Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The invention relates to a device for destroying
insects. It more particularly relates to an insect feeding station
whereby poison may be administered to insects without endangering
children or domestic animals.
Various types of devices have been known in the prior art
for destroying insects. In some devices, the insects are trapped
in the device after entering, either by mechanical construction,
or by sticking to a gummy substance. In either instance, the
device is soon full and useless. In devices which contained a
poison, it was easy to shake out loose poison, or probe through
openings to reach the poison, thus making them a danger to children
or small domestic animals. In addition, prior devices are generally
of a construction that the interior of the device is difficult to
view so that it is not readily ascertainable whether insects are
using the device or how much poison has been used.
The invention provides an insect feeding station for
administering poison to insects comprising a base portion and a
cover, said base portion comprising a floor, outer vertical walls
having at least one opening therein, and an inner wall spaced from
said outer walls and containing at least one opening offset from
said opening in said outer wall, said inner wall forming an inner
compartment for said poison.
The outer case may be of any configuration, e.g., round,
square, or rectangular and the inner compartment may have a
corresponding configuration. The outer case walls has at least one
and preferably three or more openings. Since the inner compartment
openings are o~fset, a probe stuck into an outer wall opening, will
not enter the opening of the inner compartment and contact the
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poison therein. The cover of the device is preferably permanently
affixed to the base and may have at least a part which is trans-
parent so that the poison is visible through the cover.
The poison is preferably of the type known as bai-t, i.e.,
it is a mixture of slow acting poison and some food material
attractive to insects, such as flour, molasses, peanut butter or
the like. The bait is preferably of a paste like or solid con-
sistancy. Thus, insects are attracted to the devic~, eat the bait
and leave the device to die elsewhere. The bait may be a molded
shape, e.g., a flat wafer affixed to the floor of the inner com-
partment.
It is also a part of this invention to coat the floor of
the compartment with a contrasting color before putting down the
bait, and more desirably the contrasting color may be luminous so
that it is readily visible in darkened areas. ~s bait, is removed
by insects, the contrasting color underneath becomes visible and
provides an indication whether insects are using the station and
how much bait has been used.
The invention may be better understood by reference to
the drawings in which
Figure 1 is a perspective of the base portion with cover
removed
Figure 2 is a top plan view, and
Figure 3 is a view in elevation.
Referring to ~igure 1, the insect feeding station of the
present invention comprises a base portion 10 and
-- 2 --
, .. . .
~ 3 ~
c~er 12. The base p~rtion may be o~ any suitable material
such as metal or pla~ic, and may be transpare~t plastic but
need no~ be txansparen~. Ba~e portion 10 ha~ ou~er casiAg
wall 14 with opening~ 16, a ~loor 18, innex compartment wall
20 with opening~ 22. I~ner compartment wall 20 ~o~ms an
inner compartmen~ 2~. Bait 26 is affixed to floor 18 in
inner compartment 24. The floor of inner compar~ment may be
coated with a contra~ing color layer 28 be~ore affixing the
bait. Color layer 28 is preferably a lumlnescent material.
This may be a coating o~ luminescent pain~, or a luminescent
dyed paper or the like. If the bait contains an oleagenous
ingredient, it is de irable to coat color layer 28 with a
protective material, e.g., a resin, be~ore affixing the bait
so that the color layer is not soaked wlth oil or grease and
lS discolored or inacti~ated.
Cover 12 extends to the periphery of outer casing
walls 14 to close the base portion 10 and may also be of any
suitable material. ~owever, cover 12 should have at least
a portion which is transparent so that b~it 26 may be readily
seen. Although the cover has been illustrated as a flat disc,
it will be readily apparent that it could also have an outer
wall extending downwardly over outer base wall 14 so long as
the openings 16 are not obstructed. Cover 12 is permanently
affixed to base 10 as by adhesive or any suitable means.
In a preferred embodiment, the base portion 10 and
co~er 12 are both of transparent plas~ic.
As illu trated, the insect feeding station may be
flat on a ~loor or other desired area. Insec~s may enter
tha de~ice thxough openings 16 and offset openings 22 to
reach bait 26 i~ the inner compar~ment and leave the same
opening~. The con umption o~ bait 26 may be viewed through
transparent cover 12, and be readily ~isible due to con~rasting
background 2~ u~der the bai~.
~ 4 -
Although insecks may easily reach the bait, it
will be readily apparent in Figure 2 that a probe placed
in a~y opening 16 in the outer casing wall 14 will not enter
- the inner compartment wall 20 due to offset of openings
22 in wall 20. Thus, the device is safe from inquisitive
children.
The de~ice could also be mounted on ~ertical
surfac s by means of double sided adhesiva tape, not shown,
on the lower surace 30 o~ base portion 10. Since bait 26
0 i5 affixed to tha floox of th~ inner compartment, it will
n~t be disturbed and will remain in the same position wi~hin
the device.
It will be ~een that the present inven~io~
provides an insect feedi~g station for administering poison
lS to ~nsects, paxticularly crawling insects, whereby a signal
is pro~ided allowing ths ready detection of the removal of
poisonous bait, even in dimly lit areas and without removing
the device and which has an off-set entry baffle system so
that children cannot probe the bait containing compartment.
