How Chemical Additives Boost the Effectiveness of Rodent Poisons
A 1953 chemical invention that combines 2-acyl 1,3-indandione with EDTA to create a more effective rodenticide.
Original patent title: “Rodenticidal compositions comprising a 2-acyl 1, 3-indandione and an ethylenediaminetetraacetate”
A 1953 chemical invention that combines 2-acyl 1,3-indandione with EDTA to create a more effective rodenticide. Granted to Morton Chemical Co in 1959 with 2 claims and 4 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a chemical mixture designed to kill rodents more efficiently. It combines an alkali metal salt of 2-acyl 1,3-indandione, which acts as the toxic agent, with an alkali metal salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The EDTA acts as a stabilizing or enhancing agent within the composition. By mixing these two specific components, the composition aims to improve the lethality or stability of the poison when ingested by rodents.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover rodenticides that do not use the specific combination of 2-acyl 1,3-indandione and EDTA
- Does not cover mechanical traps or non-chemical methods of rodent control
- Does not cover the use of EDTA for non-rodenticidal purposes such as water softening or medical chelation therapy
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The invention recognizes that adding a chelating agent like EDTA to a specific indandione-based toxin can improve its performance, likely by preventing the degradation of the active ingredient or enhancing its bioavailability.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Historical rodenticide formulations from the 1950s
Chemical pest control products using indandione derivatives
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents mid-20th-century efforts to refine chemical pest control. It highlights the use of chemical additives to stabilize or potentiate active ingredients, a common strategy in the development of agricultural and household pesticides during that era.
Filed
February 11, 1953
Granted
March 31, 1959
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The specific chemistry described here has largely been superseded by newer generations of anticoagulants and different classes of rodenticides. Modern pest control companies focus on safer, more targeted compounds that minimize environmental impact.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the development of chemical pest control standards in the 1950s. It reflects a period where chemical innovation was the primary driver for managing rodent populations in agricultural and urban settings.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a chemical mixture designed to kill rodents more efficiently. It combines an alkali metal salt of 2-acyl 1,3-indandione, which acts as the toxic agent, with an alkali metal salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The EDTA acts as a stabilizing or enhancing agent within the composition. By mixing these two specific components, the composition aims to improve the lethality or stability of the poison when ingested by rodents.
The clever bit
The invention recognizes that adding a chelating agent like EDTA to a specific indandione-based toxin can improve its performance, likely by preventing the degradation of the active ingredient or enhancing its bioavailability.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover rodenticides that do not use the specific combination of 2-acyl 1,3-indandione and EDTA
- Does not cover mechanical traps or non-chemical methods of rodent control
- Does not cover the use of EDTA for non-rodenticidal purposes such as water softening or medical chelation therapy
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
14/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$7K – $21K
Midpoint $13K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Morton, S. (1959). How Chemical Additives Boost the Effectiveness of Rodent Poisons (U.S. Patent No. 2,880,132). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2880132/tetracycline
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Chemical Additives Boost the Effectiveness of Rodent Poisons cover?
A 1953 chemical invention that combines 2-acyl 1,3-indandione with EDTA to create a more effective rodenticide.
Who owns patent US 2880132?
Morton Chemical Co owns this patent, granted in 1959.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2880132 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents mid-20th-century efforts to refine chemical pest control. It highlights the use of chemical additives to stabilize or potentiate active ingredients, a common strategy in the development of agricultural and household pesticides during that era.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover rodenticides that do not use the specific combination of 2-acyl 1,3-indandione and EDTA
Patent monitoring