Patent Publication Number: US-7905047-B2

Title: Disposable-flying insect trap

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 10/931,046, filed Sep. 1, 2004 and issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,368 on Nov. 6, 2007, and hereby claims the priority thereof to which it is entitled. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a disposable flying insect trap requiring no tools, cutting, or special hangers for set up, use and disposal. More specifically, the present invention relates to a disposable flying insect trap having a pre-installed bait packet within a plastic bag that hangs from the periphery of an entry plate. The entry plate includes entry port openings through which flying insects may enter for capture within the plastic bag. A lid is secured to the entry plate in its shipped condition to seal the entry port openings and bag interior to the atmosphere. The lid is removable by the user and connectable to the entry plate in a second, in use, position whereby the lid is displaced from the entry plate surface to enable opening of the entry ports to the surrounding environment. The lid is removable from the entry plate through a pull cord that also acts as a hang cord for the bag. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Disposable flying insect traps are known. Such traps may include a flexible containment bag that includes bait or attractant material within the bag to be mixed with water to attract the flying insects. Such bag may include an upper support member that has an opening for the flying insects to enter the bag. When the flying insects are attracted to enter into the bag interior, they will be trapped therein and will drown in the liquid. The bag may then be discarded after use. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,682,706; 4,899,485; 4,873,787; and 4,551,941. One commercially available disposable fly trap is known as the Rescue! Fly Trap®. 
     One of the problems with the current traps on the market, such as the Rescue! Fly Trap®, is that the consumer is required to cut open the entry area before filling the trap with water. Thus, separate tools, such as scissors or knives, are needed to prepare the trap before placement at a convenient location. Hence, a need has arisen for a trap requiring minimal effort for the consumer in installation requiring no separate tools, cutting, or special hangers. Such prior art traps also inherently leak and spill when discarded because there is no adequate closure to seal the bag after use. Thus, a need has arisen for a disposable flying insect trap that includes a cost effective resealing structure for sealing the trap after use to prevent leakage or spillage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the disposable flying insect trap of the present invention includes an insect entry plate with a plastic bag secured to and hanging from the entry plate periphery. The plastic bag contains insect attractant, and the entry plate includes at least one entry port through which insects can pass for capture within the bag. A lid is connectable to the entry plate and is adjustably positioned from a first position that seals the lid to the entry plate and thus closes off the entry port and the bag interior to the surrounding environment. The lid is adjustably positioned to a second position where the lid is displaced from, and defines a gap relative to, the entry plate surface to enable the entry port and bag interior to be in communication with the surrounding environment so that the flying insects can fly into the bag interior. 
     The adjustable positioning of the lid to the entry plate is preferably accomplished by providing a plurality of circular sockets and a plurality of cylindrical posts adjacent to the sockets on the entry plate upper surface. The lid includes complementary pins on its lower or underside surface that are defined by a cylindrical wall with an open cylindrical recess. The lid is, in a first position, sealingly attached to the entry plate by inserting the lid pins within the entry plate sockets to retain the lid to the entry plate whereby the lid forms a seal with the entry plate upper surface. The lid is removable and positionable in a second position displaced from the entry plate upper surface by attaching the lid pins onto the posts of the entry plate whereby the cylindrical recesses of the lid pins are inserted over the. entry plate posts to maintain the lid in a spaced apart position from the entry plate upper surface. 
     The disposable insect trap is assembled and packaged for the consumer such that the insect attractant is within the plastic bag and the lid is sealed to the entry plate and plastic bag in its first position. The consumer will remove the lid from the first sealed position and will fill the plastic bag with water or other liquid to a desired level as instructed. The lid will be re-connected in the second position to enable the lid to be supported by, yet spaced from, the entry plate upper surface and the assembled fly trap can then be hung at a desired location. 
     Removal of the lid from the entry plate may require some force, but without the use of separate tools, because the lid is intended to be tightly secured and sealed to the entry plate during shipment. This removal is accomplished by a hang cord that is retained by the entry plate and loops through holes in the lid that are offset from the points where the cord is retained on the entry plate. Thus, a portion of the hang cord is in facing or parallel relationship to the underside of the lid when the lid is sealed to the entry plate such that when the hang cord is pulled by the user, an upward force is directed to the underside of the lid to dislodge or disengage the lid from the entry plate. 
