Device for gripping and removing a bait station

A spring loaded gripping device, having at least two hooks—one fixed and one moveable—extracts bait stations by engaging two portals on an internal cylindrical surface. The device is introduced into the station by adjusting the spring to a first retracted position, which causes the distance between the hooks do be less than the dimension defined by the distance between the portals of the bait station, thereby allowing entry of the hooks into the bait station. The spring is adjusted to a second extended position where the distance between the rods (hooks) is equal to or greater than the defined dimension. A tension is created between the portals which secures the station and allows its removal by a vertical lifting force applied to the device to which the hooks are secured.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a gripping device for removing a bait station from soil by gripping internal portals, opposite to one another, located on an internal cylindrical surface of the bait station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Termite infestations have been treated using bait stations and chemical barriers, individually or together. The use of bait stations has been considered to be more environmentally friendly because small amounts of pesticides are used. The pesticide is transported from the bait station to the termite colony by worker termites, which enhances the selectivity and effectiveness of the bait station approach. The location of bait stations may need to be changed due to treatment strategies or the lifetime of the equipment. Leaving bait stations in the soil too long after treatment has ended can cause damage to the environment.

There are a number of commercially available termite baiting systems including: Exterra Termite Inspection and Baiting System manufactured by Ensystex (www.ensystex.com), FirstLine Systemic Termite Control manufactured by FMC (www.perssolutions.fmc.com), the Sentricon System manufactured by Dow AgroSciences (www.semtricon.com) and the Spectracide Terminate Termite Home defense System manufactured Spectrum Corporation (United Industries Corporation) (www.dfwpest.com/terminate.htm).

Typically, the bait stations are placed at intervals along a boundary relative to a structure to be protected. The bait stations are typically first laid on the top of the ground in the general location of where they are to be installed and then dug in. Once installed, the stations generally blend in with general landscaping. The bait stations are periodically monitored to check on progress of the treatment. See, for example, Technical Manual 2013 Advanced termite Control Sentricon® and U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,940 B2.

At present, removal of a bait station is undertaken by the reverse application of the installation process. Trenching tools used to remove a bait station can damage the bait station and complicate removal. Properly removed bait stations can be reused. Damaged or abandoned bait stations impact the environment and can be a source of potential harm to children and unknowing adults.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gripping device for gripping and removing a bait station from soil includes a frame that supports opposing hooks that engage portals on an internal cylindrical surface of the bait station. Typically, the two portals are positioned opposite to each other around the internal cylindrical surface of the bait station. Consequently, the gripping device employs two hooks with hook ends to engage in the portals of the bait station. One of the hooks is fixedly attached to the frame, and the other hook is moveable in an elongated slot in the frame so that the distance between the hooks can be controlled. In a first retracted position, when the two hooks are close together, the distance between the hooks allows the hooks to enter into the internal cylindrical structure of a bait station. Once the hooks have entered the internal cylindrical structure of the bait station, the hooks are moved to a second extended position in order to engage the portals on the internal surface of the bait station. Once the hooks have engaged the portals, the bait station can be removed by an upward force applied to the frame.

The frame can have more than one position for the fixed hook to provide a range of distances between the fixed hook and the moveable hook. The range of distances permits entry into the cylindrical structure and the gripping of the portals of bait stations of various sizes.

The shape of the hook ends can vary so long as the shape affords access to the portals and assures engagement so that the bait station can be removed using an upward force applied to the frame.

The spring assembly includes a plunger and a compression coiled spring. The plunger is connected to the moveable hook and transfers the compression and relaxation motion of the spring into the back and forth motion of the moveable hook in the elongated slot, in a controlled fashion. The compression spring is attached between a back end piece of the frame and the plunger.

