Abstract:
An electronic insect electrocution device with an integral display and counting means that displays the number of discharges, or “zapped” insects is herein disclosed. The device comprises a lamp enclosed within an enclosure comprising series of alternating grids energized by a voltage increasing device, which electrocutes any insects that fly towards the lamp. A numeric digital display is provided on the top of the enclosure and reflects the current number of discharges or killed insects. The counter is provided with an input signal that detects the voltage fluctuation of the grid every time an insect is killed. This detection circuit drives a counting circuit which interfaces with the counter. It is reset every time the unit is unplugged.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/208,798 filed Mar. 2, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to insect control devices, and in particular, to an electric insect exterminating apparatus with built-in counting capabilities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The presence of unwanted insects is a prominent annoyance, especially during peak times such as the summer months. Insect population is especially an issue in outdoor settings such as camping sites, porches, picnics, and the like during such times. As such, many different methods are utilized in an attempt to control insect presence and population in localized settings. These methods include scented candles and torches, insect repellents, insect traps, insecticides, and the like. Another popular device is that of electrical insect lures which generally utilize light as an attracting means and which provide electrocution capabilities for the extermination of insect populations. However, such devices are limited in their scope of capabilities. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide household insect electrocution assemblies. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,292, issued in the name of Klebanoff, describes an insect killing device which uses a domestic AC voltage supply in a conventional manner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,946, issued in the name of Nolen et al., describes a mosquito and biting insect attracting apparatus which utilizes alternative attractants such as chemical sources in order to lure and exterminate insects. 
     While these apparatuses fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such apparatuses do not provide any aesthetic or entertainment value to a user. Also, many such apparatuses do not have any means of providing data or other useful information to a user during periods of usage. Accordingly, there exists a need for an insect electrocution device without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a means to provide an insect electrocution device which provides enhanced entertainment and interest to a user while simultaneously providing added utility through the collection and display of relevant data. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to comprise an electronic insect zapper which utilizes electrocution as an insect control means and which further displays a running total of the amount of insects exterminated. The apparatus comprises upper and lower structures, a grill, an outer grid, an inner grid, a lamp, and a counter. 
     Another object of the present invention is to comprise a durable waterproof structure which consists of upper and lower structures integrally attached via the grill, which creates a lantern-shaped body with a plurality of widely meshed sides to protect users from accidentally being electrocuted. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a side surface of the upper structure of a recessed digital display which displays digital numerals corresponding to the count on an internal counter. The numeric display increments each time an insect is electrocuted, via the internal counter. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide insect attracting features including a replaceable lamp which comprises a common insect attracting illuminating device such as a fluorescent lamp, neon lamp, ultraviolet lamp, or the like. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a plurality of wire mesh grids which are electrified by a transformer, with a gap between the grids which is bridge when an insect enters the apparatus, thereby increasing the input voltage and electrocuting the insect in a conventional manner. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a voltmeter connected to the internal counter. The voltmeter is adapted to detect voltage increases resultant from insects being electrocuted. Upon such a voltage increase, the voltmeter increments the internal counter and thereby increases the digital display by one (1). 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a power cord adapted to be utilized with conventional residential power supplies. A user may reset the digital counter by unplugging the apparatus and removing the power to the counter. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of powering the apparatus via a conventional power outlet, attracting and electrocuting insects in a conventional manner, tracking the number of insects exterminated for informational and entertainment purposes, and resetting the display when power is removed from and subsequently returned to the apparatus. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an insect electrocution device with counter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the insect electrocution device with counter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the insect electrocution device with counter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an upper structure  20 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an upper structure  20  depicting an internal configuration of electronic components, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is an electrical block diagram of the insect electrocution device with counter  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 insect electrocution device with counter 
               
