Abstract:
An insect feeding station having a unitary base portion formed from a deformable material such as a plastic material, the base portion having a bait-toxicant in an inner compartment and having a breachable internal seal covering said compartment, ridges and walls, forming guiding and baffle means to guide insects from the periphery of the station to the inner compartment and to prevent probing of the poison from outside the station, and optionally, a partially or totally transparent cover and optionally having also a contrasting color under the poison to make removed bait toxicant easily detectable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a device for destroying insects. It more particularly relates to an improved insect feeding station or bait tray whereby poison may be administered to insects without endangering children or domestic animals, and having means to guide insects to the poison. Said station or tray may be readily and inexpensively formed from deformable materials such as plastic, by well-known thermoforming, vacuum forming or injection molding methods. Said station or tray contains an interior seal or protective barrier over the poison or bait that allows activation by breaching the seal without removing the cover of the station.  
           [0002]    Various types of devices have been known in the prior art for destroying insects. In some devices, the insects are trapped in the device after entering, either by mechanical construction, or by sticking to a gummy substance. In either instance, the device is soon full and useless. In devices, which contained a poison, it was easy to shake out loose poison, or probe through openings to reach the poison, thus making them a danger to children or small domestic animals. In the instance of using moisture-containing baits, such as gels, previous devices would not be satisfactory because they would allow the bait to evaporate moisture and become firm and unpalatable; or, in some instances absorb moisture and liquefy and run out of the bait station. In addition, prior devices are generally of a construction that the interior of the device is difficult to view so that it is not readily ascertainable whether insects are using the device or how much poison has been used.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,180 refers to an insect bait station utilizing a selective wavelength transparent cover as a means for inspecting the internal contents of the bait station.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,237 refers to a moist gel in water composition suitable for dispensing from a pressurized container. The gel formulation is preferred in many instances as a means for delivery of a toxicant when the gel is stable and presents sufficient bulk and moisture to satisfy the feeding insect.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,142 refers to a pest repellant device with a seal readily punctured to permit access to repellant composition. However, this seal is on the exterior of the device and once punctured, provides protection against access thereto.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,836 describes various insect feeding stations having a unitary base and a translucent cover. Bait and poison are placed in the central area of the base and ridges form guides and baffles as a means to guide insects from the periphery to the central area.  
           [0007]    It is desirable to deliver the bait and toxicant in such a form and to remain in such form as to be readily available for ingestion by insects. Moisture-containing or gel-like compositions with high viscosity are highly desirable. The objective of this invention is to deliver such a product to the site where control is sought without loss of bait, moisture or other volatile components therefrom by evaporation or by mechanical means prior to activation or breaching of seal by end user.  
           [0008]    It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an insect feeding station, which is not dangerous to children.  
           [0009]    A further object is to provide an insect feeding station in which it is readily possible to detect the use of the poison and in which the bait is contained and protected until used.  
           [0010]    Another object is to provide an insect feeding station, which is easily and inexpensively formed from deformable materials by known methods.  
           [0011]    Another object is to provide means to guide insects toward the poison in an insect feeding station.  
           [0012]    These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds. The objects of this invention may be attained and the disadvantages of the prior art devices overcome by the use of the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The invention has a base portion for carrying the poison and a cover. The base portion has outer case walls having a plurality of openings and has a poison located at the center of the case. The outer case may be of any configuration, e.g., round, square, or rectangular.  
           [0014]    The base has inner guide and baffle walls leading from peripheral openings up to the bait and the walls are so positioned that a probe cannot contact the bait if thrust through any of the outer wall openings.  
           [0015]    The base is formed as a unitary piece from a deformable material such as a plastic by known methods. One method for forming the base is from a flat sheet of plastic which is either thermoformed or vacuum formed over a suitably designed mold to form the ridges which act as guide and baffle walls, and the inner compartment or central poison/bait area. It is also possible to form the base by injection molding of a molten plastic into a suitably designed mold. The cover of the device is also formed in like manner as a unitary piece, which is then attached to the top of the device. The cover is permanently affixed to the base and optionally has at least a part, which is transparent so that the poison is visible through the cover.  
