Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
211636~
IN8~CT CON~OL LIGHT -~
The present invention relates to insect control
lights. -
It is well known that certain insects, -~
particularly flying insects, are attracted to ultraviolet
light, commonly known as black light. Various prior ~-
proposals have utilized the black light as an insect - -~
attractant and sought to control the insects by various
means.
One such device utilizes high voltage
electrodes which electrocute the insects as they fly ;
through the device. These devices are effective to
control flying insects and some devices provide a
15 removable tray to collect most of the debris resulting -
from the electrocution of insects. However, it is -~
necessary to disconnect the power source before the tray
may be removed. : ','' ' ~''' '~ ,!
An alternative form of control light utilizes a ;
low voltage electrode in the form of a grid which
purports to stun the insect as it makes contact with the
grid. The insect then falls onto a coated paper which
retains the insect. This allows the insect to be
removed. However, in this arrangement, the adhesive
25 paper has to be disposed horizontally beneath the lights -~
so that stunned insects will fall on to the paper. This
means that the insects are visible after they have been
trapped and their removal requires partial disassembly of
the unit to allow access to the paper. Moreover, the ; ~ -
horizontal disposition of the card promotes the !
collection of dust on the adhesive surface to reduce the
effectiveness thereof.
It is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide an insect control light which
obviates or mitigates the above disadvantages.
According to an aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an insect control light
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comprising a housing having a forwardly directed surface
and a light source mounted in front of and adjacent to
the surface. A detac~able support extends in front of
and is spaced from the surface. An insect trap is
mounted on a rearwardly directed surface of the support
whereby insects trapped by the trap are hidden by the
support.
Preferably the support i8 detachable and iB in
front of the forwardly directed surface so that it may
readily be removed without disassembly of the unit. This
facilitate~ exchange of the trap.
The rearwardly directed surface of the support
may be disposed vertically and thereby enhance the
shielding of insects trapped on the trap.
It is preferred that the trap consist of an
adhesive surface to which the insects adhere and may
subsequently be removed. It is also preferred that the
adhesive surface is on a substrate that can be removed
from the support and replaced by a fresh adhesive coated
20 substrate. ~-
An embodiment of the invention will now be
described by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an insect
control light;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the light
shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of
3~ the light shown in Figures 1 through 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembly
of a pair of lights shown in Figure l;
Figure 6 is a front elevation of a mounting
plate used in the assembly of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a side view of the mounting plate ;
shown in Figure 6; ; ~
- 2 1 1 6 3 6 ~
Figure 8 is a side view, similar to Figure 5, ~ - -
of an alternative assembly of lights shown in Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a front view of a mounting plate
used to form the assembly of Figure 8; and ~-
Figure 10 is a side view of the bracket shown
in Figure 9.
Referring therefore to Figures 1-4, an insect
control light 10 includes a housing 12 having forwardly -~
directed recess 13 defined by a partition 14 and side --;
walls 15. The partition 14 and side walls 15 are
integrally molded into the housing 12 and one surfaae of -`
the partition 14 provides a forwardly directed surface ~ ;~
16. The forwardly directed surface 16 is reflective and
is preferably formed from anodised aluminum. The
partition 14 also defines a rearwardly directed chamber
18 to accomodate electrical components that are supplied
by an electrical cable 19. Cable 19 is preferably
mounted on a spring-loaded drum so as to be retractable
and allow the length of cord to be adjusted to suit the
particular installation. The chamber 18 is closed by a
panel 21 secured to the housing 12 and ha~ing apertures -
indicated at 23 to facilitate mounting of the lights 10.
A pair of fluorescent light assemblies 20 are
mounted in the recess 13 adjacent to and in front of the -
forwardly directed surface 16. The fluorescent light
assembly 20 includes a fluorescent tube emitting an ultra --~ -
violet light commonly referred to as black light.
A support member 22 extends across the recess
13 and is spaced forwardly from the forward facing
surface 16. The support member 22 is detachably
supported on a pair of blocks 24 integrally molded with
the side walls 15 at opposite sides of the recess 13.
Support 22 is detachably secured to the blocks 24 by
means of hook and loop type fastening strips 26 sold
35 under the trademark "Velcro", one part of which is ~ ~ -
sacured to the block 24 and one part of which is secured
to a rearwardly facing surface 27 of the support 22.
2116363
As can best be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the
upper and lower longitudinal edges 28 of the support 22
are turned over and spaced from the rearwardly facing
surface 27. These therefore provide a channel 29 in
which a substrate 30 i8 slidably received. The substrate
30 is typically a rectangular card that has an outer
surface 32 directed toward the forward facing surface 16
and coated with a suitable adhesive to provide a trap for
the insects. Preferably the adhesive is thermoplastic
adhesive or a hot melt adhesive with a U.V. stabilizer
that remains tacky for the required period.
