AU736705B2

AU736705B2 - Insect trapping means

Info

Publication number: AU736705B2
Application number: AU68074/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Starkey
Original assignee: E B HOLLAWAY Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Eb Hollaway Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-05-23
Filing date: 1998-05-22
Publication date: 2001-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-22
Also published as: AU6807498A

Description

U11 P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: E.B. Hollaway Pty Ltd John Starkey WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Insect Trapping Means" Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s): P06984 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- The present invention relates to an insect trapping means and more particularly to an insect trapping means which can be conveniently mounted to a wall or suspended from a point or points as required.

Insects are common pests that can impinge on many human activities.

Furthermore, many insects carry disease and are responsible for many major and minor human afflictions.

There are many methods used to eradicate insects, some of which rely on chemicals that are highly toxic to humans as well. Insect traps of various forms are presently available and rely on various means for attracting and destroying insects. Some insect traps use aromatic type attractants which can be unpleasant and thus not user friendly. Whilst some of these traps are effective they have limited application and cannot usually be used in small areas such as households and restaurants.

The present invention seeks to provide an insect trapping means that overcomes or at least partially alleviates the aforementioned problems. The "present invention also seeks to provide an insect trapping means which is °suitable for use in most small indoor areas and can also be effectively used in covered outdoor applications.

Thus, the present invention provides an insect trapping means comprising a 20 housing having an insect attracting means located therein and a plurality of o. insect retaining members mounted thereon, at least one of the insect retaining members being moveable to open and close the housing as required.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

-3- The housing may be of various shapes and sizes and is somewhat dependent on the shape and configuration of the insect attracting means located therein. In one particular form the housing is formed in a box like configuration. Preferably, the housing is a generally rectangular frame member having a top, a bottom and two sides therebetween.

The housing may be opened or closed by moving at least one of the insect retaining members. In this regard, when the insect trapping means is in use the housing is open sufficiently to expose the insect attracting means.

The insect attracting means may be any means capable of attracting insects.

Preferably, the insect attracting means is a fluorescent light source.

Preferably, the insect retaining members comprise tray members that are pivotally mounted on the housing.

Thus, the present invention also provides an insect trapping means comprising a housing in the form of a generally rectangular frame member having a fluorescent light source located therein and a plurality of insect retaining members in the form of tray members pivotally mounted thereon, at least one of the tray members being moveable to open and close the housing as required.

The remainder of the description will more fully describe the preferred form of the invention described immediately above. However, it will be appreciated that S: 20 the following description is in no way to limit the generality of the preceding paragraphs.

The shape of the frame member may be varied and is at least partially dependent on the configuration of the fluorescent light source located therein.

Preferably, the frame member comprises a top, a bottom and two sides therebetween.

le -4- The fluorescent light source may be varied provided it is capable of attracting insects. Preferably, the fluorescent light source is provided by a plurality of fluorescent light tubes and in particular four 18W light tubes such as those manufactured by Hitachi®.

When the fluorescent light source is provided by light tubes, the light tubes may be arranged in a variety of formats. Preferably, the tubes are supported from the sides of the frame member and are arranged vertically, one on top of the other.

The tray members may be varied provided they are capable of retaining insects that have been attracted to the insect trapping means by the fluorescent light source. The tray members may be adapted to retain insects on contact. In this regard, the tray members may themselves be adherent in that they have a least one adherent surface. Alternatively and preferably, the tray members may be adapted to receive adherent inserts such as sticky paper for retaining insects on contact.

15 When the tray members are adapted to receive inserts they preferably further comprise an insert retaining means. The retaining means may be varied and in one particular form comprises a fitting means that is positioned to abut the insert and retain the insert in the tray member and allow the insert to be removed and replaced as the need arises.

20 Preferably, the fitting means comprises a plurality of fitting members that are S. engageable with the inserts to retain the inserts in the tray member. In one particular form, the tray member is provided with a plurality of fitting members that are adapted to receive the edges of the insert thus retaining the insert in the tray member.

When the tray members themselves are adherent they are preferably coloured so as to attract insects over and above the insect attracting means.

