Patent Publication Number: US-6655080-B2

Title: Insect trapping apparatus with laminar air flow

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of insect traps, and more particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus of attracting mosquitos and other biting insects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Insect traps, such as for trapping mosquitos and other biting insects, are commonly used in tropical areas and in locations where hot summer nights are conducive for mosquitos and other biting insects to proliferate. Some insect trapping devices include an insect attractant that attracts insects into the vicinity of an insect trap. The insect attractant could be a chemical similar to a hormone for attracting insects, or could be heat, moisture, gas or other insect attractants. Some of the prior art traps include an electrified grid that electrifies the insects when the insect engages the grid. The insect attractant would be surrounded by the grid such that when the insect is attracted by the insect attractant into the electrified grid, the insect is electrified and killed. 
     In yet other types of prior art insect traps, a fan is mounted in a housing and creates an inflow into an inflow channel where insects are sucked by the inflow of air into the housing and trapped in a mesh bag. Typically, to attract insects in close proximity to the housing and thus toward the inflow of air, carbon dioxide gas or other attractants are generated to attract the insects. An example of this type of device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,243 to Wigton et al., where a self-contained gas source provides gas to a burner where CO 2  gas is produced upon combustion. A counterflow of air is provided for sucking insects into the counterflow of air as insects are attracted by the CO 2  gas. 
     Although this type of insect trapping device and other similar types of devices are advantageous, a counterflow of air could produce cooling of the exhaust gas, and could limit diffusion of the carbon dioxide. A counterflow of air could also condense any moisture, which is an attractant for insects, and especially mosquitos, and also aids in spreading the carbon dioxide gas. Also, this type of insect trapping device is self-contained as one integral unit. It is an expensive device because it uses self-contained electrical generation circuitry instead of a standard electrical outlet for power. Other prior art devices have similar drawbacks. Other prior art devices use one type of attractant instead of a combination of attractants that could be beneficial. Also, the use of a flexible mesh bag to trap insects is not advantageous because the mesh bag is subject to deterioration in an outdoor environment. In some prior art insect trapping designs, mosquitos are not killed adequately, allowing them to escape. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention advantageously provides an insect trapping apparatus and method that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art insect traps. The insect trapping apparatus of the present invention simulates body temperature and a warm blooded animal breathing out carbon dioxide gas. In one aspect of the present invention, a hot carbon dioxide gas is emitted as an insect attractant. A heat signature is produced from the insect trap that is characteristic of a warm blooded animal and a blue light is emitted of a wavelength that attracts mosquitos into the insect trap. The blue light can be emitted from light emitting diodes mounted on the insect trap. 
     The insect trap comprises a housing, in one aspect of the present invention, and includes an inflow channel. Insects are drawn by an inflow of air into the inflow channel and into the housing where insects are trapped therein. In one aspect of the present invention, the housing comprises a substantially cylindrically configured trap barrel having an annular inflow channel around the trap barrel as formed by an air intake wall space from the outer wall surface of the trap barrel. A laminar air flow is drawn along the outer wall of the trap barrel in one preferred aspect of the invention. A hot carbon dioxide gas is also emitted as an attractant offset from the insect trap for minimizing the cooling of the hot carbon dioxide gas by any inflow of air into the insect trap. A hot carbon dioxide gas can also be emitted, together with moisture by burning a fuel such as propane. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, hot carbon dioxide gas and moisture are exhausted through a vertically extending exhaust tube to minimize cooling of the carbon dioxide gas and condensation of moisture. Insects are attracted through an inflow channel of an insect trap mounted offset from an exhaust tube to trap the insects therein. 
     The present invention also provides an improved catch cup that is not formed as a fabric or mesh bag, or similar flexible bag material used in prior art devices, which could tear or be difficult to empty. The catch cup has a double hinged trap door formed as a cover that automatically opens when the catch cup is inserted, and locked by twisting the catch cup onto the bottom portion of the trap barrel of the insect trap. A laminar air flow is also produced against the outer wall surface of the trap barrel. 