The method of removing the bait station typically begins with taking the locking cap off of a bait station embedded in soil and removing the bait. The device is positioned over the opening of the bait station. Adjustments of the distance between the fixed hook and the adjustable hook can be readily done by sight. The adjustments are accomplished by simple release and compression of the spring by a thumb piece comprising a forward portion of the plunger. Movement of the plunger varies the distance between the fixed and movable hooks. The compression of the spring narrows the distance so that the hook ends can enter the opening to the internal cylindrical structure and then relaxed so that distance increases, causing the hook ends to engage the portals of the bait station. The hooks can be flexible to allow for some play and facilitate operation. The design of the gripping device also allows the hooks to remove bait from the trap.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following more particular description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1-13. A bait station gripping mechanism20includes a frame22comprising a first side piece24, a second side piece26, a front end piece28, and a back end piece30. The first side piece24, the second side piece26, the front end peace28, and the back end piece30are attached to each other by fasteners, adhesives, welding, or other suitable means.

The front end piece28has an opening29, and the back end piece30has a protruding spring mounting peg36. The peg36protrudes to the right as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. A plunger32, with a thumb piece38at its front end, is slidably mounted in the front piece opening29with the thumb piece38protruding from the front piece opening29to the right of the front end piece28as shown inFIG. 13. A compression spring34is attached to the back end of the plunger32and engages the spring mounting peg36of the back end piece30. The compression spring34urges the plunger32toward the right as shown inFIG. 13. The rightward movement of the plunger32is restrained by a fixed plunger collar33engaging the back side of the front end piece28. A lock and release mechanism may be attached to the plunger collar33in order to retain the plunger32in its retracted leftward position with the spring34compressed in order to relieve the user of fatigue required to hold the spring34in a compressed condition during maneuvering of the gripping device20.

A thumb protective cover40is mounted to the front end piece28and partially surrounds the thumb piece38so that the thumb piece38is accessible from the top of the gripping mechanism20, but the thumb piece38(and the user's thumb) is protected from the bottom and sides of the gripping mechanism20. A handgrip50is formed along the bottom of the frame22in order to accommodate the user's fingers.

A front hook42with a hook end44is attached to the plunger32to the left of the front end piece28as shown inFIG. 13. The front hook42extends through an elongated slot52created between the first side piece24and the second side piece26as best seen inFIG. 4. The slot52allows the front hook42to move back and forth with respect to the frame22.

A back hook46with a hook end48is fixedly attached to the back end piece30. In order to increase the utility of the gripping device20, the frame22may have additional connection points for the back hook46along the length of the handgrip50. Such additional connection points allow the gripping device20to increase the range of possible distances between the hooks42and46and thereby accommodate the removal of other bait station types. The hook ends44and48are configured to engage portals, including slots or openings, on the inside of a bait station.

The actual dimensions of the device can vary. The frame22is typically 5½″×1½″×⅛″. The elongated slot52is 2⅛ “long and ¼” wide. The compression spring34is 2¼″ in length. The hooks42and46have a ¼″ diameter and a length of 4″. The hook ends16and18are ⅝″ in length.

In operation, the user grips the frame22with the user's fingers engaging the handgrip50at the bottom of the frame22. The user's thumb is then inserted into the thumb cover40and contacts the thumb piece38. In order to insert the front hook42and the back hook46into a bait station, the user exerts pressure on the thumb piece38(leftward as shown inFIG. 13) to compress the spring34and move the plunger32to a first retracted position. As the compression spring34is compressed by the user, the front hook42connected to the plunger32moves leftward as shown inFIG. 13so that the distance between the front hook42and the back hook46is narrowed. Once the distance between the front hook42and the back hook46has been sufficiently narrowed, the front hook42and the back hook46are inserted into the bait station. Once inside the bait station, the user releases pressure on the thumb piece38so that the front hook42and the back hook46can extend apart with the plunger32moving to a second extended position. With the plunger32in the second extended position, the hook ends44and48engage portals on the inside of the bait station. Once the hook ends44and48have engage the portals on the inside of the bait station, the user exerts an upward force on the handgrip52thereby remove the bait station.

Having thus described illustrative embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosures are illustrative only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.