Abstract:
An insect trap comprising a transparent tube coated on an exterior surface with a tacky adhesive is placed where insects typically travel. When the insects crawl over the tube, they become ensnarled and stuck in the adhesive. The trap is preferably available in a kit comprising a variable quantity of tubes in a housing and a means to customize the length of tubes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Feb. 8, 2008, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to insect traps, and in particular, to a customizable disposable insect trap adapted for use with a variety of insects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Insect populations of various species are prevalent pests in every part of the world. The hardiness, small size, and large numbers associated with insects make them troublesome to deal with when an infestation or similar problem should arise. One (1) common approach utilized in an attempt to control insect populations in homes and the like is that of placing insect traps. 
     Insect traps are generally devices which are placed strategically throughout a house, building or the like in an attempt to remove a large enough percentage of an insect population to deter further pestilence. These traps utilize a variety of mechanisms in order to capture and eliminate bugs of various types, including insect attractants, poisonous chemicals, mechanical enclosures, and the like. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide differing types of effective insect traps. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,259, issued in the name of Nishimura et al., describes a composition and device for capturing cockroaches. The Nishimura device provides a small disposable housing with adhesive disposed on an interior surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,774, issued in the name of Sherman, describes a construction for roach traps with a funnel-like top portion which allows roaches to enter the device which preventing their exit therefrom. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,947, issued in the name of Lingren et al., describes a device for capturing or repelling insects. The Lingren device utilizes chemical compounds which provide an attracting or repellent function to the device, as desired for purposes of either trapping or warding of insects, respectively. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices are of a large construction which makes them unsightly and difficult to utilize in a variety of locations. Also, many such devices are not easily adaptable to different sizes or lengths. In addition, many such devices pose hazards or annoyances to the users. Furthermore, many such devices are only particularly suited for certain insects. Accordingly, there exists a need for an insect trapping device without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a means to provide an insect trap which is safe and slightly for common household or residential use via features of wide applicability and customizability. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means to inconspicuously exterminate insects. The invention comprises a housing structure which retains a coiled length of tubing with an adhesive outer surface. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide features of both attachability and insect trapping via the adhesive outer surface of the tubing. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a protective housing and packaging enclosure to the tubing via the housing, which comprises a disposable rectangular structure fabricated from common materials such as paper, cardboard, or the like. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow a user to easily cut a desired length of tubing by a conventional means such as scissors or the like. The core of the tubing is constructed of a common flexible, lightweight material such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or the like for easy cutting. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow a user to easily remove a desired amount of tubing from the housing. The housing further comprises a round aperture on a side surface through which the tubing is removed. The tubing further comprises a non-stick strip on an exterior surface, which provides a removable barrier between the adhesive exterior of the tubing core and the housing to allow for easy movement. The tubing further comprises a string which is adhesively attached to an interior surface of the tubing to provide a user with a means of easily removing the tubing. The tubing is preferably retained within the housing in a coiled configuration for easy of removal. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of exposing a portion of tubing from the housing, cutting the tubing to a desired length, removing the non-stick strip from the exterior of the tubing to expose the adhesive, selectively locating the tubing in a desired location for maximum effectiveness, and providing a means for trapping insects in a manner which is safe and which limits physical and aesthetic obtrusion into a household, workplace, or the like. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an insect trap  10  depicting length customization, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective cut-away view of a housing structure  20  depicting placement of a coil of tubing  30  within, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tubing  30 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the tubing  30  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       
           
           
             
                 10  insect trap 
                 20  housing structure 
                 21  interior structure 
                 22  aperture 
                 30  tubing 
                 31  core 
                 32  non-stick strip 
                 33  gap 
                 34  adhesive surface 
                 35  indicia 
                 36  string 
                 37  string adhesive 
                 40  scissors 
             
           
         
