Bait materials, pest monitoring devices and other pest control devices that include polyurethane foam

• US 20100043276A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corteva Agriscience LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Agrosciences LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Donald E. III, Eger, Joseph Edward JR., Howard, Phillip J., Messenger, Matthew T., Mirasol, Sol M., Tolley, Mike P., DeMark, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/131
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/026 combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2011 for crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/006 insecticidal
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/16 Foams
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/22 containing ingredients stabilising the active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 41/06 Sulfonic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/22 rings with more than six members
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/54 1,3-Diazines; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazines
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/02 the carbon atom having no bond to a nitrogen atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/34 containing the groups , e.g. biuret; Thio analogues thereof; Urea-aldehyde condensation products
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 51/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds having the sequences of atoms O—N—S, X—O—S, N—N—S, O—N—N or O-halogen, regardless of the number of bonds each atom has and with no atom of these sequences forming part of a heterocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/16 containing heterocyclic radicals

Abstract

In one aspect of the application, a termite bait, monitoring device or other termite control device includes a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces palatable to termites embedded within a water resistant polyurethane foam matrix. In another aspect, a termite bait, monitoring device or other termite control device includes a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces palatable to termites embedded within a water-absorbent polyurethane foam matrix. In another aspect a termite bait, monitoring device or other termite control device includes at least one cellulosic food material piece encapsulated within a water resistant polyurethane foam coating. In another aspect of the application, a termite control device includes a container, a cellulosic food material within the container and a water resistant polyurethane foam positioned to separate the food material from its environment. In another aspect of the application, a termite bait container includes a chamber containing a cellulosic food material and at least one pocket containing a polyurethane foam barrier to reduce intrusion of water through the pocket to the food material. In still another aspect of the application, a termite control device includes a container, a cellulosic food material within the container and a water-absorbent polyurethane foam scaffold that operates to hold moisture in contact with food material.

Claims

1. A composite bait material operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of termites, the composite bait material comprising a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces that are palatable to said termite species embedded within a matrix comprising a termite-edible or termite-displaceable polyurethane foam.

2. The composite bait material of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane foam comprises a closed-cell polyurethane foam.

4. The composite bait material of claim 1 wherein said cellulosic food material pieces comprise a food material selected from the group consisting of wood fibers, wood, purified cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and modified polymeric cellulose.

5. The composite bait material of claim 1, further comprising a pesticide contained within the composite bait material that is toxic to said one or more species of termite.

7. The composite bait material of claim 5 wherein the pesticide comprises a member selected from the group consisting of hexaflumuron, noviflumuron, chlorpyrifos, spinosad, imidacloprid, fipronil, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron, hydramethylnon and sulfuramid.

8. The composite bait material according to claim 1 wherein the composite material is a monitor or bait for a termite control device.

9. The composite bait material of claim 1 wherein said composite bait material is contained within a bait enclosure.

10. The composite bait material of claim 9 wherein said bait enclosure is adapted to removably fit within a durable, rigid station housing.

11. The composite bait material of claim 1 wherein said composite bait material is contained within a monitor enclosure, said monitor enclosure further comprises one or more monitoring components for signaling termite feeding activity.

12. The composite bait material according to claim 1 wherein the polyurethane foam comprises an enhancer entrained therein.

13. The composite material according to claim 12 wherein the enhancer comprises a food material enhancer.

16. The composite bait material according to claim 13 wherein the food material enhancer comprises a particulate cellulosic material present in the polyurethane foam in an amount of up to about 95 parts per 100 parts polyurethane foam.

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

17-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for making a moisture-resistant composite bait material, comprising:

providing a plurality of pieces of a cellulosic food material that is palatable to at least one species of termites in a bait enclosure, wherein the bait enclosure and the plurality of cellulosic food material pieces define a void space therebetween;

introducing an uncured mixture of polyurethane foam precursors into said bait enclosure such that said mixture enters at least some of the void space; and

allowing said mixture to cure to provide polyurethane foam matrix surrounding at least one of the plurality of said cellulosic food material pieces.

