GB2420957A

GB2420957A - Apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects

Info

Publication number: GB2420957A
Application number: GB0427020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edwin Allingham
Original assignee: STV INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: STV INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2004-12-09
Filing date: 2004-12-09
Publication date: 2006-06-14
Also published as: GB0427020D0

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for attracting and killing flying insects comprises a housing (10) and first and second guard elements (30, 40) to define an enclosure adapted to secure an electrical circuit board powered via mains terminals (12). The apparatus is so sized and shaped to be self-supporting when plugged into a standard mains socket. A plurality of UV LEDs are mounted on a PCB within the housing (10) to attract flying insects through apertures (44) in the second guard element (40) towards a high voltage grid mounted within the housing. The first guard element (30) comprises a coloured translucent material to enhance the attractant effect for insects and the aesthetic effect for users. A removable debris collector (50) is provided to facilitate cleaning and removal of dead insects from within the housing.

Description

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APPARATUS FOR ATTRACTING AND KILLING FLYING INSECTS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects. More particularly, the invention relates to an electrically powered insect killing apparatus which is efficient yet safe.

It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that, although the present invention is directed to the killing of flying insects, the invention may be adapted for other pest control purposes.

Background to the Invention

It is well appreciated in the art that flying insects are attracted to light sources and particularly to light in the ultra-violet region. It is for this reason that most fly killing appliances use light tubes that emit light of this wavelength. It is also known to use high-voltage grids to kill flies.

A disadvantage of the know art is that the appliances are cumbersome and not suited to the domestic market. There are also significant health and safety risks associated with introducing similar devices to the home environment, particularly where there are children and domestic pets.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects which seeks to alleviate the disadvantages associated with prior art devices.

P335 GB * p *** I II * I II * * I I I I I * * ** * . I I I I I * I I I I I I I II. III p * * It is also an object of the invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing, easy to use apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects which is inherently safe.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects, the apparatus being adapted for direct connection to a mains electricity socket, the apparatus comprising: a housing containing at least one light source for attracting a flying insect thereto, the housing including at least one restricted-access orifice through which an insect can fly; and a pair of grid plates across which there is provided, in use, a potential difference of sufficiently high tension to kill an insect, the housing including guard elements to prevent access to the grid plates by digits of the human hand or otherwise by domestic pets and creatures not the target of the apparatus.

1 5 The housing and its components are sufficiently small to be selfsupporting when plugged into a standard wall-mounted mains socket.

Advantageously, the or each attractant light source is positioned on a mounting plate within the housing adjacent the grid plates. The proximity of the light source to the grid plates increases the likelihood of an insect touching the grid plates, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the apparatus.

Preferably, the or each light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) providing illumination in the visible light to ultra-violet light range. Most preferably, the LEDs are high-luminosity LEDs providing an aesthetically pleasing light to human observers while attracting target species of flying insect.

Conveniently, one or more guard elements of the housing is constructed of a translucent material thereby increasing the surface area over which the attractant P335 GB * S Sq. S Sq * S Sq S I I I

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* S * I S S S * S q I S S S S IS. .55 5 S I -j - light source may be seen. Advantageously, the translucent material is coloured to enhance the attractant and/or aesthetic effect.

The housing ftirther includes a debris collector into which insects fall, having been killed by an electrical discharge from the grid plates. The debris collector is conveniently removable from the housing for cleaning.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources.

ideally to enhance the intensity of the attractant light. Optionally, one or more of the light sources emit light at different wavelengths to the remaining ones.

The light sources and electrical grid plates are powered via a circuit arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) secured to the mounting plate within the housing.

The circuit comprises a rectified circuit to provide low voltage currents to the or each light source and a high voltage discharge circuit to provide the necessary arcing voltages to kill an insect bridging a region of an air gap between the grid plates.

Brief Description of the Drawjns

The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example onl-. one embodiment of apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects. In the drawings: Figures la to Id are front, side and top plan elevations and a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention; Figures 2a to 2d are rear, side and top plan elevations and a perspective view of a first housing adapted to be connected to a mains electricity source and to enclose a printed circuit board (PCB); Figures 3a to 3d are front, side and bottom plan elevations and a perspective view of a mounting plate to which the PCB, LEDs and grid plates are P335 GB * a *t, * *, * S as a a a a a S S I a It * I a I S S * I I S a s I a Ia. II. a a I is secured; Figures 4a to 4c are front, side and top plan elevations of a debris collector; Figures 5a to 5c are front, side and top plan elevations of a first guard element; Figures 6a to 6c are front, side and perspective views of a second guard element; and Figure 7 is a schematic circuit diagram of the circuit housed within the apparatus.

ailed Description of the Drawjns

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures Ia to Id. the apparatus I for attracting and killing flying insects comprises a first housing 10 defining an enclosure adapted to receive an electrical circuit mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). The housing 10 includes at least a pair of active terminals 12 for connecting the circuit to a mains electricity source. The PCB is secured to a mounting plate 20 (not shown in Figures la to Id) which will be described hereunder in more detail with reference to Figures 3a to 3d.

