Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Pest Control Device and Method
The invention relates to a method and a device for trapping
flying insects and similar small pests.
Fly traps that incorporate sticky trapping surfaces that
are positioned on windows are well known in the art. Such
devices use natural light coming through the window to
attract flying insects and, if the insects contact the
sticky paper, the insects are trapped.
An early example of such a fly catcher is that described in
US 560,040. In US 560,040, a transparent glass plate that
is covered in a sticky material is placed against a window.
Flying insects become trapped in the sticky material if
they contact it.
A problem with the device disclosed in US 560,040 is that a
glass plate having insects trapped thereon is unsightly.
This problem is addressed to a certain extent by
US 5,022,179 and US 5,815,981.
In US 5,022,179, a sticky surface is positioned at right
angles to a window and an additional panel, parallel to the
window, obscures the sticky surface from view.
In US 5,815,981, a V-shaped trough is located on a
windowsill. The internal sections of the trough are
covered in a sticky substance. As with the device of
US 5,022,179, the sticky surface is obscured from view such
that trapped insects cannot readily be seen.
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An alternative approach to trapping flying insects is
disclosed in EP 0 586 432. In EP 0 586 432, UV lamps are
used to attract flying insects into a trap. The trap
consists of an adhesive substrate on which the insects are
trapped. An advancing mechanism is provided such that the
adhesive substrate can be intermittently advanced such that
a fresh portion of the substrate is available to trap more
insects.
There are a number of problems associates with known traps
for flying insects that make use of natural light to
attract the insects.
As described above, many of the traps are unsightly when a
significant number of insects have been trapped. As
discussed above, this problem has been at least partially
addressed by some prior art devices.
Many devices which make use of natural light to attract
flying insects rely on flying insects randomly coming into
contact with the sticky surface of the trap rather than the
ordinary window; such traps are inefficient. This problem
is at least partly addressed in some of the prior art
devices by providing a further method of attracting the
insects into the trap itself, such as impregnating the
trapping adhesive with a scent that attracts insects.
Many of the prior art devices use a simple sticky
substrate, perhaps shielded from view, that traps insects
that contact it. Such a device suffers from at least two
problems. First, the substrate must be regularly replaced.
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Second, the trapped insects represent a hygiene hazard
before the substrate is replaced.
The device and method of the present invention seeks to
overcome or mitigate at least some of the problems
identified above.
The present invention provides a method of trapping flying
insects comprising the steps of placing a trap at or near
the interior surface of a window and relying on ambient
light passing from the exterior to the interior of the
window to attract flying insects to the interior surface of
the window for trapping, including the provision, in the
trap, of a panel through which insects can pass and an
adhesive substrate so positioned in relation to the panel
that an insect passing through the panel encounters the
adhesive substrate, the panel being so positioned in
relation to the interior surface of the window as to permit
an insect moving along the interior surface of the window
towards the panel to pass through the panel, the method
further including the provision of an adhesive substrate in
a form permitting the adhesive substrate to be advanced to
replace,a used portion by a fresh portion and the step of
advancing the adhesive substrate to replace a used portion
by a fresh portion.
The present invention also provides a device for trapping
flying insects, the device comprising a panel through which
insects-can pass and an adhesive substrate so positioned_in
relation to the panel that an insect passing through the
panel encounters the adhesive substrate, the adhesive
substrate being provided in a form permitting the adhesive
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substrate to be advanced to replace a used portion by a
fresh portion, the device further comprising means for
advancing the adhesive substrate to replace a used portion
by a fresh portion, wherein, in use, said device is placed
at or near the interior surface of a window and relies on
ambient light passing from the exterior to the interior of
the window to attract said flying insects to the interior
surface of the window for trapping.
The method and device of the present invention have a
number of advantages. The device makes use of natural
light coming through a window to attract flying insects in
a straightforward manner. Further, the provision of a
adhesive substrate within the trap enables the insects to
be securely trapped and out of sight, especially once the
adhesive substrate has been advanced to replace a used
portion with a fresh portion.
The adhesive substrate may be provided in the form of a
roll of adhesive material, but other forms are possible,
such as a continuous band of the adhesive material.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is
placed near the base of the interior surface of the window
for trapping insects moving towards the base of the window.
