Abstract:
A mechanized exterminator and several embodiments thereof are presented. A support disc with rollers attached rotates when power is applied causing rollers to roll over a base. The operation of the of the exterminator disturbs the insects causing them to enter the exterminator where the rollers will crush them. Solar, battery and/or wind power can be used to power the exterminator. The exterminator is cost-effective and environmentally safe. The exterminator severely impacts the strength and health of the colony minimizing its ability to reproduce.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,296 filed on Jan. 12, 2008 and also entitled “Fire Ant Colony Killer.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    Insect extermination, particularly for undesirable external insects, has been largely confined to chemical treatments. Zappers are used for certain flying insects. These chemical treatments are often ineffective and always create environmental and health concerns. 
         [0003]    Fire ants, in particular, are very aggressive and their bites are always hurtful and sometimes dangerous. The usual result from a chemical treatment is that the colony relocates. Often, they become even more aggressive as a result. 
         [0004]    Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for a cost efficient and truly effective system for exterminating insects, particularly fire ants. 
         [0005]    There is also a need in the art for a method and apparatus for exterminating insects which is non-chemical and completely safe both environmentally and from a health perspective. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Apparatus for a mechanized exterminator comprising a housing; a motor having a drive shaft and disposed within the housing; a support means coupled to the drive shaft and having one or more rollers coupled thereto, a base having a surface; means for coupling the base to the drive shaft such that when so coupled, the housing and the support means rotate and the rollers roll over the surface of the base; and wherein the operation of the exterminator in proximity to the insects disturbs the insects causing the insects to get on the surface of the base where the rollers will roll over and crush them. 
         [0007]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the exterminator is configured as a two-piece unit comprising a first piece comprising the housing with the motor and drive shaft coupled to the support means; and a second piece comprising the base and the means for coupling the base to the drive shaft. 
         [0008]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the means for coupling the base to the drive shaft comprises a slot in the base configured such that the drive shaft can be inserted therein. 
         [0009]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the first piece further comprises a power source for the motor. 
         [0010]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the power source is one or more solar cells disposed on the housing. 
         [0011]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the power source is one or more batteries disposed within the housing. 
         [0012]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein one or more of the batteries are re-chargeable 
         [0013]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the power source is one or more batteries disposed within the housing and one or more solar cells disposed on the housing. 
         [0014]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising one or more solar cells disposed on the housing and wherein one or more of the solar cells re-charges the re-chargeable batteries. 
         [0015]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising a solar cell power source for the motor and a voltage regulator coupled to the solar cell for maintaining a consistent voltage output from the solar cell. 
         [0016]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising one or more drainage holes through the base for discharging rain and other moisture from the exterminator. 
         [0017]    Apparatus for a mechanized exterminator comprising a motor having a drive shaft; a base having a surface; a support means coupled to the drive shaft and having one or more rollers coupled thereto and disposed in close proximity to the base; a wind power device for providing power; a generator coupled to the wind power device and coupled to the motor, the generator converting mechanical energy from the wind power device into electrical energy for the motor; and wherein the operation of the exterminator in proximity to the insects disturbs the insects causing the insects to get on the surface of the base where the rollers will roll over and crush them. 
         [0018]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising one or more batteries for additional power for the motor and/or for voltage regulation of the electrical power to the motor. 
         [0019]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein one or more of the batteries is re-chargeable. 
         [0020]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising one or more solar cells for additional power for the motor. 
         [0021]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising one or more solar cells for additional power for the motor and/or recharging of the re-chargeable batteries. 
         [0022]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising one or more drainage holes through the base for discharging rain and other moisture from the exterminator. 
         [0023]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above further comprising a third piece, said third piece including a wind power device and a generator for converting mechanical energy from the wind power device and coupling means for transferring electrical energy from the generator to the motor. 
         [0024]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the wind power device and the generator form a power unit and the motor, base, and support means form a base unit and wherein a single power unit may be used to power a plurality of base units. 
         [0025]    The apparatus for an exterminator as described above wherein the power unit is remotely located from the base units 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1   a  is a cross-sectional view of one piece of mechanized insect exterminator. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1   b  is a cross-sectional view of a second piece of the mechanized insect exterminator. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1   c  is a top view of the mechanized exterminator in which the pieces of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  have been combined. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a wind powered mechanized insect exterminator. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of a third piece of a wind powered mechanized insect exterminator. 