     The insect trapping apparatus also includes a unique support stand that can be secured in the ground by mounting stakes to provide a stable environment and operation, even in high winds. The unique configuration of the top helmet dome of the insect trap barrel and its stepped configuration with the air intake wall allows electrical components mounted on a printed circuit board shelf to be adequately protected from rain and exposure, while also providing for an air flow channel configuration that allows a laminar flow of air along the outer wall surface of the insect trap barrel and into the inflow channel. 
     The present invention also provides for the generation of a heat signature from the insect trap that corresponds to a heat signature of a warm blooded animal. The present invention uses an internal heater pad liner for insulation against a heater pad that is positioned against the inner wall surface of the insect trap. The internal heater pad liner acts as an insulated barrier for the heater pad and reduces the tendency of air blowing through the insect trap to cool the heater pad, while maintaining the outer wall surface of the trap barrel at about the desired temperature corresponding to the heat signature of a warm blooded animal. Thus, less heat is consumed, keeping the barrel at the desired temperature. A thermostat circuit produces temperature control over the heater pad. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows, when considered in light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the insect trapping apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the insect trapping apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the insect trapping apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view looking at an angle toward the underside of the burner barrel and burner dome in the direction of arrow  4  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the insect trapping apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded and partial sectional view in elevation of the insect trap barrel assembly and associated details, including the fan assembly and catch cup. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and partial sectional view of the insect trap barrel assembly. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the insect trap barrel assembly having its hood removed and showing the printed circuit board shelf. 
     FIG. 9 is another isometric view of the insect trap barrel assembly with its hood inserted and the barrel assembly mounted on the burner barrel exhaust tube. 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, partial sectional view of the burner barrel and burner assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the burner assembly, including pressure regulator and control valve assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, partial sectional view of the pressure regulator and control valve assembly and associated thermocouple used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged isometric view showing the thermocouple positioned relative to the top portion of the burner assembly and the position of the thermocouple relative to a flame discharged from the burner assembly. 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the insect trap barrel assembly with the hood removed and showing the insect trap barrel assembly mounted on the exhaust tube. 
     FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the insect trap barrel assembly of FIG. 14 mounted on the exhaust tube and showing the amount of lateral offset between the exhaust tube and insect trap barrel assembly. 
     FIG. 16 is a plan view of the insect trap barrel assembly shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. 
     FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the catch cup used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 18 is an exploded isometric view of the catch cup and showing the double hinged trap door and door disk used in the catch cup. 
     FIG. 19 is an isometric view of the double hinged trap door used with the catch cup of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     The present invention provides an insect trapping apparatus that advantageously overcomes the disadvantages of prior art insect traps. The insect trapping apparatus simulates body temperature and a warm blooded animal breathing out carbon dioxide gas. It also includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) that generates blue light of a wavelength that attracts insects, especially mosquitos. An insect, such as a mosquito, is drawn by the carbon dioxide, the simulated body temperature, and the blue light into an inflow channel of an insect trap barrel assembly of the apparatus when the mosquito is attracted close to the inflow channel. 
     The present invention does not use a counterflow air system as in some prior art insect trapping devices. Instead, the insect trapping apparatus of the present invention uses a straight exhaust tube that extends from a burner assembly where gas, such as propane gas, is burned and catalyzed to produce carbon dioxide gas and some moisture. The straight exhaust tube does not cool the carbon dioxide exhaust to an extent that moisture is condensed on the side of an exhaust tube or quickly in the air, as often occurs in some counterflow devices. Also, the combination of carbon dioxide exhaust and moisture, heat from an insect trap barrel, and blue light emitted from the blue light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s), combine to attract insects, such as mosquitos, into the proximity of the insect trapping apparatus. 
     The mosquitos are sucked upward in a laminar flow of air along the outer wall surface of the insect trap barrel assembly, which in one aspect of the invention, is formed as a cylindrical housing or trap barrel member. The flow of air extends through the inflow channel and into a catch cup. The present invention also provides a two-piece design instead of a one-piece design as in the prior art. The burner assembly is contained in a separate burner barrel that is separate from the insect trap barrel assembly. The burner barrel is also positioned offset from the insect trap barrel assembly, allowing increased attractant in the form of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas to be disbursed throughout the general environment surrounding the apparatus without cooling occurring from an inflow of air. 
