US1340779A - Flytrap - Google Patents

Description

WITNESS:

W. 1. LEE.

FLYTRAP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, I919.

Patented May 18,1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

TTED STATES PATNT OFFIGE,

WILLIAM J'. LEE, OF EUGE1\TE, OREGON.

Application filed August 18, 1919.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM J. LEE, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-

sidin at Eugene, in the county of Lane, and r state of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flytraps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to insect traps, particularly to devices for catching flies, and has for its object the provision of a trap adapted for detachable engagement upon a window screen or screen door at the upper portion thereof and so arranged. that flies working their way up the screen will enter the device and be trapped therein, the device being quickly and easily removable from the door or window screen whereby to facilitate the killing of the flies trapped therein, and a portion of the device being detachable or removable whereby to permit the ready removal of the dead flies.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which is provided with novel means whereby it may be quickly and easily engaged upon the door or window screen. 2

Another object is the provision of spring catches holding the removable portion -of the device.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be very simple and inexpensive in manufacture and 1nstallation,-highly eflicient m use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

1th the above and other ObjGCtS and advantages 1n vlew, the invention conslsts 1n the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 .is an elevation of a screen showing my device applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the means for holding my device upon a screen and also showing the means for holding the removable portion of the device in position,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing my device detached from the screen and the removable portion disengaged from the main portion, and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4 1 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a screen which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Serial No. 318,173.

may be a window screen or a screen door and which includes the usual frame B.

In carrying out my invention I provide a receptacle formed as a casing 10 of substan tially rectangular form and having its ends 11 formed of sheet metal and its back and front walls 12 and 13 formed of wire screen. At the upper edge of its back wall the device is provided with a transverse strip 1 1 of sheet metal connecting the ends and at the bottom edge of the back wall is provided a similar strip 15. The upper part of the front wall 12 is curved and the lower edge of the front wall is secured to a horizontally disposed strip 16 forming a portion of the bottom of the device. The strip 16 is comparatively narrow with respect to the thickness of the entire device so as to provide an opening 17, in the bottom and the rear edge of the bottom strip 16 has formed thereon a right angularly downwardly extending flange 18 cooperating with flanges 19 formed at the lower edges of the end walls 11 and also cooperating with the strip 15 at the bottom edge of the back wall. This portion of the device constitutes the cage. The ends of the upper strip 14 are offset forwardly, as shown at 20, and are then reflexly bent rearwardly and then laterally to provide lugs 21, for a purpose to be described.

Detachably associated with this cage portion of the device is a trapping member formed as a rectangular frame 22 formed of strips 23 and 24 properly secured together. as shown. The ends of the strip 23 are offset forwardly, as shown at 25. and are then reflexly bent rearwardly and laterally to provide lugs 26 similar to the lugs 21, for a purpose to be described. Secured to the ends 27 of the strip 24 and offset slightly inwardly with respect thereto are upwardly extending triangular plates 28.

. Secured to the lower portions of the strips bottom of the cage, the frame 22 engaging exteriorly upon the flanges 18 and 19 and the bottom strip 15 at the back of the cage. This trapping member is held in this position by means of leaf spring catches 31 which are secured at one end upon the lower portions of the end walls 11 and which are provided with inwardly extending angular portions 32 engaging beneath the bottom edges of the ends of the strip 2 1.

In order that the device may be detachably mounted upon the screen A, the frame B of the screen has secured thereon a plu-' rality of forwardly oflset brackets 33 within which are engageable the lugs 21 and 26 formed on the device, the engagement of the lugs within the brackets being effected by positioning the device against the screen with the lugs above the brackets and then sliding the device downwardly.

When the device is thus positioned upon the screen, as shown in the drawings, flies lighting upon the screen will naturally work their way upwardly, as is well known. When the flies reach the device they will pass through the open bottom of the frame 22 and into the trapping member 29, whence they will pass through the holes into the cage 10. After a large number of flies has collected within the cage the operator may move the cage upwardly with respect to the screen to disengage the lugs 21 and 26 from the brackets 33 so that the device may be removed from the screen. Hot water is then poured on the cage 10 or the cage is thrown into water to kill the flies therein. After the flies are dead the operator presses the spring cages 31 outwardly and removes the frame 22 from engagement with the cage, after which the dead flies are dumped out. The device may then be reassembled and be replaced upon the screen, as above described, ready for further use.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in. the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A device of. the character described comprising a cage member, a trapping memtending from the sides of said cage member, a trapping member detachably engaged upon the bottom of said cage member and including a screen portion extending up wardly into said cage member, means for securing said trapping member to said cage member, lugs extending laterally from said trapping member, and brackets adapted to be secured upon a screen frame and engageable by said lugs whereby to hold the device upon the screen, engagement of said lugs within said brackets being effected by downward sliding movement of the device with respect to the screen.

3. A device of the character described comprising a cage member formed of a casing having solid end walls, a solid bottom provided with an opening, transverse strips connecting said end walls at the top and bottom portions thereof, the front and back walls of said casing being formed of wire screen and the front wall being curved at its upper end to merge into the back wall, flanges extending downwardly at the side of the opening in the bottom wall, a trapping member formed of a rectangular frame engaging cxteriorly 'upon said flanges and including an upwardly tapering portion formed of wire screen extending through said opening and into said cage member, the highest point of said screen portion of said trapping member being provided with a series of holes, and spring members so cured upon the end walls of said cage member and provided at their lower ends with inwardly extending shoulders engaging beneath the lower edges of the end portions of the frame of said trapping member for holding said trapping member associated with said cage member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM J. LEE.

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