US1126216A - Ant-trap. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. HOLMAN.

ANT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1914.

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Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

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J- HOLMHN J. A. HOLMAN.

ANT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.25, 1914.

1,126,216. Patented Jan.26, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHczTmLlTHQ, wAsHlNGroN, D. C2

JAMES A. HOLMAN, OF SALIDA, COLORADO.

ANT-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 26, 1915.

Application filed April 25, 1914. Serial No. 834,483.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Jamas A. HoLMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Salida, in the county of Chaffee and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ant-Traps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to ant traps.

The object of the invention is to provide an article of this character which shall be exceedingly simple in construction, certain of operation, and in which the retention of the ants against escape when once captured is prevented in a certain manner.

lilith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of an ant trap as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through an ant trap constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through one of the lures showing the manner in which the same is attached to the top; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view takenon the line 7-7 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view through the lead-in.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the cage or body of the trap, which, as clearly shown, is of truncated cone shape, and is provided with an inset bottom 2. The cage, bottom and other parts of the structure hereinafter to be described are made preferably from sheet metal of any character and may be ornamented to add to the attractiveness of its appearance. The bottom is provided adjacent one wall with an inlet opening 8 over which is secured a leadin, the same comprising a vertical rear wall Ll, two side walls 5 that converge toward the center of the cage, and an inclined front wall 6, the latter being preferably covered with a strip 7 of some soft material such as leather or rubber, to facilitate the entrance of the ants into the cage. The top of the lead-in is closed by a cover 8 having down turned cleats 9 that are secured by soldering to the side walls of the lead-in, but this is not essential, as the cover may be secured in place in any other practical manner, and still be within the scope of the invention. The front end of the cover 8 is provided with a V-shaped inlet 10 through which the ants enter the cage, and to the under side of the bottom is secured a series of plates 11 that radiate from the opening 3 and constitute lguides to direct the ants to the inlet opening.

One of the essential features of the invention resides in the provision of a novel form of lure by which the ants are attracted, and at certain points thereon are caused to slip therefrom and drop into the bottom of the cage, and owing to the inward inclination of the walls of the cage their attempt to escape from the top thereof will be frustrated. Each of these lures comprises a shank 12 and an inverted spoon bowl shaped head 13, the shank of one of the lures being secured to the inner wall of the lead-in, and that of the other lure to the opposite wall of the cage, the points of the lure being opposed and spaced by a small gap 14. lt is intended that these lures shall be very smoothly finished and polished, so as to reduce the suction between the feet of the ants and the surface of the lures to the minimum and to increase their attractiveness, as the light entering the top of the cage and striking the upper surface of the lures will render them peculiarly enticing to the insects, and as the ants travel over the lures and approach the points thereof they will slip therefrom to the bottom of the cage, or if they attempt to pass the gap 14 the same result will ensue.

Secured to the upper end of the cage is a top 15 having therein an opening that defines a circular path 16 around which the ants that pass up from the `outside of the cage may travel. Secured to the top are the Shanks 17 of two lures 18, which correspond in arrangement and function to those in the lower portion of the cage, but are disposed preferably at right angles thereto. In order to attract the ants to the upper pair of lures, there is a bait holder provided which coniprises a rod 19 which passes through the top 15 and has its lower end secured in a keeper 20 on the inner walls of the cage adjacent to the bottom. The upper' end of the rod is provided with an angularly disposed extension or arm 21 that terminates in a hook 22 and to which is secured a piece of string 23 carrying the bait 24, which may be ot' any substance attractive to the ants and is suspended some distance above the lures 18 so as to prevent the ants from reaching it. In order to facilitate handling the trap, a bail 25 is provided which is suitably hinged to the top 15.

In the use or' the device, when the parts are assembled as described, the same is placed over points where the ants will congregate, and the depending flange 26 formed by the inset bottom 2 will sink into the ground and prevent the ants from escaping laterally from the cage. Thus the ants under the bottom will be directed by the guides 11 to the opening 3, thence up the inclined wall 6 of the lead-in, whence they will nass out through the inlet l() and onto the lure projecting from the lead-in. In the attempt to escape from the lure they will naturally approach its inner end, and owing to their inability to retain their footing will slip from the point and drop to the bottom, and if in a further attempt to escape they scale the wall and reach the lure on the opposite side or' the cage, the same result will ensue. The ants that travel up the outer side of the cage will meet the same fate by passing onto the lures 18. When all of the ants have been trapped, the cage may be immersed in a pail of hot water, thus destroying its contents.

From the foregoing description it will be see/n that althcugh the device of this invention is exceedingly simple in construction, it will be found thoroughly etlicient for the purpose Jfor which it is designed, and will supply an effective implement for use by farmers and other persons who are troubled by ants'.

having thus described my invention,what I claim is:

1. In an ant trap, a cage provided with an inset bottom having an opening, a lead-in disposed over the opening and provided with a. top having a relatively small inlet,

and inverted spoon-bowl shaped lures projecting from the lead-in and from the opposite wall of the cage and having their points opposed and spaced by a small gap.

2. In an ant trap, a cage provided with an inset bottom having an opening, a lead-in disposed over the opening and provided with a top having a relatively small inlet, guides arranged on the under side of the bottom and radiating from the opening, and inverted spoon-bowl shaped lures projecting from the lead-in and from the opposite wall of the cage and having their points opposed and spaced by a small gap.

3. In an ant trap, a cage provided with an inset bot-tom having an opening, a leadin disposed over the opening and having an inclined wall, a top provided with an inlet adjacent to the wall, guides arranged on the under side of the bottom and radiating from the opening, and inverted spoon-bowl shaped lures projecting from the lead-in and from the opposite wall of the cage and having their points opposed and spaced by a small gap.

fl. In an ant trap, a truncated cone shaped cage provided with an inset bottom having an opening therein, and a top having an opening deiining a path, a lead-in disposed over the opening in the bottom of the cage and provided with a top having a relatively small inlet, guides arranged on the under side of the bottom and radiating from the opening, inverted spoon-bowl shaped lures projecting from the lead-in and from the opposite walls of the cage and having their points opposed and spaced by a small gap, lures secured to the top of the cage and corresponding in arrangement and function to thc-se at the bcttcm but disposed at right angles thereto, and a bait holder carried by the cage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. HOLMAN.

Vitnesses:

C. W. GLOYD, O. S. KRAMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. C.

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