     The present invention also provides a catch cup that is not formed as a fabric or mesh bag or other similar flexible bag that could tear or be difficult to clean and empty. The catch cup has a double hinged trap door as a covering that automatically opens when the catch cup is inserted onto the insect trap barrel assembly. The catch cup is locked into place on the insect trap barrel assembly by twisting the catch cup onto the bottom portion of the insect trap barrel assembly. A laminar air flow also is produced against the outer wall surface of the insect trap barrel. 
     The thermocouple and associated pressure regulator and control valve are operative together such that the control valve closes within 20 seconds of the burner flame going out. The design configuration of the thermocouple relative to the burner assembly is an advantageous improvement over prior art designs. The thermocouple extends near and slightly above the position of the flame, but does not engage the flame. 
     Additionally, the insect trapping apparatus includes a unique support stand that can be secured in the ground by mounting stakes to provide a stable environment and operation, even in high winds. The unique configuration of the top helmet dome resting on the insect trap barrel assembly and the stepped configuration with the air intake wall allows electrical components to be adequately protected from rain and exposure, while also providing for an inflow channel configuration that allows a laminar flow of air along the insect trap barrel assembly outer wall into the inflow channel. 
     The present invention also provides for the generation of a heat signature from the insect trap barrel assembly that corresponds to a heat signature of a warm blooded animal. The present invention uses an internal heater panel liner against a heater panel, which in turn, is positioned against the inner wall surface of the insect trap barrel assembly. The internal heater panel liner acts as an insulative barrier for the heater panel and reduces the tendency of air blowing through the insect trap barrel assembly to cool the heater panel, while maintaining the exterior wall surface of the insect trap barrel assembly at about the desired temperature corresponding to the heat signature of a warm blooded animal. The appropriate thermostat control circuit is included for temperature control of the heater panel. Power for the various components, such as the fan assembly, heater panel, blue light emitting diodes and other components is provided by a conventional AC power source and cord, in one preferred aspect of the present invention. Most major surfaces exposed to the elements can be zinc plated and then painted with epoxy or alkydresin outdoor paint to protect the apparatus from harsh outdoor elements. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates at  20  an isometric view of the insect trapping apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus  20  of the present invention includes a burner barrel  22  containing a burner assembly  24  (including a catalyst as explained below) (FIG. 10) having a carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas exhaust tube  26  that extends vertically upward. A gas supply valve assembly  28  connects to a propane tank (not shown) and receives gas from the propane tank. The burner assembly  24  burns the propane gas and exhausts the burned propane as carbon dioxide exhaust and some moisture through the straight exhaust tube  26 . Although propane gas is preferred because it is readily available, other insect attractants could be used as suggested by those skilled in the art. Also, carbon dioxide could be supplied in a tank instead of being generated by burning. Dry ice could even be used in some applications as suggested by those skilled in the art. 
     Mounted on the top portion of the exhaust tube  26  is an insect trap barrel assembly  30 , which generates a heat signature corresponding to the temperature of a warm blooded animal and draws air in a laminar air flow along the outer wall surface  32  and up into an inflow channel  34 . The inflow of air is drawn into the interior of the insect trap barrel assembly, and into a catch cup  36  positioned on the bottom portion of the insect trap barrel assembly where insects, such as mosquitos, become trapped (FIG.  7 ). The insect trap barrel assembly includes blue LED lights that emit a blue light of wavelength to aid in attracting insects, such as mosquitos. 
     Referring now again to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the insect trapping apparatus  20  of the present invention and showing a support frame  40  formed from a lower ring member  42 , such as formed from hot or cold rolled steel strip or other strong but similar material known to those skilled in the art. A central ring member  44  has four radiating support trusses  46  that interconnect to the lower ring member  42  to form a ground engaging platform. Three foot pads  48  are mounted equidistantly on the outer portion of the lower ring member  42  and receive mounting stakes  50  through the foot pads and into the ground to hold the lower ring member  42  and central ring member  44  stable relative to the ground. Foot pads  48  include v-shaped openings (not shown) that receive, in one preferred design, a v-shaped mounting stake  50 , which are designed to stay in the ground under adverse conditions. An enlarged cap  55   a  on the mounting stake  50  receives hammer or hand blows to allow the mounting stake to be hammered or pressed into the ground. 