100. The method of claim 22 wherein the bait enclosure comprises a bait container having a body that defines an internal chamber and a first opening for passing bait materials into said chamber;

wherein said providing comprises inserting a plurality of pieces of a cellulosic food material that is palatable to one or more species of termites into said chamber through said opening, wherein said bait container body and said cellulosic food material pieces define void spaces therebetween;

wherein said introducing comprises introducing an uncured mixture of polyurethane foam precursors into said chamber through said opening such that said mixture surrounds a plurality of said cellulosic food material pieces; and

wherein the bait container with the cellulosic food material and polyurethane foam matrix contained therein form a moisture resistant termite control device.

112. The method of claim 100, further comprising placing a termite sensor in the chamber.

117. The method of claim 100 wherein the bait container body is tubular and has a first end, a second end and a sidewall extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the first opening is in the first end.

118. The method of claim 117 wherein the side wall defines one or more additional openings into the chamber.

119. The method of claim 118, further comprising, after the mixture is allowed to cure, removing excess foam from the sidewall that escapes from the chamber through the additional openings as the mixture cures.

120. The method of claim 118, further comprising, before said introducing, placing a cover over the additional openings in the sidewalls to prevent escape of the polyurethane foam from the chamber through the additional openings during said introducing or as the mixture cures.

121. The method of claim 120 wherein the cover comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a shrink wrap cover and a tape having an adhesive on at least one side.

23-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A moisture-resistant composite bait material operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of termites, the composite bait material comprising a cellulosic food material member that is palatable to said termite species encapsulated within a termite-edible or termite-displaceable water resistant polyurethane foam coating.

35. The composite bait material of claim 34 wherein the cellulosic food material member is selected from the group consisting of an extruded cellulosic food material, a piece of wood, a termite-edible material for an ESP monitor and a termite-edible material for a Halo monitoring device

44. The composite bait material of claim 34 wherein at least one monitoring component for signaling termite feeding activity is embedded in said bait material.

36-43. -43. (canceled)

45-56. -56. (canceled)

57. A moisture-resistant termite control device, comprising:

a bait operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of termite; and

a termite-edible or termite-displaceable water resistant polyurethane foam positioned to separate said bait from its environment;

wherein, when said device is exposed to environmental moisture, said foam is operable to provide a moisture resistant barrier between said bait and said environmental moisture.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein said bait and said foam compose a composite bait material that is operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of termite, the composite bait material comprising a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces contained within a water resistant polyurethane foam matrix.

59. The device of claim 58, further comprising a pesticide contained within the composite bait material that is toxic to one or more species of termite.

66. The device of claim 58, further comprising a termite sensing circuit.

67. The device of claim 58 wherein said device further comprises a container at least partially enclosing said composite bait material, said container defining a chamber for containing the termite bait, and defining apertures for allowing termites to enter said chamber and access said composite bait material.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein said container includes an upper end portion defining an upper opening into the chamber, and a closure to selectively access and close the upper opening.

69. The device of claim 68, further comprising a termite sensor positioned in the chamber.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein the termite sensor includes a circuit housing accessible through the upper opening when the closure is open and a sensing substrate downwardly extending from the circuit housing in the chamber.

72. The device of claim 57 wherein said bait comprises a cellulosic food material member that is palatable to said termite species and wherein said polyurethane foam comprises a water resistant coating over said food material member that separates said food material member from the device'"'"'s environment.

73. The device of claim 72, further comprising a termite sensor positioned within said food material member.

74. The device of claim 73, wherein the termite sensor includes a circuit housing affixed to said food material member and a sensing substrate extending through said food material member from the circuit housing.

