US 5,303,504 AGranted

System for harvesting maple tree sap and apparatus used therein

OwnerGeorge L. Buzzellinventor

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Abstract

A system for collecting sap from maple trees in which is provided a family of interchangeable connectors or fittings providing quick connect/disconnect features, and a spout member providing for more straight line flow of sap through such a member. An assembly is provided of a male and a female member which allows quick connection of branch lines together, or a branch line to the main line conduit. A drop line assembly is provided which allows for better tapping of sap producing trees to maintain healthy trees. A cap is provided constituting one member of the quick connect/disconnect assembly whereby any part of the sap collection system can be isolated from the rest or for providing a closed system for cleaning or selected from the environment. Adaptors are provided which incorporate the features of the quick connect/disconnect assembly making it possible to convert old sap collecting systems to one using the connectors and fixtures having the quick connect/disconnect features.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A Tee-connector suitable for use in a sap collecting system comprising a body member defined by top and bottom, horizontally disposed, planar surfaces in parallel relationship to one another, planar, vertically disposed, parallel front and back surfaces, and first and second, vertically disposed, parallel sides intersecting with the planes defined by the said front back surfaces, first and second elongated fittings being provided on the said body member and in direct opposition to one another and extending from and connected respectively to said first and second, vertically disposed sides for connection of the ends of flexible, plastic tubing hereto, a horizontally disposed cylindrical-shaped passageway extending through said body member and said first and second, elongated fittings and terminating in and defining open end sin said fittings, a third, centrally disposed fitting being provided on said body member and extending outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance and being perpendicular to the said top, horizontally disposed, planar surface of said body member, an axial cylindrical-shaped passageway being provided in said third fitting and extending into said body member and intersecting with said horizontally disposed passageway, and a supporting member extending downwardly from the said bottoms surface of the said body member for detachably fastening the Tee-connector to the trunk of a tree from which sap is being collected, said downwardly extended supporting member being defined by planar front and back faces which taper downwardly and intersect with one another, and a parallel first and second, vertically disposed, planar sides, an opening being provided in said downwardly extending member and extending through said member from one planar tapered face to the other whereby a nail or like fastening means can be inserted for fastening said Tee-connector to a tree from which sap is being collected and whereby said third fitting on said Tee-connector will be directed away from the trunk of said tree and said third fitting will be directed vertically upwardly for connection of a drop line extending downwardly from a spout member.

A Tee-connector suitable for use in a sap collecting system comprising a body member defined by top and bottom, horizontally disposed, planar surfaces in parallel relationship to one another, planar, vertically disposed, parallel front and back surfaces, and first and second, vertically disposed, a parallel sides intersecting with the planes defined by the said front and back surfaces, first and second elongated fittings being provide on the said body member and in direct opposition to one another and extending from and connected respectively to said first and second, vertically disposed sides for connection of other ends of flexible, plastic tubing thereto, a horizontally disposed cylindrical -shaped passageway extending through said body member and sad first and second, elongated fittings and terminating in and defining open ends in said fittings, a third, centrally disposed fitting being provided on said body member and extending outwardly therefrom a predetermined distance and being perpendicular to the said top, horizontally disposed, planar surface of said body member, an axial cylindrical-shaped passageway being provided in said third fitting and extending into said body member and intersecting with said horizontally disposed passageway, and said third fitting being further defined by a vertically disposed, elongated, circular-shaped member having an outer and inner end, said third fitting terminating at its inner end in a horizontally disposed base provided on said top, horizontally disposed, planar surface of the said body member, said base comparing an upper, horizontally disposed, circular-shaped, planar surface of a predetermined diameter defining a perimeter and a flange extending downwardly from said perimeter and outwardly at a predetermined angle from the vertical terminating at the said top surface of the body member and defining a planar, outwardly tapered surface, and a supporting member extending downwardly from the said bottom surface of the said body member for detachably fastening the Tee-connector to the trunk of a tree from which sap is being collected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.