           [0016]    The poison is preferably of the type known as bait, i.e., it is a mixture of slow acting poison and some food material attractive to insects, such as flour, molasses, peanut butter, oatmeal, carbohydrates such as fructose, glucose, maltose, or arabinose, yeast, starches such as corn starch, oils such as soybean oil, canola oil or peanut oil, proteinaceous material such as silkworm pupae, fish meal, bone meal, and dairy products such as cheese. The bait is preferably of a paste-like or gel-like consistency. Thus, insects are attracted to the device, eat the bait and leave the device to die elsewhere, depending on the action of the poison. The bait is contained in a depression or well in the center of the tray&#39;s inner compartment.  
           [0017]    Within the bait station is provided an inner compartment for an exterminating composition for insects, preferably for ants or cockroaches, wherein the inner compartment having a depression or well is provided with a breachable sealing member. When the sealing member is breached, the bait is exposed and the bait station becomes activated and the composition is accessible to the insects without removing or opening the station. For example, said seal may be made of plastic material, paper stock, inert metallic foil or laminates thereof.  
           [0018]    Thus, insects are attracted to the device or bait station, eat the bait and leave the device to die elsewhere. The preferred bait for the present device is a gel or paste formulation applied to the floor of the inner compartment of the bait station, and having a breachable seal thereon. The preferred transparent bait station cover has a specified light transmission property and is affixed to the base.  
           [0019]    In another embodiment, the inner compartment contains a depression formed in the floor of the bait station where a paste-like bait or semi-solid gel-like bait inserted therein, the floor of the base portion of the bait station being sloped upward from the outer edges thereof so that when the depression is formed, it does not extend below the plane of the outer edges of the floor. There is a still a further design, wherein a semi-solid bait may be inserted into a depression formed in the floor of the inner compartment and the transparent bait station cover of specified light transmission can be placed thereover and the inner compartment with a breachable seal.  
           [0020]    As an alternative feature of this invention, it may be desirable to coat the floor of the compartment with a contrasting color before inserting and applying or affixing thereto the bait within the bait station. Various colors may be desirable. Those, which are luminous and readily visible in darkened areas, would be most desirable. When at least a part of the cover is transparent, to have a contrasting color beneath the bait, so that it is readily visible in darkened areas. As bait is removed by insects, the contrasting color underneath becomes visible and provides an indication whether insects are using the station and how much bait has been used. The contrast between the bait and the background may be accomplished in a number of ways. A contrasting color may be coated in the inside of the poison area before the bait is placed. The base may be of a transparent material, and a contrasting color backing sheet may be applied to underside of the base. Another method is to form the entire base portion of the station from a plastic, which is of a color that contrasts with the bait.  
           [0021]    As an alternative feature of this invention, the station cover and/or base may be composed of various materials, including but not limited to polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or fiberglass.  
