Replacement indicator

• US 20050078005A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Waterbury Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Antares Capital Corporation
• Inventors: Contadini, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/686,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078005A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/145 Attracting and catching insects using combined illumination or colours and adhesive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects

Abstract

The present invention describes a system for determining the effectiveness of a consumable source in a device that uses the consumable source to perform an action of the device. The system comprising a controller for monitoring the consumable source in the device, a consumable source operatively connected to the device, sensing means for determining when the consumable source needs replacing; and an indicator operatively coupled to the sensing means that signals when the replaceable source needs replacing.

Claims

1. A system for determining the effectiveness of a consumable source in a device that uses the consumable source to perform an action of the device, the system comprising:

a controller for monitoring the consumable source in the device;

a consumable source operatively connected to the device;

sensing means for determining when the consumable source needs replacing; and

an indicator operatively coupled to the sensing means that signals when the consumable source needs replacing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the consumable source is selected from the group consisting of light sources, adhesive surfaces, and time related components.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the effectiveness of the consumable source is not discernible by a user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of lights and buzzers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprises a timer or a sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensing means is reset when the consumable source is replaced.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a microcontroller.