Ant Bait Dispenser

Abstract

An insect toxic bait dispenser has a top with a downwardly opening compartments in which toxic bait fluids may be retained by an underlying foil barrier. The top is supported on a base with posts positioned beneath the barrier. Base prongs extend into a top shaft with ledges at different heights, preventing part separation when the barrier is intact above the posts, and, when the top is closed on the base, piercing the foil seal and dispensing liquids into fluid retaining members held in base pockets. To use, a peripheral tear strip is removed from the base, permitting the top to descend on the base causing the posts to puncture the seal, compressing the fluid retaining members against the barrier to receive and dispense toxic bait liquid while retarding the rate of liquid evaporation. The top may be hinged to the base, or urged downwardly by a threaded cap.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container for dispensing insect toxic bait comprising:
 a top having a side wall and at least one interior wall defining a compartment for the reception of insect toxic bait therein;   a barrier affixed to the top forming a seal beneath the compartment to form a sealed volume for retaining insect toxic bait therein;   a base positioned beneath the top and having a post projecting therefrom;   a liquid retaining member supported on the base and positioned in proximity to surround the post, the barrier being located between the compartment and the liquid retaining member;   portions of the base and the top which engage one another to restrain rotation of the top with respect to the base but to allow free movement of the top towards the base and to retain the top in two alternative positions, a first position in which the top barrier is spaced above the post, and a second dispensing position in which the liquid retaining member engages with and is compressed against the barrier while the barrier is pierced by the post which extends upwardly through the top barrier to extend above the barrier to allow the escape of the contents of the compartment into the liquid retaining member for dispensing to a targeted insect, in the second position the liquid retaining member being exposed for engagement by the targeted insect.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the liquid retaining member is comprised of open cell foam material. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the barrier is formed of a metallic foil material. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the post has an upwardly extending axis, and wherein portions of the post define at least one axially extending groove, the at least one groove communicating with the liquid retaining member. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the portions of the base and the top which engage one another to restrain rotation of the top with respect to the base but to allow free movement of the top towards the basis and to retain the top in two alternative positions, comprise:
 portions of the top which define a downwardly opening top shaft; 
 a first ledge projecting from the top shaft; 
 a second ledge projecting from the top shaft; and 
 a base projection which projects upwardly from the base and extends within the top shaft, the base projection having thereon a first prong which engages above the first ledge in the first position when the barrier is spaced above the posts, and a second prong which engages above the second ledge in the second position in which the barrier is pierced by the posts, wherein the prongs serve to restrict the separation of the top from the base in both the first position and the second position. 
 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the downwardly opening top shaft comprises:
 two first shaft walls substantially parallel to one another, wherein the first ledge projects inwardly from one of the first shaft walls, and another first ledge projects inwardly from the other of the first shaft walls; and 
 two second shaft walls substantially perpendicular to the first shaft walls, wherein the second ledge projects inwardly from one of the second shaft walls, and another second ledge projects inwardly from the other of the second shaft walls, and wherein the first ledges are positioned closer to the base than the second ledges. 
 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a tear strip connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom to engage the top in the first position to restrict the top from advancement into the second position, the tear strip having a free end which is engagable by a user, wherein portions of the tear strip are connected to the base by a region of weakened material, such that the tear strip may be removed by a user engaging the free end and pulling on the tear strip to thereby separate the tear strip from the base and permit the top to be advanced from the first position to the second position to activate dispensing of said insect toxic bait from the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the base has a downwardly and outwardly projecting skirt, and the top has a skirt which extends downwardly and outwardly above the base skirt to define a passageway for entrance of insects to the fluid retaining members, the passageway restricting direct air flows across the fluid retaining members. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the top is connected to the base by a hinge for pivoting between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a cap which overlies and engages the top and which has portions which threadedly engage with the base, such that rotation of the cap advances the top from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         11 . A container for dispensing insect toxic bait comprising:
 a top having a side wall with portions defining a compartment for the reception of insect toxic bait therein, the side wall having a lower perimeter surrounding the compartment;   a barrier affixed to the top along the lower perimeter of the sidewall and forming a seal beneath the compartment to form a sealed volume for retaining insect toxic bait therein;   a base positioned beneath the top and having a bottom wall with a post projecting therefrom;   a liquid retaining member supported on the bottom wall surrounding the post, the barrier being located between the compartment and the liquid retaining member, the liquid retaining member extending upwardly towards the barrier a first distance above the bottom wall in an uncompressed condition;   a rim wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced from the post and the liquid retaining member, the rim member extending towards the barrier a second distance which is less than the first distance;   portions of the base and the top which engage one another to retain the top in two alternative positions, a first position in which the top barrier is spaced above the post and the liquid retaining member is in the uncompressed condition, and a second dispensing position in which the lower perimeter of the top side wall is prevented from motion towards the base by the base rim wall, and the liquid retaining member is engaged with and is compressed against the barrier while the barrier is pierced by the post which extends upwardly through the barrier to extend above the barrier to allow the escape of the contents of the compartment into the liquid retaining member for dispensing to a targeted insect, in the second position the liquid retaining member being exposed for engagement by the targeted insect, and being compressed to extend above the bottom wall no more than the second distance.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the liquid retaining member is comprised of open cell foam material. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the post has an upwardly extending axis, and wherein portions of the post define at least one axially extending groove, the at least one groove communicating with the liquid retaining member. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the base has a depressed pocket which extends beneath the bottom wall and which supports the liquid retaining member therein. 
     
     
         15 . A container for dispensing insect toxic bait comprising:
 a top having portions which define a downwardly opening fluid compartment for the reception of insect toxic bait therein;   a barrier affixed to the top beneath the fluid compartment for retaining insect toxic bait therein;   a base positioned beneath the top and having a bottom wall with a protruding post;   a liquid retaining member associated with the post and extending above the bottom wall;   portions of the base which extend from the base to engage portions of the top to thereby restrict the separation of the top from the base, the top being movable between two positions, a first position where the barrier is spaced from the posts, and a second position in which the barrier is pierced by the post allowing the dispensing of said insect toxic bait from the fluid compartment; and   a tear strip connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom to engage the top in the first position to restrict the top from advancement into the second position, the tear strip having a free end which is engagable by a user, wherein portions of the tear strip are connected to the base by a region of weakened material, such that the tear strip may be removed by a user engaging the free end and pulling on the tear strip to thereby separate the tear strip from the base and permit the top to be advanced from the first position to the second position to activate dispensing of said insect toxic bait from the container, wherein in the second position the bottom wall communicates with the exterior of the container to permit insect access to the liquid retaining member.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the base has a peripheral skirt, and wherein the tear strip comprises a substantially cylindrical strip which extends upwardly from the base skirt. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the base has a peripheral skirt, and wherein the top has a peripheral skirt which extends outwardly from the portions defining the fluid compartment, the skirt terminating in a flange, and wherein the top flange engages with an upper peripheral edge of the tear strip which restricts the displacement of the top towards the base in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the base has a downwardly and outwardly projecting skirt, and the top has a skirt which extends downwardly and outwardly above the base skirt to define a passageway for entrance of insects to a fluid retaining member in communication with the posts, the passageway restricting direct air flows across the fluid retaining member. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15  further comprising a cap which overlies and engages the top and which has portions which threadedly engage with the base, such that rotation of the cap advances the top from the first position to the second position.