This invention relates to insect trap devices, including but not limited to mosquito traps.
Biting insects, such as mosquitoes, can be annoying and in some instances carry disease. Reports are on the rise of mosquito transferred West Nile virus. West Nile virus can be spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other animals. On some occasions, a West Nile virus infection can result in severe and sometimes fatal illnesses.
Known devices are used to attempt to destroy or repel the mosquitoes such as bug zappers and electronic repellers. Many bug zappers rely upon ultraviolet light to draw insects through an electrified wire grid. A burst followed by crackling sounds signals that the insect has passed through the electrocuting device. Bug zappers may kill many insects, but few of the insects killed are pests. Most of the insects are beetles or night-flying moths. Mosquitoes may make up a small percentage of bug zapper collections since mosquitoes can be scared away by the electronic wire grid of the bug zappers.
Other traps require the use of propane tanks to produce carbon dioxide to attract the mosquitoes. Such use of propane tanks, however, can make the trap hard to set up and use. Other traps require carbon dioxide tanks. The carbon dioxide tanks, however, may not be readily available to the average consumer.
A device is disclosed for trapping mosquitoes. The device includes a housing, a bag and a fan located in the housing. The fan creates capture zone with an air flow towards the bag. A plurality of light sources attract mosquitoes to the capture zone. The light sources include an ultraviolet light, a plurality of light emitting diodes, and an incandescent light. A heat source also attracts the mosquitoes to the capture zone.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
The trap 100 can include a base 110. The base 110 can be used to support legs 120 and the legs 120 can support a housing 130. Connected to the housing is a heat attractant module 140. The heat attractant module 140 includes a contrasting layer 150. The trap 100 can also include a light attractant module 160. A cap 170 can cover the light attractant module 160. The heat attractant module 140 and the light attractant module 160 attract mosquitoes to a capture zone 165.
The trap 100 can be manufactured of a plastic, such as a plastic that does not continue to emit chemicals due to a long cure time since some chemicals from plastic can repel mosquitoes. The plastic can include suitable UV stabilizers to allow for extended outdoor use, and can be not brittle or easy to crack.
The base 110 can include openings 180 that accommodate stakes to hold the trap 100 to the ground. The openings 180 can also accommodate other objects to hold the base 100 in place, such as bolts set in concrete. The openings can be placed over the bolts and nuts can be used to secure the base in place. The legs 120 can be extendable to create a height of about two to about four feet high. Alternatively, instead of placing the trap 100 on legs 120 and a base 110, the trap 100 can be hung from cables attachable to the cap 170. Other supports can be used such as brackets, wires and forms.
The heat attractant module 140 can accommodate a fan 240 and a motor 250 for turning the fan 240. The motor 250 can be positioned above or below the fan 240. An exemplary fan includes a three inch diameter fan manufactured by Thorgren of Valparaiso, Ind., and an exemplary motor includes a motor model number RF-500TB manufactured by Mabuchi Motor America Corp, located in Troy, Mich. The motor can be powered in different ways such as with a low voltage line, or in other ways, such as with batteries and/or a solar panel. The low voltage line can provide about twelve volts alternating current (AC) to the trap 100. The trap 100 can be connected to a MALIBU lighting system. The MALIBU system can be used to turn the trap 100 on and off at preset times.
The fan 240 can create the capture zone 165 by forcing air in a downward direction such that mosquitoes that are attracted to the trap 100 can be forced down into the bag 220. The distance between the cap 170 and the air intake includes about three-quarters to one and three-eights. A smaller the distance between the cap 170 and the air intake provides a higher velocity of air created by the fan 240. In some versions of the trap 100, the distance between the cap 170 and the air intake can be adjustable. Air flow created by the fan 240 should be strong enough to overcome the flying power of the mosquitoes but not so strong that the air flow from the fan 240 scares away the mosquitoes. A flap valve 260 can be located near the top of the bag 210. The flap valve 260 can be forced open when the fan 240 is on so that the mosquitoes can blow past the flap valve 260 and into the bag. The flap valve 260 can close when the fan 240 is off so that the mosquitoes cannot fly back out of the bag 210.
