Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying – Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2001-04-24
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219961
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the control of arthropods such as termites and, in particular, to devices that lie on the ground and can be used to restrict and/or direct the movement of arthropods.
Termites are well known throughout most areas of the world as insects that attack and destroy wooden structures. Subterranean termites most often enter structures from the surrounding soil to feed on wood or other cellulosic material of the structure and its contents. Many methods for killing termites have been employed over the years. One such method involves applying a toxicant (i.e., a material that kills or repels termites) to the soil in the vicinity of a structure that is to be protected from termites. Not only is this type of treatment labor intensive and raises issues about soil contamination, but the application may not produce an adequate barrier to termite infestation.
Another approach to termite control involves the insertion of wooden stakes or some other suitable termite bait material into the soil around the periphery of the structure to be protected, monitoring the stakes for infestation, and then applying a toxicant to the soil only in those areas in which infestation is observed. This approach minimizes use of the toxicant, yet presents other problems. The bait stakes, for example, do not provide a continuous barrier around the structure, as they typically occupy limited area and, moreover, are separated from one another by a distance on the order of feet or even yards. Termite populations located in the soil can have difficulty locating the bait stakes in the first place, especially if the bait stakes are widely spaced and located on a predetermined interval irrespective of conditions around a structure conducive to termite attack, such as moist areas around a structure. Also, removal of the bait stakes can disrupt the system of passageways leading to the stake that termites may have constructed and, in turn, can disrupt the flow of termites to the stake upon stake re-insertion. These problems are said to be addressed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,573,760 and 5,555,672, both in the name of Thorne et al., which disclose insertion into the ground of a stationary housing that not only contains a removable bait cartridge but also possesses a plurality of extensions which are said to intercept or obstruct the path of termites in the vicinity of the housing.
Like “bare” bait stakes, however, the devices disclosed by Thorne, et al., are subterranean devices that typically are inserted completely into the soil so as to be flush with its surface. Accordingly, it often can be difficult to locate such structures after insertion for purposes of further monitoring.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for devices that are more easily located than subterranean bait/toxicant devices and/or for some means for locating such devices. Additionally, there is a need to arrest termites that may be near a subterranean device and to direct them to such a device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention provides arthropod containment devices that comprise a base plate having a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and an outer edge between the first face and the second face. Such devices further comprise a containment ridge protruding from the first face along at least a portion of the outer edge, the containment ridge defining a containment region proximate the first face. In preferred devices, the base plate has an inner edge between the first and second faces defining an aperture within the base plate and, optionally, a housing positioned within the aperture having a cavity that comprises a material that is capable of being consumed, penetrated, or transported by arthropods or of killing arthropods following contact therewith. The devices of the invention can further comprise a plurality of guide ridges that protrude from the first face and define at least one containment channel. Such guide ridges preferably lie substantially along an axis extending from the outer edge to the inner edge. Certain containment devices further comprise a cover plate that has a first face and a second face, the cover plate being affixed to the base plate so as to form at least one reservoir between the cover plate and the base plate.
The present invention also provides arthropod containment devices that comprise a base plate having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a plurality of guide ridges that protrude from the first face and define at least one containment region, and an arthropod toxicant coated upon or positioned within at least a portion of the containment region. Such devices can further comprise a containment ridge protruding from the first face along at least a portion of the outer edge. In preferred devices, the base plate has an inner edge between the first and second faces defining an aperture within the base plate and, optionally, a housing positioned within the aperture having a cavity that comprises a material that is capable of being consumed, penetrated, or transported by arthropods or of killing arthropods following contact therewith. Such devices can further comprise a cover plate that has a first face and a second face, the cover plate being affixed to the base plate so as to form at least one reservoir between the cover plate and the base plate.
In preferred embodiments, the devices of the invention are placed on the ground such that the first face of the base plate faces downward and the containment ridge and/or the guide ridges contact the ground.
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Journal of Economic Entomology. vol. 84, No. 5, Oct. 1991, College Park, Maryland, US; pp. 1525-1531, N-Y SU et. al. “Suppression of Foraging Populations of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae) by Field Applications of a Slow Acting Toxicant Bait.” (Nan-Yao Su, Paul M. Ban and Rudolf H. Scheffrahn).
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Ballard James B.
Lewis Richard C.
Schwartz Barry
FMC Corporation
FMC Corporation
Jordan Charles T.
Palo Francis T.
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