Insect trap device

Abstract

A removable substrate for an insect attractant device comprises a main body having front and rear faces, a grip portion, and a base positioned opposite the grip portion. The removable substrate further comprises a first side portion extending from the base and a second side portion extending from the base. A protrusion extends outwardly from the base, the lowest ends of the first and second side portions are positioned below the protrusion, and an adhesive is applied to the front and rear faces.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial number 16 / 653,430 filed on October 15, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a plug-in insect trap, and more specifically, to a plug-in insect trap device comprising a light guide and an entrapment substrate. Background Technology

[0003] Insect traps are generally used to monitor or reduce populations of insects or other arthropods by capturing individual insects and incapacitating or killing them. Many passive or non-electric insect traps use food, visual lures, chemical attractants, and / or pheromones to lure insects and are installed to limit or reduce unintended interactions with these traps by other types of insects or animals. Active or electric insect traps can attract insects by utilizing visual lures such as light, bright colors, and shapes, and may additionally use chemical attractants and / or pheromones.

[0004] Insect traps can vary greatly in shape, size, and structure, and can be developed for specific or targeted insect species. For example, light traps, which can be used with or without UV light, attract specific types of insects. Light sources may include fluorescent lamps, mercury lamps, black lights, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Designs depend on the behavior of the target insects, and light traps are generally used to attract flying and terrestrial insects. Adhesive traps are sticky traps that can be simple flat panels or enclosed structures. Adhesive traps are often used as bait, trapping insects with an adhesive substance. However, users may not want to use insect traps that utilize chemicals or bait due to various considerations.

[0005] Numerous active or electrically-powered insect traps are also known in the field. Electric shock devices, sometimes referred to as "zappers," lure insects to a kill grid that is electrostatically charged via a light source. Lights are used to attract the insects, and the electrified grid subdues them from the air onto a tray or the ground. Some electric shock insect traps include a removable collection chamber. However, these traps can be dangerous to other small animals, pets, or children if installed within their reach.

[0006] Therefore, it would be desirable to have the advantages of both active and passive systems without these disadvantages, including the need to use chemical substances and / or electric shock kill grids. The present disclosure eliminates certain disadvantages by combining a substrate commonly found in passive systems with a light source commonly used in active systems.

[0007] According to one embodiment, a removable substrate for an insect attractant comprises a main body having front and rear faces, the main body comprising a grip portion and a base positioned opposite the grip portion, a first side portion extending from the base, and a second side portion extending from the base. A protrusion extends outwardly from the base, the lowest ends of the first and second side portions are positioned below the protrusion, and an adhesive is applied to the front and rear faces. In some embodiments, the first and second side portions are configured to span across a housing.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first side portion is a mirror image of the second side portion. In some embodiments, the adhesive is further applied to the first side portion and the second side portion. In some embodiments, the front surface defines the surface area, and the adhesive is applied to more than 50% of the surface area. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a release film applied to the front surface. In some embodiments, the release film includes a window.

[0009] According to another embodiment, the insect attractant comprises a base, a plug extending from a rear portion of the base, a plurality of LEDs disposed within the base, and a lens fixedly coupled to the base and having a lower end, the lower end of the lens communicating directly with the plurality of LEDs, and a substrate disposed between the lens and the plug. In some embodiments, the lens comprises a periphery defining a chamfered surface, and the chamfered surface refracts light emitted by the plurality of LEDs toward the substrate.

[0010] In some embodiments, the plurality of LEDs are ultraviolet LEDs. In some embodiments, the chamfered surface of the lens joins the side surface and the front surface of the lens. In some embodiments, the base defines an elongated polygon including at least a first edge and at least a second edge, wherein the first edge is different from the second edge. In some embodiments, the base includes at least a third edge, wherein the third edge is different from both the first edge and the second edge.

[0011] According to another aspect, an insect attractant comprises an electronic assembly including a housing defining a front surface and a rear surface, a power source, a first resistor, and a plurality of LEDs, the power source extending from the rear surface of the housing, a lens disposed along the housing, and a substrate disposed between the lens and the power source. The substrate is spaced apart from the rear surface, which defines a second distance between them, the first distance being between about 15 mm and about 20 mm and the second distance being between about 15 mm and about 20 mm. In some embodiments, heat dissipated by the first resistor causes the temperature between the substrate and the lens to be approximately 10 degrees Celsius higher than the maximum temperature between the substrate and the rear surface.

