Insect trap

Details Insect trap Insect trap

1998-09-18

2001-01-30

Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)

Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying

Traps

Insect

C043S115000, C043S116000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06178687

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an insect trap for eliminating insects, particularly flying insects which have invaded indoor premises.
2. The Related Art
Indoor pests, especially of the flying insect variety, traditionally have been controlled by the use of “fly paper.”
A typical fly paper includes first and second ends respectively attached to opposite sides of an elongated strip having both of its major surfaces coated with a highly sticky adhesive. The first end generally has a loop for attachment to an overhead fixture or a thumb tack for support of the paper against a ceiling area.
There are a number of technical deficiencies with the common fly paper trap. First, the area of ordinary fly paper is relatively small. Large infestations of insects are not completely captured by such product. Another problem with typical fly paper is the need for replacement at regular intervals with resulting inconvenience. Replacement usually entails procuring a ladder and climbing thereon to reach and release the attached end of the fly trap. Still a further problem with the traditional product is disposal. Elongated sticky paper has a tendency to curl. During disposal, movement of the paper can lead to undesired sticking against walls and other surfaces.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trap for flying insects which has a higher trapping capacity than those previously known.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a trap for flying insects which is easier to install and less messy to remove.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a trap for flying insects which allows for exposure of a fresh length of adhesive simply by advancing a length of fly paper from a scroll to a take-up tube.
These and other objects will become more readily apparent from the summary and detailed description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A trap for airborne insects is provided which includes:
(i) a scroll tube with left and right caps at respective left and right ends of the scroll tube;
(ii) a suspension support connected to the left and right ends of the scroll tube, the suspension support being of a sufficient length to be secured to a mount for supporting the suspension support and thereby supporting the trap;
(iii) a web of flexible substrate with first and second ends, the web being coated with a tacky adhesive on at least one surface, the first end of the web being attached to the scroll tube and rolled around the scroll tube; and
(iv) a tubular cylinder sized to receive the scroll tube when inserted therein, the second end of the web engaging the tubular cylinder in a manner to allow roll-up of the web onto the tubular cylinder.
Support wire according to the present invention encompasses not only metal strands (both flexible and rigid) but also, without limitation, natural and synthetic polymers. These include cellulosic cord, polyester, rayon, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene and combination fibers.
A clip or equivalent attachment device joins the cylinder on at least one of its respective left and right ends to the second end of the web. The clip may be a paper clip, spring-loaded clip, or hair clip. Other suitable connectors may be Velcro® or an adhesive strip.
Advantageously, the web will be printed with graphics. Preferably, these graphics should be insect attractant. For instance, the likeness of flies may be printed on the web.
Certain colors, specially fluorescent colors such as fluorescent chartreuse, are preferred because of their attractant properties. For additional visual cues to flying insects, a spider web may be drawn on the flexible substrate. Typical materials of construction for the flexible substrate include woven and non-woven textiles such as rayon, polyester and mixtures thereof. Most preferred is a purely cellulosic material such as high strength paper.
Maximum efficiency is achieved by coating both major surfaces of the web with adhesive. Synthetic or natural adhesives may be employed. Typical natural adhesives include starches and modified starches. Synthetic adhesives include polyacrylates, polyvinylchlorides, silicones, urethanes, styrene, copolymers (e.g., SIS, SBS) and polyvinylacetate. These adhesives preferably have a melting temperature substantially above the maximum ambient temperature, e.g. 150° F., yet should remain tacky down to freezing temperatures. The thickness of the adhesive coating may range between 0.02 to 0.5 inches.
The web may have a width ranging from about two inches to about twenty-four inches, preferably between about four and about twelve inches. In length, the web ranges preferably from about one to about forty feet, optimally from about three to about thirty feet. In a preferred embodiment, the free end of the web which is attached to the take-up cylinder has an adhesive-free section of approximately 1 to approximately 3 feet along the length of the web. The subsequent 20 to 30 feet of the remaining web is coated on both surfaces with adhesive.
The scroll tube and cylinder are preferably arranged to be on opposite sides of a plane defined by a major surface of the web.
The left and right caps flanking the scroll tube should include an aperture. The support wire can attach to the scroll tube by passage through both left and right apertures. The support wire may, however, be attached in an alternative manner as described below.
Each of the caps may include a circular disk surrounding the aperture and a cylindrical foot perpendicular to the disk. The foot has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the disk. The foot serves to anchor the cap within a hollow area of the cylinder. The cap further includes an L-shaped connector, one arm of the connector being rotatably held within the aperture and another arm being positioned flush against an outer surface of the disk. Alternative anchor arrangements may simply be a crimped or fisherman knot to tie the end of the foot or the support wire to the cap. A detent protruding from a surface of the disk is employed as a stop mechanism against gravity induced rotational movement of the L-shaped connector. Without the detent, the web would tend to unravel.
An eyelet is formed at an outer terminus of the L-shaped connector for joinder to an end of the support wire.
A pair of dust covers may be positioned over open opposite ends of the cylinder during storage of the scroll tube in the cylinder.
A major advantage of the trap according to the present invention is that there is no necessity for lodging the scroll tube/web/cylinder in any special housing or provide support pinions/racks or to connect same with an insert lure (e.g., fluorescent light). Neither is it necessary to supply electric energy to the system, crank levers, or to support the trap in any horizontal position thereby preventing its placement in critical areas, such as suspension from ceilings or walls.


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Popular Science Monthly, “Colored Fly Paper Attracts Insects”, p. 19, Feb. 1938.

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