An Improved Insect-trap.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1993
An Improved Insect-trap.
I, PERCY WILLIS, of 55 Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Consulting
Engineer and Manager, (a communication to me from abroad by Charles F. Jolitz
of Caroline, and Albert Menting, of Phlox, both of Wisconsin, U.S.A. Inventors).
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
--
This invention relates to an improved trap for catching insects such as flies
beetles and the like.
The improved insect-trap consists of a preferably circular base-plate which is
supported upon legs. Suitable supports project upwardly from the base and are
united at their upper ends by a metal band, over the top of which fits a glass or
other cover.
A handle may also be applied thereto. A conical screen (made of
wire-work or gauze,) is passed over or supported between the supports and rests
upon the base. A second conical screen is fitted within the aforementioned screen
and has an aperture at its apex. A third conical screen is supported in a central
aperture in the base and projects upwardly into the second-named screen.
last-named third screen carries a ledge for supporting suitable bait. Suitable
depending pieces are attached to the third screen to enable the insects to enter it.
This
It will be understood that the opening in the base of the lower screen being
large enables the insects to readily find their way in, but the apertures in the apex
of each screen being small, the insects cannot readily escape.
Dated this 7th day of February 1893.
PERCY WILLIS.
An Improved Insect-trap.
I PERCY WILLIS of 55 Chancery Lane in the County of London, Consulting
Engineer, (a communication from abroad by Charles F. Jolitz of Caroline, and
Albert Menting of Phlox both in the State of Wisconsin U.S.A., Inventors) do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in insect traps of that class which are
especially adapted to trap flies, and it has for its object the construction of such a
device which shall be of cheap construction & efficient in its purpose.
It consists primarily of a main or base plate upon which is removably seated
a main screen, within which conically shaped screens are supported, and into
which they lead from various external openings.
The invention further consists in the novel construction, combination and
arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in
the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference designate
corresponding parts,
Fig. 1., is a side elevation of an insect trap embodying the invention.
Fig. 2., is a vertical section of the same.
len view of the base plate and its adiuncts.

page_text: Fig. 4., is a detail perspective view showing the means of attaching the standards
to the base and the means for securing them.
Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates an annular plate of sheet
metal, to and by which the several component parts are secured and carried.
To this plate is removably attached a frame, consisting of the standards B. B.
and the circular bands b. b., and which carries the screen C forming the main
compartment of the trap. The lower ends of the standards B. B. are extended a
short distance below the lower one of the bands b. b and have crossed pieces b¹, b',
formed thereon.
Upon the main plate near its periphery and at suitable intervals, are secured
the brackets or loops 6, 6, provided with T-shaped slots 63, of such size and shape
as to register with the T-shaped ends of the standards. One of these brackets or
loops is provided with a spring-catch 6* (see Fig. 4) so that when the standards
and the brackets are brought together and engaged, they will be firmly secured
against accidental displacement. It is to be observed that there is a considerable
interval between the lower one of the bands b, b, and the plate A and that the
latter has a diameter much greater than that of the lower end of the screen C.
The upper end of the screen C, to which the sides are slightly inclined to give a
symmetrical appearance is provided with a glass lid c set in a frame c¹ which is
hinged to the upper of the bands b, b. To hold the lid closed, a spring-catch is
provided.
D designates a conical shaped screen secured at the periphery of its base to the
sides of the screen C in any suitable manner and has an opening in its apex of
sufficient size to allow the passage of an insect.
E designates a smaller shaped screen supported in an annular opening formed
in the base plate by the lugs or projections e, e. The screen is of such a size and
is so supported that there is an annular space between the same and the edge of
the plate as to enable an insect to pass upwardly into the screen D. Its lower
end projects below the base plate and flares outwardly so as to form a resting
place. Its upper end extends upwardly into the screen D and has formed in its
apex an opening of a size suitable to enable an insect to pass through the same.
It supports a bait plate e. In the base of this screen is supported the rosette e
by the cross bar et, which serves as an attractive alighting place for an insect from
which the upper end of the cone can be easily reached.
F designates a short cylindrical screen secured upon the base plate by the
standards f. Its diameter is somewhat less than that of the base of the screen C,
so that when the latter is in position on the supporting plate a free passage is
offered from the outer edge of the latter between the screen C into the former.
The device can be suspended by the bail G. attached to the upper one of the
bauds b, or rested upon a support by the legs H. H. secured to the under side of
the base plate.
The operation of-the device is as follows. Assuming that the base has been
disconnected from the standards the bait is placed upon the plate e and the screen
is placed upon the base plate with the ends of the standards in front of the
brackets or loops ; the screen is then turned until the T-shaped ends of the
standards register with the slots of the brackets, and the spring catch 6* raises back
of the standard engaging with its respective bracket. The trap is then placed in
an available place. The insects, attracted by the bait will alight on the trap and
enter the same from the edge of the base plate between the screen F and the lower
edge of the screen C, from the flaring edge of the screen E, between the same and
the inner edge of the base plate, and from the rosette through the apex of the said
screen E. At first they will enter the compartment formed by the screen D, and
seeking to escape from the same, they will, attracted by the light passing through
the glass lid, pass upwardly through the apex of the screen D into the compartment
formed between the latter and the screen C. After a sufficient number have been
caught, they can be killed in any suitable manner and removed by opening
the lid.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an insect trap, the combination of the supporting plate, the screen sup-
ported thereon by standards the conical screen supported within the first mentioned
the conical screen supported in an annular opening formed in the base plate,.
& the cylindrical screen secured to the base plate within the lower edge of the
first mentioned screen substantially as and for the purposes described.
screen,
2. In an insect trap, the combination of the supporting plate, the screen
removably supported thereon by standards, the conical screen supported within the
first mentioned screen, the conical screen in an annular opening formed in the base
plate, the bait plate carried by the last mentioned screen, and the cylindrical screen.
secured upon the base plate within the lower edge of the first mentioned screen,.
substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In an insect trap, the combination of the supporting plate, the screen.
removably supported thereon by standards the conical screen supported within the
first mentioned screen and having an outlet in its apex opening into the same, the
conical screen supported in an annular opening in the base plate and having an.
outlet in its apex opening into the first mentioned conical screen, and a flaring base
that projects beneath the base plate, the rosette supported in the mouth of the last
mentioned screen the bait plate, and the cylindrical screen secured to the base
within the lower edge of the first mentioned screen, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
4. In an insect trap, the combination of the supporting plate, the brackets.
having T-shaped sockets secured to the said plate, the standards having T-shaped
ends adapted to engage with the said sockets the spring catch for securing the
standards in place, the screen supported by the said standards, and conical screen
supported one within the other and within the first mentioned screen, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
5. In an insect trap, the combination of the base the frame removably secured.
thereon consisting of standards united by annular bands the screen carried by said.
frame, the glass lid hinged over the upper end of the said screen, and the conical
screens supported one within the other and within the first mentioned screen by
the latter and the bottom plate respectively, substantially as and for the purposes.
described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1893.
PERCY WILLIS.