Patent Application
20170071185
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to insect zappers for hunting flying insects and physically active games for use with insect zappers and associated game kits.
Description of Related Art
Insect zappers are traps that utilize an electric charge to stun or kill flying insects. In most cases, the flying insect becomes caught between two terminals of an open electrical circuit. The body of the insect serves as a jumper between the two terminals thereby closing the circuit. Electricity from the terminals flows through the body of the insect causing the insect to be stunned, destroyed, or otherwise incapacitated. When this happens, a ‘pop’ or other sounds caused by electrical flow through the insect's body are heard. This is often accompanied by the smell of burning tissue. These sounds bring gratification to most users as they know it means the elimination of another flying insect capable of biting, causing irritation of tissue, and spreading germs such as the Zika virus.
Insect zappers are available in a stationary form or a mobile form. Stationary zappers are commonly hung from a hook outside a user's home or on such places as the rail of a desk to reduce the concentration of nearby flying insects. Mobile insect zappers are commonly in the form of hand held racquets similar to a tennis racquet. The string portion of the racquet is commonly made in the form of an electrical conductive series of wires or screen. Some users of hand held insect zappers gain enjoyment from hunting the insects that annoy them. Some users of zappers are satisfied with the performance of stationary mounted insect zappers. Other users find enjoyment associated with mobile zappers during the hunt of flying insects. Some users find mobile zappers as an entertaining form of exercise. Parents of children utilizing mobile zappers enjoy the benefits of exercise for their children and keeping their children's minds occupied while engaged in a safe and productive activity.
Examples of various forms of mobile zappers are illustrated in the prior art. Although differences, each of these designs work similarly. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,306, Teng presents a portable electronic insect-killing device including a handle connected to an insulating frame which has top and bottom frame portions, and a plurality of negative and positive bare wires which extend alternatively from the top to bottom frame portions in a plane. Teng's illustrated device looks much like a fly swatter.
In publication number US2007/0271839, Su discloses an electronic mosquito racket including a frame body holding a charged mesh including a flexible shaft to provide a shock absorbing effect.
Mars, in US 2010/0088947, presents a similar battery operated insect zapper shaped like a squash or tennis racquet. This device includes a light feature to assist in locating the insect in darkness and also for attracting the biting insects towards the electrical grid.
In publication US2007/0056207, Chen discloses a stationary electronic insect trap having a high voltage grid unit surrounding the unit, a signal generator corresponding to an insect being electrocuted and operable to indicate the cumulative number of insects electrocuted by the high voltage grid based on the detector signal received from the detector unit.
Keralla (US 2010/0162615) proposes a hand held swatter style device similar to the prior art. In preferred forms of the apparatus, the device includes a net counter to indicate when an electrically conducting net hits a flying insect.
As the references above illustrate, the prior art teaches various forms of both stationary and mobile bug zappers with added features that in some cases include lights and counters. The art teaches how to use these devices as a utensil for killing insects. What is needed are gaming systems configured for and teaching use of insect zapper devices as a game for one or more players. Such games would have the benefit of exercising participants such as our youth as they briskly move about in the hunt of insects during the summer months. Games would add a competitive aspect to using insect zapper devices. As a side benefit, the population of pesky insects such as mosquitos will be reduced which may help reduce the spread of disease such as the Zika virus that is carried by mosquitos. In addition, the art fails to teach alternative methods to provide users feedback corresponding to the user's success hunting the insects.
Disclosed herein are various novel forms of insect zapper apparatus, games utilizing insect zappers, and game kits comprising mobile insect zappers.
In preferred embodiments, an insect zapper is in a mobile form to be moved through the air under power of the user. For example, an insect zapper may be in the form similar to a sporting racquet such as a squash, tennis, or ping pong racquet. In this form, it will include a handle portion for grasping the device. A handle portion may assume a variety of forms such as an elongated post for grasping by the user. In other forms the device may be formed to fit like a glove over the hand or forearm. In yet other forms, the device may include hoops, rings, holes, straps, or similar features to assist in releasably securing the device to the user or for grasping by the user during use. In preferred embodiments the device is secured or grasped by a user's hand. In other forms, a zapper device may be configured for mounted use on other unusual places such as a hat wherein the user hunts insects by walking or running around.
High voltage zapper circuits have been disclosed in the prior art as are counting circuits directed to counting voltage drops or circuits for tracking cumulative current flow. These circuits may be used as part of the insect zapper to support gaming function of the device. For example, a counter circuit may be used to count voltage or other current drop each time an electrically conducting net of a power grid portion of the device has an electrical encounter with an insect. Similarly, electrical encounters with insects through a power grid portion causes a draw of current that may be cumulatively measured representing success in the insect hunt. These measures may be communicated to the user in a variety of ways such as a digital readout on a visual display screen on the zapper racquet, or by activating lights, sound, or vibration indicating a preset goal related to hunting success is met.
