Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a chemical lure, comprising an enclosed container having a top, the top having one or more orifices; a gel matrix contained within the container, the matrix comprising a active ingredient and a carrier; and a headspace between the gel matrix and the top. The emission rate of the active ingredient from the orifices allows the invention to emit volatilized active ingredient for about 60 days.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/208,816 filed Feb. 27, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed to semiochemical emission devices, and more particularly to chemical lures that have a controlled emission rate of volatilized active agents. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Chemicals of various types have been used in the insect control art for many years, including pheromones, allomones, kairomones, attractants, and repellants. In many cases, these chemicals are mixed with a carrier that allows the chemicals to be handled more easily, and that may permit controlled release of the chemicals over time. Impregnated gels or other semi-solid compositions are known in the art to be useful for this purpose, and are sold commercially under names such as “Prozap”, “Hot Shot”, “No Pest Strip”, “AromaGel”, “MetaGel”, and others. However, the emission patterns of the active chemicals generally follow an initial large burst, followed by a rapid decrease in emission rate. While the initial burst of active chemical is often effective for combating pests, the rapid decrease in emission rate of active chemical that follows the initial burst renders these compositions much less effective over time. What is needed in the art is a composition and device that controls emission of active chemicals so that a predetermined amount of chemical is emitted over time. The present invention is believed to be an answer to that need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a chemical lure, comprising an enclosed container having a top, the top having one or more orifices; a gel matrix contained within the container, the matrix comprising a active ingredient and a carrier; and a headspace between the gel matrix and the top. 
         [0007]    This and other aspects will be appreciated from a reading of the following description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  a graph showing gel weight versus time; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a graph showing emission rate versus time. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In one embodiment, the present invention is an article of manufacture that includes an active chemical in a gel matrix and packaged in a container that permits controlled release of said active chemical over time. The article of manufacture is preferably a lure for use in controlling insects and other pests. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the invention  10  includes a container  12  and an active ingredient in a carrier matrix  14   a,b . The container  12  is preferably a disposable plastic container having a volume ranging from 10 to about 50 cubic centimeters (cc), and more preferably about 30 cc. An orifice  17  is positioned at the top of the container  12  to allow emission of active agent into the surrounding atmosphere. The size of the orifice can range from about 0.1 mm in diameter to about 10 mm in diameter. One useful size of orifice is about 5 mm (¼ inch). A headspace  50  located above the matrix  14   a,b  is filled with volatilized active ingredient at about a constant concentration in order to maintain an even dispersal of active ingredient through the orifice  17  over time. The choice of the size of the orifice  17  depends on a variety of factors including the volume of the container  12 , the volatility of the active ingredients in the matrix, and the temperature at which the invention will be subjected. Surface area of the matrix  14   a,b  is also a factor, and can increase as the matrix shrinks over time. In one preferred embodiment, the emission rate of material from the orifice  17  allows the invention to be effective for about 60 days. The invention may be used at ambient temperatures, or may be heated to achieve the desired results. One useful gel matrix is “Icon Gel” available from Agilex (Somerset, N.J.). 
         [0014]    Useful active agents include agents useful in pest abatement and control, such as pheromones, kairomones, and kairomone inhibitors. Examples of pheromones include species-specific mating pheromones, such as those for Japanese beetle, potato beetle, coddling moth, boweivel, corn borer, etc., as well as pheromone inhibitors useful, for example, for mating disruption. Examples of kairomones include gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, as well as substances such as octenol, R-octenol, carboxylic acids, butyric acids, caproic acids, propionic acids, valeric acids, ammonia, and acetone. Examples of kairomone inhibitors include substances such as linalool and d-linalool. 
         [0015]    In an alternative embodiment, a divider  16  may be included inside the container  12 . The divider  16  divides the container into two sections and allows for the container to hold two carriers that contain incompatible chemicals, but provides for a common headspace  50 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  12  could be divided into two sections and hold a first carrier matrix  14   a  that contains ammonia, and a second carrier matrix  14   b  that contains lactic acid. The carriers  14   a,b  share a common headspace  50  and thus emit from the orifice  17  as a combination that would not be possible if lactic acid and ammonia were mixed into a single matrix. As would be appreciated, the multiple chamber concept may be extended to any number of chambers, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the invention  20  is shown having two dividers  22 ,  24  and containing three chambers and three gel matrices  26   a ,  26   b , and  26   c . Two orifices  30 ,  32  allow vaporized agents to be released from a common headspace  60 . 
       Example 
       [0016]    Three containers (Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3) each having a volume of 30 cc and an orifice of 0.25 inch were filled with 15 ml of a carrier gel (Icon Gel from Agilex, Somerset, N.J.) containing lactic acid and octenol as active agents. The containers were maintained at room temperature (25° C.) and the weight loss and emission rate were measured at various timer intervals. The data are shown in Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Weight Loss 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Sample No. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Date, Time 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 6/2/08 5:00 PM 
                 22.453 
                 22.933 
                 23.157 
               
