# US 11,895,999 B2 · Pest control devices, methods, and apparatus

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- Number: US 11,895,999 B2
- Document ID: US11895999B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/723,968
- Filed: 2022-04-19
- Published: 2022-08-04
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-25
- Applicants: Brett E. Bunker; Chandra L. Maleckas-Bunker
- Inventors: Brett E. Bunker; Chandra L. Maleckas-Bunker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11895999B2

## CPC

- A01M 1/02: with devices {or substances, e.g. food, pheronones} attracting the insects
- A01M 1/10: {Catching insects by using} Traps {(using suction effect A01M1/06)}
- A01M 1/106: {for flying insects}
- A01M 1/14: Catching by adhesive surfaces
- A01M 1/20: Poisoning, narcotising, or burning insects {(fumigation apparatus A01M13/00)}
- A01M 1/2027: {without heating}
- A01M 23/00: Traps for animals
- A01M 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F42B 12/50: by dispersion
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)

## Abstract

Devices and methods for pest control, including devices useful to place pest control devices at locations of use such as at a crop (e.g., at a branch of a tree), certain embodiments of devices including a capsule and a tether that can become tangled or caught in a tree or other crop location.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of placing a pest control device at a tree branch, the method comprising:
providing a pest control device capable of being projected toward the tree branch and held at the tree branch by a tether, the device comprising:
two segments connected by a tether, the first segment and the second segment being capable of being assembled in a deployable state, and the first segment and the second segment being capable of being separated in a manner such that the first segment separates from the second segment while the first segment remains connected to the second segment by the tether,
attractant, or
poison, or
attractant and poison; and
propelling the pest control device through a tubular barrel of a launcher, wherein,
the pest control device is in the deployable state when propelled through the tubular barrel, and
the first segment and the second segment separate and remain connected by the tether, after the pest control device is propelled through the tubular barrel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the launcher propels the device in the deployable state using mechanical power.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the launcher propels the device in the deployable state using compressed air.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein, in the deployable state, the device comprises an interior, and the attractant, poison, or both, are within the interior.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein one segment is cylindrical.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein in the deployable state, the capsule has a shape that allows projection through a barrel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises attractant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises poison.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises attractant and poison.