Abstract:
An ant or other insect bait stake, including a stake portion, formed having reinforcement aspects, including integrally formed corrugations, and having molded therewith a reservoir portion within which a liquid or paste like insecticide or bait may be located, such that when the reservoir is opened, and the ants obtain access thereto, the insecticide may be consumed for eradication of such pests. The reservoir may be of stepped configuration, so as to provide landings for locating of the insects, as they climb down to the insecticide, located internally of the reservoir, during usage of the bait stake.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This nonprovisional patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/,475,345, which was filed on Jun. 4, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Initially, numerous types of bait stations have been developed for attracting and killing of insects, through provision of a supply of bait, normally one that is doped with an insecticide, and facilitating the application of the station at a location where it will attract and kill insects through ingestion of the edible bait. More specifically, various types of bait stations, of the type as identified, have been available for some time for attracting roaches, ants, and other type of pests. 
   For example, the prior patent to Antonali, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,854, shows a plastic insect bait assembly. As one can see, the assembly includes an elongated support body, it has a monolithically formed reservoir, incorporating a peripheral wall, and a reinforcing portion, that forms the reservoir for holding the insect bait. Then, a reservoir cover incorporates positioning tabs furnished for locking of the tabs onto the previous reservoir, when the assembly is completed, after an insecticide has been located within the formed reservoir. 
   From a review of the prior art device, it is quite apparent that such an assembly has been designed for providing for re-usage and refilling of the bait assembly, as shown. 
   The current invention provides a bait stake that can be integrally molded, or molded of half components, filled with the bait, probably a liquid bait, and sealed, retaining the bait in place until such time as it is accessible after installation at the location where insects have a known presence. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention contemplates the molding of an insect or ant bait stake that can be formed of a polymer, molded into an integral or semi-integral structure, filled with the liquid or other bait, sealed, and in such condition, can easily be stored, shipped, displayed for marketing, and will not expose any of its insecticide until such time as it is installed, reopened for attracting preferably ants thereto and therein, for consumption of the contained insecticide. 
   This invention includes an integrally molded stake like component, which may be corrugated in structure, so as to add reinforcement to the device, and which allows for it easily being embedded into the ground, at the situs of usage. The bottom end of the stake may be inclined, or pointed, in order to facilitate its application into the ground. 
   Preferably, the stake may be made of two halves, each half being injection molded, or blow molded, into its usable configuration, and then the halves, which normally will comprise a mirror image of each other, can be adhered either by an adhesive, heat sealing, or sonic welding, together, to form an integrally formed upper reservoir upon the stake, readily available for marketing and usage by the homeowner, business owner, professional pest controller, or the like. Obviously, the stake can be most useful for the professional pest controller, when treating a facility. 
   Generally, the two halves of the molded stake will be somewhat of a mirror image, so that when the entire stake is filled with the insecticide, and assembled, as previously reviewed, it will have symmetry on both sides of its structure, and which will be molded into a structure that can absorb some force and pressure, particularly when applied from the top, as when the stake is being partially driven into the ground, in preparation for usage. Part of the stake may extend above the configured reservoir, and in that position, can withstand light impacts from a hammer, or other instruments, to aid in the installation of the stake into the ground for usage. 
   In addition, an upper location of the stake, or its reservoir, may be provided with an aperture, that leads into the interior of the reservoir, and when opened, as by cutting with a scissors, knife, or the like, provides an access opening for the insects, such as ants, into the interior of the formed stake, or particularly its insecticide laden reservoir, to allow the ants to consume the same, and normally, as known, convey a part of the insecticide back to the nest, for consumption by other similar insects. For example, the access openings may be located at a corner of the stake, and can be cut free, to provide an opening into the interior of the reservoir. Or, the outer edge of one side of the reservoir may contain a cutting area, which when severed, provides and access opening into the complete reservoir. Or, a simple access opening maybe provided at the top of one or both halves of the formed reservoir, and when its closure sealant is pulled free, provides an access opening also into the interior of the reservoir, so that the ants can attain access into the same. 
   In any event, when the stake has been used for some time, and all of its insecticidal contents have been consumed or removed by insects, the stake can simply be thrown away, and replaced by a fresh insect or ant bait stake. 
   These are examples as to how the invention of this stake may be formed, in principle, in order to furnish a stake that generally has significant outdoor usage, near the residence, or the building, for eliminating the ants and insects that may be within the vicinity, and keep them from attaining access into the building, in search of the food source. 
   It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide an insect or ant bait stake which can be molded into two parts, filled with an insecticide, sealed into closure, and readily marketable to the trade, without any spillage, or other inadvertent release of its contained insecticide. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a molded polymer stake which is formed having reinforced structure so as to add sufficient strength to its embodiment to allow it to be pressed or hammered into the ground, in preparation for usage. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bait stake which has a conveniently located access opening into its interior, and particularly of its insecticide laden reservoir, so that the opening can be easily made when the stake has been installed, in preparation for its immediate usage. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a uniquely shaped ant stake that is configured having various levels, internally thereof, to function as a landing area for the ants as they move into and through the reservoir, to attain access to its insecticide. 
