Mosquito and biting insect attracting and killing apparatus

• US 20030070345A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Long, Richard, Nolen, James A., Laverack, John, Bruno, Bob, Weaver, Greg, May, Randy, Mosher, Robert, Brooks, Judith, Winner, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 6,594,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/112
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/023 Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/14 Catching by adhesive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/223 by using electrocution
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 14/28 in association with a gaseous fuel source, e.g. acetylene generator, or a container for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

A mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus that includes a heat element (a thermal lure), a source of carbon dioxide (CO2), and a source of a chemical biting insect attractant, such as octenol. The heat for the thermal lure and the source of CO2 are provided by a propane flame. The thermal lure includes a structure that surrounds a propane burner and that is heated by the burner to a temperature that is similar to that of a small animal, such as 95 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The structure includes a series of baffles and conduction elements that permit the structure to have a substantially constant heat signature, which is desirable for attracting mosquitoes and other biting insects. A mechanism may be provided for trapping or killing the attracted mosquitoes, such as an adhesive substance or an electronic grid.

Claims

1. A mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus, comprising:

a mechanism for combusting fuel, the mechanism configured to combust fuel in a combustion location; and

a thermal lure mounted near the combustion location, the thermal lure having an outer surface and a heat dissipating structure, the outer surface and the heat dissipating structure being configured and arranged such that the outer surface maintains a substantially constant temperature range when fuel is combusted by the mechanism.

2. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a burner for producing a flame.

3. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a fuel tank connected to the burner, wherein the fuel tank is mounted below the mechanism, and the location is within the thermal lure.

4. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a skirt mounted around the fuel tank.

5. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising removable or rotatable legs mounted around the fuel tank.

6. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the heat output of the mechanism, and a plurality of settings for the adjustment mechanism, each of which represent a heat output required to maintain the outer surface at the substantially constant temperature range for a particular operating condition.

7. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of settings each comprise different ambient temperatures at which the mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus may operate.

8. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 7, wherein a setting for operating the mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus at 70 degrees represents a heat output between 300 and 400 BTU'"'"'s.

9. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 8, wherein a setting for operating the mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus at 70 degrees represents a heat output between 345 and 355 BTU'"'"'s.

10. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 7, wherein a setting for operating the mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus at 100 degrees represents a heat output of approximately 200 BTU'"'"'s.

11. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of settings comprise indicia representing temperatures at which the mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus may operate, and the adjustment mechanism comprises an indicator that may be aligned with the indicia.

12. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operating indicator configured to indicate that fuel is being combusted by the mechanism.

13. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the operating indicator comprises a thermal switch that is configured to be in a first condition when fuel is not combusted in the mechanism, and to switch to a second condition when a fuel is being combusted in the mechanism.

14. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the thermal switch cuts power to a light when the thermal switch is in the first position.

15. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer surface comprises an insect trap.

16. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 15, wherein the insect trap comprises an electronic grid.

17. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 15, wherein the insect trap comprises an adhesive substance to which insects may stick.

18. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the insect trap comprises a removable adhesive tray having an adhesive substance thereon.

19. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of removable adhesive trays having an adhesive substance thereon.

20. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 18, wherein the removable adhesive tray is mounted around the inner structure.

21. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a cage mounted around the outer surface, wherein the removable adhesive tray is mountable between the cage and the outer surface.

22. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a cap mounted such that it may close the removable adhesive tray between the cage and the outer surface, and so the removable adhesive tray may be accessed for removal by opening the cap.

23. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a chemical insect attractant removably mounted between the location and the cage, so that the cap may close the chemical insect attractant between the cage and the outer surface, and the chemical insect attractant may be accessed for removal by opening the cap.

24. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of removable adhesive trays having an adhesive substance thereon, each adhesive tray mounted around the outer surface and between the outer surface and the cage.

25. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 24, wherein the number of removable adhesive trays is two, and wherein the two removable adhesive trays are foldable in two locations so that a cross-section of the two removable adhesive trays may be formed into half-hexagons, whereby the two half-hexagons may be mounted around the outer surface to surround the outer surface.

26. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 25, further comprising guides on the sides of the two half-hexagons for fitting onto rails that are mounted outside the outer surface.

27. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chemical insect attractant removably mounted adjacent to the outer surface.

28. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 27, wherein the chemical insect attractant comprises a tray having a chemical insect attractant therein.

29. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a cage mounted around the outer surface, wherein the tray is mountable between the cage and the location; and

a cap mounted such that it may close the tray between the cage and the location, and so the tray may be accessed for removal by opening the cap.

30. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises an inner cylinder for surrounding the location.

31. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 30, wherein the heat dissipating structure further comprises an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder, the outer surface comprising an outer surface of the outer cylinder.

32. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 31, further comprising at least one thermally-conductive connector arm for connecting the inner and outer cylinders.

33. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one connector arm extends downward from the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder.

34. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a baffle connected in the inner cylinder and configured to direct at least partly sideways exhaust that is created by combustion produced by the mechanism.

35. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 34, wherein the baffle is spaced from the top of the inner cylinder, and further comprising a roof for the inner cylinder that fits over a top of the inner cylinder and is configured to direct at least partly sideways exhaust created by combustion produced by the mechanism.

36. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a central cylinder mounted between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

37. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 36, further comprising at least one connector arm for connecting the inner and outer cylinders, and at least one connector arm for connecting the inner cylinder and the central cylinder.

38. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a cap for fitting over the central cylinder, the cap comprising holes for emitting a flow of fluid upward out of or downward into between the central cylinder and the outer cylinder, and at least one hole for permitting a flow of fluid upward from or downward into the central cylinder.

39. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a structure for directing exhaust from the central cylinder to the outer surface of the outer cylinder, the exhaust emitted from combustion produced by the mechanism.

40. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 39, wherein the structure comprises:

a plate mounted over the central cylinder, the cap comprising outlet holes for emitting a flow of fluid upward from or downward to the outside of the outer cylinder, and an exhaust hole for permitting a flow of fluid upward from or downward into the central cylinder; and

an enclosed covering over the outlet holes and the exhaust hole.

41. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 40, wherein the enclosed cover comprises a cap that may be opened.

42. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 39, wherein the exhaust emitted from combustion produced by the mechanism is cooled by the heat dissipating structure and the structure to the substantially constant temperature range.

43. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a structure for directing exhaust from the inner cylinder to the outer surface of the outer cylinder, the exhaust emitted from combustion produced by the mechanism.

44. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 43, wherein the structure comprises:

a plate mounted over the inner cylinder, the cap comprising outlet holes for emitting a flow of fluid upward from or downward to the outside of the outer cylinder, and an exhaust hole for permitting a flow of fluid upward from or downward into the inner cylinder; and

an enclosed covering over the outlet holes and the exhaust hole.

45. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 44, wherein the enclosed cover comprises a cap that may be opened.

46. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 43, wherein the exhaust emitted from combustion produced by the mechanism is cooled by the heat dissipating structure and the structure to the substantially constant temperature range.

47. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust emitted from combustion produced by the mechanism exits adjacent to the outer surface and is cooled by the heat dissipating structure to the substantially constant temperature range.

48. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipating structure comprises a thermally conductive material.

49. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a structure for directing exhaust from combustion in the mechanism and emitted from the heat dissipating structure to the outer surface.

50. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially constant temperature range is a range of temperatures between 95 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, inclusive.

51. An insect trapping apparatus, comprising:

a first panel having an outer edge and an inner edge;

a second panel attached along a first edge to the inner edge of the first panel;

a third panel having an outer edge and an inner edge and attached at the outer edge to a second edge of the second panel;

the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel being formed so that a cross-section across the three panels is a half-hexagon;

adhesive substance on front sides of the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel;

a first guide on the outer edge of the first panel for fitting onto a rail; and

a second guide on the outer edge of the third panel for fitting onto a rail.

52. The insect trapping apparatus of claim 51, wherein the first and second guides each comprise offset concave flanges for fitting against a rail.

53. The insect trapping apparatus of claim 51, wherein the attachment of the first panel to the second panel is hinged and the attachment of the first panel to the second panel is hinged so that the apparatus may be folded to a linear cross-section across the three panels.

54. A mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus, comprising:

a mechanism for combusting fuel, the mechanism configured to combust fuel in a combustion location; and

an insect trap mounted beside the location, the insect trap comprising an adhesive substance to which insects may stick.

55. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 54, wherein the insect trap comprises a removable adhesive tray having an adhesive substance thereon.

56. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 55, further comprising a plurality of removable adhesive trays having an adhesive substance thereon.

57. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 55, wherein the removable adhesive tray is mounted around the location.

58. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a cage mounted around the location, wherein the removable adhesive tray is mountable between the cage and the location.

59. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a cap mounted such that it may close the removable adhesive tray between the cage and the location, and so the removable adhesive tray may be accessed for removal by opening the cap.

60. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 59, further comprising a chemical insect attractant removably mounted between the cage and the location, so that the cap may close the chemical insect attractant between the cage and the location, and the chemical insect attractant may be accessed for removal by opening the cap.

61. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a plurality of removable adhesive trays having an adhesive substance thereon, each adhesive tray mounted around the location and between the location and the cage.

62. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 61, wherein the number of removable adhesive trays is two, and wherein the two removable adhesive trays are foldable in two locations so that a cross-section of the two removable adhesive trays may be formed into half-hexagons, whereby the two half-hexagons may be mounted around the location to surround the location.

63. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 62, further comprising guides on the sides of the two half-hexagons for fitting onto rails that are mounted outside the location.

64. The mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a chemical insect attractant removably mounted adjacent to the location.