Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR COMBATING OR TRAPPING NOCTURNAL INSECTS
The invention relates to a device for rendering harmless or
trapping individual nocturnal insects located on a surface.
The fact that nocturnal insects fly towards light sources,
is part of general experience. Given that insects have a
natural phototropic tendency, they fly towards any light
source, such as electric light, candles, open fires. Any
visible light source implies an open flight path for these
insects.
For egg maturation, the female mosquitos require blood from
birds, mammals or even humans. They use visual, thermal and
olfactory indicators in order to find suitable prey for a
blood meal.
As they do on leaves in the open air, the female mosquitos
sit quietly on walls, ceilings and appliances in living
spaces, preferably when the light is switched off. If they
remain undisturbed in the dark room for a while, they
approach their victim in order to suck blood. If they are
disturbed in this activity, they generally rapidly settle
in the vicinity of the victim in the dark room, where they
once again sit quietly and wait.
Numerous methods exist in order to prevent mosquitos from
entering living spaces. Frequently, insecticides are used
but this is controversial. Once they are inside, however,
it is important to render them harmless quickly. Fly swats
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or textiles are used to strike or throw against the
mosquitos. This practice is laborious and requires a great
deal of skill and above all accuracy of aim. Additionally,
by squashing the mosquitos, remains and even specks of
blood are produced on walls, ceilings and appliances. The
many drawbacks of such a pursuit are generally known.
The general object of the invention is to avoid the above-
mentioned drawbacks and to provide improvements. In
particular, the invention aims to provide a simple, cost-
effective and environmentally friendly device by means of
which mosquitos which have entered living spaces are
specifically rendered harmless and other nocturnal insects
may be specifically trapped.
According to the invention, the object is achieved by a
portable luminaire and an attachment arranged at the light
outlet thereof, permitting the passage of light, comprising
means for catching the insect.
Preferably, the attachment and also the means for catching
the insect consist of clear material. Moreover, the
attachment is preferably connected to the luminaire by
means of a resilient element. Within the scope of this
description, the terms luminaire and pocket torch or
electric torch are used equally.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
J
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Figure 1 shows an electric torch with an attachment
for catching mosquitos in an exploded view,
partially in section
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the arrangement
shown in Figure 1
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a further
embodiment of the invention
Figure 4 shows a variant of the extension device
shown in Figure 3
Figure 5 shows an embodiment for trapping an insect
The device shown in Figures 1 and 2 made of metal or
plastics consists of an electric torch 1 designed for this
purpose and an attachment 2 which is movable relative
thereto in the form of a flat plate 4 provided with spacers
3, which is connected to the luminaire 1 by means of a
resilient element.
In the torch 1 of this embodiment the luminaire glass 5
shown in section has a central cylindrical pin 6 oriented
axially outwardly. Said pin is formed integrally on the
glass and thus consists of the same material so that the
light output is not impaired or not substantially impaired.
The pin is used for fastening a spiral spring 7, one end
thereof being positioned on the pin. The cylindrical
surface of the pin may be roughened or ribbed in order to
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hold the end of the spring more securely and to avoid the
inadvertent removal thereof. However, even when the surface
of the pin is smooth, the spring is held sufficiently
rigidly.
The other end of the spring is positioned on a pin 8 of
substantially the same shape, which is formed on the
underside of the plate 4. As a result of the resilient
connection between the luminaire glass and the plate 4, the
plate may tilt in any direction relative to the luminaire
axis. In this manner, the plate is always able to rest flat
on a surface, such as for example a wall, etc., even when
the luminaire is not held exactly perpendicular to this
surface.
The plate 4 is circular and consists of a clear material in
order to allow the greatest possible passage of light. The
diameter of the plate 4 may be approximately the same size
as that of the luminaire head, but preferably larger.
In the embodiment shown in figure 3, the attachment
consists of a four-cornered, preferably square plate 10
provided with spacers 12, which in the same manner as in
the embodiment described above is connected by means of a
spring 7 to the pin 6.
With the disclosed attachment, there is a plurality of
possibilities for rendering an insect harmless. A first
possibility is to provide the plate 4 and/or 10 on the side
remote from the luminaire with a layer 11 of transparent
and/or clear fly glue for catching the mosquitos. The
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spacers 3 and/or 12 at the edge of the plate 4 and/or 10
are used so that the mosquito is not squashed. The spacers
are dimensioned so that, when positioning the plate, a
mosquito is barely touched by the glue layer. This is
sufficient to render the mosquito incapable of flying. In
order to prevent, moreover, the glue layer from coming into
contact with the surface on which the mosquito sits, not
only the edge of the plates 4 and/or 10 but the entire
surface is provided with spacers. This is shown, for
example, in Figure 3. After applying the glue layer, a grid
element 13 is inserted between the spacers 12 along two
opposing plate edges.
In both embodiments, moreover, a cover 14 is provided which
firstly protects the glue layer and secondly conceals the
unpleasant view of the mosquitos already caught.
