Coaster with moat and physical barrier against crawling arthropods and insects
A device (coaster) for isolating an article from a surface of the coaster that has a moat containing an arthropod-deterring compound and a physical barrier that serves to repel crawling arthropods and insects.
The field of the invention is related to pest management and more particularly is a coaster with a moat containing a repelling compound and a vertical physical barrier surface material (example: polished glass) to deter crawling arthropods and insects from being able to access an article on the top surface of the coaster. The coaster's moat can be enclosed for safety in handling and disposing of the coaster with disease carrying arthropods and insects inside. When in proper operation this coaster prevents persons and small children from putting their hands in the moat with the toxic repelling compound, since it has a cover over it.
There are a few items in this field, but they involve a coaster or other items that have a moat with out any cover over it and do not have a vertical physical barrier surface material to prevent the arthropod or the insects from accessing an article on the top surface of the coaster and they do not have a moat that can be enclosed for safety in handling and disposing of the coaster with disease carrying arthropods and insects inside. Many arthropods will not die immediately after being exposed to the repellent in the moat, and without a physical barrier, they may cross the moat.
One such approach is shown in the Roberts patent. U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,281. This device provides a coaster to isolate against crawling arthropods, but does not involve a moat. The arthropod-deterring compound, in this case is applied to the underside of the coaster. The disadvantage of this design, is that parts of the pesticide may chip off in time and land on the floor with a possibility of a small child possibly eating the pesticide. There is no vertical physical barrier included in this design, and arthropods who do not die immediately from the repelling compound may also cross this coaster, only to die later, after biting individuals on the other side of the coaster (example: a person sleeping in a bed). Also, an insect will just land on the floor after being exterminated by the pesticide, and there is a possibility that a small child would eat these insects or come in contact with the fallen insects. Also, one could not use non-toxic diatomaceous earth because it is a powder. This device has limitations.
An approach to a pet food dish is shown in the Anderson patent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,531. Even though this device contains a moat it does not have a physical barrier, and its object is to provide a barrier for pet food. A small child could put their fingers in the moat that contains the pesticide and become ill, since the moat does not have a cover over it.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing disadvantages of prior art, the general purpose of this present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a safer coaster with a combination of different mechanisms that will repel arthropods and other crawling insects for any article placed on a surface of the coaster.
The present invention is comprised of a coaster with a moat in which an arthropod repelling compound (solid, liquid, or powder) is applied which will prevent arthropods and other crawling insects from crawling onto any article placed on a surface of the coaster. Arthropods and other crawling insects will have to cross this arthropod repelling compound to have access to an article placed on the surface of the coaster. Furthermore, after crossing the arthropod repelling compound in the moat, the arthropod has to climb up a vertical wall with surface material (example: polished glass) the will deter and trap the arthropod in the moat.
The principal advantage of the invention to provide a device for preventing crawling insects from invading or infesting an article placed on the surface of the coaster, especially when most insects do not die instantly if just repellent is used, and integral with this coaster is a physical barrier that will effectively trap the and prevent the crawling insect from crossing the barrier and biting a person before they perish.
Another advantage of the invention is that the moat containing the arthropod repelling compound is safer as arthropod repelling compound can not fall on the ground if the device is used properly.
Another advantage of the invention is that it is safer as the arthropod repelling compound is not directly exposed to the exterior of the device, when used properly, making it difficult for a person to touch the repelling compound.
Another advantage of the invention is that only a minimal amount of arthropod repelling compound is required.
Another advantage of the invention is that it can be shipped in a closed position not exposing handlers to toxic pesticides.
Articles could include but are not limited to beds, cots, incubators, tables, food preparation tables, furniture, play pens, cribs, nursery room furniture, and many other objects. This device can be used in a multitude of other situations not mentioned here.
The drawings and description contained are for purposes of illustrating the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same. This coaster with a repelling moat that has arthropod repelling compound in it which will repel crawling arthropods and insects. Arthropods must pass thru this coaster to have access to the article placed upon it. The arthropod repelling compound provides the primary impediment to the crawling arthropods and insects. In addition, after the arthropod crosses the repelling compound it must climb a vertical surface material (example: polished glass) to access an article on the surface of the coaster.
This coaster with a repelling moat would preferable be manufactured by injection molding with plastic polymers. The vertical physical barrier could be made with a number of material, including but not limited to polished glass, or polished metal.
Since the coaster will seal, it can be used and shipped with toxic repellents.
This coaster with a repelling moat would have a multitude of uses, some of which will be mentioned here. The Articles could be protected with the coaster could include but are not limited to beds, cots, incubators, tables, food preparation tables, furniture, play pens, cribs, nursery room furniture, and many other objects.
