# US 9,433,156 B2 · Sap collecting arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,156 B2 - Document ID: US9433156B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/625,581 - Filed: 2015-02-18 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-10 - Assignees: Le Groupe Dsd Inc. - Applicants: Le Groupe Dsd Inc. - Inventors: Leandre Vachon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433156B2 ## CPC - A01G 23/14: Tapping-spouts; Receptacles for juices - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) ## Abstract The arrangement (100) includes a sap collecting device (102) and a slide clamp (104). The sap collecting device (102) includes a tubing fixation portion (140) over which the free end of the flexible tubing (106) can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement. The slide clamp (104) includes an annular sleeve portion (180) that is slidingly insertable over the unexpanded outer diameter of the flexible tubing (106) and removably positionable proximate the free end of the flexible tubing (106), when the free end of the flexible tubing (106) is inserted over the tubing fixation portion (140), to constrict the free end in a withdrawal-resisting frictional engagement with the tubing fixation portion (140). The slide clamp (104) also includes a plug portion (182) having an outer peripheral wall surface (206) on which the free end of the flexible tubing (106) is removably insertable to prevent air and contaminants from entering. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sap collecting arrangement (100) for directing sap coming from a tapped hole (110) of a tree (112) into an open free end of a flexible tubing (106) operable under vacuum conditions, the flexible tubing (106) having an unexpanded inner diameter and an unexpanded outer diameter, the arrangement (100) including: a sap collecting device (102) having an inner sap channel (120) extending between an inlet and an outlet, the sap collecting device (102) including a tubing fixation portion (140) defining a part of the inner sap channel (120) and over which the free end of the flexible tubing (106) can be removably inserted with a frictional engagement, the tubing fixation portion (140) including an inner peripheral wall surface (142), an outer peripheral wall surface (144) having a circular cross section, and an opened tip (146), the outer peripheral wall surface (144) having at least a section with a diameter larger than the unexpanded inner diameter of the flexible tubing (106); and a slide clamp (104) having a monolithic construction, the slide clamp (104) including: an annular sleeve portion (180) having an inner peripheral wall surface (190) with a circular cross section, the sleeve portion (180) being slidingly insertable over the unexpanded outer diameter of the flexible tubing (106) and being removably positionable proximate the free end of the flexible tubing (106), when the free end of the flexible tubing (106) is inserted over the tubing fixation portion (140), to constrict the free end of the flexible tubing (106) in a withdrawal-resisting frictional engagement with the tubing fixation portion (140); and a plug portion (182) having an outer peripheral wall surface (206) with a circular cross section, the outer peripheral wall surface (206) of the plug portion (182) having at least a section with a diameter larger than the unexpanded inner diameter of the flexible tubing (106) and on which the free end of the flexible tubing (106) is removably insertable with a frictional engagement to prevent air and contaminants from entering. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral wall surface (144) of the tubing fixation portion (140) is smooth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral wall surface (206) of the plug portion (182) is smooth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the outer peripheral wall surface (144) of the tubing fixation portion (140) generally decreases towards the opened tip (146). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral wall surface (190) of the sleeve portion (180) varies between a minimum inner diameter and a maximum inner diameter, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral wall surface (190) being maximum at opposite side edges of the sleeve portion (180) and the inner diameter being minimum in-between the opposite side edges, the minimum diameter being equal or more than the unexpanded outer diameter of the flexible tubing (106). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral wall surface (190) of the sleeve portion (180) and the outer peripheral wall surface (206) of the plug portion (182) each have an axis of symmetry (210, 212), both axes of symmetry (210, 212) being substantially orthogonal from one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug portion (182) includes a socket opened only at a tip of the plug portion (182), the socket having an inner peripheral wall surface (192) with a circular cross section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 7, wherein the inner peripheral wall surface (192) of the plug portion (182) is smooth. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the slide clamp (104) is made of a plastic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the sap collecting device (102) is a spout (300). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 10, wherein the spout (300) includes an elongated tubular portion (130) defining another part of the inner sap channel (120), the tubular portion (130) including an inner peripheral wall surface (132), an outer peripheral wall surface (134) with a circular cross section, and an opened front tip (136) defining the inlet of the inner sap channel (120), the outer peripheral wall surface (134) of the spout (300) having a diameter that is generally increasing from the opened front tip (136) rearwards, the tubular portion (130) having a front section (160) that is radially flexible, the tubular portion (130) being partially and removably insertable into the tapped hole (110) with a frictional engagement generated by a contact of the outer peripheral wall surface (134) with an inner surface (162) of the tapped hole (110). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 11, wherein the sap collecting arrangement (100) includes at least one of the following features: the outer peripheral wall surface (134) of the tubular portion (130) is smooth; the inner sap channel (120) of the spout (300) is substantially rectilinear between its inlet end and its outlet end; the spout (300) has a monolithic construction and is preferably made of a plastic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 11, wherein the spout (300) further includes a substantially flat external handgrip (150) located between the tubular portion (130) and the tubing fixation portion (140). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 13, wherein the inner sap channel (120) is offset with reference to a geometrical center of the handgrip (150). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 13, wherein the handgrip (150) includes a rear side surface forming an annular seat (174) all around the outer peripheral wall surface (144) of the tubing fixation portion (140). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 11, wherein the tubular portion (130) has a wall thickness between its inner peripheral wall surface (132) and its outer peripheral wall surface (134) that increases lengthwise, the thickness being at a minimum at the opened front tip (136). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 16, wherein the wall thickness is at a maximum in a rear section (164) of the tubular portion (130), the wall thickness being substantially constant along the rear section (164). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sap collecting arrangement (17) as defined in claim 17, wherein the sap collecting arrangement (100) includes at least one of the following features: the diameter of the inner peripheral wall surface (132) of the tubular portion (130) is at a maximum in the rear section (164); the diameter of the inner peripheral wall surface (132) of the tubular portion (130) is substantially constant along the rear section (164); the wall thickness of the tubular portion (130) at the opened front tip (136) is about 1/32 inch or less. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 11, wherein the inner peripheral wall surface (132) of the tubular portion (130) has a diameter that is generally increasing from the opened front tip (136) rearwards. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The sap collecting arrangement (100) as defined in claim 1, wherein the plug portion (182) includes a socket opened only at a tip of the plug portion (182), the socket having an inner peripheral wall surface (192) with a circular cross section to receive an opened tip (136) of a tubular portion (130) when unconnected from the tapped hole (110), the opened tip (136) being removably insertable in a friction-tight and sealed manner into the socket of the plug portion (182), the inner peripheral wall surface (192) of the plug portion (182) being preferably smooth.