of the diameter of the reservoir 2.

For example, the tank 1 has a diameter of 30 cm and a height of 66 cm, while the tube 2 has a diameter of about 12 cm and a

height of 63 cm. The tube 2 is here section round but The invention is not limited to this mode of production. Tube 2 is maintained inside of the tank

so that its end 20 closest to the bottom 10 of the tank is away from the latter.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, this is obtained by hooking the tube 2 to the removable cover 3, intended to at least partially close the opening 11.

The distance between the lower end 20 of the tube and the bottom 10 of the tank is in particular between 2 and 3 cm.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also show that a grid 4 is provided in the bottom 10 of the tank 1.

This grid will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. It is pierced with a plurality of holes which are intended for the passage of water and / or air under pressure.

Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment and the holes could be made directly in the bottom 10 of the tank.

Thus, in operation, the device is connected to means for supplying air or pressurized water which make it possible to create air or water jets through the holes in the grid.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the tube 2 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the grid 4 which is here circular in shape and whose diameter is inscribed in that of the tube.

This arrangement will make it possible to create an ascending current inside the tube 2 when the device is filled with water and in operation, the water then descends into the peripheral annular space located between the external wall of the tube 2 and the wall. tank internal 1.

Finally, the device comprises a box 6 mistletoe is disposed above the cover 3.

This box is intended to house lighting means thus guiding means of supplying electricity for the latter.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cover 3 and the box 6 preferably have a section similar to that of the tank 1. The invention is however not limited to this embodiment.

These figures also show the presence of an opening 12 in the wall 14 of the tank 1. This opening opens into a conduit 13 and makes it possible to evacuate the overflow of water present in the tank 1, when the device is in operation. A 12 'net prevents the passage of worms.

This opening is here carried out vis-à-vis the vertical part 23 of the tube which will be described later.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which illustrates in greater detail the upper opening 21 of the tube, opposite the opening 20, as well as the cover 3.

FIG. 3 shows that the upper part of the tube 2, that is to say the one which is furthest from the bottom 10, is cut on a sector comprised between 180 ° -300 ° and here equal to 270 °. This recess is made over part of the height of the tube, in particular between 10 and 20% of its height, the tube being kept intact at its upper end 24 and this, over a height of a few centimeters, to form a section. 22.

It is by this cylindrical section 22 that the tube 2 is hung in the cover 3.

This section 22 is for example force-fitted into a central opening 30 of the cover 3.

Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment and other means could be provided for hanging the tube 2 on the cover 3.

In particular, the tube could have a totally cylindrical shape, vertical fasteners being provided on the edges of the opening 21 to allow the tube to be hooked to the cover.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the vertical part 23, which connects the section 22 to the rest of the tube, makes it possible to provide the mechanical resistance necessary for the integral connection between the tube 2 and the cover 3.

Furthermore, as confirmed in Figures 1 and 2, the edges of the opening 21 are located closer to the bottom 10 of the tank than the upper end 11 of the tank.

Figure 4 illustrates in more detail the lower part of the device according to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here.

It illustrates the grid 4 present in the bottom 10 of the tank as well as the tube 2, positioned directly above the grid 4.

As indicated above, the lower end 20 is away from the bottom of the tank so as to provide a passage between the tube and the bottom through which the water rises in the tube.

Furthermore, due to the presence of the vertical part 23, the water flow is limited between the inner wall of the tank and the outer wall of this vertical part like the outer wall of the tube located directly above this vertical part. .

Thus, at the level of the lower opening 20 of the tube, the current is also quite weak below the vertical part 23 and sometimes insufficient to drive the worms inside the tube.

This is why FIG. 4 shows that the lower end 20 has a particular profile.

With this profile, the space between the bottom 10 of the tank and the lower end 20 of the tube is less important below the vertical wall 23 than on the rest of the periphery of the tube, for example of the order of 1.5 cm.

In other words, on a sector corresponding substantially to that on which the upper part of the tube is cut, the lower part of the tube is also cut, the hollowed part carrying the reference 25 and the rest of the lower end, the reference 26.

Thanks to this arrangement, a suction force is created between the bottom of the tube and the part 26 of the tube, which allows the worms to pass

positioned in this indoor area of 40 tube 2. which are Grid 4 is here breakthrough 16 holes distributed by pair sure spread rays of 45 ° one the other.

For example, the perforated grid may have a diameter of 12 cm and the holes a diameter of 3 mm.

The operation of the device will be as follows.

First, the tank is filled with water, so that its level 15 is located above the edge of the opening 21 of the tube 2. It is natural or reconstituted sea water.

Preferably, the height between the level 15 and the opening 21 is between 2 and 6 cm.

Sea worms 5 are then introduced inside the tube 2.

Finally, the pressurized air or water inlet means are actuated so as to inject water or air continuously into the tube 2, thanks to the jets which are generated at the level of the grid. 4 and which are schematically illustrated by the arrows F in FIG. 2.

The water or air jets generated at the bottom 10 create an ascending current (of adjustable flow) in the tube 2 which makes it possible to bring the water up inside the tube 2 until the opening 21 The water then emerges by overflowing through this opening and spreads in the space between the outer wall of the tube 2 and the inner wall of the tank 1.

This creates a downdraft which will then feed from the bottom of the tube 2 the upward current created therein. This circulation of water is allowed thanks to the space cleared between the lower opening 20 of the tube 2 and the bottom 10 of the tank.