               
                   
                 6/3/08 4:00 PM 
                 22.409 
                 22.579 
                 22.776 
               
               
                   
                 6/5/08 10:00 AM 
                 21.436 
                 22.088 
                 22.222 
               
               
                   
                 6/6/08 3:00 PM 
                 21.142 
                 21.828 
                 21.941 
               
               
                   
                 6/9/08 2:00 PM 
                 20.365 
                 21.133 
                 21.165 
               
               
                   
                 6/10/08 5:00 PM 
                 19.965 
                 20.778 
                 20.776 
               
               
                   
                 6/16/08 1:00 PM 
                 17.946 
                 18.958 
                 18.800 
               
               
                   
                 6/19/08 5:00 PM 
                 17.034 
                 18.134 
                 17.905 
               
               
                   
                 6/23/08 12:00 PM 
                 15.976 
                 17.209 
                 16.892 
               
               
                   
                 6/26/08 6:00 PM 
                 15.052 
                 16.386 
                 15.994 
               
               
                   
                 7/1/08 12:00 PM 
                 13.908 
                 15.347 
                 14.867 
               
               
                   
                 7/2/08 4:00 PM 
                 13.563 
                 15.035 
                 14.532 
               
               
                   
                 7/7/08 11:00 AM 
                 12.640 
                 14.184 
                 13.618 
               
               
                   
                 7/8/08 4:00 PM 
                 12.374 
                 13.935 
                 13.355 
               
               
                   
                 7/9/08 2:00 PM 
                 12.146 
                 13.721 
                 13.132 
               
               
                   
                 7/14/08 10:00 AM 
                 10.928 
                 12.531 
                 11.894 
               
               
                   
                 7/17/08 4:00 PM 
                 10.034 
                 11.653 
                 10.997 
               
               
                   
                 7/18/08 11:00 AM 
                 9.834 
                 11.453 
                 10.796 
               
               
                   
                 7/21/08 3:00 PM 
                 9.404 
                 10.699 
                 10.096 
               
               
                   
                 7/25/08 9:00 AM 
                 8.882 
                 10.077 
                 9.543 
               
               
                   
                 7/28/08 3:00 PM 
                 8.495 
                 9.526 
                 9.078 
               
               
                   
                 7/30/08 4:00 PM 
                 8.317 
                 9.207 
                 8.843 
               
               
                   
                 8/1/08 5:00 PM 
                 8.222 
                 8.955 
                 8.694 
               
               
                   
                 8/4/08 4:00 PM 
                 8.106 
                 8.636 
                 8.523 
               
               
                   
                 8/8/08 3:00 PM 
                 8.066 
                 8.439 
                 8.451 
               
               
                   
                 8/11/08 3:00 PM 
                 8.018 
                 8.334 
                 8.388 
               
               
                   
                 8/13/08 5:00 PM 
                 7.999 
                 8.288 
                 8.364 
               
               
                   
                 8/15/08 5:00 PM 
                 7.990 
                 8.260 
                 8.351 
               
               
                   
                 8/19/08 10:00 AM 
                 7.943 
                 8.190 
                 8.292 
               
               
                   
                 8/26/08 3:00 PM 
                 7.822 
                 8.047 
                 8.154 
               
               
                   
                 8/29/08 2:00 PM 
                 7.758 
                 7.973 
                 8.083 
               
               
                   
                 9/2/08 4:00 PM 
                 7.725 
                 7.929 
                 8.037 
               
               
                   
                 9/4/08 9:00 AM 
                 7.720 
                 7.925 
                 8.035 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Emission Rate 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Elapsed 
                 Sample No. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Time hr 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 6/2/08 5:00 PM 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 6/3/08 4:00 PM 
                 22 
                 0.002 
                 0.016091 
                 0.017318 
               