This coaster would provide a safe approach to controlling arthropods. It has the advantage of exterminating crawling insects at a point they must cross in order to have access to a bed, for example. Therefore, their will be less reliance on spraying, atomizing, or otherwise subjecting occupied rooms to toxic levels of pesticides, especially where young children reside.
These coasters could be filled with permethrin or synthetic permethrin (but not limited to these insecticides) or the coasters could be filled on site with sudsy water, or non-toxic diatomaceous earth. The repellent could also be comprised of a soft, pliable round polymer having a crawling arthropod deterring ingredient molded therein or absorbed, and placed in the round moat at the time of manufacture. However, any repelling component or pesticide could be used.
This coaster has the advantages over previous state of the art in that the coaster is safer when using solid repellent in the moat, since it would be contained and can't be touched. It would be non-toxic when using diatomaceous earth powder in this coaster which one of the previous designs could not use, since the arthropod repelling ingredient is affixed to the underside of the coaster.
There is no required shape of the coaster although in
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Claims
1. A device for protecting articles on a surface wherein a path across directing the route that all crawling arthropods and insects must transverse to access the articles on the top surface of the coaster, comprising of a physical barrier and a moat with a safety cover to repel crawling arthropods and insects comprising:
- a coaster that can support a load of an article placed upon it in a recessed area in the center;
- and
- an integral moat that can hold a repellent for crawling arthropods and insects and will not expose people to toxic repellents or disease carrying arthropods when in normal use since it has a cover over it;
- and
- a vertical physical barrier surface material (example: polished glass for bed bugs) to deter arthropods and insects who do not die immediately from the repellent from being able to access an article on the top surface of the coaster and will trap the insect in the moat.
- and
- a sealed moat the can contain toxic pesticides and be shipped without exposing people to toxic repellents
- and
- a sealed moat that can be easily disposed of by sealing the coaster without touching disease carrying arthropods or toxic repellents
- and
- an method of adjusting the coaster with filler plug(s) to give clearance and accommodate different heights of articles placed upon the coaster
- and
- a coaster that does not need maintenance since the vertical physical barrier does not need to be maintained.
- and
- a coaster that has a entrance that is sloped and is rough textured to facilitate the passage of the arthropod or insect to the toxic moat.
- and
- a coaster that has a fill hole for liquid repellent, that is sealed in the closed position and
- a flange that can stabilize the load of an article placed on the surface of the coaster.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein a path across the directing the route that all crawling arthropods and insects must transverse to access the articles on the top surface of the coaster, comprising:
- an integral moat that contains repellent for crawling arthropods and insects that is protected from human contact and a special physical barrier surface material surrounding the moat (example: polished glass) that crawling arthropods and insects can not transverse.
3. The device of claim 1, that has an integral moat that can be enclosed when disposed of, or when not in use, that also serves as a receptacle for exterminated and disease infested crawling arthropods and insects and toxic repellent.
4. The device of claim 1, that has a mote that can contain repellent, comprising of the following:
- a moat that can contain any repellent dust, including but not limited to diatomaceous earth.
- a moat that can contain any repellent solid, including but not limited to pyrethrins,
- pyrethroid, and insect growth regulator (gentrol), etc.
- a moat that can contain any repellent liquid, including but not limited to sudsy water, and ethylene glycol.
5. The device of claim 1, that has a moat that incorporates safety, consisting
- a moat that a person can not touch the repellent or disease carrying insects in normal use since it has a cover.
- a moat the may be safely shipped comprising of a moat that can be sealed, before, during, and after use.
6. The device of claim 1, that has a physical barrier material comprising of the following:
- a vertical physical barrier material that can contain any surface which crawling arthropods and insects can not climb, that could consist of, but not limited to, sticky paper, polished glass or metal.
- a vertical physical barrier material that can contain any surface which crawling arthropods and insects can not climb, that could consist of, but not limited to, any applied surface such as talc or petroleum jelly over the vertical physical barrier.
- a vertical physical barrier material that could be specific to a particular crawling arthropod or insect to inhibit their crossing (for example: polished glass or polished metal for bed bugs.)
7. The device of claim 1, that the coaster, with the exception of the vertical physical barrier material, can be manufactured from a plastic, which could be synthetic or semi-synthetic compound. The plastics could include, but not limited to high density polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, and polyamide.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 5, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 9, 2010
Inventor: John Joseph Pal, JR. (Petersburg, KY)
Application Number: 12/455,599
International Classification: A47G 29/00 (20060101);