Abstract:
A simple device for use with nectar type bird feeders that effectively prevents ant and other insect contamination. The device uses a disposable media that is coated with a non-drying adhesive. The nondrying adhesive acts as a barrier to the passage of crawling insects. The device is placed interposed between the nectar feeder and the feeder support so as to restrict insects from crawling to the feeder by any route that does not pass through the adhesive coated media Insects are prevented from contaminating the feeder as they will not cross the non-drying adhesive barrier. The device can be made completely disposable or it may be constructed to accept replaceable adhesive media inserts and/or peel away layers that are conveniently replaced as they become contaminated or dust covered.

Description:
[0001]    I claim the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/443,368 filed Jan. 30, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Nectar, or sugar water type bird feeders are extremely prone to insect, especially ant, contamination. There are numerous products that are commercially available to prevent ants from contaminating nectar type bird feeders. One of the most common barriers is a water “moat” hung above the feeder or designed integrally into the feeder (Ref. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,691,665, 4,901,673, 5,507,249 and 6,463,878). While water moats are effective, they require regular monitoring to fill and clean them. In hot, dry regions, water moats will require daily refilling and they frequently will go dry before the nectar in the feeder is replaced. Water moats work well, but many people find the maintenance and cleaning of them inconvenient. There are also physical barrier means to prevent inset contamination as detailed in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,640,927, 5,806,460 and 6,012,414 for “Nectar Feeder Access Devices”. While these devices are very effective, they also require regular cleaning.  
           [0003]    There are also some “home remedy” measures such as putting vegetable oil or petroleum jelly on the feeder hanging cord, or around the perimeter of the feeder ports. There is available commercially a plastic or wooden “bell shaped” device which hangs between the feeder and the feeder hanging point into which the underside, petroleum jelly is applied. These home methods are marginally effective in the short term, but they tend to be very messy, require frequent cleaning, and the oil or petroleum jelly are prone to becoming rancid. The petroleum jelly often melts in hot weather conditions. Unfortunately, the petroleum jelly and/or vegetable oil usually end up on the feeder as they are prone to migration and ,being only marginally effective, especially with larger insects (ants), they can even be tracked back to the feeder. Finally, the petroleum jelly and/or vegetable oil attract dirt which results in the need for frequent and relatively difficult cleaning and the need for regular re-application.  
           [0004]    One of the most popular products for the prevention of ant contamination is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,782,662 4,890,416 and 5,274,950. This product marketed under the name Ant Guard™ is very convenient and effective at preventing ants from getting into nectar feeders. Unfortunately, this product uses a “absorbent disk” treated with the wide spectrum insecticide “Permethrin”. The Permethrin insecticide is very toxic to bees and fish. There are numerous warning messages on the packaging including “CAUTION”, “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”, “ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS—The Active ingredients in this disk are toxic to fish”, etc., etc. Due to the fact that this product uses an insecticide barrier, it is simply unacceptable to many bird feeding consumers and many specialty bird feeding retailers. The bird feeding consumer is typically a very environmentally conscious consumer, who prefers a non-insecticide, nontoxic solution to solving their insect (ant) contamination problems.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The object of the present invention is to solve the problem of insect (especially ants) contamination of nectar type bird feeders with a simple, low-cost, and convenient device that requires a minimum maintenance effort and which is environmentally safe and non-toxic. The key to this problem solution is the use of a disposable media, such as paper, vinyl, Tyvek®, Teslin® thin-flexible foam, Pet-G®, PETE, etc. that is pre-treated with a relatively tacky, non-toxic, non-drying adhesive as is commonly found on the better grades of flypaper. This adhesive treated media (the best insect deterring adhesive formulations are colorless, odorless, and are not petroleum based) is highly effective as an insect -barrier when placed, with no alternative routes, between the nectar feeder and its hanging point or other mounting structure.  
