Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying – Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-27
2001-02-27
Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192621
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of gardening, and more particularly to a pest control device capable of repelling or attracting animals and insects to a garden.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, animals such as rabbits, woodchucks, birds and insects and the like have been a nuisance to both gardeners and farmers, because they feed on cultivated vegetables, flowers and fruits. Consequently, many different methods have been attempted to dissuade these creatures from pillaging gardens and crops. However, most of these methods have proven, at best, to be only partially effective and some of the methods degrade the environment by threatening the quality of ground water or by eliminating helpful creatures.
Fencing around the garden has proven inadequate for the simple reason that many of these creatures burrow underneath a fence, not to mention the ability of birds to simply fly over it or slip through it. Visual devices such as scarecrows are also limited in their ability to drive away garden pests. Even sonic transmitters have been attempted as a way to drive off burrowing creatures, but have met with limited success. There are sprays for bushes and fruit trees used to discourage deer and other animals, but these sprays often have to be reapplied after each rain.
Pesticides have been sprayed on plants and poison placed in baited traps to kill unwanted pests. However, many farmers, and most gardeners, are uncomfortable with the use of such chemicals because of their potential toxicity to humans and overall damaging impact on the environment.
Hence, there is a need in the field of garden pest control for a device which is inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally friendly garden pest control device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-lethal pest control device which repels pests such as a animals and insects.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which attracts animals and insects.
According to the present invention, a pest control device includes a partially open container in which an odorous substance is stored. The odorous substance can be chosen to provide either an odor which repels animals and insects, or an odor which attracts certain animals and insects. The container is open at the top to allow odors to escape while preventing leakage of the odorous substance. The container includes a cap which shelters the open top, while allowing odors from the odorous substance to permeate into the surrounding ambient atmosphere. The cap prevents rain, dust and the like from falling into the container and potentially overflowing it, or diluting the odorous contents.
The cap has a shape which allows moisture to drain away from the container, such as a dome, or perhaps, an inverted cone or the like. In addition, the cap may be removably attachable to the container to prevent inadvertent dislodging of the cap.
The base is substantially cylindrical and is rigidly connected to an inner, concentric cylindrical element which resides within the container. The odorous substance is disposed in the container formed by the toroidal space between the two concentric cylinders. The inner cylinder may have threads which engage threads located on the cap to hold the base and cap together. Any space within the inner cylinder may also be used to store ballast such as dirt or sand to stabilize the container where wind may be strong enough to tip the container, especially when it is suspended.
The pest control device may also include a stake guideway disposed within the container, to provide a hollow pathway from the top of the base through the bottom of the base. An outer surface of the guideway is sealed to the base and, therefore, no leakage of odorous substance occurs. The stake guideway provides a direct passage from above the top surface of the odorous substance through to a surface below the base. A stake may be located within the stake guideway and driven into the surface below the container, typically the earth, to secure the device.
The pest control device may also include a suspension mechanism, such as a hook or an eyelet affixed to the cap which allows the container to be suspended. The cap may include a threaded hole (as opposed to a fixed eyelet or hook) into which a threaded eyelet or a hook can be inserted. As such, the hook or eyelet can be added by the user if it becomes desirable to suspend the device.
To replenish the pest control device with the odorous substance, the cap may include a movable segment such as a slidable door which, when opened, exposes the container region of the base. When closed, the door places the device in its normal functioning condition.
The pest control device may also include an electric fan on the underside of the cap to distribute the odor of the odorous substance more effectively. The fan may be battery powered, or preferably powered by a solar cell or panel located on the top of the cap. Thus, sunlight reaching the cell is converted to electrical current which drives the fan.
In another embodiment to the invention, the base is an oblong trough within which the odorous substance is disposed. The open top of the trough would be covered by a roof-like cap, which is preferably “A” shaped. The trough-like containers may be made to any desired length, and allow a user the option of one long odorous substance barrier. As such, multiple troughs may be used to surround virtually any size parcel of cultivated land which a user desires to protect.
A feature of the pest control device of the present invention is that it can be configured to either attract or repel pests, such as animals and insects to and from a garden, or any certain geographic location. As a repellent, the present invention is an environmentally friendly mechanism which releases an odor repugnant to pests. To attract desirable creatures, the device releases a captivating odor to draw the creatures to the garden.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of several exemplary embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Cesari & McKenna
Rowan Kurt
LandOfFree
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