Elastomeric Membrane for Insect Bait Station Durability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect bait stations are sensitive to outdoor environments, such as sunlight, dust, rain, and cold, leading to degradation, loss of elasticity, and difficulty for insect probes to penetrate the membrane, while also being impermeable to odorant molecules and susceptible to microbial attack.
Innovation Solution
A durable insect bait station featuring an elastomeric membrane with a thickness of less than 100 microns and Shore hardness of less than 60 A, composed of materials like polydimethyl siloxanes or silicone rubber, which is permeable to volatile components, resistant to UV exposure, and allows easy penetration by insect probes, along with a bait core containing a sugar source and toxin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a membrane is used to protect the bait from environmental degradation, then resistance to sunlight, rain, and dust is improved, but the membrane becomes impermeable to odorant molecules and difficult for insect probes to penetrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the membrane's physical properties - reducing thickness to less than 100 microns and hardness to less than 60 Shore A - to balance protection with permeability and penetrability. This allows the membrane to remain protective while enabling odorant diffusion and probe penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the elastomeric membrane with specific elastomeric materials (silicone rubber, polydimethyl siloxanes, SEBS, or SIBS) that inherently provide both environmental resistance and the required permeability characteristics, resolving the contradiction between protection and functionality.
2Strength
If the membrane is made harder to improve durability, then resistance to environmental factors is improved, but insect probes cannot easily penetrate the membrane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the membrane's hardness parameter to be less than 60 Shore A and thickness to be less than 100 microns. This optimization ensures the membrane is durable enough to resist environmental factors while remaining soft and thin enough for insect probes to penetrate easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using a thin elastomeric membrane less than 100 microns thick that provides environmental protection while maintaining flexibility for probe penetration, rather than using a thick rigid barrier.
3Ease of operation
If the membrane is made thinner to improve probe penetration, then ease of penetration is improved, but resistance to environmental degradation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing both thickness (less than 100 microns) and material composition (elastomeric materials with specific Shore A hardness less than 60) simultaneously. This dual parameter optimization ensures the membrane remains thin enough for easy probe penetration while the elastomeric material provides sufficient environmental resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by selecting specific elastomeric materials that provide enhanced environmental resistance even at reduced thickness, allowing the membrane to be thin for probe penetration while maintaining durability against UV, rain, and other environmental factors.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a membrane is applied to prevent bait loss, then resistance to rain erosion is improved, but the membrane becomes susceptible to microbial attack and hydrolysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by selecting elastomeric materials (silicone rubber, polydimethyl siloxanes, SEBS, or SIBS) that inherently possess resistance to microbial attack and hydrolysis, while still providing rain erosion protection. This material selection resolves the contradiction between rain protection and chemical/biological stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved resistance to rain erosion, reduced sagging, enhanced microbial resistance, and easier insect probe penetration, maintaining bait effectiveness and attracting insects effectively while withstanding harsh environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components
Implementation Method 2
the membrane configured to be resistant to degradation caused by outdoor environmental conditions and/or harsh indoor environmental conditions such as ultraviolet (UV) exposure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention discloses devices and methods for a durable insect bait station. Such devices including a membrane for providing access to the bait station, the membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components, the membrane configured to allow easy insect-probe penetration, and to be resistant to degradation caused by outdoor environmental conditions and/or harsh indoor environmental conditions. Preferably, the membrane has at least one inclusion. Preferably, the membrane has at least one perforation. Preferably, the device further includes a bait core for providing bait to the bait station, the bait core including a sugar-source bait, at least one oral and/or contact insect toxin, and a solvent, wherein the bait core is configured to be substantially in direct contact with the membrane. Most preferably, the bait core further includes an odorant. Most preferably, the bait core further includes a fibrous material as a support for the membrane.