Abstract:
A pest control device uses a replaceable glueboard to immobilize pests attracted to the pest control device. A unique guide is provided to help prevent the adhesive surface of the glueboards from coming into contact with other surfaces of the pest control device during installation and removal of such glueboards.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/832,277 filed Jul. 8, 2010 by Studer et al and entitled “PEST CONTROL DEVICE WITH GLUEBOARD GUIDE”. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to pest control devices, and more particularly to pest control devices which incorporate a replaceable glueboard to immobilize pests. 
     II. Related Art 
     Historically, a variety of pest control devices have been employed to trap rodents, insects and other pests. Such pest control devices have typically employed some attraction mechanism for luring pests to the pest control device. Such attraction mechanisms have included baits such as food, pheromones or other odorous materials found attractive by the pest. Such mechanisms have also included light sources. Ultraviolet lamps have proven to be a useful and effective lure when trapping flying insects. Pest control devices have likewise historically included an immobilization mechanism preventing the pest from exiting the pest control device. One type of immobilization mechanism commonly used is substrate such as a board, paper or other medium having a surface coated with an adhesive. Pests attracted to the pest control device or incidentally coming into contact with the adhesive become trapped by adhesion. 
     One type of adhesively-coated substrate is commonly referred to as a “glueboard”. As the name suggests, a glueboard is a disposable board made of stiff paper, cardboard, corrugated plastic or other suitable material with an adhesive layer on one of the surfaces. For packaging and shipping purposes, the adhesive layer is covered by a release paper. The release paper is, of course, removed prior to use to expose the adhesive layer so pests can come into contact with the adhesive layer and become entrapped. Such disposable glueboards are routinely replaced to ensure the continued efficacy of the pest control device and to dispose of the pests immobilized by the glueboard. 
     While the adhesives employed when manufacturing glueboards have proved to be highly effective for trapping insects and other small animals, the nature of the adhesive is such that insertion and removal of the glueboard from the pest control device can be problematic. If the adhesive surface of the glueboard accidently comes into contact with other surfaces of the pest control device, the adhesive will cause the glueboard to stick to those surfaces. Likewise, if the skin or clothing of a person installing or removing glueboard comes into contact with the adhesive surface, the glueboard will stick to the person or the person&#39;s clothing. 
     Efforts have been made in the past to address such concerns. By way of example, various cartridges have been developed to enclose a substrate having a surface coated with an adhesive. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,443 granted to Lambert et al on Mar. 29, 2005 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,211 to Regan et al granted Jul. 29, 1997. While such cartridges do prevent the adhesive surface from coming into contact with the outer surface of the light sources and other surfaces of the trap and are also useful in diminishing the risk an installer or the installer&#39;s clothing will come into contact with the adhesive surfaces, such cartridges tend to be relatively expensive and complicated to assemble. Likewise, they often incorporate bracing or grids reducing the size of the area of the adhesive surface which is exposed and thus capable of trapping pests. 
     Prior to the invention disclosed and claimed herein there existed a real need for an inexpensive solution to reduce the risk that the adhesive surface of a glueboard will come into contact with the other surfaces of the insect trap or the skin or clothing of a person installing or removing a glueboard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A unique and novel pest control device is described below. The pest control device comprises replaceable glueboards of a defined thickness each having at least one edge extending between back and front surfaces, the front surface having a peripheral section adjacent the at least one edge and a central section, and an adhesive coating covering the central section. The pest control device further comprises a housing having a space which reserves and retains one or more replaceable glueboards. This space is defined by at least one channel, the channel having an opening into which the at least one edge of the glueboard(s) is inserted and a lip for retaining the at least one edge of the glueboard(s) within the channel. The lip of the channel and the peripheral section of the glueboard(s) are dimensioned so the adhesive coating of the glueboard(s) does not come into contact with the lip as a glueboard is inserted into and retained within or removed from the space of the housing. The pest control device also includes a guide engaging and guiding the glueboard(s) during insertion of the glueboard(s) into and removal of the glueboard(s) from the space of the housing. The guide engages the front surface of a glueboard as the glueboard is inserted into and removed from the space to prevent the adhesive coating covering the central section of front surface of the glueboard from coming into contact with other surfaces of the pest control device. The guide has an edge engaging the front surface of a glueboard. This edge of the guide is sufficiently narrow to prevent the guide from sticking to the adhesive coating. In certain embodiments, the guide comprises an axle supported by one or more bearings having at least one wheel mounted thereon. In these embodiments the edge(s) of the guide coming into contact with the front surface of a glueboard is the periphery of the wheel(s). A plurality of such guides may be provided. 