     Three support legs  52  are mounted equidistantly on the lower ring member  42  and extend upward to support the burner barrel  22  and associated burner assembly  24 . Each support leg  52  includes a lower leg member  54  that is secured by bolts or other means to the inside portion of the lower ring member  42  and an upper leg member  56  that receives an upper ring member  58  having an upper ring support  60  on which a burner dome  62  is mounted thereon (FIG.  4 ). 
     As shown in greater detail in FIG. 10, the burner barrel  22  is formed as a cylindrically configured housing, such as formed from sheet metal or other similar sheet material, and includes a door  64 , door knob  66  and door hinge  68 , which are operative for allowing user access to the internal portions of the burner barrel. The burner assembly  24  is mounted in the burner barrel and includes a burner mount plate  70 , which mounts a pressure regulator and control valve assembly  90  on the bottom support wall  22   a  of the burner barrel. A pilot fitting  72  and burner tube  74  connect the pressure regulator and control valve assembly  90  to an upper burner base  78  via a tube compression nut  79 . The burner assembly  24  also includes an orifice  76  in the burner base  78  and a burner top  80  through which flame is discharged, and flame cover  82 . An air inlet  84  is provided on part of the burner base, as known to those skilled in the art, to provide for air intake and permit combustion of propane or other gas used by the burner assembly. 
     An adapter  86  is connected to the lower portion of the burner mount plate  70  and extends out from the bottom support wall  22   a  of the burner barrel  22 . An elbow joint tube  88  is connected via gas supply pipe  28   a  to the gas supply valve assembly  28  and allows more room within the support frame  40  as defined by the support legs  52  for holding a propane or other gas tank (not shown), which in turn is connected to the gas supply valve assembly  28  (FIG.  11 ). A burner bracket  92  is mounted on the flame cover  82  and includes a catalyst flange support  94  that holds a catalyst  95  to catalyze unspent gas and byproducts that are the result of the burning of propane or other gas to produce the carbon dioxide. In one aspect of the present invention, the catalyst is a platinum coated ceramic formed in a honeycomb ceramic cell structure. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the pressure regulator and control valve assembly  90  and details of the burner assembly  24  of the present invention. The pressure regulator and control valve assembly  90  includes a valve knob  96 , pipe plug adapter  98 , and main valve body  100  that is operative with knob  96  to help in controlling the amount of propane gas which passes through the pressure regulator and control valve assembly  90  to be burned. A thermocouple  102  is operatively connected to the main valve body  100  and is operative for registering the amount of heat as temperature from the burning propane flame to the assembly and controlling on/off gas supply. 
     When the flame is shut off or extinguished by accident or on purpose, the thermocouple cools to an extent to shut off the pressure regulator and control valve assembly and cut off any propane gas flowing through the burner assembly  90 . In one aspect of the invention, the valve assembly  90  closes (shuts down) gas flow within 20 seconds after the flame is discharged. The thermocouple  102  generates a small amount of electricity that is enough to hold the valve within the valve assembly  90  open. When the thermocouple grows cold, the valve in the control valve assembly “drops” and closes, i.e., shuts down gas flow to the burner assembly  24 , as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the mounting of the thermocouple  102  relative to the burner base  78  and burner top  80  such that the thermocouple is positioned about two millimeters away from the flame. The top of the thermocouple  102  does not extend into the flame, but rises just above the top base of the burner assembly. The thermocouple  102  is mounted on a thermocouple support bracket  104  and secured by a thermocouple clip  106  and extends through a formed groove  107  in the burner base as illustrated in FIG.  11 . The burner assembly  24  is supported by a burner bracket support  108  mounted to the inside wall of the burner barrel  22 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the exhaust tube  26  extends vertically from the catalyst assembly and includes a top exhaust tube  26   a  (FIGS. 1-3) having a coupling joint  26   b  and an upper end plate  26   c  that is angled relative to the vertical, axial direction of the tube. The end plate  26   c  includes heat vents  26   d  to allow discharge of the hot CO 2  gas in a direction lateral from the exhaust tube and away from the insect trap barrel assembly and any inflow of air into the insect trap barrel assembly. The coupling joint of the top exhaust tube couples over a lower exhaust tube  26   e  extending from the catalyst assembly. Although not necessary, a heat shroud  110  could be included. 
