A method of growing a shellfish

Abstract

The invention in a preferred embodiment comprises a mould (1) for growing a shellfish. The mould has a clip (3) and a substrate (2) and is such that the clip is adapted to hold a shellfish spat so that it is able to grow beyond the clip to become an adult. The substrate (2) has 3-dimensional brand insignia (5) arranged such that when the spat is held by the clip and grows towards adulthood its shell develops against the insignia to produce a 3-dimensional brand in the shell.

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] A Method of Growing a Shellfish.

[0003] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates to a method of growing an oyster or other shellfish such that its shell is caused to grow to present an alphanumeric and / or pictorial graphic, for example a brand name, pictorial device or logo.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Shellfish, for example oysters, are a well-known source of food. They may be grown in an aquafarm and may develop from larvae to a mature oyster in the space of approximately 3 years depending on growing conditions. It is known to cause an oyster to grow in a tray of cup-like moulds where each cup has 3-dimensional contours on its surface in the shape of brand insignia. As the shell of the oyster develops, it forms against the contours to effectively produce a 3-dimensional image of the brand on the shell. Therefore, the customers of an oyster farm can purchase oysters with their brand already applied to the shell. A problem with implementing a growing system as above is that for some farms the transition from traditional growing techniques to trays of moulds may require a significant financial outlay. There is therefore a need for a more economical way to grow brand insignia into a shell.

[0007] OBJECT

[0008] It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problem. While this applies to preferred embodiments, the object of the invention in its broadest sense is simply to provide a useful choice. Therefore, any objects or advantages applicable to preferred embodiments should not be taken as a limitation on claims expressed more generally.

[0009] DEFINITIONS

[0010] The term “comprises” or “has”, if and when used in this document in relation to one or more features, should not be seen as excluding the option of there being additional unmentioned features. The same applies to derivative terms such as “comprising” and “having”.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Mould for Growing

[0013] According to one aspect, the invention is a mould for growing a shellfish comprising: a clip and a substrate, the mould being formed such that:

[0014] • the clip is adapted to hold a shellfish spat so that it is able to grow beyond the clip to become an adult; and

[0015] • the substrate comprises 3-dimensional brand insignia arranged such that when the spat is held by the clip and grows towards adulthood its shell develops against the insignia to produce a 3-dimensional brand in the shell.

[0016] The following options apply to the combination of features set out above individually or in any combination.

[0017] Optionally the substrate comprises a cup.

[0018] Optionally the substrate comprises a ledge.

[0019] Optionally the ledge is generally planar.

[0020] Optionally the clip has a pair of jaws that are biased towards a closed position.

[0021] Optionally the closed position is characterised by a space between the jaws.

[0022] Optionally the clip is adapted to clasp against either side of a shellfish spat that is 6 mm - 12 mm wide.

[0023] Optionally the shellfish spat is an oyster spat.

[0024] Method of Growing

[0025] In a further aspect, the invention is a method of growing a shellfish comprising the steps of: • obtaining a mould as per any of the invention summary statements above;

[0026] • using the clip to hold a shellfish spat;

[0027] • ensuring the mould is in an environment suitable to enable the spat to grow towards adulthood so that as this occurs the shellfish’s shell develops against the insignia to produce a 3-dimensional rendition of the brand in the shell.

[0028] Optionally the spat is located in a cage or bag in an underwater environment as it grows.

[0029] DRAWINGS

[0030] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which-

[0031] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a shellfish growing mould;

[0032] Figure 2 is an isometric view of a shellfish spat suitable to be grown to adulthood in the mould;

[0033] Figure 3 is an isometric view showing the spat when held by the mould;

[0034] Figure 4 is an isometric view of an oyster after it has been grown in the mould;

[0035] Figure 5 is an isometric view of an alternative shellfish growing mould; and

[0036] Figure 6 is an isometric view showing the alternative mould when fitted with an oyster spat.

[0037] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Referring to Figure 1, the shellfish growing mould 1 comprises a substrate 2 and a clip 3. The substrate 2 comprises an open-ended crescent shaped cup 4, the base of which has 3-dimensional brand insignia 5 extending below and generally at right angles to the clip 3.

