Abstract:
A glue trap for trapping vermin, such as insects, rodents and the like. In particular, a glue trap for trapping cockroaches, having a design which significantly enhances the number of cockroaches which are caught. The glue trap is designed for use specifically in target areas such as corner locations and confined spaces which are regions frequented by cockroaches, and has a unique right angled corner portion and a top opening in the corner substantially above the glue surface. A three-dimensional trap with top and side openings is provided through which vermin may access the trap interior. The trap may include an attractant to entice cockroaches and provides a slippery surface and/or substantially smooth interior surfaces juxtaposed to the adhesive so that once a cockroach is caught on the adhesive it is unable to use either a surrounding surface or edge to pull itself free. The trap and packages of at least two traps which are easily split apart by a perforation line with or without a tear-away strip and/or bendable flaps, can be formed from an integral blank of foldable sheet material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to glue traps for trapping vermin, such as insects, rodents and the like. Particularly, the glue trap of this invention is directed toward trapping cockroaches, which are known dwellers of dark, confined spaces and known carriers of various pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms. 
     It is generally known that cockroach populations are becoming more and more difficult to control. It would seem as though the cockroach has familiarized itself with the many existing traps, whether they are adhesive traps, traps supporting various baits and insecticides or other methods of trapping and thus the need has arisen for a trap that is more effective than the existing traps known in the art in order to more successfully combat this modern day pest. 
     In considering characteristics endemic to cockroaches, as well as the behavior of the cockroach as they approach, enter and try and escape from a trap, the inventor has come up with a trap design which is particularly desirable for trapping cockroaches, which includes a number of features which together provide a glue trap which is surprisingly effective and out catches other known traps in the market. 
     Glue traps, in general, are well known. Traps known in the art each provide various ways of enhancing the catch of target vermin, whether they are cockroaches, rodents or the like. There are glue traps having various ports, entrances and openings each positioned or designed to entice or fool the vermin into entering the trap, where once it has entered, they are then prevented in various ways from escaping. 
     The glue trap of the present invention is provided with a unique corner design so that the trap can be positioned in a corner location for trapping cockroaches and other like crawling insects which aggregate in corner regions and confined spaces. For this reason, the trap of the present invention has been designed to locate in areas most likely favored by cockroaches, such as in corner areas of a room, a cupboard, a drawer and/or the like and is provided, inter alia, with a top opening at the corner so that a cockroach crawling down or along the walls of a corner might be caught. 
     Various traps known in the art are provided with features to propel the likes of an insect into a trap for engagement with an adhesive or other means of preventing the insect from escaping. In Sherman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,774 a roach trap having an opening or a chute and a recess for retaining an attractant to induce a roach to enter the chute is provided. The chute is provided with a slippery surface so as to enhance the downward travel of the insect into the trap once the insect is on the chute. In Hemsarth et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,740, which relates to a crawling insect trap having an opening with an inwardly sloping decline, a surface covered with a loosely adhering particulate material which avalanches when the insect tries to crawl out of the opening of the trap is provided in this trap, the insect is propelled into the trap so as to become adhered to the glue surface below the opening. 
     In the present invention, this concept is taken further, namely by providing a slippery or low friction surface around the periphery of the glue to prevent, for example, a roach already adhered to the glue from obtaining a hold on adjacent surfaces with its available appendages, in order to break free from its engagement with the glue. In other words, rather than propelling the insect into the glue, the slippery surface acts as a means for preventing the insect escaping from engagement with the glue. 
     To further enhance this aspect of the present invention, the packaging and folding of the trap provides a ridge-free interior so that, for example, an insect is not able to use an edge or join to pull itself free from the glue. 
     It has been surprisingly discovered that the use of release paper as a means for providing such a slippery surface additionally provides a suitable surface to hold the adhesive layer in position, preventing bleeding of the adhesive throughout the trap and allowing the adhesive to be strategically placed on the surface of the trap. 
     Various ways of attracting vermin to glue traps are known. The type of attractant used is often specific to the type of vermin being targeted by the trap. For example, decayed wood extracts are known as attractants for termites as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,070,495 (Esenther et al.). The use of pheromones in pest control is also well known, especially in control of insect populations, whereby insect pheromones are used as attractants based on the understanding of both the insect&#39;s behavior and ecology. 
