US681772A - Insect-trap. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 68!,772. v Patented Sept. 3, I91". 8. A. WRIGHT.

INSECT TRAP.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1901;)

(No Model.)

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SILAS A. WRIGHT, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

-IN S ECT-TRAP.

SIPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681 ,772, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed April 9, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, SILAS A. WRIGHT, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Insect-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of insect-traps which employ a central light to attract night-flying insects and having also suitable means for trapping and destroying them; and the object of the present improvement is to provide simple and effective means for attracting insects and suddenly check their flight as they approach the attractive center by striking deflectors which throw them into a receptacle below containing poisonous or other matter which will destroy the same, the deflectors and means for supporting the same being of a particularly advantageous character as to their construction and arrangement and capable of being applied in operative position to any form of receptacle without specially preparing the latter.

With this and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an insect-trap embodying the features of the invention and showing the illuminating device partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved trap, showing a modification. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of a trap similar to that shown by Fig. 3 and embodying a further modification.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several Views.

The numeral 1 designates a pan or receptacle, which may be a device of this class commonly used in a household and preferably having a beaded edge 2.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of supporting- wires 3 and 4 are diametrically disposed in relation to the pan and arranged in planes at right angles to each other, the said wires intersecting at the Serial No. 55,088. (No model.)

center and formed with terminal hooks 5 to catch over the beaded edge 2, and thereby firmly attach the same to the pan. Rising from the wires, on opposite sides of the cen ters thereof, are deflectors 6 and connected at their upper ends to right-angularly-disposed centrally-intersecting top-supporting wires 7 and 8, the wires 3 and 7 being parallel with each other and likewise the wires 4 and 8. Each pair of the parallel wires has two of the deflectors attached thereto by rolling the ends therearound or otherwise fastening the same, the inner edges of the deflectors being inclined upwardly and inwardly, as at 9, to provide a clear space of sufficient dimension adjacent to the point of intersection of the wires 3 and 4: to form a seat for an illuminating device 10, such as a lamp, lantern, candle, torch, or other analogous lighting means. The wire a is formed with a central downwardly-projectin g crimp 11 to receive the portion of the wire 3 crossing said wire 4,so that a stable seat will be provided for the said illuminatin g device, and the central portions of the Wires 7 and 8 have reversely-arranged interlocking crimps 12 and 13, respectively, to maintain the wires and the deflectors in the radial positions desired with sufficient certainty to resist accidental displacement. The deflectors will be constructed of any suitable material,either sheet metal or other sheet substance or wire-gauze, and it is proposed to place a poisonous liquid or other material in the pan 1 beneath the deflectors,so that as the insects, attracted by the illuminating device, are drawn toward and strike the said deflectors they will be caused to fall into the pan and be destroyed or killed. A very efficient at tracting means in conjunction with the lighting device would be to have the deflectors present very highly polished or reflecting surfaces to produce a brighter display over the pan. The wires carrying the deflectors can be easily assembled or detached, and the dead insects will be removed from time to time from the pan and the latter replenished with the destroying material.

In Fig. 3 a single pair of deflectors 6 are shown and attached to the wires 4 and 8, as before explained, the wire 3 being without deflectors, and the said wires 4 and 8 are vposite portions of the wire 3.

crossed wires provide a support in this instance for an illuminating device similarly to the construction heretofore set forth. With the exception of the absence of one pair of deflectors and the use of the brace-wire 14 the construction and arrangement of this modified form is the same as that heretofore described. In Fig. 4 the same parts are included as in Fig. 3, with the exception that the lower wires have angular deflections or bends 15 at the terminals to bring said Wires down into the pan and insure trapping of the insects, particularly some kinds of the latter, and by this means also less destroying liquid or other substance is required to be placed in the pan to produce the result sought.

The improved device in either of its forms can be placed in any place where the illuminating efiect will be best presented or produce the greatest attraction, or it may be disposed to provide such distinct attraction as to cause insects coming into its range to be drawn thereto and be destroyed. In the manufacture of the trap the wires and deflectors will be prepared and arranged as set forth, and the pans being of ordinary form can be easily obtained in bulk in the market at a minimum cost.

Changes in the size, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to Without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In an insect-trap, the combination with a pan, of supporting-wires terminally attached thereto and centrally intersecting each other at an angle, the central crossed portions of the wires forming a seat for an illuminating device, two or more highly-polished deflectors held in vertical position by said Wires and having a space between the inner opposing edges thereof, and intersecting brace-Wires coacting with the upper extremities of the deflectors to prevent the latter from being

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