[0039] The clip 3 is situated at the back wall of the cup and comprises a pair of side arms or jaws 6 with a space 7 between them. The jaws are tension-biased (eg resilient) in that they can be forced apart by hand and, if then released, they will spring-back towards one another to give them the ability to grasp an item placed between them. Figure 2 illustrates a shellfish spat, which in this embodiment is a juvenile oyster 8 having a width of approximately 8 mm. This is of sufficient size for it to be placed between and be clasped by the jaws of the clip. However, the jaws are able to comfortably accommodate spat that are larger or smaller, for example those that have a width of 6 - 12 mm.

[0040] Referring to Figure 3, the spat 8 has been placed in the clip 3 such that it is held there under tension by the jaws. More particularly, the jaws press against the sides of the spat’s shell but do not interfere with the spat being able to open and close its shell for growth and survival. The arrangement is such that the spat 8 grows downwards from the clip 3 until it contacts the substrate 2, and then outwards against the substrate in the path of least resistance. As this growth occurs, the oyster’s shell develops against the brand insignia 5, which causes a permanent 3-dimensional imprint of the brand to form in the shell. In other words, the shell grows around ridges and / or into valleys of the insignia to create a mirror image of the insignia in the shell. It may take 3-4 weeks for the insignia to be covered by the growing shell, depending on growing conditions.

[0041] Preferably many shellfish are grown the same way, underwater and loosely contained in a cage or a water permeable bag. When the shellfish have grown sufficiently, they can be removed from the cage or bag, and each pulled free from their respective clips. Figure 4 illustrates one of these oysters 9 when fully grown and with the brand 10 formed as a raised part of the shell. In this case the brand is the letter X but in other versions the brand insignia on the substrate may be the mirror image of a different brand. It may consist of one or more letters, words or pictorial content, or any combination of these.

[0042] Figure 5 illustrates an alternative shellfish growing mould 11 comprising a substrate 12 and a clip 13 for use in growing a shellfish from spat to adulthood in the same manner described above. However, the difference is that in this embodiment the substrate is not cup-like but rather is in the form of an open-sided ledge 14 cantilevering outwards from the clip 13 (eg generally at right angles). Again, the substrate 12 has 3-dimensional brand insignia 15 on its surface arranged for causing a brand to be grown into the shell in the same manner described above. The mould 11 also has a handle 16 on its underside to enable it to be conveniently gripped by hand 17 and manoeuvred when in use. Figure 6 illustrates the same mould as Figure 5 with an oyster spat 18 fitted to the clip between its resilient jaws in the same way described above, such that the spat can grow outwards from the clip against and beyond the substrate.

[0043] Optionally the shellfish growing moulds according to the invention may be formed of a flexible plastic material and may or may not be reusable.

[0044] Optionally the for the various embodiments of the invention the brand insignia (eg the X shape in the examples above) may be a recessed portion of the substrate, a raised portion of the substrate, or a combination of the two. In some embodiments the brand insignia may comprise an aperture or cut-out in a portion of the substrate through which the shell can grow.

[0045] While it is preferred that the shellfish are oysters, the mould may be used in a similar way with other species of shellfish.

[0046] While some forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

[0047] In terms of disclosure, this document envisages and hereby posits any feature mentioned herein in combination with itself or any other feature or features mentioned herein, even if the combination is not claimed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mould for growing a shellfish comprising a clip and a substrate, the mould being formed such that:• the clip is adapted to hold a shellfish spat so that it is able to grow beyond the clip to become an adult; and• the substrate comprises 3-dimensional brand insignia arranged such that when the spat is held by the clip and grows towards adulthood its shell develops against the insignia to produce a 3-dimensional brand in the shell.

2. A mould according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a cup.

3. A mould according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a ledge.

4. A mould according to claim 3, wherein the ledge is substantially open-sided.

5. A mould according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the ledge is generally planar.

6. A mould according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip has a pair of jaws that are biased towards a closed position.

7. A mould according to claim 6, wherein the closed position is characterised by a space between the jaws.

8. A mould according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip is adapted to clasp against either side of a shellfish spat that is 6 mm - 12 mm wide.

9. A mould according to any one of the preceding claims, suitable for use in growing a shellfish when the spat is an oyster spat.

10. A method of growing a shellfish comprising the steps of:• obtaining a mould according to any one of the preceding claims;• using the clip to hold a shellfish spat; and• ensuring the mould is in an environment suitable to enable the spat to grow towards adulthood so that as this occurs the shellfish’s shelldevelops against the insignia to produce a 3-dimensional rendition of the brand in the shell.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the spat is in a cage or bag in an underwater environment as it grows.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the shellfish spat is an oyster spat.

13. A shellfish when grown according to the method of any one of claims 10-12.

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