Pesticide injection system

A pesticide injection system for exterminating insects is provided. The pesticide injection system comprises an applicator and a plug frictionally engagable with a wall. The applicator includes a pliable bottle for receiving a powder pesticide and a nozzle for injecting a powder pesticide into a blind space behind a wall suspected of harboring insects without the powder pesticide contacting the insulation. The plug has a check valve to prevent back flow and a door with a door seal to prevent the powder pesticide from spilling into a living space during use. The nozzle has a sleeve biased in a closed position by a sleeve spring for cooperatively exposing a port on the nozzle with an interlocking collar for rotatably engaging a guide on the collar and a tang on the nozzle with a flange on the plug.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to pest control. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pesticide injection system for treating potential insect infected areas in a blind wall cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pest control of insects is usually provided by professional exterminators who fumigate an insect infected area of a structure by spraying liquefied chemicals into such areas. More often than not, treated areas must be sprayed regularly, ie. weekly or monthly. Also, during chemical spraying, the home owners are often asked to leave the home. The above issues cause the building or home owner inconvenience and an added expense as well as safety concerns especially to children and pets who may later come into contact with the toxic chemicals. If professional exterminators are felt to be not needed, the home owners try to apply sprays and powders themselves leaving them open to safety issues as well as ineffectively treating the affected areas. Commercial establishments such as restaurants are even more at risk for health and safety issues as a result of extermination services. Schools, houses of worship and other buildings also are adversely affected by dangerous extermination spraying systems. Typically, treated interior areas, in either a home or in a restaurant, for example, such as kitchen or bathroom floors or under sinks, are, at best, temporarily treated since, when the floors or sink areas are cleaned, the pesticide is washed away and is wasted. At times, professional exterminators may drill holes into blind wall or cabinet cavities, spray pesticide directly into the suspected insect nest area and then seal the drilled hole with putty. This leaves unsightly evidence of wall penetration, and most importantly, prevents convenient access to the area behind the wall or cabinet since the hole is sealed. Also, the putty can deteriorate and toxic chemicals can leach out of the wall cavity through the hole and enter the living and working space. Re-treatment is inconvenient and oftentimes too late, if reapplied, after damage is done by insects. There is no way a home owner or commercial building owner can treat the area periodically themselves, rather, they must rely on the services of a professional exterminator which is undesirable, in most cases.

The inventor recognized a never before addressed problem and fulfilled a need which overcomes the limitations and issues associated with professional extermination systems.

In view of the above mentioned problems and limitations associated with conventional pest control systems, it was recognized by the present inventor that there is an unfulfilled need for a do-it-yourself pest treatment system that is safe and easy to use, is effective and is economical.

Accordingly, it becomes clear that there is a great need for a pesticide injection system which overcomes the disadvantages associated with pest control systems of the prior art. Such a pesticide injection system should be one that works as desired, is safe and easy to use and is economically manufactured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system which avoids the aforementioned problems of prior art pest control systems.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system that safely exterminates insect pests hidden within the walls of a structure while preventing the insects from infesting such areas.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system which rapidly permits treatment of a structure by providing a low pressure application of a powder pesticide.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system that minimizes the exposure of pesticides to the occupants of a building.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system that is readily installed and safely operated by a home owner or do-it-yourselfer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system that may be utilized on a wide variety of buildings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system which may be manufactured from readily available materials by conventional manufacturing processes.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a pesticide injection system that is simple in design, simple to manufacture, low in cost, safe and is easy and fun to use.

This invention results from the realization that there is a great need for a highly functional pesticide injection system; the resulting invention provides such benefits.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, disclosed is a pesticide injection system comprising a plug frictionally engageable with a wall. The plug having a tube with an open end and a closed end. The means for preventing back flow disposed within the tube near the closed end is a check valve. The plug has a flange integral with the tube disposed at the open end of the tube. The means for selectively covering the open end of the tube is a door with a door stop, a door seal and a pivot thereon cooperatively engaging the flange. An applicator having a pliable bottle for receiving a powder pesticide and a nozzle selectively attachable to the pliable bottle and insertable into the plug is utilized for injecting the powder pesticide into a blind space behind the wall. The means for exposing a port on the nozzle is a sleeve cooperatively biased in a closed position by a sleeve spring disposed on the nozzle between a sleeve stop having a flat for cooperating with a guide, a second detent and by a nozzle cap. The means for interlocking the nozzle to the plug is a collar having a third slot and slidably disposed vertically thereby on the nozzle between a first detent and the second detent. The collar having a guide cooperating with a notch and with a tang on the second detent and with the flange. The flange has a first slot for rotatably engaging the guide and a second slot for rotatably engaging the tang. The interlocking means cooperates with the port exposing means.