     As illustrated, the insect trap barrel assembly  30  is mounted offset from the exhaust tube  26  by an exhaust offset support  111  as shown in FIGS. 14-15. The insect trap barrel assembly  30  includes a cylindrically configured top barrel member  112  that supports a printed circuit board (PCB) shelf  114  and top hood (or helmet dome)  116 . The top hood (or helmet dome)  116  includes an arcuate top surface and annular configured hood ring member as best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3,  6  and  7 . An air intake wall  118  is cylindrically configured and extends around the upper portion of the top barrel member  112  and under the printed circuit board shelf  114  to form an annular inflow channel  34 . Air passes in a laminar fashion along the outer exterior wall of the insect trap barrel assembly formed by the top barrel member and up into the annular inflow channel  34 . The air flow passes down through the center portion of the trap barrel assembly as drawn by a fan assembly  120 . The spacing of the air intake wall  118  from the top barrel member  112  and the length of the air intake wall relative to the configuration of the top barrel member is such that a laminar air flow is produced along the outer wall surface of the top barrel member. 
     The hood (or helmet dome)  116  extends over the printed circuit board shelf  114  and forms an open interior zone  122  between the printed circuit board shelf  114  and the top interior portion of the hood or helmet dome to allow electronic components, such as a power switch  124 , fuse  126  and electronic components, including any transformers on printed circuit board  128 , and other components to be mounted on the printed circuit board shelf  114 . The top hood, i.e., helmet dome  116 , has its hood ring member spaced sufficiently from the air intake wall, and formed to be in stepped configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, to permit a user to place their hands underneath and turn on and off the switches. A power cord  130  extends along the outside surface of the insect trap barrel assembly  30  and is wired to the electronic components on the printed circuit board and other components mounted on the printed circuit board shelf. A transformer and other appropriate circuitry are mounted on the printed circuit board  128  or printed circuit board shelf  114  to convert AC household current to the appropriate voltages and currents required by all components. The hood or helmet dome  116  is secured to the printed circuit board shelf by fastening means as known to those skilled in the art. A small amount of air is allowed to be drawn through the helmet to ensure that the electronic components remain dry in moist atmospheric conditions. 
     As illustrated best in FIGS. 6 and 7, a fan bracket  132  is mounted to the underside of the printed circuit board shelf  114  and supports the motor fan assembly  120 , having a fan motor  134 , an output shaft  136  that extends through the fan bracket and supports on the output shaft  136  a fan  138 . 
     Blue LED lights  140  are mounted on the printed circuit board shelf  114  and powered by the appropriate electronic circuit components mounted on the printed circuit board shelf  114 . When the hood or helmet dome  116  is mounted over the printed circuit board shelf, the blue LED lights give off a blue glow under the helmet dome, which together with the heat signature, aids in attracting insects, such as mosquitos, to the immediate vicinity of the inflow channel of the insect trap barrel assembly. The attracted mosquitos are sucked by the laminar air flow into the annular inflow channel defined by the air intake wall and upper portion of the top barrel. Although any number of blue LED lights could be used, in one aspect of the present invention, about three or four blue LED lights are equally spaced on the PCB shelf  114 . Insects can be initially attracted from a long distance by the generated carbon dioxide gas. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the general configuration in plan view of the insect trap barrel assembly  30  and its hood or helmet dome  116 , relative to the position of the burner dome  62  of the burner barrel. It is evident that the insect trap barrel assembly is positioned offset from the burner barrel. The offset and curved cover over the top of the burner barrel are constructed to channel air out and down from the trap. Air reflecting from hard surfaces will cause unwanted turbulence and interference with the laminar flow of air of the outer barrel. The propane gas cylinder that is supported by the support frame  40  can be mounted offset from the trap barrel to provide greater weight stability on the entire insect trap apparatus  20 . 
