Abstract:
A flyswatter ( 10 ) having an elastically deformable swatting member ( 16 ) with a plurality of protrusions ( 20 ) formed thereon. The protrusions ( 20 ) are spaced apart on the swatting member ( 16 ), and have a height somewhat less than the height of the insect. When the swatting member ( 16 ) is struck on an object upon which the insect rests, the protrusions ( 20 ) contact the object, and the swatting member ( 16 ) elastically deforms and bows outwardly and strikes the insect without flattening or squishing the insect.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/368,119, filed Mar. 3, 2006 now abandoned, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/658,332, filed Mar. 3, 2005, entitled “No-Smear Flyswatter,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to fly swatters, and more particularly to flyswatters of the type that reduce the likelihood of leaving insect residue when struck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flyswatters have been used for many, many years. Many attempts have been made to overcome various problems with flyswatters and the use thereof, as evidenced by the many patents directed to such subject matter. For example, the following patents illustrate the various advancements made in the field of flyswatters: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,299,580 by Knimlaw; 1,412,312 by Little; 1,650,548 by Sullivan; 1,860,939 by Miller and 3,673,730 by Hegenberger. 
     The most common application of a typical flyswatter is to swat an insect and smash it between the flat striking surface of the flyswatter and an object on which the insect rests. A sufficient force is applied to crush or severely harm the insect, resulting in its subsequent death. In this process the delicate body of the insect is usually smeared or broken apart—leaving a mess or residue on both flyswatter and the object supporting the insect. 
     Often, when a flyswatter is used, it will not be swung with the full force available to the person using the flyswatter, because they know that doing so will smear the insect all over the object. Thus, a person using a flyswatter will typically try to swing fast enough to catch the insect, but slow at the very end of the actual strike so as not to smear the residue of the insect over the object. The problem with this is that it makes it more difficult to catch fast-moving insects. 
     The present invention eliminates this problem because the user does not need to be concerned with slowing down the motion of the flyswatter, or trying to hit the insect at an angle so as to not smear it. With the present invention, the user can swing the flyswatter as fast and as hard as they want, and attempt to land the flyswatter flat against the insect resting surface, and be comfortable with the assurance that the insect will not be smeared all over the object. Performing the operation in this way also maximizes the chances of actually striking the insect. 
     It can be seen that a need exists for a flyswatter involving a relatively minor modification to conventional flyswatter designs, thereby eliminating or greatly reducing the mess associated with a standard insect swatting operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a feature of one embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a flyswatter having an array, collection, or pattern of relatively small protuberances, or raised features distributed on at least one striking surface of the flyswatter. The purpose or effect of the spaced-apart protrusions is to leave a gap during the swatting operation between the striking surface of the flyswatter and the object on which the insect rests. 
     According to an advantage of the invention, the relatively small gap between the object and the striking surface of the flyswatter is to limit the amount of mechanical compression imposed on the insect. Because the amount of mechanical compression imposed on the insect is reduced, the insect is less likely to break apart or smear on either the flyswatter or the object. The primary goal to kill the insect while still leaving the body of the insect generally intact and/or mostly whole, is thus achieved. 
     The extent of the gap between the elastically deflected swatting member and the object is determined as a function of the height of the protrusions, where the protrusions are positioned on or in relation to the otherwise-flat striking surface, the elasticity of the material from which the swatting member is constructed, and the velocity of the swatting member at the moment of impact. If the flyswatter is intended for use with larger insects, then a larger gap can be provided by making the flyswatter with taller protrusions on (or related to) the striking surface. Each side of the striking surface can have protrusions of a different height. On one striking surface of the flyswatter the protrusions can be made to accommodate larger insects, and on the other striking surface the protrusions can be made to accommodate smaller insects. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, disclosed is a flyswatter having a handle, and attached thereto is an elastically deformable swatting member having at least one striking surface for striking an insect. The swatting surface has a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions attached thereto, and a spacing of said protrusions are sufficient so that when the swatting member is struck against a surface on which the insect rests, portions of the elastically deformable swatting member located between adjacent protrusions deform sufficiently so that one deformed portion contacts the insect. The elastically deformable swatting member and the protrusions are constructed so that a substantial portion of each deformed portion does not contact the surface during the swatting operation. 