           [0022]    As an additional alternative feature of this invention, the station may be sealed as through sonic welding of the cover to the base, heat sealing of the cover to the base, mechanically attaching the cover to the base through threaded components, snap lock fittings, chemically adhering the cover to the base, radio frequency sealing of the cover to the base, hinging the cover to the base, or otherwise encapsulating and sealing the bait in a translucent material and the bait toxicant in the inner compartment is activated by removal of the pull-tab seal to uncover the bait without removing the cover or opening the station.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when the specification is read in conjunction with the attached drawings. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are applied to like elements and wherein:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the insect feeding station of the invention with the top cover in place showing the external pull-tab.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of FIG. 1 with the cover removed.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2 with a partial removal of the seal.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 2 showing removal of the seal member and exposure of the bait thereunder.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 2 with the seal member removed and remaining in the station.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the top cover removed.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 shows a cross-section taken along the lines  8 - 8  of FIG. 1.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a unit similar to FIG. 4 taken along lines  9 - 9  of FIG. 4 with the top cover in place.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 is a top view of a seal member with pull-tab extension and tear drop-shaped, perforated tear end area.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a top view of a seal member with pull-tab extension and no perforation.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of FIG. 1 with the cover removed and a full seal member is partially removed.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a top view of a seal member and with pull-tab extension and central parallel perforated pull back area of FIG. 14.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of FIG. 1 with the cover removed and a full seal member in partial removal with a central perforated pull back area of FIG. 13.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the insect feeding station of the invention showing another embodiment of the external pull-tab.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 15 with top cover removed and full pull back tab unit in place.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of FIG. 16 with a partial removal of the removable seal member.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a plurality of insect feeding stations made from a single sheet of plastic material.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the insect feeding station of this invention with the cover of FIG. 21 in place.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 19 with the cover removed.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view of a cover of the embodiment of FIG. 19 showing that the guide walls extend from the top. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0045]    Referring to FIGS. 1 through 21 the insect feeding station of the present invention comprises a base portion  10  and cover  20 , with openings  36 , a floor  18 , and an inner compartment  24  to receive bait toxicant  26 . The base portion  10  is formed from a suitable plastic, and may be a transparent plastic, but need not be transparent. The base portion  10  has an outer casing wall  14  which is elongated and curved inwardly towards the center poison area  24  to provide a guiding wall. The extended walls  14  form a plurality of openings  36 .  
         [0046]    The cover  20  extends to the outer ends of the wall  14 . Insects entering openings  36  will be guided along walls  14  to the poison  26 . The walls  14  have a curvature such that a probe thrust into any opening  36  cannot contact the poison bait at  26 . When a part, or all, of cover  20  is transparent, the poison  26  placed over a contrasting color material is readily visible through the cover. FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the device of this invention wherein the base  10  is vacuum formed from a flat sheet of plastic to form walls  14 . As shown, the floor  18  rises from the periphery of the device so that the inner compartment is formed by a depression  24  as shown in side view, FIGS. 8 and 9. This is advantageous when the poison or bait is a form of a melt or gel, since it can be poured or placed into the depression and the sealing member  48  can be affixed thereover.  
         [0047]    Preferably, the sealing member  48  is a teardrop configuration having an extended pull-tab  45  extending outside the bait station cover  20 . The sealing area  46  is conformed to the shape and coextensive with the inner compartment  24 , thereby covering said compartment. The sealing area  46  contains a perforation  44  to assist in easy removal of all or part of the sealing area  46  when the pull-tab  45  is pulled. The pull-tab extension  45  is placed outside the bait station through a cutout  23  in a nearby outer casing wall. This allows the user to pull the extension exteriorly from the inner compartment and expose the bait toxicant  26 . In this manner, the bait toxicant can remain fresh or moist, for example, if it is a gel formulation.  
         [0048]    In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 6 , the inner surface of the outer casing wall is curved inwardly to guide insects entering openings  36  towards openings into the inner poison compartment area  24 . This is done to prevent an insect from entering at one outer opening  16  and wandering randomly along the inner wall and out the next opening. Cover  20  extends to the periphery of outer casing walls  14  to close the base portion  10  and may also be formed from a sheet of plastic.  
         [0049]    As illustrated, the insect feeding station may be flat on a floor or other desired area. Insects may enter the device through opening  16  and are guided by the curved walls  30  to offset openings to reach bait at the inner compartment  24 . The exiting insect may leave through the same openings. The consumption of bait may be optionally viewed through the transparent covers and be optionally readily visible due to contrasting background under the bait.  