The marine worms which have a density close to water will be automatically entrained by the ascending and descending water currents and will therefore have their path imposed inside the device according to the invention.

This ensures a complete and perfect vision of the worms' body, this 360 ° vision having an attractive effect on potential buyers.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention makes it possible to create special animations and special effects such as weightlessness, tournaments, illusions of choreographic dance or spin effects.

This can be obtained by modulating the speed of the current and its direction, by adjusting the flow rate of the jets and their direction, in particular by changing the distribution and the density of the holes in the grid.

These effects can also be increased by appropriately using the lighting means 60 present in the cover 6.

By way of example, a grid of the type illustrated in FIG. 4, having a diameter of 12 cm and holes whose diameter is 3 mm makes it possible to deliver a flow rate of 20 liters per minute. This makes it possible to generate an ascending current which will cause the worms to rise very slowly in the tank until almost weightless organisms which contort elegantly in open water.

This controlled slow motion highlights the shape, color and movement of marine organisms.

The presence of the tube 2 inside the tank makes it possible to create an upward movement and a downward movement which are perfectly controlled. However, the invention is not limited to this mode of implementation and the device could be devoid of tube, the water or air jets creating currents allowing movement of the worms inside the tank.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which describes an alternative embodiment of the thread 12 ′ illustrated in FIG. 1. As indicated above, it makes it possible to prevent the worms from passing through the overflow opening 12.

When the tube 2 is present, this risk is limited since the vertical wall 23 prevents the passage of the worms. This risk is much greater in the absence of the tube. However, the worms can then clump against the net and thus block the opening 12, which is detrimental to the proper functioning of the device.

To avoid these drawbacks, FIG. 5 shows an anti-crossing device formed by a box 7 delimited by four vertical walls 71 to 74 and the upper part of which is open and the lower part is closed by a grid 70 arranged substantially horizontally (or parallel to the bottom 10 of the tank).

This grid may have relatively wide meshes, for example 2 mm.

The box is positioned against the interior wall of the tank so that the grid 70 is located under the overflow opening 12, so as to be a few millimeters below the surface of the water when the tank is filled with water. 'water.

Thus, the vertical walls 71 to 74 and the grid 70 prevent the aquatic organisms from passing from the tank into the opening 12, without the passage of water being prevented. Furthermore, the worms do not clump against the grid.

In fact, aquatic organisms such as swimming marine worms naturally follow the evacuation current and then encounter an obstacle with this grid, even with a wide mesh, because the position for fleeing is not favorable to them. In fact, in a swimming situation, a certain number of worms try to escape but their heads, which are constantly waving under the grid, prevent them from accessing a precise mesh. Furthermore, in open water the worms have no support. Therefore, the grid 70 becomes an unstoppable obstacle to the passage of worms while improving the passage of water due to its enlarged meshes. Furthermore, undesirable waste such as the mucus secreted by the worms, with very sticky properties, contained in the water in the tank, passes through the grid in less quantity due to the very high position of the latter in the tank.

As is obvious and as it follows from the above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments more particularly described. On the contrary, it embraces all the variants thereof and in particular those in which a water cooling and / or filtration device is associated with the device according to the invention.

Claims (17)

1. A device for the dynamic presentation of living aquatic organisms, this device comprising a tank (1) at least partially substantially transparent, comprising a bottom (10) and an opening (11) at its end opposite the bottom, the tank comprising in its bottom a plurality of holes (40) for the passage of water and / or pressurized air. 2. Device according to claim 1, also comprising a tube (2) placed inside the tank, open at least partially the lower end with its two ends, and at substantially transparent, (20) of the latter being positioned at a distance from the bottom of the tank and plumb with the holes, while its upper opening (21) is at least partly located closer to the bottom of the tank than the upper end of the tank. 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the holes are perforations of a grid whose section is inscribed in that of the tube. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tank is cylindrical. 5. Device according to any one of claims 2 cylindrical. 4, in which the tube is 6. Device according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the reservoir and the tube are substantially concentric. 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising a removable cover (3). 8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the tube (2) is integral with the cover. 9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the wall of the tube (2) is partially cut in its upper part. 10. Device according to claim 9, in which the connection between the cover and the tube is produced by the uncut upper part of the tube. 11. Device according to claims 9 and 10 wherein, at its upper end, the wall of the tube is cut on a sector between 180 and 320 ° and preferably about 270 °. 12. Device according to one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the volume of the tube represents from 30 to 50% of the volume of the reservoir. 13. Device according to one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the distance between the bottom (10) of the tank (1) and the lower end (20) of the tube (2) is between 2 and 3 centimeters. 14. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the lower part of the wall of the tube is cut so that the distance between the bottom of the tank and the lower end of the tube is shorter in the zone (26) directly above the uncut upper part of the wall (23) than in the zone (25) directly above the cut out part of the wall. 15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, comprising lighting means (60) of the tank. 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a discharge opening (12) in the wall (14) of the tank, and an anti-franking device (12 ', 7) for aquatic organisms. dynamic which we 1 'a of 1 water of air, of according to these 17. A method of presenting living aquatic organisms in water fills a device according to claims 1 to 16 and is generated in currents, by means of water jets and / or so as to entrain said current organisms. 1/3 Fig. 3 3/3