Abstract:
An automatic roach trap having a receiving container removably located in the trap enclosure. The trap utilizes a beam to detect roaches on a platform therein and actuates a mechanism to open an internal closure and coerce the roach into the underlying container. Access to the container is restricted during operation to prevent the escape of trapped roaches. The container is automatically closed upon withdrawal and designed to prevent inadvertent reopening during disposal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present invention is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/243,987 filed Oct. 30, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an automatic roach trap of the type wherein a roach entering the trap interrupts the beam of radiation to trigger coercive means which urges the roach into a disposable container. In particular, the invention is directed to a roach trap wherein the opening to the removable container is maintained in a closed position during periods of inactivity. 
     The interest in controlling the roach population in areas inhabited by man has been present as long as history has been recorded. The roach population has survived and, in fact, flourished despite repeated attempts to control it both through chemical and mechanical methods. Today, there is greater public recognition of the dangers inherent in the use of chemical insect control agents and increased attention is being directed to the use of mechanical trapping arrangements for insect control. 
     The durable roach exists in several varieties and different sizes. This insect continues to thrive despite the many attempts to provide a non-chemical approach to reducing its population. Not only do roaches belong to a variety of different species having a wide range in size, the roach is a remarkably adaptable insect capable of finding its way out of various trapping mechanisms. It is important that any trapping device maintain control over the trapped roaches since they have demonstrated an ability to exit through extremely small crevices and irregular openings. 
     One approach to trapping roaches is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,982 wherein the trapping device compensates for the wide variation in size and weight of the roach by utilizing a beam of radiation to trigger the coercive mechanical sweep. The device described therein utilizes a movable barrier that is opened by the mechanical sweep. The bounded passageway along which the roach is urged has an opening that communicates with the opening in an underlying storage container. Thus, access between the storage container and the end of the bounded passageway is interdicted by a pivotal top mounted barrier door which rotates, when struck by the sweep, within a connecting chamber or vestibule. The captured roach is then free to drop down into the box area or remain within the vestibule. Upon rare occasions, a roach remaining in the vestibule could facilitate a rechallenge of the sweep mechanism if it evades the swinging barrier door. Even more of an annoyance was that the trap left the vestibule space available for any roach unwilling to move to the removable box. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the provision of an automatic roach trap provided with means to continually close off the underlying storage container so that roaches can not reenter the passageway thereto. In addition, the present container is provided with a cover that is movable in relation to the underlying roach receiver so that the container is automatically closed as the user withdraws the container from the trapping device. Also, the invention provides a mechanical test for the user to readily verify battery and trap functionality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an automatic roach trap having a removable container to receive and retain trapped roaches within the bounded enclosure forming the roach trap. The enclosure has two levels with an intermediate floor between its top member and base member. The removable container is located in an access port in one of the enclosure walls and located beneath an opening in the floor. 
     A tilt platform is located in the enclosure adjacent the entryway for the roaches. A first opening is located in the floor adjacent the platform and a movable barrier is pivotally mounted between the opposing sidewalls. The barrier is located between the platform and the first opening. The free end of the barrier adjacent the floor has a closure member affixed thereto. This member overlays the first opening so that the opening is closed when the barrier is in the inactive position. Thus, roaches are unable to leave the removable container once deposited therein. In addition, the barrier is releasably coupled to the enclosure when the platform is not active. As the platform is driven into a tilt position, the barrier is then released for movement. 
     The bounded enclosure includes means for detecting the presence of a roach on the platform and provides an actuating signal to drive means that is operatively connected to the barrier. When the presence of a roach is detected, the drive means causes the platform to tilt, the barrier to move and the closure member to permit the addition of a roach to the container. The tilt platform prevents roaches from exiting through the entryway during actuation. In addition, the floor of the enclosure has an arcuate curved region which conforms to the arcuate path of the closure member to prevent roaches from exiting the container and seeking to leave the enclosure by a circuitous route. 
     The removable container includes a receiver dimensioned for placement in the access port with a movable cover supported thereon by guides located on opposing sides of the receiver. The receiver contains a first stop which limits the movement of the cover in one direction due to a projection mounted on the cover. A hand-grippable tab is provided on the cover so that the cover is moved from open to close position prior to withdrawal from the access port. During withdrawal, the projection mounted on the cover contacts the edge of the opening in the receiver thereby providing a second stop when the cover is in the closed position. 