75. The device of claim 74 wherein said food material member has a generally tubular shape defining first and second ends;

wherein said circuit housing is affixed to a first end of said food material member; and

wherein said sensing substrate extends through said food material member toward said second end.

76. The device of claim 74 wherein said polyurethane foam coating covers said food material member and said circuit housing, thereby separating said food material member and said circuit housing from said device'"'"'s environment.

77. The device of claim 74 wherein said polyurethane foam coating covers said food material member but does not cover said circuit housing.

78. The device of claim 77 wherein said polyurethane foam coating is adhered to said circuit housing;

and wherein said coating and said circuit housing provide a water resistant cover separating said food material member from the device'"'"'s environment.

79. The device of claim 77, further comprising an end cap configured to be fitted over said circuit housing and to sealingly engage said foam coating;

wherein said coating and said end cap provide a water resistant cover separating said food material member from the device'"'"'s environment.

80. The device of claim 72, further comprising a housing structured for at least partial in-ground installation, the housing terminating at a lower housing end portion located below ground level after the in-ground installation and defining an upper access opening into an interior passage to receive the bait.

84. The device of claim 57, further comprising a bait container that includes a first chamber for containing the bait, an upper end portion defining an upper opening into the first chamber, a closure to selectively access and sealingly close the upper opening, a water resistant side wall and a lower end portion defining a bottom terminus of the bait container and a second chamber below at least a portion of the bait, the second chamber configured to receive and retain the polyurethane foam to reduce intrusion of water through the lower end portion when the bait container is installed in a selected orientation at least partially below ground.

85. The device of claim 84, wherein a lowermost boundary of the bait is offset from the bottom terminus by at least one centimeter.

86. The device of claim 84, wherein a lowermost boundary of the bait is offset from the bottom terminus by at least one inch.

87. The device of claim 84, wherein:

the bait container includes a tubular body defining a lower opening opposite the upper opening; and

the device includes a termite-passable barrier separating the chamber into first bait-containing chamber and said second foam-containing chamber.

88. The device of claim 87, wherein:

the barrier is positioned between the polyurethane foam and the bait and is configured to allow termite access to the first bait-containing chamber after displacement of a portion of the polyurethane foam in the second foam-containing chamber; and

the foam initially closes off the second foam-containing chamber to define an initial water resistant seal and is structured to allow the termites to form one or more passages through the foam to reach the first chamber.

89. The device of claim 87 wherein the barrier is composed of a material that is edible or displaceable by the termites.

95. The device of claim 84, further comprising a termite sensor positioned in the first chamber.

99. The device of claim 84, further comprising a housing defining an internal passage to receive the bait container therein;

wherein the housing is structured for at least partial in-ground installation, the housing terminating at a lower housing end portion located below ground level after the in-ground installation and defining an upper access opening into the interior passage to receive the bait container with the lower end portion passing through the upper access opening before the upper end portion to provide the selected orientation thereof.

60-65. -65. (canceled)

71. (canceled)

81-83. -83. (canceled)

90-92. -92. (canceled)

96-98. -98. (canceled)

101-111. -111. (canceled)

113-116. -116. (canceled)

122-130. -130. (canceled)

131. An above ground termite control device, comprising:

a housing configured to hold a composite bait material; and

a composite bait material contained within said housing, the composite bait material including a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of termite and a termite-edible or termite-displaceable polyurethane foam matrix surrounding at least some of the cellulosic food material pieces;

wherein the polyurethane foam is effective to hold moisture in the channels to keep the food material pieces moist for an extended period of time.

132. The device of claim 131 wherein the polyurethane foam comprises an open-cell polyurethane foam and defines an internal network of channels opening through pores on the surface of the polyurethane foam.

133. The device of claim 131, further comprising a pesticide contained within the composite bait material that is toxic to one or more species of termite.

137. The device of claim 131 wherein the polyurethane foam matrix comprises an enhancer entrained therein.

134-136. -136. (canceled)

138-151. -151. (canceled)