     The axle of the guides may be made flexible to accommodate glueboards having differing defined thicknesses or a plurality of glueboards. The axle of the guides may also be resilient so the wheel(s) mounted thereon slightly pinch the glueboard(s) between the wheel(s) and a portion of the housing. Also, the wheel(s) mounted on the axle of a guide may rotate during insertion and removal of the edges of glueboards from the channels and glueboards from the space. While the pest control device may include a pest attractant incorporated into the glueboard(s), the pest control device may either alternatively or additionally include a separate pest attractant in a second space which is located adjacent the space in which at least one replaceable glueboard is located. This separate pest attractant can be of any suitable type—one example being a light source. One of the functions of the guide is to ensure the adhesive surface of the glueboard does not come into contact with the separate attractant (or other surfaces) as the replaceable glueboard is inserted or removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flying insect trap. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the housing of the flying insect trap shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view showing the bearing and axle assembly of the housing of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial front elevational view of the bearing, axle and wheel assembly of the housing of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the glueboard of the flying insect trap of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the glueboard partially inserted into the housing showing how the glueboard interacts with the channels and the axle and wheel assemblies of the housing. Two of the light sources are not shown in the drawing to make it easier for one to view the axle and wheel assemblies. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view like  FIG. 6 , but with the glueboard fully inserted into the housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view like  FIGS. 6 and 7 , but with all three light sources in place. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial front elevational view of the bearing, axle and wheel assembly of the housing of  FIG. 2  together with a plurality of glueboards. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The concepts of the present disclosure may be employed in various alternative forms. The following description of specific exemplary embodiments shown by way of the drawings is provided to meet the disclosure requirements of the patent laws. However, the reader should understand that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings or described herein. 
       FIG. 1  shows one of many different flying insect traps which may be made in accordance with the present invention. The flying insect trap shown includes a glueboard  10 , a housing  30 , three ultraviolet light sources  56 ,  57  and  58 , a removable pan  80 , and a removable cage  82 . The removable cage  82  prevents people from inadvertently coming into contact with and being potentially burned by the light sources  56 ,  57  and  58  while at the same time permitting ingress of flying insects into the caged area. 
     Glueboards  10  of the type used may be of a variety of shapes. As shown in the drawings, the glueboard  10  is rectangular in shape having a first edge  12  ( FIG. 6 ) parallel to a second edge  14  and a third edge  16  parallel to a fourth edge  18  extending between first and second surfaces. The first or back surface has no adhesive coating. The second or front surface  20  has a peripheral section  22  adjacent the edges  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  and a center section  24 . The center section  24  is coated with a suitable adhesive known in the art for immobilizing the pests to be captured by the pest control device. The peripheral section  22  is typically not coated with such an adhesive to promote ease of handling.  FIG. 5  also shows a release paper  26  which covers the adhesive layer of the center section  24  during shipping and handling to prevent unintended items from sticking to the center section  24 . The release paper  26  is removed at the time the glueboard  10  is placed into service as illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  6 - 8 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the housing  30  includes a space  32  in which a glueboard  10  is received and retained. As shown in the drawings, the space  32  is defined by a first channel  34 , a second channel  40 , and a support surface  46 . Alternatively, a single U-shaped channel could be employed. The first channel  34  has at least one open end  36  and a lip  38  for retaining edge  18  of the glueboard  10 . The second channel  40  has at least one open end  42  and a lip  44  for retaining edge  16  of the glueboard  10 . The dimensions of the lips  38  and  44  and the peripheral section  22  are such that the adhesive coating of the glueboard  10  never comes into contact with lips  38  and  44 . When the glueboard  10  is located within the space  32 , the front surface  20  of the glueboard  10  and adhesive coating over the center section  24  face away from a support surface  46  of the housing  30 . As such, the back surface of the glueboard  10 , which is not coated with adhesive, is in face-to-face registration with the support surface  46 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 - 8 , the housing  30  also includes electrical fittings  50 - 55  for physically and electrically coupling three ultraviolet (UV) light sources  56 - 58  to the housing. The UV light sources, when energized, give off UV light which is known to be attractive to insects. As shown, the UV light sources  56 - 58  are positioned in front of and spaced from the channels  34  and  40  and the glueboard  10  and extend across the support surface  46  and glueboard  10 . When the UV light sources  56 - 58  are illuminated, insects attracted by the UV light will fly about the light sources  56 - 58 , come into contact with the adhesive and adhere to the glueboard  10 . Of course, if the glueboard  10  is not replaced regularly, the adhesive can dry out and loose its adhesive properties in which case any dead insects will fall into pan  80 . While the drawings show UV light sources being employed, other types of attractants can be employed either in lieu of or in addition to such light sources. 
     The drawings also show a pair of guides  60  and  62 . As shown, each guide includes a first bearing  64  and a second bearing  66  which support opposite end sections of an axle  68 . Mounted along each axle  68  between the two bearings  64  and  66  are narrow wheels  70  and a plurality of stops  72 . The stops  72  prevent the axle  68  from unintentionally becoming disconnected from the bearings  64  and  66  and the wheels from sliding along the axle. The wheels  70  have an axis of rotation along the same longitudinal line as the axle  68 . The wheels  70  can either be fixed to the axle  68 , in which case the bearings  64  and  66  permit the axle to rotate, or the wheels can rotate about the axle  68 . The wheels  70  terminate in a narrow outer edge to ensure the adhesive of the glueboard  10  does not cause the wheels  70  to stick to the glueboard  10 . 
