Abstract:
An insect toxic bait dispenser has a top with a downwardly opening compartments in which toxic bait fluids may be retained by an underlying foil barrier. The top is supported on a base with posts positioned beneath the barrier. Base prongs extend into a top shaft with ledges at different heights, preventing part separation when the barrier is intact above the posts, and, when the top is closed on the base, piercing the foil seal and dispensing liquids into fluid retaining members held in base pockets. To use, a peripheral tear strip is removed from the base, permitting the top to descend on the base causing the posts to puncture the seal, compressing the fluid retaining members against the barrier to receive and dispense toxic bait liquid while retarding the rate of liquid evaporation. The top may be hinged to the base, or urged downwardly by a threaded cap.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/284,591, filed May 22, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to containers for dispensing toxic insect bait liquids. 
         [0004]    Certain insect pests will exhibit variations in dietary preferences, making it difficult to address particular insect infestations with a single toxic bait. When this is the case, for example with ants, bait dispensers may be configured to simultaneously dispense more than one variety of bait. Oftentimes the bait is presented in liquid form, yet it is desirable that a bait dispenser be capable of an extended term of use between the times of replenishment. It is therefore desirable that a dispenser of liquid bait offer mechanisms for making the toxic liquid bait readily available to the targeted insect species while retarding as much as possible the evaporation of the liquid. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The dispenser for liquid toxic insect baits of this invention has a top with foil-sealed liquid bait compartments. The top is mounted on a base for axial motion towards the base on a shaft. The base has protruding posts disposed beneath each sealed bait compartment. A tear-off strip on the base keeps the foil-seal sufficiently above the posts to prevent puncturing of the seal. Once the tear-off strip is removed, the top can be advanced towards the base to simultaneously puncture the foil seal on all the compartments, thereby permitting the toxic bait fluid to flow along the posts and be retained by a sponge-like liquid retaining member, formed, for example, of hydrophillic open cell polyurethane foam. Projecting flanges of the container shield the liquid retaining members from direct sunlight and breezes, thereby retarding the process of evaporation and extending the useful life of a particular dispenser. The top may alternatively be hinged to the base. Or, the top may be mounted around a threaded post on the base, and positioned beneath a cap which is engaged the threaded post such that rotation of the cap drives the top into engagement with the base posts. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for the dispensing of liquid insect toxic baits which may be conveniently switched from a storage to an in-use configuration. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container for the dispensing of liquid insect toxic baits which, while making the baits readily available to the targeted insects, retards the evaporation of the dispensed liquids. 
         [0008]    Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of the ant bait dispenser of this invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  in the shipping configuration, with the top label partially broken away. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an isometric cross-sectional view of the top of the dispenser of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 2  in the shipping configuration taken along section line  4 - 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 4  in the dispensing configuration. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 2  in the shipping configuration taken along section line  6 - 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 6  in the dispensing configuration. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded isometric view of an alternative embodiment insect bait dispenser of this invention, having a top which is hinged to a base, showing the dispenser in a shipping and storage configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the dispenser of  FIG. 8  in an in-use configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 9  taken along section line  10 - 10 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment low profile insect bait dispenser of this invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view, partially broken away in section, of another alternative embodiment dispenser of this invention having a screw-down cap prior to being activated. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an exploded isometric view of the dispenser of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 12 , taken along section line  14 - 14 , showing the dispenser after removal of the tear strip but prior to being moved into the in-use configuration. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 12  in which the cap has been screwed down to activate the dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 1-15 , wherein like numbers indicate similar parts, a toxic insect bait dispenser  20  shown in  FIGS. 1-7  has a base  22  with a top  24  which is retained on the base. The base and top  24  may be injection molded plastic parts, formed, for example, of polypropylene. The top has a frustoconical exterior side wall  26 . An upper wall  28  extends from the side wall to a central shaft  30  which opens upwardly and downwardly. Double interior walls  32  extend from the side wall  26  to the shaft  30  and divide the top into three compartments  34  which may be filled with insect toxic bait  36 , as shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . The toxic bait within each compartment  34  may have a different composition, in order to target, for example, different varieties of ants, or the same toxic bait may be retained within all the compartments. 
