Patent Application
20050039380
The present invention relates generally to insect exterminators, and, more specifically, to an insect swatter.
A typical insect swatter, commonly referred to as a fly swatter, has a long handle with a proximal end configured for being gripped by a person, and a distal end at which is secured a generally rectangular, perforated wire or plastic mesh. In operation, the swatter is manually moved through the air for striking the insect with the mesh. However, the swatter must be moved very quickly in order to swat fast-reacting flies for example, or the fly will escape. The relatively large swatter mesh is apparently detectable by the insect either through its vision or by sensing the air being displaced as the mesh is moved.
If the swatter is moved quickly enough, the insect can be stricken which typically results in an offensive stain being created upon squashing of the insect.
An improved insect swatter is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/331,851, filed Oct. 31, 1994, still pending. That insect swatter utilizes a long rubber band attached to the distal end of a long gun barrel or rod that can be stretched to a trigger latch at the opposite end of the rod at a handgrip.
Since the lash is elastic, it is able to store energy when stretched, and release that energy against the insect when it contracts during the whipping process. The elasticity of the lash also affects the effective striking range of the lash.
Continued development testing of the insect swatter has examined the effectiveness of the swatter, and uncovered problems therewith.
For example, short and stiff elastic lashes are not preferred since they have limited range and limited, if not impractical, ability to swat insects before detection. Long and resilient elastic lashes, on the other hand, have greater striking range, yet less available swatting energy, and are significantly weaker.
Furthermore, weak elastic lashes are more readily worn or damaged than strong lashes, and more quickly lose their swatting effectiveness. The typical rubber composition used in commercially available rubber bands is subject to environmental degradation which reduces the resiliency or stiffness of the bands, and the effectiveness thereof.
In view of these competing affects it is not practical to optimize elastic lash selection by merely choosing a band length and cross section for the specific size of the intended rod. And, custom made bands merely add to the cost of the swatter, and reduce the convenience thereof.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an insect swatter requiring reduced skill for its use, reducing stains from the successful swatting of the insect, and including a simple and effective elastic lash.
An insect swatter includes an elongate rod with an elastic lash fixedly joined to a distal end thereof. The lash incudes a pair of annular bands knotted together for being stretched from the rod distal end to adjacent a proximal end of the rod so that release of the lash results in spontaneous contraction thereof for swatting the insect. In an exemplary embodiment, the swatter is in the form of a pistol, with the lash extending from the distal end of the rod to a latch operated by a trigger. Aiming the rod toward the insect and pulling the trigger releases the lash for swatting the insect.
The invention, in accordance with preferred and exemplary embodiments, together with further objects and advantages thereof, is more particularly described in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Illustrated in
The rod 12 has a proximal end 12a for being hand-held, and in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The rod 12 has a distal end 12b, opposite to the proximal end 12a, which is aimed during operation at or toward the insect 16. An elastic lash 18 in the exemplary form of a conventional annular rubber band has a proximal end 18a fixedly joined to the rod distal end 12b which retains the lash 18 to the rod 12. The lash 18 has an opposite, distal end 18b which is used for swatting or killing the insect 16.
As shown in
An exemplary method of using the swatter 10 includes manually stretching the lash 18 by pulling the distal end 18b thereof generally parallel to the rod 12 and adjacent to the rod proximal end 12a which stores energy in the lash 18. This is shown in phantom line in
In its simplest form, the rod 12 and the attached lash 18 form a whip. The rod 12 is used for manually aiming the swatter 10 at the insect 16 so that the energy stored in the stretched lash 18 causes the lash 18 to accelerate from the rod proximal end 12a, generally parallel along the rod 12 toward the rod distal end 12b, and continue to travel in the same direction away from the rod distal end 12b for impacting the insect 16.
The whipping action of the lash 18 is shown in three positions in
The lash 18, like a whip cord, is completely flexible, not rigid, but unlike a whip cord, it is also elastically stretchable. It may have any suitable cord-like configuration, such as the rubber band disclosed in the preferred embodiment. In this way, energy may be conveniently stored in the stretched lash 18 by stretching it in one direction, and then the energy is released which carries the lash 18 along the line-of-sight in the direction opposite to the stretching direction thereof to accurately hit the insect 16. The striking energy includes the energy stored in the stretched lash 18, as well as any additional energy due to the whipping effect. The lash 18 is therefore not an expendable, one-shot projectile, but remains with the rod 12 for repeated use.
