Abstract:
A battery-powered insect removal device comprises a funnel-shaped housing further including a cylindrical handle which has a fan motor, a battery, an operating switch, and electrical components which generate a vacuum across the opening of the funnel. During use, the device is electrically activated and then placed near a flying or crawling insect. The vacuum will draw the insect inside where it is exterminated by a plurality of fan blades and collected within and interior receptacle. The receptacle is removable for emptying and cleaning.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/483,917 filed May 9, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicle safety belts, and in particular, to a child-proof locking cover for a vehicle safety belt. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a wide variety of products designed to eliminate the presence of insects in both indoor and outdoor environments. These products include insecticide sprays, electronic insect repellant systems, acoustic repellent systems, and even old-fashioned flyswatters. While these various solutions work in some manner or another they do have many unwanted side effects. These side effects include hazardous chemicals, dangerous high voltages, exposure to unsanitary conditions, and the like. These conditions are especially worrisome when children or pets are present. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which all types of flying and crawling insects can be removed from almost any location in an easy manner and without worrisome side effects. The development of the hand-held pest vacuum fulfills this need. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide a hand-held pest vacuum. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,376, issued in the name of Reed, describes an insect trap apparatus. This patent discloses a device with a reversible motor that creates a vacuum to secure and eject an insect. This patent does not disclose a receptacle for collecting dead pests for later disposal. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,330, issued in the name of Rorant, describes a suction insect trap device. This patent discloses a vacuum pump device with a receiving container for collecting insects for later release. This patent does not disclose an internal fan blade assembly designed to eliminate pests. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,960, issued in the name of Wade, describes a pest collection disposal device. This patent discloses a vacuum pump device that traps and secures insects in a disposable, telescoping tube between a filter and a flap assembly. This patent does not disclose an internal fan blade assembly designed to eliminate pests. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,821, issued in the name of Ott, describes a suction insect trap apparatus. This patent discloses a vacuum pump device for capturing insects within a container for the purpose of later releasing the insect without excessive harm. This patent does not disclose an internal fan blade assembly designed to eliminate pests. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,598, issued in the name of Wade, describes a pest collection disposal device. This patent discloses a vacuum pump device that traps and secures insects in a disposable, telescoping tube between a filter and a flap assembly. This patent does not disclose an internal fan blade assembly designed to eliminate pests. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more disadvantages. Many such devices are not suited for trapping insects, eliminating the trapped insects, and then collecting the eliminated insects within a removable receptacle for later disposal. Accordingly, there exists a need for hand-held pest vacuum without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device to secure and eliminate a pest such as an insect without the use of hazardous chemicals, high voltage of electricity, or exposure to unsanitary conditions. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to solve at least one (1) of these problems. The inventor has addressed this need by developing a hand-held pest vacuum that traps and eliminates pest for later disposal. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device comprising a housing, a fan blade assembly, and a receptacle. 
     Another object of the present invention is where the housing comprises a shape similar to a large flashlight. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the housing is constructed of a durable, waterproof material such as plastic, aluminum, or coated steel. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the housing comprises an elongated cylindrical handle portion to provide easy gripping for a user. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the elongated cylindrical handle portion comprises an open-topped conical mouth portion having an open end portion. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the internal fan blade assembly is comprised within the housing. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the fan blade assembly creates a downward flow of air to produce a vacuum effect in order to pull pests into the open end of the mouth. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the housing comprises a cylindrical section of screen. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the screen provides an exit for a flow of air created by the fan blade assembly. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the screen is shaped to have a grid pattern with openings small enough to prevent a pest from escaping. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the mouth portion comprises a plurality of air flow apertures. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the mouth portion of the device can be pressed directly against a flat surface while air enters the device through the plurality of air flow apertures. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the internal fan blade assembly is powered by an internal motor. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the motor is powered by at least one (1) direct current battery. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the battery is housed within the handle portion of the housing. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the internal fan blade assembly cools the motor. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the motor is activated by a switch located on the handle portion of the housing. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where pests are exterminated by the internal fan blade assembly. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the eliminated pest is collected in a basket-like receptacle. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is where the receptacle is removably attached to the handle portion of the housing. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that may be achieved by performing the following steps: installing a fresh set of batteries into the handle portion of the handle of the device; inserting the receptacle into the handle portion of the housing; sliding or depressing the switch in order to activate the motor and initiate rotation of the fan blade assembly; creating a flow of air which in turn provides a vacuum area within the mouth portion of the device; placing the mouth of the device in the vicinity of a pest to draw the pest into the mouth and through the fan blade assembly; collecting the exterminated pest within the receptacle; and removing, emptying, and cleaning the receptacle when full or when finished using the device. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand-held pest vacuum  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of a hand-held pest vacuum  10  depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the hand-held pest vacuum  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the hand-held pest vacuum  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ), according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical block diagram of the hand-held pest vacuum  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  hand-held pest vacuum 
               20  housing 
               21  handle 
               22  mouth 
               23  air flow apertures 
               24  screen 
               26  receptacle 
               27  inner space 
               28  dividing platform 
               29  slot 
               30  fan blade assembly 
               31  shaft 
               32  motor 
               34  battery 
               36  switch 
               38  battery access cap 
               40  flow of air 
               50  stop 
               51  shoulder 
               100  pert 
               105  user 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a hand-held pest vacuum (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides an enhanced means for trapping and disposing of pests  100 , such as insects and spiders in a manner which is quick, portable, and sanitary. The device  10  is designed for hand-held use in a portable manner. A thin portion  30  of the device  10  produces a vacuum zone which helps a user  105  to catch and exterminate pests  100  and subsequently dispose of them. Furthermore, the device  10  exterminates pests  100  in a manner which may be entertaining to the user  105 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a housing  20  which provides protection and internal mounting of various components required to capture and exterminate the pests  100 . The housing  20  comprises an external shape similar to that of a large flashlight, thereby providing easy gripping by a user  105 . The housing  20  comprises an elongated cylindrical handle portion  21  which transitions into an open-topped conical or bowl-shaped mouth portion  22  having an open end portion. The housing  20  is constructed of a durable, waterproof material such as a plastic, aluminum, plated or painted steel, or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the handle  21  is approximately two inches (2 in.) in diameter and fifteen inches (15 in.) in height while the mouth  22  is approximately eight inches (8 in.) tall and one foot (1 ft.) in diameter at the open end portion. However, it is understood that the device  10  may be introduced in various sizes such as small, medium, and large, based upon a user&#39;s  105  preference with equal benefit, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the device  10 . The device  10  creates an inward flow of air  40  which produces a vacuum effect in order to pull pests  100  into the mouth  22  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The pests  100  are exterminated by an internal fan blade assembly  30  powered by internal motor  32  and shaft  31  portions before falling into a subjacent receptacle  26  which comprises a cylindrical basket-like structure with a slot  29  to accommodate extension of the vertical shaft  31  therethrough. The receptacle  26  is removably attached to the housing  20  so that the user  105  can dispose of dead pests  100  which are collected within an inner space portion  27  of the receptacle  26 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental view of the device  10  depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. During use, a user  105  directs the mouth portion  22  of the device  10  toward one (1) or more pests  100  which are in turn drawn into the opening portion of the mouth  22  via a flow of air  40  created by a subjacent rotating fan blade assembly  30 . The exterminated pests  100  are subsequently accumulated within the internal receptacle  26  for disposal (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view of the device  10  is disclosed. The device  10  creates a downward flow of air  40  which produces a vacuum effect within the mouth  22  in order to pull in pests  100 . The flow of air  40  is created by the fan blade assembly  30  which is located at an interior upper end of the handle  21  immediately adjacent to the mouth  22 . The fan blade assembly  30  comprises a plurality of fan blades attached to an upper end portion of a central shaft  31 . It is understood that the fan blade assembly  30  may comprise any number of blades arranged around the shaft  31  and may also comprise a number of rows of blades as space constraints will allow, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the device  10 . The shaft  31  extends from the fan blade assembly  30  downwardly through the handle  21  being integrated into an electric motor  32  at a bottom end portion within the handle  21 . 
     The arrangement of the blade portions of the fan blade assembly  30  provides a pulverizing means to pests  100  which are drawn into the device  10  prior to falling downward into the cylindrical receptacle  26  for subsequent disposal. The fan blade assembly  30  comprises an outer diameter which is very slightly smaller than a corresponding inner diameter of the handle  21 . 
