Insect Bait Stakes

Abstract

An ant bait stake is provided having two components including an outer housing and an inner bait pack or reservoir that is separate from the outer housing. The outer housing includes a bait pack compartment for receiving the bait pack, and a ground engaging member such as a stake. A break-away tab including a neck portion with a bait access channel therein extends outwardly of the housing, the tab being removable by the consumer without any tools or other devices to open the bait access channel when the ant bait stake is ready for use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insect bait station comprising:
 a housing having an opening; and   a bait pack received within the housing and including:   a well containing a quantity of liquid bait filled to a level; and   an access passage aligned with the opening for allowing insects to enter the well through the opening, at least a portion of the access passage being arranged above the level such the quantity of liquid bait remains in the bait pack when the access passage is opened.   
     
     
         2 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein the access passage defines a neck portion extending outwardly through the opening in the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein the access passage further defines a break-away tab sealing the access passage, the access passage being opened when the tab is broken away to allow insects to enter the bait pack through the opened access passage and move toward the liquid bait. 
     
     
         4 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein be bait pack defines at least one inclined surface arranged within the well and extending toward the at least one access passage. 
     
     
         5 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further defines a viewing window disposed on a sidewall thereof through which a portion of the bait pack is visible to a user. 
     
     
         6 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein, with the bait station in the installed orientation, the housing and the bait pack have a generally horizontal orientation adapted to be parallel with and adjacent to the ground surface. 
     
     
         7 . The insect bait station of  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a base member and a cover member that is removable from the base member, the bait pack being positioned between the cover member and the base member when the bait station is assembled for use. 
     
     
         8 . The insect bait station of  claim 6 , wherein the well includes a protrusion extending from a downward-facing planar surface of the bait pack, the protrusion forming a recess inside the bait pack to increase a bait holding capacity of the well. 
     
     
         9 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a bait pack compartment, the bait pack being slidably inserted into the bait pack compartment through an open side or an open top of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The insect bait station of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a back wall, a bottom wall, two side walls and a partial front wall defining the bait pack compartment, the housing having an open top through which the bait pack is inserted into the bait pack compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The insect bait station of  claim 10 , wherein the partial front wall is generally parallel with the back wall and defines a cutout for enabling a side view of the bait pack. 
     
     
         12 . The insect bait station of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes four members forming a frame with an open center, the frame creating a recess in a rear side thereof, the bait pack being slidably inserted into the recess and held in the frame between outer edges of the bait pack and adjacent inner surfaces of the recess. 
     
     
         13 . The insect bait station of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes:
 a generally convex upper exterior surface;   a generally concave exterior lower surface, the bait pack being coupled to the concave lower surface; and   at least one ground engaging side wall that extends downwardly from an edge of the housing, wherein the bait pack and the access passage are positioned adjacent to ground surface when the side wall is pushed into the ground.   
     
     
         14 . The insect bait station of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further includes two ground engaging side walls on opposing sides thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An insect bait station comprising:
 a housing; and   a bait pack removably associated the housing and including:   a well containing a quantity of liquid bait below a level; and   at least one access passage configured to be opened for allowing insects to enter the well, at least a portion of the access passage is arranged above the level such the quantity of liquid bait remains in the bait pack when the access passage is opened.   
     
     
         16 . The insect bait station of  claim 15 , wherein the access passage is aligned with a corresponding opening in the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The insect bait station of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes:
 an upper exterior surface;   a lower exterior surface, the bait pack being coupled to an underside of the lower exterior surface; and   at least one ground engaging side wall that extends downwardly from an edge of the housing, the bait pack and the access passage being positioned generally parallel to a ground surface when the side wall is pushed into the ground surface.   
     
     
         18 . The insect bait station of  claim 15 , wherein, the housing and the bait pack have a generally horizontal orientation adapted to be parallel with and adjacent to the ground surface. 
     
     
         19 . The insect bait station of  claim 18 , wherein the well includes a protrusion extending from a downward-facing planar surface of the bait pack, the protrusion forming a recess inside the bait pack to increase a bait holding capacity of the well. 
     
     
         20 . The insect bait station of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a back wall, a bottom wall, two side walls and a partial front wall defining the bait pack compartment, the housing having an open top through which the bait pack is inserted into the bait pack compartment, wherein the partial front wall is formed by a flange extending inwardly from at least one of the sidewalls, the flange being generally parallel with the back wall.