Patent Application
20100287816
The present invention generally relates to insect traps. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices that catch mosquitoes.
Flying insects, especially mosquitoes are not only annoying but potentially life threatening. Mosquitoes have been shown to transmit dozens of diseases including elephantiasis, malaria and yellow fever. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported over 1350 human cases of West Nile Virus in the U.S. in 2008. Of those cases reported to the CDC, there were 24 deaths. According to Gordon Edwards (21st Century Science & Technology Magazine, Fall 2002) malaria kills 2-3 million people a year. These mosquito-borne viruses have plagued mankind since ancient Egypt. Therefore combating and controlling the mosquito population is critically important even today in the age of technology and pesticides, in our country and around the world.
Pesticides such as DDT do kill the pests but any chemical designed to kill an animal of any sort can have potentially detrimental effects on a human as well. Another result of mass destruction of a species by chemical means is those few that survive due to a genetic resistance will now multiply rapidly in the face of minimal competition for food. This new race will be genetically predisposed to be resistant or immune to the chemical that killed their ancestors, thus rendering the chemical agent ineffective. An alternative action is to eliminate the pests by capturing them before they have a chance to reproduce. The female mosquito is the only gender that feeds on mammalian blood. Therefore this gender need only be targeted.
An attractant or series of attractants may be used to lure the mosquito into a trap, thus providing a snare from which they are unable to escape. Such a snare is harmless to humans, pets, birds and other larger animals. Some snares exist on the market, but most burn propane or other fossil fuels to produce carbon dioxide (the major attractant for mosquitoes). This precludes operation in a building, provides a danger of fire, and is considerably expensive to manufacture. Many of these items cost well over one thousand dollars to the consumer and are therefore out of financial reach for a large portion of the population.
It should, therefore, be appreciated that there is a need for an insect trap that is safe to be used indoors, is inexpensive to produce and has minimal impact on other species not targeted by the trap. The present invention fulfills this need and others.
The invention is an insect snare, which may entice and capture insects using a carbonic mixture in a liquid trap. A frame supports the liquid trap. The frame includes an intake port and an exhaust vent. An airflow generator may be used to provide airflow from the intake port to the exhaust vent. The liquid trap may include a solution with a pH less than 7.0 or preferably less than 4.0 that reacts with the carbonic mixture. The liquid trap may alternatively include a solution comprised of water with the carbonic mixture including an anhydrous acid, the mixture placed in the water to release carbon dioxide and water vapor into the airflow. The acid may be an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, oxaloacetic acid, 7-octenoic acid and 2-oxopentanoic acid. The carbonic mixture may include a compound such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate. In one form the carbonic mixture may be comprised of sodium bicarbonate and lactic acid. This mixture is preferably comprised of between 168 grams and 188 grams of lactic acid and between 156 grams and 176 grams of sodium bicarbonate. The invention may include a carbonic mixture which is comprised of 178 grams of lactic acid and 166 grams of sodium bicarbonate. The carbonic compound and the anhydrous acid may be compressed to form a tablet. The tablet may react with water at 21 degrees Celsius and one atmosphere of pressure for a substantially continuous period of at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours.
In the structure of the device the intake port may be positioned substantially above the exhaust vent. The airflow within the device may be directed substantially toward the liquid trap. The device may also include a glue trap with an adhesive surface. In this case, the airflow may be directed substantially toward the adhesive surface. When two unique traps, such as water and adhesive are used, the airflow may be directed toward both traps independently between the intake port and the exhaust vent. The airflow generator may be comprised of a fan such as a direct current (DC) electric fan. The device may also include a light positioned substantially near the intake port. This light may be a light emitting diode (LED). The color of the light may be white, green or blue.
An exemplary method for catching mosquitoes according to the invention, including providing a device as disclosed and including the steps of combining a specified liquid and the carbonic mixture in the liquid trap; placing the liquid trap in the frame of the device and actuating the airflow generator. When the device includes a light, the method may also include the step of illuminating the light.
