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US RE40,884 E1Granted
Apparatus and method for monitoring termite activity
OwnerMichael J. Mastersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus, for detecting the presence and eating activity of organisms such as termites that damage structures, includes a body; a wooden bait element controllably exposed to the organisms within a cavity of the body, and having an applied bait substance; a side wall of the body having a vertically spaced plurality of smoothly converging entrance passages for admitting the organisms, a consumable porous barrier covering each of the entrance passages. Spring tension is applied to an upper end of the bait element, an opposite end being anchored to the body. A flag member that is connected to the upper end of the bait element projects from the body when the bait element is weakened to the predetermined amount by the organisms.
Claims78
Apparatus for signaling a cumulative amount of weakening of a test material resulting from exposure to a hazardous environment in the ground containing material-consuming organisms, comprising:
- (a) a an elongated body;
- (b) a test element supported relative to the body and comprising the test material;
- (c) means openings extending through the body, the openings being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the openings being operative for controllably exposing the test element to the hazardous environment containing the material-consuming organisms and for providing passage for the organisms through the body to the test material;
- (d) means for applying a load force to the test element, the load force being effective for displacing a portion of the test element when there is a predetermined amount of weakening of the test element caused by consumption thereof by the organisms;
- (e) a flag member movably supported relative to the body and coupled to the test element for movement in projecting relation to the body when the test element is weakened to the predetermined amount, with at least a portion of the flag member being movable from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out of the body beyond the hazardous environment.
2 more elements
Apparatus for detecting the presence and eating activity or organisms that damage structures by consuming portions thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a an elongated body;
- (b) a bait element supported relative to the body and comprising a consumable structural material;
- (c) means openings extending through the body, the openings being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the openings being operative for controllably exposing the bait element to the organisms and for providing entrance passages for the organisms through the body to the bait element;
- (d) means for applying a load force to the bait element, the load force being effective for displacing a portion of the bait element when there is a predetermined amount of weakening of the bait element caused by consumption thereof by the organisms;
- (e) a flag member movably supported relative to the body and coupled to the bait element for movement in projecting relation to the body when the bait element is weakened to the predetermined amount by the organisms, with at least a portion of the flag member being movable from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out of the body beyond the hazardous environment.
2 more elements
A method for monitoring a predetermined cumulative eating activity of organisms on a bait member, comprising:
- (a) providing a housing body having an elongate cavity and a side wall passage that extends through the housing body in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing body;
- (b) anchoring one end of the bait member to the body with the bait member extending within the cavity;
- (c) connecting a flag member to an opposite end of the bait member with the flag member extending to a position proximate a flag opening of the body;
- (d) connecting a spring member between the flag member and the housing body for tensioning the bait member, wherein upon consumption by eating activity of the organisms, the bait member is sufficiently weakened and fractures whereupon the flag member is moved via action of the spring member from a first position enclosed within the housing body to a second position upward and out of the housing body;
- (e) placing the housing body in a medium subject to infestation by the organisms with the side wall passage being accessible by the organisms and the flag opening being located outside the medium;
- and
- (f) periodically observing the housing body for display to of the flag member in an extended the second position thereof.
4 more elements
Apparatus for detecting the presence and eating activity of organisms that damage structures by consuming portions thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a body forming an elongate housing having respective bottom and top extremities;
- (b) a bait element supported relative to the body and comprising a wood member having a bait substance applied thereto;
- (c) means for controllably exposing the bait element to the organisms, comprising the body having a cavity for enclosing the bait element, a side wall of the body having a vertically spaced plurality of entrance passages formed therein for admitting the organisms, each of the entrance passages extending between a first opening in an outside surface of the side wall and a second opening in an inside surface of the side wall, the first opening having a first area, the second opening having a second area being less than the first area, the passages smoothly tapering between the first area and the second area, a consumable porous barrier member covering each of the entrance passages, the entrance passages and the barrier member being on a first face of the body, the body also including a second face having counterparts of the entrance passages and the barrier member;
- (d) means for applying a load force to the bait element, comprising a first coupling for anchoring one end to of the bait element to the body, a second coupling for connecting an opposite end of the bait element, and a spring for applying tensile load to the bait element through the second coupling, the load force being effective for displacing a portion of the bait element when there is a predetermined amount of weakening of the bait element;
- (e) a flag member movably supported relative to the body and connected to the second coupling for movement in projecting relation to the body when the bait element is weakened to the predetermined amount by the organisms, with at least a portion of the flag member being movable from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out of the body.
2 more elements
A method for monitoring structural weakening of a material, the weakening resulting from exposure to subterranean organisms, the method comprising:
- placing a tubular-shaped body, with a longitudinal axis in a vertical orientation, at least partially in soil, the material being entirely disposed within the body;
- applying a force to the material, the force being effective to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material when there is a weakening of the material;
- providing a passageway through at least a portion of the body from the soil toward the material, the passageway being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the passageway is enclosed by one or more sidewalls, the passageway having a diameter being dimensioned to permit travel of the subterranean organisms from the soil toward the material and being tapered from a wide diameter end proximate to the soil to a narrow diameter end proximate to the material, whereby the passageway directs the subterranean organisms toward a specific portion of the material where the subterranean organisms can cause a weakening of the material;
- and
- in response to the displacement, signaling the weakening of the material resulting from its exposure to the subterranean organisms, the signal comprising an exterior projection of a signaling member from the body.
