Patent Publication Number: US-2012026839-A1

Title: Pest-control device

Description:
FIELD 
     This disclosure concerns pest-control devices, such as pest-control devices that repel pests with sound. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Most known products used to control household pests (e.g., rodents and large insects) work by killing the pests with poison or traps. Use of these products can create a risk of inadvertent injury to humans and pets as well hygiene problems associated with the disposal of dead pests. Considering these significant disadvantages, devices that repel pests rather than killing them offer an attractive alternative. Pest-control devices that repel pests with sound waves are particularly advantageous. Sound-wave pest-control devices pose no danger to humans and pets and are completely humane and hygienic. They work by emitting sound waves that make an environment hostile to pests. Large pests typically have higher upper thresholds of audible frequencies than humans, cats, and dogs. Therefore, when operating at high frequencies, sound-wave pest-control devices can be effective while remaining inaudible or only slightly audible to humans and pets. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein are embodiments of a pest-control device that repels pests with sound. Some embodiments include a speaker that emits a pest-repelling sound, such as a pest-repelling sound including both sonic and ultrasonic frequencies. The speaker can be enclosed within a frame. Power can be provided through an electrical plug compatible with a standard wall socket. The connection between the electrical plug and a portion of the pest-control device including the speaker (e.g., the frame) can be substantially rigid. For example, some disclosed embodiments can be suspended adjacent to a vertical wall by inserting the electrical plug into a standard electrical socket within the vertical wall. When positioned in this manner, with the electrical plug inserted into a standard electrical socket within a vertical wall, the pest-control device can have a side surface substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall. The pest-control device also can have a front surface substantially perpendicular to the side surface. One or both of the side surface and the front surface can include at least one sound-transmission opening. Some disclosed embodiments have two side surfaces substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall, both of which can include at least one sound-transmission opening. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device can include a light sensor, such as a light sensor configured to receive light through an opening in the top surface of the pest-control device. In some disclosed embodiments, the pest-control device is permanently configured or temporarily configured to increase an output volume from the speaker in response to a signal or absence of signal from the light sensor. Embodiments that can be temporarily configured to increase an output volume from the speaker in response to a signal or absence of signal from the light sensor can, for example, include a switch or potentiometer operable from an external portion of the pest-control device. The setting of the switch or potentiometer can determine whether or a degree to which the output volume from the speaker is increased in response to the signal or absence of signal from the light sensor. The signal or absence of signal from the light sensor can indicate, for example, low light relative to a threshold level of light. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed pest-control device. 
         FIG. 2  is a front profile view of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side profile view of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a back profile view of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the inside of the front portion of the frame of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a circuit diagram corresponding to the electronics of the pest-control device embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout this disclosure, the singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Directional terms, such as “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” “vertical,” and “horizontal,” are used herein to express and clarify the relationship between various elements. It should be understood that such terms do not denote absolute orientation (e.g., a “vertical” component can become horizontal by rotating the device). 
     Disclosed herein are embodiments of a pest-control device that uses sound waves to repel pests. Some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device include one or more features to at least partially address deficiencies of conventional sound-wave pest-control devices. For example, conventional sound-wave pest-control devices often have a limited range because sound waves do not travel well through solid objects, such as walls and furniture. As a competing factor, the output of conventional sound-wave pest-control devices often is slightly audible to humans and pets and can be an annoyance. Increasing the volume of pest-repelling sound can increase the effective range, but also typically increases audibility to humans and pets. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device can be configured to distribute sound more efficiently than conventional sound-wave pest-control devices. Pests, particularly rodents, often have an instinctive tendency to travel along corners where floors or countertops meet walls. Some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device include sound-transmission openings positioned to selectively direct sound waves in these areas. For example, some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device can be plugged into and suspended from a standard wall socket and can emit sound from openings positioned in side surfaces substantially perpendicular to the wall including the socket. Since sockets typically are placed near a floor or countertop, these embodiments are able to emit sound waves directly along the lower portion of a wall and the adjacent edge of a floor or countertop. 
     Embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device also can be configured to change the output volume according to the ambient light level. For example, when the ambient light level is low, the output volume can be increased. Pests typically are most active in darkness. Humans and pets typically are not present in dark areas other than bedrooms. If humans and pets are not present in an area, the output volume can be increased to improve the effectiveness of the device without regard to increasing the audibility to humans and pets. Automatically changing the output volume in response to the ambient light level, however, is not always desirable. For example, bedrooms are typically occupied when dark, so audibility by humans and pets is a concern regardless of the ambient light level. Therefore, embodiments capable of changing the output volume according to the ambient light level also can be configured to allow an end user to turn this feature on or off or to control the amount of volume amplification. 
       FIGS. 1-8  illustrate an embodiment of the disclosed pest-control device. As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pest-control device  100  includes a frame  102  having a front grill  104 , a first side grill  106 , and a second side grill  108 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , a plug  110  extends from the back surface of the frame  102 . A speaker  112  and a circuit board (not shown) are positioned within the frame  102 . In  FIG. 2 , the speaker  112  is partially visible through openings in the front grill  104 . The overall pest-control device  100  is substantially shaped as a rectangular prism with rounded top and bottom edges. Other embodiments can have different shapes, but typically are compact. The pest-control device  100  is compact enough to be entirely suspended from the plug  110  when the plug is inserted into a standard wall socket. When the plug  110  is inserted into a standard wall socket, the pest-control device  100  projects less than one inch from the wall surrounding the socket. 
     Some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device include sound-transmission openings that facilitate sound transmission out of the frame. In general, the sound-transmission openings are portions of the frame through which sound can pass more efficiently relative to other portions of the frame.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the inside of a front portion of the frame  102  of the illustrated pest-control device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the frame  102  includes a front sound-transmission opening  114  behind the front grill  104  and three side sound-transmission openings  116  behind the second side grill  108 . Although not visible in  FIG. 7 , an additional three side sound-transmission openings  116  are positioned behind the first side grill  106 . The side sound-transmission openings  116  behind the first side grill  106  are partially visible in  FIG. 3  through perforations in the first side grill. The positions of the front and side sound-transmission openings  114 ,  116  help to direct sound out of the frame  102  with some selectivity. The side sound-transmission openings  116  are positioned in side surfaces substantially perpendicular to the surface in which the front sound-transmission opening  114  is positioned. When the plug  110  is inserted into a standard wall socket, the side surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the wall surrounding the socket. Thus, the side sound-transmission openings  116  are well positioned to direct sound horizontally along the wall surrounding the socket, particularly at and near the vertical position of the socket. 
     The configuration of grills and sound-transmission openings can be different in different embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device. For example, some disclosed embodiments include no grills and, instead, have exposed sound-transmission openings in portions of the frame. These exposed sound-transmission openings are typically smaller than the front and side sound-transmission openings  114 ,  116  of the illustrated pest-control device  100 . The sound-transmission openings in other embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device can have various positions around the frame. For example, some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device include one or more sound-transmission openings in the front surface only, in the side surfaces only, or in one side surface and not the other. Embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device also can include sound-transmission openings in the top and/or bottom surfaces of the device. 
     In the illustrated pest-control device  100 , the frame  102  is made of molded plastic and the front grill  104  and the first and second side grills  106 ,  108  are made of perforated metal. In other embodiments, the frame and grills can be made of different materials. For example, the frame can be made of metal and the grills can be made of cloth. Portions of the frame around the sound-transmission openings can be sound insulated (e.g., with foam) to increase the selectivity by which sound is emitted through the sound-transmission openings. 
     When the plug  110  is inserted into a standard wall socket, the speaker  112  automatically begins emitting pest-repelling sound and an indicator light  118  illuminates. Since the pest-repelling sound is inaudible or only slightly audible to humans, the indicator light  118  is useful to indicate that the device is active. The pest-repelling sound emitted by embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device can be sonic, subsonic, ultrasonic, or a combination thereof. To prevent pests from becoming acclimated to a given sound frequency, embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device can be configured to emit different frequencies. For example, some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device are configured to emit pest-repelling sound including both sonic and ultrasonic frequencies. The emitted frequencies can change randomly or according to a set pattern. For example, an emitted frequency can be randomly selected from a set of known pest-repelling frequencies and emitted for a randomly selected time interval. Embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device also can be programmed to emit conventional pest-repelling sound-wave patterns. 
     The pest-control device  100  operates at one of two volume settings according to the ambient light level. A light sensor  120  positioned on the top surface of the pest-control device  100  detects whether the ambient light level is above or below a threshold value. If the ambient light level is above the threshold value, the speaker  112  emits pest-repelling sound at a daytime volume. If the ambient light level is below the threshold value, the speaker  112  emits pest-repelling sound at a nighttime volume. Positioning the light sensor  120  on the top surface of the pest-control device  100  is useful because it typically does not fall within a shadow that could prevent it from accurately detecting the ambient light level. 
     In the pest-control device  100 , the nighttime volume is greater than the daytime volume. In other disclosed embodiments, the daytime volume can be greater than the nighttime volume. The daytime volume of the pest-control device  100  is set at a predetermined level of acceptable audibility to humans and pets. A nighttime-volume control  122  positioned on the top surface of the pest-control device  100  determines whether or the degree to which the nighttime volume is greater than the daytime volume. When the nighttime-volume control  122  is at its minimum setting, the nighttime volume is the same as the daytime volume. Increasing the setting on the nighttime-volume control  122  increases the nighttime volume without affecting the daytime volume. When the nighttime-volume control  122  is at its maximum setting, the nighttime volume is increased to its maximum level so that the pest-repelling sound has its maximum effectiveness, but is distinctly audible to humans and pets. 
     Some embodiments of the disclosed pest-control device do not include a nighttime-volume control or include a different type of nighttime-volume control than the nighttime-volume control  122  of the pest-control device  100 . For example, some disclosed embodiments switch between a set daytime volume and a set nighttime volume automatically without allowing modification of the functionality by an end user. Other embodiments include a switch to turn the functionality on or off, but do not allow an end user to control the exact difference between the daytime volume and the nighttime volume. Still other embodiments include a switch with several set positions corresponding to levels of difference between the daytime volume and the nighttime volume. For example, such a switch can include an “off” setting in which the daytime volume is the same as the nighttime volume, a “low” setting in which the nighttime volume is slightly greater than the daytime volume, and a “high” setting in which the nighttime volume is significantly greater than the daytime volume. Like the nighttime volume, the daytime volume can be set, as it is in the pest-control device  100 , or controllable by an end user, such as by any of the mechanisms previously described with regard to the nighttime volume. 
       FIG. 8  is a circuit diagram corresponding to the pest-control device  100 . The symbols corresponding to the plug  110 , the speaker  112 , the indicator light  118 , the light sensor  120 , and the nighttime-volume control  122  are indicated with dashed boxes and the appropriate reference numerals. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the nighttime-volume control  122  includes a potentiometer and the indicator light  118  includes a light-emitting diode. The illustrated standard electrical components are commercially available. In addition to the standard electrical components, the circuit diagram includes a first integrated circuit  124  and a second integrated circuit  126 . The first and second integrated circuits  124 ,  126  are designed with appropriate logic and memory components. In the pest-control device  100 , the electrical components shown in  FIG. 8  are located within or directly connected to a circuit board (not shown) positioned within the frame  102 . The potentiometer of the nighttime-volume control  122  is connected to an external slider. In other embodiments, the nighttime-volume control  122  can include a different type of external mechanism, such as a dial or a flip switch. 
     In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed invention may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples of the invention and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. I therefore claim as my invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.