Reef ball
OwnerTodd R. Barber, Gerald L. Barberinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method and apparatus for producing artificial reef modules which can be deposited on the ocean floor for permitting growth of coral and other marine growth thereon. The reef balls can be left permanently at a particular location to develop an artificial reef or can be harvested for use in aquariums.
Claims12
The method of constructing artificial reefs from hollow structures for attracting marine life such as coral and fish comprising the steps of:
- producing a separable mold of a shape corresponding to a desired external shape of an exterior wall of said hollow structure,
- placing an inflatable bladder in said mold;
- inflating said bladder to a shape corresponding to the shape of a desired interior wall of said hollow structure,
- placing hole forming structures between said bladder and said mold at desired locations,
- filling the space between said bladder and said mold with cement, allowing said cement to assume the shape of the spaced between said bladder and said mold and upon setting producing a rigid hollow structure with holes provided therein,
- removing said mold from said hollow structure,
- floating said hollow structure with said inflated bladder therein to a desired location in a body of water,
- deflating said bladder allowing said hollow structure to settle on the bottom of said body of water, and
- removing said bladder from said structure wherein a hollow structure with openings provided therein rest on the bottom of said body of water for attracting marine life.
An artificial reef system comprising:
- a generally spherical shell,
- said shell being formed of cementitious material,
- holes provided in said shell for providing ingress and egress of fish into the interior of said spherical shell,
- an inflated bladder attached to said shell for making said shell buoyant so that said spherical shell can be floated to a desired location whereupon said bladder can be deflated for allowing said spherical shell to be deposited on the bottom of said body of water.
An artificial reef for promoting the growth of marine life on the surface thereof while submerged in a body of water so that said reef with said growth thereon can be harvested and transported to another location comprising:
- a substantially spherical structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface,
- a cavity provided in said structure,
- holes provided in said structure for providing ingress and egress to fish into said cavity, said holes having an inlet and an outlet and a concave radially extending surface defined between said inlet and outlet of said holes, and
- said wall being constructed of cementitious material adapted to support marine growth thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.