Composite Termite Barrier

Abstract

A composite termite barrier ( 10 ) comprising a mesh sheet ( 13 ) and two membranes ( 15, 25 ) bonded to opposed sides of the mesh sheet to provide structural rigidity. In the arrangement illustrated, the mesh sheet ( 13 ) is woven wire mesh comprising strands ( 17 ) cooperating to define openings ( 19 ) in the mesh. The mesh sheet ( 13 ) functions as an active termite barrier; that is, the mesh sheet is configured to exclude the passage of termites therethrough, and the membranes ( 15, 25 ) provide support for the sheet to prevent it from distorting to an extent that it would no longer provide an effective barrier to termites.

1 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier of  claim 23 , wherein the contact between the first membrane and the second membrane resist distortion of the mesh in a manner which would cause one or more mesh openings therein to change in size or configuration to permit the passage of target pests through the mesh. 
     
     
         2 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the mesh sheeting comprises woven mesh, and wherein the distortion comprises displacement between warp and weft strands of the woven mesh at points of intersection therebetween causing the adjacent mesh openings to change in size or configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 2  wherein the first and second membranes are adapted to resist distortion of the mesh by constraining the warp strands and weft strands from displacement with respect to each other at points of intersection therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23  wherein each of the first and second membrane comprises a continuous film. 
     
     
         9 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 8  wherein each of the first and second membrane comprises plastic sheeting. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 9  wherein the first and second membranes are composed of the same material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23  wherein each of the first and second membrane is bonded to the mesh sheeting. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23  wherein each of the first and second membrane is disposed within the confines of the mesh sheeting whereby there is a band of exposed mesh along at least one edge of the mesh sheeting. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23  wherein the composite pest barrier is provided as a roll of pest barrier material. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of installing a composite pest barrier in a building structure, the method comprising:
 providing a portion of pest barrier material comprising:
 mesh sheeting having mesh openings of a size adapted to prevent the passage of pests therethrough; 
 a first membrane attached on one side of the mesh sheeting; and 
 a second membrane attached on an opposing side of the mesh sheeting, with the first and second membranes extending sufficiently into the mesh openings so as to be in contact with each other within the mesh openings to provide reinforcement for the mesh sheeting, and 
   establishing an adhesive bond between part of the building structure and at least one of the first and second membranes.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23 , wherein establishing an adhesive bond between part of the building structure and at least one of the first and second membranes comprises gunning an adhesive from a cartridge using an applicator gun. 
     
     
         28 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23 , wherein establishing an adhesive bond between part of the building structure and at least one of the first and second membranes comprises spraying an adhesive. 
     
     
         29 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23 , wherein the adhesive bond is achieved with an adhesive selected from the group consisting of:
 solvent based polymer adhesives;   PVC;   polyurethane; and   acrylic based adhesives.   
     
     
         30 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 23  wherein each of the first and second membranes is of a thickness in the range between about 40 microns and 500 microns. 
     
     
         31 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 2  wherein the woven mesh comprises wire strands and wherein the wire strands are less than or equal to 0.18 mm in diameter at spacings of less than or equal to 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The method of installing a composite pest barrier according to  claim 2  wherein the woven mesh presents an array of peaks and wherein the membrane is attached to at least some of the peaks. 
     
     
         33 . A pest barrier system installed in a building structure, the pest barrier comprising mesh sheeting adapted to prevent the passage of target pests therethrough and a membrane applied to one side of the mesh sheeting to resist distortion of the mesh in a manner which would cause one or more mesh openings therein to change in size or configuration to permit the passage of target pests through the mesh, the membrane presenting an exterior surface opposed to the mesh sheeting, the exterior surface of the membrane being adhesively bonded to a surface of the building structure. 
     
     
         34 . The pest barrier system according to  claim 33  wherein the membrane is of a thickness in the range between about 40 microns and 500 microns. 
     
     
         35 . The pest barrier system according to  claim 33  wherein there is a further membrane applied to the other side of the mesh sheeting. 
     
     
         36 . The pest barrier system according to  claim 35  wherein each membrane is of a thickness in the range between about 40 microns and 500 microns.