         [0050]    Although insects may easily reach the bait, it will be readily apparent in FIG. 2 that a probe placed in any of the openings and the outer casing wall  14  will not enter the inner compartment where the bait toxicant is located due to the offset opening and curved walls thereof. Thus, the bait is safe from inquisitive children and small animals.  
         [0051]    As an alternative embodiment, the bait station of this invention includes a inner compartment  24  for receiving the bait material and having an open upper portion and gradual sloping incline from the station floor, wherein the inner guiding walls and baffle walls of the bait station lead from the exterior peripheral openings to said-inner compartment. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner compartment  24  also includes a peripheral lip  25  surrounding the open upper portion. A layer of material  46  having an adhesive backing, preferably of the pressure sensitive type, overlies the peripheral lip  25  thereby sealing the inner compartment  24 . The sealing member  46  is comprised of a full sheet plastic/polymeric material, inert metallic foil, paper or laminate thereof and or the like, which is removably adhered to the lip by adhesive or other means, such as heat-sealing or welding. The sealing member  46  is provided with a pull-tab  45  to facilitate removal of all or part of the sealing member  46  from the peripheral lip  25  of the inner compartment  24  and thereby expose the contents of the inner compartment without removing the cover  20  of the station.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 18 illustrates the formation of a plurality of insect feeding stations formed on a single sheet of plastic. Sheet  51  is vacuum formed over a suitable mold to form a plurality of base units  10 , each of which is then filled with the bait material, removable sealing means with pull-tab placed over the bait in the inner compartment and a station cover to cover the unit. Scored lines  52  are provided on plastic sheet  51  between the various units to facilitate separation of the individual feeding stations. A single backing sheet may be attached to the sheet  51  after vacuum forming. This method of forming insect feeding stations is particularly useful when it is desirable to market a number of devices as a unit, so that the consumer may separate them and use as required or to increase efficiency of manufacture prior to separating.  
         [0053]    It will be seen that the present invention provides an insect bait toxicant station for administering poison to insects, particularly crawling insects, which has means to guide the insects to the poison and entry baffling system so that children and small animals cannot probe the bait containing compartment and whereby means for controlling the exposure and activation of the poison bait substance in the inner compartment can be controlled by the user of the bait station on demand and whereby gel or moisture-containing insect bait compositions are controlled for freshness or moisture content by having the fully or partially removable sealing means  46  in FIGS. 8 and 9 or  48  in FIGS. 11 and 12 covering the inner compartment  24  without removing the cover.  
         [0054]    As illustrated, the insect feeding station may be flat on a floor or other desired area.  
         [0055]    Insects may enter the device through openings  36  and are guided by curved walls  30  to offset openings to reach bait  26  in the inner compartment, and may leave through the same openings. The consumption of bait  26  may be viewed through transparent cover  20 , if one is used, and optionally be readily visible due to contrasting background under the bait. FIGS. 15, 16 and  17  illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which is essentially similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and  3  in base structure of the device. The outer case walls  30  are elongated and curved inwardly towards the center poison area  24 . The segmented extended walls  30  form a plurality of openings  36 . A cover  20  extends to the outer ends of walls  30 . Insects entering openings  36  will be guided along walls  30  to poison  26 . The walls  30  have a curvature such that a probe thrust into any opening  36  cannot contact poison  26 . When a part, or all, of cover  20  is transparent, poison  26  is optionally placed over a contrasting color material, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , so that poison  26  is visible through the cover. The inner compartment containing the bait toxicant is covered with a full tear back seal  48  in FIGS. 11 and 12. However, the pull-tab is threaded through an outer case wall opening  36 , instead of through the cutout in wall  23  as in FIG. 2.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the device of FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  wherein the pull-tab  45  is connected to a pull back seal with parallel scored lines  44  thereon to guide the tearing and expose most of the bait toxicant thereunder and yet retain some material covered. Base  10  is vacuum formed from a flat sheet of plastic, to form walls  30 . As shown, the floor  18  rises from the periphery of the device so that the inner compartment forms a depression to hold the bait toxicant.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 19 shows an alternate embodiment of the insect feeding station of FIGS. 1, 2 and  3  with the top cover in place. The top cover as shown in FIG. 21 shows the openings  36  and the guide walls  14  as being integral with the cover  20 . FIG. 20 shows the base portion  10  having a floor  18 , which rises to form a depression/compartment  24  for receiving the bait toxicant.  
