AU737049B2 - Termite proofing system - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 424106

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Peter Lawrence Dever 20 Bonny Ridge Bonny Hills New South Wales 2445

AUSTRALIA

Stephen Lawrence Dever 20 Bonny Ridge Bonny Hills New South Wales 2445

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Peter Lawrence Dever and Stephen Lawrence Dever Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Termite Proofing System ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [31] Application No(s) [33] Country P07889 AU [32] Application Date 14 July 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 TERMITE PROOFING SYSTEM Technical Field The present invention relates to termite control, and particularly relates to a system and method for termite proofing buildings.

Background of the Invention Buildings are commonly termite proofed by the periodic spraying of pesticide chemicals which create a chemical barrier preventing termites from accessing the building structure. Such chemical barriers may be used in combination with mechanical barriers such as ant capping, ant strips and flashing.

Chemical barriers are typically manually applied by a pesticide controller by spraying the ground immediately surrounding the building, and if accessible, under the *;building adjacent the walls thereof, with a toxic pesticide from a hand held spraying apparatus. Directly spraying the ground surrounding the building can cause the toxic chemicals to deeply penetrate and poison the ground, providing a hazard to humans, *i 15 animals and plants in the environment surrounding the building. Access for the pesticide controller to underneath the building is often severely impeded, and the manual application of the chemicals, particularly in such conditions, poses serious environmental health issues to the controller.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a termite proofing system, for termite proofing a R4 building, comprising a pipe extending at least partially along and adjacent to a -0 I perimeter of said building, said pipe hli*gu tiW|port for receiving a pesticide and a nnu n t1 re iv o.

ro plurality of outlet ports spaced alorng u g e9 s pti a ipe 9 dispensing said pesticide 1 JUN 2001 No. I!B 2 .c J T [R:\LIBLL] 1 1260.doc:GJG:TCW and a bed of granular material disposed in relation to said pipe such that, in use, pesticide is dispensed from said outlet ports to said bed.

Preferably said pipe is disposed on the interior of said perimeter.

Preferably said pipe extends substantially entirely along said perimeter.

Alternatively a plurality of said pipes is provided, each extending along a section of said perimeter.

Preferably said system further comprises a plurality of sprinklers, each said sprinkler communicating with a said outlet port.

Preferably said bed abuts a structure of said building.

Preferably said bed is disposed generally beneath said pipe.

i, Alternatively said pipe is disposed within said bed.

S Preferably said bed is disposed in a channel formed in said building structure.

Preferably said pipe is secured to said building structure.

Preferably said granular material is blue metal dust.

1 15 Alternatively said granular material is sand.

i c p There is further disclosed herein a method of termite proofing a building comprising the steps of: extending a pipe at least partially along and adjacent to a perimeter of said building, said pipe having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports spaced along a 20 length of said pipe, disposing a bed of granular material in relation to said pipe such that said pesticide is dispersed from said outlet ports to said bed, supplying a pesticide into said pipe through said inlet port, and dispensing said pesticide through said outlet ports to said bed.

Preferably said pipe is extended along the interior of said perimeter.

SPreferably said pipe is extended substantially entirely along said perimeter.

S.i Alternatively a plurality of said pipes is each extended along a section of said 0 perimeter.

[R:\LIBLL] 1260.doc:GJG:TCW 2a Preferably each of a plurality of sprinklers is communicated with a said outlet port.

Preferably said bed is abutted with a structure of said building.

Preferably said bed is disposed generally beneath said pipe.

r [R:\LIBLL] 11260.doc:GJG:TCW 3 Alternatively said pipe is disposed within said bed.

Preferably said bed is disposed in a channel formed in said building structure.

Preferably said pipe is secured to said building structure.

Preferably said granular material is blue metal dust.

Alternatively said granular material is sand.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a partial front elevation view of a termite proofing system according lo to a first embodiment installed in a building having a concrete slab type supporting structure.

Figure 2 is a side elevation cross sectional view of the termite proofing system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation cross sectional view of a termite proofing system according to a second embodiment installed in a building having a concrete slab type S" supporting structure.

Figure 4 is a side elevation cross sectional view of a termite proofing system according to a third embodiment installed in a building having a bearer and joist type supporting structure.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments .oo.oi S• According to a first embodiment of the present invention as depicted in Figures 1 and 2 there is provided a termite proofing system for termite proofing a building 100 having a concrete slab 101 supporting structure. The termite proofing system comprises a pipe 1, typically manufactured from plastics material, which extends at least partially along and adjacent to a perimeter 102 of the building 100. The pipe 1 preferably extends substantially entirely along the perimeter 102 so as to provide complete protection to the building, or alternatively a plurality of pipes 1 may be provided to provide protection along the entire periphery. The pipes 1 may either communicate as a network or be [n:\IibII]01710:GJG installed separately. Where neighbouring buildings adjoin the building 100, it may only be necessary to protect the freestanding perimeter walls.

The pipe 1 has an inlet port 2 for receiving a pesticide such as "Dursban" or similar. The inlet port 2 typically has a fitting at its opening which mates with a corresponding fitting on the outlet of a pressurised supply of the pesticide such that the pesticide can be introduced into the pipe 1 under pressure.

A plurality of outlet ports 3 is provided along the length of the pipe 1. In the first embodiment the pipe 1 is located above a bed 4 of granulated material such that pesticide dispensed from the outlet ports 3 soaks into the bed 4. Sprinklers 5 -are here lo communicated with each of the outlet ports 3 such that the pesticide is sprayed onto the bed 4. Alternatively, in an installation without sprinklers, the pesticide drips out of the outlet ports 3 onto the bed 4.