In operation therefore, the insect control
light 10 is mounted on a vertical surface by keyhole
apertures 23 provided in the panel 21 and connected to a
suitable source of power through cable 19. The
fluorescent light assemblies 20 emit black light and
cause the insects to be attracted toward the forwardly
directed face 16. The reflective surface 16 intensifies
the source of li~ht to enhance the attraction to the
flying insects. Insects flying around the light
assemblies 20 fly into contact with the adhesive surface
32 where they are retained by the adhesive coating.
The support 22 is positively held on the
housing 12 by the fastening strips 26 but may be readily
Z5 removed from the support block 24 on a periodic basis as
required. As the support 22 is removed, the substrate 30
remains within the channel 29 until it is convenient to
remove it and replace it with a clean substrate. The
removal of the support 22 is simple and may be achieved
in an unobtrusive manner. Moreover, the provision of the
rigid support 22 provides a convenient carrier for the
substrate 30 so that it can be removed in a discreet
manner and replaced with a fresh, clean substrate.
The substrate 30 may be removed from the
support 22 by simply sliding it longitudinally in the
channel 29. However, when the support 22 is mounted on
the housing 12, the side walls 15 inhibit accidental
.
- 2116363
removal of the substrate 30. It will be noted from
Figures 3 and 4 that the support 22 is V-shaped in
cross-section so that the substrate 30 may be flexed to a
curved configuration prior to insertion in the channe]
5 29. The flexing of the substrate 30 provides a positive -
retention within the channel 29 so that the substrate 30
i8 not likely to slide out of the support while it is
being transported to or from the unit. This permits the
substrate to be changed in a discreet manner.
While in use, the support 22 provides a -;~
finished panel that obscures the surface 32 so that the
collection of insects on the adhesive surface 32 does not
adversely impact the user of the restaurant or other
environment in which the insect control light is mounted.
Moreover, the generally upright orientation of the
adhesive surface inhibits the collection of dust so that
its useful life is enhanced.
The attachment of the support 22 to the housing
12 is preferably readily releasable but in certain
applications a more parmanent attachment may be
preferred. In this case, a releasable screw or bolt may
be used to attach the support. Where necessary, it is
also possible to install a grill in front of the tubes 20
to prevent damage or unintentional removal. With the
arrangement shown, such a grill may be installed behind
the support 22 so that it does not interfere with the ~ ;
removal of the support and substrate.
The embodiment shown in Figures 1-4 is
illustrated with the support 22 and fluorescent lights 20
extending in a generally horizontal direction. In this
orientation, the unit may be attached directly to a wall
as described.
The unit 12 is also suitable for installation
with the support 22 and lights 20 orientated vertically.
Again, the unit may be mounted on a wall through use of
apertures 23. The adhesive surface 32 is still hidden
from view by the support 22 and remains orientated
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vertically to inhibit the collection of dust. The unit
10 may also be used with the panel 21 lying on a
horizontal surface such as a table top. Although in this
configuration the adhesive surface 16 is disposed
horizontally, it is still shielded by the support 22 and
is downwardly directed so that the collection of dust is
inhibited. Such an orientation is likely to be used as a
temporary installation rather than a permanent one but
the light may still be used in that manner.
Light 10 may also be used in combination with
similar lights to provide coverage over a 3600 horizon.
As shown in Figure 5, a pair of lights indicated at lOa
is orientated with the panels 21 facing one another on
opposite sides of a mounting plate 40. The mounting
plate 40, shown in further detail in Figures 6 and 7,
includes a pair of upper hooks 42 projecting on opposite
sides of the plate 40 and a pair of lower hooks 42 each
projecting to one side of plate 40 and disposed
diagonally to the respective upper hooks 42. The upper
hooks 42 and lower hooks 44 are received in the mounting
slots 23 provided in the rear panel 21 so that each of ~-
the lights 10 is retained on the mounting plate 40.
Plate 40 is provided with mounting points 46 that permit
the mounting plate 40 to be suspended from a suitable
structure. In this way, a combined installation is
provided that may be suspended within a room and provide
full coverage over a 3600 horizon.
A similar effect may be obtained by mounting a
pair of lights 10 in a similar manner on a mounting plate
40b that is provided with a pedestal 48. This is shown
more fully in Figures 8-10, where like reference numerals
will be used to denote like components with the suffix
"b" added for clarity.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 8, each of
35 the light units lOb are mounted on opposite sides of the -~
plate 46b in a similar manner to that described above. ~ -~
The plate 46b includes a pedestal 48 at its lower edge
,
-`` 2116363 : ~
that has a forwardly-inclined portion 50 and a planar
foot 52. The pedestal 48 provides a stable support for
the plate 40b and allows a pair of lights lOb to be
positioned on a horizontal surface.
It will be appreciated that a similar
arrangement could be made with the lights 10 orientated
so that the support strip 22 and light assemblies 20
extend horizontally. This is achieved by simply -~ ~
adjusting the dimensions of the support plate 40 to suit ;
10 the preferred orientation. ~ ~ ~
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