Abstract:
A dispenser for poisoned bait having a tray and a correspondingly shaped sheet-like lid for sealing the tray with the bait placed therein during manufacture. The lid has a tear-off portion that allows the pest to access the bait while the remainder of the lid continues to cover the enclosed bait so that the user&#39;s potential for physical contact with the bait is minimized. The tray includes a gripping flange adjacent the enclosed portion of the tray that allows the user to securely grasp the dispenser and place it into position in a tight or difficult-to-reach space without risk of touching the bait.

Description:
This application is entitled to and hereby claims the priority of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/924,949 filed Jun. 6, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to the field of pest extermination and, more particularly, to a dispenser for poisoned bait that protects the consumer from contact with the bait while at the same time enclosing the bait in an easy-to-use and affordable bait containment, handling and delivery dispenser. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Poisonous baits are well known for use in exterminating pests such as mice and rats. These baits must be placed in strategic locations in order to maximize the likelihood of contact by the target pest. Many of these locations are necessarily small as rodents are known to prefer tight spaces that provide them with a feeling of security. Placing the baits in such locations can be difficult and consumers attempting to do so often come into contact with the bait. Consumer studies have shown that such contact is viewed as highly undesirable, prompting users to seek out bait delivery systems that ensure a “no touch” or “hands-free” freedom from exposure to the bait. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties of placing bait delivery systems into tight locations without touching the bait by providing bait in a bait dispenser that is configured to be easy to handle and place. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a bait dispenser that is ergonomically designed to facilitate the user&#39;s safety including safe opening, carrying and placement of the dispenser for use without touching the bait. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a bait dispenser configured to make the bait readily available to the pest while, at the same time, minimizing the user&#39;s exposure to the bait as well as scattering of the bait outside the dispenser by the pest. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bait dispenser that is easy to use and economically disposable once the bait is gone or no longer being consumed. 
     In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention is directed to a bait dispenser having a tray and a correspondingly shaped lid for sealing the tray into which poisoned bait pellets are placed during manufacture. The tray is shaped to include a gripping flange that allows the user to securely grasp the dispenser and place it into position in a tight or difficult to reach space. The lid includes a perforated portion that is removed to expose the bait. The remainder of the lid remains sealed to the tray to minimize any likelihood of the bait touching the user at any time during the opening and placement process. Finally, the inner surface of the tray includes raised ridges or other patterned surface that serves to trap small particles and minimize scattering of the bait outside the dispenser by the pest. 
     The foregoing objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a bait dispenser having a tray and lid in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the tray of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a top view of the tray of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a side view of the tray of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 , shown when in use, with the tear-off portion of the lid removed and being filled with bait. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a tray for a bait dispenser according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a top view of the tray of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  is a side view of the tray of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of the tray of  FIG. 3A , shown when in use, with the tear-off portion of the lid removed and being filled with bait. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a bait dispenser according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with the tear-off portion of the lid removed. 
         FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of the tray for the dispenser of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of the tray of  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 4D  is an end view of the tray of  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 4E  is a top view of an alternative lid for the tray of  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a tray for a bait dispenser according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a top view of the tray of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is a side view of the tray of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of the tray of  FIG. 5A , shown when in use, with the tear-off portion of the lid removed and being filled with bait. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a packaging cover for use with the bait dispenser embodiments according to the present invention, the cover setting forth the peel and place steps of placing such a dispenser into use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D, a first embodiment of the present invention includes a bait dispenser, generally designated by the reference numeral  10 , having an elongated tray  12  and a flat, sheet-like lid  14  corresponding in shape with the periphery of the tray  12 . The lid  14  as shown has a dual layer construction with a bottom layer  16  and a top layer  18 . The layers  16 ,  18  are adhered to one another and sealed along an outer edge of the tray  12 . Alternatively, the lid  14  may be made of a single layer such as, for example, a thin paperboard material. When the dispenser  10  is in the sealed configuration prior to use, the tray  12  is filled with an appropriate rodenticide. The composition of the rodenticide does not form a part of this invention; any rodenticide composition which can be dispensed in the manner disclosed herein is suitable for the present invention. 
     The top layer  18 , or the lid as a whole in the single layer embodiment, is provided with a perforation line  15  that extends transversely across the lid  14 . The bottom layer  16  is unperforated and is typically made of a thin non-absorbent material, such as plastic sheeting or foil, to provide a sealed moisture barrier for the bait. The perforated top layer  18 , or the lid as a whole in the single layer embodiment, is generally made of a paper-based material that remains structurally stable even when perforated but can be torn along the perforation  15  for easy removal of a tear-off portion  17  of the lid. The lid remainder  19  remains sealed to the tray  12  throughout use of the dispenser. 