The portion of the housing 130 that covers the bag 210 can include openings 135, such as louvers, to allow air to pass from the fan 240 though the bag 210 and then out of the housing 130. The openings 135 can be arranged to allow the air to exit the hosing 130 but to keep elements, such as rain, out of the housing 130. The access panel 200 can be constructed to hold a cartridge 205, such as a cartridge 205 containing a chemical attractant. The chemical attractant can include octenol, lactic acid or other mosquito attractants. Other types of mosquito attractants can be used such as carbon dioxide, which can be provided by dry ice. The carbon dioxide can be warmed, such as by flowing the carbon dioxide past the heat attractant module 140.
The light attractant module 160 can include varying light sources such as an incandescent light source 270, an ultraviolet light source 280, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) 290. The incandescent light source 270 can include a bulb or LED to produce visible light between the cap 170 and fan opening. An exemplary incandescent light source 270 includes a 4 Watt light bulb. The visible light can include a color, such as yellow. The incandescent light source 270 can provide general attraction to a wide area. The ultraviolet source 280 can include a UVB light source such as a four watt fluorescent bulb. Other sized or frequency ultraviolet sources 280 can also be used, such as UVA or UVC light sources. The frequency of the UVB light is about 280 to 320 nanometers (nm). The ultraviolet source 280 can be recessed in the cap 170 to limit the attraction of non-target species that might otherwise be attracted to the ultraviolet light. The emitted UVB light can shine down, such as in a conical shape, around the trap 100.
The LEDs 290 can be arranged in an array around the cap 170. Various numbers of LEDs 290 can be used, such as eight LEDs of varying color. Different colored LEDs can attract different species of mosquitoes. The colors can include amber orange (about 610 nm), violet (about 380 nm), green (about 565 nm) and blue (about 470 nm). Other colors could also be used such as red (about 670 nm) and yellow (587 nm). An accuracy of the color of the LED 290 can include plus or minus approximately twenty-five nanometers. If eight LEDs are used, two of each color can be used. One sequencing includes blue, yellow, blue and then wither orange or yellow. The LEDs 290 shine down towards the heat attractant module. The LEDs 290 can cycle on and off, such as one color at a time, three to five seconds per color to attract mosquitoes. The LEDs 290 can be used to simulate movement by operating in sequence and/or flickering. The rate of flickering includes about 100 to 200 Hz, such as 150 Hz. Each frequency may attract different species of mosquitoes.
The heat attractant module 140 includes a heat film or blanket to regulate the heat attractant module to approximately 42 degrees C. (about 107 degrees F.) plus or minus 1 degree C. Other heat sources can be used such as an incandescent bulb. Other temperatures can be used such as about 100 to about 110 degrees F. The heat film can be placed within the heat attractant module 140. An exemplary heat film is manufactured by CPC Hi-Technologies Ltd., located in Yoqneam, Israel. A plastic shell/cylinder can be used as a thermal mass for the heat attractant module 140. The shell can also be manufactured from other materials, such as metal. The heat attractant module 140 can include a dark color, such as black. Other dark colors could be used, such as blue, green or red. The heat attractant module 140 can include a roughened surface so that mosquitoes can land on the film. The dark heat attractant module 140 can contrast in color with non-dark or lighter color, such as white silver or grey, of the contrasting layer 150. Mosquitoes can be attracted to the change from a dark to a lighter color. The heat attractant module 140 can provide a mottled thermal appearance, similar to that of a blood target.
Switches and valves can be provided to allow operators to further control the trap 100. The switches can be used to control elements of the light attractant module 160 and/or the heat attractant module 140. For example, in some versions the heat produced by the heat attractant module 140 can be adjusted when on and/or turned off. In addition, lights of the light attractant module can be turned on and off. The switches can also be used to turn the LEDs 290 on and off. Moreover, the incandescent light source 270 and the ultraviolet light source 280 can be turned on or off by the operator, such that the LEDs 290, incandescent light source 270, and ultraviolet light source 280 can be turned on or off in any combination. The valves can be used to allow the operator to connect a source of carbon dioxide to the trap.
It is to be understood that changes and modifications to the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are contemplated. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.