           [0006]    The advantages of using the insect deterring adhesive coated disposable media for the insect barrier device are that it is very convenient, (neat-no sticky stuff to clean up or apply), long lasting protection (months), completely non-toxic, economical (very low cost), has multiple feeding season service capability, and finally, can be manufactured in numerous aesthetically pleasing product configurations. The adhesive media ant barrier device has been tested in an extremely dusty area, and found to be effective for a period of 2 to 4 months which is much longer than the aforementioned methods which can require replacement or maintenance on as frequent as a daily basis. The device or media replacement is simple and neat, there is no associated cleaning. The device will provide multiple season protection by simply including a number of disposable and or replaceable, low cost, adhesively coated media components. User instructions, adhesive free handling zones, and attractive graphics can easily be incorporated onto the disposable adhesive media devices. It is important to note, that ants and other crawling insects only rarely become entrapped in the non-drying adhesive, they most typically pull away and retreat from the barrier before they get completely stuck.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The following drawings are intended to demonstrate the numerous product configurations that the ANT BARRIER WITH DISPOSABLE ADHESIVE MEDIA device might have. These figures are not intended to show all of the potential device embodiments, but rather to demonstrate the design versatility that using a disposable media with a non-drying adhesive coating will allow.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 depicts a top view of the insect barrier that is totally disposable;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the insect barrier of FIG. 1 with a cross section line passing through the center;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 depicts the insect barrier of FIG. 2 in a side cross sectional view;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 depicts a top view of a sheet of removable insect barrier(s);  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 depicts a top and side view of an insect barrier removed from the sheet of FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the insect barrier pushed over a nectar feeder hanging hook;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 depicts a top and side view of the insect barrier of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 depicts a side view of the insect barrier of FIG. 1 fitted over a mounting stem;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 depicts an exploded side view of a insect barrier with disposable media with a protective shroud, a stack of replaceable adhesive inserts and the assembly supporting mounting stem;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 depicts a side view of the assembled insect barrier with disposable media of FIG. 9;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 depicts a side view of the exploded and assembled insect barrier with disposable adhesive inserts with integral dust shroud;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 depicts an exploded side view of the insect barrier with an inverted cup form disposable media;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 depicts an assembled side view of the device of FIG. 12;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 14 depicts the underside and side view of the disposable, adhesive coated cup form with resilient grommet and feeder hanging cord;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 15 depicts a side view of a nested stack of the disposable, adhesive coated cup forms of FIG. 12;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 16 depicts an exploded side view of the adhesive coated insect barrier that is adapted to hold a tape roll;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 17 depicts a side view of the assembled adhesive coated insect barrier with tape roll of FIG. 16;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 18 depicts an exploded side view of a nectar feeder with both the top and bowl having adapted annular surfaces for mounting a disposable, adhesive coated insect barrier;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 19 depicts an exploded side view of the insect deterring device and disposable media insert adapted for mounting with a feeder supporting pole;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 20 depicts an exploded side view of the insect deterring device that includes a dust cover, disposable media insert, and a mounting stem with integral baffle plate;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 21 depicts a side view of the assembled insect deterring device of FIG. 20. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]    Referring to FIG(S).  1  through  4 , there is shown a simple, completely disposable embodiment of the ant deterring device  11  consisting of the disposable media, i.e. paper, vinyl, thin-flexible foam, Tyvek®, etc. with the applied insect deterring (non-drying) adhesive pattern  13 , The device  11  has a center hole cut out as shown at  19  and a clearly identified non-adhesive coated region  15  for convenient handling. FIG. 3 shows a section view of the device  11  where the bottom layer or media  27  is shown under non-drying adhesive layer  25  and a low surface adhesion contact paper covering  23  that allows for convenient handling. FIG. 4 shows a sheet  31  consisting of a multiple of the ant deterring devices  11 . The sheet  31  is perforated to allow for the convenient removal of the devices  11 . Although not shown in FIG. 4 the sheet  31  is protected with a top layer of similarly perforated contact (low adhesion paper as is commonly used with self-adhesive labels) paper. This contact paper  23  allows for removing the devices  11  and their subsequent handling without the user coming into contact with the very sticky, non-drying adhesive  13 . The protective contact paper  23  is easily removed after pulling the device  11  from the sheet  31 .  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG(S.)  5  and  6  the device  11  may be interference fitted over the hanging hook  31  of the nectar feeder  33 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG(S).  7  and  8  the device  11  may be positioned on a mounting stem  41  at the slightly undercut region shown at  43 . The mounting stem  44  has an upper eyelet  45  for attaching the hanging cord  47  or other hanging hardware. The mounting stem  41  has a lower eyelet as shown at  49  for the feeder hanging hook  31  or for use with other feeder hanging hardware.  