     The removable container further includes engaging means mounted on the cover for contacting and maintaining the cover in the closed position so that it is not inadvertently opened by the user. The engaging means includes a pair of L-shaped prongs located on a opposing edges of the covers with the prongs being urged inwardly by the guides when the cover moves between open and closed positions. The prongs each include a cam mounted thereon for contact with the guides during movement. The bounded enclosure is provided with a releaseable detent on its base member. This detent engages a mating recess in the bottom of the removable container to both insure registration of the container opening with the opening in the floor of the bounded enclosure and also to enable the force supplied to the tab by the user to move the cover to its closed position before overcoming the restraining force applied by the detent. When the movement of the tab causes the prongs to travel along the guides and the cover contacts the stop, the withdrawal of the closed container from the access port takes place. Thus, the present invention essentially eliminates the opportunity for trapped roaches to exit the storage container during operation of the roach trap and further insures that the removable container is in its closed position when withdrawn for disposal. 
     Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing roaches in the entryway thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a exploded view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the front of the embodiment shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top cross sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is partial side view showing the movement of the tilt platform and moveable barrier of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a partial view in perspective of the drive and latching means of the tilt platform of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is an expanded view in perspective of the pivot of the latching means shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a partial side view showing the drive means of the present embodiment. 
     FIG. 11 is a detail view in perspective showing the beam interrupter shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a view in perspective showing the removable container with the cover separated therefrom. 
     FIG. 13 is a view in perspective showing the removable container in the closed position. 
     FIG. 14 is a view in perspective showing the removable container in an open position. 
     FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the guide taken along line  15 — 15  of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 16 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line  16 — 16  of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 17 is an expanded view of the prong shown in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 18 is an expanded view of the prong shown in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 19 is an expanded view showing the prong urged inwardly by the guide in the removable container. 
     FIG. 20 is a partial view in perspective showing the removable container in the access port. 
     FIG. 21 is similar to FIG. 20 with the container partially removed. 
     FIG. 22 is a partial top view in section taken along line  22 — 22  of FIG.  21 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the roach trap includes a bounded enclosure  14  having a curved top member  17 , a base member  18  and walls extending therearound. The entryway  15  is shown with a partition  16  dividing the entryway into two discrete areas. The roaches are shown entering the bounded enclosure  14 . One of the side walls is provided with a transparent viewing window  12  which enables the user to view the removable container contained in the device. For ease of assembly, the parts are made of molded plastic with the constructional features shown more clearly in FIG. 2 which is an exploded view showing the curved top member overhanging the entryway  15 . 
     In FIG. 2, the entryway  15  is an inclined plane to the intermediate floor  19  which receives tilt platform  21  thereon as shown by the dotted outline. The bounded enclosure for trapping is formed by sidewalls  26  and  27  and a portion of the curved top member  17 . The partition  16  extends up the entryway  15  and terminates on floor  19  before reaching the tilt platform. A driven arm  32  extends through sidewall  27  and engages a shaft  37  mounted in the end of the tilt platform. The driven arm  32  is positioned in a keyway  33  formed in the end of drive arm  31 . The drive arm is coupled to drive motor  34 . The embodiment is powered by six batteries  35  which are contained in the side of the roach trap and held in position by conventional contacts and the access cover  36 . The batteries also operate the emitter-detector pair  42  which establishes the beam of radiation across the tilt platform. 
     A beam actuated by plunger  49  is positioned just above the emitter-detector  42  and is manually operable to enable the user to determine if the batteries are sufficiently charged to operate the device. In normal operation, the device as seen in FIG. 11 is continually operational so that the manual interrupter triggers the tilt platform to indicate that sufficient power remains. Activation followed by no movement of the tilt platform  21  in indicates that batteries need to be replaced. 
     The movable barrier  23  is pivotally mounted in notches in the side walls  26  and  27 . At the lower or free end of the movable barrier is a closure member  24  which serves to provide a barrier to any roaches previously trapped. As shown in FIG. 2, the movable barrier has lateral extensions  13  which serve to support the barrier in the notches. The movable barrier is positioned adjacent to contact disk  22  which is affixed to the tilt platform. The curve on contact disk  22  causes the disk to rotate and urge the movable barrier away from the vertical position. A reinforcing ridge  25  is provided on the movable barrier for engagement with the disk and to provide clearance between the two moving parts. 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, the entryway  15  is shown divided by partition  16 . The cover  17  is shown with the actuating plunger  49  for the beam interruption operation extending upwardly therefrom. The sidewalls  26  and  27  are shown in dashed outline. The view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 shows the general layout of the trapping mechanism. The entryway  15  terminates at the horizontal floor  19 . The opposing sidewalls have lateral extensions so the entering roaches are directed to encounter the tilt platform  21 . The heavy-outline  50  crossing the tilt platform is the path of the beam of radiation from the emitter detector pair  42  located on the outside of the sidewalls and transmitting the beam through openings therein. The movable barrier  23  with the closure member extending therefrom is adjacent the tilt platform. As shown, a contact lip  28  is provided on the barrier member to contact the tilt platform and maintain the barrier in a vertical position. The circuit board  51  containing the electrical components for signal processing is shown in the light-dashed lines and is mounted beneath the floor  19 . The wiring connections to drive motor  34  are not shown and reside in the space between the battery assembly and the side wall as seen in FIG.  5 . As shown therein, the curved top member is provided with a limit stop  29  centrally located. This stop limits the angle of tilt of the tilt platform  21  when actuated. The contact disk is provided at the edge of tilt platform  21  so that a tilting of the platform causes the contact disk to urge the vertically positioned movable barrier to its open position. The removable container  41  is shown in its underlying position beneath the floor. 
