Abstract:
The inventive concept presented is a device which serves to prevent the transit of ants and other crawling insects along a mooring line, rope, or similar structure. The preferred embodiment of the inventive concept is constructed of a three-piece assemblage comprising (1) a base unit having a flanged circular front face with an integral concentric tube (2) a tapered, dome-shaped weather shroud, and (3) an adapter sleeve within internal spikes/ridges for engaging a mooring line. The adapter sleeve is tightened onto the mooring line by indirectly applied manual axial force. The weather shroud is then latched into the base unit. A sticky, insect-repelling substance disposed within a circular cavity on the opposite side of the circular front face plate in the base unit serves to repel and/or prevent crawling insects from traversing the mooring line.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    There are no related applications 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This inventive concept is intended to solve a common problem for boat owners; the infestation of ants and other crawling insects onto their boats as they are docked and secured in place by mooring lines. Entry to the boats is usually gained by ants and other insects crawling from the secured shore or docking point of the mooring line, along the mooring line and then onto the vessel. 
         [0007]    The method of prevention used herein involves establishing a device comprising a repellent barrier attached around a small segment of the diameter of a mooring line. As ants and/or other crawling insects attempt to traverse the mooring line, upon approaching the device they immediately sense a threat and are repelled. Thusly, access to the boat or water vessel is prevented. 
         [0008]    (2) Description of the Related Art 
         [0009]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,943 (Sep. 13, 1988; Simpson, H.) a device is disclosed which consists of several variations of a plastic, flexible cuff (tubular or cylindrical) that may be affixed around a short length of the perimeter of a mooring line. The plastic material may be treated with an insecticidal agent or made of an insecticidal material. 
         [0010]    An animal feeder featuring an upper circular container for the food, which sits atop a shaft-type device connected to a lower base portion containing an insect repellant or tacky trapping substance is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,506 (Sep. 4, 1990 Saunders, D). 
         [0011]    The inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,671 (Mar. 15, 1999 Riedl, J.), devised an apparatus that prevents insects from reaching the inside of a pet food dish. The apparatus is designed to prevent the smell of food in the dish from “reaching a critical portion of the path of the food source” to the ground. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,281 (Apr. 22, 2003 Roberts, E.) presents a segmented holding device suitable for containing an object requiring protection from crawling insects (arthropods). An upper circular member receives the object and is then inserted within the inner circumference of a lower base member. A flange on the lower base member may contain an insect-deterring substance which prevents the insects from reaching the upper member and the protected object. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,311 (Apr. 24, 2004 Roberts, E.) features a one-piece unit that forms a continuous barrier when tightly clasped about the exterior of an object. Made of a pliable material, the device comprises a conical skirt that may be interiorly coated with an insect-deterring substance molded therein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT 
       [0014]    The inventive concept is an insect-repelling apparatus that is attachable to a mooring line which leads from a pier, dock, or shore-side tying point, to a boat. 
         [0015]    The apparatus is essentially a three-component assemblage comprising (1) a “base unit” which is used to contain an insect repelling substance, (2) a dome-shaped “weather shroud” which is used to protect the insect repelling substance, and (3) an “adapter sleeve” composed of two “hemi sleeves,” which is used to secure the insect repeller to the mooring line. When the dockside or shore end of the mooring line is untied, this end of the mooring line is threaded through the base unit and the weather shroud. The shore end can then be re-tied to the shore tying point. A correctly-sized pair of hemi sleeves is placed around a chosen position on the mooring line and manually held in position to form the assembled adapter sleeve. The base unit is then moved in an axial direction over the adapter sleeve until both these components adhere to each other by the force of friction. When adhered to each other in this manner, the adapter sleeve and the base unit are secured onto the mooring line. The weather shroud is then moved over the base unit and secured onto the base unit by compatible male and female latches. A sticky, insect repelling substance, disposed within the base unit, serves to deter ants and other crawling insects from traversing the mooring line. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The reader is advised that all drawings depict the component parts of the inventive concept mounted on a braided mooring line. However, the included drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to foreclose usage of the device on other sizes and/or types of mooring lines. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective (from land-side) view of the device fully assembled, and attached to a mooring line. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective (from boat-side) view of the insect repeller, fully assembled, and attached to a mooring line. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  presents a perspective (land-side) view of the weather shroud just prior to latching on the repellent base, with the adapter sleeve in place. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  gives a perspective (boat side) view of the repellent base unit with one of the hemi-sleeves slightly out of place, along with an interior view of the weather shroud. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a two-sided view of a pair of hemi-sleeves, along with one of the hemi-sleeves in position on a mooring line. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  depicts a sectionalized perspective view of the repellent base unit with one of the hemi-sleeves in place within the cylindrical tube. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross sectional view of a fully-assembled insect repeller, including the adapter sleeve, repellent base unit, and weather shroud, as mounted on a mooring line. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   Table of Nomenclature &amp; Component Numbers 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   1. 
                   Insect repeller 
                 