         [0031]    The ant deterring device  11  is provided with a center hole at  19  for interference fitting with the feeder hanging hook  31  or the mounting stem  41 . It is desirable that the device  11  mounting hole  19  have some resilient elasticity to form a continuous contact point or impassable barrier at the mounting point. The vinyl, Tyvek® and thin-flexible foam media may be preferred for the device  11  as they will provide for some elastic expansion and securing friction of the mounting hole  19 . An alternative configuration not shown, would use a flexible center grommet or other means to hold the any deterring device  11  directly to the feeder hanging cord  47  or alternative feeder hanging hardware.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG(S).  9  and  10  there is shown a side view of the exploded and assembled drawing of the ant deterring device consisting of a media mounting stem  59  with a circular platform  63  designed to support the mounting of a self adhesive stack  55  of insect deterring media disks  57 . The stem has an undercut groove  61  adapted for the installation of a removable dust shroud  51  at reduced diameter boss  53 . The ant deterring device has an upper eyelet  67  and lower eyelet  65  for hanging cord  69  and/or other hanging hardware. The stack  55  of adhesive disks has a contact adhesive at the bottom surface shown at  58  to keep it secure on the mounting stem  59  platform  63 . The media disks are configured of a two sided paper with a contact paper surface on the bottom side and a more porous or rougher (paper texture that will hold the non-drying adhesive) surface on the top side. This configuration allows for the entire media stack  55  to stay adhered together until each media disk  57  is removed from the top of the stack. The ant deterring device is long lasting (protected from dust) and easily renewed by pulling the “worn out” insect deterring adhesive disk  57  from the top of the stack  55 .  
         [0033]    The FIG. 11 shows an assembled side view drawing of an ant deterring device  71  with an integral dust shroud  73 . The inside bottom surface  75  of the device  71  is adapted to receive a stack  55  of self-adhesive insect deterring media disks  57 . The stack  55  of insect deterring disks  57  has a self adhesive surface at  58  that holds the stack to the inside bottom surface  75  of the device  71 . The device  71  has upper and lower eyelets for attachment of a hanging cord  69  or other suitable hanging hardware.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG(S).  12  through  15  there is shown an embodiment of the ant deterring device with mounting stem  79  adapted to hold an insect deterring adhesive coated cup form  77 . The disposable cup form  77  has a coating of insect deterrent adhesive applied in an annular ring as seen at  85 . The cup form  77  has a center hole  87  adapted to interference fit over the mounting stem  79  at the undercut groove  81 . The mounting stem  79  has a circular supporting platform  83  which acts to support the cup form  77 . The mounting stem  79  has an upper eyelet  67  for attaching the feeder cord  69  and a lower eyelet  65  adapted for the feeder hook  31  or other suitable hanging hardware. FIG. 15 shows the nested stacking of the adhesive coated cups. The cup form  77  bottom is configured to protect the insect deterring adhesive  85  from making contact with the inside or outside of the adjacent nested cups  77  as shown at  89 . The adhesive coated cups  77  may be manufactured with a roll-folded edge  91  using conventional thermo-forming processes or by any other common cup forming processes. The insect deterring adhesive coated cups are very easily replaced when the adhesive becomes ineffective or the cups become excessively weathered. Although the cup form  77  of the insect deterring device is shown in conjunction with a mounting stem  79 , the cup form may have a center hole  87  that is sized to be interference fitted with the feeder hook or hanging cord. As shown in FIG. 14, the cup  77  mounting hole  87  may even be fitted with a resilient grommet  78  or affixed flexible washer to facilitate a friction fit between the device and the feeder hook, hanging cord  69 , or other feeder support structure.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG(S).  16  and  17  there is shown an embodiment of the ant deterring device  91  which is configured for the installation of an insect deterring tape roll  99 . This tape roll  99  is very similar in configuration to the tape configuration that is used for lint rollers, only it is much smaller and with an applied adhesive that is somewhat thicker or more tacky. The device  91  has an integral dust/rain shroud  95  and an internal cylindrical form  97  over which the cardboard core  109  of the insect deterring tape roll  99  can be interference fitted. The ant deterring device  91  has an upper eyelet  93  and lower eyelet  98 . The insect deterring tape roll  99  has serrations at shown at  105  to assist stripping off sections of the used tape. The tape  99  may be manufactured with just an insect deterring adhesive band  101  or the unique combination of the insect deterring adhesive and a region  107  of applied diatomaceous earth. The diatomaceous earth  107  is a non-toxic mechanical insect killing substance that kills insects by scratching and or piercing the insect&#39;s exo-skeleton with the microscopic remains (extremely small shards of silica) of diatoms. The insects with the damaged exo-skeletons simply dry out and die. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to virtually all life forms except insects (it is actually used in small quantities in animal feeds as a additive to kill insects). The combination of a non-drying adhesive  101  adjacent to the diatomaceous earth band  107 , on the tape  99 , should result in an dramatically enhanced insect killing effect of the diatomaceous earth. This enhanced effect will result from the exertion of force and action against the diatomaceous earth as the ants (insects) struggle to free themselves from the adhesive band. The combination of insect deterring adhesive placed adjacent to a diatomaceous earth treated region may prove to have numerous other insect killing applications, especially if supplied as a flexible, adhesive backed tape. These other insect killing applications are outside the scope of this patent application.  
