Patent ID: 6675528
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
An apparatus for attracting and destroying insects, including mosquitoes, wherein once inside the apparatus insects are shredded by a fan and insect parts are incinerated by a heating element, thereby creating carbon dioxide and negating a need to remove dead insects from the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:an outer casing that forms an exterior of the apparatus; a storage unit for holding an attractant, wherein the attractant is a chemical or chemical mixture to which one or more insects are attracted; an air vent, wherein the air vent is an opening in the outer casing that allows air into the apparatus; an electric fan that moves air within the apparatus from an inlet side to an outlet side of the fan thereby creating a lower atmospheric pressure on the inlet side, wherein the fan is held within the apparatus by a support base that is substantially a same width as the apparatus; the heating element which is mounted on the support base, wherein air can travel between the inlet and outlet sides of the fan, past the heating element, and further wherein the heating element is capable of reaching a temperature of at least 1,200Â° F.; and, one or more exterior outlets, wherein the one or more outlets comprise one or more other openings in the outer casing, the one or more exterior outlets being substantially larger than the air vent; wherein, air from the air vent and heat from the heating element aid in turning the attractant into a heated vapor, part of the heated vapor escaping from the apparatus through the exterior outlets and a balance of the heated vapor being recirculated within the apparatus, wherein insects attracted by the escaping heated vapor enter the apparatus via the exterior outlets, are pulled by suction to the inlet side of the fan, shredded by the fan, and subsequently incinerated by the heating element.