Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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CONNECTION CLIP, PREFERABLY FOR CONNECTING STRIPS OF
NETTING OF A PROTECTION DEVICE
The invention relates to a connection clip, preferably for connecting strips
of
netting of a protection device for the breeding of animals, such as the
breeding of
fish, mussels or molluscs, according to the preamble to Claim 1.
Such protection devices comprising a number of strips of netting are used, for
example, in the breeding of fish, mussels or other molluscs in nets made of
plastic, the wire mesh surrounding them serving to prevent damage to the
plastic
net caused by larger predators such as sharks, seals or sea lions, and to thus
ensure that the small breeding animals located within the net can not escape
through any points of the net where there is damage. However, the breeding
nets and the protective net surrounding them are often located in rough
waters.
There is therefore a risk that the plastic net of the breeding baskets will
get
caught on the connection elements of the wire mesh net as a result of the
water
currents. Consequently, the breeding nets can no longer be easily replaced,
detached from the wire mesh, and this has an extremely negative impact upon
optimal function.
In addition, under particular circumstances it is problematic if the
connection
elements of the mesh damage the plastic net so that the breeding animals can
escape through the damaged points, which may cause correspondingly serious
secondary damage. This risk is all the greater if clips made of solid steel
wire
with hook-shaped ends are generally used as connection elements.
Such pressure grips are disclosed in EP-A-1 862 261. They are easy to produce
and assemble, are formed similarly to paper clips, and in the closed state
have
an elongate form with two hook-shaped grip ends lying one over the other on
the
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face side of the pressure grip. Due the permanent motion of the sea and waves,
in certain situations these grip ends may disengage.
In contrast, it is the object of the invention to devise a connection clip of
the type
specified at the start that can be protected by simple means, and so, for
example, ensures that a net system formed from strips of netting and using
said
clips remains undamaged.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of Claim
1.
The protective caps according to the invention can enclose the connection
elements of the strips of netting such that in particular their hook-shaped
ends
are well covered and can not hook onto the meshes of the plastic net to be
protected. In this way this net can continue to move freely within certain
limits,
even if opposing outside forces are acting between it and the wire mesh, and
so
may even come into contact with the latter.
The protective cap developed according to the invention for this purpose is
characterised in that it is provided on both sides with grooves matched to the
geometry of the connection clip and in which it can engage with its hook-
shaped
ends. These ends are encompassed by the protective cap such that their half-
open hooks can not hook onto the meshes of the plastic net that is to be
protected. Moreover, these connection clips are prevented from becoming
disengaged by the motion of the waves or due to any stresses that occur.
In a first embodiment provision is made according to the invention such that
the
protective cap has a U-shaped profile on the face side matched to the hooks,
on
the two ends of which profile there are outwardly slanted or rounded
projections
for the fixing of the ends. In this way it is ensured that after pushing it
into the
connection clip the protective cap can not become detached again in the
longitudinal direction of the cap.
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From the point of view of production, it is advantageous to design the
protective
cap so that it is formed by a U-shaped bar with a T-shaped cross-sectional
profile, the grooves on both sides extending over the entire length of the
bar, and
the projections at the ends sticking out of a respective side of the bar.
In another embodiment the invention makes provision such that the U-shaped
bar has a bulge-shaped face side with an outwardly rounded profile and can be
provided here with an arched rib for the lateral fixing of the two hook ends.
The
outwardly rounded profile of the bar therefore contributes to the protective
gap
sliding easily along the net that is to be protected.
Within this context it is also advantageous lithe protective cap is provided
with
slanted or rounded outer edges.
In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of
exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. These show as follows:
Fig. 1 a partially diagrammatic view of a protection device with
breeding baskets,
Fig. 2 a section of the protection device according to Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a protective cap according to the invention for a connection clip
for the protection device from Fig. 2, shown perspectively,
Fig. 4 a front view of the protective cap from Fig. 3,
Fig. 5 a section along line V-V according to Fig. 4,
Fig. 6 a top view of the protective cap according to Fig. 3,
Fig. 7 a version of a protective cap according to the invention in a
perspective view,
Fig. 8 a front view of the protective cap according to Fig. 7,
Fig. 9 a section along line IX-IX according to Fig. 8, and
Fig. 10 a top view of the protective cap according to Fig. 7.
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The protective device 1 shown in Fig. 1 serves to protect a breeding net 3 for
the
breeding of marine animals such as fish, mussels or other molluscs that is
located in a body of water 2. As is well known, such breeding nets are
retained
within the body of water 2 in floating frames 4 and are produced from plastic
nets
made of thin nylon cords, the mesh width of which is dimensioned such that the
breeding animals can not slip through the meshes of the plastic net.
The protective device 1 is composed of a wire mesh 6, preferably made of high
strength steel wire, comprising a number of strips of netting, that ensures
that
predators do not damage the plastic net 5 of the breeding baskets, and so
prevents the breeding animals from being able to escape from the breeding
basket 3.