     In FIG. 6, the floor  19  is shown with a contour or recess that permits the tilt platform to rest thereagainst in the same plane as floor  19  so that the roach does not encounter any discontinuity. The termination of the intermediate barrier provided by the floor  19  is a curved section  44  which extends upwardly and is in conformance with the arcuate path of the closure member  24 . Upon interruption of the beam, the tilt platform  21  rotates about shaft  37  and contact disk  22  causes the movable barrier  23  to rotate on its pivot. The closure member moves along the arcuate section of  44  of floor  19 . This prevents previously trapped roaches residing in the underlying container from exiting the device. The stop  29  located on the top member  17  serves to limit the angle of tilt platform  21  and provides a jarring force to any roach residing thereon. As a result, a roach is dislodged from the tilt platform and drops through the opening in the floor into the container. It is to be noted in FIG. 6 that the beam interrupting plate  57  is shown in dashed outline connected to the plunger  49 . 
     The movement of the tilt platform and movable barrier is shown more clearly in FIG. 7 wherein the tilt platform  21  is rotated to the limit stop  29  with the contact disk urging the movable barrier out of its vertical position. As a result, the roach is deposited in the underlying container through opening  55  in the cover  46  and into receiver  47 . It is to be noted that the contact disk has an opening therein  56  which allows the beam  50  to extend across the tilt platform. 
     The ability of roaches to escape from mechanical traps has created problems in the past when the trapping mechanism is to be operating without attention over a long period of time. Heretofore, entrapped roaches have managed to find a path to escape when the device is accepting or trapping another roach. The present invention utilizes the combination of the curved floor  44  and the closure member  24  to maintain control during trapping of roaches that have been previously trapped. The return movement of the movable barrier  23  and the corresponding movement of the closure member  24  causes roaches to return to the container. When the tilt platform returns to its rest position on floor member  19 , a latching mechanism is used to maintain the movable barrier in a vertical position. In FIG. 8, the barrier  23  is shown vertical with the tilt platform return to its rest position. A tab  61  extends upwardly from the floor  19  through a mating notch in platform  21  to engage the free end of locking arm  38 . As shown, the arm is pivotally coupled to the movable barrier. FIG. 9 shows barrier  23  to have a reinforcing tab  64  which receives pivot pin  63  in a mating hole. The sealing tab  66  is located on the end of locking arm  38  to seal the clearance opening formed in the barrier. The movable arm contains a beveled notch  62  which releaseably engages tab  61 . As platform  21  is driven to a tilt position, the locking arm moves along with the tilt platform and frees itself from the tab  61  thereby permitting the barrier  23  to be driven by contact disk  22 . The tilt platform rotates about shaft  37  which is coupled to the driven arm  32 . In FIG. 10, the drive mechanism for the tilt platform about shaft  37  is shown. The shaft is coupled to the driven arm  32  which has a lateral extension that resides in keyway  33  of drive arm  31 . The drive arm is affixed to the drive motor  34 . When a roach interrupts the beam of radiation across the tilt platform, the drive motor is actuated and the drive arm is rotated to the dashed position in FIG.  10 . As a result, the keyway forces the driven arm  32  downwardly causing rotation of the platform about the access of shaft  37 . As mentioned previously, the angle of tilt of the platform  21  is limited by the limit stop  29  located on the underside of the cover. Also shown in FIG. 10 is the beam interruption plunger  49  with its transverse support  52  having tabs which are received in the notches  53  of the side wall. As seen in FIG. 11, the transverse support with the ends thereof in the notch is a flexible member so that pressure exerted on the plunger causes the blocking member  57  to move vertically within guides  59 . A limit tab  58  is provided as a safety measure to prevent overstressing of the flexible transverse support  52 . In the at rest or normal position, the transverse support is horizontal and the blocking member  57  does not interrupt the beam  50 . The interruption of the beam results in actuation of the tilt platform if the batteries have sufficient stored charge. If the batteries need replacement, no reaction takes place and the user knows that it is time to replace batteries. 
     The electrical schematic for the circuitry used in the above-described embodiment is shown in FIG. 14 of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,982. The operation of the circuitry is the same with the interruption of the beam providing a signal to a logic circuit which causes the drive motor to be actuated. In the embodiment shown, the return of the tilt platform to its original position is effected by the movement of the keyway. The movable barrier utilizes a gravity return and the locking arm reengages the tab  61  as seen in FIG.  8 . 
