Apparatus for attracting mosquitoes and not attracting beneficial insects to electronic bug killers

An apparatus for attracting mosquitoes to an electronic insect killing machine (i.e., bug zapper) is provided. The apparatus includes a converter device that fits over a fluorescent or ultraviolet light bulb of the bug zapper. The converter device controls radiant light and heat emitted by the light bulb to produce a desired level of heat to create a warm mass, or host simulator that simulates a blood host meal for biting insects. Mosquitoes and other biting insects, which have infrared vision, are attracted to the host simulator. When used with a scented lure that lures the mosquitoes and biting insects near the insect killer, the host simulator lures the mosquitoes and other insects to the killing device of the insect killer. The mosquitoes and biting insects are destroyed once lured to the killing device. The converter device also blocks most of the visible light emitted by the light bulb, and therefore does not lure beneficial insects, which are attracted to visible light, into the insect killer.

The invention relates to improvements in the control of biting insects and the reduction in deaths of beneficial insects by overcoming shortcomings in the use of commercially popular electronic insect killers (bug zappers). The invention particularly relates to controlling mosquitoes in an urban environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices for attracting and destroying insects are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,979 to Hostetter discloses a device that uses a sex attractant, a third generation pesticide, and a black light attached to streetlights to primarily to attract Gypsy Moths. U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,776 to DeYoreo et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,366 to Balfour, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,657,576 and 6,088,949 to Nicosia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,436 and 6,055,766 to Nolan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,025 to Wilbanks and U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,122 to Iwao all disclose devices that use a scent attractant and a form of heat to lure mosquitoes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,468 to Sheshire teaches a device that uses light, heat and motion as an attractant. U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,684 discloses killing insects and specifically flies in trash cans using garbage as a scent lure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,909 to Murphy teaches modifying an electric fence on a farm for the control of flies. U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,366 to Balfour uses lactic acid and water heated to simulate human breath.

Although the references described above disclose devices and methods for attracting and killing insects, none of the aforementioned references fully address the shortcomings of commercial bug zappers. Commercial bug zappers generally utilize scent attractants and ultraviolet or fluorescent light to attract insects to a killing mechanism where the insects are electrocuted. One problem with these devices is that the light attracts beneficial insects, resulting in unnecessary and unwanted killing of these insects, which may include insects that feed on mosquitoes. Another problem with bug zappers is that they do not attract mosquitoes and other biting insects particularly well due to the fact that bug zappers rely on light to lure insects into the killing mechanism of the bug zapper. Mosquitoes and other biting insects generally have infrared vision and are not attracted to light.

Therefore, an affordable and effective device is needed for improving the ability of bug zappers to attract and kill mosquitoes and biting insects while reducing the likelihood of beneficial insects being killed by bug zappers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a device that produces more effective killing of biting insects, particularly mosquitoes, by commercial electronic insect killers. Another object of the invention is to provide a device for killing mosquitoes and biting insects while reducing the killing of beneficial insects. Another object of the invention is to achieve the aforementioned objects in a cost-effective manner.

To achieve the above objects, the invention discloses a converter device that controls radiant light and heat emitted by the light bulb of an electronic insect killer to produce a desired level of heat suitable for simulating a warm host body for mosquitoes and other biting insects. The converter device blocks the majority of the light emitted by the light bulb to prevent beneficial insects from being attracted to the killing mechanism of the insect killer. The converter device includes a heat diffusing and light shielding element that is positioned over the light bulb, and an outer cover that is placed over the light bulb and the heat diffusing and light shielding element.

