Abstract:
A carpenter bee trap having a housing that contains a hole, an electrode in proximity to the hole, and a power source connected to the electrode. The hole is of a size similar to the size holes that carpenter bees normally make, thus attracting the carpenter bees to the hole. The carpenter bees will enter the hole, and make contact with an electrode. The electrode is energized through connection with a power source. In one embodiment, the power source includes a photovoltaic panel. Once the carpenter bee makes contact with the electrode, a high voltage discharge will take place through the body of the carpenter bee, thus killing the carpenter bee. The carpenter bee will then fall from the hole, and the trap will be ready for the next carpenter bee to enter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/698,203 filed on Jul. 11, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to an insect trap, and more particularly to an electronic trap for carpenter bees and other insects. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Carpenter bees are common in many areas, and can cause extensive damage to wooden structures. Carpenter bees cause damage to homes and buildings that are clad with a wooden siding or are constructed entirely of wood, such as a log home or a timber framed building. The carpenter bees bore a hole of up to ¾ inch in diameter into an outside component of a building such as a wooden fascia. The carpenter bee creates a tunnel in the wood that makes an approximate right angle turn once inside the wood. The tunnel is used by the female carpenter bee to lay eggs. This unsightly hole creates not only cosmetic flaws in the building, but the hole will also weaken the wood and create a point at which water can enter, causing further damage to the building. In addition, the hole can be used by other insects that further damage the wood, such as carpenter ants, termites, and the like. The male carpenter bee does not sting, but is a highly aggressive and territorial insect, often times becoming a significant nuisance to humans that are in proximity to the carpenter bee&#39;s hole. Often times the carpenter bee holes are near an outside deck or patio, and can greatly annoy the occupants of such a deck or patio. 
   The related art has disclosed numerous forms of pesticides that are used to kill flying insects such as hornets, wasps, bees, and the like. Such pesticides are often contained in an aerosol can that is capable of spraying an intense stream of pesticide in excess of twenty feet, providing a sufficient trajectory to reach most carpenter bee holes. Many of these pesticides will knock down an airborne insect that contacts the spray. The carpenter bee is a highly agile flyer, and can avoid a jet stream of pesticide while flying. Carpenter bee holes are often times sprayed with a pesticide in an attempt to control their damage. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to spray the carpenter bee eggs with pesticide because the carpenter bee tunnels make a right angle turn from their point of entry. These difficulties make the use of pesticides ineffective, and result in unnecessary and ineffective application of pesticides, causing significant environmental damage. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,611 entitled “Carpenter Bee Trap” discloses a plastic box with a hole to trap carpenter bees. The premise of such a trap is that the carpenter bees will enter the hole in the plastic box, and will be unable to find their way back out of the plastic box. For the few carpenter bees that are not physically able to locate the hole and exit the box, this leaves a live carpenter bee in the box that requires disposal. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a carpenter bee trap that does not rely on the use of harmful pesticides. It is another object of the present invention to provide a carpenter bee trap that does not require the user to dispose of a live carpenter bee. It is another object of the present invention to provide a carpenter bee trap that, in one embodiment of the present invention, uses solar power to kill carpenter bees. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carpenter bee trap that is effective in eliminating carpenter bees from a dwelling or area. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electronic carpenter bee trap comprising a housing having a hole to entice carpenter bees to enter the housing, said hole being of a size similar to the holes normally made by carpenter bees, an electrode assembly in proximity to said hole, and a power source connected to said electrode. The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic carpenter bee trap according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an electronic carpenter bee trap with mounting clamps; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an electronic carpenter bee trap attached to a post; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of an entry hole for an electronic carpenter bee trap showing electrodes that are used to kill carpenter bees; and 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of circuitry used to energize electrodes that are used to kill carpenter bees. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the electronic carpenter bee trap in use protecting a cedar sided house. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a pine board that was damaged by a carpenter bee. 