     The removable container  41  shown in FIG. 1 is described in greater detail in FIG. 12 wherein cover  46  is shown removed from receiver  47 . The receiver is a container having a large area opening  76  in the top surface with a channel  73  centrally positioned therein and extending to the opening. As will later become more apparent, the channel serves to establish a first stop for the cover when it is inserted into guides  82 . The guides are provided on opposing edges of the receiver  47  and extend substantially the entire length thereof. In the embodiment shown, the guides terminate short of the ends of the receiver. In addition, a cutout section  83  is provided in each guide near the front of the container. The overlying cover  46  includes a centrally located projection  72  which extends downwardly and is matingly received in the channel  73  of the receiver. An opening  71  is provided in the cover adjacent to the end of the projection. Next to the opening is the releaseable engaging means for the cover which includes a pair of L-shaped prongs  84  separated from the adjacent material by slots  85 . Intermediate the prongs  84  is an elongated tab  74  which serves as a guide during insertion and removal. A hand-grippable tab  75  completes the cover. In operation, the cover is inserted into the guides  82  and urged into its open position wherein the openings  71  and  76  are in alignment. 
     The insertion of the cover  46  into the receiver  47  is shown in FIGS. 13,  14  and  15 . In FIG. 13, the edge sections  81  of the cover have been inserted into the mating guides  82  and the tab is used to urge the cover into position. No resistance is met to achieve the position shown in FIG.  13 . However, at that point, the L-shaped prongs on either side of the cover enter into contact with the adjacent detents  86 . By urging the prongs  84  inwardly by means of the triangular projections  90  formed thereon, the projections pass the detents and the cover can be moved to the open position shown in FIG.  14 . The term open position is used to describe the condition where the two openings are in alignment so that access to the interior of the container is available. When the cover and receiver are in the open position, the projection on cover  46  is received in the channel  73  to both maintain alignment during relative movement and to provide a stop for the cover so that in the open position, the openings are in alignment. Also, the projection travels along the channel when the cover is moved to the position shown in FIG. 13 with the projection contacting the edge of the opening in the receiver  47  thereby forming a second stop as seen in FIG.  16 . 
     The positions of the prongs  84  and the projections located on the outer ends thereof are seen in FIGS. 17,  18  and  19 . When the cover is closed as shown in FIG. 13 with the tab having been used to withdraw the cover to cause misalignment of the openings, the end of prong  84  rests at detent  86 . To reopen the container requires the application of force to the prongs so as to overcome the effect of the detent. When the cover is in the open position, each prong and its triangular projection reside within a cutout section  83  of a guide  82 . A camming surface  91  is provided to contact the triangular projection on the prong and urge it inwardly in the manner shown in FIG.  19 . This enables the cover to be moved from the open to closed position. As shown, the prongs are bounded by slots  85  which enable inward movement into the bounding slots. In summary, the cover is initially in the open position and the user inserts it into the roach trap enclosure. When trapping has occurred and the user wishes to withdraw the removable container from the device, the tab  75  is pulled so that the camming action causes the prongs to move inwardly and the cover is partially withdrawn and the openings are non-aligned. As mentioned, the closed position for the removable container is shown in FIG.  13 . The user is prevented from inadvertently returning the cover to the open position by the detents  86  located at the ends of the receiver guides  82 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 20,  21  and  22 , the interaction of the device enclosure with the removable container is shown in further detail. The cover contains an elongated tab  74  intermediate the prongs  84 . An alignment notch  93  is provided in the central portion of the exterior wall to maintain the alignment of the cover, receiver and enclosure wall during insertion and removal of the container. The relative movement between cover and receiver takes place while the container is within the device enclosure. The container is also provided with a centrally located elongated channel on its bottom surface which engages a biased detent  95  formed on the bottom of the device enclosure. The biased detent  95  is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The molded plastic enclosure enables an inwardly displaced protrusion to be formed on the bottom for use in guiding the container by riding in the channel. The receiver is provided with a mating recess at a particular location in the channel to appropriately position the receiver within the device enclosure. Continued application of force to the tab  75  causes the closed container to overcome the force of the protrusion  95  and permit withdrawal of the container. Thus, the container is prevented from inadvertent displacement during operation. In addition, internal guides can be used within the device enclosure to further maintain the cover in alignment and to maintain the prongs in position during continued use. For example, the access port for the removable container is provided with recesses  98  to allow passage of the projections  90  therethrough. Further, the entry at the access port is facilitated by the use of radius corners  99  as shown in FIG.  22 . The radius corners together with recesses  98  inwardly urge the L-shaped prongs  84  to facilitate insertion of a closed container. 
     While the above-description has referred to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is recognized that many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.