Light emitting insect trap

• US 6,840,003 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dale Moore
• Original Assignee: Dale Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W.
• Application Number:
  US10/357,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 431/13, 431/39
• US Class Current: 43/113
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/08 Attracting and catching insects by using combined illumination or colours and suction effects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects

Abstract

A light emitting insect trap comprising an insect attracting mechanism, a support framework, a suction producing mechanism, at least one section of netting, a releasable fastening device, a plurality of fan guards and a mounting means. The insect attracting mechanism is preferably a plurality of light emitting devices. Once the insects are attracted to the proximity of the insect trap by the light emitting devices the insects are drawn into the insect trap by the downdraft generated by the suction producing mechanism. The suction producing mechanism is preferably a propeller blade fan. Once the insects are drawn into the insect trap they are collected in a section of netting that is attached to the support framework of the insect trap. The releasable fastening device allows access into the netting so that the collected insects may be disposed.

Claims

1. An insect trap comprising:

a generally cylindrical support framework having an open top end, an open bottom end, an exterior surface and an interior surface;

a suction producing mechanism located inside of said support frame, the suction producing mechanism being disposed between the open top end and the open bottom end;

at least one section of netting attached to the open bottom end of said support framework;

a releasable fastening device disposed on the at least one section of netting for opening and closing access to the netting;

an insect attracting mechanism, wherein said insect attracting mechanism comprises a plurality of light emitting devices located on and along the interior surface of said support framework adjacent the top opening;

a top wire mesh fan guard disposed across the support framework adjacent the top opening between the suction producing mechanism and the light emitting devices, whereby the top fan guard prevents contact with the suction producing mechanism when accessing the light emitting devices;

a bottom wire mesh fan guard disposed across the support framework adjacent the bottom opening below the suction producing mechanism for preventing contact when opening the netting; and

a mounting device disposed along the exterior surface of the support framework;

whereby insects that are attracted into a proximity of the insect trap are drawn into the insect trap by the suction producing mechanism and collected in said at least one section of netting.

2. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein the at least one section of netting comprises a large section of netting and a smaller section of netting, wherein the smaller section of netting is releasably attached to a bottom end of the large section of netting by said releasable fastening device.

3. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said at least one section of netting has an opening at a first end adjacent to the support framework and a closed second end.

4. The insect trap according to claim 3, wherein said at least one section of netting has continually convergent sides that become increasingly narrow at the closed second end than at the open first end resulting in the at least one section of netting having a funnel shape.

5. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said suction producing mechanism is a motor driven propeller blade fan.

6. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said support framework is made of a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, plastic and light weight metal.

7. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said at least one section of netting comprises a synthetic plastic selected from the group consisting of nylon and polyester.

8. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said releasable fastening device is selected from the group consisting of zippers and Velcro.

9. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said insect attracting mechanism comprises three light sources.

10. The insect trap according to claim 9, wherein said insect attracting mechanism comprises three different types of light sources.

11. The insect trap according to claim 9, wherein said light sources are selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, fluorescent lights and ultraviolet lights.