Modular portable sluice box

Abstract

The modular portable sluice box is constructed from a plurality of smaller sluice box modules. Each of the sluice box modules includes a lower wall having a pair of longitudinally opposed ends and a pair of laterally opposed ends. A plurality of riffles are formed on an upper surface of the lower wall. A pair of sidewalls are secured to the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, respectively, and project upward therefrom. One of the sluice box modules may be releasably connected to both a longitudinally adjacent sluice box module, and also to a laterally adjacent sluice box module.

Claims

1. A modular portable sluice box, comprising: a plurality of sluice box modules, each of the sluice box modules having: a lower wall having an upper surface, a pair of longitudinally opposed ends, and a pair of laterally opposed ends; a plurality of riffles formed on the upper surface of the lower wall; and a pair of sidewalls secured to the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, respectively, and projecting upward therefrom; means for releasably connecting a first end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall of one of the plurality of sluice box modules to a second end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall of a longitudinally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules, wherein the means for releasably connecting the first end of one of the sluice box modules to the second end of a longitudinally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of vertically extending ribs mounted on an exterior face of each of the sidewalls adjacent the first end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall, each of the sidewalls having a plurality of vertically extending grooves formed on an interior face thereof adjacent the second end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the corresponding lower wall, the grooves slidably receiving the plurality of vertically extending ribs of the longitudinally adjacent sluice box module; and means for releasably connecting a first sidewall of the pair of sidewalls of one of the plurality of sluice box modules to a second sidewall of the pair of sidewalls of a laterally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules.

2. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably connecting the first sidewall of one of the sluice box modules to the second sidewall of the laterally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of pins mounted on the exterior face of the second sidewall and projecting outward therefrom adjacent an upper edge of the second sidewall, the first sidewall having a plurality of blind bores formed on the exterior face thereof adjacent an upper edge of the first sidewall, the blind bores releasably receiving the pins of the laterally adjacent sluice box module.

3. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 2, wherein each said sluice box module further comprises: a plurality of lower engaging members mounted on a lower surface of the lower wall adjacent a second end of the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall; and a plurality of upper engaging members mounted on the upper edge of the first sidewall, the lower wall having a lower surface defining a plurality of lower recesses therein adjacent the first end of the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, the second sidewall having an upper edge defining a plurality of upper recesses therein, the plurality of lower engaging members being releasably received in the plurality of upper recesses of a vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules and the plurality of upper engaging members being releasably received in the plurality of lower recesses of the vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules.

4. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for releasably connecting the first sidewall of one of the sluice box modules to the second sidewall of the laterally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of pins mounted on the exterior face of the second sidewall and projecting outward therefrom adjacent an upper edge of the second sidewall, the first sidewall having a plurality of blind bores formed on the exterior face thereof adjacent an upper edge of the first sidewall, the blind bores releasably receiving the pins of the laterally adjacent sluice box module.

5. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for releasably connecting the first end of one of the sluice box modules to the second end of a longitudinally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of vertically extending ribs mounted on an exterior face of each said sidewall adjacent the first end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall, each said sidewall having a plurality of vertically extending grooves formed on an interior face thereof adjacent the second end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the corresponding lower wall, the grooves slidably receiving the plurality of vertically extending ribs of the longitudinally adjacent sluice box module.

6. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 1, wherein each said sluice box module further comprises: a plurality of lower engaging members mounted on a lower surface of the lower wall adjacent a second end of the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall; and a plurality of upper engaging members mounted on the upper edge of the first sidewall, the lower wall having a lower surface defining a plurality of lower recesses therein adjacent the first end of the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, the second sidewall having an upper edge defining a plurality of upper recesses therein, the plurality of lower engaging members being releasably received in the plurality of upper recesses of a vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules and the plurality of upper engaging members being releasably received in the plurality of lower recesses of the vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules.

7. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for releasably connecting the first end of one of the sluice box modules to the second end of a longitudinally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of vertically extending ribs mounted on an exterior face of each said sidewall adjacent the first end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall, each said sidewall having a plurality of vertically extending grooves formed on an interior face thereof adjacent the second end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the corresponding lower wall, the grooves slidably receiving the plurality of vertically extending ribs of the longitudinally adjacent sluice box module.