                 
                   2. 
                   Adapter sleeve (assembled) 
                 
                 
                   3. 
                   Base unit 
                 
                 
                   4. 
                   Weather shroud 
                 
                 
                   5. 
                   Raised/spiked edges 
                 
                 
                   6. 
                   Mooring line 
                 
                 
                   7. 
                   Rounded flange (end of adapter sleeve) 
                 
                 
                   8. 
                   Circular depression 
                 
                 
                   9. 
                   Raised edge end 
                 
                 
                   10. 
                   Relief cut 
                 
                 
                   11. 
                   Circular front face (base unit) 
                 
                 
                   12. 
                   Cylindrical tube 
                 
                 
                   13. 
                   Extended end 
                 
                 
                   14. 
                   Circular cavity 
                 
                 
                   15. 
                   Barrier/repellent substance 
                 
                 
                   16. 
                   Female locking notch 
                 
                 
                   17. 
                   Small-end opening 
                 
                 
                   18. 
                   Large-end opening 
                 
                 
                   19. 
                   Male locking tab 
                 
                 
                   20. 
                   Shroud locking direction 
                 
                 
                   21. 
                   First hemi-sleeve 
                 
                 
                   22. 
                   Second hemi-sleeve 
                 
                 
                   23. 
                   Inner surface of hemi-sleeve 
                 
                 
                   24. 
                   Outer surface of hemi-sleeve 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    As we refer to  FIG. 1 , there is presented a general image of the insect repeller  1  attached to a mooring line  6 , as the device would be seen from a dock, pier, or shoreline location. A plurality of male locking tabs  19  secures the weather shroud  4  to the base unit  3 . The small end opening 17  of the weather shroud  4  provides an amount of clearance from the mooring line  6 , thus preventing insects from crawling over the exterior surface of the weather shroud  4 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 2 , the insect repeller  1  is shown as viewed from aboard a boat, yacht, or other water vessel. The weather shroud  4  is shown latched into the base unit  3  by virtue of the male locking tabs  19  engaged into female locking notches  16  of the base unit  3 . The rounded flange  7  of the adapter sleeve  2  has been fitted into the circular depression  8  of the base unit  3  while the adapter sleeve  2  has been secured to the mooring line  6  by means of the locking action with the base unit  3 . 
         [0026]    A shore-side exploded view of the insect repeller  1  is shown in  FIG. 3 , along with the weather shroud  4 , in position to lock onto the base unit  3 . Male locking tabs  19  lock into female locking notches  16  of the base unit  3 . The cylindrical tube  12 , an integral part of the base unit  3 , is shown with the adapter sleeve  2  secured within. The depicted circular cavity  14  is used to contain the repellant substance  15  (also refer to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 ). The raised edge  9  of the adapter sleeve  2  is shown in its locked position after its insertion into the cylindrical tube  12  from the front face  11  of the base unit  3 . 
         [0027]    As we refer to  FIG. 4 , a boat-side view of the insect repeller  1  is presented. The front face  11  of the base unit  3  is shown with one of the two hemi-sleeves ( 21 ) fully positioned into the base unit  3 , and the other of the two hemi-sleeves  22  partially positioned into the base unit  3 . Also depicted are the rounded flange ends  7  of the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22 , as they appear when positioned into the circular depression  8  of the base unit  3 . 
         [0028]    In viewing  FIG. 5 , interior and exterior views of the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  are presented. Also shown is one hemi-sleeve  21  pressed against a mooring line  6 . The inner surface  23  of hemi-sleeve  21  depicts the raised/spiked edges  5 . The rounded flange  7 , along with the raised edge  9 , are also presented. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  presents a shore-side reverse sectional view of the base unit  3  which shows the cylindrical tube  12  with its extended end  13  along with the relief cuts  10  in the extended end  13 . The raised edge  9  of one of the hemi-sleeves  21  is shown in its locked position at the extended end  13  of the cylindrical tube  12 . Also indicated is the repellant substance  15  in place within the circular cavity  14  of the base unit  3 . The female locking notch  16  is displayed on the exterior perimeter of the base unit  3 . 
