AU745326B2 - Termite treatment means and method - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

o o o Name of Applicant: Nematerm Pty Ltd Actual Inventor: CLINTON CARTER Address for Service: MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: TERMITE TREATMENT MEANS AND METHOD Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PQ 6143 dated 10 March 2000.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

PatAU131 FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an improved means and method of treating termites, and in particular to a means and method for treating entrapped termites in a baiting receptacle placed in proximity to the foundation of a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Termite bait boxes currently in use are normally made of timber or polystyrene and in which are placed horizontally layered cardboard and timber battens placed one on top of the other. The termites are treated by lifting the layers of feeding materials, dusting or removing active termites from the receptacle, and dusting them before returning them into the receptacle.

The disadvantage with this treatment method is that it disturbs the termites ~considerably during treatment. In addition, as the receptacles are of timber or polystyrene construction, termites can and usually do have more than one entry point, which is a disadvantage when treating.

Other commercial termite treatment systems available are sold under the proprietary names "SENTRICON" and "TERMATROL". These systems are for monitoring termite activity and baiting when termites begin feeding in the monitoring stations.

They are normally constructed of plastic cylinders which are placed in the soil around building structures. The food source within the cylinders is replaced with toxin treated food material once termites begin feeding on them.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved termite treatment means and method which allows the termite control agents or formulations to be applied to the termites with minimal disturbance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one form the of this invention therefore, there is provided an improved termite treatment means which comprises a durable termite baiting receptacle, having a predetermined entry point for the termites, preferably in the bottom wall of the 2 receptacle approximately centrally thereof, for permitting entry of the termites into the receptacle, and a plurality of vertically oriented infill members of termite feeding materials which can include timber slats, corrugated cardboard, polystyrene or any other consumable attacked by termites, positioned on edge within said receptacle.

Preferably a spirally wrapped roll or cylinder of corrugated cardboard is loosely supported on the bottom wall of the receptacle and overlies the entry point. This is done to facilitate the entry of the termites into the vertically disposed infill panels within the receptacle and also to mark the main treatment area.

Desirably the vertically disposed infill panels extend between opposite walls of the receptacle, with the panels in face to face relationship.

oe Desirably the receptacle is provided with a removable lid which sealably 15 locates over the open upper end of the receptacle to prevent access by animals or insects.

.eeoo In use, treatments of either liquid or dust are applied to the entry point area first, and then randomly between the infill layers of feeding material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This then generally describes the invention but in order to further explain the present invention, an embodiment thereof is described hereunder in further detail with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig 1 is a plan view of a termite bait box (with lid removed) showing the vertically oriented infill panels positioned therein, while Fig 2 is a partly sectioned side view of the bait box shown in Fig 1 along the line 2 2'.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figs 1 and 2 of the drawing, a termite bait box assembly 10 comprises a rectangular box or receptacle 11 which in this embodiment is made of a durable 3

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moulded plastics material, and a lid 12 which has a flexible seal 13 on its underside surface and which makes sealing contact between the upper perimeter edge of the box and the underside of the lid, so as to exclude water, insects, reptiles or small animals entering the box.

The interior of the receptacle 11 is packed with inf ill elements formed of termidte feeding material, placed on edge and which extend between the opposite side walls 14, 15 of the receptacle. In this embodiment the infill elements are timber slats 16 and corrugated cardboard panels 17 which can be easily and conveniently removed from the receptacle 11 and subsequently replaced. The arrangement of the slats 16 and corrugated cardboard panels 17 is alternate slats 16 and cardboard panels 17 but this can be varied in a number of ways and is not limited to the configuration shown in Figi1.

Centrally positioned within the receptacle 11 is a spirally wound roll 18 of corrugated cardboard placed with its ribs running vertically, the roll 18 having a central axially extending opening 19 which locates over an entry hole 20 formed in the base wall 21 of the box or receptacle 11. By having the entry hole 20 in the base wall 21 of the receptacle, it allows liquid attractants to pass through the receptacle 20 when it is installed. It also allows for a direct treatment to the entry point area when the receptacle is infested with termites.

By using a durable material for the receptacle 11, it is reusable or recyclable.

It should of course be appreciated that the entry hole 20 in the receptacle 11 need not be located centrally of its base wall and may, for example, be located adjacent either end wall of the receptacle 11. Furthermore more than one entry hole can be used.

In use, treatments of a termiticide in the form of either a liquid or a dust are applied to the entry point area and as well randomldy between the inf ill panels 16, 17 of the termite feeding materials. This avoids having to remove the termite feeding materials 4 from the receptacle during treatment and consequently there is minimal disturbance to the termite infestation during the application of the termite control agents.

A brief consideration of the embodiment described above will indicate that the invention provides for a very simple, inexpensive, and efficient means for treating entrapped termites in a termite baiting receptacle and provides significant practical advantages over existing termite baiting systems.

Throughout this specification various indications have been given as to the scope of this invention but the invention is not limited to any one of these but may reside in two or more of these combined together. The examples are given for illustration only and not for limitation.

o o• Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires 15 otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of inlygo integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

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Claims (9)

1. An improved termite treatment means which comprises a durable termite baiting receptacle formed of material non-consumable by termites, said receptacle having a entry point for the termites for permitting entry of the termites into the receptacle and a plurality of removable, vertically oriented infill panels of termite feeding materials positioned on edge within said receptacle.

2. An improved termite treatment means as in Claim 1 wherein the entry point is in a bottom wall of the receptacle approximately centrally thereof.

3. An improved termite treatment means as in Claim 1 wherein the plurality of :vertically oriented infill panels include one or more of timber slats, corrugated cardboard, polystyrene or any other consumable attacked by termites.

4. An improved termite treatment means as in Claim 3 wherein the plurality of vertically oriented infill panels are alternately members of two different materials.

5. An improved termidte treatment means as in Claim 1 further including a *2D spirally wrapped roll or cylinder of corrugated cardboard loosely supported on the V bottom wall of the receptacle and overlying the entry point whereby to facilitate the entry of the termites into the vertically disposed infill panels within the receptacle and also to mark a main treatment area.

6. An improved termite treatment means as in Claim 1 wherein the plurality of vertically oriented infill panels extend between opposite walls of the receptacle in a face to face relationship.

7. An improved termite treatment means as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the receptacle is provided with a removable lid which sealably locates over an open upper end of the receptacle to prevent access by water, animals or insects. SRA4, Uo 6

8. An improved termite treatment means as in any one of the preceding claims wherein a termiticide treatment of either liquid or dust is applied to the entry point area and randomly between the infill panels of feeding material.

9. An improved termite treatment means as in any one of the preceding claims, substantially as described herein and with reference to either of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 7 h day of January, 2002. NEMATERM PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys SMADDERNS -0 *7 oooo *ooo oouoo ooo ooo