Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying – Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-02
2001-03-06
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
Poison holders
C043S132100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195933
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a device for delivery of fluid from a reservoir to a predetermined station located above the reservoir. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a bait station for insects, and in particular carpenter ants, and the fluid is a liquid or semi-liquid insecticide.
Bait stations for dispensing insecticide for controlling insects are known to the art. Typical bait stations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,563,836 issued to Woodruff et al; 4,761,912 issued to Dyre et al; 4,793,093 issued to Demarest et al; 4,837,969 issued to Demarest; 5,033,229 issued to Demarest et al; 5,357,709 issued to Lin; and 5,548,922 issued to Weffler. Of these patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,033,229 and 5,548,922 disclose bait stations for delivery of a liquid bait material. The liquid delivery means disclosed in these two patents employs a pad for absorbing liquid insecticide from a reservoir, and for providing insects with access to portions of the pad saturated with the liquid insecticide.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for supplying or delivering fluid from a reservoir to a predetermined location, and in particular, an improved bait station for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid insecticide to at least one insect feeding station. In accordance with the present invention, a feeding station is carried on a base of a delivery device, the feeding station is coupled in fluid communication to a reservoir for insecticide beneath the base by by at least one connecting tube, and the insecticide is transported from the reservoir to the feeding station through the connecting tube by capillary action.
Other objects, advantages and improvements of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for transporting fluid from a reservoir to a base includes one at least one outlet station carried or defined on the upper surface of the base and in communication with a fluid reservoir defined beneath the base. At least one conduit, preferably a tube, delivers fluid from the reservoir to the outlet station by means of capillary action. The inlet end of the tube received in the reservoir is preferably elliptical in cross-section and oriented along a plane which is not normal to the plane of the base, for enhancing the effect of the capillary action. A cover is removably mounted to at least one supporting post extending upwardly from the base, and the cover and the base are configured and arranged to define at least one opening therebetween to provide access to the outlet station when the cover is mounted over the base. The supporting post defines a channel thereon, and an outlet end of the supporting post is in fluid communication with the reservoir defined beneath the base so that the reservoir may be refilled through the channel in the supporting post. The removable cover includes at least one element received in the inlet end of the supporting post for sealing the inlet end when the cover is mounted over the base.
In its preferred embodiment, the delivery device in accordance with the present invention provides a bait station for insects, in which the reservoir holds a liquid or semi-liquid insecticide, and the station carried or defined on the upper surface of the base is a feeding station for insects. The insecticide is transported from the reservoir to the feeding station by capillary action, and the insects are provided with access to the feeding station on the base through the opening defined between the cover and the base. A plurality of feeding stations can be provided on the base, and each feeding station can receive the outlet end of one or more connecting tubes, the inlet ends of the tube being in fluid communication with the reservoir therebelow. In one embodiment of the invention, the reservoir defined beneath the base is common to all feeding stations, and the same material in the reservoir is transported to each feeding station.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the reservoir is partitioned into different separate sections so that each of a plurality of feeding stations is not supplied with fluid from the same reservoir. In this manner, one or more of the feeding stations can be supplied with insecticide different from the insecticide supplied to other feeding stations. It is also within the scope of the present invention for each individual feeding station to be supplied with fluid from a separate reservoir section communicating only with that individual feeding station. Separate means for refilling the different reservoir sections are provided in this alternative embodiment.
Although the device of the present invention, when employed as a bait station, is particularly useful in connection with the control of carpenter ants, it is also useful for controlling the population of other insects and animals.
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American Cyanamid Company
Ark Darren W.
Costello Charles F.
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