8. The modular portable sluice box as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for releasably connecting the first sidewall of one of the sluice box modules to the second sidewall of the laterally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of pins mounted on the exterior face of the second sidewall and projecting outward therefrom adjacent an upper edge of the second sidewall, the first sidewall having a plurality of blind bores formed on the exterior face thereof adjacent an upper edge of the first sidewall, the blind bores releasably receiving the pins of the laterally adjacent sluice box module.

9. A modular portable sluice box, comprising: a plurality of sluice box modules, each of the sluice box modules having: a lower wall having an upper surface, a pair of longitudinally opposed ends, and a pair of laterally opposed ends; a plurality of riffles formed on the upper surface of the lower wall; and a pair of sidewalls secured to the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, respectively, and projecting upward therefrom; means for releasably connecting a first end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall of one of the plurality of sluice box modules to a second end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall of a longitudinally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules; and means for releasably connecting a first sidewall of the pair of sidewalls of one of the plurality of sluice box modules to a second sidewall of the pair of sidewalls of a laterally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules, wherein the means for releasably connecting the first sidewall of one of the sluice box modules to the second sidewall of the laterally adjacent sluice box module comprises a plurality of pins mounted on the exterior face of the second sidewall and projecting outward therefrom adjacent an upper edge of the second sidewall, the first sidewall having a plurality of blind bores formed on the exterior face thereof adjacent an upper edge of the first sidewall, the blind bores releasably receiving the pins of the laterally adjacent sluice box module.

10. A modular portable sluice box, comprising: a plurality of sluice box modules, each of the sluice box modules having: a lower wall having an upper surface, a pair of longitudinally opposed ends, and a pair of laterally opposed ends; a plurality of riffles formed on the upper surface of the lower wall; a pair of sidewalls secured to the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, respectively, and projecting upward therefrom; a plurality of lower engaging members mounted on a lower surface of the lower wall adjacent a second end of the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall; and a plurality of upper engaging members mounted on the upper edge of the first sidewall, the lower wall having a lower surface defining a plurality of lower recesses therein adjacent the first end of the pair of laterally opposed ends of the lower wall, the second sidewall having an upper edge defining a plurality of upper recesses therein, the plurality of lower engaging members being releasably received in the plurality of upper recesses of a vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules and the plurality of upper engaging members being releasably received in the plurality of lower recesses of the vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules; means for releasably connecting a first end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall of one of the plurality of sluice box modules to a second end of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall of a longitudinally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules; and means for releasably connecting a first sidewall of the pair of sidewalls of one of the plurality of sluice box modules to a second sidewall of the pair of sidewalls of a laterally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular portable sluice box according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single sluice box module of the modular portable sluice box of FIG. 1 as seen from the top.

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a modular portable sluice box according to the present invention, showing releasable connection of a pair of sluice box modules end-to-end to lengthen the sluice.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a modular portable sluice box according to the present invention, showing releasable connection of a pair of sluice box modules side-to-side to widen the sluice.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modular portable sluice box according to the present invention, showing a pair of vertically stacked sluice box modules in a first stacked configuration.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a single sluice box module of the modular portable sluice box of FIG. 1 as seen from the bottom.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modular portable sluice box according to the present invention, showing a pair of vertically stacked sluice box modules in a second stacked configuration.

(8) FIG. 8 is a top view of a sluice box according to the prior art.

(9) Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) The modular portable sluice box 10 is constructed from a plurality of smaller sluice box modules 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, thus allowing the overall sluice box 10 to be easily disassembled for storage and transport and re-assembled in a variety of different configurations. In FIG. 1, four exemplary sluice box modules 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D are shown. However, it should be understood that this is only for purposes of illustration, and any desired number of sluice box modules may be used. Additionally, as will be described in greater detail below, a variety of different configurations are possible for interconnection of two or more of the sluice box modules.

(11) Each of the sluice box modules is preferably identical. Exemplary sluice box module 12A is shown in FIG. 2, although it should be understood that sluice box modules 12B, 12C, 12D are manufactured in an identical manner. Exemplary sluice box module 12A includes a lower wall 36 having a pair of longitudinally opposed ends 14a, 14b and a pair of laterally opposed ends 16a, 16b. A plurality of riffles 18 are formed on an upper surface 20 of the lower wall 36. A pair of sidewalls 34a, 34b are respectively secured to the pair of laterally opposed ends 16a, 16b of the lower wall 36 and project upward therefrom. As will be described in greater detail below, the first end 14a of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall 36 of one of the plurality of sluice box modules may be releasably connected to the second end 14b of the pair of longitudinally opposed ends of the lower wall 36 of a longitudinally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules. For example, in FIG. 1, sluice box modules 12A and 12C are longitudinally connected, as are sluice box modules 12B and 12D. Similarly, the first sidewall 34a of the pair of sidewalls of one of the plurality of sluice box modules may be releasably connected to the second sidewall 34b of the pair of sidewalls of a laterally adjacent one of the plurality of sluice box modules. For example, in FIG. 1, sluice box modules 12A and 12B are laterally connected, as are sluice box modules 12C and 12D.

(12) It should be understood that the individual sluice box modules may be longitudinally interconnected in any suitable manner. Similarly, the individual sluice box modules may be laterally interconnected in any suitable manner. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, exemplary sluice box module 12A includes a plurality of vertically extending ribs or rails 22 mounted on an exterior face 26a, 26b of each sidewall 34a, 34b, respectively, adjacent the first end 14a of the lower wall 36. A plurality of vertically extending grooves or recesses 24 are correspondingly formed on an interior face 28a, 28b of each sidewall 34a, 34b, respectively, adjacent the second end 14b of the lower wall 36. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of vertically extending rails 22 of sluice box module 12A are slidably and releasably received in the plurality of vertically extending recess 24 of longitudinally adjacent sluice box module 12C. In this way, any desired number of sluice box modules may be releasably connected to extend the overall modular portable sluice box 10 to a desired length.

(13) Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the individual sluice box modules may be laterally interconnected. Exemplary sluice box module 12A further includes a plurality of pins or side engaging members 30 mounted on the exterior face 26b of the second sidewall 34b and projecting outward therefrom adjacent an upper edge 38b of the second sidewall 34b. A plurality of corresponding blind bores or side recesses 32 are formed on the exterior face 26a of the first sidewall 34a adjacent the upper edge 38a of the first sidewall 34a. As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of side recesses 32 are aligned with the plurality of side engaging members 30 such that the side engaging members 30 of exemplary sluice box module 12D are releasably received by the plurality of side recesses 32 of laterally adjacent sluice box module 12C.

(14) In addition to lateral and longitudinal interconnection, the individual sluice box modules may also be vertically stacked. As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, each sluice box module further includes a plurality of lower engaging members 42 mounted on a lower surface 40 of the lower wall 36. As best seen in FIG. 6, the lower engaging members 42 are positioned adjacent the second end 16b of the lower wall 36. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower engaging members 42 may be mounted on tabs 50, which project laterally outward with respect to the lower wall 36.

(15) A plurality of upper engaging members 44 are further mounted on the upper edge 38a of the first sidewall 34a, as best shown in FIG. 2. A corresponding plurality of lower recesses 45 are formed on the lower surface 40 of the lower wall 36 adjacent the first end 16a of the lower wall 36, as best shown in FIG. 6. Additionally, a plurality of upper recesses 46 are formed on the upper edge 38b of the second sidewall 14b. In a first stacked configuration, the plurality of lower engaging members 42 are releasably received in the plurality of upper recesses 46 of a vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules, and the plurality of upper engaging members 44 are also releasably received in the plurality of lower recesses 45 of the vertically stacked one of the plurality of sluice box modules. This type of interconnection is shown in FIG. 5, where the lower wall 36 of exemplary sluice box module 12A rests on the upper edges 38a, 38b of sidewalls 34a, 34b of exemplary sluice box module 12C. The use of tabs 50 allows the stacking to be slightly staggered.

(16) FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative vertical stacking configuration. As shown, in this configuration, the upper engaging members 44 of exemplary sluice box module 12C are received in the upper recesses 46 of exemplary sluice box module 12A, and the upper engaging members 44 of sluice box module 12A are received in the upper recesses 46 of sluice box module 12C, allowing the sluice box modules to be stacked such that their respective lower walls 36 oppose one another.

(17) It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.