[0012] In some embodiments, the insect attractant includes a second resistor. In some embodiments, the substrate includes an adhesive applied to at least a first surface. In some embodiments, the lens includes a chamfered edge that directs light toward the substrate. In some embodiments, the lens includes a cut portion defining an inner edge, and a plurality of LEDs are optically coupled to the inner edge. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a first side portion and a second side portion. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0013] FIG. 1 is a front, right dorsal view of a first embodiment of an insect trap including a refill; FIG. 2 is a front, left dorsal view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 shown in an activated state; Fig. 3 is a front view of the insect trap of Fig. 1; FIG. 4 is a left elevation view of the insect trap of FIG. 1; Fig. 5 is a rear view of the insect trap of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the insect trap of Fig. 1; FIG. 7 is a rear dorsal view and a partially exploded view of the insect trap of FIG. 1; Figure 8 is a partial rear and upper isometric view of the insect trap of Figure 1 with the refill removed. FIG. 9 is a partial rear left isometric view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 with the plug rotated approximately 90 degrees; Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the insect trap of Fig. 1; FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of a refill for use with the insect trap of FIG. 1; FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of a refill for use with the insect trap of FIG. 1; FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the refill of FIG. 11 having a partially removed peeling layer; FIG. 14 is a rear dorsal view of a part of the insect trap of FIG. 1, and a detailed view showing the interaction between the tab along the refill and the slot of the retention mechanism within the housing. FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the refill of FIG. 12 having a partially removed peeling layer; FIG. 16 is a partial rear, dorsal view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 inserted into the refill slot of the housing with the refill of FIG. 12; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 6; FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 6; FIG. 19A is a heat map showing heat dissipation from the housing of an insect trap similar to the insect trap of FIG. 1 when a resistor is provided along the bottom wall; FIG. 19B is a heat map showing heat dissipation from another housing similar to the housing of the insect trap in FIG. 1 when 1 resistance is provided along the top wall; and Figure 20 is a bar graph illustrating different catch percentages depending on the color of the adhesive part of the refill. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0014] The present disclosure provides solutions for catching flying insects without the use of insecticides. In one specific embodiment, light is guided through a front lens to attract flying insects to an insect trap device. As disclosed below, in some embodiments, blue light and UV light are emitted, and a combination thereof has been found to be an effective method for attracting specific insects. When attracted to the device, a double-sided adhesive refill captures the insects. The refill is disposable and may have adhesive portions specifically colored to attract specific insects along with UV light. The refill may include, among other advantages, a peelable feature, one or more grips for the user to hold the refill, and / or a "fixing" feature. The insect trap device described herein has been found to work well for attracting and capturing insects during the day, when it is generally difficult to attract insects. Through testing, it was determined that daytime efficacy may be attributed to one or more of the front lens characteristics, the color and / or pattern of the refill material, the use of double-sided adhesive, and / or the inclusion of UV LEDs.

[0015] Furthermore, users for insect traps, for exampleBecause the insect trap device disclosed herein can be encouraged to be used in visible, non-traditional locations within the home, the effectiveness of the device can be improved compared to other devices. Users may be embarrassed by the fact that there are insects in their home and may not want to pay attention to this fact. Due to the crisp and attractive profile of the device described herein, including the compact profile of the housing that accommodates the electronic components, users can freely display the insect trap inside the home in a manner similar to a night light or a Glade® scent diffuser. Currently available light-based insect trap devices are not intended to be blocked in a similar way, as such devices have the appearance of pest control products and many of them use electric shocks to monitor or eliminate insects.

[0016] Although the device disclosed herein may be implemented in many different forms, some specific embodiments are discussed herein with the understanding that the embodiments described herein are merely examples of the principles described herein and that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is limited to the illustrative embodiments. Throughout the present disclosure, the terms “about” and “approximately” mean plus or minus 5% of the number preceding each term.

[0017] Now, referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, an insect trap device (100) that provides a home atmosphere while continuously capturing insects is illustrated. The device (100) includes a base (102), a lens (104) that emits UV light, and a removable substrate or refill (106). A rotatable plug (108) extends outward from the rear side of the base (102). Although the device (100) is illustrated in an assembled, inactive state in FIG. 1, the device (100) is shown in an active state, with the switch "on" in FIG. 2 and plugged into a wall socket (110) along the wall (112). As will be discussed in more detail below, light generated by a light source within the base (102) is directed through the lens (104) and onto the wall (112) surrounding the socket (110) adjacent to the device (100).