   These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the summary of the invention herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment, in view of the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  provides an isometric view of the insect and ant bait stake of this invention; 
       FIG. 2  provides an isometric view of the bait stake of  FIG. 1 , before it has been accessed opened; 
       FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of a modification to the bait stake of this invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of a further modified bait stake of this invention; 
       FIG. 5  shows yet another modified isometric view of the bait stake of this invention; and 
       FIG. 6  discloses the centrally arranged stake, that may be used in conjunction with the bait insecticide reservoirs of this invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In referring to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 , therein is shown the bait station  1  of this invention. The bait station includes a reservoir like container  2 , which is adaptable for holding a supply of preferably a liquid bait, of the insecticide type, that can readily consumed by insects, such as ants, and either effect their demise, or provide for carry back of the insecticide to the ant den, or sharing with other ants in the colony. As can be noted, a stake  3  is formed at the proximate midpoint of the device, and functions for the following purposes. 
   Initially, the stake will preferably be molded in two halves, which are a mirror image of each other, each of the halves  4  and  5  having a stake segment, as can be noted at  6  and  7 , with each half of the stake  6  and  7  having integral molded therewith, its reservoir half  4  and  5 , respectively, as can be understood. And, the stake will be opened, between the reservoirs, as generally can be noted at the outline  8 , so that the entire reservoir  2  can readily hold a supply of the liquid or otherwise bait, and be readily accessible by any insect passing through the opening  9 , a convenient channel through which the insect may pass, upon being attracted to the insecticide contained therein, for consumption. As can further be seen in  FIG. 1 , the corner of the stake  3 , as at  10 , has been removed or cut, upon an incline, to provide for opening of the access channel  9 , as seen. 
   As can also be seen in  FIG. 2 , that corner  10  remains intact, has not been severed or cut as of yet, and therefore, the access opening  9  remains closed, particularly during shipment, storage, display for marketing, or while stored at home, before usage is made of the insect bait stake. 
   As can also be seen from the structure of the bait stake of this invention, the stake portion  3  will extend slightly upwardly above the reservoir  2 , as can be determined at  11 , and therein provide a rather stable type of edge, at the upper segment of the stake, which allows for either a pressure forcing of the stake into the ground, or even a slight hammering thereon, to drive the stake, and its lower segment, into the ground, in preparation for usage. As can be noted, the stake may be molded into a corrugated shape, as can be seen at  12 , to add to its reinforcement, and to allow it to be driven or impaled into the ground, without collapse. 
   As can also be seen, the upper reservoir  2  of the stake is tiered, as can be noted along the segments  13  and  17 , and provides a series of landings, as at  18  through  22 , furnishing a stair-step area for the ants to occupy, as they move down the interior of the stake, and particularly to its reservoir, to attain access to the liquid or solid insecticide that may be contained therein. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the modified form of the bait stake  23  is noted. It also includes the reservoir halves  24  and  25 , integrally formed and respectively with the laminated layers of the formed stake  26  and  27 , when the halves of the stake are injection molded, and then sealed together to form the bait stake structure, as previously reviewed. In this instance, the upper edges, or at least one of the edges, as at  28 , is provided with a more narrowed edge, that can be readily cut, as noted at  29 , for allowing access into the insecticide laden reservoir, to allow and provide a supply of such for any ants or other insects that attain access into the bait stake. 
     FIG. 4  discloses a further modification to the bait stake  30  of this invention. Once again, it is formed of a pair of reservoir halves  31  and  32 , or may be integrally blow molded with their laminated stake portions  33  and  34 , and an access opening provided at its upper end, as at  35 , which can be cut upon an incline, similar to the edge  10  of  FIG. 1 , for allowing the ants to obtain access into the interior of the shown reservoir, which would have been pre-filled with a liquid or otherwise insecticide or bait. Once again, the stake may be laminated, or corrugated, in the manner as shown at  36 , to add to its reinforcement. 
     FIG. 5  shows another variation upon the bait stake of this invention. As noted, the bait stake  37  will additionally be formed of semi-halves or a pair of sides of the reservoir, as can be seen at  38  and  39 , each of which that will be integrally molded with their stake portion  40  and  41 , respectively, and then sealed together, either by an adhesive, heat seal, sonic welded, or by other means of adhesion, to form an integral stake structure, as noted. The stake, itself, once again, may be corrugated in its molding, as at  42 , to add to its reinforcement. The upper end of the stake, as at  43 , may extend slightly above the reservoir, as noted, and therein provide a surface that can be impacted, as by a hammer, or other forceful object, for impaling the lower stake portion  42  into the ground. In this particular instance, the reservoir half  39  will include an aperture, as at  44 , and be sealed by an adhesive tab, or other means of closure, once the liquid or other bait is located within the reservoir, so that the station will be leak proof, as it is being manufactured, stored, shipped, marketed, or temporarily packed away by the homeowner, until such time the bait station is applied for usage. 
   Finally, as can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the various styles of stake portions, as at  45 , to be used and embodied within the structure of the bait stake of this invention as shown. This may include lower beveled edges, as at  46  and  47 , to facilitate the insertion of the stake into the ground, when the member  45  is embodied within and integrally formed with a reservoir portion, of the types as previously described. 
   Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the development as described herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this development, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention, as described. The disclosure of the invention in the drawings, and as described in the preferred embodiment, are set forth for illustrative purposes only.