         [0030]    A cross-sectional view of the insect repeller  1  with all three components fully assembled and mounted on a mooring line  6  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The various parts are identified as a hemi-sleeve  21 , the base unit  3 , the weather shroud  4 , and rounded flange  7 . Other specific features are the repellant substance  15 , the cylindrical tube  12 , the raised edge  9 , and the small end opening  17 . 
       Description of Components 
       [0031]    The Adapter Sleeve:  FIG. 5  presents two paired adapter hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  which, when combined, form a tubular-shaped adapter sleeve  2  which secures itself to, and forms a seal around, the selected mooring line  6  (as seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 ). There are three “standard” sizes of adapter sleeves  2 , designed to accommodate the most common sized mooring lines. All three adapter sleeves  2  will have the same length and outside diameter, while the inside diameter will vary according to the diameter of the mooring line  6 . The inside diameters of the adapter sleeves  2  are sized to fit a mooring line  6  of ⅜ in., ½ in, or a ⅝ in diameter. As seen from  FIG. 5 , the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  each have raised spiked edges  5  around their inner surface  23  to aid in securing the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  to the mooring line  6 . 
         [0032]    A rounded flange  7  (shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7 ) extends outward from one end of each hemi-sleeve  21 ,  22 , and forms a complete circular flange when the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  are combined. The rounded flange  7  is sized to fit into a circular depression  8  which is molded onto the circular front face  11  of the base unit  3 , as more clearly shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . The opposite end of each hemi-sleeve  21  and  22  has a raised edge  9  ( FIG. 5 ) which forms a circular-shaped, raised edge  9  when the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22 , are combined. The raised edge  9 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , enables the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  to lock into the base unit  3  after the raised edge  9  passes through the smaller, extended end  13  of the cylindrical tube  12 . 
         [0033]    The Base Unit: The base unit  3 , as seen in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , has a circular front face  11  with a circular depression  8  at its center. A co-axial cylindrical tube  12  is an integral part of the base unit  3  extending perpendicularly from the center of the circular front face  11 . The cylindrical tube  12  narrows at its extended end  13 , as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 . Relief cuts  10  are molded into the extended end  13  of the cylindrical tube  12  to allow for brief expansion as the raised edge  9  of the adapter sleeve  2  is inserted. A circular cavity  14 , shown in  FIG. 3 , is formed on the backside of the front circular face  11  as part of the base unit  3 , and serves as the holding area for the repellant substance  15 , as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . Equally spaced female locking notches  16  are molded into the outer perimeter of the circular front face  11 , as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    The Weather Shroud: The weather shroud  4 , as seen in FIGS.  1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , and  7  is circular and dome shaped with a taper to a small end opening  17  at its domed end. The opposite, large end opening  18 , is sized to mate to the circular rear edge of the base unit  3 . There are equally spaced male locking tabs  19  extending from the edge of the large end opening  18 , to enable the securing of the weather shroud  4  to the base unit  3 . 
       Purpose and Function of Component Parts 
       [0035]    Hemi-sleeves; Adapter Sleeve  FIGS. 5 and 6  present various views of adapter hemi-sleeves  21  and  22  which provide a means of securing the assembled device to either ⅜ in-diameter, ½ in-diameter, or a ⅝ in. diameter mooring line  6 . This is accomplished by providing to a user, a selection of three sets of paired hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22 , each pair designed with a different inside diameter. Heavy-duty insect repellers  1  may also be manufactured in correspondingly larger relative sizes to function on larger-sized mooring lines  6 . 