   

   The present invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   For a better understanding of the present invention, a short preface describing one attribute of the behavior of carpenter bees is essential. It is well known that carpenter bees bore holes in wood to create nests. The carpenter bees do not eat the wood, but use it merely to create a nest for laying eggs and raising young. The hole that is made by the carpenter bee is commonly about 5/16 to about ½ inch in diameter. Through experimental observation and studies conducted by the inventor, he has observed that carpenter bees will often times be attracted to a pre-existing hole, and if the hole is of the size frequently made by carpenter bees, the carpenter bee will preferentially use a pre-existing hole, apparently avoiding the effort involved in boring a new hole. The carpenter bee, upon encountering a pre-existing hole, will be attracted to the pre-existing hole, and will enter the pre-existing hole to investigate its possible use as a nesting site. The applicant conducted experiments in the spring and summer of 2004 to determine what characteristics of a pre-existing hole are necessary to entice a carpenter bee to enter a manmade hole. It was noted that a manmade hole of from about 5/16 inch to about ⅞ inch, made in wood, would entice a carpenter bee to enter the hole. Carpenter bees preferred soft species of wood such as pine to hardwood species such as oak, cherry, or walnut. The present invention uses this behavioral trait of carpenter bees to attract and kill the carpenter bees before they have a chance to bore new holes in a home or building. By destroying the carpenter bees before they have a chance to reproduce, the area surrounding a home or building is kept free of carpenter bees and their related damage without the use of toxic pesticides. If a carpenter bee population around a home or building is left unchecked, the population can grow over several years, creating ongoing structural and cosmetic damage to the home or building. The inventor attached the Electronic Carpenter Bee trap to a gutter of his home in the spring of 2006, and by late June of 2006 he had completely eliminated the carpenter bee infestation and resulting wood damage to his home. 
   For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic carpenter bee trap  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a housing  101  is shown. The housing may be rectangular in shape, or may be of any geometry that is convenient to produce. The shape of the housing  101  does not have as much of a bearing on the effectiveness of the electronic carpenter bee trap as the shape of the entry hole  103  does. The housing  101  may be made of wood, a preferred nesting material for carpenter bees. The housing  101  may also be made from recycled wood composite, plastic, aluminum, masonry, or any other material that is not repugnant to carpenter bees. The housing  101  contains an entry hole  103  with a diameter of from about ¼ inch to about 1 inch. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the entry hole  103  is from about 5/16 inch to about ¾ inch. In proximity to the entry hole  103  are electrodes that will be more clearly illustrated and described by way of  FIG. 4 . The entry hole  103  may be located at any point on the surface of the housing  101 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the entry hole  103  is located on the bottom  105  of the housing  101 . As will be more clearly illustrated by way of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the housing  101  contains electronics (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) that energize electrodes that are located in proximity to the entry hole  103 . The electronics are powered, in one embodiment of the present invention, by a solar panel  107  that is attached to the housing  101 . The housing  101  may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be machined from wood or a metal to accommodate the electronics. The housing  101  may also be molded from a plastic. The electronics are contained within the housing  101 , and are made weather resistant through the use of gaskets, sealants, and other techniques that are well known to those skilled in the art. 
   To use the electronic carpenter bee trap, the trap is placed in an area where carpenter bees are known to be a problem, often times near a house or building, or physically attached to a house or building. The electronic carpenter bee trap is left undisturbed, and over time, carpenter bees that are investigating suitable nesting locations will come upon the electronic carpenter bee trap, observe the entry hole, and upon entering the entry hole, will make contact with energized electrodes and be destroyed. The dead carpenter bee will then drop from the entry hole, and the electronic carpenter bee trap will be ready to destroy the next carpenter bee that enters the entry hole. The electronic carpenter bee trap will eliminate carpenter bees before they have a chance to infest and damage a house or building. Several traps may be placed at various locations near a building or house to increase the area of protection. 
     FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an electronic carpenter bee trap with mounting clamps  200 . A first clamp  201 , and in some embodiments of the present invention, a second clamp  203 , are attached to the housing  101 . The clamps can be c-clamps, ratchet clamps, pressure clamps, hose clamps, or another style clamp that allows the electronic carpenter bee trap to be mounted to a house or a building. An example of a mounting location for the electronic carpenter bee trap is on the gutter of a building. A gutter provides an open lip upon which the electronic carpenter bee trap with clamps  200  can be safely mounted. For added safety, the electronic carpenter bee trap with clamps  200  can also be fitted with a wire or string (not shown) and attached to a gutter nail or gutter bracket as an added safety measure. 
   In some embodiments of the present invention, the electronic carpenter bee trap may be attached to a tree using screws, nails, wire, or other fastening techniques known to those skilled in the art. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of an electronic carpenter bee trap attached to a post is shown. For situations where attaching an electronic carpenter bee trap to a house or a building is not practical or desired, the electronic carpenter bee trap may be attached to a post  301  and driven into the ground. The post  301  may be made of wood, metal, plastic, or the like. 
     FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an entry hole assembly  400 . The entry hole  103  that is illustrated by way of  FIG. 4  does not show the surrounding housing of the electronic carpenter bee trap  100  for the purpose of clarity. Within the entry hole  103 , a first electrode  405  and a second electrode  407  are attached. In some embodiments of the present invention, additional electrodes may be added. The first electrode  405  and the second electrode  407  are made of a conductive metal such as copper, brass, steel, stainless steel, gold, silver, aluminum, or the like. The first electrode  405  and the second electrode  407  may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be curved, spiral, or contain an irregular surface to increase the probability of electrical contact between the electrode and the carpenter bee. The electrodes may be placed at any point along the entry hole. In some embodiments of the present invention, the entry hole may make a right angle turn, similar to the hole structure made by a carpenter bee (see  FIG. 7 ), and the electrodes may be placed at any point along this right angle hole structure. The electrodes are retained in proximity of the entry hole by a first retainer  401  and a second retainer  403 . In some embodiments of the present invention, additional retainers may be added. The first retainer  401  and the second retainer  403  are made from an insulating material such as a plastic, ceramic, rubber, or the like. Upon entering the entry hole  103 , the carpenter bee will make physical contact with the first electrode  405  and the second electrode  407 , thus completing an electrical circuit where electrical charge is transferred through the carpenter bee, causing the carpenter bee to die. The carpenter bee will fall from the entry hole  103 , readying the electronic carpenter bee trap for the next carpenter bee. 
     FIG. 5  is a block diagram  500  of circuitry used to energize electrodes that are used to kill carpenter bees. A power source  501  is used to charge a charge storage device  505  such as a battery or an ultracapacitor. The power source  501 , in one embodiment of the present invention, is a photovoltaic panel such as the solar panel  107  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . The solar panel  107  provides the electronic carpenter bee trap with a source of renewable and clean power, and does not require wires, extension cords, or electrical outlets. In addition, carpenter bees are most active during periods of bright sunshine, making this form of energy highly practical. To provide for an instantaneous burst of energy sufficient to kill a carpenter bee, the power source  501  is connected to a voltage regulator/charging circuit  503  that is in turn connected to a charge storage device  505  such as a battery or an ultracapacitor. Batteries include sealed lead acid batteries, Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, Nickel Cadmium Batteries, Lithium Ion batteries, and other batteries that are capable of being charged and discharged repeatedly. The charge storage device  505  is in turn connected to a voltage multiplier circuit  507 . Voltage multiplier circuits are well known to those skilled in the art, and may include capacitors and rectifiers. The voltage multiplier circuit  507  is connected to a first electrode  405  and a second electrode  407 . The first electrode  405  and the second electrode  407  are located in proximity to the entry hole  103 , as has been clearly illustrated and described by way of  FIG. 4 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an electronic carpenter bee trap  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention, in use protecting a cedar sided house. The electronic carpenter bee trap  100 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , is attached to the gutter of a house by way of clamps (not shown), such as the clamps previously depicted in  FIG. 2 . The bottom  105  of the electronic carpenter bee trap, in the embodiment depicted, is wood. Other materials that resemble wood, such as various plastics, may also be used. The entry hole  103  is shown projecting downward from the bottom  105  of the electronic carpenter bee trap. The entry hole contains electrodes, as described previously in this specification. The electrodes are not visible in  FIG. 6 . The housing  101  is a weathertight enclosure that contains the electronics that have been previously described in this specification and by way of  FIG. 5 . Carpenter bees looking for suitable infestation sites were observed to preferentially enter the entry hole  103  of the carpenter bee trap  100 , where they encountered energized electrodes and were electrocuted. The unit depicted in  FIG. 6  was installed on gutters of the inventor&#39;s cedar sided house in the spring of 2006, and it was noted that by early July of 2006 there were no remaining carpenter bees or their associated structural damage evident in or around the cedar sided house. 
   Lastly,  FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a pine board  700  that was damaged by a carpenter bee. The carpenter bee bored a hole  701  in the board, and made a right angle turn in the board. The board was cut at the ends to show the burrow  703  that was made by the carpenter bee. 
   It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, an apparatus for trapping and killing carpenter bees. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification and the claims appended herein.