     The dispenser  10  has a first end generally designated by the reference numeral  20  and a second end generally designated by the reference numeral  22 . A longitudinally elongated bait holding cavity  24  adjacent the first end  20  extends in line with a bait access area  26  adjacent the second end  22 . The line of interface  28  between the cavity  24  and the access area  26  is in alignment with the perforation line  15  in the lid  14 . Therefore, when the tear-off portion  17  of the lid is removed along the perforation line  15 , the bait access area  26  is exposed while the bait holding cavity  24  remains covered by the lid remainder  19 . This protects the user from unwanted contact with the bait and also minimizes the risk of bait spillage during placement of the dispenser. According to a preferred embodiment, the length of the bait access area  26  that is uncovered when the tear-off portion  17  is removed is less than the length of the bait holding cavity that remains covered. 
     A bottom surface  11  of the tray  12  slopes from the first end  20  to the second end  22  to provide gravity feed of the bait from the cavity  24  to the bait access area  26 . The bait holding cavity  24  can include a central elongated, outwardly tapering trough  25  surrounded by a ledge  27  which has a greater downward slope than the trough  25 . This configuration serves to further aid the gravity feed and control of the bait pellets into the bait access area  26 . 
     Further embodiments of the tray and lid of dispensers in accordance with the present invention are set forth in  FIGS. 3A-3D ,  4 A- 4 D and  5 A- 5 D. In each of these embodiments, the foregoing components including a bait cavity, bait access area, perforated lid, etc., are indicated by reference numerals corresponding to those used in  FIG. 1  but differentiated by the first digit. For example, the bait cavity in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 D is identified as  324 ; the bait cavity in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 D is identified as  424 , etc. 
     With reference to FIGS.  1  and  2 A- 2 D, the first end  20  of the tray  12  is advantageously provided with a gripping flange  30  as part of outer edge  13  that extends outwardly from and in substantially linear alignment with the bait holding cavity  24 . The gripping flange  30  preferably has a textured surface, generally designated by the reference numeral  32 , that provides the user with a sure grip of the dispenser  10  during placement. The textured surface  32  may take the form of raised bumps  34  and/or alphanumeric or logo information  36  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  2 D,  3 A,  3 B and  3 D. Virtually any irregularity in the surface may be used to give the user a non-slip grip of the flange. 
     Alternatively, the textured surface  32  may be combined with a protruding portion, generally designated by the reference numeral  38 , on the underside  440  of the flange  430 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , and on the underside  540  of the flange  530 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4D , the protruding portion  38  is embodied as a rib  42  that protrudes from the underside  440  and provides a corresponding indentation  444  in the upper surface  46  of the flange.  FIG. 5  depicts a further alternative in which the protruding portion  38  is formed as a handle  48  with a corresponding indentation  544 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a further textured surface  52  is preferably formed on the bait contact surface of the bait access area  26 . This surface  52  includes bumps  54  or ridges  56  (see  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A and  4 B) that control dust and small particles to reduce scattering of the bait outside the dispenser by movement of the pest. 
     The textured surfaces  32 ,  52  and the protruding portion  38  are preferably formed integrally with the tray  12  by thermoforming technology as would be known by persons of ordinary skill in the art. The tray is preferably made of PVC but can be made of any suitable polymer or other material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 D, the second end of the tray may be formed to include corner indentations or tabs  60  adjacent the outermost edge  62  that make it easier for the user to grasp the tear-off portion  17  of the lid  14  for removal thereof. Tearing off of the lid portion  17  along the perforation line  15  can also be facilitated by including notches  64  in the sides of the tray with corresponding notches  65  in the lid  14  that are aligned with the perforation line  15  across the interface  28  between the cavity  24  and the access area  26 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D  and  5 A- 5 D, the dispenser can be made with a sloped bottom surface  411 ,  511  without the trough or ledge as the sloped bottom surface  411 ,  511  is sufficient to provide gravity feed to the bait access area  426 ,  526 . 
       FIG. 4E  illustrates an alternative lid  414  for the tray  412  in which the tear-off portion  417  is removed from a center area of the lid  414  while the edge portion  479  of the lid remains sealed to the tray  412 . The lid is preferably made of a single layer of paperboard that remains structurally stable even when perforated, with the tear-off portion  417  demarcated by a perforation line  415 . To facilitate removal of the tear-off portion  417 , the lid  414  can be provided with a tab  481  that extends beyond the outer edge of the tray for grasping of the tear-off portion. 
     To use the dispenser  10 , a user holds the tray  12  with one hand while taking hold of the outermost edge  62  of the tear-off portion  17  and pulling upward, as shown in  601  of  FIG. 6 . Once the tear-off portion  17  has been removed, the user can then position and place the dispenser by holding the dispenser by the gripping flange  30 , as shown in  602  of  FIG. 6 , as well as tip the dispenser to transfer additional bait to the bait access area  26 . Because the bait is still covered within the cavity  24  by the lid remainder  19 , there is no risk of the bait sliding into contact with the user&#39;s hand at the first end  20  of the dispenser  10 . The gripping flange  30  also provides a secure and balanced hold on the dispenser that enables the user to confidently reach out and place the dispenser in difficult to reach and/or tight spaces without any significant risk of phyical contact with the bait in a manner not possible with prior art rodenticide delivery system configurations. 
     The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the bait dispenser according to the present invention may be seen to be applicable to the dispensing of insect bait or any other bait offering in which user separation from the bait is desired. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.