     A portion of the handle  21  located immediately below the fan blade assembly  30  comprises a cylindrical section of screen  24  which provides an exit path for a flow of air  40  created by the fan blade assembly  30 . The screen  24  comprises an integral wall portion of the housing  20 . The screen  24  is preferably constructed of a structurally rigid material having a cylindrical shape similar in diameter as the handle  21 . The screen  24  provides structural stability to the housing  20  and enables an outward flow of air  40  to continue in an unimpeded manner through the mouth  22 , through the fan blade assembly  30 , and out through the screen  24 . The screen  24  further comprises a grid pattern having small enough openings so as to entrap the pests  100  causing said pests  100  to fall into the subjacent receptacle  26  (see  FIG. 1 ). The flow of air  40  also provides convective cooling to the motor  32  to mitigate overheating during use. 
     The motor  32  is located immediately below the receptacle  26  and acts to rotate the shaft  31  and the fan blade assembly  30  when actuated by a switch  36  located along an adjacent side surface of the handle  21 . The motor  32  is powered by at least one (1) direct current (DC) battery  34  housed within the handle  21  and being accessed through a battery access cap  38  threadingly attached to a bottom portion of the handle  21 . The batteries  34  are located immediately below the motor  32  and preferably comprise a plurality of D-sized zinc-carbon or alkaline batteries arranged in a series manner. The switch  36  comprises a common contact closure device such as a two-position sliding switch, an alternating on/off pushbutton switch, or the like. 
     Adjacent to the upper perimeter edge portion of the mouth  22 , are a plurality of equally-spaced air flow apertures  23  which allow the flow of air  40  to enter the mouth  22  in an event when the top edge portion of the mouth  22  is pressed against a flat surface. This feature allows a user  105  to place the open mouth portion  22  over a pest  100  which is sitting on a flat surface such as a wall or table, and still maintain a flow of air  40  in order to capture the pest  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of the device  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 3 ), is disclosed. The housing  20  comprises a cut-out portion along the handle  21  having an integral provides supported insertion of the receptacle  26  into the handle  21  for emptying and cleaning purposes. The receptacle  26  comprises a cylindrical profile which matches that of the corresponding handle  21 . The receptacle  26  comprises a pair of shoulders  51  which abut against a pair of stop portions  50  of the housing  20 . When the receptacle  26  is in the inserted “ready” position, the handle  21  comprises an overall continuous cylindrical shape. The slot portion  29  of the receptacle  26  is shaped to allow clearance of the shaft  31  which passes vertically through a center axis within the receptacle  26 , thereby allowing free rotation of said shaft  31  during normal use. The receptacle  26  is envisioned to provide ample interior space  27  for the containment of pests  100 , thereby maximizing a duration of time before requiring emptying. The receptacle  26  is held in place within the handle  21  preferably by friction, although additional mechanical features such as protrusions and matching recesses, and the like may also be utilized to establish a secure connection. The receptacle  26  can be removed from the housing  20  by gripping the exposed side portions of the receptacle  26  and pulling outwardly. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an electrical block diagram of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  comprises a simple direct current (DC) circuit within the handle portion  21  comprising a plurality of disposable or rechargeable DC batteries  34 , a contact closure switch  36 , a DC motor  32  which rotates the fan blade assembly  30 , and interconnecting wiring. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user  105  in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be utilized as indicated in  FIG. 2 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: obtaining a model of the device  10  having a desired overall size; installing a fresh set of batteries  34  into the handle  21  using they battery access cap  38 ; inserting the receptacle  26  into the handle  21 , if not previously installed; sliding or depressing the switch  36  in order to activate the motor  32  and initiate rotation of the fan blade assembly  30 ; creating a flow of air  40  which in turn provides a vacuum area within the mouth portion  22  of the device  10 ; placing the mouth  22  of the device  10  in the vicinity of a pest  100  to draw the pest  100  into the mouth  22  and through the fan blade assembly  30 ; collecting the exterminated pest  100  within the receptacle  26 ; removing, emptying, and cleaning the receptacle  26  when full or when finished using the device  10 ; and, enjoying an assisted and entertaining pest  100  exterminating method. 
     The device  10  may also be utilized to capture a pest  100  located upon a wall, table, or other flat surface by placing the mouth  22  against said flat surface in a parallel manner and maintaining a flow of air  40  through the airflow aperture portions  23  of the mouth  22  to capture and exterminate the pest  100 . The device  10  is intended to provide various benefits to a user  105  over existing methods of catching and exterminating pests  100 . The device  10  is portable and lightweight for hand-held use without need of additional preparation. The device  10  does not utilize any chemicals or other substances which are potentially harmful to people. The device  10  provides a vacuum which assists the user  105  in trapping the pest  100  and does not require significant manual dexterity on the part of the user  105 . The device  10  is entertaining due to the nature in which the pests  100  are exterminated. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.