Shark barrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10883239-B2
Application number	US-201716090202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2017
Priority date	Mar 30, 2016
Publication date	Jan 5, 2021
Grant date	Jan 5, 2021

Abstract

A shark barrier that comprises an anchoring assembly having a pair of anchors (9) with a flexible connecting element (11) extending between the anchors. The shark barriers also includes multiple spaced apart buoyant resiliently flexible elongate members (15) that are secured at one end along a length of the connecting element of the anchoring assembly to operatively extend generally upwardly from the connecting element. The buoyant members comprise an elongate flexible spine (32) that extends through a series of tubular members (38).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A shark barrier comprising an anchoring assembly consisting of multiple interconnected adjacent rows, each row having a pair of anchors in linear arrangement with a flexible connecting element extending between the anchors, and multiple spaced apart buoyant resiliently flexible elongate members secured at one end along a length of the connecting elements to operatively extend generally upwardly from the connecting elements, the buoyant members comprising an elongate flexible spine extending through a series of tubular members.

2. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the rows comprise three or more spaced apart anchors and a separate flexible connecting element extending between each pair of adjacent anchors.

3. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein adjacent linear rows are off-set relative to each other to form a staggered arrangement.

4. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible connecting elements are releasable from the anchors.

5. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting elements extend through a plurality of spacers which are arranged between adjacent buoyant resiliently flexible elongate members extending upwardly from the connecting elements.

6. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , having a zone consisting of buoyant resiliently flexible elongate members that are greater in length than the remaining resiliently flexible elongate members, the buoyant resiliently flexible elongate members forming part of the zone being operatively arranged to extend beyond the sea surface to define a passageway for water vehicles.

7. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the buoyant resiliently flexible elongate members include spacers arranged between adjacent tubular members and dimensioned to engage with the tubular members to retain the tubular members in predetermined locations along a length of the flexible spine.

8. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the tubular members are closed at both ends by an end cap and, the tubular members housing one or more magnets and buoyant material.

9. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexible spine is a cable, a rope, a chain or a buoyant tube.

10. A shark barrier as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the anchors include multiple spaced apart attachment formations located along a length thereof for removable attachment to the connecting elements.

Assignees

• Univ Stellenbosch

Inventors

• Rutzen Michael
• Andreotti Sara
• Becker Pierre
• Barwell Laurie

Classifications

• B63C9/05 Primary

  Shark screens, e.g. buoyant means combined with means to surround or otherwise enclose the user (B63C9/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01M29/30

  preventing or obstructing access or passage, e.g. by means of barriers, spikes, cords, obstacles or sprinkled water · CPC title

• E02B1/006 Primary

  Arresting, diverting or chasing away fish in water-courses or water intake ducts, seas or lakes, e.g. fish barrages, deterrent devices (E02B8/085 takes precedence); Devices for cleaning fish barriers · CPC title

• F16B1/00

  Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts · CPC title

• B63C2009/0088

  characterised by making use of shark deterrents, e.g. electric, acoustic, mechanical or chemical means for deterring sharks · CPC title