Since the lash 18 itself stores the energy used for moving the lash 18, it is relatively easy to use and does not require the fast hand action required of a typical fly swatter. Whipping of the lash 18 is spontaneous and occurs within a fraction of a second for quickly swatting the insect 16 well before its ability to react thereto. Furthermore, the lash 18 is relatively small as compared to conventional fly swatters, and is less visible by the insect 16 compared thereto, and moves less air than a conventional fly swatter which reduces the ability for the insect 16 to sense the striking action of the lash 18.
Yet further, the energy imparted by the whipping lash 18 against the insect 16 is confined to a very small point which in most cases immediately kills the insect 16 with little or no stain therefrom due to the striking thereof.
In its simplest form, the lash 18 may be manually stretched and held at its distal end 18b adjacent to the rod proximal end 12a and then manually released for swatting the insect 16. However, in order to add additional convenience and accuracy in using the swatter 10, it preferably further includes a latch or hook 20 as shown in more particularity in
The latch 20 may simply be in the form of a straight, smooth bar having an enlarged proximal end 20a through which extends a latch pin 22a for pivotally joining the latch 20 to the handgrip 14 adjacent to the rod 5 proximal end 12a for releasably latching the lash distal end 18b thereto. The latch 20 is joined to the top of the handgrip 14 in a suitable cavity therein.
The latch 20 is shown in
Means including a trigger 24 are operatively joined to the latch 20 for selectively releasing the latch 20 from its cocked position upon pulling the trigger 24 rearwardly to release the lash distal end 18b for swatting the insect 16 therewith. Shown also in
In its fired position, the latch 20 is inclined forwardly toward the rod distal end 12b for allowing the lash distal end 18b to slip or slide off the latch 20 as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the latch 20 includes an elongate latch cam 20b which extends generally radially outwardly from the latch proximal end 20a and the latch pin 22a toward the trigger proximal end 24a. And, the trigger 24 includes a complementary, elongate trigger cam 24b extending generally radially outwardly from the trigger proximal end 24a and trigger pin 22b therethrough, with the two cams 20b,24b being engaged in the cocked positions for preventing rotation of the latch 20 as shown in
When the trigger 24 is pulled rearwardly as shown in
As shown in
In
Other conventional types of return springs may be used such as tension or compression springs disposed on suitable sides of the trigger 24 to provide the same returning force if desired.
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
If the trigger 24 is in its released position, cocking of the thumbgrip 28 causes the latch cam 20b to temporarily displace the trigger 24 upon sliding against the underside of the trigger cam 24b. When both the latch 20 and the trigger 24 are returned to their cocked positions, the lash 18 may be reloaded or re-affixed to the latch 20 in preparation for the next shot thereof.
As indicated above, the lash 18 is in the exemplary form of a rubber band, with the lash proximal end 18a forming a first loop as shown in more particularity in
As shown in
In order to replace a worn or broken lash 18, the worn lash 18 may be suitably removed from the keyhole slot 30, with the replacement lash 18 being initially manually stretched so that its cross section is narrower than the rectangular portion of the keyhole slot 30 for allowing it to be inserted through the rectangular portion and into the cylindrical portion of the keyhole slot 30 wherein it is retained after being unstretched.
As shown in
Accordingly, in order to use the swatter 10, the thumbgrip 28 is cocked to position the latch 20 in its cocked position, with the trigger 24 also being positioned in its cocked position as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the cocked length L2 is at least three times the lash unstretched length L1 which not only provides substantial striking energy within the lash 18, but also provides a substantial amount of striking range R which is the distance between the insect 16 and the rod distal end 12b. Of course, the striking range R is at least as large as the lash unstretched length L1, and in actuality it is larger than the unstretched length L1 since the kinetic energy in the striking lash 18 causes the lash 18 to stretch in the opposite direction from the rod 12 toward the insect 16 at which it is aimed.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the lash 18 may be in the form of a common rubber band having an unstretched length L1 of 17 cm with a 2 mm square cross section. The cocked or stretched length L2 of the lash 18 is about 60 cm which provides a substantial striking range R for the swatter of about 38 cm, which is greater than twice the unstretched length L1.
The swatter 10 may be manufactured from any suitable material. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the Figures, all components of the swatter 10 may be formed of conventional molded plastic. Plastic is preferred for the trigger 24 since the integral return spring 26 may be formed of suitably thin plastic for providing an effective elastic return force for the trigger 24. In other embodiments, the rod 12 and handgrip 14 may be formed of wood or metal as desired.