Alternatively, when the tray members include adherent inserts the inserts may 1. 1e be coloured so as to attract insects. The colour of the tray members or the inserts may be varied provided they are capable of attracting insects.

Preferably, the colour is such that it interacts with the light source to attract insects and in one particular form the colour is fluorescent yellow.

The tray members may be pivotally mounted on the frame member in various configurations. Preferably, the tray members are mounted on opposing sides of the frame member and in one particular form there is two tray members pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the frame member.

Whilst it is preferable that both tray members be pivotally mounted one tray member may be fixed in an abutting relationship with the frame member and the other tray member may be pivotally mounted. This particular form of the invention would be best suited for mounting on a wall or the like.

When the tray members are adapted to receive inserts they may further comprise an inspection port that allows the inserts to be conveniently assessed 15 from below. In this respect, the inspection ports allow a user to determine when to replace the inserts without having to remove the insect trapping means from its location of use.

When the insect trapping means is adapted to be suspended from a point or mounting to a wall or the like it may further comprise a mounting means. The S. 20 mounting means may be varied and includes brackets and the like that may be attached to the insect trapping means. Preferably, the mounting means is provided integrally with the insect trapping means as part of at least one of the tray members. In this preferred form, the mounting means may comprise at least one aperture in the tray member that is compatible with a mount which passes through the aperture to support the insect trapping means.

When the insect trapping means is adapted for suspension the mounting means may comprise a suspension means. Preferably, the suspension means -6comprises at least one looped member that is supported from the insect trapping means. In one particular form the looped member is supported from the top of the frame member and is adapted to receive a mount such as a screw or bolt to support the insect trapping means from a suspension point or points.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings. The description of the drawings is in no way to limit the generality of the preceding description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an insect trapping means according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the insect trapping means of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the insect trapping means of Figure 1 in a partially closed position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the insect trapping means of Figure 1 in the closed position; The insect trapping means illustrated in the figures is adapted for connection to a remote power source and can be mounted on a wall or suspended from a ceiling or rafter or the like. It will be appreciated that the insect trapping means of the present invention may be powered by a battery or the like provided integrally with the insect trapping means.

The insect trapping means, generally indicated by the numeral 10, has a housing in the form of a generally rectangular frame member 12 and insect attracting means in the form of plurality of fluorescent light tubes 14 located in and supported from the frame member 12. A pair of insect retaining members in -7the form of tray members 16 are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the frame member 12. Each tray member 16 is moveable to allow the frame member 12 to be opened and closed as required thus exposing the fluorescent light tubes 14.

Figures 1 and 2 show one configuration of the insect trapping means 10, as it would be when in use and suspended, in which both tray members 16 extend substantially perpendicularly to the frame member 12.

When suspended the insect trapping means 10 may be conveniently attached to a rafter or the like via suspension means in the form of loops 18 that are supported from the top of the frame member 12. The loops 18 may be easily passed over a mount, such as a screw or a nail, in the rafter or the like to suspend the insect trapping means.

,The tray members 16 are adapted to receive adherent inserts in the form of sheets of fluorescent yellow sticky paper 20. When in use the sticky paper 20 is 15 removably seated in the tray members 16 to trap insects on contact. The tray members 16 also incorporate fitting means for releasably retaining the paper in the tray members in the form of fitting members 22 which locate over the edges of the paper 20 when seated in the trays 16.

In use, the tray members 16 lie substantially horizontally thus presenting the 20 sticky paper inserts 20 to insects. The insects are attracted by the light emitted from the light tubes 14 and upon landing on the inserts 20 become stuck and eventually perish. The inserts 20 can be easily replaced when full or when they are no longer sticky. The status of the inserts 20 can be conveniently assessed from below via inspection ports 24 located in the tray members 16.

Figure 3 shows the insect trapping means 10, as it would be when in use and wall mounted, in which one tray member 16 extends substantially parallel to and -8is in abutting relationship with the frame member 12 and the other extends substantially perpendicularly to the frame member 12.

The first tray member incorporates a mounting means in the form of apertures 26 that are able to be passed over a compatible mount on a wall or the like. The other tray member acts to trap insects. Whilst the first tray member allows the insect trapping means to be wall mounted it may also trap insects which come into contact with it whilst in abutting relationship with the frame member 12.