           [0031]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view of a first and a second piece coupled together to operate with the third piece of  FIG. 3   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Whilst the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Moreover, the present invention, while described for the extermination of fire ants and fire ant colonies, may be utilized to exterminate a wide variety of insects. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 1   a , a cross-sectional view of a first piece of  101  the mechanized exterminator  100  is depicted. A solar cell  111  is embedded on the top of a housing  112 . Within the housing  112  are depicted a voltage regulator  113 , a motor  114  with a drive shaft  115  and batteries  116 . The solar cell  111 , voltage regulator  113 , motor  114  and batteries  116  are electrically connected. The first piece of the mechanized exterminator  100  also includes a support disc  117  secured to the motor drive shaft  115 . The support disc  117  has a plurality of rollers  118  secured thereto. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 1   b  a cross-sectional view of a second piece of  102  of the mechanized exterminator  100  is depicted. The second piece  102  includes a circular base  131  with a plurality of holes  132  and a slot  133 . The slot  133  is preferably located at the center-point of the base  131 . The base  131  may be constructed out of metal, plastic and/or a wide variety of other materials. The base  131  functions as both a base for the exterminator and also to provide a hard, smooth surface for rollers  118  to roll over and crush insects in the pathway of the rollers  118 . The curved end or circumference of the base  131  serves to retain the dead bodies of the insects after crushing for easy disposal/clean-up. It will be appreciated, however, that base  131  may be of any shape and that the circumference or perimeter may be flat or any shape and remain within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0035]    The plurality of holes  132  are drainage holes for the purpose of discharging rain or other moisture from the exterminator  100 . The slot  133  is configured to accept the end of the motor drive shaft  115 . In operation, when the end of the motor drive shaft  115  is inserted into the slot  133 , the first piece  101  will rotate causing rollers  118  to move over the base in a circular pattern, crushing any insects that are in their pathway over the base  131 . 
         [0036]    Referring back to  FIG. 1   a , the motor  114  is preferably a low-speed, DC voltage motor. Specifically, it is preferable to have the first piece  101  rotating low-speed, 4-6 rpm for example, for best results. In one embodiment of the present invention, the solar cell  111  provides the power for the motor  114  and the batteries  116  and voltage regulator  113  are not needed. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a voltage regulator  113  is used in addition to the solar cell  111 , to maintain a constant voltage to the motor  114  and the batteries are not needed. In a third embodiment of the present invention, one or more batteries  116  are used to power the motor  114  and the solar cell  111  and regulator  113  are not used. In yet a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the batteries are re-chargeable and the solar cell  111  is used for power to the motor  114  and charging of the batteries during sunlight conditions and the batteries  116  used to power the motor when there is insufficient sunlight. In this fourth embodiment, the batteries can act as a natural voltage regulator for the solar cell such that regulator  113  is not needed. 
         [0037]    The housing  112  may be a any suitable size, shape and material. The housing  112  may be fully enclosed or may have an open bottom. In  FIG. 1   a , the motor  114  is secured within the housing underneath the top surface. The batteries  116  are fastened to the motor  114  casing as is the voltage regular  113 . 
         [0038]    The motor drive shaft  115  extends through the support disc  117 . The support disc is securely fastened to the motor drive shaft  115 . As shown depicted in  FIG. 1   a , the support disc  115  is a circular disc of clear plastic. It will be appreciated that any number of materials and or shapes may be used for the support disc  115 . A plurality of slots  134  are cut through the support disc and fitted with mounting holes so that rollers may be assembled within the slots and configure to roll over the base  131  when the first piece  101  and the second piece  102  are joined together. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 1   c , a top view of the exterminator  100  is depicted with the first piece  101  and the second piece  102  joined together. The end of the motor shaft  115  is inserted into slot  133  in the second piece  102 . When power is applied to the motor  114 , the first piece  101  will rotate. The height of the support disc  117  above the base  131  is such that the rollers  118  lay flush against the surface of the base  131  and roll over such surface when power is applied to the motor  114 . 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 1   c , the housing  112  is star-shaped so that more of the base surface is visible through the clear plastic support disc  117 . Three rollers  118  are depicted. It will be appreciated that any number of rollers  118  may be used. It is preferable that the rollers  118  all be at the same distance from the center point of the support disc  117  and spaced an equiangular distance apart. 