A further possibility for catching mosquitos is to provide,
instead of a glue coating, a clear double-sided adhesive
film, one adhesive side being used to affix the film to the
plate and the other for catching the mosquitos. The plate
is perforated in order to avoid air bubbles between the
film and the plate. In this embodiment, the spacers are
flatter, so that when positioning the plate a light
pressure is exerted on the insect in order to ensure that
the insect adheres thereto. An advantage with this version
is that the adhesive film may be removed and replaced by a
new film, when it has become unsightly by a plurality of
insects which have been caught. In order to facilitate the
removal of the film, at the edge of the plate a larger
through-hole 9 is provided through which one side of the
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film may be pushed away from the plate by a suitable
object, for example a ballpoint pen, etc.
If it is only a case of bruising the mosquitos, the
adhesive layers may be dispensed with. Even in this
embodiment spacers are provided, so that the insect is not
completely squashed against the wall. The spacers, however,
are even more flat than in the version with the adhesive
film.
Instead of forming the pin 6 on the luminaire glass, it may
also be attached to an attachment.
The pins may also have a square cross section, so that the
inner faces of the spring only rest against the edges of
the pins. The edges may have a recess at their ends, at
which they merge with the respective plate. When the two
terminal windings of the spring are configured with a
slightly smaller diameter than the other windings, when
pushing the spring onto the pins these terminal windings
are widened and then engage in the recess of the edges.
According to a further embodiment, recesses may also be
inserted in the surfaces which face one another of the
attachment part and the plate, in which the ends of the
spring used for the resilient connection are fastened.
Instead of a spiral spring, other resilient elements may
also be used, such as for example a spring steel wire,
which is inserted in suitable bores of the two resiliently
connected parts, or a deformable plastics neck. In
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luminaires with a small head diameter, such as for example
LED luminaires, a spiral spring may be designed such that
its one end may be slipped over the luminaire head.
Both embodiments according to Figures 1-3 are provided with
a receiver part 16 for an extension, by means of which
mosquitos may also be caught at high or otherwise very
inaccessible parts of a room. An extension rod 17 may be
inserted in the receiver part 16. The receiver part 16
consists of a tubular part attached in an axially parallel
manner to the outer face of the luminaire housing or the
attachment part. The extension rod is inserted in this
tubular part. The extension rod has two pins suitable for
insertion and namely an axially parallel pin 18 and a pin
19 located at an angle of, for example, 45 thereto.
Instead of a tubular part, a pin may also be provided on
the housing, onto which the tubular ends of the extension
rod may be positioned.
Instead of the axially parallel direction, as shown in
Figure 4, the receiver part may also be arranged at an
angle to the axis, preferably at 45 . The receiver part is
itself attached to the luminaire housing. Alternatively, it
is possible to attach the receiver part to a ring
surrounding the luminaire housing and securing, said
luminaire housing. If the end of the extension rod inserted
into the receiver part also forms an angle of, for example,
45 with the rod axis, the luminaire may adopt any angle
relative to the extension rod.
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The extension rod 17 is a one-piece rod or a tube made of
metal, plastics or the like. Alternatively, the extension
rod may also consist of individual parts which may be
fitted together or a rod which may be pushed together in a
telescopic manner.
A further possibility for catching insects is a block which
comprises a plurality of sheets of clear films being
affixed, each individual film thereof being provided with a
coating of a non-hardening adhesive, similar to that which
is used, for example, for note blocks known by the brand
name "Post-it" . In contrast to the note blocks, the
individual sheets of the block are provided on their upper
face and namely on the greatest part of their surface with
adhesive and only in a small edge region without adhesive.
This edge region is used for grasping the individual sheet.
The number of sheets of a block is selected so that the
light penetration through the base plate and the block is
still sufficient to locate the targeted insect in the light
beam. For catching the insect, as in the other embodiments,
the luminaire provided with the device according to the
invention is brought closer to the insect until it is
touched by the adhesive layer and remains adhered thereto.
After an insect or a plurality thereof adhere to the
uppermost sheet of the block, the sheet may be simply
removed and disposed of. Thus a new sheet is made available
for the next use.
When all the sheets of the block are used up, the device
may still be used with the glue which is used for affixing
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the block. The last sheet of the block may, instead, be a
double-sided adhesive film which secures the block.
A further possibility for making mosquitos and other
troublesome insects harmless is to provide the plate 4
and/or 10 with means for applying an electrical voltage. To
this end, wires or conductors are distributed over the
plate.
The device shown schematically in Figure 5 is used for
trapping insects, without damaging them. A housing 20
comprising an opening or a transparent region in the base
21 is positioned on a luminaire or connected thereto, for
example also in a similar manner to the plates 4 and/or 10.
A pivotable cover 22 without a rim, made of flat
transparent material, is attached to the housing 20 on the
side which opposes the base 21. The pivot axis of the cover
is located in the side wall 23 or in the vicinity thereof
on the inside or outside, and is enclosed by a thick-walled
tubular guide, on which the cover rests. In this manner,
the cover is positioned such that when the cover 22 is
pivoted outwards by 180 , the housing is optimally open.
The cover is partially provided on its external circular
surface with a rubber-like coating or with small rubber-
like raised portions 24. The housing, which is open and
positioned on a surface, is closed by being pivoted toward
the cover 22. As a result of the rubber-like or soft
coating 24 and the pressing power against the surface,
therefore, the cover remains adhered to the surface. Thus
single-handed operation of the device is possible, even
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when using an extension. The device may also be used during
daylight without light passing through.
