Abstract:
An insect trap comprising: a cap; a container removeably coupled to the cap; an aperture located on the cap forming a passage way from outside of the container to the interior of the container; the aperture comprising an exterior-side and a container-side; and a supple sleeve located adjacent to the container-side of the aperture. A supple sleeve configured to be attached to at least one aperture wall forming an aperture in an insect trap.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an insect trap, and more particularly, to a trap for flying insects.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The use of traps to eliminate insects is well known. The traps may be used to protect fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs from being eaten or contaminated by the insects. Likewise, the traps may be used to eliminate insects from within a building. Perhaps the most common use of insect traps, however, are those used outside of dwellings to eliminate or minimize the number of flying insects which may interfere with enjoyment of the area.  
         [0003]     To accomplish this purpose, there are numerous different types of traps. One popular trap is formed of an elongate strip of paper or some other material. A scent is applied and the paper is covered with a sticky, glue-like substance. When the flying insect lands on the paper, the glue-like substance prevents the insect from escaping and the insect eventually dies.  
         [0004]     While such a trap is economical, there are disadvantages. First, the sight of numerous dead insects along a piece of paper is generally unappealing. Second, people occasionally bump into the piece of paper and contact both the insects and the glue-like substance. Additionally, this type of trap is limited to only small flying insects, such as flies and mosquitoes.  
         [0005]     Another popular flying insect trap is a device which has a bright light to attract flying insects. An electrified metal grate is disposed about the light. As the insect flies toward the light, it contacts the electrified metal grate. The insect is then electrocuted and causes no additional disturbance to those using the outdoors adjacent the trap.  
         [0006]     Such traps, however, have several disadvantages. First, the devices are relatively expensive. Second, the devices require electricity to power the light and to electrify the metal grate. Third, the sound of the device can become annoying to many. As the electricity from the metal grate electrocutes the flying insect, a distinctive zapping sound is heard. If numerous flying insects are caught in the trap, the repeated sound can become tiresome, and can interfere with conversations of those near the trap.  
         [0007]     Another type of solution is a trap which is of considerably less complexity, and in many instances, of greater usefulness. The trap has a container, such as a jar, into which meat, spoiled fruit or some other bait is placed. A cover/trap is then placed on the jar. The cover has several apertures disposed therein. The apertures are disposed to effect two purposes. First, the apertures allow the scent of the bait to diffuse into the surrounding area. As the scent spreads, insects are attracted to the cover. The scent leads the insects through the apertures formed in the cover and to the bait within the jar. Once in the jar the insects are effectively trapped. This is accomplished by coloring the cover black, limiting light flow through the apertures and using a transparent or translucent jar to hold the bait. Because most insects will seek light, many of the insects inside the jar will never find their way out. Rather, they will repeatedly fly into the wall of the jar, or get stuck in the bait, and eventually die. When the jar is full of insects, one may make sure all the insects are dead, remove the cover, dump the insects into the garbage. Some jars must be thrown out, others may be washed, and the cover reattached for subsequent use.  
         [0008]     However, the above described trap allows too many insects to escape from the trap. Thus, there is a need for a flying insect trap that better prevents insects from escaping the trap.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     The disclosed apparatus relates to an insect trap comprising: a cap; a container removeably coupled to the cap; an aperture located on the cap forming a passage way from outside of the container to the interior of the container; the aperture comprising an exterior-side and a container-side; and a supple sleeve located adjacent to the container-side of the aperture.  
         [0010]     The disclosed apparatus also relates to a supple sleeve configured to be attached to at least one aperture wall forming an aperture in an insect trap. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the disclosed insect trap;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the disclosed insect trap from  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a disclosed supple sleeve; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a disclosed supple sleeve. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an insect trap  10 . The trap  10  comprises a cap  14  removeably coupled to a container  18 . The container  18  may be made of a transparent or translucent material. The cap  14  has a generally planar surface  22  with at least one aperture  26  located thereon. If there is more than one aperture  26 , then each of the apertures  26  may be separated from one another by a plurality of one or more walls  30 . The walls  30  and apertures  26  may be covered by a dome shaped top  34 .  
