This invention relates generally to insect control devices and, more particularly, to a insecticide spraying apparatus for controlling flying insects within a closed structure having at least one open side movable between open and closed configurations.
Using a garage adjacent or connected to a residence as space for entertainment or relaxation is becoming more common. For instance, an overhead garage door may be raised to expose the space to natural sunlight and outdoor air. Sometimes, a screened wall may be used to reduce entry of flying insects into the space. Of course, other partially enclosed spaces having French doors, single pedestrian doors, or the like may also be opened and closed to provide a space with access to the outdoors. Unfortunately, attempting to have a home-like space in a pseudo-outdoor environment is made more difficult unless the presence of flies or other flying insects are controlled. Of course, it is also desirable to control flying insects even when a an outdoor enclosure is being used in a traditional manner, such as a garage or barn.
Various devices are known in the art or have been proposed for trapping and killing flies in an enclosed environment. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices are not configured to spray insecticide within the enclosed area on a timer basis or based on other conditions, such as only when doors are closed so as to trap the insects before the spraying begins.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a flying insect spraying apparatus that may be mounted within a selectively enclosed space and actuated to spray insecticide therein. Further, it would be desirable to have a flying insect spraying apparatus that sprays a radially distributed insecticide at predetermined times so as to control fly populations within the enclosed space. In addition, it would be desirable to have a flying insect spraying apparatus that can be configured to dispense insecticide only when a door is closed and the space is clear of people.
A flying insect spray apparatus according to the present invention includes a casing having upper and lower portions that define an interior area and may be selectively opened and closed. The casing may be mounted to a wall or ceiling of an enclosed structure such as a garage or barn. A reservoir configured to hold an insecticide is positioned in the interior area, the reservoir having an outlet such as a hose. A pump is positioned in the interior area and electrically connected to the reservoir and configured to cause the insecticide to be urged from the reservoir when the pump is electrically actuated. The outlet is in fluid communication with a plurality of nozzles spaced apart radially about a dispensing member such that the insecticide is dispersed in a 360 degree radius of the casing. The spray apparatus includes a controller electrically connected to the pump that includes a timer, the controller configured to actuate the pump at a predetermined time.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a flying insect spray apparatus for dispersing insecticide within a closed environment, such as to kill flies therein.
Another object of this invention is to provide a flying insect spray apparatus, as aforesaid, that is configured to dispense insecticide at predetermined times according to a timer.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a flying insect spray apparatus, as aforesaid, having a casing that may be mounted within an enclosed space having an opening through which flying insects may enter and which can be selectively closed prior to dispensing insecticide.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a flying insect spray apparatus, as aforesaid, having an infrared camera capable of determining if the opening into the enclosed space has been closed so that a spraying operation may proceed.
A further object of this invention is to provide a flying insect spray apparatus, as aforesaid, which can determine if the enclosed area is clear of a person prior to initiating a spraying operation.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
A flying insect spray apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
The spray apparatus 10 is intended for use in an enclosed structure 12 such as a garage, barn, or other enclosure in which flying insects tend to mass together in an undesirable volume. Specifically, the spray apparatus 10 is preferably used in an enclosure having walls 14 and a ceiling 16 that define an interior area and which may have one or more doors that may be selectively opened to receive ambient air, such as a walk-in pedestrian door 18 and perhaps an overhead door 19 movable between open and closed configurations. In this application, the door openings may be generally referred to as access portals and the door themselves may be referred to as access portal barriers. It is understood that in some embodiments, a wall or door may be a screened panel, traditional movable garage door, French doors, or the like.
The casing 20 of the spray apparatus 10 includes an upper portion 22 selectively coupled to a lower portion 28. More particularly, the upper portion 22 may include a top wall 24 and a continuous side wall 26 depending from the top wall 24. As shown in the illustrations, the casing 20 has a generally circular or cylindrical configuration. However, it is understood that the casing 20 may have a square, rectangular, or other suitable shape and configuration. The upper portion 22 defines an open bottom. Together, the upper 22 and lower 28 portions of the casing 20 define an interior area.
The lower portion 28 of the casing 20 includes a bottom wall 30 defining an opening 32 and is releasably coupled to the side wall 26 of the upper portion 22, such as in a friction fit arrangement or with fasteners (not shown). The bottom wall 30 defines a channel 34 displaced from a perimeter edge thereof and extending around an entire perimeter of the lower portion 28 (
The reservoir 40 is positioned within the interior area of the casing 20. The reservoir 40 is configured to contain a liquid insecticide. The reservoir 40 may be refillable such that the apparatus 10 may be used repetitively over time. The reservoir 40 is accessible to be refilled when the lower portion 28 is separated from the upper portion 22 of the casing 20. The reservoir 40 may include an outlet 42 in the form of a hose connected to the reservoir 40 and extending away therefrom (
The pump 44 is also situated in the interior area of the casing 20 and is operatively coupled to the reservoir 40. It is understood that when the pump 44 is actuated, such as by being electrically energized, the pump 44 causes the insecticide to be urged out of the reservoir 40 through the outlet 42 (e.g. hose). The pump 44 may be electrically connected to a power supply 46, such as an electrical outlet or a battery (
A nozzle member is in fluid communication with the outlet 42 of the reservoir 40 such that insecticide is dispensed through the nozzle member when the pump 44 is energized. Preferably, the dispensing member 50 actually includes a plurality of nozzles 52 spaced apart in a radial arrangement about a dispensing member 50 (
The controller 60 is positioned in the interior area of the casing 20. The controller 60 may be circuitry or a printed circuit board 66 (“PCB”). The controller 60 is electrically connected to the pump 44 and may include a timer. In one embodiment, the controller 60 is configured to energize the pump 44 each time the timer indicates expiration of a predetermined amount of time. In another embodiment, the controller 60 includes a processor 62 and a memory 64, the memory 64 including programming instructions to be executed by the processor 62. In this embodiment, the programming instructions, when executed by the processor 62, cause the processor 62 to actuate the pump 44 to dispense the insecticide.
Regarding the “predetermined time,” the predetermined time may be an amount of time since the last activation of the pump 44 and may be calculated by the timer under processor 62 control. In another embodiment, the “predetermined time” may refer to a specific predetermined time of day. For instance, it might be known that flies or another type of flying insect are particularly thick within the enclosed space at a certain time of day. In such case, the apparatus 10 may be programmed to dispense insecticide at the time most likely to kill the largest mass of insects.
The programming instructions executed by the processor 62 enable the insecticide to be dispensed under specific conditions, as shown by the algorithm illustrated in
More particularly, the means for determining if the access portal is closed may include an infrared light sensitive camera 70 (“an IR camera) situated in the upper portion 22 of the casing 20. The IR camera 70 may be mounted to a lower edge of the PCB 66 as shown in
The position of the IR tag 72 within the enclosed structure may be referred to as a “predetermined condition.” Under programming control, different actions may be taken by the processor 62 depending on the detected position of the IR tag 72. In one embodiment, the programming, when executed by the processor 62, causes the processor 62 to actuate the pump 44 to dispense insecticide from the reservoir 40 only when the position of the IR tag 72 is indicative that the door to the enclosed structure is closed. As is an object of the invention, insecticide is preferably sprayed at a time when flies or other flying insects are essentially captive within the enclosed structure and cannot escape. In one embodiment, the programming causes the processor 62 to energize the pump 44 only when the timer indicates a predetermined time and when the IR tag 72 indicates a predetermined condition, such as door closure.
In one embodiment, programming causes the processor 62 to communicate with the IR camera 70 to determine if a human body is present within the interior area of the enclosed area. Certainly, the IR camera 70 is able to detect the thermal energy emitted by a person and communicate this data to the processor 62. In the same manner, the processor 62 can determine the presence of other living bodies, such as dogs, cats, birds, and the like. An activation of the pump 44, then, can be delayed until the interior area is clear of persons or animals before being activated to dispense insecticide. In this embodiment, the programming may cause the processor 62 to actuate the pump 44 only when the timer indicates a predetermined time and when the IR tag 72 indicates a predetermined condition, such as door closure, and when the camera 70 verifies that no human or animal is in the enclosed space. It is contemplated that the apparatus 10 may include an audible or visual alert advising humans to vacate the area when the predetermined time is soon to be reached.
In one embodiment, the programming may cause the processor 62 to actuate the pump 44 only when the timer indicates a predetermined time and when the camera 70 verifies that no human or animal is in the enclosed space. In other words, the spraying of insecticide may be allowed even when the door remains at a raised or open configuration.
In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus 10 may include an exhaust fan 54 displaced from the casing 20. The exhaust fan 54 may be operatively connected to the processor 62, either wirelessly or with wires. Under programming control, the processor 62 may actuate the exhaust fan 54 to withdraw ambient air a predetermined amount of time after dispersing insecticide, such as to clear the air so that humans or animals can return to the interior area of the enclosed structure.