Figure 4 shows the insect trapping means in a storage configuration. Both tray members 16 extend substantially parallel to the frame member 12 and are releasably fixed to the frame member 12 by bolts 28 which pass through apertures 30. This configuration allows the insect trapping means to be conveniently stored or transported as the case may be.

When the tray members 16 extend substantially perpendicularly to the frame .*-member 12 they are held in position by suspension members in the form of 15 chains 32 which are mounted on the tray members 16 and the sides of the frame member 12. The chains 32 prevent the tray members 16 from passing beyond the horizontal, when in use, which would be undesirable.

.It will be appreciated that further modifications and adaptations apparent to one skilled in the art are to be encompassed within the scope of the present 20 invention.

o* o go

Claims

1. An insect trapping means comprising a housing having an insect attracting means located therein and a plurality of insect retaining members pivotally mounted thereon in opposing relationship, at least one of the insect retaining members being moveable to open and close the housing as required.

2. An insect trapping means according to claim 1 wherein the insect attracting means is a fluorescent light source.

3. An insect trapping means according to claim 2 wherein the fluorescent light source is provided by a plurality of fluorescent light tubes.

4. An insect trapping means according to claim 3 wherein the fluorescent light i• tubes are supported from the housing in a vertical arrangement, with respect to each other.

5. An insect trapping means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the insect retaining members are tray members. 00•••5 15 6. An insect trapping means according to claim 5 wherein one tray member is fixed in an abutting relationship with the housing and the other tray member is pivotally mounted to open and close the housing as required.

7. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 5 to 6 wherein at least one of the tray members further comprises an inspection port.

8. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein at least one of the tray members is adapted to retain insects on contact. r P 9. An insect trapping means according to claim 8 wherein the at least one tray member has a least one adherent surface. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the at least one tray member is adapted to receive an adherent insert for retaining insects on contact.

11. An insect trapping means according to claim 10 further comprising at least one adherent insert.

12. An insect trapping means according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the adherent insert is sticky paper.

13. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the at least one tray member further comprises an insert retaining means.

14. An insect trapping means according to claim 13 wherein the retaining means o:i comprises a fitting means that is positioned to abut the insert and retain the insert in the at least one tray member and allow the insert to be removed and replaced as required. 9.

15. An insect trapping means according to claim 14 wherein the fitting means comprises a plurality of fitting members that are engageable with the inserts to retain the inserts in the at least one tray member.

16. An insect trapping means according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of fitting 9ell :members are adapted to receive the edges of the insert.

17. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 5 to 16 wherein at least one tray member is coloured so as to attract insects.

18. An insect trapping means according to claim 11 to 17 wherein the insert is coloured so as to attract insects. -11

19. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 5 to 18 wherein the colour of the tray member or the insert interacts with the light source to attract insects. An insect trapping means according to claim 19 wherein the colour is fluorescent yellow.

21. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 1 to 20 further comprising a mounting means.

22. An insect trapping means according to claim 21 wherein the mounting means comprises a bracket attached or provided integrally with the insect trapping means.

23. An insect trapping means according to any one of claims 5 to 21 wherein the mounting means comprises at least one aperture in the tray member that is compatible with a mount which passes through the aperture to support the insect trapping means. 4e*4

24. An insect trapping means according to claim 22 or 23 wherein the mounting means comprises a suspension means. .4 'se 25. An insect trapping means according to claim 24 wherein the suspension means comprises at least one looped member that is supported from the 4 insect trapping means. 4

26. An insect trapping means according to claim 25 wherein the looped member is supported from the top of the housing and is adapted to receive a mount such as a screw or bolt to support the insect trapping means from a Rsuspension point or points.

27. An insect trapping means comprising a housing in the form of a generally rectangular frame member having a fluorescent light source located therein -12- and a plurality of insect retaining members in the form of tray members pivotally mounted thereon in opposing relationship, at least one of the tray members being moveable to open and close the housing as required.

29. An insect trapping means substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1. Dated this TWENTY-SECOND day of MAY 1998. E.B. HOLLAWAY PTY LTD Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant *o•