     The wheels  70  of guide  60  provide at least two very important functions when the edges  16  and  18  of a replaceable glueboard  10  are being inserted into or removed from the channels  34  and  40  of the housing  30 . Specifically, the wheels  70  guide the glueboard  10  so the edges  16  and  18  enter the channels  34  and  40 . The wheels  70  also prevent the adhesive-coated center section of the glueboard from coming into contact with the outer surfaces of bulbs  56 - 58  or other surfaces of the housing  30 . Guides having other configurations can also provide this function without deviating from the invention so long as any edge of the guide coming into contact with the adhesive coating is thin enough to prevent an adhesive bond from being formed between the glueboard and the guide. 
     A second guide  62  may be added at the opposite end of space  32  and channels  34  and  40  for additional security. When a second guide  62  is provided, the guides  60  and  62  cooperate with the lips  38  and  44  of the channels  34  and  40  to ensure the glueboard  10  does not move, warp or otherwise change position in a fashion which could permit the adhesive of glueboard  10  to come into contact with the outer surfaces of light sources  56 - 58  or other surfaces of the housing  30 . 
     From  FIGS. 1-8  of the drawings, it should be appreciated that the thickness of the glueboard  10 , at least at the peripheral section  22 , should be less than the distance between the lips  38  and  44  and the support surface  46  so the edges  12  and  14  of the glueboard  10  can be slid between the lips  38  and  44  and the support surface  46 . As noted above, the depth of the lips  38  and  44  and the peripheral section  22  of the glueboard  10  should be dimensioned so adhesive from the glueboard  10  does not come into contact with the lips  38  and  41 . The axles  68  may also be made of a flexible yet resilient material to allow for variations in the thickness of the replaceable glueboard  10  and provide a slightly-pinching force against the glueboard  10  between the wheels  70  and the support surface  46 . 
     The arrangement of the present invention cannot only be employed to position and retain a glueboard being used to capture pests attracted to the trap, but also to store a plurality of replacement glueboards. As shown in  FIG. 9 , glueboard  10 A is positioned to capture pests while glueboards  10 B and  10 C are being stored for future use. One should recognize that suitable steps should be taken to ensure that the glueboards  10 A,  10 B and  10 C do not adhere to each other when stored as shown in  FIG. 9 . One such suitable step is to employ release paper  26  of the type shown and described with reference to  FIG. 5 . As used herein, “release paper”, irrespective of the specific material from which the panel is made, is used to identify any panel of material which can be releasably applied to the adhesive layer of a glueboard to selectively cover the adhesive layer and thereby prevent the adhesive layer from contacting other items that may stick to the adhesive layer. Rather than using a separate release paper or panel, the back surface of each glueboard  10 A,  10 B and  10 C may have characteristics similar to release paper  26 . A spacer or sleeve arrangement (not shown) may likewise be employed to keep the adhesive layer of one glueboard from contacting the adjacent glueboard of the stack. Also, the walls of the channel may comprise a plurality of grooves such that a separate glueboard can be stored in each groove. The spacing between the grooves of the channel keeps the adhesive layer of one glueboard from coming into contact with the adjacent glueboard. 
     When a plurality of glueboards are to be retained and stored as shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  30  and guide  60  must be arranged to permit such storage. Specifically, the distance between the support surface  46  and the wheels  70  of guide  60  must be sufficient to accommodate the number of glueboards to be stored. This can be achieved by changing the distance between the support surface  46  and the point of intersection between the bearing  64  and the axle  68 . This can also be achieved by providing an axle  68  which is sufficiently flexible such that it flexes to accommodate different numbers of glueboards. The size of the channel and its openings (e.g., opening  36 ) must also accommodate the size of the stack of glueboards as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The drawings and the description provided above are designed to meet the disclosure requirements of the patent laws, but the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed. Variations can be made without deviating from the invention. By way of example, a different number or type of lights may be employed as the pest attractant. Pest attractants other than light sources may be employed including, but not limited to, pheromones and other odorous materials embedded in the glueboard or positioned adjacent to the glueboard. The housing may also include various grills, grates or decorative panels to prevent people from coming into contact with the adhesive coating of glueboard  10 , to prevent viewing of the glueboard  10  and any pests trapped by the glueboard  10 , or to prevent people from coming into contact with either the glueboard or light sources. Also, the housing  30  and glueboard  10  may have a variety of different shapes without deviating from the invention. Thus, it is intended that the invention only be limited by the language of the claims which are intended to cover what the claims literally describe and a fair range of equivalents.