2 more elements
A device for signaling the presence of a material-consuming organism, the device comprising:
- a body having an outer wall;
- a material consumable by the organism, the material being entirely disposed within the body;
- an opening through the wall, the opening being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the opening having a diameter dimensioned to permit the organism to fit through the opening;
- a passage in the body extending at least partially between the opening and the material, the passage having a sidewall enclosing the passage, the passage dimensioned to permit the organism to travel through the passage to reach the material, wherein the sidewall of the passage is tapered from a wide diameter end distal to the material to a narrow diameter end proximate to the material, whereby the tapered sidewall of the passage directs the organism to a specific portion of the material where the organism can consume the material and thereby cause a structural weakening of the material;
- and
- a spring in tension with the material so as to apply a force to the material, the force being sufficient to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material when there is a structural weakening of the material, the displacement effectuating an exterior projection of a signaling member from the body indicating the presence of the organism in the device.
3 more elements
The device of 30, further comprising:
- an annulus-shaped skirt disposed around the body near a top of the body for placement above ground.
A device for signaling the presence of a material-consuming organism, the device comprising:
- a body housing having an outer wall defining an inner cavity;
- a body core, separable from the body housing, disposed within the inner cavity in a removably telescopic orientation;
- a material consumable by the organism, the material being disposed within the body core;
- an opening through the outer wall of the body housing, the opening dimensioned so that the organism can fit through the opening and reach the material, whereby the organism can consume the material and thereby cause a structural weakening of the material;
- and
- a spring in tension with the material so as to apply a force to the material, the force being sufficient to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material upon structural weakening of the material, the displacement effectuating a signaling member moving from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out of the body for indicating the presence of the organism in the device.
3 more elements
A device for signaling the presence of a material-consuming organism, the device comprising:
- a body housing having an outer wall defining an inner cavity, the outer wall comprising an opening dimensioned so that the organism can fit through the opening;
- a body core within the body housing, the body core substantially filling the cavity, the body core comprising a radial passage, a front face of the radial passage overlapping the opening, the passage dimensioned so that the organism can fit through the passage;
- a material consumable by the organism within the body core, the material extending most of a length of the body housing, whereby the organism can reach the material by traveling through the opening and the passage, and whereby the organism can consume the material and thereby cause a structural weakening of the material;
- and
- a spring in tension with the material so as to apply a force to the material, the force being sufficient to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material when there is a structural weakening of the material, the displacement effectuating an indication of the presence of the organism in the device comprised of a flag member moving from a first position enclosed within the body housing to a second position upward and out of the body housing.
2 more elements
A device for signaling the presence of material-weakening organisms, the device comprising:
- a body having an exterior wall;
- a plurality of transverse outer openings in the exterior wall of the body, dimensioned to permit the organisms to fit through;
- a cavity within the body, the cavity having an interior wall, the cavity being substantially smaller than the body;
- a plurality of transverse inner openings in the interior wall of the cavity, dimensioned to permit the organisms to fit through;
- a material disposed within the cavity;
- wherein the organisms, when in contact with the material, cause a structural weakening of the material;
- a spring in tension with the material so as to apply a force to the material, the force being sufficient to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material when there is a structural weakening of the material, the displacement effectuating an exterior projection of a signaling member moving from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out of the body for indicating the presence of the organisms in the device.
4 more elements
A device for signaling the presence of subterranean material-weakening organisms in soil, the device comprising:
- a body, having an exterior wall, for at least partial submersion in soil leading with a bottom end of the body, the body having a top end opposite from the bottom end;
- a plurality of transverse openings in the exterior wall of the body, dimensioned to permit the organisms to fit through;
- a material disposed within the body, wherein the organisms, when in contact with the material, cause a structural weakening of the material;
- a cavity within the body, the cavity being substantially smaller than the body, the cavity being near the top end of the body;
- a spring disposed within the cavity, the spring being held in tension by the material such that a structural weakening of the material causes an end of the spring to undergo a displacement, the displacement effectuating an exterior projection of a signaling member moving from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out of the body for indicating the presence of the organisms in the device.
2 more elements
A device for monitoring structural weakening of a material disposed within a body to be placed at least partially in soil, the weakening resulting from exposure to subterranean organisms, the device comprising:
- means for applying a force to the material, the force being effective to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material when there is a weakening of the material;
- a tubular-shaped body housing the material, the material being entirely disposed within the body, the body being placed in the soil and having a passageway disposed through at least a portion of the body from the soil toward the material, the passageway being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the passageway is enclosed by one or more sidewalls, the passageway being dimensioned to permit travel of the subterranean organisms from the soil toward the material and being tapered from a wide diameter end proximate to the soil to a narrow diameter end proximate to the material, whereby the passageway directs the subterranean organisms toward a specific portion of the material where the subterranean organisms can cause a weakening of the material;
- and
- means for signaling the weakening of the material, in response to the displacement, resulting from the material's exposure to the subterranean organisms, the means for signaling comprising a signaling member, with at least a portion of the signaling member being movable from a first position enclosed within the body to a second position out of the body.
1 more element
A device for monitoring structural weakening of a material disposed within a body to be placed at least partially in soil, the weakening resulting from exposure to subterranean organisms, the device comprising:
- a spring mechanism that applies a force to the material, the force being effective to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the material when there is a weakening of the material;
- a tubular-shaped body housing the material, the material being entirely disposed within the body, the body being placed in the soil and having a passageway disposed through at least a portion of the body from the soil toward the material, the passageway being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the passageway being dimensioned to permit travel of the subterranean organisms from the soil toward the material, the passageway having a larger diameter opening proximate to the soil relative to a narrower diameter opening proximate to the material, whereby the passageway directs the subterranean organisms toward a specific portion of the material where the subterranean organisms can cause a concentrated weakening of the material;
- and
- means for signaling the weakening of the material, in response to the displacement, as a result of the material's exposure to the subterranean organisms.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.