US 6,581,325 B2Granted

Device and method for controlling termites

AssigneeGordon Laboratories, Inc.

InventorGlenn Gordon

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Abstract

A device for the control of termites is disclosed, wherein the device is a housing which is adapted so that a moisture absorbing attractant in the housing may be heated by the housing being exposed to the natural thermal radiation of the sun when attached to the ground surface. The lower end of the housing has an opening to the interior for access by termites. Non-toxic and toxic baits may be added to the moisture absorbing attractant when activity is detected or anticipated. The device may be used together with other termite control devices mechanically connected to it. During the day, the device uses the thermal radiation of the sun to heat the attractant which absorbs moisture from the soil. At night, the attractant releases the moisture into the soil, creating a temperature anomaly readily detectable by termites.

Claims96

Dependent claims

A device for the trapping and elimination of a termite colony comprising:

an elongate housing with an inside surface, an outside surface, a lower end, and a closed upper end;
the lower end of the elongate housing having an opening for access to an interior of the elongate housing;
and
the interior of the elongate housing having an edible moisture absorbing attractant, at least a portion of which extends generally from the upper end to the lower end proximate the opening for access to the interior of the elongate housing;
the device having means for anchoring said device in a desired location on top of a ground surface with the lower end of the elongate housing facing said ground surface, wherein placing said device on top of the ground surface does not disturb the termite colony;
and
the device having a predetermined dimension greater than 4 inches at its narrowest diagonal cross-section and 6 inches or greater in height and an overall volumetric size so as to be capable of capturing, for the subsequent removal thereof, a majority of the colony of termites,
wherein when the device is placed in the desired location on top of the ground surface with the lower end of the elongate housing facing said ground surface, a temperature anomaly detectable by termites is created when at least a portion of the elongate housing is exposed to a natural radiation of the sun so as to heat the moisture absorbing attractant and cause the moisture absorbing attractant to absorb moisture from the ground surface during the day, and as the moisture absorbing attractant cools at night, the moisture absorbing attractant releases the moisture into the ground surface.

5 more elements

A method for trapping and eliminating a termite colony comprising the steps of:

providing a termite colony elimination apparatus for trapping and subsequently removing the colony of termites, the termite colony elimination apparatus comprising:
edible moisture absorbing attractant means in an interior of said termite colony elimination apparatus;
access means at a bottom end of said termite colony elimination apparatus for termites to enter termite control apparatus for access to the edible moisture absorbing attractant, at least a portion of the edible moisture absorbing attractant extending generally from an upper end to proximate the bottom end of the termite colony elimination apparatus;
means for anchoring the termite colony elimination apparatus to the top of the ground surface, the means being an outwardly extending flange along a portion of a perimeter of said bottom end, wherein placing said termite colony elimination apparatus on the top of the ground surface does not disturb the termite colony;
the termite colony elimination apparatus having a predetermined dimension greater than 4 inches at its narrowest diagonal cross-section and 6 inches or greater in height and an overall volumetric size so as to be capable of capturing, for the subsequent removal thereof, a majority of the colony of termites;
and
using the termite colony elimination apparatus so as to create a temperature anomaly detectable by termites by placing said bottom end of said termite colony elimination apparatus on top of a ground surface with the access means facing said ground surface at a location such that at least a portion of the termite colony elimination apparatus is exposed to a natural radiation of the sun,
wherein the temperature anomaly detectable by termites is created when heat generated in the apparatus caused by its exposure to the natural radiation of the sun heats the moisture absorbing attractant during the day, and the moisture absorbing attractant cools at night.

5 more elements

A method for trapping and eliminating a termite colony comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus for trapping and subsequently removing the colony of termites, the apparatus comprising:
edible moisture absorbing attractant means in an interior of said apparatus;
access means at a bottom end of said apparatus for termites to enter the apparatus for access to the edible moisture absorbing attractant, at least a portion of the edible moisture absorbing attractant extending generally from an upper end to proximate the bottom end of the apparatus;
the apparatus having a predetermined dimension greater than 4 inches at its narrowest diagonal cross-section and 6 inches or greater in height and an overall volumteric size so as to be capable of capturing, for the subsequent removal thereof, a majority of the colony of termites;
and
means for anchoring the apparatus to the top of the ground surface, the means being an outwardly extending flange along a portion of a perimeter of said bottom end,
wherein placing said apparatus on top of the ground surface does not disturb the termite colony, and
wherein said bottom end of said apparatus is intended to be placed on top of a ground surface with the access means facing said ground surface at a location such that at least a portion of the apparatus is exposed to a natural radiation of the sun such that a temperature anomaly detectable by termites is created when heat generated in the apparatus caused by its exposure to the natural radiation of the sun heats the moisture absorbing attractant during the day, and the moisture absorbing attractant cools at night.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.