         [0036]    Referring to the FIG. 18, there is shown a feeder with a removable top  111  and nectar reservoir (bowl)  121 . The underside of the feeder top  111  is adapted to receive an annular (center hole at  117 ) shaped insect deterring adhesive disk  113  at the underside surface as shown at  119 . This insect deterring disk  113  is protected from rain and dust by the feeder top  111  and will be an effective insect deterrent when the feeder is hung from above by the hook  31 . In a similar manner the feeder bowl  121  has a lower surface adapted to receive an annular (center hole at  117 ) shaped insect deterring adhesive disk  113  at the underside surface as shown at  125 . This insect deterring disk  113  is protected from rain and dust by the feeder bowl  121  and will be an effective insect deterrent when the feeder is pole  123  mounted.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 19, there is shown an insect deterring device  131  configured to interference fit a typical feeder mounting pole  123  as shown at  129 . The device  131  has an underside surface at  130  for contact adhesive attachment of a disposable, insect deterring adhesive disk  133 . The disposable, insect deterring disk  133  has a center cutout  141  an adhesive coating  137 , a surrounding application of diatomaceous earth, and untreated region at the tab  139  for convenient handling. The insect deterring device  131  is fabricated from a resilient, weather resistant material such as silicone rubber or flexible PVC.  
         [0038]    Referring to FIG(S).  20  and  21 , there is shown a section view of an embodiment of the insect deterring device which incorporates a removable rain/dust cover  151  that slides over a central mounting stem  161 . The mounting stem  161  has an upper eyelet  165  adapted for hanging cord  169  and a lower eyelet  167  adapted for a feeder hook or other mounting hardware. The mounting stem  161  has an integral platform  163  which is adapted to support a disposable adhesive disk  155  with applied insect deterring adhesive  157  and center hole cutout at  159 . This device uses the weight of the rain/dust cover  151  and/or an interference fit between the mounting stem  161  and the rain/dust cover  151  as seen at  153  to hold the disposable adhesive disk  155  in place. The mounting stem  161  has an integral baffle plate  171  to restrict the airflow (and associated dust) up into the rain/dust cover  151 . This integral baffle plate  171  will extend the effective service life of the insect deterring adhesive disk  155  in particularly dusty regions.  
         [0039]    Although not specifically illustrated throughout this disclosure, it should be noted that the disposable media(s) with one side having an applied insect deterring adhesive coating may be held in place in the various insect barrier devices by use of a contact adhesive applied to the mounting side of the media (as is common with double sided tapes). There are any number of other common means, including clips, resilient bands, frictional contact or groove interference of a cutout hole that may be used to mount and hold the insect deterring media in these devices.  
         [0040]    Finally, the application of the “INSECT BARRIER WITH DISPOSABLE ADHESIVE MEDIA” device need not be limited in application to nectar type bird feeders, but may be marketed as crawling insect protection for camper&#39;s foodstuffs when placed interposed between a tree branch and high hanging food-sack (done to deter foraging bears). Another application for the device would be for an embodiment designed to be used interposed between a tree branch or other structure and a hanging (harvested) game animal, deer, elk, etc. In both of these alternate applications, the clean, non-toxic “INSECT BARRIER WITH DISPOSABLE ADHESIVE MEDIA” device would be effective for deterring crawling insects and would be completely safe to be near the food and/or game.