         [0058]    Insects attracted to the station to find harborage and food seek the fresh or moist bait in the inner compartment. They enter through access openings  36 , and follow the walls  14  to reach the bait-toxicant exposed in the central well area  24 . They then feed upon the fresh bait-toxicant, which preferably contains delayed action insecticide, return to their usual hiding place or nest and die. The dead insects, which are now toxic, will then be cannibalized by other insects, extending the kill action of the station to insects, which have not contacted the station directly.  
         [0059]    Although other modifications of the bait station described in the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from examination of the above patent specification and drawings, these other variations of the present invention may be made which fall within the scope of the following claims, even though such variations were not specifically discussed above.  
                                                         Exhibit A                                Expiration       Clorox Case   Country   Patent No.   Application No.   Status   Date               470.05   U.S.   4,945,107       Issued   Dec. 7, 2007           New Zealand   227145       Abandoned           Argentina   245.567       Abandoned           Spain   2,063,018       Issued   Nov. 21, 2008           S. Korea   125383       Issued   May 19, 2012           S. Arabia   3246       Issued           S. Africa   88/9134       Issued   Dec. 6, 2008           Norway       88/5420   Abandoned           Venezuela   52097       Issued   Jun. 30, 2009           Mexico   174803       Issued   Dec. 5, 2008           Kuwait       101 PA/88   Abandoned           Australia   604387   26610/88   Issued   Dec. 6, 2008           Italy   0319757       Issued           France   0319757       Issued   Nov. 21, 2008           Finland       88/5653   Abandoned   Nov. 21, 2008           Europe   0319757       Issued           Brazil   PI8806423-9       Issued   Dec. 6, 2008           Japan   2083196 (Pub. No.       Issued   Dec. 6, 2008               121845/95)           Portugal   89,158       Abandoned           Denmark           Abandoned       470.07   U.S.   5,021,237       Issued   Nov. 27, 2009           France   0430634       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Germany   P69012957.2-0       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Italy   0430634       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Spain   2060068       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Japan       321362/1990   Pending/Allowed           S. Korea   187914       Issued   Nov. 26, 2010           Europe   0430634       Issued           Mexico   173157       Issued           England   0430634       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Colombia       332449   Abandoned           Canada       2030706-4   Pending   Nov. 27, 2010           Brazil   PI9005978-6       Issued   Nov. 26, 2010           Argentina   250503       Issued   Apr. 18, 2012           Australia   626477       Issued   Nov. 23, 2010           South Africa           ?       470.08   U.S.       441796   Abandoned           Colombia       332450   Abandoned           S. Korea   187991       Issued   Jan. 9, 2014           Spain   2060067       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Mexico   172524       Issued           Japan       321363/1990   Pending/Allowed           Italy   0430633       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Germany   P69012753.7-0       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           France   0430633       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Europe   0430633       Issued           Canada   2030708       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010           Brazil   PI 9005979-4       Issued   Nov. 26, 2010           Australia   628687       Issued   Nov. 23, 2010           Argentina   252215       Issued   Jun. 30, 2013           England   0430633       Issued   Nov. 27, 2010       470.08A   U.S.   5,126,139       Issued   Nov. 27, 2009       470.09   U.S.   4,990,514       Issued   Feb. 5, 2008           Brazil       PI 8801972   Abandoned           Venezuela       744/88   Abandoned           