         [0036]    Securement on a mooring line  6  is further assisted by use of the raised/spiked edges  5  on the inner surface  23  of each hemi-sleeve  21 ,  22 . After the adapter sleeve  2  is placed in position on the mooring line  6 , the front face  11  of the base unit  3  is pushed over the raised edge  9 , in the locking direction  20 , of the adapter sleeve  2  until the raised edge  9  of the adapter sleeve  2  passes through the extended end  13  of the base unit  3 . The seating of the adapter sleeve  2  into the base unit  3  forces the raised/spiked edges  5  of the adapter sleeve  2  into the outer surface of the mooring line  6 . Thus, the adapter sleeve  2  and base unit  3  are secured into position on the mooring line  6 . 
         [0037]    The Base Unit:  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  7  present various views of the base unit  3 , which serves to provide a means of establishing an insect repelling barrier around the mooring line  6 . This is accomplished by use of the circular cavity  14  as a holding area for the repellent substance  15 , as seen in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . The base unit  3  also firmly holds the adapter sleeve  2  in place on the mooring line  6 . This is accomplished by the interior design of the cylindrical tube  12  matching the exterior design of the adapter sleeve  2  and the locking action of the extended end  13  of the cylindrical tube  12  after the raised edge  9  of the adapter sleeve  2  passes through its extended end  13 . Further, the base unit  3  has female locking notches  16  which accept the male locking tabs  19  of the weather shroud  4 . 
         [0038]    The Weather Shroud:  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  7  present various views of the weather shroud  4 . The primary function of the weather shroud  4  is to protect the surface of the repellant substance  15  from weather elements, flying insects, dirt or other contamination, and accidental human contact. The dome shape of the weather shroud  4  tapers to a small end opening  17  which limits the exposure to the repellent substance  15 . Additionally, the large end opening  18  of the weather shroud  4  firmly connects to the base unit  3  by means of the male locking tabs  19  interlocking with female locking notches  16  of the base unit  3 . 
       Installation of the Insect Repeller 
       [0039]    Assuming that a boat or water vessel is to be tied to a dock or shore tie point, installation of the insect repeller  1  may be explained by reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , and is accomplished in the following sequential steps: 
         [0040]    1. A user, working from the shore-tied end of the mooring line  6 , begins by untying the mooring line  6  from the shore tie point 
         [0041]    2. The user then threads the free end of the mooring line  6  through the center of the base unit  3  from the circular front face  11  end and continues through the cylindrical tube  12 . The user then threads the free end of the mooring line  6  through the large open end  18  of the weather shroud and continues out the small open end  17  of the weather shroud  4 . With both the base unit  3  and the weather shroud  4  threaded onto the mooring line  6 , the free end can then be re-tied to the shore connection point. 
         [0042]    3. Next, the user chooses the correct size of paired hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22 , and positions the mooring line  6  between the pair at the desired location along the length of the mooring line  6 . The rounded flanges  7  of both hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  should be facing towards the boat. 
         [0043]    4. While holding the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22  in place on the mooring line  6 , the user slides the circular front face  11  of the base unit  3  over the raised edges  9  of the hemi-sleeves  21 ,  22 . In this manner the adapter sleeve  2  becomes fully formed. The base unit  3  is then moved onto the adapter sleeve  2  until the adapter sleeve  2  has been inserted through the cylindrical tube  12  and is seated within the base unit  3 . 
         [0044]    5. With the base unit  3  now secured to the mooring line  6 , the user then slides the weather shroud  4  over the cylindrical tube  12  (in the direction of shroud locking  20 ) and aligns the male locking tabs  19  of the weather shroud  4  with the female locking notches  16  of the base unit  3 . Once aligned, the weather shroud  4  can be moved forward and secured onto the base unit  3 , thus completing the installation 
         [0045]    It is recognized that one knowledgeable in this field of endeavor, and skilled in the art, has the capability to design or produce similar, or other embodiments of this inventive concept. However all such variations, alterations, or modifications are entirely conceivable as being within the intent and scope of the present inventive concept. In particular, the essence of the inventive concept resides in a compact, insect-repelling device that is attachable to a boat mooring line, or any similar rope-like connecting means. Any number of connections, geometric shapes, operational linkages, functions, and combinations thereof may be used to effectuate the engagement and operation of the device.