Abstract:
A pest control apparatus is provided including a vacuum adapted to suction air from an inlet upon the actuation thereof. Also included is a mechanical housing with attractor means for luring pests to a position where the pests may be suctioned. A trigger means is provided for actuating the vacuum either based on a sensor detecting a pest or intermittently based on expiration of a timer. A one way valve prevents the pests from escaping.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/448,206, filed Nov. 23, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/294,990, filed Apr. 19, 1999 now abn.; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/044,322 filed Mar. 19, 1998. Ser. No. 09/044,322 is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,950 which is incorporated herein by reference. Ser. Nos. 09/294,990, 09/044,322 and 09/448,206 are all incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bug vacuums and more particularly pertains to a unique eliminator for attracting and capturing various insects. Bug vacuums of many types have been developed in the past art. More specifically, bug vacuums heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. Examples of known bug vacuums are shown in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,330; U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,495; U.S. Pat. No. Des 263,068; U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,147; U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,582; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,821. 
     The pest control apparatus of the present invention departs from the conventional concepts and designs associated with the prior pest control apparatus, and provides a unique apparatus for attracting and capturing insects in indoor locations, as well as in outdoor locations. In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of bug vacuums now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new pest control apparatus construction wherein the same can be utilized for both attracting and capturing various insects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of this invention the pest control apparatus comprises: a vacuum adapted to suction air from an inlet upon the actuation thereof; and attractor means for luring pests to a position where the pest may be suctioned. The pest control apparatus has trigger means for actuating the vacuum; and a one way valve in fluid communication with the inlet to prevent the pests from escaping. 
     In another aspect of the invention the apparatus, comprises a vacuum having an inlet and a mechanical housing in fluid communication with said inlet. The housing has an opening adapted for allowing passage of a pest into the housing. The housing has bait within in it adapted for attracting the pest. The bait includes at least one light source and at least one chemical button. The vacuum removes the pest from the mechanical housing. One object of the present invention is to provide a unique pest control device. 
     Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pest control apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of a bait compartment comprising a portion of the FIG. 1 pest control apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustrative cross-sectional view of the bait compartment taken along line  3 — 3  shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an illustrative cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 of the valve. 
     FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the bait compartment has a vertical orientation. 
     FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 having a bait compartment with a wire mesh surface. 
     FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the pest control apparatus of FIG. 5 in which the bait compartment includes a light bulb for luring pests to a position where they may be suctioned. 
     FIG. 7 a  is an alternative embodiment of the invention in FIG. 7 further including a chemical button for luring pests into a position where they may be suctioned. 
     FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of the present invention comprising a one way valve within a bag. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, in one embodiment pest control apparatus  10  includes a vacuum  12 . The vacuum housing may have a rectangular, square, circular, or other geometric shape. The vacuum  12  is shown in FIG. 1 including a plurality of feet  14  for resting on a surface such that the vacuum  12  is elevated. However, in an alternate embodiment the vacuum  12  is not elevated from the surface. During use, the vacuum  12  is adapted to draw air from an inlet upon the actuation thereof. A removable bag  15  (see FIG. 5) is disposed within the vacuum  12  for containing insects. The vacuum bag  15  is preferably made of a high quality material sufficiently strong and fine enough to prevent particles or pests from escaping after being sucked in from the inlet. 
     Next provided is an elongated flexible hose  16  having a first end connected to the inlet of the vacuum. A second end of the flexible hose is equipped with a rigid sleeve mounted thereon. A plurality of threaded grooves are formed in an outer surface of the sleeve for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment, the hose has a length of no less than 3-4 feet and further has an inner surface that is coated with TEFLON. 
     With reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a valve  18  including an outer frusto-conical configuration and an axial bore  19   a  formed therein. Such bore  19   a  has an inboard extent with a plurality of threads  19   b  formed therein for releasably coupling with the sleeve of the hose  16 . An intermediate extent  19   c  of the bore  19   a  is preferably equipped with a square cross-section and a predetermined width. Associated therewith is a cylindrical outboard extent with a predetermined diameter less than the predetermined width of the intermediate extent. The valve  18  further includes a flap  17 , preferably square, hingably coupled within the intermediate extent adjacent the outboard extent. In use, the flap  17  is adapted to pivot only inwardly toward the inboard extent between a closed and open orientation. Preferably, the flap is spring biased and is urged closed. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 &amp; 3, a bait compartment  20  is provided preferably including a planar top face and a planar bottom face each with a trapezoidal configuration. The bait compartment further includes a pair of tapering side faces mounted between the top face and bottom face. As such, a small inboard opening is defined which is coupled about an inboard end of the outer periphery of the valve  18 . Further, a large outboard opening is defined for providing an entrance. The bottom face of the compartment  20  has an upper surface with a circular recess  21  formed therein for containing bait to attract insects as illustrated in FIG.  3 . In one embodiment, the bait consists of an odor producing material. For example, the odor attractor could be a food of various kinds which would be tailored to the type of insect or other pest for which the pest control apparatus was intended for use upon. For example, flies and roaches will generally be attracted to rotting food and Japanese beetles are generally attracted to corn and other plants. It should be understood that those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to select from amongst various foods that produce the most desirable odor for catching various pests. Additionally, it should be further understood that the bait placed in circular recess  21 , need not be limited to that which is capable of being placed in circular recess  21 , but may instead be located elsewhere in the bait compartment  20 . It should be further understood that other odor producing materials are contemplated as within the scope of the invention including, but not limited to, the use of other substances attractive to insects, such as vanilla extract, or gender attractants, which will prove especially useful in environments where there are a variety of natural attractants in the immediate vicinity of bait compartment  20  which would compete for the insects&#39; interest. 