In a user control portion of the device, the device includes one or more features for control of the device such as trips for timers or for resetting or choosing various modes of the device. A signal portion of the device provides operational and game related feedback through the use of stimuli such as lights, sounds, vibrations, or visual display screens. In some forms a device includes a power activator. The power activator may assume a variety of forms. For example a power activator may be in the form of an on/off switch or button. In some forms, a power activator may be a motion detector switch wherein the device turns on when lifted or moved. In some forms, a power activator may be configured to automatically turn off after a predefined term of inactive use of the device. A power activator is typically utilized to turn on multiple parts of the device. For example, a power activator may be configured to turn on power to a power grid portion and simultaneously turn on a light or liquid crystal display. Lights such as LEDs may be used to indicate operational status of the zapper device.
A user control portion may include a grid activator to energize the power grid in preparation for use. In preferred forms, a grid activator is in the form of a spring biased switch wherein the switch is biased to disable the power grid. The power grid is activated when the switch is depressed and deactivated when released. In some forms the system comprises a grid activator and not a power activator. In this configuration, the device remains off unless a grid activator is depressed. In preferred configurations the device may be configured to reset when the grid activator is released. For example, in a preferred form, the power grid remains off until the user presses and holds a grid activator button. This simultaneously causes a portion of the device to begin measuring cumulative voltage drop or current flow through the power grid corresponding to one or more insects shorting the power grid circuit causing current to flow across the grid. When the cumulative voltage drop or current flow reaches a predetermined goal, a sensor-actuator portion activates a signal portion to alert the user that the predetermined goal is met then the device automatically turns off and resets the system.
Some embodiments of a zapper device comprise a timer. The timer may be fixed or adjustable to a predetermined length of time. For example, the timer may be preset at the factory for preset length of for example 5 minutes. In one configuration, depression of a grid activator button activates a power grid and the device is configured to measure success in hunting insects by logging individual insect kills or cumulative voltage drop or current flow. A starter signal such as an auditory beep may signal to the user that the timer has been activated. Upon termination of the 5 minutes, a signal portion of the device displays performance information related to the hunt. Use of the timer may be configured to provide additional output signals to the user. For example, a termination signal may be activated when the allotted time ends. The termination signal may assume a variety of forms such as an auditory signal such as a buzzer or beep or a visual signal such as a flashing light, or a tactile signal such as a vibration. As the timer counts down, a working signal may utilized. For example, a sound representing the passage of time increases in beat as the user approaches termination of the allotted time or a flashing light begins flashing slowly then progressively faster until a point of constant illumination. These are just some examples of data and feedback provided to the user from a signal portion of an insect zapper apparatus.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a reset to reset the zapper for beginning a new game. The reset may assume a variety of forms. In one form the reset is automatic. For example, the game may be configured to automatically reset such as 15 seconds after a termination signal is activated indicating a predetermined time, insect hunting success, or other goal is met. In other forms the reset is manual. One form of a manual reset is in the form of a button that the user depresses. For example, a manual reset may be used in some embodiments to reset a counter that logs the success in hunting insects or to manually reset a timer included on the device.
A zapper device as disclosed herein further comprises a power grid portion. In preferred embodiments a power grid portion comprises an electrically conducting net in a broad portion of the device. The net may be manufactured from screen, grid, wires or functionally equivalent materials and may be referred herein by these various names or collectively as ‘screen’. Polar portions of the net (electrically opposed positive and negative) are spaced sufficient to prevent a short therebetween yet spaced close enough for likely contact of an insect such as a mosquito between various poles of the power grid. Non-conductive spacers may be used to separate polar portions of the power grid. In a preferred embodiment, the power grid is in the form of 3 layers of polarized metal screens or grids. The outer screens serve as electrical grounds whereas the center screen is electrically charged when the device is in an operational mode and uncharged in a rest or off mode. Capture apertures in the polarized metal screens are sized and shaped to increase the likelihood that an insect such as a mosquito will touch across polar portions (center screen and outer screen) of the power grid when coming in flying contact with the grid. Placement of the grounded outer screens on either side of the charged center screen provides for insect entry from either side of the power grid so the device can be effective when moved by the user in a multitude of directions. Bilaterally placed grounded outer screens also help minimize the likelihood of shock to the user or others in the event of inadvertent contact with the power grid. In some forms the charged center grid may be solid, however in preferred forms the screen comprises apertures to allow air passage and to facilitate the fallout of hunted insects from the power grid. In some forms the power grid is a single layer comprising alternating parallel charged and ground wires or metal bands spaced to minimize likelihood of an insect such as a mosquito from moving therebetween without making electrical shorting contact. The single layer grid may be open on both sides of the grid or may include one or more protective screens to prevent inadvertent contact.
