Patent Publication Number: US-2019191689-A1

Title: Mounting and positioning device for an electronic sensor in a termite monitor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a monitoring and positioning device for an electronic sensor in a termite monitor and in particular but not limited to a retrofit for existing termite monitors so that the monitors may be electronically checked for the presence of termites. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The applicant has devised an electronic monitoring system for termites as described in applicant&#39;s co-pending patent application publication no WO/2015/179899 (now U.S. application Ser. No. 15/313,931 and AU application No. 2015268082). The disclosure of this specification is incorporated herein by cross reference in its entirety. 
     The Applicant is the first to recognise the desirability of a mounting and positioning device for an electronic termite sensor. The above referenced co-pending applications teach, in one embodiment, the use of a sensing module that may be removably fitted into a termite monitor by using a socket in the monitor to position the sensor in close proximity to a detection region which itself is close to attractant slats in the monitor. The present invention concerns a useful alternative to this type of mounting and positioning. 
     OUTLINE 
     While it is preferable that the present invention be applied to applicant&#39;s sensor, it will be apparent that the present invention may be applied to any electronic sensor. 
     In one aspect therefore there is provided a mounting and positioning device for an electronic sensor in a termite monitor, the mounting and positioning device including a termite enticement, preferably an assembly of consumable material and having adjacent thereto a termite detection region and the device being operably fittable inside a termite monitor and being adapted to position an electronic sensor adjacent the termite detection region, the assembly being configured to draw termite activity to the detection region for detection by the electronic sensor activated by termite activity in the detection region. Preferably, the enticement forms a termite scaffold leading from a position remote from the detection region to a position proximal the detection region. In this embodiment it is preferable that in use the termite scaffold extend downwardly from the detection region. Typically the termite scaffold hangs from a main body, the scaffold being removably attached to the main body. 
     The sensor may be secured to the device or may be simply placed in a sitting position or may be integrally formed as part of the whole device. 
     Typically the enticement forms a termite scaffold leading from a position remote from the detection region to a position proximal the detection region, the termite scaffold extending downwardly from the detection region, the device having a main body and scaffold attachment around the detection region for removable attachment of the scaffold. Preferably, the termite enticement is an assembly and comprises termite attractant located in proximity to the termite detection region so that termites are enticed to climb onto and consume the attractant and thereby be drawn into activity in the termite detection region. 
     In one preferred embodiment the termite detection region comprises an opening that termites instinctively desire to close as enticement. In addition as an aid and further enticement the enticement may be an assembly which comprises consumable material directionally placed to lead termites to the detection region. In one embodiment this can comprise spaced units of consumable material secured about the termite detection region. The units be in an array held by a corresponding array of attachment means. 
     To this end it is preferable that the termite detection region be located inside a marginal peripheral region adapted to bring about the operative securement of the device in a monitor while the consumable material is connected in an intermediate area between the marginal region and the termite detection region. 
     To this end it is preferable there be consumable material attachment means so that the consumable material may be secured in place around the termite detection region. 
     In one preferred embodiment the device comprises a substantially planar unit having one or more detection regions and consumable material attachment means adjacent the one or more detection regions. Preferably, the consumable material comprises a number of independent consumable material elements that are secured around the or each detection region. Preferably, the consumable material is assembled as an array or column. Preferably, there is provided a corresponding array of connections so that the consumable material may be connected to the mounting and positioning device opposite the sensor. To this end the array may comprise an array of projections surrounding the termite detection region. 
     In the case of a retrofit assembly, the device typically is adjustable to fit different monitors. Adjustability may be by any extension, retraction or removal of sections. In one case the adjustment comprises frangible sections which may be removed in order to suit different sized monitors for the purpose of retrofitting. Preferably, in the case of retrofitting to cylindrical monitors the mounting device has a body which is preferably disc like having concentric frangible rings so that the diameter of the device may be adjusted to suit the existing monitors of different diameters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the present improvements may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:— 
         FIG. 1  is an underside view of a mounting and positioning device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a device of  FIG. 1  with consumable termite attractant fitted in position as further enticement; 
         FIG. 3  is an inverted view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is the view of  FIG. 3  with a sensor in place; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing application of the present invention as retrofit to one type of termite monitor; and 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of application of the present invention to a second type of termite monitor. 
     
    
    
     METHOD OF PERFORMANCE 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated a mounting and positioning device  10  that according to the present invention has a main body which in this case is in the form of a disc  11  having a termite detection region in the form of a hole  12 . This hole may be positioned so that termites instinctively close the hole and are enticed to do so in order to prevent humidity loss and by the positioning of that hole relative to attractant ordinarily held inside a termite monitor. When the disc is inverted from the position in  FIG. 2  to the position as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and to further entice termites to the detection region  12  the device  10  uses termite scaffold as an array of slats  13  made from a termite consumable material, usually a type of timber that the termites prefer to eat. These are fitted around the hole  12  using attachments as in this case an array of flanges  14  which frictionally grip the slats. This keeps the slats apart so that there are outer slats  15  and inner slats  16  and a medial gap  17  which is slightly larger than the gaps  18  and  19 . The arrangement of the array of flanges around the hole  12  provide material to aid the termites reaching the hole  12 . 
     The disc  11  has an inner region  19  which may be described as the general detection region, an outer marginal region  20  and an intermediate connection region  21  whereby the extra enticement slat array is secured to direct termites toward the detection region  19  and hole  12 . 
     The outer marginal region in the present embodiment  20  has concentric frangible sections in the form of weakened rings  22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25  and mounting holes  26  and  27  for a sensor module to be described below, see  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The frangible concentric rings permit marginal sections of the device to be removed so that it may fit inside different sized termite monitors. In this case the monitors are typically of the in-ground type as is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . These usually have a cap and the cap is lifted so that the interior may be manually inspected. 
     The electronic sensor assembly  28  is shown in  FIG. 4  simply sitting in position above the detection hole  12  and this may simply be set in place and there may be locating projections or the ring  25  may comprise a ridge aiding in the location of the sensor in position or the sensor may be secured in position using small screws passing through the holes  26  and  27  into an underside surface of the sensor assembly  28 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate application of the present invention to two types of existing monitors  29  and  30  which are basically cylindrical monitors which as far as is important to the present invention are in-ground monitors and these have different internal diameter sections  31  and  32 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5  the whole of the disc  11  is employed whereas in  FIG. 6  the disc has been broken down to the inner ring  25  so that it fits snugly into the cylindrical opening  32 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate application of the invention in its simplest form noting that usually the monitors  29  and  30  have their own attractant material in the monitors consequently the array of consumable material is not shown because it is not necessarily needed in order for the present invention to be utilised, so in its simplest form the disc  11  is fitted inside the monitor  29  or  30  the sensor  28  is placed in position over the hole  12  and the existing caps  33  and  34  are placed in position to cover the whole assembly. The sensor  28  then communicates a signal to a receiver when it detects activity in the detection region of opening  12 . In order to enhance the speed of detection an array of slats  13  may be employed in each of these monitors. 
     Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set out in the appended claims.