PEST CONTROL SYSTEM

In an aspect, a pest control system is provided. The pest control system includes a pest confinement chamber for receiving a pest attractant, and a chamber base for supporting the pest confinement chamber. The pest confinement chamber is provided with at least one pest aperture to permit entry of a target pest into the pest confinement chamber. The chamber base includes a housing body containing an illumination assembly for illuminating the pest confinement chamber.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to pest control systems and more particularly to pest traps that incorporate an attractant.

BACKGROUND

The enjoyment of any particular environment can be severely hindered by pests such as flying insects. To address the inconvenience and discomfort of having insects invade these spaces, a variety of pest management systems (i.e. pest traps) have been proposed through the years.

In one type of commonly used pest trap, a chemical or biological attractant is used to lure the target pest into a trap enclosure. The attractant may be provided in liquid form, and may further comprise a killing agent. In other forms, the attractant may be incorporated into a sticky glue layer, which entraps the pest upon contact.

Another type of pest trap incorporates light to attract the target pest. Insect light traps are commonly found in commercial applications, for example around food preparation and serving areas. Inset light traps may incorporate secondary capture features such as sticky glue surfaces to enhance the capture efficiency.

For residential use, it is desirable to have a pest trap that incorporates multiple pest attractants into a system that is easy to use, easy to clean, and is generally attractive in form.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, provided is a pest control system. The pest control system includes a pest confinement chamber for receiving a pest attractant, and a chamber base for supporting the pest confinement chamber. The pest confinement chamber is provided with at least one pest aperture to permit entry of a target pest into the pest confinement chamber. The chamber base includes a housing body containing an illumination assembly for illuminating the pest confinement chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific embodiments of the present disclosure are now described with reference to the figures, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure or the application and uses of the disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 2, which show a pest control system10in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pest control system10includes a pest confinement chamber20and a chamber base22for supporting the pest confinement chamber20upon a support surface (i.e. a table, not shown).

The pest confinement chamber20includes a chamber body24and a chamber cover26. The chamber body24and chamber cover26cooperatively define the overall shape and volume of the pest confinement chamber20. In the embodiment shown, the pest confinement chamber20is generally ellipsoid. The chamber cover26is removeably connectable to the chamber body24at an interface28. The interface28is located at or proximal a midpoint between the uppermost region and the lowermost region of the pest confinement chamber20. For the generally ellipsoid-shaped pest confinement chamber20ofFIG. 1, the interface28is at or proximal a plane Mp, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Continuing withFIGS. 3 and 4, the chamber cover26provides a circumferential flange30that cooperates with a circumferential lip32provided on the chamber body24. The circumferential flange30of the chamber cover26and the circumferential lip32of the chamber body24are dimensioned to provide an interference fit therebetween, ensuring the chamber cover26is securely but removeably connected to the chamber body24. Removal of the chamber cover26from the chamber body24facilitates cleaning of the pest confinement chamber20after a period of use.

The chamber base22is configured to support the pest confinement chamber20. The chamber base22includes a housing body34, an illumination assembly36contained within the housing body34, and a housing bottom panel38. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the housing bottom panel38is generally sized to fit within a recess40provided at the lowermost portion of the housing body34. Any suitable joining solution may be implemented to retain the housing bottom panel38on the housing body34including mechanical fasteners (i.e. threaded fasteners) as well as adhesive bonding and welding (i.e. ultrasonic welding). In the embodiment shown, the housing bottom panel38provides a plurality of fastener projections39that align with a respective fastener post41on the housing body34. The fastener projections39are secured to the fastener posts41using threaded fasteners (not shown). The housing bottom panel38provides a battery access opening42and is configured to receive a battery compartment cover44. The manner of attachment of the battery compartment cover44to the housing bottom panel38may take on a variety of forms. As shown, the battery compartment cover44includes at least one stationary tang46at a first end48, and a deflectably moveable latch50at a second end52. The at least one stationary tang46and the deflectably moveable latch50are received in suitable receptacles provided on the housing bottom panel38, as generally known in the art. When the battery compartment cover44is attached to the housing bottom panel38, the battery compartment cover44covers the battery access opening42and any batteries contained therein as part of the illumination assembly36.

The housing body34provides a support surface72that is generally shaped to complement the pest containment chamber20. In the exemplary embodiment, in a direction bisecting the pest control system10through the major axis (i.e. the longitudinal axis) of the pest confinement chamber20(as shown inFIG. 3), the support surface72of the housing body34is provided with a shape that generally matches the elliptical profile of the pest containment chamber20. In a direction that is transverse to this first direction, that is through the minor axis of the pest confinement chamber20(as shown inFIG. 4), the support surface72of the housing body34is generally planar.

The housing body34, as well as the housing bottom panel38and battery compartment cover44may be formed of a suitable polymeric material, including but not limited to, thermoplastics and thermosets. These components may be injection molded, for formed through any alternative process suitable for forming the parts in question.

Mounting of the pest containment chamber20upon the chamber base22, and in particular upon the housing body34is facilitated through the use of one or more mating or otherwise cooperating structures provided at the interface therebetween. As shown for example inFIG. 3, the chamber body24provides a pair of mount structures54that are releasably received by a respective pair of mount receptacles56provided on the housing body34of the chamber base22. The mount structures54are generally sized relative to the mount receptacles56to establish a snug but detachable fit therebetween, enabling detachment of the pest containment chamber20from the chamber base22when required (i.e. for cleaning).

