INSECT ENTRAPMENT APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS OF USE

An insect entrapment apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the insect entrapment apparatus includes a bag formed of a mesh material having a mesh sized to pass airflow from an interior of the bag through the mesh while entrapping insects entrained within the airflow within the interior of the bag. The bag forms an enclosed interior with an entry to admit airflow into the interior of the bag, in various aspects. The bag, in various aspects, includes an elastic material disposed about the entry of the bag to grippably compressionably secure the entry to a housing of a fan assembly with the interior of the bag in fluid communication with the fan assembly. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the methods of use and related apparatus disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field

This disclosure relates to insect control, and, more particular, to apparatus and related methods for the capture of flying insects.

Related Art

Insect control in the outdoor environment, particularly at various outdoor public venues such as parks, stadiums, grandstands, ballparks, and racetracks, may be challenging. The use of insecticides to control insects, particularly biting or noxious flying insects such as flies and mosquitos, may pose various health risks. For example, certain people may be particularly sensitive to insecticide, so that exposure to insecticide may precipitate various allergic responses. Long term exposure or exposure to large quantities of insecticide may pose a risk of cancer or other disease. Furthermore, insecticides may damage the ecosystem, and insecticides may pose other undesirable consequences to the environment.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus as well as related methods for the control of insects in the outdoor environment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the apparatus and related methods of use disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure.

An insect entrapment apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the insect entrapment apparatus includes a bag formed of a mesh material having a mesh sized to pass airflow from an interior of the bag through the mesh while entrapping insects entrained within the airflow within the interior of the bag. The bag forms an enclosed interior with an entry to admit airflow into the interior of the bag, in various aspects. The bag, in various aspects, includes an elastic band disposed about the entry of the bag to grippably compressionably secure the entry to a housing of a fan assembly with the interior of the bag in fluid communication with the fan assembly.

This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. Use herein of relative terms such as generally, about, approximately, essentially, may be indicative of engineering, manufacturing, or scientific tolerances such as ±0.1%, ±1%, ±2.5%, ±5%, or other such tolerances, as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An insect entrapment apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the insect entrapment apparatus includes a bag that forms an enclosed interior with an entry to admit airflow into the interior of the bag. The bag is formed of a mesh material having a mesh sized to pass airflow from the interior through the mesh while entrapping insects entrained within the airflow within the interior, in various aspects. An elastic material disposed about the entry of the bag to grippably compressionably secure the entry to a housing of a fan assembly with the interior of the bag in fluid communication with the fan assembly.

The bag may be formed of various mesh materials having a mesh that allows airflow to pass through the mesh while entrapping insects entrained in the airflow within the interior of the bag. The mesh material may be, for example, fiberglass mesh, plastic mesh, or metal mesh, and the mesh may be sized to entrap insects of a desired type. In various implementations, the mesh material may be cellulose based. In various implementations, the mesh material may be cloth formed of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or both natural and synthetic fibers, and the mesh material may be compliant and foldable. In various implementations, the mesh material may be cheesecloth and the cheesecloth may include cotton. In various implementations, the mesh material may be formed of cheesecloth and the cheesecloth may essentially comprise cotton. In various implementations, the mesh material may include 90-weight close weave fine cheesecloth. In various implementations, the mesh material may be biodegradable.

The insect entrapment apparatus may include a fan assembly that includes housing surrounding fan blades powered by an electric motor. The fan assembly may include a light to attract insect to the vicinity of the fan assembly where the insects may be sucked into the bag by entrainment in airflow generated by the fan blades of fan assembly. Various wheels, handles, controls, and so forth may be provided about the fan assembly that facilitate handling or operation of the insect entrapment apparatus including the bag, in various implementations.

Insects may include mosquitos, flies, no-see-ums (ceratopogonidae), gnats, and other biting or noxious flying insects. The insects may be vectors of various diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, zika fever, yellow fever, worms, parasites, and protozoan diseases, and the insect entrapment apparatus including the bag may be used for disease control by eliminating these vectors.

FIG. 1illustrates an implementation of insect entrapment apparatus10that includes fan assembly25, light40, and bag50. As illustrated inFIG. 1, fan assembly25includes housing27and fan blades35, with fan blades35powered by an electric motor (not shown). When fan blades35are rotating under power, airflow, as indicated by arrow101inFIG. 1, is sucked into housing27by fan blades35from the exterior environment through entry37and then ejected out exit39of housing27into bag50. Insects, such as insect105, may be entrained in the airflow to be sucked into housing27and then ejected into bag50for capture in interior57of bag50.