The second aspect, in accordance with the present invention, is a special case of the first aspect of this invention with additional features. The door, door seal and the check valve prevent the powder pesticide from back flowing into a living space when the nozzle is withdrawn from the plug. The means for exposing the port on the nozzle for discharging the powder pesticide therethrough and the means for interlocking said nozzle to the plug further prevent the powder pesticide from spilling into the living space during use.

The third aspect of the present invention discloses a method for safely injecting a powder pesticide into a cavity behind a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Looking more particularly to the drawings, there is shown inFIG. 1an illustrative embodiment of a pesticide injection system, which is generally indicated at10, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1is a partial cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a pesticide injection system10of the instant invention in use prior to injection.FIG. 1Ais a cross sectional view taken along the plane A-A of the instant invention10ofFIG. 1.

As best seen inFIG. 1and inFIGS. 1A,2B,2-7,7A,8,8A,9,10,10A,10B,11,12,12A,20and21, the pesticide injection system10, comprises a plug12frictionally engageable with a wall100. The plug12has a tube14with an open end16and a closed end18; means for preventing back flow disposed within the tube14near the closed end18; a flange22integral with the tube14disposed at the open end16of the tube14; means for selectively covering the open end16of the tube14. Utilized is an applicator42having a pliable bottle44with a screw cap48for receiving a powder pesticide and a nozzle50selectively attachable to the pliable bottle44and insertable into the plug12for injecting the powder pesticide into a blind space106behind the wall100suspected of harboring insects without the powder pesticide contacting the insulation104when the pliable bottle44is squeezed. The nozzle50has a first detent84in a spaced apart relationship to a second detent86having a tang88and a notch66, a nozzle cap58, a port60and an angular portion76with a puncture member72having cut outs74. There are means for exposing the port60on the nozzle50and means for interlocking the nozzle50to the plug12and the interlocking means cooperating with the port exposing means.

FIG. 2is a partial cross sectional view of the illustrative embodiment of the pesticide injection system of the instant invention10ofFIG. 1in use andFIG. 2Bis a cross sectional view taken along the plane B-B of the instant invention ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 3is a cross sectional view of the plug12. The means for preventing back flow is a check valve biased in a closed position in the form of a piston38and a piston spring40which slidingly cooperates with an aperture20on the tube14and with the port60on the nozzle50.

FIG. 4is a left side elevation view of the plug12ofFIG. 3. The flange22has a door28with a handle34for manual operation in the direction of the arrows and a pivot32. A door stop30restricts the motion of the door28so that it aligns with the open end16of the tube14. The flange22has a first slot24for rotatably engaging a guide64and a second slot26for rotatably engaging the tang88associated with the means for interlocking the nozzle50to the plug22.

FIG. 5is a right side elevation view of the plug12ofFIG. 3. The means for selectively covering the open end16of the tube14is the door28with the door stop30, a door seal36and the pivot32thereon cooperatively engaging the flange22. The door seal36fits over the open end16of the tube14when the door28is closed, thereby sealing the open end16and further preventing back flow of powder pesticide into a living area. The plug12frictionally engages the wall100. The frictional wall engagement may also include an adhesive backed two sided tape82seen inFIG. 5or a fastener similar to that shown in phantom inFIGS. 18,19and21. Alternately the plug12may be fabricated with a slight taper or with fins for better fit, as needed.

As best seen inFIGS. 6,7,8and8A the means for exposing a port60on the nozzle50is a sleeve52cooperatively biased in a closed position against the nozzle cap58by a sleeve spring80disposed on the nozzle50between a sleeve stop54having a flat56for cooperating with the guide64and the second detent86.

Referring toFIGS. 6,9,10,10A,10B,11,12and12A, the means for interlocking the nozzle50to the plug22is a collar62having a third slot110and slidably disposed vertically thereby on the nozzle50between the first detent84and the second detent86. The collar62has the guide64cooperating with the notch66and with the tang88on the second detent86and with the flange22. The flange22utilizes the first slot24for rotatably engaging the guide64and the second slot26for rotatably engaging the tang88.

The nozzle50has the first detent84in a spaced apart relationship to the second detent86having the tang88and the notch66as seen inFIGS. 7 and 7A.

The nozzle50further includes a puncture member72with cut outs74best seen inFIG. 7.

The nozzle50may alternately have a threaded member120seen inFIGS. 16 and 17.

The nozzle50, the plug12and the interlocking means and the pliable bottle44and screw cap48are plastic molded.

FIG. 13is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a straight nozzle50A with a straight portion78and the puncture member72.

FIG. 14is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a straight nozzle50B with a straight portion78without the puncture member72ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 15is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of an angular nozzle50C with an angular portion76without the puncture member72ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 16is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of an angular nozzle50D with an angular portion76with a threaded member120.

FIG. 17is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a straight nozzle50C with a straight portion78with a threaded member120.

The plug12is mountable with a wall plate90as seen inFIGS. 18,19, and21. The wall plate90may also include an adhesive backed two sided tape82similar to that seen inFIG. 5or may alternately have mounting screws as shown in phantom inFIGS. 18,19and21.

