Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying – Insect
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2001-03-20
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
Insect
C043S112000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202343
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of household pest collection and elimination and more particularly to a light weight small vacuum driven and electrically operated pest collection tool which electrically kills the pests, displays them and enables them to be safely disposed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional vacuum cleaners are often used for removing some insect pests in narrowly defined circumstances. These circumstances may arise where the household vacuum is already deployed and plugged in. In this case, the user might be able to use the vacuum suction to pull the pest into the conventional vacuum cleaner storage, but only with a combination of a powerful vacuum and an insect or pest which does not cling tightly to the wall or other surface can give passable results. In addition, a conventional vacuum cleaner may not have a hose with an acceptable level of “reach” without having to add special attachments, detaching the floor sweeper, and will probably require the main vacuum unit to be lifted in an attempt to reach the pest. Where the pest refuses to let go, severe movement of the nozzle or tip can cause the pest to be crushed against the wall or other surface to produce discoloration and a mess to clean up. Further, where the insect is of sturdy size or hardness, even where it is sucked up into the machine, it may crawl out of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is shut off. In some cases, the creature may hang in the vacuum tube and crawl out sooner than later.
The above problems with conventional vacuums including their bulk and other limitations produce the need for a pest disposal device which brings ease of use, ease of storage and positive indications of capture and disposal to set the mind of the user at ease that the pest will not re-emerge. In addition, for pests which cling to the surface on which they are found, a method is needed which will cause them to release from their stuck position which will not necessitate significant physical force and motion which would risk crushing the pest and soiling the surroundings. In addition, device is needed in which very little weight overall is imposed on the user, and with very little weight on a far end which is capable of reaching the pest, both to make things easier for the user, as well as to reduce the risk of crushing the pest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A dedicated, vacuum operated, electrical capture device has a shaped capture housing having an inner rim carrying conductors for killing or stunning a pest, to cause the pest to release itself from its position on a surface, and to enable even a modest suction to pull the pest through a telescoping section to a final section of tubing as a pest collection compartment which is accessible to facilitate disposal. This pest terminator-collection-disposal device includes an electrically driven device for establishing an air stream in an air duct forming at least a segment of a housing for the device. A pest collection compartment situated along the air intake tube with door for convenient disposal of the collected pests. The collection compartment preferably has an elongated body having a flexible closure structure and a filter structure. The closure structure preferably deflects under the influence of an air stream from a closed position to provide an entrance thereto for insects entrained in the air stream. The filter structure separates insects from the air stream and isolates them from the machine establishing the air stream. Upon termination of air flow, the flexible closure member is restored to an initial position to entrap the pest between the flap and filter structure. The duct in one embodiment includes an expandable and retractable array of elongated telescoping members. At one end of the embodiment, the shaped capture housing, referable as a “catch dome” includes a set of spaced apart conductors for operation with positive and negative polarity DC current. The now dead insect, which can not pose any struggle even when a limited vacuum is applied by pressing the vacuum button, is simply sucked into the pest collection compartment which is at or near and possibly part of a final tube section. To dispose the remains of the pest, the pest collection compartment can be brought immediately above a garbage can, where the user can then simply open the disposal door on the body of the collection compartment to dispose the remains of the pest. The pest collection compartment preferably contains a transparent section so that the user can know when the pest has been withdrawn into the device, will know that the pest is dead, and so that the user can dispose of the pest, preferably without touching it. The rear of the portable electric vacuum of the invention includes a handle, control switches and a vacuum motor which utilizes a radial exhaust method in order to minimize expelled air from disruption of the surroundings, so a not to blow papers, etc. The section which expels air also acts as a hilt with respect to the handle to facilitate positive manual control and ease of use. An internally operated shock system applies a shocking voltage between two spaced apart conductors about the inside periphery of the shaped capture housing. The use of the shock voltage is optional. If desired, the user can position the capture housing inner periphery near the pest, and press one of the two buttons on the rear handle to deliver a jolting discharge between the two spaced apart conductors located at the inner periphery of the shaped capture housing, either at the beginning of the capture process, or where a first capture reveals a pest which is stubbornly holding onto a surface at his location. The user, while operating the vacuum system of the invention, can observe the pest's passing into the pest collection compartment at which time the capture operation is indicated as being finished. Hand switches then move off of the vacuum and shocking buttons, the pest collection compartment can then be removed and emptied. The ability to physically insure that the pest is dead is of significant comfort to the user and permits inside the house disposal without having to worry about re-emergence of the pest from the waste container.
REFERENCES:
patent: 923368 (1909-06-01), Myser
patent: 1055620 (1913-03-01), Edgar
patent: 1583975 (1926-05-01), Hunt
patent: 1807076 (1931-05-01), Sweet
patent: 2567616 (1951-09-01), Moore
patent: 2637408 (1953-05-01), Yadoff
patent: 3214861 (1965-11-01), Arther
patent: 3319374 (1967-05-01), Gawne
patent: 3330063 (1967-07-01), Lockwood
patent: 4074458 (1978-02-01), Catlett
patent: 4175352 (1979-11-01), Catlett
patent: 4625453 (1986-12-01), Smith
patent: 4858376 (1989-08-01), Reed
patent: 4908978 (1990-03-01), Zacharias
patent: 4918857 (1990-04-01), Wade et al.
patent: 4979330 (1990-12-01), Rorant
patent: 5004446 (1991-04-01), Guong-hong
patent: 5020270 (1991-06-01), Lo
patent: 5040326 (1991-08-01), Van Dijnsen et al.
patent: 5052147 (1991-10-01), Broomfield et al.
patent: 5222322 (1993-06-01), Mastomonaco
patent: 5241779 (1993-09-01), Lee
patent: 5255468 (1993-10-01), Cheshire
patent: 5301458 (1994-04-01), Deyoreo et al.
patent: 5367821 (1994-11-01), Ott
patent: 5402598 (1995-04-01), Wade et al.
patent: 5595018 (1997-01-01), Wilbanks
patent: 5870851 (1999-02-01), Shoemaker
patent: 5915950 (1999-06-01), Kleinhenz
patent: 2236467 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 2191376 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 116241 (1947-01-01), None
patent: WO 84/00280 (1984-02-01), None
Ark Darren W.
DAKA Development Ltd.
Harrington Curtis L.
LandOfFree
Portable electric vacuum wired to terminate and dispose of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Portable electric vacuum wired to terminate and dispose of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable electric vacuum wired to terminate and dispose of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2506841