         [0017]     In use, fruit, meat, juice, sugar water or some other bait  38  may be placed in the jar. A scent of the bait  38  may gradually diffuse out of the apertures  26  and attract insects toward the trap  10 . As they follow the smell, the insects will generally follow the path designated by arrows  42 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a side cross-sectional view of the flying insect trap  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The trap  10  includes the generally planar surface  22 , the apertures  26 , walls  30 , container  18 , domed shape top  34  and cap  14 . As can be seen in this view, the apertures  26  are formed by an aperture wall  24 . The aperture wall  24  may be cylindrical in shape, or may be any other shape so long as it allows for insects to move from outside the trap  10  to inside the container  18 . The aperture  26  forms a passage way from outside of the container  18  to the interior of the container  18 . The aperture  26  has an exterior-side  27  and a container-side  28 .  
         [0019]     Also shown in this view and not visible in the  FIG. 1  view, are sleeves  46  coupled to the aperture walls  24 . The sleeves  46  are configured to be supple and pliable such that it allows an insect to crawl down the sleeve from the outside of the container  18  into the container  18 , generally following the path designated by the arrow  42 . However, since the sleeves are supple and pliable, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for the insects to exit the container  18  via the sleeves  46 . The sleeves may be made from any supple material, including but not limited to latex, rubber, nylon, plastic, vinyl, paper, cloth and foil. The sleeve  46  may be tapered at its downward end  50 . The sleeve shape tapers from a generally round opening  47  near the aperture walls  24  to a generally smaller elliptical opening  49  near its downward end  50 . The generally smaller elliptical opening  49  allows scent from the bait  38  to enter and exit through the generally round opening, thereby attracting insects to the trap. Additionally, the generally smaller elliptical opening  49  may allow light to enter the sleeve  46  and exit through the generally round opening  47 , which also may attract insects. The round to elliptical taper of the sleeve  46  may be obtained by lightly creasing and flattening a tapered piece of light, flexible and subtle material. When an insect attempts to crawl down the sleeve  46 , the weight of the insect tends to close the generally smaller elliptical opening  49 , and interferes with the insects attempt to exit the sleeve through the generally round opening  47 .  
         [0020]     Other methods may be used in cooperation with the sleeves  46  to keep the insects from escaping the container  18 . Thus, the cap  14 , surface  22 , the underside of the dome shaped top  34 , and the aperture walls  24  may be painted, or otherhow colored, black or some other very dark color. Because little or no light comes through the apertures  26 , the insect does not try to escape the container via the sleeves. Rather, the insect will repeatedly fly or crawl into the sides of the container  18  until it collapses and dies. This is primarily because most insects search for light.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the sleeve  46 . In this view, the sleeve  46  is shown to have a taper near its downward end  50 . However, in other embodiments, the sleeve may not have a taper, or may have a flare at its end  50 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of one sleeve  46  attached to an aperture wall  24 . As can be seen in this view, the sleeve has a generally round opening  47  about the aperture wall  24 . Additionally, the sleeve has a generally smaller elliptical opening  49  near its downward end  50 .  
         [0023]     The disclosed sleeves  46  may be removable from the aperture walls  24 , or may be permanently attached. The sleeves  46  may be an aftermarket addition to an insect trap. The sleeves may be used in other traps with different configuration than the one shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . If the other traps use some sort of passage way into a container, and it is important to keep insects from leaving the container via the passageway, the sleeves  46  may be coupled to the container side of the passageway to prevent the insect from escaping the container.  
         [0024]     The disclosed trap  10  is easy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture, and better able to trap insects than traps without sleeves  46 . Additionally, the sleeves  46  may be an inexpensive and easy to use aftermarket addition to insect traps.  
         [0025]     It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.  
         [0026]     While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims