Termite shield

Abstract

A termite shield for protecting wooden frame structures comprising a cellulous sheet impregnated with a non repellant insecticide. The shield is placed between the sill/mudplate and the foundation and extends upward between the siding and interior space.

Claims

1. A termite barrier comprising a sheet of cellulous material impregnated with a non repellant termiticide placed between a sill/mudplate and foundation of a wooden frame structure.

2. The termite barrier according to claim 1 wherein said non repellant termiticide comprises fipronil.

3. The termite barrier according to claim 2 wherein said sheet is seventeen inches wide and three sixteenths inches thick, and is provided with preformed perforations at one and one half inches from one side and five inches from the said one side.

4. A wooden frame structure having a termite shield comprising: a. a foundation (202); b. a sill/mud plate (201) comprising a wooden 24 having an inside surface and an outside surface resting on said foundation; c. an outer wall of brick veneer or siding (204) supported by said foundation; and d. a non repellant termiticide impregnated cellulous sheet (100) having a first wall (101) adjacent the inside surface of said sill/mudplate, a base (102) connected to said first wall and placed between said sill/mudplate (201) and said foundation (202), and a second wall (103) connected to said base and extending upward behind said outer wall (204).

5. The termite barrier according to claim 4 wherein said non repellant termiticide comprises fipronil.

6. The termite barrier according to claim 4 wherein said sheet is seventeen inches wide and three sixteenths inches thick, and is provided with preformed perforations at one and one half inches from one side and five inches from the said one side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective of the cellulous material which is impregnated with the non-repellant termiticide.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the termite shield in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(3) For a detailed description of the preferred embodiment the reader is directed to the attached Fig.s in which like components are given like reference numerals.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the termite shield 100 comprising a sheet of cellulous material folded to present a first wall 101 which is about 1 high; a base 102 which is about 3 across and a second wall 103 which is about 12 inches tall. The cellulous material is impregnated with a termticide which attracts insects, especially termites, and poisons them when they attempt to eat the cellulous material. A preferred termtiticie is fipronil.

(5) Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that disrupts the insect central nervous system by blocking GABA-gated chloride channels and glutamate-gated chloride (GluCl) channels, resulting in central nervous system toxicity. This causes hyperexcitation of contaminated insects' nerves and muscles. Specificity of fipronil on insects may come from a better efficacy on GABA receptor, but also because GluCl channels do not exist in mammals. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,940.

(6) The termiticide should be of the non repellant type so that the termites will eat at the impregnated cellulous material. Fipronil serves as a good bait toxin not only because of its slow action, but also because most, if not all, of the target insects do not find it offensive or repulsive.

(7) The walls 101 and 103 and base 102 of the shield may be preformed by perforated folds but the shield is shipped in rolls for ease of application. Typically the shield is shipped as a sheet approximately 3/16 thick17 wide and 48 in length, or 3/16 thick17 wide continuous on a roll. The preformed perforated folds may be deleted if the material is to be used in more general construction.

(8) Referring now to FIG. 2 the installed product is shown in a wooden frame structure. The shield 100 is placed with the base 102 between the sill/mudplate 201 and foundation 202 and first wall 101 to the inside of the structure. The second wall 103 extends upward in the air space 203 of the brick veneer 204. Note that the walls and base fit snugly about the 24 stud which is used as the sill/mudplate.