     Of particular interest in one aspect of the present invention are aggregation pheromones since these are widespread in insects, some cockroaches and many beetles and release behavior in conspecifics leading to an increase in population densities in the area of the source. 
     There are, however, many difficulties associated with the use of insect pheromones, particularly aggregation pheromone. These difficulties include the identification and characterization of the pheromone, for example aggregation pheromone of the cockroach species, Blattella germanica is documented to contain at least 150 different compounds. Furthermore there are difficulties in maintaining the stability of such volatile pheromones. 
     In a dissertation, authored by the inventor of the present invention, entitled &#34;Enhancement of the Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes for the Control of the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Western Corn Rootworm and the German Cockroach&#34;, submitted to Temple University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in January 1994, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, a way to successfully collect and use natural pheromone from cockroaches of the species Blatella Germanica, as an attractant is documented. 
     A cockroach attractant causing aggregational behavior within groups of cockroaches was first reported to be associated with the feces of the German Cockroach by Ishii and Kuwahara [1968]. In Ballard and Gold, Journal of The Kansas Entomological Society 51[1], 1982, pp. 86-90, the use of German cockroach feces was used as a selected bait in a sticky trap in the evaluation of the German cockroach population. Other examples of attractants, specifically attractant baits for cockroaches of the species B germanica known in the art include bread, yeast, banana, dog food, apple, raisins and potato. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a glue trap suitable for use in a corner location having at least a top opening. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a glue trap having a combination of features which together provide a suitable and more effective trap for attracting and catching cockroaches. 
     In one aspect of the present invention a glue trap package is provided comprising a pair of glue traps for trapping vermin and the like, wherein the package has an integral connection between the pair of traps defined by a perforation line or tear-away strip facilitaing separation of the traps. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a glue trap for trapping cockroaches and the like is provided having, at least in an area surrounding the glue, a slippery surface to preclude a cockroach once caught on the glue, from breaking free. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, a glue trap for trapping vermin and the like is provided wherein the trap has inner surfaces which are substantially ridge-free. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a three-dimensional glue trap for trapping vermin and the like is provided in the form of an open ended box-like structure, wherein a further opening or access is provided in a top region of the box-like structure, and in a side wall of the box-like structure, through which the vermin can enter the glue trap. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, a blank for forming a glue trap package according to the invention as described above is provided. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims read in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glue trap package, according to one embodiment of the present invention, having a flap arrangement for tear-away separation of the trap. 
     FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a glue trap package according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single glue trap according to the package of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional of a trap taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the trap package taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single trap positioned in a corner location according to one aspect of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a glue trap package, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, having a paper zipper. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of a paperboard blank for folding into the glue trap package shown in FIG. 6. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a glue trap package is shown comprising two traps, a first trap 1, and a second trap 2, integrally connected by a tear-away perforation line 12. In order to break the perforation 12 and hence separate the traps 1 and 2, according to one aspect of the invention the package is provided with a pair of top flaps 15 in a region along the perforation line 12. By pressing or bending the flaps 15 down the flaps 15 are torn apart at the perforation line 12 so that through further pulling, tear away separation of the traps 1 and 2 is more easily acquired. In the most preferred form of the present invention a paper zipper or tear-away strip 26 is provided as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     The glue trap package of the present invention when pulled apart provides two traps, a glue trap 1 and 2, each shaped in the form of a box-like structure having a base 3, a pair of side walls, a first side wall 14 and a second side wall 13, an end wall 5, a top 6, and an open end 8 opposite the end wall 5, the region where the traps 1 and 2 were integrally connected. 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 a layer of adhesive 7 is formed on an inner surface of the base 3. The adhesive 7 is a non-drying adhesive typically used in glue traps for trapping insects and the like. It is envisaged that different degrees of &#34;tack&#34; would be used depending on the strength required and the kind of vermin being caught. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a slippery surface provided by a low friction liner 16 or similar is on the inner surface of the base 3, at least in a region proximal to the layer of adhesive 7. The low friction liner 16 provides about a 3/4 inch border along at least the side of the adhesive 7 nearest the first side wall 14 and the open end 8 of the trap 1. 