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages can be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments and drawings, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
For the most part, and as will be apparent when referring to the figures, when an item is used unchanged in more than one figure, it is identified by the same alphanumeric reference indicator in all figures
With reference to the illustrative drawings, and particularly to
Referring to the drawings,
On the top of the device 10, rearward to the intake port 12, is a handle 18 which may include a hook 20 on the far end. The handle 18 assists in the portability of the device 10 and aids in the placement of the device 10 in a mosquito prone area. The hook 20 offers a means to support the device 10 on a fence, tree branch or other physical structure. As shown here, the hook 20 may be located on an opposite end of the device 10 from the intake port 12. This may be done in that this form of the device 10 is intended to be directional. That means the mosquitoes are directed toward the device 10 primarily from one general direction. This is desirable in that mosquitoes have a short distance from their birthplace to their feeding territory, unless carried by the wind. Mosquitoes therefore have a relatively small feeding territory when relying on their own flight capability. Therefore, to draw mosquitoes over from the neighbor's yard into yours is counterproductive to the guests during an outdoor barbeque or other gathering. The optimal situation is to draw your mosquitoes over to the device 10, which is located near the outlining regions of the inhabited area of your property. All mosquitoes close to that area will be drawn over by the chemical attractants but with the directional device, more attractants are provided toward a specified direction, therefore it will be less likely to draw mosquitoes from a great distance into your area. This directional feature is not mandatory to the novelty of the invention and is not intended to be inclusive of all forms of the invention.
The layout of the interior of the device 10 is shown in
As previously noted, many carbonic compounds may be used. These are bases (pH greater than 7.0) that react with the acid (pH less than 7.0) in a solution to produce the attractants carbon dioxide and water. One example is using lactic acid (C3H6O3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as the acid and base respectively. The mixture can be compressed into a tablet to prolong the reaction in water to give off the CO2+water+acid in air continuously for a prolonged period such as at least 2 hours and preferably at least 4 hours.
Mosquitoes are attracted to these chemicals in the air because it suggests the presence of a person or other mammal. That means a potential blood meal for the mosquito. In order to optimize the effectiveness of the device 10 the amount of CO2 produced by the reaction may be important in that we are trying to simulate a human. The calculated amount of CO2 a 150-pound (68.2 Kg) person would emit at rest with a typical diet, at a typical Respiratory Exchange Ratio value of 0.83 at one MET (metabolic equivalent) of activity is 198 ml CO2/min. The body would consume 238.6 ml O2/min to produce this 198 ml of carbon dioxide. Over 4 hours the amount of CO2 expired by a person would be 47.5 liters of CO2. Four hours is used as an optimal situation in that a typical evening outside would not likely last beyond 4 hours.
Using the reactants of lactic acid and sodium bicarbonate, as previously noted would yield the following chemical reaction:
C3H6O3 (aq)+NaHCO3 (aq)→C3H5O3Na (s)+H2O (l)+CO2 (g).
The acid can be liquid, or dry and the combination placed in water. The later will be used though it is understood that both version are viable. The lactic acid (C3H6O3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) are noted as aqueous because when they mix with the water they react. When they are dry they do not, therefore only the surface of the tablet is aqueous and reacting. Lactic acid has a mass of 90.08 g/mol; sodium bicarbonate is 84.02 g/mol and CO2 is 44.01 g/mol. The density of CO2 is 0.1144 lb/cu-ft or 1.832 g/L. Therefore 1.832 g/L*47.5 L of CO2=87.04 g of CO2 per 4 hours. At 44.01 g CO2/mol that is 1.978 mol of CO2/4 hours. Since one mole of each reactant is needed to produce one mole of CO2, we need 1.978 moles of lactic acid and the same of sodium bicarbonate or 178 g of lactic acid and 166 g of sodium bicarbonate. Without any filler, this is a 344 gram (12.13 ounce) tablet. The compound can be pressed to form a tablet that it will take 4 hours to dissolve in room temperature water (21 degrees Celsius at one atmosphere of pressure). These numbers reflect a calculated 4 hour CO2 delivery. This period is not mandatory and it is understood that any period of time for the reaction may be used.
Referring to
pH=3.86+log(0.9325)=3.83
yields a pH of 3.83. This is acidic considering distilled water is 7.0, but cranberry juice has a pH of 3.5 and lemon juice can have a pH as low as 2.3. The mosquitoes will drown in the cup of acid, but it will not hurt a person if the solution comes into contact with their skin.
Some other specific acids are desirable for attracting mosquitoes, likely because they are found in human sweat. Some of the most appealing acids to several species of mosquitoes include oxo-carboxylic acids, particularly 2-oxopentanoic acid. Also carboxylic acids and 7-octenoic acid have shown a similar threshold sensitivity to the olfactory stimulant 1-octen-3-ol. The carboxylic acid 7-octenoic acid with CO2 has been shown to be effective in increasing the field test trap catch over CO2 alone. Desirable acid choices may be 7-octenoic acid and 2-oxopentanoic acid. Lactic acid is commercially available and has also been shown as effective as a successful mosquito attractant.
