Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Traps – Insect
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-03-06
Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Traps
Insect
C043S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195932
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to insect killing devices, and more particularly to a musical electronic insect killing device which plays a song or musical melody when an insect is electrocuted by the device. The insect killing device monitors and senses the current load delivered to the device to ascertain frequency responses in the current load signal associated with electrostatic discharges used to electrocute insects. When the device determines an insect has been electrocuted from the current load signal, the device plays a song or musical melody.
2. Description of the Background Art
Electrical insect killers have been in use for many years for killing insects within an area or proximity. The modem day electronic insect killer typically includes a set of electrodes for electrocuting insects and one or more fluorescent lamps for attracting the insects to the electrodes. Normally, a transformer or electronic circuit converts conventional line voltage to a higher voltage which is provided across the electrodes for electrocuting the insects. The fluorescent lamps, electrodes and transformer are normally housed within a protective screen to protects users from potential electrical shock from the electrodes. As an insect flies toward the fluorescent lamps and comes into contact or into close proximity with the electrodes, an electrostatic discharge is provided across the electrodes through the insect, and the insect is killed thereby. These insect killers continue to kill additional insects which come into contact or into close proximity to the electrodes, but otherwise do not perform additional functions.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electronic insect killing apparatus which provides for means for monitoring and sensing when an insect is killed by the apparatus and means for activating a music player when an insect is determined to be killed by the apparatus. The present invention satisfies these needs, as well as others, and generally overcomes the deficiencies found in the background art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a musical electronic insect killer apparatus and method which plays a musical melody or song when an insect is killed by the apparatus. The apparatus provides a light source for attracting insects towards a set of electrodes enclosed within a protective screen. The apparatus provides a high voltage source across the electrodes so that when an insect comes in contact or in close proximity to the electrodes, the insect is electrocuted and thereby killed. The apparatus monitors and detects the load current delivered to the apparatus and activates a music player when the detected load current exceeds a predefined threshold associated with the electrocution of the insect by the apparatus. The present invention can be used with conventional electronic insect killer devices which are presently available.
In general terms, the invention comprises a hood, a base, a protective screen extending from the base to the hood, means for electrocuting an insect when the insect comes in contact or in close proximity to the electrocuting means, means for attracting insects to the electrocuting means, means for sensing the electrocution of the insect, and means for activating a music player when electrocution of the insect is sensed.
By way of example, and not of limitation, the attracting means comprises one or more fluorescent lamps producing UV (ultraviolet) light attached to a power supply. Preferably, each lamp is located within the protective screen and the length of each lamp extends from the hood to the base. The power supply is provided within the hood to illuminate each lamp for attracting insects.
The electrocuting means is generally provided by a set of electrodes connected to a high voltage means. Various configurations and arrangements for the set of electrodes may be used with the invention. For example, the electrodes may comprise a first and second wire mesh grid, with each grid structured and configured in a cylindrical shape, and with each grid depending downwardly from the hood to the base. The first grid generally has a larger circumference than the second grid and is enclosed within the protective screen. The fluorescent lamps are generally enclosed within circumference of the electrode grids and the protective screen. The high voltage means normally comprises an electronic circuit which converts conventional line voltage to a voltage level capable of electrocuting an insect when the insect comes in contact or close proximity to the electrode grids. The voltage generated by the electronic circuit is coupled to the first and second electrode grids providing a high frequency electrostatic field therebetween. Other high voltage means can also be utilized including a transformer. The high voltage means is housed within the hood and is activated when power is supplied to the apparatus.
Generally, when the apparatus is activated, power is delivered to the fluorescent lamp at a frequency which is predominantly sixty (60) hertz (Hz) with some power delivered at higher harmonics. The current drawn from delivering power to the fluorescent lamp continues while the apparatus remains activated and can thus be described as a “long term” average power consumed by the apparatus. When an insect comes in contact or in close proximity to the electrode grids, a short high frequency electro-static discharge is delivered across the electrode grids to electrocute and kill the insect. The discharge generally appears within the frequency ranges from approximately six (6) to sixty (60) Hz. This discharge generally occurs only when insects or other objects come is contact or close proximity to the electrode grids, and can thus be described as a “short term” event or power draw by the apparatus.
The means for sensing the electrocution of the insect comprises means for sensing “long term” average power consumption associated with providing power to the fluorescent lamp, means for sensing “short term” power consumption events associated with electric discharge between the electrode grids, means for comparing the “long term” average power consumption with the “short term” power consumption events to ascertain which predominates or is “emphasized”, and means for a communicating a song activation signal when the “short term” power consumption events are emphasized or predominate over the “long term” average power consumption. The means for sensing the electrocution is preferably embodied in an electronic circuit mounted on a circuit board and is housed within the hood of the apparatus. The means for sensing long term average power consumption is preferably provided by a low pass filter circuit which emphasizes low frequencies associated with providing power to the fluorescent lamp. The means for sensing short term power consumption events is provided by a filter circuit emphasizing frequencies in range produced when a discharge occurs between the electrode grids. The comparison means is provided by a comparison circuit which accepts input from the low pass filter and the short term event filter and produces a song activation output signal where the short term event filter produces a higher output than the low pass filter by a predetermined amount.
The means for activating a music player when electrocution of the insect is sensed is provided by an electronic circuit or relay housed within the hood of the apparatus. The music player activation means is operatively coupled to the means for sensing the electrocution and the music player and carries out the operation of activating a music player when the means for sensing the electrocution produces a song activation output signal.
An object of the invention is to provide a musical electronic insect killer which generates a musical output responsive to the killing of an insect.
Another object of the invention is to provide a musical electronic insect killer which can quickly, easily and inexpensively be manufactured or retrofitted into existing electronic insect kil
Aicher Steve A.
Rowan Kurt
Sierra Patent Group Ltd.
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