     In known glue traps, the adhesive is merely relied upon to both catch and hold the vermin. Often, however, the vermin is able to free itself from the adhesive by contacting and grasping a surface proximal to the adhesive thereby forming a hold with that surface and consequently freeing itself from engagement with the glue. It has been found that, by providing a slippery surface, for example, by way of the low friction liner 16 at least surrounding the adhesive 7, the ability to pull free from the adhesive, is substantially reduced. 
     In the present invention, the low friction liner 16 is preferably a layer of release paper or the like, although other means for providing a slippery surface might also be used. This type of paper, typically silicone coated, is otherwise commonly used as a protective cover for adhesives to prevent unwanted adhesions. It has been surprisingly found that such release paper is not only suitable as a substantially low friction liner 16, capable of providing a &#34;slippery&#34; surface, but also provides a suitable surface for the adherence of the glue forming the adhesive layer 7, holding the adhesive in a desired position. The type of release paper or liner contemplated for such use, as already discussed, would be silicone coated and is preferably selected from either a platinum catalyzed release liner or a tin catalyzed release liner, although it should be realized that any similar liners could be used. Both of these liners have a very low release level depending on the amount of silicone used. The most preferred release paper has a friction index of 30 grams. 
     Additionally the inner surfaces juxtaposed to the adhesive layer 7 of the trap 1 generally are &#34;ridge-free&#34;. In other words, and as will become clearer when the folded blank 46 is discussed in detail, the inner surfaces are substantially smooth, the trap 1 being constructed or folded in such a manner that the inner surfaces juxtaposed to the adhesive layer 7 have a reduced number of edges. Again this is designed to reduce the possibility of the cockroach or the like freeing itself from the adhesive by grasping an edge or surface. 
     In FIG. 5 it is seen that the trap 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is suitable for use in a corner location 20. The trap 1 is provided with a right angled corner portion formed between the end wall 5 and the second side wall 13, allowing the trap to be fitted or positioned adjacent walls of the corner location 20, in particular such that the walls 13 and 5 of the trap are contiguous with the walls of the corner 20. The right angled corner portion of the trap is provided with a top opening 10. A top corner removable section 21 as seen in FIG. 2, which when removed creates a top opening 10 can be provided or the opening can be precut (not shown). The top opening 10 would preferably be positioned over the adhesive layer 7, such that the insect or the like, either crawling down the walls of corner 20 and/or walls 5, 13 of the trap, will unsuspectingly come into contact with the adhesive 7 or crawling along the outer surface of the top 6 will fall through the top opening 10 and land with force into the adhesive 7 so as to become engaged within the trap 1. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a three dimensional trap is provided having an open end 8, a side opening 18 provided in the first side wall 14 and a top opening 10 through which an insect or the like might enter the trap. 
     In one form of the present invention as seen in FIG. 1a, each of traps 1 and 2 are activated by pulling out removable sections, provided by tear-away perforation lines 19 and 22, defining a removable side section 17 and a top corner removable section 21, which when removed provide openings 18 and 10, respectively. The removable side section 17 would preferably have a tab 17a so that the side section 17 is more easily removed. 
     In another form of the present invention the there are no removable sections in at least the side wall of the trap but rather side openings are provided by cut out portions 42 when the package is formed as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the package is protected by a plastic film or the like (not shown in the Figures), for example formed by heat sealing a plastic film wrapped around the package. This is also required when the top opening 10 is precut. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, an attractant would preferably be used to enhance the attractability of the glue trap. There are many attractants known in the art and depending on the type of vermin being trapped, any attractant could be used. In one embodiment of the present invention, natural aggregation pheromone collected from cockroaches of the species Blatella germanica is used to attract cockroaches of the same species to the glue trap. Preferably a cellulose matrix would be used to both collect and carry the pheromone although any carrier charged with the pheromone could be used. Useful materials include wooden chips or shavings or the like, filter paper, or cardboard. It has been surprisingly found that wooden chips of the Eastern White Pine variety in particular provide a stable attractant when charged or impregnated with the pheromone. It is envisaged that the wooden chip 9 charged with the pheromone would be affixed to a surface of the trap, preferably the top inner surface 25 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
     The glue trap package would be formed from panels of a folded blank 46. The blank 46 is preferably made of flexible materials. Examples of materials used are recycled paper board, and preferably, solid unbleached sulfate (S.U.S) paper board. The S.U.S paperboard, being unbleached, presents a darkened inside of the trap. With other materials, at least one side, preferably the side forming the inner surfaces of the trap 1 when constructed, can be darkened. This is desirable for trapping cockroaches since they tend to dwell in dark environments. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, a blank having a first side wall panel 32, a base panel 35, a second side wall panel 29 and a top panel 34 each forming respectively, first side wall 14, base 3, second side wall 13 and top 6 of traps 1 and 2. 
