# US 10,117,480 B2 · Aquaculture basket clip and line protector

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- Number: US 10,117,480 B2
- Document ID: US10117480B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/793,962
- Filed: 2017-10-25
- Published: 2018-04-05
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-10
- Assignees: Seapa Pty Ltd
- Applicants: Seapa Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Garry Thompson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117480B2

## CPC

- A44B 11/22: Buckle with fixed prong
- A01K 61/54: of bivalves, e.g. oysters or mussels
- A01K 61/55: Baskets therefor
- A44B 11/24: Buckle with movable prong
- F16B 2/08: using bands
- F16B 2/20: Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
- F16G 11/02: with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable
- H02G 7/05: Suspension arrangements or devices for electric cables or lines
- Y02A 40/81: Aquaculture, e.g. of fish
- Y10T 24/34: Combined diverse multipart fasteners
- Y10T 24/44: Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
- A44B: BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE (fastenings specially adapted for footwear A43C)
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- F16G: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Disclosed is a protector for a clip and line used to suspend aquaculture baskets or like equipment in water. In particular, the protector provides a sacrificial element between the clip and the line that is cheap to manufacture and easy to replace. While an application of the present invention is in oyster cultivation, it could equally well be applied to any process involving the line suspension of an article in water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oyster basket clip and clamp assembly for attaching an oyster basket to a long line in an aquatic environment, comprising:
a basket clip configured to engage the oyster basket, said clip having a first end configured to engage the oyster basket, said clip having a second end opposite said first end, said second end including a hook; and
a clamp configured to engage the long line, said clamp including a generally cylindrical body having:
an upper portion;
a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being configured to snap-fit together to clamp around the long line;
a first end;
a second end;
a central longitudinal axis through said first and second ends; and
a channel along the central longitudinal axis, each of said first and second ends having a radially extending abutment surface to limit movement of said clip along the central longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body when said clip is engaged about said clamp, said hook of said clip having an interior width greater than an outer diameter of said cylindrical body between said first and second ends.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portions of said clamp are completely separable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portions of said clamp are hinged together.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said clamp is configured to completely encircle the long line when engaged thereto.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said abutment surface of each of said upper and lower portions have a generally circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body includes an exterior surface extending from said abutment surface at said first end to said abutment surface of said second end, said exterior surface being smooth.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel includes a surface configured to inhibit longitudinal movement of the clamp along the long line.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein said surface of said channel includes a plurality of projections.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein said surface of said channel includes a plurality of spikes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said upper and lower portions include a projection to engage with a recess in the other of said portions to lockably engage said upper and lower portions together around the long line.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein said projection is a locking tab.

### Claim 12

A clamp for engaging a basket clip to a long line in an aquatic environment, said clamp comprising:
a generally cylindrical body including: an upper portion;
a lower portion, at least one of said upper and lower portions including a projection to engage with a recess in the other of said portions to lockably engage said upper and lower portions together around the long line; a first end; a second end;
a central longitudinal axis through said first and second ends—and a channel along the central longitudinal axis, said channel having a generally cylindrical shape with a curved inner surface when said upper and lower portions are engaged with each other, said curved inner surface including a plurality of projections configured to inhibit longitudinal movement of the clamp along the long line, each of said first and second ends having a radially extending abutment surface to limit movement of the clip along the central longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body when the clip is engaged about said clamp; and
an exterior surface extending from said abutment surface at said first end to said abutment surface of said second end, said exterior surface being smooth.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The clamp of claim 12, wherein said upper and lower portions of the clamp are completely separable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The clamp of claim 12, wherein said upper and lower portions of the clamp are hinged together.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The clamp of claim 12, wherein the clamp is configured to completely encircle the long line when engaged thereto.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The clamp of claim 12, wherein said abutment surface of each of said upper and lower portions have a generally circular cross section in a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The clamp of claim 12, wherein said plurality of projections are a plurality of spikes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The clamp of claim 12, wherein said projection is a locking tab.