Abstract:
This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating insect-catching devices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesive surface. In particular, the illuminating portion is electrically powered, in one form by standard household power.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating insect-catching devices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesive surface. In particular, the illuminating portion is electrically powered, in one form by standard household power. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    An adhesive insect-catching device as shown in  FIGS. 1-5  to be attached to a night light, having a light emitting portion, an electric plug portion. The a the insect-catching device comprising: a self-supporting flexible structure; a decorative side; an adhesive side comprising an adhesive substance; wherein the adhesive substance attaches the insect-catching device to the night light; and the adhesive side extends beyond the night light such that insects may be captured upon the adhesive substance. 
         [0003]    The adhesive insect-catching device may also be configured wherein the self-supporting flexible structure is substantially an ellipse when laid flat prior to or after attaching to the inner surface of the supporting structure. The adhesive insect-catching device in another embodiment is arranged such that the self-supporting flexible structure is substantially a circle having a diameter of 4-8 inches in diameter when laid flat. 
         [0004]    The adhesive insect-catching device may be arranged wherein the night light portion further comprises a male plug portion operatively configured to electrically couple to a household power supply. 
         [0005]    An adhesive insect-catching device as shown in  FIGS. 6-8  is disclosed comprising: a light emitting portion; a rigid outer portion coupled to the light emitting portion and extending therefrom; wherein the rigid outer portion comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; a removable inner portion having an outer surface which substantially conforms to the inner surface of the rigid outer portion, and an inner surface; an adhesive layer disposed on the inner surface of the inner portion, the adhesive layer operatively configured to trap insects. The adhesive insect-catching device may also be arranged such that the light emitting portion is coupled to a scent emitting portion operatively configured to emit a scent pleasing to humans. 
         [0006]    The adhesive insect-catching device may also be arranged wherein the adhesive layer is removably disposed on the inner surface of the inner portion. In this way, the adhesive with insects attached can be removed and discarded (recycled) to reduce waste and cost. 
         [0007]    The adhesive insect-catching device may be arranged wherein the inner portion is not coupled to, but simply rests upon the inner surface of the pouter portion. As each portion in one form is a frustoconical shape, the larger upper surface may open upwards, such that gravity holds the inner portion within the outer portion. Of course, in other orientations, adhesives, or other attachment structures and materials could be utilized to hold the inner portion within the outer portion. 
         [0008]    The adhesive insect-catching device may also comprise a male plug portion operatively configured to electrically couple to a household power supply. In the US, this is normally 110 volt AC with well known two (or three) prong plugs and receivers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an insect-catching device attached to a standard household outlet, in one form. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a prior art night light, in one form. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the adhesive portion of a insect-catching device, in one form. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cutaway view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of an insect-catching device, in one form. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is another embodiment of an insect-catching device, in one form. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of an insect-catching device, in one form. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cutaway view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of another embodiment of an insect-catching device, in one form. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a prior art night light, in one form. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the insect-catching device shown in  FIG. 9  with the night light removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a cutaway view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Described herein is a simple and novel apparatus for reducing the number of insects in one&#39;s home, and it generally comprises a light-emitting portion similar to a prior art night light and an adhesive portion for trapping the insects. While the term “insects” is used, it would be obvious that this device would also catch other small animals such as arachnids, worms, etc. The term insects will be used in this disclosure to include all such creatures. 
         [0022]    Looking to  FIG. 1  is an insect-catching device  20 , in one form. This view generally shows the adhesive portion  22  and a standard electric outlet  24 , comprising a plurality of female electric receptacles  26 . Looking to  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of a prior art night light  28  is shown, comprising a light-emitting portion  30  and a plurality of male electric plugs  32 , which engage the female electric receptacles  26  of  FIG. 1 . The night light  28  of  FIG. 2  may also comprise a scent emitter  34 , which could be configured to emit a scent that is pleasing to humans. Such night-light and scent emitter combinations are well known in the art, such as is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,440, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the adhesive portion  22  laid flat to show the simplicity of the design. While it is shown as an elongated ellipse, it also could have other forms, including a circle, which is a special form of an ellipse. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . As shown, the adhesive portion  22 , in one form, comprises an adhesive surface  36 , which has an adhesive substance  38  disposed thereon. A flexible structure  40  is also attached to the adhesive surface  36 , in one form, to add rigidity to the device. In one form, the outer surface  42  of the adhesive portion  22  is decorative, either by texture, color or a combination thereof. 