     The blank is halved by a substantially linear, transverse, perforation line 12, such that when the blank 46 is folded into the trap package of the present invention seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, the perforation line 12 forms an integral connection between traps 1 and 2. 
     Each half of the first side wall panel 32 is provided with an inner top portion 31 and an outer end portion 33. The first side wall panel 32 is divided from and integrally connected to the base panel 35 through a first fold line 36 which runs substantially perpendicular to the transverse perforation line 12 along the entire length of the base 3 when the trap is formed. The first fold line 36 permits the first side wall panel 32 to be bent up and at right angles to the base panel 35 thus forming, the first side wall 14 for each of traps 1 and 2. 
     Depending from one end of the base panel 35 is a first end wall panel 27 having a first inner top portion 28, and at the other end, a second end wall panel 38, having a second inner top portion 41. The first end wall panel 27 is integrally connected to the base panel 35 through a first end fold line 39, while the second end panel is connected to the base panel 35 through a second end fold line 40. The first and second end fold lines 39 and 40 run substantially parallel to the transverse perforation line 12 and permit the respective end wall panels 27 and 38 to be bent upwards and at right angles to the base panel 35 thus forming the end wall 5 for each of traps 1 and 2. 
     A second side wall panel 29 depends from and is integrally connected to the opposite side of the base panel 35 through a second fold line 37, which runs substantially parallel to the first fold line 36 of the first side wall panel 32. This second fold line 37 permits the second side wall panel 29 to be bent up and at right angles to the base panel 35 providing the second side wall 13 of each of the traps 1 and 2. The second side wall panel 29 has on each of its halves, an outer end portion 30 similar to the outer end portion 33 on each half of the first side wall panel 32. 
     The second side wall panel 29 is integrally connected to a top panel 34 through a top fold line 45 which runs substantially parallel to the first and second fold lines 36 and 37. When the second side wall panel 29 is bent up forming the second side wall of each of the traps 1 and 2 the top panel 34 is bent at right angles to the second side wall panel 29, through top fold line 45, toward the first side wall 14 and is substantially parallel to the base panel 35. Thus a top 6 for each of the traps 1 and 2 is provided. 
     To form the package of the present invention, after the blank 46 has been folded as hereinbefore described, the outer end portions 30 and 33 of the first and second side wall panels 32 and 29, respectively, are folded over and adhered to the outer surface of the first and second end wall panels 27 and 38, which when bent form the end walls 5. The inner top portions 28 and 41 on each of the first and second end wall panels 27 and 38 respectively are likewise folded over and adhered to an inside surface of the top panel 34 which forms an inner top surface 25 of the trap. The inner top portions 31 of the first side wall panel 32 are folded over and adhered to the inner top surface 25 of the top panel 34. It can therefore be seen that the number of edges on the inside surface of the trap are minimized giving the trap its ridge-free feature. The portions being adhered to the inner surfaces of the traps 1 and 2 are only adhered to the top panel 34 to achieve this. The edges are found only on the top 6 of the traps, away from the glue. 
     In the present invention it is preferred that the first side wall panel 32 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 is provided with cut out portions 42 creating the side openings 18; however, a tear-away removable side section 17 could be provided as shown in FIG. 1a. Similarly the top panel 34 could be provided with a cut out (not shown) creating the top opening 10; however, tear-away removable corner section 21 could also be provided. If a tear-away corner section 21 is provided, as shown in FIG. 6, a cut-out 44 is preferably provided so that the removable section 21 is more easily removed. In other words the top opening 10 and side opening 18 could both be cut out of the blank prior to assembling the trap so that no removable sections are required. 
