AP45A

AP45A - "Applicator for biologically active substance."

Info

Publication number: AP45A
Application number: APAP/P/1988/000079A
Authority: AP
Inventors: Ian Michael Duncan
Original assignee: Agricura Private Ltd
Priority date: 1987-02-02
Filing date: 1988-01-28
Publication date: 1989-07-25
Also published as: AP8800079A0; ZA88575B

Abstract

The invention provides a mechanical applicator for a biologically active substance, which will reduce the infestation of ticks and the like vermin in a game heard or other animals of a domesticated or semi-domesticated nature. The applicator comprises a reservoir for biologically active substance which is arranged to supply a trickle of substance to an applicator surface or zone into contact with which animals will come when they are attracted by a suitable lure associated with the applicator device.

Description

This invention relates to devices adapted to apply a biologically active substance to animals.

The traditional approach to reducing vermin infestation of animals has been total immersion of the animal in a dip containing a suitable chemical adapted to destroy a particular pest, for example ticks, fleas, mites and the like.

When large numbers of animals are to be handled this method presents a considerable workload to the rancher and his staff, even when handling domestic animals such as cattle or sheep.

The problem is considerably compounded when handling of non-domesticated animals such as 'game' animals is attempted. However, as a result of the development of chemicals having the ability to spread over the entire skin surface of animals to which the chemical is applied from a single application, for example along the animal's spine, a search h^s developed for suitable applicator means for these chemicals which would: at least minimise the disadvantages of known methods and more particularly so when seeking to treat wild or game animals.

Therefore, according to the invention, an applicator includes at least one resevctir for biologically active substance; a conduit joining the reservoir to at least one dispensing element for the biologically active substance; a catchment zone downstream fran the dispensing element adapted to receive for re-cycle purposes surplus biologically active substance and a lure adapted to attract animals into contact with the dispensing element.

Also according to the invention an applicator wherein the dispensing element is an elongated substantially upright tubular element; the element having at least the upper part of its length formed into fluid channeling means and the lower or downstream part adapted to drain surplus biologically active substance into a catchment zone. In one form of the invention the reservoir for biologically active substance is mounted on top of the dispensing element and the conduit joining the reservoir to the element contains or incorporates a fluid regulator.

-Further according to the invention, the dispensing element is at least partially surrounded by a trough adapted to contain a lure attractive to the animals to be treated with the biologically active substance; the arrangement being such that an animal taking the lure must rub a portion of its body against at least a portion of the upper part of the dispensing element containing the biologically active substance.

In order to adapt the applicator to use in the field the lure-containing trough rests upon a container which acts as a receiver for surplus biologically active substance collected fran the catchment zone and for rain water falling into the trough and draining through the lure to a drainage outlet in the base of the lure trough and means adapted automatically to drain off surplus rain water accumulating in the container to waste or to a final reservoir fran which surplus biologically active substance may be recovered for re-cycle.

In order to illustrate the nature of the invention an example will be describee; in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a p^rt-sectioned side elevation of one form of dispenser currently in use·. .

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 indicates a filler cap upon reservoir 2 containing biologically active substance 2(a) which passes through flow rate regulator 3 and discharge tube 4 into groove 5 of dispensing element 6.

The bottom portion of dispensing element 6 extends below dispensing zone 6(a) and fits into standpipe 7 which is located through a drtm 8 and retained in position bv a spacinq washer 9. The drum 8 is adapted to contain lure material 10 and is provided with a flood j drain 11. to cater for accumulation of rain water which passes throuqh * I flood drain 11 into container 12 which acts also as the catchment zone for surplus bioloqicallv active substance 2(a) f lcwinq down dispersion element 6 into the interior of standpipe 7 and throuqh perforations 13 into container 12.

A flood water drainage assembly 14 ensures that surplus rain water accumulating in container 12 may be removed automatically to the exterior of the applicator device. Since the biologically active substance 2(a) is of an oily nature it will tend to float upon any accumulated water and lie above the drainage level of arrangement 14 so resulting in small loss of biologically active substance 2 (a) when flood water is drained off. To assist in complete drainage of container 12 when desired, a drainage tap 15 may be supplied.

In use in the field and more particularlv in the treatment of wild animals or aame the applicator is constructed and set up at a suitable point for example, near a water hole, and reservoir 2 is substantially filled with a diluted solution of a biologically active substance such as that sold commercially under the trade name POURON (Bayer AG) and the flow regulator 3 is adjusted to allow the required amount of biologically active substance 2 (a) to go dcwn conduit 4 into groove 5 of dispersing element 6 which, for convenience, comprises a spiral channel formed in the surface of the dispersing element throughout zone 6(a).

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A suitable lure, such as cattle lick or feedstuff, is loaded into container 8 and the apparatus is ready for use. Game will be attracted to the lure and will, of necessity, rub against the dispensing element 6 during licking or feeding, so that a quantity of the biologically active substance 2(a) will be spread upon the animal's coat, usually irs c

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in the vicinity of the head or neck of the animal, fran whence, by its very nature, it will spread over the entire skin surface of the animal within approximately 24 hours fran contact.

As the biologically active substance 2 (a) is diluted to a suitable degree, the device is activated when treatment is required. When not active, the device serves as a feed bin where feed supplements of various kinds may be placed. ' \ , I

In the event of rain falling, on the apparatus, seme of it will, of course,- f'ind its way into feed bin 8 and will drain through drainage outlet 11 into container 12 where, in due course, it nay be drawn’off either by drainage system 14 or drainage tap 15 when the apparatus is routinely serviced. In the event of very heavy rain, excess water may well flood container 12, when draining system 14 will ccme into operation to remove the majority of the water in container 12 and snail loss of the biologically active substance 2(a) will result.

If the drainage system 14 is connected to external' reservoir then all of the biologically active substance 2(a) may be recovered during routine servicing and returned to container 2 for re-cycle.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the applicator of the invention fulfills a long-felt want and effective solution to what has been a serious problem in reducing vermin infestation in animals of all kinds but more particularly in non-dcmesticated animals Other advantages of the invent ion will readily spring to the mind of those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIM 1.

An applicator including at least one reservoir for biologically active substance, a conduit joining the reservoir to at least one dispensing element for the biologically active substance; a catchment zone downstream from the dispensing element adapted to receive for re-cycle purposes surplus biologically active substance and a lure adapted to attract animals into contact with the dispensing element.
CLAIM 2. ‘

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An applicator according to Claim 1 wherein the dispensing '.element is an elongated substantially upright tubular element having at least the upper part of its length formed into fluid channeling means and the lower or downstream part adapted to drain surplus biologically active substance into a catchment zone.
CLAIM 3.

An applicator according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the reservoir for biologically active substance is mounted on top of the dispensing element and the conduit incorporates a fluid regulator.
CLAIM 4.

An applicator according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the dispensing element is at least partially surrounded by a trough adapted to contain a lure attractive to the animals sought to be treated with biologically active substance; the arrangement being such that an animal taking the lure must rub a portion of its body against at least a portion of the upper part of the dispensing element.
CLAIM 5 .

An applicator as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the lurecontaining trough rests upon a container which acts as a reservoir for biologically active substance from the catchment zone and for rain water falling into the trough and draining through the lure to a drainage outlet in the base of the lure trough; and means automatically to drain off surplus rain water accumulating in the container to waste or to a final reservoir from which surplus biologically active substance may be recovered for re-cycle.

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CLAIM 6.

An applicator the animal(s) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 through 5 wherein to be treated are wild game varieties.