Insect capturing device

• US 6,574,915 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony Allen
• Original Assignee: Anthony Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Golba, Tara M
• Application Number:
  US09/709,464
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 431/10, 431/33, 431/34, 431/35, 431/11, 431/37, 431/21, 294/19.1, 294/66.1, 294/86.26, 294/86.28, 294/1.4, 294/8.5, 294/19-- 1
• US Class Current: 43/134
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 3/00 Manual implements, other than sprayers or powder distributors, for catching or killing insects, e.g. butterfly nets

Abstract

An insect capturing device including a head having bristles which are arranged in concentric rings. A handle has a trigger which allows a user to move the bristles between a diverged position and a converged position in which an insect is entrapped without being injured. The device may then be carried outdoors and the bristles again moved to the diverged position so that the insect is released harmlessly.

Claims

1. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of tufts of bristles arranged in a ring, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises means for causing the bristles to converge.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a spring mounted to bias the bristles to a converged state.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is connected to the head by an elongate rod.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bristles are turned at an angle of approximately 90°

.

6. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect,

said plurality of bristles being arranged in an outer pattern of bristles and an inner pattern of bristles, with the outer pattern of bristles being longer in length than the inner pattern of bristles.

7. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect,

the actuator including a diaphragm supporting the bristles and the diaphragm being movable between a convex position at which the bristles diverge and a concave position at which the bristles converge.

8. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles arranged in two or more concentric rings, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles.

9. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles arranged in two or more concentric rings and bristles of an outer ring are longer then bristles of an inner ring, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles.

10. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of tufts of bristles arranged in two or more concentric rings and the tufts of adjacent rings being mounted in mutually offset configuration, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles.

11. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles, the actuator including means for causing the bristles to converge, said means including a diaphragm supporting the bristles and means for moving the diaphragm between a convex position at which the bristles diverge and a concave position at which the bristles converge, said means for moving the diaphragm including a rod connected at one end to the diaphragm and at the other end to a trigger mechanism at the handle.

12. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles, the actuator including means for causing the bristles to converge, said means including a diaphragm supporting the bristles and means for moving the diaphragm between a convex position at which the bristles diverge and a concave position at which the bristles converge, said means for moving the diaphragm including a rod connected at one end to the diaphragm and at the other end to a trigger mechanism at the handle, and said trigger mechanism including a front fixed handle part and a rear trigger connected to the rod.

13. An insect capturing device comprising

a user handle and an insect capturing head,

the head including a plurality of bristles, and

an actuator causing the bristles to move to surround and capture an insect in contact with the bristles, and at least some of the bristles being turned at their ends to have a substantially L-shape and a direction of the ends of said bristles being that of movement to surround an insect, the bristles being mounted in a plurality of concentric rings and bristles of an outer ring being turned at their ends.