     When the fly trap is spent, i.e., when the amount of flies collected is substantial and/or the attractant weakens after a period of time in accordance with the type of attractant utilized, the lid is removed from its second position and re-installed to its first sealed position. A tight seal is thus provided for disposal of the fly trap without leakage or spillage. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disposable flying insect trap that is sealable prior to use and resealable after use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable flying insect trap that is installed without use of any separate tools and requires no cutting or other special installation. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disposable flying insect trap that is sealable and resealable to protect the water-soluble bait packet during distribution, until use, and also serves to eliminate messy spills or splashes during disposal. 
     Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable flying insect trap with a sealable lid that can be readily removed from its sealed position without separate tools and without requiring great effort by the consumer. More specifically, the removal of the lid is accomplished by pulling up on the hang cord that is used to hang the assembly. This pulling action on the hang cord applies an upward force component to the underside of the lid, at the lid hole edges, which displaces or disengages the lid from the entry plate. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings serve to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to be drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the disposable flying insect trap of the present invention with the lid sealed to the entry plate; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the disposable flying insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid removed from, and hanging from, the entry plate and showing the entry of liquid into the bag interior; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the disposable flying insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in its displaced second position; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the disposable flying insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in a sealed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side view of the disposable flying insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid being removed from the entry plate; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the entry plate of the insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4  showing the lid sealed to the entry plate by the lid pin inserted in the entry plate socket; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side view of the insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in a second position to define a gap or space between the entry plate upper surface and the underside of the lid; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8  showing the lid connected with the entry plate where the entry plate post is fitted within the cylindrical recess of the lid pin; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial side view of the insect trap shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid secured to the entry plate. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged cross-sectional view from  FIG. 10 , showing the hang cord disposed between the entry plate upper surface and the underside of the lid in the first or sealed position; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 11 , but showing the movement of the lid from the sealed position when the hang cord is pulled; and 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , but showing the lid removed from the entry plate and the hang cord retained by the entry plate; 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiment is given by way of illustration only. It is not intended that the invention be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, in describing the preferred embodiment, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the disposable flying insect trap according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral  10  and includes an entry plate of preferably circular profile, generally designated by reference numeral  20 , with a plastic bag  30  secured to, and hanging from, the plate periphery  23 . The plastic bag  30  is retained to the plate by a retaining ring  40 . A lid  50  is detachably and adjustably connected to the entry plate  20  in a manner to be described. A hang cord or string  60  is retained by the entry plate  20  and looped through lid holes  51  in the lid  50 . A bait packet  32  is disposed within the plastic bag  30  during shipment with the lid  50  sealed to the entry plate  20 . The bait packet  32 , when mixed with water ( FIG. 2 ), provides an attractant to the insects as is known in the art. The disposable insect trap  10  is shipped with the lid  50  sealed to the entry plate ( FIG. 1 ), the lid  50  is removed by the consumer from the entry plate  20  and the bag  30  is filled partially with water or other liquid ( FIG. 2 ), and the lid  50  is then positioned on the entry plate  20  in a spaced apart arrangement from the entry plate surface  22  to enable flying insects to enter into the plastic bag for destruction ( FIG. 3 ). When the attractant is spent or the plastic bag otherwise filled with insects, or when disposal is desired for any reason, the lid  50  is then secured to the entry plate in its sealed position and the trap is discarded. 
     Turning now to the specific components of the invention, the entry plate  20  includes an upper surface  22  that is preferably slightly domed, as shown, and preferably of circular profile. At its circumferential periphery  23 , the entry plate  20  includes a downwardly oriented skirt  21  with an annular trapezoidal notch  24  in the outwardly facing skirt surface which serves as one clamping surface for clamping the plastic bag to the entry plate periphery. (See  FIGS. 7 and 9 .) A clamping or retaining ring  40  of generally annular configuration has an internally facing trapezoidal annular projection  41  which is complementary to and receivable within the notch  24  of the skirt  21 . The upper edge of the plastic bag  30  is clamped between the skirt  21  of the entry plate  20  and the retaining ring  40 . 