Thus, flying insects that hit the window and drop down are
caught by the trap. Furthermore, in one form of the
invention, the device is positioned substantially at right
angles to the window.
Control means may be provided to enable the adhesive
substrate to be advanced intermittently at predetermined
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intervals, such as once per week. Alternatively, control
means arranged may be provided to advance the adhesive
substrate incrementally on a regular basis, for example the
substrate may be advanced by a small amount once per hour.
5
The control means may be provided with an override to
enable a user to advance the substrate. For example, a
maintenance engineer may wish to advance the substrate
during maintenance. Further, a user may wish to advance
the substrate at more regular intervals that as provided in
a manufacturers setting.
The window may have insecticide applied thereto. The
insecticide may be used to stun or kill insects that
contact the window, with the stunned or killed insects
dropping into the trap.
In one form of the invention, the panel is a louvered
panel. In this form of the invention, the insects fall
through the louvered panels and the louvered panels prevent
the trapped insects from being seen.
In one form of the invention, the panel includes elongated
flaps positioned along the length of the trap to channel
said insects towards said adhesive substrate. This
arrangement has the advantageous effect of channelling
insects so that the area of the trap being largely than the
area of the adhesive substrate.
The device may emit pheromones into the atmosphere
immediately surrounding the substrate, thereby attracting
insects towards the trap.
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The substrate may form part of a cassette, which is
removable from the remainder of the device. This has
advantages for the maintenance of the device. The panel
may form part of said cassette.
In embodiments of the invention in which the substrate is
the form of film or foil, one surface of the substrate may
be adhesive substantially throughout its length. The other
surface of the substrate may be a release surface.
The adhesive may comprise poly-butenes.
The device may comprise means for crushing insects adhering
to the substrate so as to flatten them onto the substrate.
The device may comprise means for removing insects adhering
to the substrate. This device may take the form of a knife
or a brush.
Several pest control devices and methods in accordance with
the invention will now be described, by way of example
only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a pest control device
in accordance with a first embodiment the present
invention, the device being positioned against a window;
Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the pest control device
of Fig. 1 in isolation;
Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the pest control device
of Figs. 1 and 2, taken along the line A-A of Fig. 2,
showing the substrate in an early stage of use;
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Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the pest control device
of Figs. 1 and 2, taken along the line A-A of Fig. 2,
showing the substrate in a later stage of use;
Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a pest control device
in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged, exploded view of one end of a
pest control device in accordance with an aspect of the
present invention;
Fig. 7 is a view of the end of a pest control device
in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, with
the end being partly cut-away;
Fig. 0 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism of a
pest control device in accordance with an aspect of the
present invention;
Fig. 9 is a view of the end of a pest control device
in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, with
the drive mechanism moved to a second position to provide
access to that mechanism; and
Fig. 10 is a photograph of a pest control device in
accordance with the present invention.
Figures 1 to 4 show a pest control device 2, in accordance
with the present invention. Figure 1 shows the pest
control device 2 in a normal operational position against
the internal surface. of a window 4. Light coming in
through the window 4 is used to attract flying insects
towards the window.
An insecticide is provided on the window 4 to stun or kill
any insect that comes into contact with the window. The
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stunned or killed insect then falls into the pest control
device 2.
A number of methods of applying such an insecticide to a
window are known. These include using a pen and using a
pad. The use of a pad to apply insecticide to a window is
particularly convenient, especially when regular cleaning
of the window means that the insecticide must be reapplied
regularly.
The pest control device 2 includes a louvered panel,
indicated generally by the reference numeral 6, the
louvered panel 6 having a number of slots 6a, 6b ... 6n. An
insect that has been stunned or killed after coming into
contact with the insecticide on the window 4 drops towards
the device 2 and falls through one of the slots 6a, 6b ... 6n
into the interior of the pest control means 2.
Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the pest
control means 2 taken along the line A-A of Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows the interior of the pest control means 2 in
an early stage of use: Figure 4 shows the interior of the
pest control means in a later stage of use.
In the interior of the pest control means 2, a substrate 8
is provided. The substrate has a sticky surface that is
used to trap insects that fall through the slots 6a, 6b ...