The invention also provides a warm-blooded host simulator using a light bulb from a conventional insect killing machine.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may further provide an electronic insect killer including the warm-blooded host simulator described above. The simulator is installed in the insect killer such that it lures mosquitoes and other biting insects into the killing mechanism (e.g., electrical grid) of the insect killer. The insect killer further includes a scented lure to lure mosquitoes and biting insects within a few feet of the insect killer, where the mosquitoes and biting insects will then detect and become attracted to the host simulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a known commercial electronic insect killing machine, or “bug zapper”1. The bug zapper1includes housing2. A killing mechanism3, such as an electrostatic grid, is positioned within the housing2for electrocuting insects. The killing mechanism3is connected to a source of electric potential (not shown). At least one fluorescent or ultraviolet light bulb4is positioned within the killing mechanism3for attracting insects to the killing mechanism. As best illustrated inFIG. 2, the light bulb4is generally U-shaped and includes an insulator end4aand U-shaped illuminating tube4bhaving spaced apart longitudinal light sections. In operation, the light bulb4illuminates and thereby attracts insects to the killing mechanism3, where the insects are electrocuted. The bug zapper1is not optimized for killing mosquitoes and other biting insects, as the light bulb4tends to attract beneficial insects and not mosquitoes and biting insects, which are attracted to heat rather than light.

FIGS. 3 and 3Ashow a converter device20for converting the light and heat energy from the light bulb4into a desired amount of heat. The converter device includes a heat diffusing and light shielding element21and an outer cover24. The heat diffusing and light shielding element21preferably comprises two substantially identical rectangular heating and shielding pieces22,23shaped to fit over the light bulb4. According to preferred embodiments, each piece22,23includes a longitudinal U-shaped recess22a,23alocated at a middle portion of the piece22,23. The heating and shielding pieces22,23may be pieces of aluminum flashing or other elements made from aluminum, copper, metal or high temperature plastic, for example. The outer cover24is preferably a corrugated wire loom that is made of high temperature nylon, although other suitable covering elements and materials may be used. For example, the cover24may be constructed from aluminum, copper, metal or high temperature plastic that is molded or otherwise shaped to fit over the light bulb4. According to the preferred embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 and 3A, the outer cover24includes a longitudinal slit24a, extending along the entire length of the outer cover24, that communicates with the hollow interior24bof the outer cover24and allows the outer cover24to be fitted over the illuminating tube4bof the light bulb4.

When the converter device20is installed on the light bulb4, an insect attraction device, or warm-blooded host simulator is formed. Such a host simulator is described in following paragraphs with reference toFIGS. 3-5.

FIG. 4shows an exploded view of a warm-blooded host simulator30. As shown inFIG. 4, the host simulator30includes the converter device20and the light bulb4.

FIGS. 5 and 5Ashow components of the host simulator30after a first step of assembly in which the heat diffusing and light shielding element21is positioned on the light bulb4. When the heat diffusing and light shielding element21is installed, the heating and shielding pieces22and23are positioned on the tube4bof the light bulb4such that the heating and shielding pieces22,23contact portions of the light bulb4and cover the majority of the illuminating tube4b. The pieces22,23face each other through a space4cseparating the spaced apart longitudinal sections of the illuminating tube4b. The U-shaped recesses22a,23aprovide pathways for heat to vent out of the simulator30above the insulation end4aof the light bulb4.

FIGS. 6 and 6Ashow the host simulator30in a fully assembled state. Referring to these figures, the outer cover24covers the heat diffusing and light shielding element20, and those portions of the light bulb tube4bthat are not covered by the heat diffusing and light shielding element20. The outer cover24is installed by opening the slit24aand inserting the tube4aand heating and shielding pieces22,23into the interior24bof the outer cover24. Thus, the outer cover24nearly entirely covers the tube4a.

FIG. 7shows an improved bug zapper100. InFIG. 7, reference numbers shared withFIGS. 1 and 6indicate similar components. The bug zapper100includes a host simulator30positioned within the killing mechanism3. A scented lure40is also positioned in or on the bug zapper100. The scented lure40contains a chemical attractant for drawing mosquitoes and biting insects near the bug zapper100. The lure40may be a packaged liquid, gas or solid, and may include any suitable chemical attractant. Examples of suitable chemical attractants include, but are not limited to, Octenol and carbon dioxide. The operation of the bug zapper100and host simulator30will now be described.