In preferred forms, the power grid portion comprises a support frame on the circumference of the grid similar to a racket frame enveloping the strings of a tennis racket. The support frame may also serve to protect the grid. Alternatively, support for the grid may come from the power grid itself. For example, the grounded outer portion, the charged center portion, or grid spacer may be formed to provide the necessary rigidity and strength required by the power grid portion. A protector band may encircle the grid to prevent damage to the circumferential edges or to the user. The band may be made of a resilient material or in the form of a polymer cap fitting over the layered grid. Portions of the support frame may be flexible. For example, a neck portion between the power grid and handle may flex to assist the device in tolerating impact when hitting against other objects.
In preferred forms the power grid portion has a generally round or oval shape similar to racquets used in sports. However the power grid may assume other functional or novelty shapes that the user finds appealing such as stars, diamonds, spheres, or moons. In some forms the support frame or power grid may be configured to reach into corners of a room and may therefore comprise one or more squared corners.
In preferred forms the power grid is powered by an electronic circuit. The circuit steps up low voltage output from one or more batteries to several thousand volts at the power grid. Various forms of zapper circuits are disclosed in the prior art but commonly comprise a transistor transformer inverter and one or more capacitors and diodes. Disposable or rechargeable batteries may be stored on the device such as within a handle portion. In preferred forms, two C-cells or AA-cell batteries are configured and their output is stepped up to create an approximately 3000V surge when shorted by the captured insect however various levels of high voltage may be used providing it is sufficient to kill or maim the hunted insect. A battery cover may be used to secure the batteries in position to prevent disconnection or fallout out of the device.
In some embodiments the device may also be configured for stationary use by inclusion of hanging or wall mounting features. For example, a hanging attachment site such as a through hole or hook may be included near the end of the handle or elsewhere on the device for a tying a lace loop for hanging on a nearby hook such as one extending from the top of a doorway or porch. The device may include a mosquito attraction feature located within the power grid such as a blue light. In this configuration, a user control portion is configured with a trip such as a button or switch for the user to turn the power grid on and off without the need for constantly holding of a grid activator. In some advanced embodiments, a user control portion includes a timed on feature that provides the user the option to activate the device for a set period of time such as 30 minutes before automatically shutting off. Though useful for stationary use, this feature may also be used for mobile use.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a sensor-actuator portion for sensing changes occurring at the power grid due to insect body parts shorting across power grid polar portions. Generally these changes are in the form of changes in current flow, voltage drop, or even sounds such as those released by the sparking insect body. In some forms, the sensor-actuator portion includes a processor portion to make calculations based on the sensor input. In some forms the processor portion may be in the form of specialized circuits such as a counter circuit to count, for example, individual insect kills. Other calculations may include for example, average Kill rate, cumulative current flow or voltage drop in response to insects shorting the power grid circuit. Some calculations may be with respect to elapsed time measured between a start and terminal time period. More advanced functions may include a memory for such functions as retaining high scores among multiple players or individual players. Utilizing this information, electric output signals are emitting from the sensor-actuator portion according to a predetermined set of rules to a signal portion of the device.
A signal portion signals the user of hunt progress during or at completion of an insect hunt. In one form, the signal may be illustrated as a digital value indicating progress in the hunt. In one form, the signal generated by a signal portion may represent progress towards a goal based on a predetermined set of rules related to successful use of the zapper device. The signal may be predefined to represent success or failure. Success in this disclosure is generally indicative of the user's ability and proficiency at hunting and destroying insects using the zapper device. Definitions related to this are as follows. Kills is a cumulative total number of insects killed or ‘zapped’ within a predetermined time period. Sometimes a single insect will be zapped several times on a power grid before falling out of the grid. In some forms, these multiple zaps to a single insect count towards cumulative Kills. Cumulative Kill Energy is an alternative measure representing the amount of current that has flowed due to insects being zapped once or multiple times. Average Kill Frequency measures efficiency in kills within a specified time period.
In preferred embodiments, numbers or graphics corresponding to the user successfully zapping insects in the conducting net are signaled to the user. For example, the signal portion may be in the form of a visual display screen such as a liquid crystal or LED display. The display may be a numerical counter displaying a number. This may be referred to as a score. The number may represent Kills, Cumulative Kill Energy, Average Kill Frequency, or similar measures. Alternatively, the display may be a bar graph wherein the bar on the graph increases as the user successfully traps insects against the power grid. In another alternative, text or messages such as “GOAL MET” may be displayed. In another alternative symbols such as stars “*****” may be displayed to represent success.