6n. The area of the substrate 8 that is located below the
slots 6a, 6b ... 6n is termed the exposure zone 9. The
substrate 8 extends between a first storage means 10 and a
second storage means 12 through the exposure zone 9. The
first and second storage means 10 and 12 each comprise a
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rotatably mounted shaft 11 and 13 respectively. The
substrate 8 extends from a supply roll 14 on the shaft 11
to a take-up roll 16 on the shaft 13. First and second
guide rollers 18 and 20 respectively are provided to guide
the substrate 8 from the supply roll 14 to the take-up roll
16.
An electric motor (described below with reference to
Figures 7 to 9) is operable to rotate the shaft 13 to
advance successive portions of the substrate 8 from the
exposure zone 9 onto the take-up roll 16, at the same time
drawingfresh unused portions of the substrate 8 from the
supply roll Z4 into the exposure zone 9. The pest control
means 2 is provided with a control means (not shown) to
activate the motor at predetermined intervals, for example
once per week (of course, of frequencies could be used).
A spring loaded crusher bar 22 mounted on the shaft 13 is
provided to press against the substrate 8 as it is wound
onto the shaft 13 in order to flatten insects onto the
substrate. The crusher bar 22 is so mounted that is can
move outwards away from the shaft 13 as the size of the
roll 16 increases.
Fig. 3 shows the substrate 8 in an early stage of use in
which most of the substrate 8 is in the supply roll 14 and
only a small portion is wound onto the shaft 13. Figure 4
shows the substrate 8 in a later stage of use in which only
a small portion of the substrate remains on the shaft 11
and most of the substrate is in the take-up roll 16 on the
shaft 13. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the diameter of the
take-up roll 16 when it comprises substantially all of the
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substrate 8 is greater than of the supply roll 11 when it
comprises substantially all of the substrate 8 due to the
presence of trapped insects on the substrate forming the
roll 16.
5
Figure 5 shows a pest control device, indicated generally
by the reference numeral 30, in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention. The pest control
device 30 comprises a two elongated flaps 32 and 34, a main
10 body 36, end caps 38 and 40, a supply roll 42 and a take-up
roll 44. In use, a substrate extends from the supply roll
42 to the take-up roll though an exposure zone, indicated
generally by the reference numeral 43.
Flaps 32 and 34 are used to channel insects that fall
towards the device 30 towards the exposure zone 43; this
effectively extends the area over which the device 30
operates, without extending the area of the exposure zone.
Further, one of flaps 32 and 34 can be pushed firmly
against the window with which the device 30 is being used
to ensure that no insects fall between the device 30 and
the window. Of course, similar flaps could be used in
conjunction with the device 2 described with reference to
Figures 1 to 4.
Figures 6 to 9 show a number of features of the pest
control device 30. Each of those features could also be
applied to the pest control device 2 described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4.
End caps 38 and 40 are attached to the pest control device
30 by means of an interference fit, as shown in Figure 6.
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An electric motor 48 is operable to rotate the take-up roll
44 to advance successive portions of the substrate from the
exposure zone 43 onto the take-up roll, at the same time
drawing fresh unused portions of the substrate from the
supply roll 42 to the exposure zone 43. As with the pest
control device 2 of the first embodiment of the invention,
a control device (not shown) is provided to activate the
motor at predetermined intervals, for example once per
week.
Motor 48 drives a reduction gear mechanism comprising gears
45 and 46 and spindle 52, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
Spindle 52 is driven by motor 48 and rotates the take-up
roll 44. Bosses 50 (only one is visible in Figure 8)
secure the spindle 52 to a drive assembly 54. Drive
assembly 54 houses motor 48, gears 45 and 46, bosses 50,
spindle 54 and take-up roll 44. The drive assembly 54 can
be splayed to release the spindle 52 from bosses 50 and
hence release the take-up roll 44. The drive assembly 54
can also be rotated as shown in Figure 9 in order to give
access to the drive system of the pest control device 30.
The pest control device 30 is used in a similar manner to
the pest control device 2. Both pest control devices 2 and
are positioned against a window, with light coming
through the window being used to attract flying insects
towards the window.
