Patent Application
20200100489
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to bedbug traps and particularly to bedbug traps with carbon dioxide generators.
Bedbugs are an age old problem. Recently, there has been a resurgence of the pest. Bedbugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of because they populate many hidden areas within a room and within clothing and bedding. The only practical way to get rid of bedbugs is to lure them to a trap and then trap them. To that end, numerous bedbug traps have been invented recently. Some examples of such traps are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,808,721; 8,904,701; 8,966,812; 9,220,254; and 9,986,763. All of these devices utilize the fact that bedbugs are attracted to humans (or other warm blooded animals) for food. This attraction involves, heat, carbon dioxide and, sometimes, lactic acid. All humans produce these by-products of life. All of the patents above use heat and carbon dioxide and, as noted, some include lactic acid. The differences between them is how they do that. Most generate carbon dioxide by using carbon dioxide canisters, such as those used in paint ball and other air guns. Heat is generated in a number of ways, such as using a lamp or small electric heater. The main problem with all of them is that they tend to be designed to be hidden. One patent refers to a stigma of having a bedbug infestation and by using a discreet device there will be no embarrassment of having a bedbug infestation. They are designed for the gradual elimination of bedbugs, even while people are living in the infested room. This, of course, is problematic because a small device can only generate limited signals. Moreover, use of one-time use canisters to generate carbon dioxide is expensive and requires frequent changing of the canisters. Finally, using such a device while a user continues to inhabit the room is almost self-defeating because, even if the trap is present, the bedbugs will also be attracted to the people.
The instant invention eliminates these problems. It is a large container system that generates carbon dioxide using inexpensive materials that can be easily replaced. Moreover, it is large enough to generate a larger heat signature, which helps to attract more bedbugs. And finally, it is designed to be used in an empty room. People are not supposed to be in the room while it is in operation to allow it to attract and trap as many of the bedbugs as possible in as short a time as possible.
The device uses a set of stacked containers. The top container holds a quantity of water, sugar and yeast, which is allowed to ferment, thus generating carbon dioxide. The central container holds a small heating pad. The pad not only generates heat to attract the bedbugs, it also heats the water and yeast mixture to aid in the fermentation. A hose with a water trap system brings the generated carbon dioxide from the upper chamber to the bottom chamber. This chamber sits in a container that has a rough exterior and a smooth interior. The user can place diatomaceous earth to aid in their demise in the lowest bowl if desired. Holes, formed around the base of the bottom chamber allow the carbon dioxide to escape into the room, which attracts the bedbugs. The fermentation process also produces the carbon dioxide in a series of “burps”, which also aids in the simulation of breathing. The assembled unit is large and is designed to have a significant impact in a room, thus ensuring the likelihood of trapping as many bedbugs as possible in the shortest amount of time. Finally, the water, sugar and yeast are common household items that are easily and cheaply replenished as needed.
Although not preferred, the unit can be made smaller so that travelers can use one in a hotel room, for example.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly,
As discussed above, the upper container 11 has a top 11a. This top is fit onto the top of the upper container as shown in
At the base of the bedbug trap 10 is the holding container 14. As shown, the lower container 13 fits into the holding container. The outer surface of the lower container 14a has a rough surface (note the rough surface covers the entire outer surface of the container) that allows the bedbugs to climb into the holding container. The inside of the holding container is smooth so that the bedbugs, once in the container 14 are trapped. It is possible to add some powered insecticide, such as diatomaceous earth, to kill the bedbugs quickly. In use, bedbugs are found in both the holding container 14 and in the lower container 13.
After the device has been assembled, sugar/yeast/water mixture has been added and the heating pad is turned on, the operation of the device is automatic. Once the sugar/yeast/water mixture starts to release CO2 the bedbugs are attracted to it. Over time, one simply has to replenish the sugar/yeast/water mixture and to clean out the holding and lower containers.
To assemble the trap, the following steps are needed. First, mix a desired amount of water, sugar and yeast. As shown in the figure, the upper container 11 has two marks on it. One of a one-gallon mark 20 and the second is a two-gallon mark 21. More water and yeast yields more CO2. In the preferred embodiment, two gallons of water at 100° F. mixed with 6 cups of sugar and 3 tablespoons of yeast are used. It is important to measure the levels accurately and to monitor the temperature. When the water reaches 100° F., put the lid 11a with the airlock 17 in place (and filled according to the marks on the airlock) on the upper container. The temperature of the water should be between about 105 and 107 degrees F. to produce optimum levels of CO2. However, a temperature above 100 degrees F. will kill the yeast and stop CO2 production.
Next, attach the hose 16 to the airlock and place the upper container into the middle container 12. As this point, the heating pad 12b is turned on. Note that the hose 16 is already installed in the middle container and runs out the bottom of the middle container as shown in
Next, the lower container 13 is placed in the holding container 14. Note that, if desired, a quantity of diatomaceous earth can be added to the holding container. Then the upper and middle container are placed on the lower container 13, ensuring that the hose 16 extends down into the lower container 13. The trap is now assembled and ready for operation.
Bedbugs are attracted to the device and will climb the outer surface of the holding container 13. Once inside, the slick surface keeps them within the holding container. Bedbugs may also enter the lower container as well. All trapped bedbugs can be disposed of and the trap parts cleaned and reset. In this way, bedbugs can be conveniently and assuredly trapped and destroyed.
In the preferred embodiment, the containers are large (up to five gallons for the top container). However, the device may be made in any size. For example a small travel unit with a top container of the quart size can be used, if desired, in a hotel room, for example. Although not as effective as the larger units, it can help and, if nothing else, can provide peace of mind.
The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.