The distance 12 between the plastic net 5 of the breeding nets and the wire
mesh 6 of the protection device surrounding them is such that the wire mesh
does not touch the plastic net 5 of the breeding nets in calm waters. However,
in
rough waters there is a risk that the easily deformable plastic net 5 will
hook onto
the connection clips 9 of the wire mesh lying on the outside. Consequently,
the
breeding nets can no longer be easily replaced, detached from the wire mesh,
and this has a negative impact upon the function of the system to a
considerable
degree.
Moreover, there is even a risk that the hook-shaped connection clips will
damage
the plastic net 5 with their respective sharp ends of the hooks 10, 11 such
that
they partially tear the net and the breeding animals located within the basket
will
slip out of the latter through the damaged meshes.
In order to minimise this risk, according to the invention protective caps 13
are
fitted to the connection clips 9, which caps fully cover in particular the
hook ends
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so that no sharp or pointed edges of the grips can hook onto the meshes of the
plastic net 5.
Moreover, with these protective caps 13 locking of the connection clips 9 is
achieved so that the clips 9 can be prevented from disengaging or detaching
from the meshes due to loading from vibrations or the like.
As can be seen in Fig. 2, the wire mesh 6 is composed of a number of strips of
netting 7, 8 that are connected to one another with connection means in the
form
of connection clips 9.
Such connection clips 9, which are known in their own right, are produced from
corrosion-resistant wire and are in the form of a clip the hooks 10, 11 of
which, in
the closed state, lie alongside one another in parallel or are pressed against
one
another. They are provided with two side pieces 32, 33 projecting away from a
base 31, each of which has a hook 11, 12 on its free end. Thus they each form
an equal, overlapping radius on the inside of the hook.
As can be seen in Fig. 3, the protective caps 13 according to the invention
are
designed such that they can be pushed in longitudinally into the connection
clips
9 and are clamped here, and moreover can engage or click into place.
Advantageously, the protective cap 13 is made in a U-shape with partially
flattened side pieces, it being able to be pushed in with its side pieces
between
the hooks 16, 17 of the connection clip 9 lying next to one another and being
clamped by these hooks. On the partially flattened side pieces there are
outwardly slanted or rounded projections 18, 19 at the end, and which are
designed such that they protectively encompass the ends 10, 11 of the hooks
16,
17 in the connected state.
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A first embodiment of the protective cap 13 according to the invention is
shown in
Fig. 3 to Fig. 6, which protective cap consists of a U-shaped bar 14 with a T-
shaped cross-sectional profile 15 made of plastic or a similar material. The
bar
14 is provided on both sides with grooves 16, 17 extending over the entire bar
length of the side pieces, in which grooves the hooks 10, 11 can engage with
the
ends. The groove geometry of the geometry of the connection clip, and in
particular of the ends, is matched so that the grooves 16, 17 can secure them
without any play in the fitted state. For this purpose the grooves have a U-
shaped profile matched to the ends on the face side, on the two ends of which
profile there are outwardly rounded projections 18, 19 for the fixing of the
ends of
the hooks 10, 11.
Upon pushing in the protective cap 13 onto a connection clip the ends are
initially
spread out along the rounded projections 18, 19 until they pass over the
latter
and clip together in the arched groove region.
The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 7 to Fig. 10 essentially differs
from
that of Fig. 3 in that the U-shaped bar 14 of the protective cap 13' has a
bulge-
shaped outside with an outwardly rounded outer profile 20 and is provided here
with an arched rib 21 for the lateral fixing of the ends of the hooks 10, 11.
The
grooves 16, 17 are made with a rectangular cross-section. Furthermore, the
outer edges of the cap are slanted so that they can slide more easily along
the
nets to be protected.
The protective caps according to the invention can also easily be produced in
other versions, in particular if the strips of wire mesh of the protection
device are
not connected with connection clips, but with differently designed metal
clips.
In the protection device 1 described above the net of the breeding baskets to
be
protected is produced from thin plastic cords. The protective caps according
to
the invention are needless to say, however, also suitable for protection
devices of
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systems, of which the nets to be protected are produced from other materials
prone to damage, such as for example thin metal wires.
The protective caps 13 can be fitted with simple handles or manually or with
the
aid of appropriate tools, both when assembling the system or later, while the
system is in operation.
The invention is sufficiently displayed by the above exemplary embodiments.
Needless to say, other versions could be added. Thus, for example, the
connection clips or protective caps matched to the latter could be made not in
a
U-shape, but in a V- or rectangular shape.
In principle, the connection clips with the protective caps according to the
invention could also be used for other applications, for example in nets or
meshes for securing embankments or for the avalanche, rock fall or other
protective structures. They could also be used as connection means for baskets
or containers or the like comprised of netting walls.