     According to another embodiment, disclosed is a flyswatter having a plastic handle, and attached to the handle is a plastic swatting member with a swatting surface on each side thereof. The swatting surfaces are adapted for striking an insect. Each said swatting surface has a plurality of spaced-apart plastic bumps projecting above the respective swatting surfaces, and portions of the swatting member located between neighbor bumps are constructed so as be deformed toward a surface when the swatting member is struck against the surface. The deformation is convex shaped so that a crown portion of the deformed portion approaches the surface being struck. However, a substantial portion of the deformed portion does not contact the struck surface, and each deformed portion of the striking member returns to a rest state immediately subsequent to the deformation. The handle, the swatting member and the bumps are all molded as an integral flyswatter. 
     According to the invention, disclosed also is a method of swatting insects with a flyswatter. The method includes the steps of applying a force to the flyswatter to strike a surface on which the insect rests. The striking force of said flyswatter on the surface causes a plurality of small contact areas of said flyswatter to contact the surface, and causes the large swatting areas located between said small contact areas to elastically deform and bow toward the surface and strike the insect. Only a small area, if any, of the bowed large swatting areas contacts the surface being struck. The deformation of at least one large swatting area of the flyswatter imparts a quick and sharp impact to the insect without substantially compressing the insect on the surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more particular description of the preferred and other embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters generally refer to the same parts, functions or elements throughout the views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the top side of the flyswatter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a bottom side of the flyswatter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the flyswatter of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a striking member as it deforms during a striking operation; 
         FIG. 5  is another embodiment employing a screen-type striking member with bumps embedded therein; 
         FIG. 6  is another embodiment of the invention employing a combination of curved ridges and bumps; 
         FIG. 7  is yet another embodiment employing linear ridges and bumps; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a bump having a pillar shape; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a bump having somewhat of a hemispherical shape with a blunt end; and 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a bump with a truncated cone shape. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A typical flyswatter is constructed with a striking member that is approximately square, measuring about 4 to 4.5 inches on each side. The striking member is usually a thin flat piece of perforated plastic or rubber that is square or rectangular. The striking member includes opposing striking surfaces, each for striking an insect, or the like. The perforations function to allow air to quickly escape through the striking member, rather than from under the striking member. The striking member tends to “roll” on the object upon which the insect rests, and conforms to the shape of the object. A conventional flyswatter is constructed with a simple wire or plastic handle molded into or integral with the striking member. The wire or plastic handle is typically 16 to 18 inches long. 
     The flyswatter of the present invention can embody the basic design of the conventional flyswatter, with one or more modifications. The flyswatter according to the invention is constructed to provide “no-smear” characteristics. This characteristic is achieved in one form by providing an array of small convex protrusions, in the form of bumps in one embodiment, on one or both of the otherwise flat striking surfaces of the flyswatter. Other protrusions could include small ridges or ribs of various shapes and sizes that are raised above the striking surface. Because the striking surface includes protrusions, the air can quickly escape therefrom, without requiring of apertures in the striking member. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . The flyswatter  10  is molded with a suitable material, and includes a substantially square striking member  12  molded integral with a handle  14 . The striking member  12  is about 3/32 inch thick, and is preferably constructed of an elastically deformable material. Other striking member thicknesses could be employed to achieve an elastically deformable striking member  12 . The striking member  12  can be constructed with plastic materials currently employed in making flyswatters, in addition to unbreakable, flexible plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and vinyl. Perforations formed through the striking member  12  can be utilized to enhance the flexibility thereof. The perforations are formed, if at all, at locations in the swatting member, other than centered between the protrusions. Preferably, although not a necessity, the striking member  12  of the preferred embodiment is perforated. The opposing surfaces or faces of the striking member  12  can be considered striking surfaces. One striking surface  16  is shown in  FIG. 1 , and the opposing striking surface  18  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, a plurality of protrusions is distributed over the striking surfaces  16  and  18 . The protrusions occupy about ten percent, or less, of the area of the striking surfaces  16  and  18 . One set of protrusions is illustrated as reference numeral  20  on striking surface  16 , and is considered a “bump.” Another set of protrusions  22  are shown formed on the opposite striking surface  18 . The height of each bump  20  formed on the striking surface  16  may be about 1/16 of an inch. The height of each bump  22  formed on the opposite striking surface  18  may be about ⅛ of an inch. Alternatively the bumps on both sides of the striking member  12  can be formed with the same height. The different bump heights allow the flyswatter  10  to be effective with different sizes of insects. In a preferred embodiment, and with the swatting member  12  constructed of a typical plastic vinyl with which flyswatters are presently made, there would preferably be between 15 and 25 bumps uniformly distributed on each swatting surface  16  and  18 . 
