HK1026820A

HK1026820A - Sectional bait station

Info

Publication number: HK1026820A
Application number: HK00105876.8A
Authority: HK
Inventors: J‧B‧伯拉德; E‧P‧麦克高曼
Original assignee: Fmc有限公司
Priority date: 1997-02-03
Filing date: 1998-01-29
Publication date: 2000-12-29

Description

Sectional connection type bait device

Background

The present invention relates generally to the control of termites and other social insects. In particular, the invention employs a device containing a bait impregnated with a slow acting toxicant to control such insects. Us patent 5,152,992 relates to the control of social insects. The discussion of social insects and their habits is incorporated herein by reference.

In the prior art, there are various techniques for spraying fast acting insecticides in, around and under a building to eliminate social insects such as termites in the building. To exterminate the underground inhabitants of the population, vertical tubular devices are generally used.

Summary of The Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for exterminating underground social insects.

The invention employs a cellulose bait impregnated with a slow acting toxicant contained within a triangular cross-section tubular container which is horizontally disposed underground. The tubular container and bait are designed to allow easy inspection of the bait without having to open or remove the tubular container.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the bait station of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bait station of the invention shown in figure 1, taken along line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bait station of the invention positioned underground.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a bait station for use in another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bait station of figure 4 taken along cut line 5-5.

Description of the preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the bait station 10 of the invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive bait station 10 of fig. 1 taken along line 2-2. The bait station 10 includes a tubular body 12 and a cover 13. A cellulose bait 14 impregnated with a slow acting toxicant is placed in the bait station 10.

The tubular body 12 has a first side wall 16, a second side wall 17 and a top wall 18 which are mechanically joined together to form the tubular body 12 with a triangular cross-section. The first side wall 16, the second side wall 17 and the top wall 18 are all rectangular and have the same length 19. In this embodiment, the length 19 of the first, second and top walls 16, 17 and 18 is 13 centimeters. In other embodiments, the length may vary from 2.5 centimeters to 1 meter. The first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 have the same width 20. In this embodiment, the width 20 of the first and second sidewalls 16, 17 is 7 centimeters. In other embodiments, the width may vary from 1 centimeter to 30 centimeters, with the length 19 being always greater than or equal to the width 20. The first side wall 16 and the second side wall 17 have a plurality of holes 21. The diameter of the holes 21 is preferably between 1 and 6 mm. An end wall 25 is triangular in shape and is mechanically connected to the first side wall 16, the second side wall 17 and the first end of the top wall 18. In the preferred embodiment, an adhesive is used to mechanically connect the end wall 25 to the first side wall 16, the second side wall 17, and the top wall 18. The top wall 18 is transparent. In the preferred embodiment, the first side wall 16, second side wall 17 and top wall 18 are formed from a single transparent sheet folded to provide three edges and mechanically joined together to form a tubular body having a triangular cross-section, wherein each edge defines the first side wall 16, second side wall 17 and top wall 18. An open end is opposite end wall 25 and is formed by the unbound ends of first side wall 16, second side wall 17, and top wall 18. The bottom edge 22 is where the first side wall 16 joins the second side wall 17. A slot 23 is disposed adjacent the open end of the tubular body 12 and extends across the width of the first 16, second 17 and top 18 side walls. The groove 23 has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The edge of the open end has a beveled surface 24 around the open end of the tubular body 12.

The lid 13 has a triangular end wall 29. Along the triangular end wall 29 is an outer flange 30 which is mechanically connected to the end wall 29. In the outer flange 30 is a ridge 31. In this embodiment, the outer flange 30 is mechanically attached to the end wall 29 of the cap 13 using an adhesive. The outer flange 30 and end wall 29 may also be molded from a single piece of material. A threaded bore 35 extends through the outer flange 30.

The cellulose bait 14 includes one or more blocks 43 of a cellulose material. The width 44 of the block 43 is less than the width 20 of the first 16 and second 17 side walls. The length of the block 43 is longer than the width 44 of the block 43. The first side 48 of the block 43 extends along the width 44 and length 45 of the block 43. A second side 49 of the block 43 is opposite the first side 48 and extends along the width 44 and length 45 of the block 43. A plurality of first grooves 51 are cut into the first side 48 of the block 43, the grooves 51 being parallel to and spaced from each other. A plurality of second grooves 52 are cut into the block second side 49, the second grooves 52 being parallel to and spaced from each other and interleaved with the plurality of first grooves 51 as shown. The first and second grooves 51, 52 are 3 cm wide. In other embodiments, the first and second slots 51, 52 range between 0.5 centimeters and 7 centimeters in width. Fig. 2 shows how three blocks 43 of cellulosic material are placed in the bait station 10.

The cellulose bait 14 is impregnated with a slow acting toxicant. A slow acting toxicant may be any toxicant that requires killing within more than 24 hours and up to six months after the termites inhale an effective dose sufficient to kill them. Slow acting toxicants useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to: boric acid/borate salts, eurynone, macrolide antibiotics (e.g., spinosyn a and/or D, and abamectin), insect growth regulators such as melt breakers or juveniles, bioavailers (e.g., active organics or regenerative grades thereof), protocides, known termiticides, slow-acting poisons, or mixtures thereof. Specific examples of melt breakers include chitin corrosion inhibitors, specifically benzoylureas such as hexaflumuron.

In operation, bait 14 is placed in tubular body 12. The blocks 43 are arranged such that the length 44 of the blocks 43 is over the length 19 of the tubular body 12 and the width 44 of the blocks 43 extends in a direction from the top wall 18 to the bottom edge 22, as shown in fig. 2. The cap 13 is placed over the open end of the tubular body 12 such that the outer flange 30 surrounds a portion of the first, second and top walls 16, 17, 18. Ridge 31 slides into and locks within groove 23 to secure lid 12 to tubular body 12. A screw 55 is placed in the through hole 35 of the outer flange 30 to further secure the cover 13 to the tubular body 12. The bait station 10 is horizontally positioned underground such that the length 19 of the first side wall 16 is horizontal to the ground, as shown in fig. 3. The bait station 10 may be pushed directly into the soft soil or a trench may be dug to the same length as the first side wall 16. Bottom edge 22 is located at the bottom of the bait station 10 below ground and top wall 18 is located at the top of the bait station 10 slightly above or nearly flush with the ground surface 58. The triangular cross-section makes it easier to place the bait station 10 underground.

Once positioned underground, the bait station 10 is able to intercept termites moving horizontally in the ground. Termites enter the bait station 10 through the apertures 21, and the apertures 21 are all 1/8 inch diameter apertures. Once inside, the termites begin to build termite tubes that lead to the cellulose bait 14. Termites eat the bait, i.e., the toxicant, which acts slowly. Before the slow-acting toxicants kill the termites, they return to the colony and "share" the bait with other termites in the colony. This may bring slowly acting toxicants to the habitat and thus may kill the entire population. Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for controlling termite populations. Controlling termite populations means either: killing the entire population, or preventing damage caused by the population, or substantially destroying the population.

The plurality of first and second grooves 51, 52 can enhance the attraction of the bait 14 to termites because termites can easily create their ducts in such sized grooves. In addition, the position of the channel allows a user to inspect bait 14 for the presence of termites and termite tubes by looking through top wall 18 without having to move or touch bait 14 or station 10. Horizontal placement also facilitates inspection of the bait 14, which is not possible with bait stations that are vertically underground in length.

Because of the horizontal movement habit of termites, placing the length of the bait station 10 horizontally just below the ground surface provides a greater area of protection for the bait station 10. A plurality of bait stations 10 may be placed end to provide a barrier line, such as a circle around a house. In addition to ease of placement of the bait station 10 underground, the triangular cross-section and the uncovered holes in the top wall 18 help prevent water from entering the holes in the first and second side walls 16, 17. The apertures 27 in the end walls 25 and the cover end walls 29 are inclined downwardly as shown in figure 2 so that water flowing downwardly from the soil surface towards the outer bottom edge 22 of the device does not enter the apertures in the end walls 25. The placement of the holes also helps keep soil out of the tubular body 12.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a bait station 110 used in another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bait station 110 of fig. 4 taken along cut line 5-5. The bait station 110 includes a tubular body 112 and a cap 113.

The tubular body 112 has a first side wall 116, a second side wall 117 and a top wall 118 that are mechanically joined together to form the tubular body 112 with a triangular cross-section. The first side wall 116, the second side wall 117 and the top wall 118 are all rectangular and have the same length. The first side wall 116 and the second side wall 117 have the same width. The first side wall 116 and the second side wall 117 have a plurality of holes 121. An end wall 12 is triangular in shape and is mechanically connected to first ends of first side wall 116, second side wall 117 and top wall 118. In the preferred embodiment, end wall 125 is mechanically connected to first side wall 116, second side wall 117, and top wall 118 by forming first side wall 116, second side wall 117, and top wall 118 from a single piece of molded clear plastic sheet. An open end is opposite end wall 125 and is formed by the unbound ends of first sidewall 116, second sidewall 117, and top wall 118. A bottom edge 122 is the edge where the first side wall 116 joins the second side wall 117.

A cardboard bait 114 impregnated with slow acting toxicants is placed in a bait holder 128, which is placed in the bait station 110. A slow acting toxicant may be any toxicant that requires killing within more than 24 hours and up to six months after the termites inhale an effective dose sufficient to kill them. Slow-acting toxicants useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to: boric acid/borate salts, eurynone, macrolide antibiotics (e.g., spinosyn a and/or D, and abamectin), insect growth regulators such as melt breakers or juveniles, bioavailers (e.g., active organics or regenerative grades thereof), protocides, known termiticides, slow-acting poisons, or mixtures thereof. Specific examples of melt breakers include chitin corrosion inhibitors, specifically benzoylureas such as hexaflumuron.

In the preferred embodiment, the bait holder is made of a hard foam, such as Styrofoam^TMIt is a hard polystyrene plastic. The bait holder 128 has a generally triangular cross-section so that it fits into the bait station 110. There is a slot at the top of the bait holder 128 so that a cardboard bait 114 can be placed in the slot at the top of the bait holder 128. Since the cardboard bait 114 is placed in a slot at the top of the bait holder 128, the cardboard bait 114 is visible from the transparent top wall 118. In the preferred embodiment, the cardboard bait 114 is constructed of multi-ply corrugated cardboard. Corrugated cardboard is formed from a sheet of corrugated paper 130 sandwiched between and adhered to a layer of flat paper 131. The flutes in the corrugated paper 130 form ridges and valleys that form a plurality of apertures between the corrugated paper 130 and the plane paper 131. The ridges and valleys extend away from the top wall 118 so that an operator can see down through the top wall 118 the aperture between the corrugated paper 130 and the plain paper 131.

The lid 113 is a triangular end wall. The cover 113 is mechanically attached to the first side wall 116, the second side wall 117, and the top wall 118 by an adhesive to retain the cardboard bait 114 and the bait holder 128 within the bait station 110.

In operation, the impregnated cardboard bait 114 is placed in a groove on top of the bait holder 128 and then in the tubular body 112. The bait card 114 is placed such that the apertures formed by the corrugated paper 131 extend from the top wall 118 to the bottom edge 122 as shown in fig. 4. A cap 113 is placed over the open end of the tubular body 112 and is mechanically attached to the first, second and top walls 116, 117 and 118 by an adhesive. The bait station 110 is horizontally disposed below ground. The bait station 110 may be pushed directly into soft soil or a trench. Bottom edge 122 is located at the bottom of the bait station 110 below ground and top wall 118 is located at the top of the bait station 110 slightly above or nearly level with the ground surface. The triangular cross-section facilitates placement of the bait station 110 in the ground.

Once placed underground, the bait station 110 is able to intercept termites moving horizontally in the ground. Termites enter the bait station 110 through the apertures 121, and the apertures 121 are all 1/8 inch diameter apertures. Once inside, the termites begin to build termite tubes that lead to the cellulose bait 14. Termites eat the bait, i.e., the toxicant, which acts slowly. Before the slow-acting toxicants kill the termites, they return to the colony and "share" the bait with other termites in the colony. This may bring slowly acting toxicants to the habitat and thus may kill the entire population. Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for controlling termite populations. Controlling termite populations means either: killing the entire population, or preventing damage caused by the population, or substantially destroying the population.

The corrugations in the cardboard bait 114 can enhance the attractiveness of the cardboard bait 114 to termites, as termites can easily build their ducts in a trough of this size. In addition, the position of the channel allows a user to inspect the bait 114 for the presence of termites and termite tubes by looking through the top wall 118 without having to move or touch the bait 114 or the station 110. Horizontal placement also facilitates inspection of the bait 114, which is not possible with bait stations that are vertically underground in length.

Because of the horizontal movement habit of termites, placing the length of the bait station 110 horizontally just below the ground surface provides a greater area of protection for the bait station 110. A plurality of bait stations 110 may be placed end to provide a barrier line, such as a circle around a house. In addition to ease of placement of the bait station 110 underground, the triangular cross-section and the absence of uncovered apertures in the top wall 118 help prevent water from entering the apertures in the first and second side walls 116, 117. The apertures in end wall 125 and cover end wall 129 slope downwardly so that water flowing down the soil surface toward the outer bottom edge 122 of the device does not enter the apertures in end wall 125. The placement of the holes also helps keep soil from entering tubular body 112.

The bait holder 128 may also prevent water from entering the jam bait 114, thereby preventing the jam bait 114 from degrading.

Other embodiments of the invention may employ other types of covers. These covers also have holes. In other embodiments, both the lid and the end wall have apertures. In another embodiment, the adhesive may be replaced by a component that is made in one piece. Adhesives, screw holes or made in one piece are all different ways of mechanically joining multiple parts.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bait station, comprising:

a tubular body, the tubular body comprising:

a first sidewall having a length and a width, wherein the first sidewall has a plurality of apertures;

a second sidewall having a length and a width, wherein the first sidewall is mechanically connected to the second sidewall along an edge of the length of the first and second sidewalls, wherein the second sidewall also has a plurality of apertures;

a top wall having a length and a width, wherein said top wall is mechanically connected to said first side wall along said first side wall and an edge of the length of said top wall, wherein said top wall is mechanically connected to said second side wall along said second side wall and an edge of the length of said top wall; and

an end wall, wherein said end wall is mechanically attached to said first side wall along one edge of said first side wall across the width of said first side wall, wherein said end wall is mechanically attached to said second side wall along one edge of said second side wall across the width of said second side wall, wherein said end wall is mechanically attached to said top wall along one edge of said top wall across the width of said top wall; and

a cap for covering an open end of said tubular body.

2. The bait station, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top wall is transparent.

3. The bait station, as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a cellulose bait impregnated with a toxicant within the tubular body.

4. The bait station, as claimed in claim 3, further comprising means for mechanically coupling the cover to the tubular body.

5. The bait station, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end wall is triangular, wherein the cover comprises:

a lid end wall;

an outer flange mechanically connected to said cap end wall; and

a ridge in the outer flange.

6. The bait station, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end wall is a triangular shaped plate, wherein the cover is also a triangular shaped plate, wherein the cover is mechanically attached to the first side wall along one side of the first side wall width, wherein the end wall is mechanically attached to the second side wall along one side of the second side wall width, wherein the end wall is mechanically attached to the top wall along one side of the top wall width.

7. The bait station, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the end wall has a plurality of apertures, and wherein the cover also has a plurality of apertures.

8. The bait station, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures in the end wall are downwardly angled.

9. The bait station, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cellulose bait comprises a surface having a plurality of grooves extending substantially in a direction from the edge of the first side wall mechanically connected to the second side wall toward the top wall.

10. The bait station, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cellulose bait is wood.

11. The bait station, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cellulose bait includes a surface having a plurality of grooves extending toward the top wall.

12. The bait station, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cellulose bait is wood.

13. The bait station, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cellulose bait includes a surface having a plurality of grooves extending toward the top wall.

14. The bait station, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cellulose bait is wood.

15. The bait station, as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a bait holder positioned within the tubular body and supporting the cellulose bait.

16. The bait station, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cellulose bait is corrugated cardboard.

17. The bait station, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the bait holder is formed of foam, and wherein the cellulose bait extends to a top surface of the bait holder.

18. A method of controlling self-ants in soil comprising the steps of:

placing a cellulose bait impregnated with a toxicant into a tubular body through an open end of the tubular body, wherein the tubular body comprises:

an end wall, wherein said end wall is mechanically attached to said first side wall along one edge of said first side wall across the width of said first side wall, wherein said end wall is mechanically attached to said second side wall along one edge of said second side wall across the width of said second side wall, wherein said end wall is mechanically attached to said top wall along one edge of said top wall across the width of said top wall;

placing a cap over the open end of the tubular body; and

the tubular body is placed in the soil such that portions of the first and second sidewalls are below the soil surface and the top wall has a length substantially parallel to the soil surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of placing the tubular body in the soil is placing the top wall on the soil surface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of viewing through the top wall to inspect the cellulose bait while the tubular body is in the soil.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of viewing through the top wall to inspect the cellulose bait comprises viewing the grooves in the cellulose bait downward to look for termite passages within the grooves in the cellulose bait.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of supporting the cellulose bait in the tubular body with a foam retainer.