When the bug zapper100is operational, the light bulb4illuminates in the same manner as a light bulb in the conventional bug zapper1, and the killing device3is electrically charged. Due to light and heat energy emitted by the light bulb4, and the insulating and shielding effects of the converter device20, the host simulator30maintains a suitable level of heat to simulate a live host for mosquitoes and biting insects. More specifically, the converter device20(shown inFIG. 2) blocks most of the light emitted by the light bulb4and thereby controls the radiant light and heat emitted by the light bulb4to produce a desired level of heat. The converter device20is preferably designed such that a temperature of between 95° F. and 110° F. is maintained over most of the outer surface of the outer cover24. It is within this temperature range that the simulator30“looks” most like a host meal to mosquitoes and biting insects. The heat diffusing and light shielding element21blocks a significant amount of the light emitted by the light bulb4. Additionally, the heat diffusing and light shielding element21radiates heat substantially evenly through the converter device20and vents some heat out past the top of the insulator end4aof the light bulb4.

The outer cover24assists in blocking light emitted by the light bulb4and receives heat energy transferred from the light bulb4and heat diffusing and light shielding element21. Air gaps (not shown) exist between the element21and the outer cover24, as well as between the element21and the light bulb4. These are gaps serve as insulation to help maintain the appropriate amount of heat in the host simulator30.

The surface temperature of the cover24is affected, for example, by the size, dimensions and materials of the components of the converter device20, as well as by the power rating of the light bulb4. Thus, the desired surface temperature can be achieved by changing the size, dimensions and/or materials of the various components and/or using a light bulb of a different power rating. Typically, light bulbs4for bug zappers are available in 7 watt, 15 watt, 20 watt and 40 watt versions. The embodiments disclosed herein have been implemented and tested with light bulbs4of 15 watt, 20 watt and 40 watt varieties. Exemplary specifications for a host simulator30including light bulbs4of the various types listed above are provided in Table 1 below. Although Table 1 presents specific examples of the invention, the invention is not limited to the examples provided in the table.

Mosquitoes and biting insects are lured near the bug zapper100by the scented lure40. Once near the bug zapper100, the mosquitoes and biting insects are attracted to the host simulator30. The mosquitoes and biting insects are destroyed by the killing mechanism3as they attempt to investigate the host simulator30. Additionally, since the converter device20blocks most of the light emitted by the light bulb4, beneficial insects, which are attracted to light, are less likely to be attracted to and killed by the bug zapper100.

It should be noted that it is possible to operate the host simulator30without the heat diffusing and light shielding element21. However, without the heat diffusing and light shielding element21, the heat emitted by the light bulb4may generate “hot spots” (i.e., areas of the outer cover24that are significantly warmer than other areas of the outer cover24). Without the heat diffusing and light shielding element21, hot spots may particularly tend to form near the insulator end4aof the light bulb4. In addition, eliminating the heat diffusing and light shielding element21from the host simulator30may also result in less light being blocked by the converter device20, which may cause unwanted attraction of beneficial insects to the host simulator30.

Although the converter device20described above is constructed to fit a U-shaped light bulb, it should be understood that the converter device20can be modified to fit various light bulbs. More particularly, the size and/or shape of the thermal diffuser21and/or the outer cover24may be altered to accommodate different light bulbs.

The present invention provides an effective and cost-efficient solution for mosquito and biting insect control. Since the host simulator30is constructed from a standard bug zapper light bulb4modified by a converter device20, a converter device20can be installed on an existing light bulb4in a bug zapper1to create the host simulator30. Alternatively, a light bulb4in existing bug zapper1can be removed and replaced by an assembled host simulator30. Thus, the present invention can be applied to existing bug zappers as well as new bug zappers.

While the invention has been illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, variations within the scope of the invention will likely occur. Thus, it is understood that the invention is covered by the following claims.