     FIGS. 7,  14  and  16  illustrate that air is passed as a laminar air flow up the outer wall of the top barrel member forming the insect trap barrel assembly and through the annular inflow channel into the area defined by the helmet dome or hood. The air can be drawn through air orifices  142  in the shelf by the fan assembly and into a rectangular air opening  144  defined by the fan bracket, and then into the catch cup  36  in one aspect of the invention. Other designs for air flow in the insect trap barrel assembly  30  could be used as suggested by those skilled in the art. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a heater panel  146  is secured against the interior wall of the top barrel member  112 , such as by an adhesive, which could be a pressure sensitive silicon adhesive or other adhesive material, as known to those skilled in the art. In one aspect of the present invention, the heater panel  146  has a heater rating of about 120 watts operation and includes a thermostat  148  and associated electronic circuitry that controls temperature of the heater panel such that the wall surface formed by top barrel assembly of the insect trap barrel assembly  30  is heated at a temperature of about that of a warm blooded animal to create a heat signature that corresponds to the heat signature of a warm blooded animal to aid in attracting mosquitos and other insects to the proximity of the trap barrel assembly and into the laminar air flow extending along the exterior wall surface. 
     The heater panel can extend along a substantial portion of the vertical height of the barrel member. To reduce cooling effects created by the air flow drawn by the fan  138  into the insect trap barrel assembly  30 , a heater panel liner  150  is biased against the heater panel and interior wall surface to force the heater panel against the wall. The heater panel liner  150  can be formed by a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet or other similar materials known to those skilled in the art. In one aspect of the present invention, the heater panel liner  150  is about 1.6 millimeters thick, but could be other dimensions as suggested by those skilled in the art. 
     The lower portion of the insect trap barrel assembly  170  includes a door pusher ring  152  that includes a door pusher  154  and finger guard  156  formed as a steel disk mesh or similar material to prevent users from inserting their fingers within the lower portion of the top barrel assembly  30  and engaging the fan  138  and other electronic components. In one non-limiting example as an example only, the finger guard could be formed of steel mesh having a wire diameter of about 0.047 inches, and an open area of about 73.6%, three wires per inch, and a square mesh opening width of about 0.286. 
     The catch cup  36  is mounted on the lower portion of the barrel assembly as illustrated. The catch cup  36  includes a cup rim  160  having internal mounting lock pins  162  that engage with lock pin receiving slots  164  on the lower edge of the top barrel member  112  such that the catch cup can be forced upward onto the lower edge of the top barrel member. The lock pins  162  extend into the receiving slots  164 . The cup rim is turned and the mounting lock pins  162  lock into the pin receiving slots  164 . 
     A mesh cup  166  is mounted on the lower portion of the cup rim  160 . A door support  170  is made from steel wire and contained within the mesh cup  166  and cup rim  160 . 
     As the catch cup is mounted on the lower edge portion of the top barrel member, the door pusher  154  engages a flexible diaphragm  172  and the door disk  174  and pushes open the diaphragm as a double hinged trap door, but leaving the central area supported. Insects that are attracted into the insect trap barrel assembly pass down the barrel assembly through the trap door into the mesh cup  166 . When the catch cup  36  is removed from the insect trap barrel assembly, the double hinged trap door springs back to close the mesh cup such that any insects that are still alive cannot escape. Water can be forced over the mesh cup, drowning any insects that are still alive. The mesh cup can then be removed and emptied. 
     It is evident that the present invention advantageously provides an attractant in the form of exhausted carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas and moisture that is not condensed by any counterflow and/or arcuately formed exhaust tubes. The blue LED lights and heat signature produced by the trap barrel assembly also provide an attractant once mosquitos and other insects are initially attracted by the hot carbon dioxide gas and moisture toward the apparatus. The catch cup of the present invention is advantageous and simple to use and provides for adequate insect removal without undue complexity and ripping of any fabric catch bags as in prior art insect trapping devices. The laminar air flow around the trap barrel assembly assists in guiding insects up into the insect trap barrel assembly and into the catch cup of the present invention. 
     This application is related to copending patent application entitled, “INSECT TRAPPING APPARATUS,” which is filed on the same date and by the same assignee and inventors, the disclosure which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that the modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the dependent claims.