The bed 4, typically comprising crushed blue metal dust or washed sand, soaks up the pesticide and provides a chemical barrier to the passage of termites. In this embodiment the bed 4 is formed in a channel 103 formed in the building 100 structure by a step in the concrete slab 101 adjacent the timber frame 104 and the perimeter brickwork 105 surrounding the frame 104. Positioning of the bed 4 on the interior side of the perimeter 102 protects it from the exterior environment and protects humans, animals, o plants and the soil outside of the building from the toxic pesticide. Use of the system in conjunction with a physical barrier such as a flashing membrane 106, with the pipe 1 and bed 4 located below the flashing membrane 106 will further isolate the pesticide from the Sexternal environment.

The pipe 1 may be located above the bed 4 using hose clamps 6 fixed to the frame 104 below the flashing membrane 106 or to the concrete slab 101. Alternatively the pipe 1 may be laid directly on top of the bed 4. In a second embodiment depicted in Figure 3 the pipe 1 is disposed within the bed 4. In such an installation, sprinklers would typically not be required, with the pesticide seeping though the bed 4 from the outlet ports 3.

Figure 3 also depicts a modified form of concrete slab 101' which extends beyond the perimeter brickwork 105.

[n:\lib11]01710:GJG .4.

Figure 4 depicts a third embodiment of the termite proofing system which is suitable for installation in a building 200 having a bearer 201 and joist 202 type supporting structure, where the floor of the building is supported by joists 202 which are in turn supported by bearers 201 formed of brick on a foundation 204, with a perimeter brick wall 203 formed adjacent the bearers 201.

The pipe 1 is typically either secured to the joists 202 (as shown) or to the bearers 201 with hose clamps 205 such that it is located generally above the bed 4 of granulated material. The bed 4 is here piled up on the ground surface 206 abutting the interior surface of the bearers 201. As per the second embodiment, the pipe 1 may alternatively lo be embedded in the bed 4. The bed 4 may be eliminated so that the pesticide will be dispensed directly on the ground surface 206, however it is preferable that the bed 4 be provided to prevent contamination of the ground 206 with pesticide. The system may be *oo used in conjunction with ant capping 207 which provides an additional physical barrier to ooooo the passage of termites.

i' 15 Once the termite proofing system has been installed, preferably during construction of the building, periodic termite proofing is relatively simple and safe. A pest controller, typically during an annual inspection, can simply connect a supply of the required pesticide up to the inlet port 2 and supply the required amount of pesticide to the pipe 1.

The entire building can thus be treated from a single location without exposure to any toxic fumes produced by the pesticide. The volume of pesticide to be dispensed can be readily calculated based on the length of pipe 1 installed. Depending on the pesticide used, protection may also be afforded against black ants, spiders and cockroaches.

[n:\libll]01710:GJG

Claims (20)

1. A termite proofing system, for termite proofing a building, comprising a pipe extending at least partially along and adjacent to a perimeter of said building, said pipe having an inlet port for receiving a pesticide and a plurality of outlet ports spaced along a length of said pipe for dispensing said pesticide and a bed of granular material disposed in relation to said pipe such that, in use, pesticide is dispensed from said outlet ports to said bed.

2. The termite proofing system of claim 1, wherein said pipe is disposed on the interior of said perimeter.

3. The termite system of either of claims 1 and 2, further comprising a :i plurality of sprinklers, each said sprinkler communicating with a said outlet port.

4. The termite system of claim 1, wherein said bed abuts a structure of said building.

5. The termite system of claim 4, wherein said bed is disposed generally 15 beneath said pipe.

6. The termite system of claim 4, wherein said pipe is disposed within said bed. S

7. The termite system of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said bed is disposed in a channel formed in said building structure.

8. The termite system of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said granular material is blue metal dust.

9. The termite system of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said granular material is sand. The termite system of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said pipe is secured to said building structure. S11. The termite system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said pipe extends substantially entirely along said perimeter. /T O

12. The termite system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a plurality of said pipes is provided, each extending along a section of said perimeter. [R:\LIBLL] 1 1260.doc:GJG:TCW

13. A method of termite proofing a building comprising the steps of: extending a pipe at least partially along and adjacent to a perimeter of said building, said pipe having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports spaced along a length of said pipe, disposing a bed of granular material in relation to said pipe such that said pesticide is dispersed from said outlet ports to said bed, supplying a pesticide into said pipe through said inlet port, and dispensing said pesticide through said outlet ports to said bed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said pipe is extended along the o interior of said perimeter.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein each of a plurality of sprinklers is communicated with a said outlet port.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said bed is abutted with a structure of said building. 15 17. The method of clam 13, wherein said bed is disposed generally beneath said pipe.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said pipe is disposed within said bed.

19. The method of any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein said bed is 20 disposed in a channel formed in said building structure. The method of any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein said granular material is blue metal dust.

21. The method of any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein said granular material is sand. cRA4 5 22. The method of any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein said pipe is secured to said building structure.

23. The method of any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein said pipe is extended substantially entirely along said perimeter. [R:\LIBLL]I 1260.doc:GJG:TCW 8

24. The method of any one of claims 13 to 22, wherein a plurality of said pipes is each extended along a section of said perimeter. A termite proofing system, for termite proofing a building, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of termite proofing a building, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 14 June, 2001 Steven Lawrence Dever Peter Lawrence Dever Patent Attorneys for the Applicants/Nominated Persons SPRUSON FERGUSON *oooo* *ooo g* ooo *o *o *ooo [R:\LIBLLI 1260.doc:GJG:TCW