The J-shaped base 24 shown in
A light 26 may be provided in the form of a light emitting diode (LED). This illuminates the intake port 12 and the light is another attractant to mosquitoes. Though white light may be used, blue and green lights have been shown to be effective in attracting mosquitoes. The power of the light can vary but research has suggested using a light of approximately 5000 micro-candle (mcd). The other major component in the device 10 is a fan 28. The fan 28 can take a variety of forms including an electric fan that is driven on direct current (DC) power. A desirable fan may provide at least 20-24 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 0 psi.
The device 10 in use is shown in
The mosquitoes 30 that are captured in either of the two traps, the liquid in the cup 22 or the glue 32, are removed with the cup 22 and discarded prior to the device 10 being used again. This removal of the dead insects helps keep the device 10 clean. For the subsequent use, a new cup 22 is filled with the appropriate liquid (water or acid) and the glue 32 may be exposed, if necessary, by removing any protective paper. The cup 22 is then placed in the frame of the device 10 through the door 34. The device 10 is then turned on by a switch (not shown) of a type that is common to the art of electrical switches. This activates the fan 28 and light 26. The liquid added to the carbonic compound located in the cup, reacts to produce a gas that is noted by the flow arrows 36. In areas near the traps, the frame walls are directed toward the traps thereby narrowing in width. This venturi affect may be used to accelerate the airflow and insects 30 in the air, into the traps of the cup 22 or the glue 32.
The left side of the frame has been removed in
Another attractant is heat. Heat may be added by providing a heating element to heat the exhausting air/gas combination. This would require a great deal more energy. Larger batteries and a shorter battery life would result or the device 10 would need to be run from an AC outlet. This reduction in mobility or battery life may be less valuable than the addition of the additional attractant (heat) and is therefore not illustrated though it is understood that this or other attractant features may be added. The inventor acknowledges the potential advantage of the addition and considers any heating element commonly known in the art to be an inherent addition to the disclosure.
Also shown in
The cup 22 with the tablet 40 and splash ring 22 is shown in
Unlike much of the prior art that uses propane to generate CO2, this device 10 may be used indoors. A user can place the device 10 across the room when they go to bed. If an unwanted flying pest sneaks in, the device 10 offers a seemingly attractive “meal potential” away from the user. In the off-season the device 10 may be used as a CO2 generator for indoor plants.
An alternative cup 54 is illustrated in
A free lip 64 of the bag 60 is passed through a slot 66 in the top cap 68. The free lip may be made of the same material as the bag 60, and would therefore be an extension thereof. This is not necessary to the function of the device 10 but may be preferable in that this potentially reduces production costs. The free lip 64 may include an adhesive on both sides of the lip 64. A light adhesive may be applied to the first side 70 and a heavy adhesive is applied to the second side 72. One or both sides may be covered with a release paper to prevent contamination of the adhesive to oils and debris prior to use. The first side 70 is mounted to the “J” shaped base 24 and held in place by the light adhesive. The heavy adhesive is then facing up to catch the mosquitoes that are forced into the adhesive. In this form of the invention, the only article that is discarded by the user after a cycle is the bag 60 and any remaining contents therein. This potentially reduces the size and cost of the replacement cartridges.
In
As noted throughout this disclosure the reactants may be comprised of an acid and a carbonic base in dry form where water is added to initiate the chemical reaction, or the carbonic base may be one tablet or group of tablets and an aqueous acid solution may be added to start the chemical reaction. A carbon dioxide molecule is approximately 1 μm (1×10−6 m) across. A water molecule is actually much smaller (approximately 0.29 nm (2.9×10−10 m)) across but do to hydrogen bonding, water molecules tend to group together forming weak bonds creating larger droplets. Therefore, a water filter may have pores in excess of 0.021 inches (5×10−4 m) in diameter. The reactants may be packaged together in a dry form in semi-permeable container and water added to start the reaction. In doing so the smaller the pore size of the semi-permeable container the greater the restriction to flow of the water or other fluid to cross the semi-permeable boundary. This would slow any reaction between the reactants. On the other hand, a larger pore size would allow an increased rate of flow of the fluid, thus increasing the rate of the reaction. Therefore a semi-permeable container can be used to control the rate of reaction. As previously noted one or more polymer coatings may also be used to cover some or all of the reactants. This coating would also act as a semi-permeable container in that it provides a temporary barrier for the reactants.
Another method of accomplishing this would be to substitute the tablet 40 with a pliable container that includes one or more sub-containers of aqueous acid and one or more sub-containers of the carbonic compound(s). The pore size of the semi-permeable container may be large enough to allow the carbon dioxide to pass but not the aqueous solution and precipitant of the solid matter as a byproduct of the reaction. By doing so a user could deform the pliable container that may look similar to the tablet 40 in
The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is provided for purposes of illustration, and it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiment shown. The embodiments may provide different capabilities and benefits, depending on the configuration used to implement key features of the invention.