     The low friction liner 16 is adhered to the base panel 35 of the blank 46 in any manner although it is most preferably adhered by hot glue melt techniques well known in the art. The liner 16 is also preferably adhered to the end wall panels 27 and 38 so that when the traps 1 and 2 are formed the &#34;slippery&#34; surface surrounds at least three sides of the adhesive layer 7. As already discussed, the type of liner 16 preferred is silicone release paper. 
     The dimensions for the folded trap package is preferably 21/2×6×1 inches (width×length×height) which when split in use provides two traps of dimensions 21/2×3×1 inches (width×length×height). However, this would vary depending on the type of vermin being caught; the above dimensions have been found to be most suited for catching cockroaches which aggregate in corner locations. 
     Thus, it is evident that the invention provides a trap which has a number of features which together provide a trap which is surprisingly more effective than other commercially available traps as further evidenced by the following comparative table. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A tank 2.5×1.0×1.0 feet (length×width×height) was covered with a white bedding sheet to allow the air to circulate within and through the tank. A food source was provided such as laboratory chow and a paper towel with water on it and positioned in the middle of the tank. 
     A cockroach shelter or nest housing approximately 30 cockroaches (2.5 g) was provided in the form of a 500 ml plastic beaker or cup with a wet paper towel and covered with a lid for one week. By placing the roaches into the beaker they were able to become established in this environment. At the end of one week the lid was removed and the shelter was carefully placed in the middle of the tank. This type of procedure closely simulates a roach infested environment in the field. At this point a trap was placed at each end of the tank. At one end a trap according to the present invention was placed and at the other being a competitive trap. Thus tests consist of two-choice competitive trials each replicated three times. The type of sticky or glue trap was randomized to prevent the possibility of the roaches orienting toward a particular side of the tank. 
     The results were calculated as the number of roaches stuck and hence caught in the traps after a period of one week and determined as a percentage of the total number of roaches introduced into the tank. 
     RESULTS 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________          PERCENTAGE OF ROACHESTANK TEST      CAUGHT IN EACH TRAP______________________________________1.    Competitor #1              18.0 vs Invention    82.02.    Competitor #2              14.8 vs Invention    85.23.    Competitor #3              22.5 vs Invention    77.54.    Competitor #4              33.0 vs Invention    67.0______________________________________ 
    
     Discussion of Results 
     The traps of the present invention were found to capture an approximate average of 3-4 times as many roaches as the competitor traps. 
     It is therefore apparent that the glue trap of the present invention, especially having, in combination, a frictionless border around the area proximal to the glue and a stable attractant, together with other features hereinbefore described, is far superior to glue traps presently available in the market. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     The effectiveness of using a slippery surface proximal to the adhesive in a glue trap was tested. Twenty-five cockroaches were placed in a cup (volume approximately 100 ml) and allowed to acclimate for a period of approximately 5 minutes. The cup was then placed into a container, approximately 9 inches by 5 inches (length by width). A glue trap was then positioned on one side of the container. The first glue trap or control trap had an adhesive layer measuring 1.5 inches in length and width. The glue was surrounded by a 1.0 inch border of cardboard to provide a uniform edge on all sides of the adhesive layer. After 5 minutes the cockroaches were released from the cup into the container. The number of cockroaches retained on the adhesive were then calculated. 
     A second glue trap, identical to the first trap, except for having a slippery surface bordering the adhesive layer, was then tested under the same protocol as above. Examples of ways of providing slippery surfaces include low friction liners such as silicone release paper, lubricants such as WD40, and petroleum distillates. 
     The above procedure was replicated five times and the results below were obtained. 
     Results 
     Percentage of cockroaches retained in the first trap was 44.0±14.3% 
     Percentage of cockroaches retained in the second trap was 83.3±9.4% 
     Discussion 
     The use of a slippery surface proximal to the adhesive layer in a glue trap substantially increased the number of cockroaches retained on the adhesive. It is therefore concluded that cockroaches are less able to break free from the adhesive when a slippery surface borders the adhesive layer of the glue trap. While only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinbefore described, the invention is not limited thereto and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.