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the base (102) comprises a first or front surface (120), a second or right surface (122), a third or left surface (124), a fourth or upper surface (126), a fifth or lower surface (128), and a sixth or rear surface (130). The front surface (120) is slightly curved, whereas the upper, lower, left, and right surfaces (122, 124, 126, 128) are connected at rounded edges and define relatively flat or planar central surface portions. The inner portion of the rear surface (130) is blocked by a plug (108). For the purposes of this disclosure, portions of the plug (108) form the rear surface (130).

[0019] Specifically, referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the base (102) defines a shape similar to an elongated rounded square. However, the base (102) may have cross-sections of various geometric shapes. To this end, the base (102) may define overall dimensions including approximately the same length, width, and height. While specific dimensions of the base (102) may be similar, the edges of the base (102) may have various shapes or characteristics. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 7, the base (102) includes first or rear face edges (132) defining a sharp rear face (130); a second or inner edge (134) partially defining rounded upper, lower, left, and right faces (122, 124, 126, 128); and a third or front edge (136) defining a beveled or chamfered front face (120). Meanwhile, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 7 include three different types of edges, and the base (102) may be defined by one type of edge, two types of edges, or three or more edges, e.g., chamfered, angular, rounded, sharp, etc. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 7, the base (102) defines a generally rounded rectangular shape including 12 edges, where four edges are first edges (132), four edges are second edges (134), and four edges are third edges (136). The number and types of edges may vary in alternative embodiments.

[0020] Specifically, referring to FIG. 4, the lens (104) is shown as being spaced apart from the refill (106). A first distance (D1) separates the lens (104) and the refill (106). The first distance (D1) may be between about 5 mm and about 50 mm, or between about 10 mm and about 40 mm, or between about 15 mm and about 30 mm, or about 20 mm. The lens (104) and / or the refill (106) may include various shapes, and the distance (D1) is considered to be measured from the maximum straight distance between the inner surface of the lens (104) and the front surface (140) of the refill (106). In another embodiment, the distance is measured from the upper ends of the lens (104) and the refill (106) between the inner and outer surfaces, respectively.

[0021] The rear surface (130) of the base (102) and the refill (106) are spaced apart such that a second distance (D2) separates the rear surface (130) and the refill (106). The second distance (D2) is measured from the maximum straight distance between the rear surface (142) of the refill (160) and the A-axis and extends vertically from the outermost point of the rear surface (130) of the base (102). In another embodiment, the second distance (D2) is measured between the rear surface (142) of the refill (106) and the wall (112) into which the device (100) is inserted. The second distance (D2) may be about 5 mm to about 50 mm, or about 10 mm to about 40 mm, or about 15 mm to about 30 mm, or about 20 mm.

[0022] Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 7, the refill (106) includes points of intentional focus to help guide the consumer to product interaction. The refill (106) includes a first or front surface (140), a second or rear surface (142), and adhesive-covered portions (144) along the front surface (140) and the rear surface (142). In some embodiments, the adhesive-covered portions (144) are identical or mirror images of each other. In some embodiments, the adhesive-covered portions (144) have different configurations. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 11 through 12, a first refill (106A) and a second refill (106B) are illustrated, and the refill (106) includes a base or lower portion (146), a middle portion (148), and an upper portion (150). The lower part (146), the middle part (148), and the upper part (150) collectively comprise the main body of the refill (106). The lower part (146), the middle part (148), and the upper part (150) each comprise one-third (1 / 3) of the total height (H) of the refill (106).

[0023] A grip (152) is positioned along the upper portion (150) of the refill (106). The portions of the front surface (140) and the rear surface (142) define the grip (152). The grip (152) may define a semicircular shape or other shapes. In some embodiments, the grip (152) includes a wider portion along the upper portion (150) without adhesive. An intermediate portion (148) is positioned between or in the middle of the lower portion (146) and the upper portion (150) of the refill (106). The lower portion (146) of the refill (106A) includes a refill holding mechanism or tab (154). The second refill (106B) does not include a holding mechanism (154). The refill holding mechanism (154) is removablely coupled to the base (102) so that an insect attracted by light emitted from a plurality of LEDs can be trapped in the adhesive-covered portion (144). As desired, the used refill (106) can be removed and discarded and replaced with a refill (106).

[0024] The refill (106) comprises plastic, cardboard, or other disposable materials. In one embodiment, the refill (106) may be formed from crepe paper, printer paper, A4 paper, and / or other cellulose materials. Additional examples of materials considered for the refill (106) may include plastic, polymer, fabric, nonwoven substrate such as PET nonwoven substrate, and / or combinations thereof. Additionally, the refill (106) may include a combination of manufactured, natural, and / or recycled or regenerated materials. As discussed above, the tab (154) may be received in the refill slot (156) of the base (102) to secure the refill (106) before active use of the device (100) begins.