         [0025]    The fluid toxic bait  36  is retained within the compartments  34  by a foil disk barrier  38 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The foil disk  38  is adhered to the top  24  and is sealed around the lower perimeter of each compartment  34  as it underlies an annular peripheral region  40  of the top, as shown in  FIG. 3 . It is sealed to the top on the inward sides of the compartments along the underside  42  of the shaft  30  and at the connecting wall  44  between the double interior walls  32  which divide the compartments, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The foil disk  38  is comprised of multiple layers. The lower layer is aluminum, with polymeric barrier and sealant layers above the aluminum layer. The disk  38  forms a liquid tight barrier beneath the fluid toxic baits within the top  24 , and thus allows the toxic bait to be stored for extended periods without evaporation. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a disk-shaped label  46  is adhered to the upper wall  28  of the top  24  and may be provided with indicia indicating the purpose and operation of the container. The label  46  extends over the central shaft  30  and bridges the gaps  48  between the double interior walls  32 . 
         [0027]    The base  22  has a circular bottom wall  50  with depressed pockets  52  therein. Centered within each pocket  52  is an upwardly protruding post  54 . A toxic bait compartment  34  is positioned above each post  54 . Each post  54  extends axially and terminates in a conical tip  56 . Multiple axially extending grooves  58  are formed in each post  54 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the grooves extend upwardly from a pocket  52  to the tip  56 . Because there are multiple fluid compartments, each post is positioned radially outwardly from the central axis of the top and the base. 
         [0028]    An annular liquid retaining member  60  is disposed within each base pocket  52  to surround the posts  54 . The liquid retaining members  60  may be comprised of open cell hydrophillic polyurethane foam or any appropriate material which will hold and retain the liquid toxic bait. Like a sponge, the members  60  receive toxic bait discharged from the top compartments and make it available to insects for feeding. The members  60  prevent the uninterrupted flow of liquid from the compartments, and serve to limit the rate of evaporation of the fluid toxic bait. The members  60  should be fabricated of a material to cooperate with the toxic bait selected and the size of the toxic bait compartments such that the container can operate effectively in dispensing toxic bait to targeted insects for about two weeks. Each liquid retaining member  60  has a central hole  62  through which a post  54  extends, retaining the member in proximity to the post. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , the container  20  has two principal configurations. In a first configuration which will be employed during shipping and storage, and shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 , the foil barrier  38  is spaced above the posts  54  and the foil disk barrier is intact, thereby retaining the liquid toxic baits within the top compartments  34 . In this configuration the container may be stored with toxic bait for extended periods of time. In a second configuration which will be employed when the container is in use for dispensing insect toxic bait, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the top  24  is pressed down on the base so the foil barrier  38  is pierced by the posts  54  allowing the dispensing of the toxic bait from the compartments  34 . Wicking is a capillary function whereby surface tension draws liquid along small spaces such as are produced by a fabric or rope, a capillary tube, or foam. When the upwardly protruding post  54  enters the compartment  34  which serves as a toxic bait reservoir, it displaces a corresponding volume of liquid which moves down the grooves  58  bringing liquid into contact with the liquid retaining member  60  which is compressed against the foil seal, as best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . The liquid retaining member  60  may act as a capillary device pulling liquid from the container so long as it is in contact with the liquid in the container. The annular liquid retaining member  60  may be a polyurethane foam or other material that will freely absorb and hold water, wet out, and release fluid, such as a foam that is facilitated by a fine pore material or double cell material that absorbs and conveys fluids. It will be observed that liquid in the compartment does not pour out, but merely engages the liquid retaining members and is wicked out. When in its dispensing condition, a small gap is defined between the base peripheral skirt  82  and the top peripheral skirt  88  which allows the entrance of insects. This gap defines a passageway for entrance of insects to the fluid retaining members, but the passageway restricts direct air flows across the fluid retaining members and helps to retard evaporation of dispensed fluid. The protruding top skirt shades the interior as well as restricting air flows across the fluid retaining members, as do the base rim walls  94 . Reduced evaporation extends the useful life of the dispensing container before it needs to be replaced. 