In some embodiments the signal portion is in the form of one or more lights. For example, a light may constantly illuminate, flash, or shut off to signal to the user accomplishment of a predetermined number of insect kills with the device. Alternatively the lights may be configured utilizing color. For example, a light may change from yellow, to orange, and finally to green to illustrate progress towards an insect hunting goal. The light signal may vary in size. For example, the light may be in the form of a simple LED located near the handle of the device or may be in the form of a series of LEDs or a large elongate light tube encircling the power grid. These are also referred to as performance LEDs.
In other forms the signal portion may provide auditory feedback. For example, upon completion of a predetermined goal or threshold, a beep or other victory related sound may be heard from a speaker, buzzer, or other sound producing component. A sound of failure may be given when a goal is not met. Similarly, the signal portion may be in the form of a vibration felt within the handle of the device. For example, the device may vibrate upon meeting a goal. In other embodiments, the signal portion may be in a combined form wherein any combination of a display, light, sound, or vibration is utilized to alert the user of progress towards or success in reaching an insect hunting goal. In some forms the signal portion provides auditory feedback in numerical form such as for example a figure representing the number of kills, kill frequency, or cumulative kill energy or words such as “GOAL MET”. In other embodiments, the zapper devices may be networked to wirelessly cooperate in insect hunt gaming and or communicate with a game application on a smart phone device that may be used to track an assortment of game data from individual or multiple players.
A variety of methods of playing insect hunting games are contemplated utilizing forms of the insect zapper device disclosed herein. Many of the games are suited for single players whereas others are suited for multi-player use. Provided are a few samples of methods of playing games utilizing the devices disclosed, however may other games within the spirit of this invention are contemplated related to a user's ability to successfully hunt flying insects using various forms of the insect zapper devices.
In one embodiment a timer that is either built into the zapper device, supplied with the game, or otherwise available to the user is obtained. A first player grasps a zapper racket and activates the power grid. The timer is activated. The player moves about hunting insects by moving the zapper device in contact with the insects attempting to destroy as many as possible to obtain a higher score. When the timer indicates time has exhausted, the first player reads and notes their score as indicated on the signal portion. The zapper device is reset and handed to player 2. The timer is reset and activated and player 2 again moves about hunting insects by moving the zapper device in contact with the insects also attempting to destroy as many as possible to obtain a higher score than player one within the allotted time. Scores for player 1 and player 2 are compared and the player with the higher score wins. Additional players may also play and compare their scores to previous players. Alternatively, the game may be played with each player having their own racket. A game may consist of one or more sets.
In a different mode, the zapper device may be configured to display a signal upon reaching a predetermined goal such as 15 Kills. The first player to reach the goal wins. An auditory, visual, or tactile signal is activated by the device when the user reaches the predefined goal. For example, in one embodiment the zapper device is preset to display an elongated sound after the user is able to accumulate the 15 Kills. Each player activates their power grid and immediately begins seeking insects to kill with the zapping device. The first player to log 15 Kills wins. In some embodiments, the predetermined goals may be preset at the factory whereas in others the predetermined goals are adjustable. For example, an adjustable signal portion may allow the user to adjust the predetermined goals to 10, 20, 30 Kills or other numbers using buttons on the device. The device is reset and may be played again.
In yet another mode, the zapper device may be configured to measure average Kill Frequency. In this mode, a timer may be used to register Kill Frequency within a designated time period. In alternative forms, a timer is not used. For example, two players hunt until one player calls to stop the game. Each player then checks their displays. The player with the higher Kill Frequency wins. As yet another alternative, the zapper device may be preset to have a Kill Frequency goal. For example, the user may reset then activate the device and proceed to hunt insects. The game continues indefinitely until the user is able to reach a predetermined Kill Frequency goal at which point the signal portion activates to alert the user that she has reached her goal. The first player to reach the Kill Frequency goal wins. This mode is useful for playing solo. Increasing the Kill Frequency goal on the device is effective for physically challenging the user since increased Kill Frequency generally requires greater physical effort and hunting skill.
In preferred embodiments, insect zapper game kits comprise two or more insect zapper devices comprising a signal portion to provide the user information or data with respect to success in hunting and destroying flying insects such as mosquitos. The kits will generally include instructions for playing hunting games and in some embodiments may include a scorecard to record scores between one or more players. The games may be the same or similar to those previously illustrated. The kit may also include the required batteries to operate an insect zapper and a carrying device such as a case, sock, or bag to carry one or more zapper devices and accessories. Alternative kits may comprise only a single insect zapper device with instructions, scorecard, carrying container, and having a signal portion that is used by one user or shared among two or more users.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings, wherein:
Various embodiments of novel insect zappers devices, method of playing games utilizing these novel insect zapper devices, and game kits comprising mobile insect zappers are disclosed herein.
The method in
In a preferred simplified embodiment, one method of gaming using a form of the disclosed insect zapper device is illustrated in
The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Many variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/218,645 filed Sep. 15, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62218645 | Sep 2015 | US |
