Barrier Against Crawling Pests

Abstract

A barrier for preventing a crawling pest from climbing up furniture includes a disk which is placed under a furniture leg. A tube surrounds the furniture leg and sits on the disk, and the tube consists of a material which is unscalable by the crawling pest. The inner surface of the tube and/or the portion of the disk surface within the tube can be provided with adhesive to trap the crawling pest if it manages to climb up the tube.

1 . A barrier for a species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects, said barrier comprising a tubular member adapted to receive a furniture leg, and said tubular member having opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface, said outer peripheral surface being unscalable by said species. 
   
   
       2 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member has a longitudinal axis extending from one of said ends to the other of said ends, said axis being substantially linear. 
   
   
       3 . The barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said tubular member has a substantially constant cross section. 
   
   
       4 . The barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said tubular member has an end face at one of said open ends, said end face being substantially flat and located in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis. 
   
   
       5 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said outer peripheral surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polycarbonate, and siliconized plastic. 
   
   
       6 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member has an inner peripheral surface, said inner peripheral surface being provided with adhesive designed to bond said species to said tubular member. 
   
   
       7 . The barrier of  claim 6 , wherein said outer peripheral surface is substantially free of adhesive. 
   
   
       8 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       9 . A barrier for a species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects, said barrier comprising:
 a base adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and to hold a furniture leg at a level above the supporting surface; and   a tubular member designed to rest on said base and receive the furniture leg, said tubular member having opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface, and said outer peripheral surface being unscalable by said species.   
   
   
       10 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said tubular member has a longitudinal axis extending from one of said ends to the other of said ends, said axis being substantially linear. 
   
   
       11 . The barrier of  claim 10 , wherein said tubular member has a substantially constant cross section and is formed in one-piece arrangement with said base. 
   
   
       12 . The barrier of  claim 10 , wherein said tubular member has an end face at one of said open ends, said end face being substantially flat and located in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis. 
   
   
       13 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said outer peripheral surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polycarbonate, and siliconized plastic. 
   
   
       14 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said tubular member has an inner peripheral surface, said inner peripheral surface being provided with adhesive designed to bond said species to said tubular member. 
   
   
       15 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said outer peripheral surface is substantially free of adhesive. 
   
   
       16 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said tubular member is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       17 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said base comprises a palpably resilient material. 
   
   
       18 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said base is provided with adhesive designed to bond said tubular member to said base and to permit removal of said tubular member from said base while maintaining said tubular member substantially free of damage. 
   
   
       19 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said tubular member has a passage extending from one of said ends to the other of said ends, said base being provided with adhesive arranged to be in alignment with said passage when said tubular member rests on said base with one of said ends contacting said base, and said adhesive being designed to bond said species to said base. 
   
   
       20 . The barrier of  claim 9 , wherein said base has an upwardly directed surface which faces said tubular member when said tubular member rests on said base, said base further having an outer periphery and a lip at said outer periphery projecting beyond said upwardly directed surface to confine said tubular member. 
   
   
       21 . An arrangement for inhibiting access to an elevated portion of an article of furniture by a species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects, said arrangement comprising:
 a leg supporting said elevated portion and having a lower end; and   a barrier for said species, said barrier including a tubular member which encircles said lower end of said leg, and said tubular member having opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface, said outer peripheral surface being unscalable by said species.   
   
   
       22 . The arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein said tubular member has an inner peripheral surface, said inner peripheral surface being provided with adhesive designed to bond said species to said tubular member. 
   
   
       23 . The arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein said tubular member is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       24 . The arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein said barrier further comprises a base designed to be placed on a supporting surface and to hold said leg at a level above the supporting surface, said lower end of said leg resting on said base. 
   
   
       25 . The arrangement of  claim 24 , wherein said base comprises a palpably resilient material. 
   
   
       26 . The barrier of  claim 24 , wherein said base is provided with adhesive designed to bond said tubular member to said base and to permit removal of said tubular member from said base while maintaining said tubular member substantially free of damage. 
   
   
       27 . The barrier of  claim 24 , wherein said base has an outer periphery and a lip at said outer periphery projecting beyond said surface to confine said tubular member. 
   
   
       28 . A kit containing at least one barrier for inhibiting access to an elevated portion of an article of furniture by a species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects, said barrier comprising:
 a base adapted to be placed on a supporting surface and to hold a furniture leg at a level above the supporting surface; and   a tubular member designed to rest on said base and receive the furniture leg, said tubular member having opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface, and said outer peripheral surface being unscalable by said species.   
   
   
       29 . A method of inhibiting access to an elevated portion of an article of furniture by a species of the group consisting of arachnids and crawling insects, said article of furniture having a leg which supports said elevated portion and has a lower end, and said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tubular member having opposite open ends and an outer peripheral surface unscalable by said species; and   placing said lower end of said leg in said tubular member.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the steps of providing a base, placing said base on a surface and positioning said tubular member on said base. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of bonding said tubular member to said base and removing said tubular member from said base while maintaining said tubular member substantially free of damage.