To use the pesticide injection system10, a user drills a hole102into the wall100as seen inFIG. 21, and pushes the plug12into the hole102thereby frictionally engaging the wall100. Any insulation104is pushed away when the plug12is installed as seen inFIG. 20. The door28is normally closed when installed as seen inFIGS. 18,19and21; the wall plate90is also shown. When ready to treat a suspected insect infested area, the door28is opened as seen inFIGS. 1,2,4,5and20and the nozzle50of the applicator20is rotatively inserted into the plug12until the nozzle50is seated in the first slot24and in the second slot26of the flange22of the plug12as seen inFIG. 4and inFIGS. 2 and 2B. The collar62, which, in a similar manner, acts like a safety mechanism on a firearm, is initially in a position that prevents the sleeve52from exposing the port60when the guide64contacts the sleeve stop54and from allowing the nozzle50to engage the flange22of the plug12as seen inFIGS. 10,10A and10B and further indicated by the arrow “a” thereby not permitting any powder pesticide to flow. When the collar62is pushed vertically upward in the direction indicated by the arrow “b” inFIG. 11, the sleeve52still covers the port60and is allowed to move linearly in a direction as indicated by the arrow “c”. This is the position prior to insertion into the flange22of the plug12described above prior to use as seen inFIGS. 1 and 1A. As seen inFIG. 12, when the nozzle50is rotatably inserted into the plug12, as above, sleeve52moves in the direction of the arrow “d” exposing the port60and allowing powder pesticide to flow through the port60in the direction shown inFIG. 12Aand when the nozzle50is in place, the powder pesticide further flows through the aperture20in the plug12as best seen inFIGS. 2,2B and20. The tang88may freely move over the sleeve stop54via a flat56as best seen inFIGS. 8A and 10Bwithout interference during operation. Also, as seen inFIG. 7A, the notch66in the second detent86allows the guide64to freely move therethrough.

In operation, a user simply squeezes the pliable bottle44to expel the power pesticide through the aperture20in the plug12and through the port60in the nozzle50into a blind space102behind the wall100. Direction of injection of the powder pesticide is shown via arrows as indicated inFIGS. 2,2B,12A and20. The door28is closed after the nozzle50is rotatively disengaged from the plug12and is withdrawn after treatment and the collar62may be repositioned to the initial position ofFIGS. 10,10A and10B.

It is understood that pesticide injection system10are illustrated embodiments which may have various combinations of the components described above without departing from this disclosure. A few of the wide variety of combinations and variations that are apparent from the disclosure herein are shown in FIGS.1and13-17.

From the above, it is understood that the pesticide injection system10may be fabricated from a wide variety and combinations of materials and in a various styles, colors, shapes and designs and being fully capable and readily adaptable to fit any structure without departing from this disclosure.

The applicant has actually reduced the invention to practice by constructing a working prototype according to the teachings of this invention.

The applicant has recognized a need and have solved a heretofore unknown problem in the prior art in creating a pesticide injection system10. Surprisingly, the instant invention provides an added advantage and recognizes a problem and adequately and completely addresses an unfulfilled need, in that the pesticide injection system10and variations thereof in the manner disclosed, in effect, defines a highly functional, safe and useful apparatus that is not presently available. This is due entirely to the particular way the applicant designed and fabricated the pesticide injection system10and the other embodiments disclosed herein which are not found or taught in the prior art. By doing so, the applicant is able to use inexpensive materials in the fabrication without sacrificing performance, rather, achieving superior unexpected results, due to the particular construction which is cost effective.

One practical advantage of the invention is that it provides a convenient, practical, low cost, pesticide injection system10which allows a user to conveniently, and in an efficient manner, to safely and conveniently apply a powder pesticide as a preventive measure and for eradicating any insects nesting in a normally inaccessible cavity of a wall structure. Still another advantage is that the pesticide injection system10is designed for ease of manufacture by standard methods such as by plastic molding and by using readily available materials particularly chosen for the problem solved. Furthermore, the pesticide injection system10and variations may be provided for example, as a kit of, six pre-filled powder pesticide pliable bottles44with about 4 oz of powder pesticide and with six nozzles50, to readily allow a way for a do-it-yourselfer to safely apply the powder pesticide. The pliable bottles44may be sealed with one of a foil and with an adhesive and may be disposable or refillable and suitable nozzles50,50A,50B,50C and50E may be interchangeably used without departing from this disclosure.

Of course, a wide variety of further uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art. As disclosed, it is apparent that one skilled in the art will realize that the foregoing discussion outlines the more important features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the instant invention and to instill a better appreciation of the inventors contribution to the art. It must be clear that the disclosed details of construction, descriptions of geometry and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of possible manifestations of the invention.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, those skilled in the art undoubtedly will find alternative embodiments obvious after reading this disclosure. With this in mind, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded the inventor, and those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.