     The retaining ring  40  and the entry plate  20  are preferably both made of rigid PVC material, and the retaining ring is sized to slide upward from a direction below the bottom of the entry plate with the bag positioned adjacent to the entry plate skirt  21  to provide a taut snap fit between the retaining ring and skirt with the bag therebetween. The retaining ring  40  grips and retains the plastic bag against the entry plate skirt  21  with sufficient strength so that the bag will remain retained to the entry plate when the bag is filled with water. Although a rigid PVC retaining ring that is snap fitted into the notch  24  of the skirt to support the plastic bag is preferred, other arrangements for maintaining the plastic bag to the entry plate periphery can be provided. For example, the retaining ring could be manufactured from a flexible band or the plastic bag could be heat sealed to the edge of the entry plate periphery. Generally, any technique for securing the plastic bag  30  to the entry plate periphery  23  may be utilized. 
     Inward of the entry plate periphery  23  is a channel  25  of circular configuration that receives the lid edge  52 , in a manner to be described. (See  FIGS. 7 and 9 .) This channel  25 , when engaged with the lid edge  52 , provides for a seal between the entry plate  20  and the lid  50 . As used herein, the terms “seal” or “sealable” mean sufficient liquid sealing to prevent leakage of fluid within the bag as it is being disposed and sufficient air-sealing to protect against obnoxious odors escaping from the bait packet when the trap is being shipped and before use. 
     The entry plate  20  includes a plurality of entry plate ports  26 . Four ports are shown, but the exact number may vary and still be within the scope of the present invention. Each of the entry ports  26  includes substantially conically-shaped extensions  27  disposed toward the interior of the plastic bag  30 . The entry ports  26  enable water or other liquid to be poured into the plastic bag for activation of the attractant, as shown in  FIG. 2 , as is known in the art. The entry ports  26  also provide an entryway for flying insects to enter into the plastic bag  30  when attracted by the bait  32 , thus being retained in the plastic bag by contact with the liquid  33 . 
     Diametrically aligned entry plate cord holes  29  are provided through the entry plate surface  22  inwardly from the entry plate periphery  23 . The cord holes  29  retain the hang cord  60  to the entry plate  20 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the cord  60  is retained by the entry plate by tying off or knotting  62  the ends of the hang cord underneath the entry plate. The hang cord  60  forms a loop through the cord holes  29  and the lid holes  51  of the lid  50 , in a manner to be described, to enable the flying insect trap  10  to be supported from a convenient hook or other support member (not shown) at the desired location. 
     Disposed adjacent the entry plate periphery  23  are a plurality of entry plate sockets  80 . Four sockets  80  disposed 90.degree. apart from each other are shown, but the exact number could vary without departing from the scope of the present invention. Each of these sockets  80  define cylindrical recesses, having circular openings to receive pins  54  disposed on the underside  53  of the lid  50 , in a manner to be described. When the lid pins  54  are inserted within the sockets  80 , as best shown in  FIG. 7 , the lid  50  is securely fastened to the entry plate  50  with the lid edge  52  tightly received within the peripheral channel  25  on the top surface  22  of the entry plate  20  to form the seal. This sealed position of the lid  50  on the entry plate  20  is defined as the first position. 
     Adjacent each of the sockets  80  on the entry plate  20  are a plurality of entry plate posts  90 . The posts  90  are shown as four in number and also disposed 90.degree. apart. The posts  90  are generally cylindrical and integrally formed in the upper surface  22  of the entry plate  20 . The posts  90  are preferably recessed slightly into the entry plate surface  22  to define a circular channel  92  about each post. As will be described, the posts  90  are sized to receive the lid pins  54  by insertion of the posts  90  into the lid pin cylindrical recess  55 , as will be described. When fully inserted, the lid  50  will be secured to the entry plate  20 , but spaced from the entry plate surface  22  to form a gap  100  between the entry plate surface  22  and the underside  57  of the lid  50  to enable the insects to fly or crawl through the gap  100 , through the entry ports  26  and into the plastic bag interior. This offset position of the lid  50  with respect to the entry plate  20  is defined as the second position. 
