IP Library Granted Patent US 8,205,378
Granted Patent B2
US 8,205,378 · App. 12/268,382 · Granted Jun 26, 2012

Trap for flying insects

Assignee: SpringStar Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,205,378
App. No.
12/268,382
Granted
Jun 26, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In the preferred embodiment, the invention is a trap for luring, trapping, and killing insects. The trap preferably includes: a single structure container defining a cavity that holds liquid, an opening that allows access to the cavity, a side wall, and a lid that seals the opening of the container. The side wall includes an orifice in the form of a frusto-conical shape that allows ingress of insects into the container and prevents egress of insects from the container. The side wall also includes a landing surface that directs insect towards the orifice.

Claims (48)

1. A trap, for insects, comprising:

a single unitary-structure polymer container including a bottom, a side wall, and an opening:

wherein the bottom and the side wall define a cavity configured to hold a liquid;

wherein the opening allows access to the cavity;

wherein the sidewall defines a landing surface recessed toward the cavity;

wherein the side wall further defines a frusto-conical recess arranged on the landing surface and terminating in an orifice configured to allow ingress of an insect into the cavity;

wherein the landing surface is configured to direct the insect toward the frusto-conical recess;

wherein the landing surface has a recessed depth less than a recessed depth of said frusto-conical recess; and

a lid configured to close the opening of the container.

2. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the container further defines a first thread proximal to the opening, and wherein the lid defines a second thread configured to mate with the first thread.

3. The trap of claim 2 , wherein the first and second threads are Society of Plastic Industry Standard size 100/440.

4. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the frusto-conical recess includes a base, opposite the orifice, with a diameter of 2.5 cm, and wherein the orifice is 1 cm in diameter.

5. The trap of claim 4 , wherein the frusto-conical recess extends into the container by 2 cm.

6. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the frusto-conical recess includes an interior side facing the cavity, and wherein the interior side defines a smooth surface configured to deter the insect from escaping the container through the orifice.

7. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the side wall defines a second frusto-conical recess terminating in a second orifice configured to allow ingress of the insect into the cavity.

8. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the landing surface includes a rough exterior surface configured to assist movement of the insect toward the frusto-conical recess.

9. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the container has a volume within the range of 0.5 Liter and 4 Liters, and wherein the insect is selected from the group consisting of moths, wasps, and flies.

10. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the container has a volume within the range of 0.1 Liter and 0.5 Liter, and wherein the insect is a mosquito.

11. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed of a blow-molded plastic that includes a tint selected from the group consisting of color tints, ultraviolet tints, and infrared tints.

12. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the lid defines a through-hole.

13. The trap of claim 12 , further comprising a hanging element arranged on the interior-side of the lid, wherein the hanging element is retained by a fastener, passing through the through-hole, and a stop, on the interior-side of the lid.

14. The trap of claim 13 , wherein the hanging element comprises a controlled-release dispenser.

15. The trap of claim 14 , wherein the controlled-release dispenser acts as the stop.

16. The trap of claim 1 , further comprising a controlled-release dispenser configured to float in the liquid, wherein the controlled-release dispenser contains an attractant for the insect.

17. The trap of claim 16 , wherein the attractant is selected from the group consisting of bait, a lure, a pheromone, and a semiochemical.

18. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the container is generally cylindrical.

19. The trap of claim 1 , wherein the container defines a single exterior parting line that is a result of manufacture by molding with a mold consisting of two mold halves.

20. A trap, for insects, comprising:

a unitary-structure polymer container including a bottom, a side wall, and an opening:

wherein the bottom and the side wall define a cavity configured to hold a liquid;

wherein the opening is configured to allow access to the cavity;

wherein the side wall defines a landing surface recessed toward the cavity;

wherein the side wall further defines a frusto-conical shape recess arranged on the landing surface, including a 2.5 cm-diameter base, and terminating in a 1 cm-diameter orifice configured to allow ingress of an insect into the cavity;

wherein the landing surface has a recessed depth less than a recessed depth of said frusto-conical recess;

wherein the landing surface includes a rough exterior surface configured to assist movement of the insect toward the frusto-conical recess;

wherein the frusto-conical recess includes an interior side, adjacent to the cavity, that defines a surface substantially smoother than the rough exterior surface of the landing surface; and

a lid configured to close the opening of the container.

21. A trap, for insects, comprising:

a unitary-structure polymer container including a bottom, a side wall, and an opening:

wherein the bottom and the side wall define a cavity configured to hold a liquid;

wherein the opening is configured to allow access to the cavity;

wherein the side wall defines a landing surface recessed toward the cavity;

wherein the side wall further defines a frusto-conical recess arranged on the landing surface and terminating in an orifice configured to allow ingress of an insect into the cavity;

wherein the landing surface has a recessed depth less than a recessed depth of said frusto-conical recess;

wherein the landing surface includes a rough exterior surface configured to assist movement of the insect toward the frusto-conical recess;

wherein the frusto-conical recess includes an interior side, adjacent to the cavity, that defines a surface substantially smoother than the rough exterior surface of the landing surface;

wherein the container defines a single exterior parting line that is a result of manufacture by molding with a mold consisting of two mold halves; and

lid configured to close the opening of the container.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2020
From: CRAFT3
To: WILLERT HOME PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052609/0301 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT/UCC-1 FINANCING STATEMENT Recorded May 10, 2013
From: SPRINGSTAR, INC. (DEBTOR)
To: CRAFT3 (SECURED PARTY)
Reel/Frame 030538/0887 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2012
From: BANFIELD, MICHAEL
To: SPRINGSTAR INC.
Reel/Frame 028281/0906 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60989614 · Nov 21, 2007
Related Publication 20090126257A1 · May 21, 2009