               
                 6/5/08 10:00 AM 
                 64 
                 0.015891 
                 0.013203 
                 0.014609 
               
               
                 6/6/08 3:00 PM 
                 93 
                 0.014097 
                 0.011882 
                 0.013075 
               
               
                 6/9/08 2:00 PM 
                 165 
                 0.012655 
                 0.010909 
                 0.012073 
               
               
                 6/10/08 5:00 PM 
                 192 
                 0.012958 
                 0.011224 
                 0.012401 
               
               
                 6/16/08 1:00 PM 
                 331 
                 0.013616 
                 0.012009 
                 0.013163 
               
               
                 6/19/08 5:00 PM 
                 408 
                 0.013282 
                 0.011762 
                 0.012873 
               
               
                 6/23/08 12:00 PM 
                 498 
                 0.013006 
                 0.011494 
                 0.01258 
               
               
                 6/23/08 12:00 PM 
                 576 
                 0.012849 
                 0.011366 
                 0.012436 
               
               
                 7/1/08 12:00 PM 
                 690 
                 0.012384 
                 0.010994 
                 0.012014 
               
               
                 7/2/08 4:00 PM 
                 718 
                 0.012382 
                 0.011 
                 0.012013 
               
               
                 7/7/08 11:00 AM 
                 834 
                 0.011766 
                 0.01049 
                 0.011438 
               
               
                 7/8/08 4:00 PM 
                 862 
                 0.011693 
                 0.010439 
                 0.011371 
               
               
                 7/9/08 2:00 PM 
                 885 
                 0.011646 
                 0.010409 
                 0.011328 
               
               
                 7/14/08 10:00 AM 
                 1000 
                 0.011525 
                 0.010402 
                 0.011263 
               
               
                 7/17/08 4:00 PM 
                 1078 
                 0.01152 
                 0.010464 
                 0.01128 
               
               
                 7/18/08 11:00 AM 
                 1098 
                 0.011493 
                 0.010455 
                 0.011258 
               
               
                 7/21/08 3:00 PM 
                 1173 
                 0.011124 
                 0.01043 
                 0.011135 
               
               
                 7/25/2008 9:00 
                 1263 
                 0.010745 
                 0.010179 
                 0.010779 
               
               
                 7/28/2008 15:00 
                 1341 
                 0.010409 
                 0.009998 
                 0.010499 
               
               
                 7/30/2008 16:00 
                 1390 
                 0.01017 
                 0.009875 
                 0.010298 
               
               
                 8/1/2008 17:00 
                 1440 
                 0.009883 
                 0.009707 
                 0.010044 
               
               
                 8/4/2008 16:00 
                 1510 
                 0.009501 
                 0.009468 
                 0.009691 
               
               
                 8/8/2008 15:00 
                 1605 
                 0.008964 
                 0.009031 
                 0.009163 
               
               
                 8/11/2008 15:00 
                 1677 
                 0.008608 
                 0.008705 
                 0.008807 
               
               
                 8/13/2008 17:00 
                 1728 
                 0.008365 
                 0.008475 
                 0.008561 
               
               
                 8/15/2008 17:00 
                 1776 
                 0.008144 
                 0.008262 
                 0.008337 
               
               
                 8/19/2008 10:00 
                 1864 
                 0.007784 
                 0.007909 
                 0.007975 
               
               
                 8/26/2008 15:00 
                 2037 
                 0.007183 
                 0.007308 
                 0.007365 
               
               
                 8/29/2008 14:00 
                 2109 
                 0.006968 
                 0.007093 
                 0.007147 
               
               
                 9/2/2008 16:00 
                 2206 
                 0.006676 
                 0.006801 
                 0.006854 
               
               
                 9/4/2008 9:00 
                 2247 
                 0.006557 
                 0.006679 
                 0.00673 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows gel weight as a function of time, and  FIG. 4  shows emission rate as a function of time. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the weight of the gel decreases at an even rate for about 60 days. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the emission rate shows a sharp decline in the first 10 days, and then an approximately level emission rate for the following 50 days. 
         [0018]    Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be appreciated that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delineated in the claims. All patents, patent applications, and literature publications mentioned are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.