Although the swatter 10 is illustrated in the Figures as being in the form of a long barreled pistol, it may take any suitable form including that of a rifle or other analogous shooting implement so that the stretched lash 18 may be suitably aimed at the insect 16 within an effective striking range R thereof for ensuring undetected swatting thereof.
As indicated above, continued development of the insect swatter has uncovered problems in optimizing the exemplary rubber band used for the lash. If the lash is too short or too stiff, the effective striking range is too small, and the ability to swat insects is impaired.
If the lash is too long or too resilient, the striking range may be extended, but at the expense of the ability to impart sufficient energy for the whipping action and striking effectiveness.
Accordingly,
The individual rubber bands 36,38 may have any conventional composition, and are preferably standard rubber bands commercially available at common stationery supply stores. In this way, the bands need not be custom made to size, cross section, and material composition for the specifically sized rod 12, which reduces cost thereof; and makes replacement bands readily available.
In the preferred embodiment, the two bands 36,38 are identical in size, cross section, and material composition, and have equal lengths to position the knot midway between both the nominal, unstretched combined length thereof, and the cocked length shown in
The two bands 36,38 are shown being assembled together in
The duplex lash 34 illustrated in
The bands 36,38 may have a standard size such as being about 9 cm long with a rectangular cross section of about 1.6 mm by 3.2 mm. The combined length of the knotted bands is about 18 cm, which is about the same as the 17 cm length of the exemplary single lash 18. And, both the original lash 18 and the duplex lash 34 are stretchable to about 60 cm, but with correspondingly different stiffnesses which affects their whipping performance.
As shown in
The relatively small first band 36 terminating in the knot 40 uses the rod itself for guidance during swatting, and the second band 38 follows the travel of the knot 40 from which it extends. The duplex lash therefore enjoys accuracy of direction or firing, without the knot 40 providing any obstruction in travel.
A particular advantage of the two bands joined together is their improved cooperation not available in individual bands alone, irrespective of size. Each rubber band is a spring having a respective spring constant or stiffness. By joining together in series end-to-end the two bands 36,38, the resulting spring constant or stiffness thereof is the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual stiffnesses. In other words for identical rubber bands 36,38 joined in series, the combined stiffness thereof is one-half the stiffness of either band.
Accordingly, the combined two bands 36,38 enjoy double their individual lengths, yet with half the spring rate or stiffness of each band. The two bands can also be stretched to double the stretching length of each band alone.
When the duplex lash 34 is assembled with the insect swatter 10 as shown in
Each of the two bands 36,38 may be stretched to substantially its maximum capability, with the combined stiffness thereof being half that of each band alone. The inherent resilience or elasticity of each of the bands combines upon firing of the swatter. The initially stretched bands contract spontaneously as they are hurled forward by the potential energy stored therein corresponding to the respective stiffness thereof, and the whipping reaction re-stretches the bands in the forward direction for achieving a large striking range, with substantial impacting energy. The striking range is therefore extended due to the half stiffness of the combined bands.
Accordingly, the joining together of the two bands in a string improves performance of the insect swatter, not possible by an individual band alone; nor possible with two bands joined together in parallel. The combined stiffness of two bands in parallel is twice that of the individual bands, and without increased striking range; and does not enjoy the benefits of the differently operating series bands.
Although two identical bands are preferred, it is contemplated that two differently sized bands could be used to advantage in forming the resulting duplex lash. And, it is also contemplated that three or more bands could be joined together in series, if desired.
An additional advantage of using multiple bands in series is that the individual bands could be formed differently from each other to have different size, cross section, and material composition.
Development testing of the duplex lash configuration supports its extraordinary effectiveness in swatting and killing ordinary house flies, typically with one shot due to the easy aiming of the device. The use of the trigger adds aiming accuracy and spontaneity to the firing process not available in the manual firing of the lash without the trigger.
The enhanced striking range of the series bands improves effectiveness of the swatter, with a suitable amount of stiffness in the two bands for whipping the lash and imparting commensurate swatting energy even for the biggest of ordinary house flies.
And, the use of ubiquitous rubber bands eliminates the need for special size lashes or custom order lashes, and permits acceptable swatter performance by the simple knotting together of two ordinary rubber bands.
While there have been described herein what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein, and it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is the invention as defined and differentiated in the following claims, in which I claim:
