Abstract:
An insect trap that is attached or molded onto a garbage receptacle and that relies on the garbage inside the garbage receptacle to attract or lure insects into a trap compartment designed to effectively entrap said insects permanently. Once the trap compartment is ready to be discarded, a release mechanism driven by an actuator is used to press the trap compartment against a release plate until the trap compartment is released or dislodged into the garbage receptacle. Thus, the user of the insect trap does not have to physically touch the trap compartment that is full of trapped insects. Instead, through the use of the actuator, the trap compartment is released directly into the garbage compartment.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to insect traps used in garbage receptacles. More particularly, to insect traps that attach or are incorporated into the lid of a garbage receptacle to reduce or eliminate insects, such as flies, in and around the garbage receptacle. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Trash is typically kept in trash cans or other receptacles of various shapes and sizes. However, garbage has a strong tendency to attract flies and other undesirable insects that not only cause a nuisance but transport harmful bacteria or viruses. Garbage is usually kept in garbage receptacles for extended periods of time waiting for later disposal. But during the time that the garbage is kept in the garbage receptacles, insects are presumably kept out by a lid or cover on the receptacle. However, the effectiveness of the garbage receptacle lid is questionable, especially when the receptacle is routinely opened to add more garbage. Thus, despite the lid, a multitude of flies and insects continue to be attracted and gain entry to the interior of the garbage receptacle. 
         [0003]    Efforts to eliminate or reduce the number of flies and insects around garbage receptacles are numerous and include an adhesive tape that is attached around the rim of a trash can, as taught by U.S. Patent Application No. 2013/0255134. Furthermore, U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0242891 teaches an insert that is attached to the bottom of a trash can and that contains insecticide or other chemicals to repel flies and insects. Additionally, numerous attempts have been made to modify a trash can lid so as to incorporate an insect trap mechanism or apparatus therein. Such are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,607,249 and U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0163541. 
         [0004]    However, none of the prior art has been able to teach an insect trap that can be attached or retrofitted into any trash receptacle lid, effectively trap flies and insects attracted by the natural odor emanating from the garbage, and dispose the trapped insects into the garbage receptacle without the need to have physical contact therewith. Unless these and other practical problems associated with insect traps are resolved, the nuisance and risks associated with flies and insects will persist and an effective trapping device will fail to be realized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages occurring in the prior art. The present invention is an insect trap that reduces the fly and insect population by entrapping them. The present invention is attached to the garbage receptacle lid or it can be molded as part of the garbage receptacle lid itself. Furthermore, the insect trap of the present invention includes a trap containment cartridge that is disposable and is removably attached to the insect trap. 
         [0006]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to trap flies and other insects that are attracted by the natural odor emanating from the garbage. 
         [0007]    An object of the present invention is to allow the odor emanating from the garbage to flow outside so as to lure flies and other insects into a trap containment cartridge. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to easily attach the insect trap to any garbage receptacle lid or the lid of any container. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to allow for the quick release of a trap containment cartridge in which flies and insects are trapped. 
         [0010]    A final object of the present invention is to provide an insect trap that can be manufactured or incorporated into the lid of a garbage receptacle or a container. 
         [0011]    The above objects and other features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings which are incorporated by reference herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functional similar elements. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the insect trap of the present invention in its assembled state as it would be installed to a garbage receptacle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the insect trap of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are perspective views of the housing of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are perspective views of the sleeve of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    are perspective views of the release plate of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are perspective views of the actuator of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the post of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the insect trap of the present invention installed to a garbage receptacle lid and in its normal position with the trap compartment attached to the post. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the insect trap of the present invention installed to a garbage receptacle lid and with the actuator displaced down and the trap compartment released or dislodged from the post. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of the insect trap of the present invention installed to a garbage receptacle lid. Arrows show the flow of the odor from the garbage flowing out through the hole in the post and the path of flies or other insects lured into the hole in the post and into the trap compartment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Reference will now be made to the drawings in which various elements of the present invention will be given numerical designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. 
         [0024]    The insect trap  100  of the present invention comprises a housing  10 , a release plate  20 , a sleeve  30 , a post  40 , an actuator  50 , a retaining nut  60 , and a trap compartment  70 .  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the insect trap  100  of the present invention in its assembled state as it would be attached to a garbage receptacle  200  or a container to trap flies and other insects.  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the insect trap  100  of the present invention to depict in greater detail the various components that comprise the insect trap  100 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , the insect trap  100  of the present invention has a housing  10  that is cylindrical in shape and having a sidewall  11  the exterior of which has external threads  12 . Said sidewall  11  extends downwardly to define a downwardly open cavity  13 . Said housing  10  also has a top surface  14  that has a center hole  15  and a plurality of shaft holes  16 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , the insect trap of the present invention has a sleeve  30  having at least one annular sidewall  31  that extends downwardly to define a downwardly open cavity  32 . Furthermore, the sleeve  30  has a top surface  33  from which a recessed surface  34  is recessed downwardly. Additionally, said recessed surface  34  has a center hole  35  and a plurality of shaft holes  36 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , the release plate  20  is a plate that fits within the cavity  32  of the sleeve  30  and that has a center hole  21 . Furthermore, the release plate  20  has a top surface  22  from which a recessed surface  23  is recessed downwardly. Additionally, said top surface  22  has a plurality of shaft cavities  26  into which the shafts  80  are attached preferably through press fit, gluing, or vibration welding. In addition, the release plate  20  has a bottom surface  24  from which a recessed surface  25  is recessed upwardly. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , the actuator  50  is a plate smaller in size than the release plate  20  and without any holes. Furthermore, the actuator  50  has a bottom surface  51  from which a recessed surface  52  is recessed upwardly. In addition, the bottom surface  51  has a plurality of shaft cavities  53  into which the shafts  80  are attached preferably through press fit, gluing, or vibration welding. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the post  40  is an annular tube with a hole  42  that extends longitudinally. The post  40  is sized to be press fit or glued into the center hole  15  of the housing  10 . Additionally, the lowermost end of the post  40  has a ring  41  that protrudes radially outward. 
         [0030]    Hereinafter, an explanation on the methods of assembling the insect trap  100  of the present invention, the installation thereof to a garbage receptacle  200  or a container, and the operating states thereof will be given. 
         [0031]    For the assembly of the insect trap  100  of the present invention, a plurality of shafts  80  are attached to the bottom side  51  of the actuator  50 . The shafts  80  are then inserted through the shaft holes  16  in the housing  10 . A spring  90  is then slipped around each shaft  80  within the cavity  13  of said housing  10 . The sleeve is then attached underneath the housing  10  such that the lowermost end of the housing  10  is pressed fit or glued into the recess of the sleeve  30  and the shafts  80  are passed through the shaft holes  36  of the sleeve  30 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . With the lowermost ends of the shafts  80  extending into the cavity  32  of the sleeve  30 , the release plate  20  is attached thereto. 
         [0032]    Thus, the release plate  20  is attached to the shafts  80  and normally sits within the cavity  32  of the sleeve  30 . The actuator  50  can then be displaced downward toward the housing  10  such that the release plate  20  is displaced by the shafts  80  downward to extend out of the cavity  32 . However, displacement of the actuator  50  can only occur with sufficient force that overcomes the compressive force of the springs  90 . As the actuator  50  is displaced downward, the springs  90  are compressed within the cavity  13  of the housing  10 . When the actuator  50  is released, the compressive force of the springs  90  push the actuator  50  back upward so as to retract the release plate  20  back into the cavity  32  of the sleeve  30 . 
         [0033]    Then the post  40  is inserted through the center hole  21  of the release plate  20 , then through the center hole  35  of the sleeve  30 , and pressed fit or glued into the center hole  15  of the housing  10 . Thus, the lowermost end of the post  40  extends downward past the cavity  32  of the sleeve  30  and past the release plate  20 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the actuator  50  is displaced downward, as discussed above, the release plate  20  is displaced downward to the lowermost end of the post  40 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0034]    The assembly of the insect trap  100  of the present invention as discussed above is expected to be completed by the manufacturer prior to the distribution or sale of the insect trap  100  to a consumer. Installation of the insect trap  100  of the present invention requires attachment of the trap compartment  70  to the lowermost end of the post  40  such that it is held in place by the ring  41 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The insect trap  100  is then installed to a garbage receptacle  200  by inserting the housing  10  through a hole in the garbage receptacle lid  210 . The retaining nut  60  is then used to secure the insect trap  100  to the garbage receptacle lid  210  by attaching it to the external threads  12  in the housing  10  such that the garbage receptacle lid  210  is pressed in between the retaining nut  60  and the sleeve, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0035]    Once installed, flies and insects in the vicinity of the garbage receptacle  200  are lured into the trap compartment  70  by the natural odor emanating from the garbage. The hole  41  in the post  40  allows the odor emanating from the garbage to flow out of the garbage receptacle  200 . The trap compartment  70  that is attached to the lowermost end of the post  40  has a screen  71  attached to the bottom surface  72 . Said screen  71  allows the odor from the garbage to flow through and out the hole  41  in the post  40 , as shown by  FIG. 10 . The flies and other insects are lured by the odor into the hole  41  in the post  40 . Once inside, flies and other insects proceed following the odor down through the hole  41  until they enter the trap compartment  70  in which they are trapped. 
         [0036]    When desired or when the trap compartment  70  is full of trapped flies or insects, the actuator  50  is displaced downward to induce the downward displacement of the release plate  20  that pushes and dislodges the trap compartment  70  from the post  40 . The compressive force of the springs  90  then allow the actuator  50  and release plate  20  to retract to their original positions. In essence, pushing the actuator  50  results in the release or dislodgment of the trap compartment  70  from the insect trap  100  of the present invention without having to physically touch or be in contact with the trap compartment  70 . Since the insect trap  100  is attached to a garbage receptacle lid  210 , pushing the actuator  50  results in releasing the trap compartment  70  into the garbage receptacle  200 . Thereafter, a fresh new trap compartment  70  can be reattached to the post  40  for further entrapment of flies and insects without having to remove or disassemble the insect trap  100  from the garbage receptacle  200 . 
         [0037]    An alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises the insect trap  100  being incorporated or molded directly onto the garbage receptacle lid  210 . In essence, the housing  10  is molded or incorporated as part of the garbage receptacle lid  210  and the other components are assembled to the housing  10  in a similar fashion as described above. 
         [0038]    Similarly, another alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises the insect trap  100  being incorporated or molded directly to the sidewall of the garbage receptacle rather than the lid  210 . In this embodiment, the post  40  would be placed in a horizontal position. 
         [0039]    In addition, other alternative embodiments of the present invention allow for different types of release mechanisms to release the trap compartment  70 . Although the preferred embodiment discloses an actuator  50  that is pushed in against the resistive force of the springs  90 , an alternative embodiment utilizes a actuator  50  that is pulled out rather than pushed in. In this embodiment, the actuator  50  is pulled out to release the trap compartment  70  from the insect trap  100  of the present invention. Thus, when the actuator  50  is pulled up, the trap compartment  70  is raised up such that it is pressed against the release plate  20  until the trap compartment  70  is released. 
         [0040]    Yet another alternative embodiment comprises the insect trap  100  of the present invention with an actuator  50  that rotates. Said actuator  50  is rotatably attached to the housing  10  and can be rotated so as to displace the post  40  sufficient distance to release the trap compartment  70 . In this embodiment, the post  40  has external threads that mate or interact with some internal threads in the center hole  15  of the housing  10 . When the post  40  is rotated in one direction, the post  40  is displaced upward to push the trap compartment  70  against the release plate  20  until it is released. Then the post  40  can be rotated in the opposite direction to displace the post  40  downward so that a new trap compartment can be attached for more insect trapping. 
         [0041]    A final embodiment of the present invention comprises the insect trap  100  with a release mechanism that can be controlled remotely by a remote control unit so that the trap compartment  70  can be released without ever having to touch or be near the garbage receptacle  200 . 
         [0042]    It is understood that the described embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed, but to be limited only as defined by the appended claims herein.