Patent Application
20190297868
The present invention relates to an insect trap for attracting and killing insects, specifically mosquitoes, where the user places textile containing human odor in the trap as an attractant to lure mosquitoes or other insects inside the trap, and thereafter disables and kills the insects.
Suction traps have been used in many different configurations to kill insects in the art. Some insect traps use insect attractants such as light, chemical attractants, heat, gas, moisture, or other insect attractants. These insect attractants would lure insects close enough to the trap, where an inflow of air would suck them into a mesh screen, which they cannot escape, and eventually die.
Many insect traps are not effective in trapping mosquitoes in particular, and require a lot of maintenance by the user. For example, one insect trap converts propane gas into carbon dioxide to attract insects. The propane tank has to be filled often and is expensive to fill. This insect trap also needs to be cleaned every time the propane tank is replaced. Some other insect traps claim a light source attracts mosquitoes, however it commonly attracts and kills moths/lepidoptera, which are good for the environment.
There is currently no insect trap designed specifically for the user to conveniently place textile containing human odors, such as clothing, rug mats, or bed sheets, into the trap as attractant, specifically to draw mosquitoes in the trap, and thereafter disable and kill the mosquitoes.
Using insect attractants such as light, chemical attractants, heat, gas, moisture, and many other insect attractants significantly increase the cost to manufacture and assemble the insect trap, resulting in a more expensive price to the user than necessary. Many of these insect traps require maintenance and recurring cost to purchase insect attractants for the trap, adding more inconvenience to the user.
Many insect traps do not direct the outflow of insect attractant parallel with the ground. However, doing so attracts insects from areas further away from the trap, and thus captures and kills more insects as opposed to an outflow of insect attractant perpendicular to the ground.
There is a need in the art for a practical mosquito trap designed for applying the user's textile containing human odors or artificial human odor as an attractant in the trap. There is also a need for the mosquito trap to be convenient to the user for placing and replacing the attractant, low user maintenance, and reasonably priced.
The insect trap of the present invention is designed for the user to conveniently place and replace textile containing human odor or artificial human odor as the insect attractant. The outflow of insect attractant is directed parallel to the ground, drawing insects from all areas near the trap to the inflow channels, where these insects are sucked into the trap and eventually die. This simple, yet effective insect trap needs relatively few molded parts, making for quick assembling, and thus an inexpensive price for the user. The nature of the attractant used in this invention specifically targets mosquitoes, and not other insects that are good for the environment, such as lepidoptera.
One embodiment of the present invention includes: a trap housing; a flow mechanism; an insect disabling structure; a structure for securing the suction source and the insect disabling structure to the trap housing; and a central region where the user can conveniently place textile containing human odor or artificial human odor.
The trap housing is made up of a substantially annular-shaped apparatus, a lid housing that snaps onto the lip of the annular-shaped apparatus, and a top housing that fastens on top of the lid housing. The annular-shaped apparatus contains at least one outflow channel, a central region where textile containing human odor, perspiration, dead skin, hair, or anything artificial of the like is provided and inserted by the user. The annular-shaped apparatus also provides a convenient lip for the lid housing to snap onto. The lid housing snaps onto the annular-shaped apparatus and provides a structure to hold the weight of the suction source and allows for air to flow from the inflow channels to the central region, where the insect attractant is located. The top housing provides: a structure that allows for inflow of air; protection from weather deterioration of the suction source; and mounting brackets to secure the suction source in place. Once assembled, the top housing and lid housing together will easily be removed and attached to the annular-shaped apparatus so the user can conveniently place and replace insect attractants.
The flow mechanism is comprised of a suction source such as a fan and at least one inflow channel and at least one outflow channel. The inflow communicates with the central region where the insect attractant is located, and the central region communicates with the outflow channel. The inflow channel provides a path to ingress the insects into the trap housing where the insects get trapped by the insect disabling structure. Airflow from atmosphere combines with the insect attractant inside the trap housing and directed to the outflow channels. This airflow mixed with insect attractant is directed outward from the trap and parallel to the ground. This will attract insects from areas surrounding the trap. Once insects are attracted close enough to the trap, they will be sucked through the inflow channel, through the suction source, and finally into an insect disabling structure where they will be trapped and eventually die.
The insect disabling structure allows airflow to pass through; however, prevents insects from passing through. This structure is attached to the suction source.
A structure for securing the suction source and insect disabling structure to the trap housing is needed to create the flow mechanism aforementioned. This is achieved by mounting brackets built into the top housing. Fasteners join the insect disabling structure to the suction source, and suction source to the top housing's mounting brackets as well.
A central region inside the annular-shaped apparatus provides space for the user to place textile containing human odor or artificial human odor as the insect attractant. Any other insect attractant may be used in this region as well.
The insect trap of the present invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 10 of
Referring to
The lid housing 38 is to snap on top of the annular-shaped apparatus 16 by the lip 44 of the lid housing 38. The lid housing 38 accomplishes multiple tasks that include: allows air to flow from the fan 48 to the central region 72 through the lid housing's central segment 42; contains lid housing holes 40 for fasteners 54 to pass through and fasten to the top housing 14; and provides support for the top housing 14, fan 48, fan grill guard 50, fasteners 54, mesh screen 56, and plastic fastener 58. A durable plastic is the preferred material for the lid housing 38.
The top housing's 14 primary purpose is to provide one or more inflow channels 24. However, it also serves as part of the housing to protect against weather degradation. As shown in
The summarized and detailed embodiments of the present invention will be understood not to limit the scope of any such embodiments and applications. It is understood that any substitutions and variations of the system, structure, and method described herein can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essence of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62631698 | Feb 2018 | US |