S. Africa       88/2954   Abandoned           N. Zealand   224191       Abandoned           Canada   1329116       Abandoned           Australia   608597       Abandoned           Argentina       310.664   Abandoned           Europe   0289756       Abandoned       470.19   U.S.   5,048,225       Issued   Jan. 14, 2003                           (By T.D.)       470.26-1   Philippines       26,833 (Div)   Pending           Canada   1103244       Expired       470.27   S. Africa   81/1335       Issued           Spain   499825       Issued   Mar. 15, 2002           Sudan   2291       Abandoned           Turkey   21148       Expired           Zambia   18/81       Abandoned           Brazil   PI81012505-5       Expired           Zimbabwe   44/81       Abandoned           Venezuela   43429       Expired           Argentina   238831       Issued   May 31, 2004           Italy   1142338       Issued           Greece   74045       Abandoned           Germany   31 06 426       Issued           France   2,476,985       Issued           Canada   1171087       Expired           Austria   369951       Abandoned           Japan   1508496       Issued   Feb. 27, 2001           England   2070430       Issued       470.28   U.S.       235251   Abandoned           Mexico   151438       Expired           N. Zealand   200202       Issued   Apr. 1, 2002           S. Africa   82/2356       Issued   Apr. 5, 2002           Singapore   2095965   8690752-4   Issued   Apr. 5, 2002           Venezuela   45534       Expired           Denmark   156110       Abandoned           Sweden       8202168-4   Abandoned           England   2095965B       Issued   Apr. 5, 2002           Canada   1153267       Expired           Brazil   PI 8201935       Issued           Australia   553023       Issued   Apr. 5, 2002           Argentina   232257       Expired           Germany       P 3212859.2   Abandoned       470.31   U.S.   4,353,907       Expired           Greece   77278       Abandoned           S. Africa   82/0228       Expired           Japan   1936912   356515/91   Issued   Feb. 9, 2002           Germany   32 02 169       Issued       470.31-1   Japan   1936912       Granted       470.31-2   Japan       05345766   Pending       470.34   U.S.       062,667   Abandoned           Europe       88107897.6   Abandoned           Venezuela       8/89   Pending           N. Zealand   224,996       Abandoned           Brazil       PI 8803106   Abandoned           Australia   609143   17685/88   Issued   Jun. 15, 2008           Argentina   247,069       Expired (?)               (or 216,094?)           Canada   1333561       Issued   Dec. 20, 2011           S. Africa   88/4280       Abandoned       470.38   U.S.   D278842       Abandoned           Australia   89714       Expired           Japan   748920   51739/82   Issued   Aug. 10, 2003       470.38A   Japan   748920-1   23923/85   Issued       470.39   U.S.   4,563,836       Issued   Jan. 14, 2003       470.41   U.S.   4,894,947       Issued   Jan. 14, 2003       470.42   U.S.   4,845,103       Issued   Jul. 4, 2006       470.44   U.S.       07/765337   Abandoned           U.S./PCT       US92/07138   National Phase Entered           Thailand   9679 (?)   016893   Pending/Issued?           Mexico   186638       Issued   Sep. 24, 2012           Romania       PR-00482   Abandoned           Russia       94017663.00   Abandoned           S. Africa   92/7303       Issued   Sep. 24, 2012           Malaysia       PI9201580   Pending?           S. Korea   155399       Pending   Jul. 15, 2013           Singapore       9606035-5   Abandoned           Taiwan       81109182   Abandoned           Ukraine       95005406   Abandoned           Venezuela   53,985       Abandoned           Spain   0558706       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012           China   92112060.5   92112060.5   Allowed   Sep. 24, 2007           S. Arabia       92130259   Pending           Argentina       323,251   Pending           Australia   673336       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012           Japan       506050/93   Pending           Canada       2119909   Pending   Aug. 25, 2012           Czech Rep.       