The bottom wall 30 of the lower portion 28 of the casing 20 defines an opening 32 (
In use, the casing 20 may be mounted to the ceiling 16 or wall 14 of an enclosed structure 12 such as a garage, barn, or other structure having at least one door or wall that is movable between open and closed configurations and that is susceptible to flying insects. In one embodiment, the apparatus 10 will dispense insecticide from the reservoir 40 at predetermined intervals of time, the insecticide being evenly and thoroughly distributed by the radially distributed nozzles 52 of the dispensing member 50. In other embodiments, programming executed by a processor 62 regulates activation of a pump 44 according to predetermined conditions, such as if a door has been closed or only after determining that a person is not in the interior space.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
648263 | Hull | Apr 1900 | A |
1758767 | Taggart | May 1930 | A |
1967304 | Gray | Jul 1934 | A |
2534464 | Marini | Dec 1950 | A |
3033471 | Horn | May 1962 | A |
3195777 | Hart | Jul 1965 | A |
3322347 | Pierce | May 1967 | A |
3363268 | Friedlander | Jan 1968 | A |
3370571 | Knapp | Feb 1968 | A |
3390817 | Heropoulos | Jul 1968 | A |
3489223 | Bundo, Sr. | Jan 1970 | A |
3617214 | Dolac | Nov 1971 | A |
3739944 | Rogerson | Jun 1973 | A |
3741309 | McCulloch | Jun 1973 | A |
3778924 | Okui | Dec 1973 | A |
3793762 | Stains | Feb 1974 | A |
3896881 | De Boer | Jul 1975 | A |
4476515 | Coffee | Oct 1984 | A |
4570824 | Bolling | Feb 1986 | A |
4671435 | Stout | Jun 1987 | A |
4721246 | Lefebvre | Jan 1988 | A |
4938144 | Demarest | Jul 1990 | A |
5312047 | Akers | May 1994 | A |
5335446 | Shigetoyo | Aug 1994 | A |
5390833 | Baumann | Feb 1995 | A |
5465525 | Mifune | Nov 1995 | A |
5566502 | Shigetoyo | Oct 1996 | A |
5598954 | Salzano | Feb 1997 | A |
5695091 | Winings | Dec 1997 | A |
5772074 | Dial | Jun 1998 | A |
5832657 | Jan | Nov 1998 | A |
5964403 | Miller | Oct 1999 | A |
6155495 | Jones | Dec 2000 | A |
6267297 | Contadini | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6339897 | Hayes | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6347414 | Contadini | Feb 2002 | B2 |
6445301 | Farrell | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6513282 | Schott | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6688036 | Gunn | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6739479 | Contadini | May 2004 | B2 |
6854208 | Chuang | Feb 2005 | B1 |
6951073 | Moore | Oct 2005 | B2 |
7066218 | Fleming | Jun 2006 | B1 |
7070003 | Smith | Jul 2006 | B1 |
7090147 | Lovett | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7234269 | Yonker | Jun 2007 | B2 |
7320439 | Davis | Jan 2008 | B2 |
7540433 | Fleming | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7641594 | Hickey | Jan 2010 | B2 |
7712249 | Modlin | May 2010 | B1 |
7893829 | Sipinski | Feb 2011 | B2 |
7908791 | Brash | Mar 2011 | B1 |
8201756 | Hornsby | Jun 2012 | B2 |
8296993 | Modlin | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8430337 | Pearce, III | Apr 2013 | B2 |
8459499 | Sipinski | Jun 2013 | B2 |
8668115 | Sipinski | Mar 2014 | B2 |
8695890 | Butler | Apr 2014 | B2 |
8994529 | White | Mar 2015 | B2 |
9108782 | Luc | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9149031 | Shi | Oct 2015 | B2 |
20040007787 | Kvietok | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040035949 | Elkins | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040118943 | Huang | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20050004714 | Chen | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050224596 | Panopoulos | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20060150470 | Ronnau | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20070066447 | Overholt | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070151011 | Brown | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20070235555 | Helf | Oct 2007 | A1 |
20080083793 | Swain | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20080163541 | Harris | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20080184614 | Higbee | Aug 2008 | A1 |
20080256843 | Hack et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20090294471 | Paige | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100286803 | Tillotson | Nov 2010 | A1 |
20110284653 | Butler | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20120042563 | Anderson | Feb 2012 | A1 |
20120051968 | Ivanne | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120186007 | Perez | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120317868 | Johnston et al. | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20130068788 | Gasper | Mar 2013 | A1 |
20130205484 | Taciuc | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130305588 | Cann | Nov 2013 | A1 |
20140110428 | Saleh | Apr 2014 | A1 |
20140166781 | Johnson | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140250767 | Heugle | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20150157003 | White | Jun 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
WO 2008148997 | Dec 2008 | FR |
09074969 | Mar 1997 | JP |
2006130005 | May 2006 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150335004 A1 | Nov 2015 | US |