30 Both pest control devices 2 and 30 make use of an
insecticide provided on the window to stun or kill any
insect that comes into contact with the window, as
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described above. In the case of the pest control device
30, the stunned or killed insects are guided by flaps 32
and 34 to the substrate in the exposure zone 43. Of
course, a louvered panel such as that of pest control
device 2 could be added to the pest control device 30.
The pest control devices 2 and 30 may be so arranged that
insects adhering to the substrate are removed as the
substrate is advance from the exposure zone to the take-up
roll 12, 44. This may be achieved by mechanical means, for
example, a blade located close to the substrate as it
passes from the exposure zone, or a brush in contact with
the substrate. Preferably, such a device is provided with
collection means for the insects removed from the
substrate, the collection means being arranged to retain
the insects within the device.
The first and second storage means 10 and 12 of the pest
control means 2 may be formed as a unit, or cassette, the
cassette being removable from the remainder of the device.
With such a device, when it is necessary or desirable to
replace the substrate 8, the cassette can be removed from
the remainder of the device 2, which can be left in situ.
The substrate 8 may then be taken out from the storage
means, a fresh substrate installed, and the cassette
returned to the device 2. Alternatively, the entire
cassette may be replaced by a similar cassette, which
includes a fresh substrate. Either of those arrangements
greatly facilitates the servicing of the device. The
cassette may also include at least a portion of housing
that forms part of the first and second storage means 10
and 12. The pest control means 30 in accordance with the
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second embodiment of the invention may be provided with a
similar cassette.
The pest control devices 2 and 30 may include means for
applying pheromones, or other substances that attract
insects to the substrate or means for emitting such
substances into the atmosphere immediately surrounding the
substrate. The said means may comprise one or more
pheromone sources arranged to contact the surface of the
substrate as it is advanced from the first storage means,
and for that purpose the sources may be provided with, for
example, roller-ball applicators. Alternatively, the said
means may comprise one or more pheromone sources, each of
which is arranged to emit a plume of pheromones into the
atmosphere immediately surrounding the substrate, and for
that purpose the sources may be provided with porous
filters, or the sources may be in the form of phials,.. each
of which is designed to release a plume of a continuous
stream of molecules. Thus, it is possible to select a
pheromone or a combination of different pheromones
depending on the insects that it is intended be trapped by
the device. For example, in a cigarette factory, a
cigarette beetle pheromone would be appropriate. An
analysis of the insects adhering to the substrate, which
can be made during the inspection referred to above,
enables the appropriate pheromones to be selected. When
the device comprises a cassette, one or more sources of
pheromones are advantageously mounted in or on the
cassette, so as to be removable for servicing with the
cassette.
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When the substrate is in the form of a film or foil, one
surface of the substrate may be adhesive throughout its
length, although a zone extending along the length of the
substrate may be left free from adhesive to facilitate
driving, or for other purposes, and a zone at the front end
of the substrate may be left free to facilitate
installation of the substrate. It is also within the scope
of the invention to arrange that an adhesive composition
from an adhesive reservoir is applied to the substrate at a
location between the first storage means and the exposure
zone, and when the substrate is in the form of a web of
woven material or netting such an arrangement is preferred.
The adhesive composition may be a viscous, non-drying,
pressure-sensitive adhesive, for example, a poly-butene
based material, especially, a poly-n-butene/poly-iso-butene
based material. The adhesive composition may contain one
or more substances that attract insects, for example,
pheromones.
When one surface of the substrate is adhesive, the other
surface of the substrate may be a release surface, which
may be provided by a release coating on the said other side
of the substrate. In another arrangement, a separate
release sheet may be provided, which is arranged in contact
with the adhesive surface of the substrate in the first
storage means.
The control means in either the pest control means 2 or the
pest control means 30 may be provided with an override,
which causes the control means to activate the motor and
advance the substrate.
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The pest control means 2 and 30 may be powered using
batteries. Alternatively, or in addition, the pest control
means 2 and 30 may be solar powered.
5
Figure 10 is a photograph showing a prototype of a pest
control device in accordance with the present invention
located against a window.