         [0041]    In operation, one or more mechanized exterminators  100  are placed directly on top of one or more insect colonies such as a fire ant colony. When power is applied to the motor  114 , the rollers  118  begin to roll over the base  131  in a circular path. The noise and the vibration of the mechanized exterminator  100  disturbs the colony of fire ants causing the worker ants in the colony to become more aggressive and thereby attracting them on to the base  131 . To speed up the process, it may be desirable to scratch the mound surface with a rake or stick just before the exterminator(s) are placed on the mound. The curved circumference or perimeter of the base  131  is no deterrent at all in this agitated/aggressive state. As the ants move toward the source of the disturbance, the rollers  118  roll over them and crush them. After an appropriate time depending on the size of the colony, weather, etc., the health and strength of the colony will have been so diminished as to severely impact their ability to reproduce. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , yet another embodiment of the mechanized insect exterminator  200  is depicted. The exterminator  200  operates similarly to exterminator  100  in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  except that it is powered by wind. In  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of a wind power device  201  and a cross-sectional view of a base unit  202  are depicted 
         [0043]    The wind powered device  201  consists of blades  211  coupled to an axel  212  and supported by a frame  213 . Wind applied to the blades  211  results in a rotation of axel  212 . A geared cam  214  or other suitable device is fastened to the axel  212  and also rotates. The cam  214  engages a generator  215  which converts the mechanical energy from cam  214  to electrical energy. Wires  216  conduct the electricity from the generator  215  to the motor  222  in base unit  202 . It will be appreciated that any suitable wind power device may be used within scope of the present invention. 
         [0044]    The base unit  202  consists of a base  221 . A motor  222  is secured to the base such that its drive shaft  223  is approximately at the mid-point of the base  221 . The base  221  has a plurality of holes  224  for drainage of rain and moisture. A support disc  225  is secured to the drive shaft  223 . The support disc  225  is configured with a plurality of rollers  227  which rest flush against the surface of the base  221 . When electrical power is applied to the motor  222  from the generator  215 , the support disc  225  will rotate causing the rollers  227  to roll over the surface of base  221  and crush any insects in its path. As with exterminator  100 , the operation of the base unit, when placed on a mound of fire ants, for example, disturbs the fire ants causing them to become agitated and aggressive and to approach or attack the source of the disturbance. 
         [0045]    In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more batteries  228  can be secured to the motor  222  and electrically connected thereto for additional power and to act as a natural voltage regulator for generator  215 . 
         [0046]    In yet another embodiment, one or more solar cells  217  can be added for additional power and a voltage regulator  218  for regulating the voltage to the motor  222  may be added to the exterminator  200 . In  FIG. 2 , the solar cells  217  and voltage regulator  218  are shown coupled to the wind power device  201  by means of a support arm  219 , it will be appreciated that they can also be attached to the base unit  202  or remotely from both the base unit  202  and the wind power device  201 . 
         [0047]    It will be further appreciated that one wind power device  201  may be used to power a plurality of base units  202 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  depict another embodiment of the exterminator  200  in  FIG. 2 . Specifically, as depicted in  FIG. 3   a , the wind powered device  301  which is similar to the wind power device  201  in  FIG. 2 , is used with the base unit  302  in  FIG. 3   b  which is similar to the 2 piece exterminator  100  in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
         [0049]      FIG. 3   a  depicts a wind powered device  301  with a frame  313 , blades  311 , axel  312 , cam  314  generator  315  and wires  316 . 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 3   b , the base unit  302  has been modified by re-locating solar cells to the side panels of housing  331 . On top of the housing  331 , a coupling device  332  has been added which electrically connects the electrical power from generator  315  to motor  322  without distorting the wires  316  from the generator  315  by the rotation of the housing  331 . It can be appreciated that it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that a variety of methods are available to construct this coupling  332 . It will be further appreciated that the solar cells  317 , voltage regulator  318  and batteries  328  are optional. 
         [0051]    The remainder of base unit  302  includes motor  322 , drive shaft  323 , support disc  325 , rollers  327 , base  321 , drainage holes,  324 , and drive shaft slot  329 . 
         [0052]    It will be appreciated that any number of designs and configurations for a wind powered drive mechanism are within the scope of the present invention and that the design depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3   a  are merely illustrative. 
         [0053]    Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments for particular applications. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof. 
         [0054]    It is, therefore, intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.