[0025] In some embodiments, the refill (106) may be a first refill and the refill (106) may further include a second refill. In some embodiments, the first refill may be made of or integrated with one material and the second refill may be made of or integrated with another material, so the first and second refills are made of different materials in part or wholly. In some embodiments, the refill (106) may include one and / or two substrate layers. In other embodiments, the refill (106) may be composed of three, four, five, six or more substrate layers. In some embodiments, the second refill (see FIG. 19a) and / or the third refill (not shown) may be attached to the housing through additional refill slots (not shown). In some embodiments, the first refill and the second refill may be the same.

[0026] Additional criteria that may be related to selecting a material for the refill (106) include optimizing the thickness of the refill (106) or the caliper. For example, the refill (106) may have a thickness of about 0.15 millimeters (mm), or about 0.2 mm, or about 0.3 mm, or about 0.4 mm, or about 0.5 mm, or about 0.6 mm, or about 0.7 mm, or about 0.8 mm, or about 0.9 mm, or about 1.0 mm, or about 1.1 mm, or about 1.2 mm, or about 1.3 mm, or about 1.4 mm, or about 1.5 mm, or about 1.6 mm, or about 1.7 mm, or about 1.8 mm, or about 1.9 mm, or about 2.0 mm, or about 3.0 mm, or about 5.0 mm. The rigidity or stiffness of the refill (106) may be an additional criterion to consider when selecting the material forming the refill (106). Appropriate rigidity may help the appearance and stability of the refill (106) by reducing the amount of curl of the refill (106) over time if the composition is impregnated and / or exposed to humid conditions. Similarly, in one embodiment, it is desirable to use a refill material having sufficient rigidity so that the refill (106) substantially maintains its shape or form when the refill (106) is assembled within the device (100) and / or is in use.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, the lens (104) comprises a first or front lens surface (160), a second or rear lens surface (162), a third or side surface (164), and a fourth or chamfered surface (166). As discussed below, the geometry of the lens (104) and in particular the surfaces (160, 162, 164, 166) of the lens (104) create a lighting effect that attracts insects toward the capture device (100). The front lens surface (160) of the lens (104) is generally curved or concave. The chamfered surface (166) surrounds and extends the front surface (160). The chamfered surface (166) is joined to the side surface (164). The side surface (164) extends from the rear surface (162) to the chamfered surface (166). Both the front surface (160) and the rear surface (162) are generally uninterrupted surfaces. The front surface (160) has a semi-glossy texture, and the rear surface (162) has a frosted texture. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the corners (168) of the lens (104) are generally rounded, but the corners (168) may also be sharp or include additional features. In some embodiments, the lens (104) includes five, or six, or seven, or eight, or nine, or ten corners.

[0028] The front surface (160) and rear surface (162) of the lens (104) may be endowed with specific visual characteristics, such as making them opaque or adding texture thereto, to help block the refill (106) from view so as not to see insects placed along the refill (106). The lens (104) may have a wide variety of finishes along the front lens surface (160) and / or rear lens surface (162). In some embodiments, the front lens surface (160) may have a finish of MT 11000 and the rear lens surface (162) may have an opaque texture of MT 11030. The front lens surface (160) may have a medium semi-gloss texture, while the rear lens surface (162) may have an opaque texture. Additional features affecting light dispersion may also be added to the lens (104) or placed within the lens (104).

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a refill slot (156) positioned along the base (102) is illustrated in more detail. The refill slot (156) includes chamfered slot edges (170) that define an opening (172) into which a refill (106) can be inserted. The chamfered slot edges (170) defining the opening (172) assist in guiding the placement of the refill (106) within the slot (156) and ultimately in a locked or fixed configuration. In some embodiments, a slit (not shown) of the refill (106) may be aligned with a rib (not shown) of the base (102) to help align the refill (106) for insertion. The slit may be located in the center inside the lower portion (146) of the refill (106). In some embodiments, a stopper (not shown) positioned along the lower portion (146) of the refill (106) may provide tactile feedback or an audible click, or may engage with a retaining mechanism within the base (102) and help secure the refill (106) to the base (102).

[0030] Referring still to FIGS. 8 and 9, the base (102) may include one or more feet (174) that allow the base (102) to stand upright if necessary. One or more stabilizing feet (174) provide stability to the insect trap device (100) when the insect trap device (100) is placed on a flat surface. The insect trap device (100) may include more or fewer stabilizing feet (174) depending on the intended use of the device (100). Additional stabilizing features may be provided along the base (102) and may be used to maintain the base in a specific configuration, such as standing upright. In some embodiments, additional features may be extended on other surfaces of the base (102) and may help to stabilize or maintain the base (102) in a desired configuration.

[0031] Referring further to FIGS. 8 and 9, the plug (108) is illustrated in more detail. The plug (108) is illustrated in a horizontal configuration (Fig. 8) and a vertical configuration (Fig. 9). Because the plug (108) is rotatable, the electrical prongs (176) extending from the plug (108) can be rotated from the vertical configuration to the horizontal configuration. The plug (108) may be removed in some embodiments. The plug (108) is electrically connected to electrical components placed within the base (102). The plug (108) allows for a full rotation of the insect trap device (100) when the plug (108) is inserted into the wall (112) 360 °It may be a rotatable plug. The plug (108) includes electrical branches (176) and may include various electrical branch configurations based on the electrical outlet configurations of different countries or jurisdictions. Referring to FIG. 10, the plug (108) is electrically coupled to at least one resistor (180). A printed circuit board (PCB) (182) is also coupled to one or both of the resistor (180) and the rotatable plug (108). Multiple light sources, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (184), are arranged along the PCB (182). Although the present disclosure refers to multiple LEDs (184), alternative light sources, such as incandescent bulbs or other types of light sources known to those skilled in the art, may be used. Furthermore, different types of light sources that produce light having a wide variety of wavelengths may be used. For example, while specific colors are described herein, many different colors of light emitting light having various wavelengths are considered.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 10, the lens (104) is shown disassembled from the base (102). The lens (104) further includes a cut portion (190) defining a fifth or inner surface (192) of the lens (104). The inner surface (192) may have angular or rounded portions, and the lens (104) acts as a waveguide as discussed below. The inner corner (194) of the inner surface (192) is generally rounded. The inner surface (192) includes an upper inner surface (196) that communicates directly with a plurality of LEDs (184). The upper inner surface (196) may be rounded or concave to help the lens (104) act as a waveguide. Multiple LEDs (184) are arranged along a PCB (182) that is sized and shaped to fit the platform (198) (see FIG. 20 and 21) within the base (102). The lens (104) may have an alternative configuration in which the lens (104) is distributed toward the wall to which the device (100) is connected, or the lens (104) is distributed in a different way as described in more detail below.

[0033] Referring still to FIG. 10, the base (102) comprises an upper housing (202) separated from the lower housing (200) and the upper housing (202). The lower housing (200) defines the front face (120) of the base (102) and generally forms a wall (204), while the upper housing (202) defines a refill slot (156) and accommodates a refill (106). The upper housing (202) and the lower housing (200) may be secured by a snap fit, an interference fit, magnets, adhesive, ultrasonic welding, screws, rivets, or any other joining method known to those skilled in the art. The upper housing (202) comprises a plurality of posts (206) that depend downward from the upper housing (202) to engage with a plurality of post-receiving members (208) arranged along the lower housing (200). The post receiving members (208) are cylindrical and include circular bores (210) capable of receiving posts (206) dependent on the upper housing (202). An insertion protrusion (212) along the upper housing (202) is configured to be received by a complementary ledge (214) positioned along the periphery of the lower housing (200). The upper housing (202) and the lower housing (200) are configured to be attached to each other permanently or semi-permanently once all internal components are assembled within the base (102).

[0034] Referring still to FIG. 10, the upper housing (202) includes one or more retaining mechanisms such as a latch, a clip, a rail, a slot, a catch, a pin, a fastener, and / or a combination thereof extending from the lower side of the upper housing. One or more retaining mechanisms may be formed to retain one or both of the refill (106) and the lens (104) as described below. A plurality of LEDs (184) are arranged along a PCB (182) located adjacent to the lower housing (200). The LEDs (184) are oriented toward the waveguide entrance for the lens (104) as discussed in more detail below. A resistor (180), which may be one of a plurality of resistors, is placed within the base (102). The lens (104), acting as a waveguide, is arranged adjacently between the upper housing (202) and the lower housing (200).

[0035] As mentioned above, the lens (104) can function as an optical waveguide. When attached near the front of the base (102), the lens (104) surrounds and partially extends the slot (156) of the lower housing (200). With the lens (104) installed in this way, the hook-shaped tab (216) of the lens (104) is partially formed by the upper inner surface (196). As mentioned above, the upper inner surface (196) functions as a waveguide coupling surface. The waveguide is used to mix and / or direct light emitted by one or more light sources, such as one or more LEDs (184). A typical optical waveguide comprises three main components: 1) one or more coupling surfaces or elements, 2) one or more distribution elements, and 3) one or more extraction elements. In this embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 1. In FIG. 10, the coupling component is the upper inner surface (196) of the lens (104). Once light enters the upper inner surface (196), the light can be directed to a distribution element, in this case, the body (220) of the lens (104). The chamfered surface (166), side (164), front (160), and / or rear (162) can act as an extraction element. Depending on the desired exit of light from the lens (104), the surface of the lens (104) is adjusted to produce different refraction, reflection, internal total reflection, and surface or volume scattering through the upper inner surface (196) to the LED (184). In a preferred embodiment, light emitted by the LED (184) is refracted by the chamfered surface (166) toward the wall (112) to which the device (100) is electrically coupled.

[0036] For the extraction element to remove light from the waveguide, the light must first come into contact with the feature containing the element. By forming a waveguide surface, the flow of light across the extraction shape can be controlled and thus the location where light is emitted and the angular distribution of the emitted light can be influenced. In the present disclosure, the lens (104) includes a chamfered surface (166), thus a wall (112), configured to refract light toward the refill (106). Through testing, the use of the chamfered lens surface (166) for refraction increases the light toward the wall (112) because the chamfered surface (166) directs the light toward the wall (112), thereby encouraging insects to come toward the refill (106). The surface (142) of the refill (106) can be partially caused by light dispersed along the wall (112). In some embodiments, the chamfered surface (166) may be inclined between about 20 and about 70 degrees, or between about 30 and about 60 degrees, or between about 40 and about 50 degrees, or about 45 degrees.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 14, a first retaining mechanism (222) (FIG. 10) and a second retaining mechanism (224) (FIG. 14) are respectively arranged along the upper housing (202) of the base (102). The first retaining mechanism (222) retains the lens. The second retaining mechanism (224) retains the refill (106), whereas the first and second retaining mechanisms (222, 224) may be any of the retaining mechanisms listed above. The first retaining mechanism (222) permanently retains the lens (104) in place, whereas the second retaining mechanism (224) allows the refill (106) to be removable so that it can be replaced with another refill. The first and second retaining mechanisms (222, 224) may be molded or formed integrally with the upper housing (202). In some embodiments, one or both of the retention mechanisms (222, 224) may be provided along the lower housing (200).

[0038] In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 10, the first retaining mechanism (222) includes a rail (226) that is received within a slot (228) defined by a hook tab (216) of the lens (104). In the assembled state, the rail (226) is placed within the slot (156) (see FIG. 20) and holds the lens (104) in place during the assembly of the device (100). Referring to FIG. 14, the second retaining mechanism (224) includes a latch that receives the refill retaining mechanism (154), i.e., the tab, when the refill (106) is laterally inserted into the refill slot (156) of the upper housing (202).

[0039] Referring again to FIG. 10, the base (102) and the rotatable plug (108) are shown in a disassembled configuration, and the plug (108) is a power source, in other words It includes an electrical branch (176) that can be inserted into the socket (110) of FIG. 2. When the lens (104) is in an operable state, the LED (184) can be turned on to emit light onto the lens (104) and redirect the light outside the base (102). The lens (104) is at least partially transparent, but may include opaque or other finishes along one or more of the surfaces as mentioned above. In some cases, the lens (104) may be considered translucent. When the LED (184) is illuminated, light is emitted from all sides of the lens (104) outside the base (102). As discussed below, a specific lighting configuration may be beneficial or enhance insect capture. The device (100) may include an external switch (not shown) for optionally turning on the LED (184) and / or resistor (180).

[0040] Now, referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a first refill (106A) and a second refill (106B) are illustrated in detail. The refill (106) described herein may be replaced with the first refill (106A) or the second refill (106B). In some embodiments, the device (100) may include a second refill slot (not shown) capable of accommodating a second refill that is identical or different from the first refill (106A) or the second refill (106B). Certain features, such as the inclusion of adhesive within adhesive-covered portions (144) along both the front side (140) and the rear side (142), are common between the first refill (106A) and the second refill (106B). The adhesive-covered portion (144) covers a portion of the front (140) and a portion of the rear (142) of the refill (106). The outer periphery (230) of both the first refill (106A) and the second refill (106B) does not contain adhesive. Rather, the portion outside the adhesive-covered portion (144) can help the user grasp the refill (106) for removal. A removable film or release layer (232) (see FIG. 13 and 15) initially protects the adhesive-covered portion (144) and prevents objects or dust from adhering to the film (232) before use.