PV 679-94   Abandoned           England   0558706       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012           Europe   0558706       Issued           France   0558706       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012           Germany   0558706       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012           Hungary   215950       Abandoned           Indonesia       P-004744   Pending           Italy   0558706       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012           Brazil   PI9206551-1       Issued   Aug. 25, 2012       470.44B   U.S.   5,607,682       Issued   Mar. 4, 2014       470.44C   U.S.   5,676,961       Issued   Sep. 12, 2014       470.48C   U.S.   5,925,670       Issued   Oct. 22, 2012       470.48E   U.S.   6,162,825       Issued   Oct. 22, 2012       470.50   U.S.   5,271,180       Issued   Aug. 11, 2012           U.S./PCT       US93/06994   National Stage Entered           Europe       93917344.9   Abandoned           Ireland       US93/06994   Abandoned       470.56   U.S.       08/207777   Abandoned           U.S.IPCT       US95/01544   National Phase Entered           Taiwan       83107906   Abandoned           Singapore   47846       Abandoned           S. Korea       96-704924   Pending           S. Arabia       95160034   Pending           Mexico       963941   Pending           Thailand       025636   Pending           Indonesia       P-950363   Pending?           Europe   0749273   0749273   Pending?   Feb. 8, 2015           China       95191984.9   Pending           Canada       2182690   Pending   Feb. 8, 2015           Brazil       PI9507000-1   Abandoned           Australia   709549       Issued   Feb. 8, 2015           Argentina       331,242   Abandoned?           Japan       95/523454   Pending           Russia       96121385   Pending?       470.64   U.S.   D377961       Issued   Oct. 15, 2010 (By T.D.)       470.66   U.S.   D390305       Issued   Feb. 3, 2012       470.68   U.S.   D374703       Issued   Oct. 15, 2010       470.86   U.S.   D306895       Issued   Mar. 27, 2004           Venezuela   3,928       Abandoned           Argentina   54921       Issued           Brazil   MI4900256       Expired           Canada   66,091       Expired           Chile   2196       Issued           Colombia   325,457       Issued           England   2,007,922       Issued           France   904,254       Issued           Japan   876,832       Abandoned?           Malaysia   ?       Issued       470.86A   Colombia       300,680   Abandoned           Argentina   56534       Issued           Brazil       MI5000748   Abandoned       470.88   U.S.   D326890       Issued   Mar. 27, 2004 (By T.D.)           Argentina   56,534       Abandoned           Brazil   MI 5000748       Expired?           Canada   68,124       Expired           Colombia       325457   Expired           Japan   887,101       Abandoned           Venezuela   4136       Abandoned       470.104   U.S.       08/768006   Abandoned           U.S.-PCT   WO 9825454   US97/23162   National Stage Entered           Philippines       I-58795   Pending (?)           Australia       57034/98   Pending           S. Africa   97/11145       Issued   Dec. 11, 2017           Chile       2715-97   Pending           Thailand       041247   Pending           Taiwan       86118849   Allowed           Argentina       P970105871   Pending           England       97953243.9   Pending           Malaysia       PI9706032   Pending       470.104A   U.S.       08/986073   Abandoned           Argentina           Pending           Taiwan       89213051   Allowed   Dec. 4, 2010           Thailand           Pending       470.104B   U.S       10/000,434       470.106   U.S.   5,943,816       Issued   Dec. 15, 2017       470.108   U.S.   5,953,854       Issued   Dec. 13, 2016       470.110   U.S.   6,117,854       Issued   Aug. 20, 2017           U.S. PCT       US98/16021   National Phase Entered           Thailand       045606   Pending           Philippines       1-1998-02085   Pending (?)           Taiwan       87113734   Pending (?)       470.116   U.S.       09/661,632   Pending       470.126   U.S.   D410724       Issued   Jun. 8, 2013           S. Korea       99-382   Pending           Australia   140066       Issued           Japan       11(1999)589   Pending       470.144   U.S.       09/626,702   Pending       700.108   U.S.   5,409,368       Issued   Jun. 1, 2013