Fan assembly25, in this implementation, includes grating33though which the airflow passes propelled by fan blades35. Grating33encloses fan blades35to prevent objects larger than the aperture34of the grating33from engaging the fan blades35particularly when the fan blades35are rotating, in this implementation. Aperture34of grating33may be sized, in some implementations, to prevent large insects such as butterflies and moths from being sucked into fan assembly25through fan blades35and then into bag50.

Fan assembly25, in this implementation, includes wheels29,31rotatably secured to housing27to allow fan assembly25to be positioned about. Note that the fan assembly25, as illustrated inFIG. 1, is exemplary. Other implementations of fan assembly25may include, for example, various handles, wheels, grates, switches, controls, and may be configured in various ways, as would be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure.

Light40, as illustrated inFIG. 1, is positioned proximate entry37of housing27to attract insects, particularly flying insects, to the vicinity of the entry37. Light40may be electrically powered, and may be hung onto housing27of fan assembly25to lie over portions of grating33, as illustrated, or otherwise secured about fan assembly25generally proximate entry37. Light40may variously emit light in the visible, ultraviolet, or infrared spectra as selected to attract selected insects.

Cinch rope70, which is attached to bag50by mount75in this implementation, may be used to tie off bag50to retain insects within the portion of the interior57of bag50generally proximate end53when bag50is removed from housing27of fan assembly25.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the fan blades rotating under power draw airflow along with insects attracted by the light through fan assembly25, as indicated by arrow101and bag50. The airflow passes through bag50, as indicated by arrows103, leaving the insects entrapped within interior57of bag50.

FIG. 2Afurther illustrates bag50of insect entrapment apparatus10. As illustrated inFIG. 2A, portions of bag50proximate end51are doubled back upon itself and hemmed with hem59to form sleeve58. Cord55is slidably disposed within sleeve58, as illustrated. Sleeve58, in this implementation, extends circumferentially around bag50to allow the circumference of bag50at end51to be engaged with housing27of fan assembly25throughout the perimeter of housing27at exit39by cord55. Note that the circumference of bag50at end51may be engaged with the perimeter of housing27in implementations of housing27having a square, rectangular, oval, or other shape.

Bag50, as illustrated inFIG. 2A, has a cylindrical shape, but may have other shapes in other implementations, such as in insect entrapment apparatus100,200described herein. Interior57is defined by surface54of bag50, and insects are collected within interior57when bag50is in use. End53of bag is enclosed by the mesh material80of bag50, and end51of bag is open to form entry91into interior57of bag50. Airflow may pass though the open end51of bag50into interior57of bag50, while the airflow must pass through the mesh material80of bag50to exit bag50circumferentially, through end53, or both circumferentially and through the mesh material80of end53thus entrapping insects within interior57of bag50.

FIG. 2Billustrates exemplary mesh material80of bag50. As illustrated inFIG. 2B, mesh material80is formed of threads82a,82b,82c,82d,82ewoven together and having mesh83. In various implementations, the mesh83ranges is size from 0.01 mm to 1.6 mm.

Cinch rope70, which is attached to bag50by mount75, may be used to enclose bag50to retain insects within the portion of bag50generally proximate end53when bag50is removed from housing27.FIG. 5illustrates bag50enclosed by cinch rope70to retain insects including other debris within the portion of interior57of bag50generally proximate end53. Cinch rope70, as illustrated, is wound circumferentially around bag50and then knotted to itself to enclose the interior57of bag50proximate end53to prevent the escape of insects from interior57, for example, during removal of bag50from housing27of fan assembly25. Cinch rope70may be made, for example, of nylon or cotton, and may be formed as a rope, strap, line, or other such securement. Cinch rope70passes through mount75that is formed as a rectangular strap secured to side52of bag50. Mount75is illustrated as located approximately halfway between ends51,53of bag50, but mount75may be positioned closer to either of ends51,53in other implementations. Chord55may be drawn to enclose interior57of bag50, and cord55may then be secured, for example, by knot or by clamp, such as clamp60. Clamp60may be omitted, in some implementations, and cord55may be knotted or otherwise secured.

FIG. 6Aillustrates exemplary insect entrapment apparatus100including exemplary bag150. As illustrated inFIG. 6, cord155is slidably engaged within sleeve158of bag150at end151. Hem159encloses sleeve158, as illustrated. Sleeve158, in this implementation, extends circumferentially around bag150to allow cord155to engage the circumference of bag150at end151with the perimeter of a housing, such as housing27, of a fan assembly, such as fan assembly25. Clamp160is releasably slidably engaged with cord155, in the illustrated implementation.

Bag150, as illustrated inFIG. 6A, has a conic shape that tapers from end151toward end153, and end153of bag150is enclosed by the mesh material of bag150. Insects are collected within interior157. Airflow from a fan assembly, such as fan assembly25, may pass though the open end151of bag150into interior157of bag150, while the airflow must pass through the mesh material of bag150to exit bag150circumferentially, through end153, or both circumferentially and through the end153. The mesh material of bag150filters insects entrained within the airflow from the airflow entrapping the insects within bag150. Cinch rope170, which is attached to bag150by mount175, may be used to enclose bag150to retain insects within the portion of bag150generally proximate end153.

FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6Dillustrate an exemplary construction of bag150. As illustrated inFIGS. 6B, 6C, pieces180,190are generally triangular and conform to one another in size and shape. As illustrated inFIG. 6D, piece180is then overlain upon piece190and side183is seamed to side193and side185is seamed to side195to form bag150. Sides187,197are unattached to one another to form end151with entry191, as illustrated inFIG. 6D. Sleeve158, cord155and so forth may be formed or attached, as convenient.

FIGS. 7A and 7Billustrated exemplary insect entrapment apparatus200including bag250. As illustrated inFIG. 7A, bag250is secured to exit239of housing227of fan assembly225. As illustrated inFIG. 7A, airflow along with insects entrained in the airflow is drawn through entry237of housing227if fan assembly225, as indicated by arrow201. The airflow exits fan assembly225passing through bag250, as indicated by arrows203, leaving the insects entrapped within interior257(seeFIG. 7B) of bag250. Bag250is secured to housing227via elastic band255disposed about at least portions of end251of bag250. Elastic band255grippably compressionably releasably engages bag250with housing227proximate exit239.

Bag250, as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B, has generally a crescent shape with a generally circular cross-section. Interior257of bag250is defined by surface254of bag250, and insects are collected within interior257when bag520is in use. End251of bag250is open to form entry291into interior257of bag250, as illustrated. Airflow may pass though entry291of bag50into interior257of bag50, while the airflow must pass through the mesh material of bag250to exit bag250so that insects entrained within the airflow are captured within interior257by the mesh material of bag250.

Bag250may be formed as illustrated inFIGS. 7C and 7D. At exemplary first stage of formation, illustrated inFIG. 7C, mesh material275from which bag250is formed is rectangular with length L and width W. Elastic band255is attached along portions of side271so that elastic band255extends along about half the length L of side271, and side271may be gathered about elastic band255. At exemplary second stage of formation illustrated inFIG. 7D, mesh material275is then folded in half (along dashed line277inFIG. 7C) so that side272meets side274. Side273is then seamed to itself and sides272,274are seamed to one another to form bag250that encloses interior257, in this implementation. Side271including elastic255forms end251with entry291, in this implementation. When deployed, bag250may have generally the crescent shape as illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B.

In operation, an end, such as end51,151,251of a bag, such as bag50,150,250may be secured to a housing, such as housing27, of a fan assembly, such as fan assembly25using a cord, such as cord55,155, so that fan assembly ejects airflow into the entry, such as entry91,191,291of the bag. Alternatively, the end of the bag may be attached to the housing by an elastic band disposed about the end for that purpose. As a further alternative, the end of the bag may be attached to the housing by an adhesive strip disposed about the end for that purpose. With the bag secured to the housing, the insect entrapment apparatus, such as insect entrapment apparatus10,100,200attracts various insects, particularly flying insects such as insect105, with a light, such as light40. Then, the rotation of fan blades, such as fan blades35, of the fan assembly under power sucks the insects, such as insect105, entrained in the airflow through the fan assembly and into the bag though the entry. The mesh material that forms the bag is selected to allow airflow to pass through while straining the insects from the air. The mesh material may be formed as a mesh with size selected to capture certain selected insects including vectors of certain diseases. The insects are then entrapped within the interior, such as interior57,157, of the bag. The light40may attract various insects to be then entrained within the airflow.

A cinch rope, such as cinch rope70,170, may be used to enclose the interior of the bag in order to contain the entrapped insects within interior proximate the closed end, such as end53,153, of the bag. With insects contained within the interior of the bag by cinching of the bag with the cinch rope, the bag may be removed from the housing. The insects within the interior of the bag may be disposed of following removal of the bag from the housing. The cinch rope may be released to allow the insects to be dumped out of the bag. The bag may be reused multiple times, in various implementations. The cord may also be drawn to enclose the bag. In other implementations, the bag with the insects entrapped within may be disposed of and another bag affixed to the housing. In other implementations, the bag may be biodegradable and may be disposed of with insects entrapped within, for example, by landfill disposal or by internment in the ground in a garden or other agricultural setting.

The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.