         [0030]    The container  20  is constructed to prevent inadvertent transition between the shipping and storage configuration and the in-use configuration, as well as to prevent the separation of the top from the base and to prevent the top from being pulled away from the base once dispensing of toxic bait has been activated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the base has a projection  64  which projects upwardly from the base  22  to a height greater than the posts  54  and which extends within the top shaft  30 . The base projection  64  is terminated by four similar prongs  66 . Each prong  66  has an upper wedge  68  which extends outwardly from a flange  70 . The base projection  64  is spaced radially inwardly from the posts and is positioned between the posts. The base projection  64  cooperates with the top and has structure discussed below which restricts the separation of the top from the base in two different positions. By being located between the posts, this structure leaves the exterior perimeter of the device  20  free of such structure, facilitating the tear-away strip  80  discussed below. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the top shaft  30  has two first shaft walls  72  which are substantially parallel to one another. A first ledge  74  projects inwardly from one of the first shaft walls  72 , and another first ledge projects inwardly from the other of the first shaft walls as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the top shaft  30  has two second shaft walls  76  which extend substantially perpendicular to the first shaft walls  72 , and which extend between and connect the first shaft walls. Second ledges  78  project inwardly from the second shaft walls  76 . The first ledges  74  are positioned closer to the underside  42  of the shaft in the top than the second ledges  78 . 
         [0032]    When the container  20  is first assembled, it is in the first configuration suitable for storage or shipment. To reach this configuration, the top shaft is aligned with the base projection, and the top is pressed downwardly. The first ledges  74  have inclined surfaces on their undersides, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , such that the base projection prongs  66  deflect inwardly as the top is pressed downwardly. When the two prongs  66  clear the first ledges they return to their original positions with the prong wedges  68  engaged above the first ledges  74  in such a fashion that the top may not be moved upwardly away from the base. In this storage and shipping configuration, there is not direct access to the foil barrier, and hence the barrier is protected from being punctured and spilling the fluid within the compartments  34 . 
         [0033]    While the separation of the top from the base is prevented by the engagement of the prongs with the first ledges, the movement of the top towards the base into the dispensing configuration is restricted by a substantially cylindrical tear strip  80 , best shown in  FIG. 1 , which is connected to a frustoconical peripheral skirt  82  which extends downwardly and outwardly from the base bottom wall  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the tear strip is joined along its lower margin to the peripheral skirt  82  by a region of weakened material  84 , which is to say the plastic is thinner in this region. The tear strip  80  does not completely encircle the base, but has a free end  86  which is engagable by a user such that it may be removed by a user engaging the free end and pulling on the tear strip to thereby separate the tear strip from the base. It should be noted that other mechanisms of forming the region of weakened material may be used, for example perforations. The free end may be provided with a region of increased friction, for example protruding ridges, to better facilitate gripping and engagement by a user. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the top has a peripheral skirt  88  which extends downwardly and outwardly from the top side wall  26 . The skirt  88  terminates in a flange  90  which engages with an upper peripheral edge  92  of the tear strip  80  which restricts the displacement of the top towards the base in the shipping and storage configuration. 
