Abstract:
The present invention provides a pest removal device for removing a pest from a surface and a method of using the pest removal device. The pest removal device comprises an engagement side covered by an adhesive layer, a backing side positioned opposite the engagement side, a single release tab covered with a non-adhesive layer extending from the pest removal device for removing the engagement side from the surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from provisional application 60/442,318, which was filed on Jan. 24, 2003.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention generally relates to a device and method for removing pests from a surface. In particular, this invention relates to an adhesive sheet that is positioned over a pest to trap and remove the pest from the surface.  
           [0003]    Pests like spiders, small insects, and rodents can spread disease. Ticks in particular may carry Lyme disease, and when they burrow into the host&#39;s skin may infect the host. To prevent the transmittal of disease or irritation which may occur from having an insect on the host&#39;s skin, the insect must be removed.  
           [0004]    Tweezers and forceps have been used to remove burrowed insects from the skin of the host. A problem with using this type of removal device is that if the insect has attached itself to the host, then a portion of the insect may break off and remain at the burrow site when removing the insect. Materials remaining in the skin can lead to discomfort and infection.  
           [0005]    Adhesive tapes and rollers have been used as a method of removing insects from a surface like skin. A problem with using adhesive tapes as a removal device is that once the tape has been applied to the surface, the tape is difficult remove. The tape is flat against the surface without an exposed edge for grabbing.  
           [0006]    A problem with using adhesive rollers as a removal device is that the rigid roller may crush the insect. Another problem is that the roller passes over the insect too quickly. The roller pulls the insect off the surface without irritating the insect. Irritating the insect first causes it to unhook or release from the surface. Removing the insect prior to it releasing properly may result in a portion of the insect breaking off and remaining at the burrow site.  
           [0007]    Many pests can be difficult to catch because they move too quickly or can get into areas that are difficult to reach. Devices like fly swatters can be used to strike and kill pests, but once the pest is struck, the force of the strike may cause the pest to be lost.  
           [0008]    There is a need for a device to safely and effectively capture and immobilize pests while securing the pest to the capturing surface and where the capturing device can be easily manipulated by a user. There is a need for a device to cause a burrowed pest to release from the surface so that the pest can be entirely removed and examined for disease potential.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention provides a pest removal device for removing a pest from a surface. The pest removal device comprises an engagement side covered by an adhesive layer, a backing side positioned opposite the engagement side, and a single release tab covered with a non-adhesive layer extending from the pest removal device for removing the engagement side from the surface.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a pest removal device.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of pest removal devices.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spool of pest removal devices and a dispenser.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pest removal device being applied over a pest.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a folded pest removal device.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pest removal device attached to an extension tool. 
     
    
       [0016]    While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth one embodiment of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this invention. The figures may not be drawn to scale. Like reference numbers have been used throughout the figures to denote like parts.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a pest removal device. The pest removal device  200  has a main body  202  with a main body length  204 , width  206 , and perimeter  208 . In this embodiment the length  204  and width  206  are equal and define a diameter of a circular perimeter  208 . The main body may be rigid or flexible. In one embodiment, the main body is constructed of a flexible, resilient foam.  
         [0018]    The main body  202  has a backing side  210  and an engagement side  212  that is opposite the backing side  210 . The engagement side  212  is coated with an adhesive layer  214 . In this embodiment, the adhesive layer  214  covers the entire engagement side  212 . The adhesive layer  214  may be penetrated or encapsulated with a pesticide, antiseptic, or medication such as benadryl. In some embodiments, the backing side  210  may be covered with an adhesive layer as well to create a pest removal device with tackiness on both the engagement side  212  and the backing side  210 . (See FIG. 6). The pest removal device  200  can be removably stored on a storage liner  300 .  
         [0019]    The pest removal device  200  is shown to be generally flat and circular shaped but may be of any size or shape that is appropriate for the particular application. In one embodiment, the pest removal device  200  that would be appropriate for use in removing small pests like insects, ticks, and spiders has a diameter of one inch.  
         [0020]    To assist in removing the pest removal device  200  from the storage liner  300  or a contact surface is a release tab  216 . The release tab  216  has a release tab length  218  that extends parallel to the main body length  204 , and a width  220  that extends parallel to the main body width  206 . The release tab  216  in this embodiment has a length  218  and width  220  that are equal and define a radius of a partial circle perimeter  222 . The release tab length  218  is less than the main body length  204  and the release tab width  220  is less than the main body width  206 . Therefore, the release tab  216  is a projection that has a smaller size than the main body size. The release tab  216  in FIG. 1 extends from the main body perimeter  208 . The release tab  216  is covered with a tab liner  224 , so that the adhesive layer  214  on the release tab  216  does not stick to a user&#39;s finger during operation. The release tab  216  may be of a rigid or flexible material and be of any size or shape that is appropriate for the particular application.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of pest removal devices. A plurality of pest removal devices  200  are attached to a storing liner  300  that in this embodiment is a rectangular sheet. The adhesive layer  214  of the pest removal device  200  attaches to the storing liner  300 . The release tab  216  being covered with a tab liner  224  is not attached to the storing liner  300  so that the release tab  216  can be easily grabbed to remove the pest removal device  200 . The storing liner  300  may have a glossy surface or be coated with a release agent so that the adhesive layer  214  of the pest removal device  200  can be easily removed without damaging the tackiness of the adhesive layer  214  of pest removal device  200  or damaging the storing liner  300 . The storing liner  300  may be any size or shape so as to effectively store a plurality of pest removal devices  200 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spool of pest removal devices on a dispenser. A plurality of pest removal devices  200  are arranged in a linear fashion on a storing liner  300 . The adhesive layer  214  of the pest removal device engages with the surface of the storing liner  300 . The storing liner  300  is then spooled and placed in a dispenser  404 . The dispenser  404  may have a serrated edge  406  for tearing the storing liner  300  so that the pest removal devices  200  attached to the storing liner  300  can be removed.  