The illumination assembly36is contained within the housing body34of the chamber base22. The illumination assembly includes an assembly housing58, a light source60(e.g. a light-emitting diode (LED)), a power source (e.g. one or more battery units housed within the assembly housing58) for powering the light source60, an on/off switch62to control delivery of power to the light source60, and suitable wiring for connecting these components into an operable electronic circuit. The electronic circuitry of the illumination assembly36is provided and contained within the assembly housing58. The light source60is arranged in the assembly housing58so as to protrude outwardly from an assembly housing surface64on the topmost side of the assembly housing58. Also protruding outwardly from the housing surface64is the on/off switch62.

The housing bottom panel38may include a plurality of assembly posts66to secure the illumination assembly36on the housing bottom panel38in a fixed position relative to the battery access opening42. One or more of the plurality of assembly posts66may be configured with suitable features to retain the illumination assembly36in the fixed position. For example, the assembly posts66may present a mechanical fastener (i.e. tabs, clips, screws, etc.) that engages the illumination assembly36to retain it in position. Alternatively, a bonded interface between the assembly posts66and the illumination assembly36may be established, for example through the use of a suitable adhesive, or by way of welded attachment (i.e. ultrasonic welding).

In the assembled state, the light source60of the illumination assembly36is positioned proximal a centrally located illumination aperture68provided on the housing body34of the chamber base22. As shown inFIG. 3, the housing body34provides a light source sleeve70for receiving the light source60and directing light emitted therefrom towards the illumination aperture68. To prevent interference with the pest containment chamber20supported by the chamber base22, the light source60may protrude partially into but not beyond the illumination aperture68, that is it does not extend beyond a support surface72of the housing body34of the chamber base22.

The on/off switch62of the illumination assembly36is positioned to protrude through a switch aperture74provided on the housing body34of the chamber base22. The on/off switch62is accessible to a user of the pest control system10to activate the illumination assembly36. The on/off switch62may be provided in the form of a pushbutton switch, but it will be appreciated that other switch types may be suitably implemented.

The chamber cover26of the pest confinement chamber20is provided with at least one pest aperture to permit target pest entry into the pest confinement chamber20. As shown, the pest aperture is provided in the form of a centrally located funnel76on the uppermost surface of the pest confinement chamber20. The funnel76includes an opening78and a collar80extending into the pest confinement chamber from the opening78. As shown, the collar80extends at least partially into the interior volume delimited by the chamber cover28of the pest confinement chamber20.

The pest confinement chamber20may be formed of any suitable polymeric material, including but not limited to thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. The chamber body24and the chamber cover26of the pest confinement chamber20may be injection molded, or formed through any suitable alternative molding process to achieve the desired shape. The chamber body24and the chamber cover26may be formed of either transparent or opaque material. It will be appreciated that the chamber body24and the chamber cover26need not be formed of the same material. In one embodiment, the chamber cover26is formed of a clear material, while the chamber body24is formed of an opaque material. In this arrangement, the target pest will be attracted to the light visible through the chamber cover26of the pest confinement chamber20, while the opaque chamber body24serves to obscure view of the pest attractant/pesticide and/or the target pests captured therein.

While the pest confinement chamber20has been shown to include a pest aperture in the form of the funnel76, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the pest aperture may be presented in a different form. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the pest aperture may be a simple opening, that is without an inner collar. In another embodiment, the pest confinement chamber20may present multiple pest apertures. It may also be advantageous in certain embodiments to provide the pest confinement chamber20a plurality of differently configured pest apertures. It will be appreciated that different target pests may exhibit different behaviours that necessitate the incorporation of certain features into a pest control system. As such, a range of pest confinement chambers may be manufactured and marketed having specific pest apertures for targeting certain select target pests.

In use, the pest control system10provides at least two methods of attraction for the target pests. In a first method, the target pest is attracted to the pest attractant (e.g. chemical attractant, pheromones, etc.) added and contained within the pest confinement chamber20. The pest attractant may be any suitable solid or liquid attractant, and may also be or contain a substance with insecticidal properties. In some applications, the pest confinement chamber20may simply contain water or some other liquid having neither attractant, nor insecticidal properties, but otherwise presents an environment likely to kill the target pests. In a second method, the pest confinement chamber20is illuminated by the illumination assembly36, which serves as an additional attractant for target pests. By forming the pest confinement chamber20of a transparent material, target pests, including but not limited to flying insects may be attracted from greater distances to the pest confinement chamber20. The use of at least these two methods of attraction improves the trapping effect of the pest control system10.

The target pest itself may be any suitable target pest, such as ants, cockroaches, various types of flying insects, or any other suitable type of pest.

While the light source may be an LED as suggested above, it will be appreciated that other light sources may be used. The illumination assembly36may also be configured to present a light source having a desired spectral quality. For example, the illumination assembly may be configured to present a light source that emits a greater proportion of light at the blue end of the visible spectrum.

The pest control system10incorporates at least two methods of attracting target pests into an easy to use system. The pest confinement chamber may be provided in a variety of shapes, enabling the system to be produced having regard to both aesthetic and pest attractant/control characteristics. The removable pest confinement chamber enables easy cleaning, making the system suitable for residential use, although the system may be successfully used in commercial applications.