         [0035]    When the container is ready to be deployed, the user engages the free end of the tear strip  80 , and peels the tear strip away from the base at the region of weakened material  84 . Once the tear strip  80  is removed from the base, there is no longer an obstacle to the top being moved more closely to the base, and the top is then free to be advanced to the dispensing position to activate dispensing of insect toxic bait from the container. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the top is pressed downwardly, the second ledges  78  ride over the wedges on two opposed prongs  66  extending from the base projection. When the prong wedges  68  are above the second ledges  78 , the top is retained in its lowered position where it cannot be separated from the base or disengaged from the annular liquid retaining members  60 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , when the top  24  is in its lowered position, the posts  54  pierce the barrier  38  in each toxic bait compartment  34 . The fluid within each compartment then proceeds through the post grooves to communicate with the liquid retaining members  60 . The base has partial upwardly extending rim walls  94  which engage the underside of the top, and limit the downward travel of the top towards the base. The rim walls  94 , as they engage the top  24 , help to support the weight of the top on the base. Shallow rim walls  96  extend between the rim walls  94 , and shallow walls  98  surround other openings in the base to capture small quantities of liquid on the base. Insects such as ants may enter the container  20  above the base skirt and gain access to the fluid retention members. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid retaining members  60  fit within depressed pockets  52  in the base  22 . In  FIG. 1  the retaining members  60  and pockets  52  are shown with uniform vertical heights although the vertical dimensions could be varied. One of the liquid retaining members  60  and pockets  52  is shown in cross-section only in  FIG. 5  wherein the liquid retaining member is slightly compressed reducing its vertical height beneath the foil  38  which seals one of the compartments  32 . This compression assures a good seal between the liquid retaining members  60  and the foil barrier  38  so that when saturated the liquid retaining member prevents air from entering the compartment  32 , and, when sufficient liquid is evaporated or removed by targeted insects, air may be allowed to move through the liquid retaining member and enter the compartment through the perforation in the foil barrier  38  along the grooves  58  in the posts  56 . Entry of air into the compartment  32  allows additional liquid to move down the grooves  58 , thus saturating the liquid retaining member  60 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , an alternative embodiment dispenser  100  may be formed with a low-profile to have a top  102  with a lower capacity mounted with respect to a base  104 . The base may have a tear strip  105 . 
         [0039]    Another alternative embodiment dispenser  106 , shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , has a top  108  which is integrally formed as an injection molded plastic part with a base  110 . The Top  108  is connected to the base  110  by a living hinge  112 . The top  108  has three compartments  114  which are sealed with a foil barrier  116 . Three posts  118  extend upwardly from pockets  120  in the base  110 . Annular liquid retaining members  122  are received within the pockets  120 , each encircling one of the posts  118 . The base  110  has a downwardly and outwardly extending skirt  124 . Two prongs  126  extend upwardly from the skirt  124  on a side of the skirt  124  which is opposite the living hinge  112 . The top  108  has a downwardly and outwardly extending skirt  128 , into which is formed two channels  130  configured to receive the wedges  132  of the prongs  126 . Each wedge  132 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , engages against an upper surface of a flange  134  which extends inwardly from the top skirt  128 . 
         [0040]    The dispenser  106  is stored and shipped with the base  110  connected to the top  108  about the hinge  112 , with the base substantially parallel to the plane of the barrier  116 . When it is desired to place the dispenser  106  into service to attract and poison insects such as ants  136 , the top  108  is pivoted about the hinge to overlie the base  110 . When pivoted into the in-use configuration, the barrier  116  underlying the compartments  114  is pierced by the posts  118 , and the resilient liquid retaining members  122  are compressed against the barrier. The toxic ant bait then escapes from the top compartments  114  to the liquid retaining members  122 . Insects can then enter the dispenser through gap  138  defined between the top skirt  128  and the base skirt  124 . 
         [0041]    Another alternative embodiment dispenser  140  is shown in  FIGS. 12-14 . The dispenser  140  may have a tear strip as in the above embodiments, but is shown in the figures after removal of any such strip. The dispenser  140  has a base  142  with three liquid-retaining members  144  retained within base pockets  146 . The base  142  has a central post  148  with protruding spiral threads  150 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the threads need not be continuous and may be interrupted. Two stub shafts  149  extend from the base  142  on opposite sides of the post  148 . A top  152  has three compartments  154  for the retention of toxic fluid insect bait  156 . The fluid bait  156  is retained within the compartments  154  by a foil barrier  158 . The top  152  has a central channel  160  through which the central post  148  extends. The channel  160  has two radially extending lobes  162  which capture the base stub shafts  149 . The top  152  is thus retained on the base  142  and restrained from rotating yet free to move vertically with respect to the base. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a cap  164  overlies the top  152  and has a downwardly extending shaft  166  with an internal thread  168  which engages the protruding spiral threads  150  of the base central post  148 . The cap  164  has a downwardly facing outer rim  170  which engages with the top  152 . The exterior perimeter of the cap  164  may be provided with ribs  172  to promote friction and facilitate engagement of the cap and rotation thereof by a user. When the cap  164  is rotated, the top  152  is urged downwardly to drive the base posts  174  through the barrier  158  introducing the fluid bait into the liquid retaining members  144 . 
         [0043]    It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.