         [0023]    An exemplary size of a pest removal devices  200  useful in trapping small insects, spiders, and other small pests has a main body  202  with a diameter of one inch, a release tab  216  with a radius of 0.125 inches. When placed on the sheet, the main bodies  202  are 0.250 inches apart and the release tabs  216  are 0.125 inches apart.  
         [0024]    An exemplary material useful in making the pest removal device is a tape available from 3M Health Care of St. Paul, Minn. as 3M 8791 Foam Medical Tape. For the tab liner  224 , a polyester liner is available from Rayven, Inc. of St. Paul, Minn. Foam medical tape available from 3M is constructed of a polyvinyl chloride foam, coated on one side with a hypoallergenic pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive and supplied on a paper liner. The foam tape, without the paper liner, has a caliper of approximately 22.5 mils. The foam tape has an adhesion to steel minimum of approximately 227 g/25 mm. The paper liner has a caliper of approximately 4 mils. The medical tape is transferred onto a finished product liner or storage liner  300 . The finished product liner is coated with a release agent, such as silicone, so that the adhesive layer of the medical tape releases from the surface. The finished product liner can be a material such as a 78 pound liner with a caliper from 4.5 to 7 mils. The tab liner  224  covering the release tab  216  can be a polyester liner adhered to the adhesive layer of the medical tape having a caliper of approximately 1.5 mils. Other sizes and materials for construction of the pest removal devices are within the scope of this invention.  
         [0025]    The pest removal devices  200  attached to a storing liner  300  may then be boxed or packaged in a plastic resealable container. The container can be easily stored in a camper, in a car, or in a kitchen drawer so that the pest removal devices  200  are easily accessible.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pest removal device being applied over a pest. A user  226  holds the pest removal device  200  by holding the tab liner  224  of the release tab  216  and the backing side  210 . The user  226  then positions the adhesive side  214  over the pest  228  (in this case a tick). The adhesive side  214  sticks to the pest  228  and a surrounding surface  230  on which the pest  228  is touching. The surrounding surface  230  may be human skin, animal skin, clothing, a wall, or other type of surface pests dwell. If the adhesive side  214  is penetrated or imbedded with an antiseptic solution, the pest  228  may become irritated. This irritation may cause the pest  228  imbedded in the surrounding surface  230  to detach. Additionally, if the pest removal  200  device is constructed of a resilient foam material, it compresses and surrounds the pest  228  thereby suffocating the pest  228  causing the pest to release from the surrounding surface  230 . After a predetermined period of time, the user  226  pulls on the release tab  216  and removes the pest removal device  200  from the surrounding surface  230  with the pest attached to the device  200 . To sufficiently irritate or suffocate the pest, the pest removal device  200  should be positioned over the pest  228  for a sufficient amount of time. Generally, three to ten minutes is sufficient and up to thirty minutes for deeply imbedded pests. The pest removal device  200  is then removed. Because the pest  228  is attached to the adhesive side  214 , the pest  228  is unable to escape. If the antiseptic is alcohol based, it also helps to clean a wound left by the pest  228  on the surrounding surface  214 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a folded pest removal device  200 . The pest removal device  200  with the pest  228  attached to the adhesive side  214  has been removed from the surface  230 . The user  226  can fold the backing side  210  so that the pest  228  becomes trapped in the adhesive side  214 . After the pest  228  is trapped, the pest removal device  200  can be discarded or sent to a laboratory where the pest  228  can be analyzed for disease.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pest removal device attached to an extension tool. In this embodiment, the pest removal device  200  has an adhesive layer  232  covering at least a portion of the backing side  210  as well as an adhesive layer  214  on the engagement surface  212 . The backing adhesive layer  232  allows the pest removal device  200  to be securely attached to a tool  700 . The tool  700 , such as a fly swatter, broom, or wooden pole can allow a user  226  to catch a pest  228  located out of the user&#39;s reach. The engagement surface  204  is exposed and is the surface that traps the pest  228 . To remove the pest removal device  200 , the user  226  pulls on the release tab  216 . In this embodiment, both sides of the release tab  216  would be covered with a tab liner  224 .  
         [0029]    The pest removal device can be used to remove a variety of pests from various surfaces. An appropriate sized device may be used to remove small and large insects, spiders, and rodents from humans, animals, or other various surfaces. The pest removal device is useful for removing imbedded ticks from skin of a human or animal. A large removal device may be used to remove a rodent caught in a trap so that the rodent can be captured without a user having to touch the rodent with his or her hands.  
         [0030]    A pesticide, antiseptic, or odorous material may be incorporated into the adhesive layer to cause a burrowed pest to release from a surface or to kill or immobilize the pest prior to removal. For pests burrowed in a surface like skin, an antiseptic can be useful in assisting with cleaning the surface to prevent infection.  
         [0031]    A pest removal device constructed of foam allows the user to press the pest removal device on the pest and the surrounding material. The foam is compressible so that when the user presses to enclose the surrounding surface, the pest is not necessarily crushed but the foam is depressed. This may prevent the transfer of fluids from the pest to the surrounding surface.  
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.