Chemical agent delivery device and method of using same

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed through which pesticides, vitamins, food, and other chemical agents can be delivered to a target in an efficient and safe manner. Chemical agent delivery is preferably achieved by encapsulating a desired chemical agent and causing the capsules to contact a target with sufficient force to cause the capsule to burst, delivering the chemical agent to the target. A pneumatic device, such as a paintball gun, is preferably used to deliver the capsule to the target. Capsules can be loaded into a magazine or other holding chamber and fired from the pneumatic device utilizing force from a compressed gas source contained in or attached to the pneumatic device. Alternatively, capsules can be delivered to targets by other means, including dropping the capsules from an aircraft. Capsules which contain gelatinous material including both an attractant and a pesticide can be used in accordance with the invention to create a bait station.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pesticide delivery system for forming a bait station, comprising: 
 a flexible material formed to create a spherical vessel;    at least one pesticide and at least one attractant stored within said vessel; and,    a pneumatic gun capable of firing said vessel at a target, thereby delivering said pesticide to said target.    
     
     
         2 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is biodegradable.  
     
     
         3 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein said flexible material is gelatin.  
     
     
         4 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said spherical vessel has a diameter greater than 0.68 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein said spherical vessel has a diameter of 0.73 inches.  
     
     
         6 . A pesticide delivery system, comprising: 
 a spherical gelatinous vessel with a diameter greater than 0.68 inches;    at least one pesticide stored within said vessel; and,    a pneumatic gun capable of firing said vessel at a target.    
     
     
         7 . A pneumatic, encapsulated chemical agent delivery device, comprising: 
 a reservoir capable of holding at least one encapsulated chemical agent;    a first cylindrical chamber, with a diameter greater than 0.68 inches, operably connected to said reservoir and into which at least one encapsulated chemical agent can be loaded for delivery to a target;    a compressed gas source operably coupled to a first end of said first cylindrical chamber;    a compressed gas release mechanism operably coupled to said compressed gas source; and,    a second cylindrical chamber, of a diameter greater than 0.68 inches, operably coupled to a second end of said first cylindrical chamber, and through which said encapsulated chemical agent travels prior to delivery to a target.    
     
     
         8 . The pneumatic, encapsulated chemical agent delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein said first cylindrical chamber and said second cylindrical chamber are portions of a common cylindrical chamber.  
     
     
         9 . A chemical agent delivery system, comprising: 
 a flexible material formed to create a vessel;    at least one beneficial or detrimental chemical agent stored within said vessel; and,    a delivery device capable of delivering said vessel to said target, whereby said vessel is caused to burst upon impact to deliver said chemical agent to said target in a localized fashion.    
     
     
         10 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said flexible material is comprised of a biodegradable material.  
     
     
         11 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein said flexible material is gelatin.  
     
     
         12 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said flexible material contains a substance that makes said flexible material unpalatable.  
     
     
         13 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said flexible material allows said chemical agent to be slowly released from said vessel.  
     
     
         14 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein said flexible material is coated with a biodegradable, nonporous material.  
     
     
         15 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said chemical agent is a pesticide and pest attractant.  
     
     
         16 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said chemical agent is a pesticide.  
     
     
         17 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said chemical agent is an insect repellant.  
     
     
         18 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said delivery device is a pneumatic delivery device.  
     
     
         19 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein said pneumatic delivery device is a paintball gun.  
     
     
         20 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 19 , wherein said paintball gun is capable of delivering vessels of a size greater than 0.68 caliber.  
     
     
         21 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 20 , wherein said paintball gun is capable of delivering vessels of 0.73 caliber.  
     
     
         22 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said delivery device is mounted to a vehicle.  
     
     
         23 . The chemical agent delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein said delivery device is an aircraft from which said vessel is dropped.  
     
     
         24 . A chemical agent delivery method, comprising: 
 forming a vessel from a flexible material;    filling said vessel with at least one chemical agent designed to be beneficial or detrimental to a target;    sealing said vessel;    ejecting said vessel from a delivery device; and,    causing said vessel to contact a target.    
     
     
         25 . A chemical agent delivery method, comprising: 
 forming a vessel from a flexible material;    filling said vessel with at least one chemical agent;    sealing said vessel; and,    dropping said vessel from a height sufficient to cause said vessel to burst on impact.    
     
     
         26 . The chemical agent delivery means of  claim 25 , in which said vessel is dropped from an aircraft.