WO2019112543A1

WO2019112543A1 - Insect trap

Info

Publication number: WO2019112543A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/053396
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Stewart GARVER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-05-24
Filing date: 2017-09-26
Publication date: 2019-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-24

Abstract

The present invention consists of two functional components. The first being a light which when emitted, is bright enough to essentially paralyze the insect by overwhelming its receptors so that it cannot detect motion. The second is a container which encapsulates the insect. These can be two or more separate devices or incorporated into one single device.

Description

Provisional Application for United States Patent

TITLE: INSECT TRAP

INVENTOR(S): Douglas Stewart Garver

[0001] BACKGROUND

[0002] Removing house flies and other insects is an unpleasant and often messy nuisance. The common flyswatter requires speed and accuracy. According to National

Geographic, a common housefly can accelerate from stationary to full-speed in 1/50 the time it takes the average person to blink. Their eyes consist of thousands of light receptors with a 360 degree field of view. They also see polarized light, which allows for less glare. Even if used successfully, the flyswatter splatters the surface of whatever it lands on with the unsanitary remains.

[0003] Other devices are available which use high-voltage surfaces which essentially electrocute the insect when it makes contact.

[0004] Still others use glue strips which don't actually kill the insect but prevent it from ever leaving the surface of the contact paper. Presumably to die later of natural causes.

[0005] None of these methods are highly successful and each has drawbacks

[0006] There is a need for a device which does not require speed and accuracy and also does not create an unsanitary mess. It would also be helpful if it were simple enough to operate so that even a small child could use it. [0007] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The following is intended to be a brief summary of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0009] The present invention consists of two functional components. The first being a light which when emitted, is bright enough to essentially paralyze the insect by overwhelming it's receptors so that it cannot detect motion. The second is a container which encapsulates the insect. These can be two or more separate devices or incorporated into one single device.

[00010] Once the insect has been encapsulated the light can be turned off. When the insect begins moving or flying around inside of the capsule, The end of the capsule can be closed with a small door or hatch trapping the insect inside. It can then be taken outdoors and released.

[00011] BRIE F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[00012] Item A in the diagram is a light emitting device. This device can be a flashlight or any other device that is capable of emitting a bright light sufficient to temporarily blind an insect by overwhelming its light receptors.

[00013] Item B in the diagram is a simple on/off switch. It matters not if the switch is used or some other method of turning the light off. The device will function with the light on also, eliminating the switch altogether, provided that the insect can be captured in the chamber.

[00014] Item C in the illustration is the chamber or container used to capture the insect.

This can be made of any material, however if clear plastic or glass is used then the insect can be seen and it's capture can be visually confirmed. When the light is shone through the capsule, the temporarily blinded insect has limited or no movement. This chamber or capsule is brought down directly on top of the insect. In this example, the chamber is physically attached to the light emitting device (item A)

[00015] Item D and item E go together on this illustration. This is a swiveling Hatch or lid that encloses item C; the containment chamber. Item D is a pivot pin that attaches item E (the hatch or lid) to the chamber (Item C). There are several ways of making this attachment not limited to this arrangement. The function being that it encloses the insect inside of the chamber.

It can also be omitted entirely and anything at all can be used to keep The insect inside, including the user's hand.

[00016] Item F is used to represent the beam of light which is shone directly onto the insect. This needs to be unobstructed and directly from the lens, although if shone through clear glass it would work as well. However, any shadow or interruption of the light beam may interfere with the temporary blinding or overwhelming of the insects vision receptors, allowing it to sense movement and escape

[00017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

[00018] The terminology used here on is for the purpose of describing particular components only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Variations of these components can be used to achieve the same results. However, the principal operating theory remains the same.

[00019] The diagram includes components which are functional for the purpose of temporarily blinding an insect by overwhelming its light receptors and capturing it. However, it does not preclude additional components which could be substituted or added to the device which w^?ould not change the overall purpose and function of the device.

00020] All of these items in the diagram can be separate or used as a wholly assembled device.

[00021] For the sake of convenience, this device could easily be batten,_' powered and the light emitting device would be in the form of a small flashlight. This arrangement would also have the benefit of being able to focus the light beam directly in One Direction through the Capsule. However, it is possible to use any form of light emitting device, provided that it has a beam bright enough to overwhelm the light receptors of the insect.

[00022] It isn't necessary to have a large area for the beam, in the illustration the light emitting device being portrayed could be an inch or less in diameter. The device could be scaled larger or smaller depending on its specific use or surface where the insect is being trapped.

[00023] The capsule that is portrayed is attached to the end of the light emitting device. This is also for the sake of convenience, but it is not necessary to have two separate components. The light emitting device and the capsule could be manufactured as one component.

[00024] The primary reason for having a clear plastic, glass, or screen capsule component is so that the user can confirm that they have captured the insect. However, if the component were made of non transparent material, the device would still function as intended.

[00025] Once the insect has been contained against a surface using the Capsule, The lid or Hatch can be closed. It is preferable, but not necessary', that the insect be stimulated to move so that it does not interfere with the closing of the hatch or lid. This can be accomplished by turning off the light or otherwise stimulating the insect to move.

[00026] The lid or Hatch is optional and may or may not be attached to the capsule. Many things can be used to contain the insect inside the capsule including but not limited to the user sliding the entire device over their Hand

[00027] Once the insect is securely inside of the capsule it can be taken outside and released or disposed of in whatever method is preferable by the user.

[00028] REFERENCES (incorporated herein by reference)

1. Owen. James. "Mystery Solved: Why Flies Are So Hard to Swat." National Geographic.

Voices: National Geographic. 14 Apr 2014. Web. 11 May 2017.

2. Alcoz, J. "Insect P-Ray Vision." The Secret Gift of Polarized Vision. Polarization, n.d. Web. 11 May 2017.

3. Miorelli, Nancy. "Through the Compound Eye." Ask an Entomologist. Ask Entomologists, 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 11 May 2017.

Claims

Claim: A device intended for the purpose of capturing insects by use of:

A light emitting device sufficient to overwhelm The light receptors or vision of an insect. A capsule or container used for the puipose of containing the insect.