     Finally, situated within and connected to the vacuum is an actuator means (not shown) for actuating the same intermittently for periods of 2-3 minutes following intervals of a predetermined duration. Such intervals may be 1, 2, 5, or 10 minutes in duration. This allows for the suctioning of the insects from the bait compartment  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the intervals are selected by the user by way of a dial or the like. The actuator means further includes a manual cut off switch for unconditionally precluding operation of the vacuum. The actuator means could comprise, but is not limited to a timer. 
     In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, pest control apparatus  10   a  has a brace  22  mounted on the vacuum  12  for releasably securing the hose  16   a  in a vertical orientation. It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the hose  16   a  has a greater resiliency than the hose  16  of the previously described embodiment. Hose  16   a  must have a greater resiliency in order to maintain its vertical orientation. Additionally, it should be further noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the bait compartment  20  of the prior embodiment has been replaced with a bait compartment  20   a  having a generally conical configuration in contrast to the geometrical shape given to the bait compartment  20  of the previous embodiment. With reference to FIG. 6, in yet another embodiment, the bait compartment  20  of the previous embodiment is replaceable with a meshed screen  24  for flies and the like to rest on. Again, as in the previous embodiments, a variety of pest attractors may be used as bait in the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1-6. These may include food, and various chemical buttons, (including, as previously mentioned, gender attractants) and, as further discussed below, may also include attractors in the form of light which may be both visible and/or ultraviolet and various sonic attractors. 
     For example, with reference to FIG. 7, there is shown yet another embodiment of pest control apparatus  10   c  with like elements labeled as previously. In this embodiment, the bait compartment  30  comprises a light socket  34  receiving a light bulb  35  therein. The light bulb  35  is used as another form of attractor means for various pests. The light bulb  35  may be selected to emit light in either the visible, ultraviolet or other wavelength ranges as desired. 
     With reference to FIG. 7 a , there is illustrated yet another embodiment of pest control apparatus  10   d . Pest control apparatus  10   d  includes a bait compartment  40  having a light socket  34  receiving a light bulb  35  therein. Bait compartment  40  further includes at least one chemical button  36  which is received in an aperture (not shown) in which it may be inserted and removed as desired. The pest control apparatus  10   d  also preferably includes a sensor  38  around the lip  37  of bait compartment  40 . Sensor  38  detects the presence of pests entering the bait compartment and may be connected to the actuating means which trigger the beginning of suction by the vacuum  12 . The sensor  38  may detect motion, thermal patterns associated with pests, or even sound. The sensor  38  may be an infrared emitter/detector for sensing motion or other means known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     It should be understood that while bait compartment  40  is illustrated as having only one aperture and corresponding chemical button  36 , it is contemplated as within the scope of the invention that a plurality of chemical buttons and/or a plurality of light sources may be used in combination with one another. It should be further understood that while the use of a a chemical button  36  which engages or interlocks a receiving aperture in bait compartment  40  is preferable, it is not necessary. Other attachment mechanisms are contemplated as within the scope of the invention. For example, the surface of the bait compartment  40  could be metallic and the chemical button  36  could have a magnet on one end. Or the chemical button could be glued or taped to the surface of the bait compartment  40 . Thus, the pest control apparatus  10   d  permits the use of a wide variety of attractants including both light and odors which may be replaced as desired permitting the user to more carefully tailor the use of attractants for particular pests. It should be further understood that the use of a plurality of chemical buttons  36  permits the user to select chemical combinations or odoriferous combinations for maximum effectiveness. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     For example, it is contemplated as within the scope of the invention that the differing forms and various features of the bait compartments  20 ,  20   a ,  30  and  40  may be interchanged as desired. It is further understood that the use of the wire mesh screen  24  is possible within any of the embodiments disclosed as are various combinations of such things as the light bulb  35  and socket  34  along with chemical buttons  36 . That is to say a plurality of chemical buttons  36  may be used in isolation without any light bulbs whatsoever and vice versa. It should be further understood that the bait compartments  20   a ,  24 ,  30 , and  40  may also include a circular recess as in the bait compartment  20  of FIG. 3 in which is received rotting food or sweeteners or other conventional bait for use as an attractor means. It should also be understood that the use of a one way valve  18  and square flap  17  at either the inlet of the hose or at the inlet of the vacuum bag  15  (see FIG.  8 ), or both, is contemplated as within the scope of the invention. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.