A first guard element 30 is attached to the housing and comprises a translucent material facilitating the transmission of the LED based source of illumination from within the apparatus 1. A second guard element 40 sits within the first guard element 30 and in cooperation therewith prevents access to the mains-powered circuit by inquisitive people or domestic pets but allows access to flying insects such as mosquitoes and houseflies.

A debris collector 50 is provided to contain the remains of flying insects which are attracted to and killed by the apparatus.

With reference to Figures 2a to 2d, the housing 20 is provided with the P335 GB * S aSS, a.

* a It a I S I S * S a S IS * a * s $ I I a S a S S S a S at. Sat a a * appropriate mains terminal or plug connections 12 appropriate to the particular market. In the illustrated embodiment an "earth" terminal is included to overcome safety features that are well known for this terminal configuration. The apparatus 1 is double insulated obviating a physical or safety requirement for an earth connection. The housing defines an open mouth 14 into which the mounting plate 20 of Figures 3a to 3d is positioned. The mounting plate includes posts 22 to which the PCB (not illustrated) is secured. The PCB is electrically connected to the terminals 12 and when the mounting plate 20 is secured to the housing, the PCB is encapsulated therein. Further mounting posts are positioned on the opposite side of the plate 20 for securing the grid plates, which are then wired to the PCB. Apertures for locating light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are also provided in the mounting plate, adjacent the electrified grid plates. In the illustrated construction a series of access barrier spigots 25 are provided to prevent ingress of fingers when the debris collector 50 is removed from its normal position. In an alternative embodiment, the access barrier spigots are mounted on the first guard element 30 and spigot receiving apertures are provided within the mounting plate in a position corresponding to that shown for the spigots in Figure 3a.

Figures 4a to 4c show in detail the debris collector 50 which includes a detent 52 for locating the collector 50 about a securing post of the apparatus. Front and rear walls 54 define the collecting area between a curved side wall 56 which includes grip regions 57 for the easy removal of the collector 50 from its normal position.

in snap-fit relationship between the housing 10 and the first guard element 30.

The first guard element 30 and second guard element 40 are shown in Figures 5a to 5c and Figures 6a to 6c, respectively. The first guard element 30 includes a substantially upright face 32 including an extending portion 34 adapted to co- operate with the second guard element 40 to prevent fingers gaining access to the region adjacent the high-tension grid plates. The second guard element 40 has apertures 44 to allow flying insects access to the light sources and the grid plates.

If an insect passes between or closely adjacent the grid plates an electrical discharge will travel through the insect killing it.

P335 GB * , S.. * ft * S IS S I S I I S S S S St * . S I $ I S * S I S I I S I *SS 555. S I Figure 7 illustrates schematically the circuit formed on the PCB. A rectified side of the circuit provides power to series-coimected LEDs on the mounting board 20 which provide the attractant light source for the target insects. The second side of the circuit comprises a network of a type known in the art for generating high discharge voltages which are presented at opposite terminals of the grid plates.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS: I An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects, the

apparatus comprising: a housing containing at least one light source for attracting a flying insect thereto, the housing including at least one restricted-access orifice through which an insect can fly; and a pair of grid plates across which there is provided, in use, a potential difference of sufficiently high tension to kill an insect, the housing including guard elements to prevent access to the grid plates by digits of the human hand or otherwise by domestic pets and creatures not the target of the apparatus.
2. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the housing and apparatus components are sufficiently small to be self- supporting when the apparatus is plugged into a standard wall-mounted mains socket.
3. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each attractant light source is positioned on a mounting plate within the housing adjacent the grid plates, whereby the proximity of the light source to the grid plates increases the likelihood of an insect touching the grid plates.
4. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the or each light source comprises a lightemitting diode (LED) providing illumination in the visible light to ultraviolet light range.
5. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the LEDs are high-luminosity LEDs providing an aesthetically pleasing light to human observers while attracting target species of flying insect.

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6. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more guard elements of the housing is constructed of a translucent material thereby increasing the surface area over which the attractant light source may be seen.
7. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the translucent material is coloured to enhance the attractant and/or aesthetic effect.
8. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing further includes a debris collector into which insects fall, having been killed by an electrical discharge from the grid plates.
9. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the debris collector is conveniently removable from the housing thr cleaning.
10. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources to enhance the intensity of the attractant light.
11. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the light sources emit light at different wavelengths to the remaining ones.
12. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each light source and the electrical grid plates are powered via a circuit arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) secured to a mounting plate within the housing.
13. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the circuit comprises a rectifier circuit to provide low voltage currents to the or each light source and a high voltage discharge circuit to provide the necessary arcing voltages to kill an insect bridging a region of an air gap between P335. GB the grid plates.
14. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each grid plate comprises an arrangement or a mesh of conducting material having an air gap between said arrangement or mesh and a corresponding arrangement or mesh of another grid plate of opposite polarity.
15. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
16. An apparatus for attracting and killing flying insects having a circuit substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

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