      
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a customization insect trap system (herein described as the “kit”)  10  which provides a means to inconspicuously exterminate insects. The kit  10  comprises a housing structure  20  which retains a coiled length of tubing  30  further comprising an adhesive  34  outer surface which enables said tubing  30  to be adhesively attached to a desired location to entrap insects thereon, thereby exterminating said insects. The kit  10  may be used in a variety of locations infested with a variety of insects. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of kit  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The kit  10  comprises a rectangular housing structure  20 , thereby providing a protective housing and packaging enclosure to an internal length of tubing  30  (see  FIG. 2 ). The tubing  30  is arranged in a coil-like fashion within the housing structure  20  and is removably inserted by means of an aperture  22  located on a side surface of the housing structure  20 . The tubing  30  is extracted from the aperture  22  and cut to variable user specified lengths via commercially available scissors  40  or other cutting mechanisms. A length of string  36  (also see  FIG. 2 ) is adhered to an inner bottom surface of the tubing  30  which is utilized to assist in removing said tubing  30  from the aperture  22 . A cut section of tubing  30  may then be placed upon insect infested areas such as, but not limited to: baseboards, beneath refrigerators, countertops, windows, and the like. The housing structure  20  is disposable and fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: pressed paper, corrugated cardboard laminate, or the like. An exterior surface of the housing structure  20  may incorporate indicia  35  which may provide script or logos based upon a user&#39;s preference and may include images such as, but not limited to: names/logos, personal names, symbols, pictures, and the like to further customize and personalize the kit  10  further comprising a variety of colors and patterns. The indicia  35  is depicted herein as being located on an upper surface for illustration purposes only; it is known that other locations may be utilized without limiting the scope of the kit  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective cut-away view of the housing structure  20  depicting placement of the coil of tubing  30  within, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The kit  10  is depicted herein with an upper surface of the housing structure  20  cut-away for illustration purposes only. It is known that the housing structure  20  contains expected features to completely enclose the tubing  30  within such as, but not limited to: an upper surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces. The aperture  22  enables a desired length of tubing to be removed from the housing structure  20 . An inner diameter of the aperture  22  is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the tubing  30 , thereby enabling said tubing  30  to slidably engage the aperture  22  for removal. The aperture  22  is depicting herein as being located thereon a side surface of the housing structure  20  for illustration purposes only it is known that other locations may be utilized without limiting the scope of the kit  10 . The length of string  36  is routed through the length of the tubing  20  and adhered to the inner bottom surface of said tubing  30  via a string adhesive  37 . The string  36  is fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: nylon, cotton, or the like. The string adhesive  37  may be a variety of bonding mediums which bind the string  36  to the tubing  30 . In use, the user may pull the string  36  out from the aperture  22  which concurrently removes the tubing  30 . As the user cuts the tubing  30  to a desired length the string  36  may also be cut or remained uncut for an additional length during subsequent use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective drawing of the tubing  30  of kit  10  and  FIG. 4 , a section view of the tubing  30  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ), according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The tubing  30  comprises a core  31  coated with an adhesive surface  34  and a non-stick strip  32  on an outer surface of said core  31 . Dimensions of the tube  30  are approximately five-eighths (%) inches in diameter and approximately twelve (12) feet long. The core  31  is fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: polyethylene, polystyrene, or the like. As abovementioned the outer surface of the core  31  is coated with an adhesive surface  34  which provides for a tacky surface to entrap the insects and enables the tubing  20  to be positioned on a desired surface. The non-stick strip  32  wraps around the exterior surface of the core  31  upon the adhesive surface  34 , thereby providing encasement to a permanently tacky adhesive surface  34 . The non-stick strip  32  prohibits the adhesive surface  34  from attaching to surfaces prior to application. The longitudinal edges of the non-stick strip  32  create a gap  33  to enable the user to remove said non-stick strip  32  via a peeling means from the adhesive surface  34 . The non-stick strip  32  is to be fabricated from a wax-coated moisture-proof paper, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the kit  10 . When the non-stick strip  32  is removed the user may utilize the adhesive surface  34  by adhering the tubing  30  in a desired infested area to entrap insects. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the kit  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the kit  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the kit  10 ; locating the aperture  22  thereon the side portion of the housing structure  20 ; extracting the tubing  30  from the aperture  22  via the string  36 ; cutting the tubing  30  to a user specified length; cutting the string  36  as desired; peeling the non-stick strip  32  off of the exterior surface of the core  31 , thereby revealing the adhesive surface  34 ; placing the tubing  30  at a desired infested area; discarding tubing  30  when full of insects; repeating as necessary; and, discarding the kit  10  when empty. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.