[0041] The first and second refills (106A, 106B) are rigid and do not bend. Each of the refills (106A, 106B) includes a grip area (152) and may include features that allow the refill (106A, 106B) to be "seated" in a positive manner, such as making a clicking sound or providing tactile feedback to the user that the refill is in place. The refills (106A, 106B) are formed to be aligned perpendicularly to the lens (104) and maintained parallel. The release layer (232) may include branding or other types of information transmitted along its outer surface (234). Additionally, a peeling area (236) may be positioned at the bottom of the refill (106A, 106B) to allow the user to remove the peeling layer (232) in order to insert one of the refills (106A, 106B) into the base (102). Referring to FIG. 13, a peeling window (238) may be included along the peeling film (232). The window (238) may be provided so that a protrusion or tab (e.g., tab (154)) extending from the refill (106) may be positioned inside. Alternative or additional features may be added to the peeling film (232). If necessary, if the adhesive-covered portion (144) becomes covered with insects, the refill (106) may be removed from the base (102) and discarded. For the continued use of the device (100), a new refill (106) may be attached to the base (102). The release film (232) is preferably attached to both the front (140) and the back (142) of the refill (106). Either the front (140) or the back (142) may include an adhesive portion, and thus only one release film is required.

[0042] Specifically, referring to FIG. 11, a tab (154) is provided along the lower portion (146) of the first refill (106A). A second tab (not shown) may be provided along the opposing side so that there are two tabs extending from the refill (106) so that the refill (106) can be locked in place within the base (102). Since the second refill (160B) shown in FIG. 12 does not include a tab (154), the second refill (106B) does not include a holding mechanism. However, the absence of a holding mechanism does not prevent the second refill (106) from being held in place within the base (102). Rather, alignment features within the base (102) can hold the second refill (106) in place within the refill slot (156) after the second refill (106) is inserted therein. One specific alignment feature may be a rail (not shown) in the base (102) that can be accommodated in a slit (not shown) in the lower part (146) of the refill (106) to help align the refill within the refill slot (156). In some embodiments, the slit in the lower part (146) of the refill (106) may be positioned in the center. In some embodiments, a plurality of slits are included in the lower part (146) of the refill (106).

[0043] In some embodiments, a brittle portion (not shown) is included along the refill (106) to help remove the peeling layer (232). For this purpose, the brittle portion may be combined with the peeling layer (232). The layer (232) may comprise various known materials, for example, one or more of a polyester layer, a low-density polyethylene layer, an aluminum foil layer, a polypropylene layer, and a low-density polyethylene layer. Alternatively, the peeling layer (232) may be replaced with some other covering mechanism, such as a rigid cover, as long as it can be removed or opened without damaging the adhesive. Such an alternative cover may be configured to be simply removed, slide to one side, hinged, otherwise open and even close again.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 13 through 16, the release layer (232) is removed to install the refill (106) for use, exposing the adhesive provided on the front and rear surfaces (140, 142) of the refill (106). Then, the user grasps the grip portion (152) of the refill (106) and inserts the refill (106) into the refill slot (156) in the upper housing (202) of the base (102). Since the refill (106) has a shape and size similar to the lens (104), the refill is substantially obscured when viewed from the front. The adhesive-free boundary (230) surrounds the adhesive portion (144), and the grip area (152) runs along the upper surface (150) of the refill (106), allowing the user to install and remove the refill (106) without touching the adhesive or any trapped insects.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, to firmly bond the base (102), the first refill (106A) comprises an inverted "saddle" geometry having opposing side portions or legs (240) that span the base (102). An adhesive may be applied to the side portions (240). The side portions (240) are mirror images of each other, but the side portions (240) may be asymmetric. A tab (154), which may be considered a protrusion or boss, is positioned along the base or lower portion (146) of the refill within the non-adhesive area. The lowest ends of the legs (240) are positioned below the tab (154). The first refill (106A) may be configured to be inserted in one direction such that the tab (154) of the lower portion (146) of the first refill (106A) engages with one of the two support portions (242) so that the tab (154) is inserted into the refill slot (156). When the first refill (106A) is seated in the refill slot (156), the leg (240) extends along the opposite side of the base (102). In some embodiments, the tab (154) is positioned along both sides of the first refill (106A), and the support portion (242) within the base (102) accommodates both tabs (154). The first refill (106A) can be separated from the base (102) by pressing a button (not shown), pushing the first refill (106A) in a direction that causes separation, or applying force to the first refill (106A) to remove it from the refill slot (156).