         [0025]    Looking to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen how the adhesive surface  36  is adhered to the outer surface of the night light  28 , such that the adhesive surface  36  would capture any insects  44  coming into contact with the adhesive surface  36 . The outer surface  42  would be most visible to users, as the outlet  24  shown in  FIG. 1  is generally attached to a planar wall, and thus the adhesive surface  36  would face said wall. In one form, the insect-catching device  20  is opaque, such that users would normally not be in position to view the insects  44  which may become entrapped by the adhesive surface  36 . To ease in manufacture, the adhesive surface  36  may be continuous from the upper edge  46  to the lower edge  48 , such that the portion of the adhesive which attaches the adhesive portion  22  to the outer surface of the night light  28  would be substantially the same material as the portion which entraps the insects  44 . This would allow the adhesive portion  32  to attach to a multitude of different night-lights  28  of varying configurations. 
         [0026]    Moving to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of the insect-catching device  50  is shown, which generally comprises a rigid outer portion  52 , which is coupled to the night light portion  54  and a removable inner portion  56 , which is operably configured to entrap the insects, and may be removed from the rigid outer portion  52  and in some cases discarded or recycled. The rigid outer portion  52  generally comprises an inner surface  58  and an outer surface  60 . The removable inner portion  56 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , also comprises an inner surface  62  and an outer surface  64 . In one form, the outer surface  64  is configured to the inner surface  58  of the rigid outer portion  52 . When the insect-catching device  50  is oriented such that the upper edge  66  of the rigid outer portion  52  is vertically above the lower edge  68 , gravity may be sufficient to keep the removable inner portion  56  within the inner surface  58  of the rigid outer portion  52 . Of course, removable adhesives, Velcro, and other adhesive or restraining structures and materials could be utilized. 
         [0027]    Looking to  FIG. 8 , which is a cross sectional view of the removable inner portion  56  taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 , the different layers are easily perceived. In one form, the removable inner portion  56  comprises a rigid inner structure  70  and an adhesive layer  72 , which forms the inner surface  62  of the removable inner portion  56 . In one form, the adhesive layer  72  may comprise multiple sub-layers, such as an adhesive sub-layer  74 , configured to couple a carrier sub-layer  76  to the rigid inner structure  70 . In this form, a second adhesive sub-layer  78  may be disposed on the carrier layer  76  to entrap insects, which would encounter the adhesive sub-layer  78 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment shown, to replace the adhesive layer, the removable inner portion  56  could either be removed from the rigid outer portion  52  and discarded or the adhesive layer  72  could be removed from the rigid inner structure  70  wherein the adhesive layer  72  would be discarded and replaced with a new layer. 
         [0029]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  is an insect-catching device  80  coupled to a prior art night light  82 , shown in  FIG. 10 . The insect-catching device  80  generally incorporates several of the novel concepts of the prior two embodiments. In this embodiment, a rigid structure  84  is attached to the night light  82  and generally comprises an outer surface  86  and an inner surface  88 , shown in  FIG. 11 . In one form, the rigid structure  84  is moldable to allow the structure  84  to be fitted to night light  82  of various configurations. An adhesive layer  90  is disposed on the inner surface  88 , and in one form, the adhesive layer  90 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , comprises an adhesive  92 , which couples a carrier layer  94  to the rigid structure  84 . The inward surface  96  of the adhesive layer  90  comprises an adhesive  98 , as previously disclosed, and generally is configured to entrap insects that encounter said adhesive  98 . 
         [0030]    While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.