     The particular shape of the bumps  20  and  22  is not critical to the effectiveness of the invention. The bumps  20  and  22  can thus be formed with many shapes. One shape easy to implement would be a generally hemispherical shape. With this implementation, the protrusions on the striking surface of the flyswatter would indeed look like small bumps. Other shapes could be cones, pyramids, squares, rods, etc, as more fully described below. The bumps can be arranged on the striking surface in a grid pattern of rows and columns, with a spacing therebetween of one-inch, or more. Many other patterns or grid shapes of bumps on the striking member  12  can be utilized. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the principles and concepts of the flyswatter  10  of the invention during a striking or swatting operation. A portion of the flyswatter  10  is illustrated as it appears just after contact has been made between the bumps  22  of the flyswatter  10  and the object  24  on which the insect rests. During a swatting operation, the flyswatter  10  is grasped by the handle  14  and swatted so that the swatting member  12  lands on a surface of the object  24  on which an insect  26  sets. As the swatting member  12  becomes adjacent to the object  24 , the bumps  22  make contact with the object  24 . The swatting member  12  itself may flex until it is entirely parallel with the object  24  at the end of the swatting operation. It is at this time that portions of the flyswatter  10  of the invention continue to flex to strike the insect  26  without smashing it. The kinetic energy of the swatting member  12 , and especially each portion  28  that bridges or spans the bumps  22 , causes such portions  28  to elastically deform and bow downwardly, as shown in  FIG. 4 . As used herein, elastic deformation includes its commonly accepted definition of a change in shape of a body that is reversible when the stress is removed. The downwardly deformed portions  28  of the swatting member  12  have the effect of striking the insect  26  with a sudden impact and immobilizing the insect  26  without smashing it onto the object  24 . In many instances, the insect  26  will be killed or immobilized by being stunned without smashing it. It is possible, albeit a low probability, that the insect  26  will be struck by one of the bumps  22 , in which event it will be smashed on the surface  24 . It is believed that the portions  28  of the striking member  12  that elastically deform downwardly during the swatting operation do so with a snap action, based on the elasticity of the material with which the striking member  12  is constructed. In other words, the downwardly deflected portions  28  react very quickly to the stopping of the swatting member  12  on the object  24 , thus imparting a substantial energy in a very short period of time to the insect  26  caught thereunder. 
     It can be seen from the foregoing that the bumps  22  maintain the crown portions of the elastically deformed portions of the swatting member  12  elevated above the surface of the object  24 , and prevent direct contact with the object. It can also be seen that there is a relationship between the spacing of the bumps  22 , the height of the bumps  22  and the elasticity of the striking member  12 . The spacing of the bumps  22  can be reduced if the elasticity of the striking member  12  is increased. In like manner, the height of the bumps  22  can be made greater if the elasticity, and/or the tendency to change the shape of the striking member  12  is increased. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. Here, the flyswatter  30  is constructed with the striking member  32  made of a fine-mesh wire netting. Small plastic parts  34   a  and  34   b , such as bump half parts, can be made in such a manner that they are insertable through the wire mesh of a typical wire-constructed flyswatter, and captured in the medial position within the wire mesh of the striking member  32 . This would result in one half of the plastic part  34   a  protruding from one side of the wire mesh striking member  32 , and the other half of the plastic part  34   b  protruding from the other side of the wire mesh striking member  32 . Such an arrangement would allow for the same gap effect that is achieved with the striking member  12  that has the bumps  20  and  22  molded onto its surface. These small plastic parts  34   a  and  34   b  can also be molded as two separate pieces that snap together and capture the fine mesh wire netting of the striking member  32  therebetween. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates yet another embodiment of the flyswatter according to the invention. The flyswatter  40  includes a circular rib  42  formed generally in the center of the striking member  44 . The rib  42  need not be circular, but could be oval or some other geometric shape. In addition, the rib  42  need not be continuous, as shown, but could have breaks in it. Shown spaced around the circular rib  42  are other bumps, one shown as numeral  46 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a flyswatter  50  constructed according to another embodiment of the invention. The striking member  52  has formed thereon one or more linear ribs  54 , and spaced around the ribs  54  are one or more bumps  56 . The location and number of ribs  54  and bumps  56  can be varied in a manner different from that shown. In addition, different combinations of curved ribs, linear ribs and bumps can be employed on a swatting member to achieve the desired effect described above. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bump  60  formed with a pillar shape. The bump  60  is either formed integral with the swatting member  62 , or attached thereto by suitable means. The pillar-shaped bump  60  has a flat end to thereby reduce marring or otherwise causing delicate surfaces from being dented when struck by the bumps  60  of the flyswatter during a swatting operation. The edges of the bumps could be rounded to remove any sharp corners. The bumps  60  are preferably constructed with a size and of a relatively hard material so as not to deform substantially during the swatting operation. This allows the swatting member  62  to undergo an elastic deformation and bow outwardly without being cushioned by the bumps. Similarly, it is preferable that the bumps formed on the top and bottom sides of the swatting member  12  be aligned with each other. This alignment of the bumps allows the area of the swatting member  12  between the bumps to be elastically deformed without being affected by the weight of a bump above the deflected portion of the swatting member  12 . A bump located on a top surface of the swatting member  12  without a bump also located just below the top bump, would be undesirable, as a lone top bump would function as a weight on the deflecting portion of the swatting member and would slow down the response, but increase the extent by which the swatting member is elastically deformed. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another type of bump  64  which can be employed with the invention. The bump  64  is generally hemispherical shaped with a blunt or flat top  66 . The blunt top  66  reduces marring of delicate surfaces, in the manner noted above in connection with the bump  60  of  FIG. 8 . The bump  64  can be molded to or fastened to the swatting member  68 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another bump  70  that is cone-shaped, but with a truncated top  72 . The bump  70  can be mounted to or formed integral with the swatting member  74 . 
     While various shapes of bumps are described above, the invention is not limited to such shapes. Those skilled in the art may find that other bump shapes, including ridge shapes, can be utilized without departing from the concepts of the invention. 
     The advantages of the invention can be appreciated by understanding that a typical insect  26 , with its fragile body, can be immobilized or mortally wounded, without smearing, by the application of a relatively small impact force from a flyswatter  10 . The insect  26  does not need to be fully compressed between the object and the striking surface  18  of a flyswatter  10 . While this certainly will result in the death of the insect  26 , it also causes an unnecessary mess. The mess often resulting from swatting an insect can be reduced by the use of a much smaller force, quickly applied, which still results in the destruction of the insect. When protrusions are present on the striking member of a flyswatter, at the moment of impact of the flyswatter on an object, portions of the swatting member around the protrusions will elastically deflect toward the object. However, there may still be a small gap between the object and the deflected portions of the striking member of the flyswatter. The gap indicates that the deflection of the swatting member has not been stopped by contact with the object being struck by the protrusions. The existence of the gap enhances the impact force imparted to the insect. Instead of being squeezed to near zero thickness (smeared or smooshed), the insect is only squeezed or compressed to a thickness approximately equal to either the height of the protrusions, or the spacing of the gap. 
     At the instant that a typical flyswatter operation is completed, the elastic material of the striking member momentarily flexes and deflects due to the high force of impact. This results in a relatively large radius of deflection, or bowing outwardly, of that portion of the striking member spanning the protrusions. At the moment of impact between the protrusions and the object, the elastic deformation of portions of the swatting member will bow outwardly in a snap action toward the object. After being fully deformed outwardly, the deflected portions of the swatting member will snap back, similar to the action of a rubber band snapping, thus imparting impact energy to any insect which happens to be struck by the deflecting portion of the swatting member. Such action can damage the insect&#39;s wings or other parts of its body, or kill the insect. The effect of this is that the insect is stunned, otherwise immobilized, or killed without any mess at all, or at least a reduced degree of messiness. 
     From the foregoing, disclosed is a flyswatter constructed to reduce the smearing of an insect when squeezed against an object surface. The flyswatter of the invention includes a swatting member with spaced-apart protrusions on a surface thereof for contacting the object on which the insect rests. Portions of the swatting member located between the protrusions are adapted for elastic deformation when the protrusions strike the object. The elastic deflection of the numerous parts of the swatting member is effective to quickly strike the insect without smearing it on the object. The snap action of the deflecting swatting member imparts sufficient energy to the insect to destroy it without completely compressing the insect onto the object. 
     While the preferred and other embodiments of the invention have been disclosed with reference to flyswatters, it is to be understood that many changes in detail may be made as a matter of engineering choices without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. In addition, not all of the features and advantages of the invention need be employed to realize the individual aspects thereof. Accordingly, those skilled in the art may find that various of the aspects of the invention may form a combination that provides advantages in particular situations.