     The lid is of substantially circular profile having a diameter less than that of the entry plate and preferably also formed of rigid PVC material. The lid  50  is shown to have a slightly domed or convex shape with a downwardly extending circumferential edge or lip  52  that is sized relative to the entry plate channel  25  to be tightly secured therewithin. That is, the width of the edge  52  is substantially equal to the channel  25  width so that the lid  50  is tightly secured therewithin to define a seal between the lid  50  and the entry plate  20 . The lid  50  includes a pair of lid holes  51  for receiving the looped hang cord  60 . The lid holes  51  are along a diameter of the lid, but are angularly disposed with respect to the entry plate cord holes  29  when the lid  50  is secured to the entry plate  20  in its first or sealed position. Thus, when the lid  50  is secured to the entry plate  20  in a sealed position, the hang cord  60  retained by the entry plate  20  is diverted slightly to travel laterally underneath the lid surface  57  and exit the lid at lid holes  51  slightly displaced from the position of the hang cord retention openings  29 . 
     Stated otherwise, as can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the lid holes  51  are not aligned with the cord holes  29  and a portion  65  of the hang cord  60  lies in facing relationship to the underside  57  of the lid  50  in the sealed position. Disengagement of the lid  50  from the entry plate  20  is accomplished by pulling up on the hang cord  60 , as shown on  FIG. 12 , whereby the offset orientation of the lid holes  51  and the entry plate cord holes  29  provide for an upwardly directed force component on the underside  57  of the lid  50  which force component is directed primarily to the edges  58  of lid hole openings  51 . This pulling up of the hang cord  60  by the user enables the lid  50  to be dislodged or disengaged from the entry plate  20 . 
     The lid holes  51  can lie along the same circumference as the entry plate cord holes  29 , but angularly displaced along the circumference slightly. Alternatively, the lid holes  51  and entry plate cord holes  29  could be oriented radially with respect to each other. It is important only that they be sufficiently offset, i.e., not aligned with each other when the lid  50  is sealed to the entry plate  20 . This offset enables a portion  65  of the hang cord to be disposed laterally underneath the lid  50  between the lid and the entry plate surface  22  so that an upwardly directed force is provided on the lid when the hang cord is pulled. 
     Disposed from the underside  57  of the lid  50  are a plurality of lid pins  54 , preferably four in number, complementary to the socket openings  80  of the entry plate  20 . The pins  54  are substantially cylindrical in contour with opposed slits  59  to enable pin wall flexing. The pins  54  are open at the bottom and define a cylindrical recess  55 . The cylindrical recess  55  is sized to provide a firm fit over the posts  90  of the entry plate as shown in  FIG. 9 . Similarly, the outer circumference of the pins  54  are sized to be tightly received within the sockets  80 , with some flexibility, to provide a tight and secure fit when the lid  50  is in the sealed or first position. 
     Utilization of the disposable flying insect trap  10  is as follows. Before use, the trap  10  is assembled with the bait packet  32  within the bag  30  and with the lid  50  sealed to the entry plate  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The user will remove the lid  50  from the entry plate  20 , by pulling on the hang cord  60 , as shown sequentially in  FIGS. 11-13 . When the lid  50  is dislodged and then disengaged from the entry plate, the lid can hang freely from the bag as shown in  FIG. 2 . Water or other liquid will then be deposited within the bag to a desired level in accordance with user instructions (see  FIG. 2 ). When the bag  30  is filled to the desired level, the lid  50  is placed back on the entry plate  20  in its second position such that the split pins  54  of the lid  50  fit on the posts  90  of the entry plate  20  with the cylindrical split pins  54  disposed in the channel  92  surrounding the posts  90  (see,  FIG. 9 ). The hang cord  60  is then connected to a suitable hook, etc. (not shown) and the gap  100  defined between the lid  50  and the entry plate surface  22  enables the flying insects to enter into the entry ports  26  and into the bag for containment. When the bag is to be disposed, the lid  50  is removed from the entry plate  20  in its second position and the lid pins  54  are inserted into the sockets  80  of the entry plate, see  FIG. 6 , to enable a seal to form between the lid edge  52  and the entry plate channel  25 . Spillage is thus prevented and the bag is disposed of. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.