               
                 15 
                 insect 
               
               
                 20  
                 upper structure 
               
               
                 21 
                 lower structure 
               
               
                 22  
                 access aperture 
               
               
                 25 
                 ring 
               
               
                 28 
                 grill 
               
               
                 30  
                 outer grid 
               
               
                 31  
                 inner grid 
               
               
                 32  
                 first clip 
               
               
                 33  
                 second clip 
               
               
                 34  
                 inner slot 
               
               
                 35  
                 outer slot 
               
               
                 36  
                 gap 
               
               
                 40  
                 lamp 
               
               
                 42  
                 socket 
               
               
                 50  
                 counter 
               
               
                 55  
                 display device 
               
               
                 60  
                 power cord 
               
               
                 70  
                 frame 
               
               
                 80  
                 transformer 
               
               
                 85  
                 ballast 
               
               
                 86  
                 starter 
               
               
                 87  
                 outer grid aperture 
               
               
                 88  
                 inner grid aperture 
               
               
                 90  
                 voltmeter 
               
               
                 97  
                 solder 
               
               
                 100 
                 wire 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an insect electrocution device with counter (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides an electrifying means for controlling insect  15  populations and for counting the amount of electrified flying insects  15 . This electronic insect-control zapper is similar thereto conventional insect-control devices, yet it displays a running total of the amount of insects  15  executed thereon an integral display device  55 . The apparatus  10  comprises an upper structure  20 , a lower structure  21 , a grill  28 , an outer grid  30 , an inner grid  31 , a lamp  40 , and a counter  50 . The apparatus  10  may be located indoors or outdoors, and is ideal for persons with allergic reactions to insect bites, and those who detest insect repellants. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front perspective view of the apparatus  10  and  FIG. 2 , a rear perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a strong and durable waterproof upper structure  20  and lower structure  21  comprising a grill  28  therebetween. The upper structure  20 , lower structure  21 , and grill  28  are preferably integrally molded to each other, yet other means of attachment may be utilized without limiting the functions of the apparatus  10 . The grill  28  comprises a rectangular structure further comprising a plurality of widely meshed sides to protect a user and larger animals from being electrified. The upper structure  20 , lower structure  21 , and grill  28  create a lantern-shape body, yet other bodies may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . An intermediate upper surface of the upper structure  20  comprises a ring  25 , thereby providing a suspension means thereto the apparatus  10 . The ring  25  is comprised of a circular device to suspend the apparatus  10  from a desired displaying location in a conventional manner. The upper structure  20 , lower structure  21 , and grill  28  is fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: a grounded metal, plastic, or the like. 
     A side surface of the upper structure  20  comprises a recessed display device  55 , thereby displaying digital numerals corresponding to the count on a counter  50  (also see  FIG. 5 ). The display device  55  is depicted on a side surface for illustration purposes only; it is known that other positions may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The display device  55  is preferably a standard four (4) digit, seven (7) segment numeric display which increments each time an insect  15  is electrocuted via an internal counter  50 , yet other displaying means may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The upper structure  20 , lower structure  21 , and grill  28  are depicted as being separated for illustration purposes only it is known that the mentioned features are to be integrally molded to each other, thereby providing structural integrity to the apparatus  10 . An interior portion of the structure  20  houses a lamp  40 , an outer grid  30 , and an inner grid  31 , thereby providing a means to electrocute the insects  15 . The lamp  40  provides a luring means to insects  15  that are attracted to its illumination. The lamp  40  is located at an interior intermediate location within the structure  20  surround by grids  30 ,  31  and is removable replaceable via a socket  42  (also see  FIG. 4 ). The lamp  40  is to be fabricated from illuminating devices which are utilized in common insect electrocution devices such as, but not limited to: fluorescent lamps, neon lamps, ultraviolet lamps, or the like. 
     The structure  20  also houses a plurality of wire mesh grids  30 ,  31  which are electrified by means of a transformer  80  (see  FIG. 5 ). The grids  30 ,  31  are attached to an underside surface of the upper structure  20  via a first clip  32  and a second clip  33  (also see  FIG. 4 ). The outer grid  30  comprises a diameter larger than the inner grid  31  which enables said inner grid  31  to be positioned within said outer grid  30 , thereby creating a gap  36  therebetween. The gap  36  is a sufficient width for insects  15  to bridge said gap  36 . The grids  30 ,  31  surround the lamp  40  and are separated by the gap  36  which is established by the clips  32 ,  33 . As insects  15  are lured into the apparatus  10  via the lamp  40 , an electrical arc is produced across the gap  36 , thereby completing the grid&#39;s  30 ,  31  circuits and electrocuting said insects  15 . The transformer  80  increases the input voltage from 110-VAC to 1800-VAC or above when the insect  15  bridges the gap  36  which electrocutes said insect  15 . The transformer  80  is located within the upper structure  20  (see  FIG. 5 ). The grids  30 ,  31  are preferably fabricated from interleaved bare wire meshed or spiraled materials, yet other materials which conduct current may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The lower structure  21  comprises a rectangular shape further comprising an access aperture  22 , thereby providing a means to replace the lamp  40  and to allow debris to fall to the ground. The access aperture  22  is located at an intermediate portion of the lower structure  21  and is preferably slightly larger than the width of the lamp  40 , thereby enabling the lamp  40  to be removed. The access aperture  22  is also an appropriate diameter to allow insects  15  to descend through said access aperture  22  after being electrocuted. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of an upper structure  20 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The outer grid  30  and the inner grid  31  are suspended from the apparatus  10  via a first clip  32  and a second clip  33 . The clips  32 ,  33  protrude downwardly and are integrally molded to the underside surface of the upper structure  20 . The clips  32 ,  33  are illustrated as comprising a generally “T”-shaped body comprising an inner slot  34  and an outer slot  35  which utilize an interference fitting means. The inner slot  34  is utilized on each clip  32 ,  33  to position the inner grid  31  therein and the outer slot  35  is utilized on each said clip  32 ,  33  to position the outer grid  30  therein. The clips  32 ,  33  are preferably spaced one-hundred-eighty degrees (180°) from each other, thereby providing proper securement of the grids  30 ,  31 . 
     The outer grid  30  and the inner grid  31  are supplied with current via transformer  80  and wiring  100  routed from said transformer  80  and through an outer grid aperture  87  and an inner grid aperture  88 , respectively. The wiring  100  is attached to an upper surface of each grid  30 ,  31  preferably via common soldering  97  techniques, yet other means of attachment may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     Intermediately positioned on the underside surface of the upper structure  20  is the socket  42  which secures the lamp  40  thereto and supplies current to said lamp  40 . The socket  42  is preferably attached to the upper structure  20  via integral molding, yet other attachment means may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The socket  42  also receives current via a starter  86  (see  FIG. 5 ) which is positioned thereabove said socket  42  within the upper structure  20 . The lamp  40  engages the socket  42  in a conventional interference fitting manner. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a top perspective view of an upper structure  20  depicting an internal configuration of electronic components, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  receives 110-V power via a common electrical power cord  60  using an available household circuit, thereby providing current to the lamp  40 , the counter  50 , the display device  55 , the transformer  80 , a ballast  85 , a starter  86 , and a voltmeter  90 . Wiring  100  from the power cord  60  is interconnected to the ballast  85 , the starter  86 , and grounded to the internal surface via solder  97 . The starter  86  is a conventional electronic device which supplies a high current to the lamp  40 . The starter  86  is also interconnected via wiring  100  to the ballast  85  which is utilized to limit the current to the lamp  40  to an appropriate level. The ballast  85  is secured to the internal surface of the upper structure  20  via a “U”-shaped frame  70  which is further attached to the internal surface via attachment means such as, but not limited to: screws, adhesive, or the like. The frame  70  also secures the transformer  80  in a position and is also interconnected to the ballast  85  via wiring  100 , thereby supplying current thereto. The transformer  80  routes the wiring  100  through the grid apertures  87 ,  88  to the grids  30 ,  31 , thereby supplying current to said grids  30 ,  31  as abovementioned. 
     Interconnected to the wiring  100  routed to the grids  30 ,  31  are a voltmeter  90 , the counter  50 , and the display device  55 . The voltmeter  90  is utilized to sense a change in current, as when an insect  15  bridges the gap  36 , to increment the interconnected counter  50 . The counter  50  is preferably a standard up-counter incrementally activated every time an insect  15  is electrocuted by means of a connected voltmeter  90  that is attached thereto the grids  30 ,  31 ; the voltmeter  90  detects the drop in voltage on the grids  30 ,  31  and increments the counter  50 . The counter  50  resets to zero (0) when the power source is removed from the apparatus  10 ; this occurs when the power cord  60  is unplugged from a standard household electrical circuit. The counter  50  is attached thereto an electronic displaying device  55  to concurrently display count of insects  15  electrocuted. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an electrical block diagram thereof the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  receives 110-V via plugging the power cord  60  thereinto a household circuit which directs current to the lamp  40 , ballast  85 , starter  86 , transformer  80 , voltmeter  90 , counter  50 , and display device  55 . When an insect  15  completes the circuit on the grids  30 ,  31  the voltage increases and the voltmeter  90  detects said increase. The voltmeter  90  activates the counter  50  thereto increase its count and the displaying device  55  also increments its numerical display. The electrical and electronic components are connected with electrical wiring  100  and are housed therein upper structure  20  of the apparatus  10  as abovementioned. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the apparatus  10 ; suspending the apparatus  10  thereby the ring  25  in a desired location; supplying current to the apparatus  10  via the power cord  60  which illuminates the lamp  40 , activates the internal electrical and electronic components, and electrifies the grids  30 ,  31  via wiring  100 ; enabling insects  15  to be lured to the lamp  40  and into the apparatus  10 ; creating an electrical arc across the gap  36  of the grid&#39;s  30 ,  31  and electrocuting the insects  15 ; enabling the electrocuted insects  15  to fall through the access aperture  22 ; utilizing the apparatus  10  as necessary; unplugging the apparatus  10  thereto reset the counter  50 ; utilizing the access aperture  22  to remove the lamp  40  as necessary; and, providing an entertaining and educational means to insect  15  electrocutions. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.