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, in order to be firmly coupled with the base (102), the second refill (106B) also includes an inverted "saddle" geometry having opposing side portions or legs (240). The lower portion (146) of the second refill (106B) is firmly placed within the refill slot (156). The second refill (106B) may also be configured to be inserted in either direction. In some embodiments, additional features may be provided along the lower portion (146) of the second refill (106B) to help with alignment or retention with the base (102). The second refill (106B) can also be separated from the base (102) by applying force to the second refill (106B) to remove it from the refill slot (156) by pressing a button (not shown) and sliding the second refill (106B) in a direction that causes separation.

[0047] It is also considered that variations may be desirable depending on the intended function of the insect trap device (100) and user preferences. Due to the variations considered for the refill type, the refill may be insect-specific. For example, it may be desirable to place specific colors, patterns, and / or features along a portion of the adhesive refill (106) to help attract specific types of insects. In practice, many modifications may be made to provide variations to the user while using a single insect trap device (100), for example, there may be seasonal or multiple design options that allow the user to select the desired refill (106) for the insect trap device (100) and the intended target area. While such variations are expected, the base (102) may include attractant patches or mini-containers for general and specific insect types.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, a cross-sectional view of the device (100) is shown taken along lines 17-17 and 18-18 of FIG. 6. The base (102) is generally hollow and includes a flange (252) extending upward from the lower housing (200). The flange (252) is integral with the lower housing (200) and may be included for structural or manufacturing considerations. In some embodiments, additional flanges may extend from the lower housing (200) and / or the upper housing (202). Referring to FIG. 20, a side cross-sectional view is shown. The lens (104) is shown coupled with a first holding mechanism (222). A circuit board (182) and a plurality of LEDs (184) are shown via optical communication so that light can shine through the lens (104) when the LEDs (184) are turned on. The first and second resistors (180) of the circuit board (182) are shown resting on a platform (198) formed by the wall (112) of the base (102). The first and second resistors (180) are shown adjacently along the upper housing (202). As mentioned above, only one of the resistors (180) may be included in some embodiments. In other embodiments, three, or four, or five, or six, or seven, or eight resistors may be included. The refill (106) is also shown placed within the refill slot (156).

[0049] Now, referring to FIG. 18, a rear cross-sectional view illustrating the optical coupling portion of a circuit board (182), a plurality of LEDs (184), and a lens (104) is shown. A second resistor (180) arranged along the upper housing (202) is also shown. The engagement of the lower housing (200) and the upper housing (202) is also shown in more detail. Although additional features are not shown within the housing, it is considered that one or more additional electronic components, such as receivers, controllers, processors, other printed circuit boards (PCBs), one or more batteries, one or more microphones, one or more capacitors, resistors, transistors, logic circuits, or other electronic components, may be included within the housing.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 19a and 19b, a heat map of an alternative embodiment of the device (100) is illustrated, illustrating various heat patterns depending on the location of one or more resistors (180). One or more resistors, such as the resistor (180), may be placed at various locations within the base (102) near the refill (106) as additional attractants for insects. Specifically, referring to FIG. 19a, the resistor (180) is included along the lower housing (200) of the base (102). When coupled to the lower housing (200), the heat footprint emitted by the resistor (180) is illustrated as being most prominent along the lower housing (200). The brighter parts of the heat map represent warm areas that do not extend along most of the refill (106) or lens (104). The second refill (160) is illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 19a and further illustrates that the heat does not extend further along the second refill (106) placed at the rear end of the base (102) than along the refill (106) located within the refill slot (156).

[0051] The heat maps provided in FIGS. 19a and 19b illustrate a simulation showing how optimization of the target temperature window is achieved based on the placement of one or more heat sources. Through testing and analysis, it was determined that adjusting the location and intensity of the heat sources changes the natural convection pattern, thereby transferring heat to the front (140) and rear (142) of the refill (106) by warm air. In alternative embodiments, heat dissipation can be modified, for example, by adding vents or adjusting the shape of the base (102) by adjusting the curvature along the surfaces (120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130), and will affect the location of the natural convection of the column of warm air rising from the base (120) of the device (100) to heat the refill surfaces (140, 142).

[0052] Now, referring to FIG. 19b, a resistor (180) is provided along the upper housing (202) of the base (102). The refill (106) in FIG. 19b includes lighter, i.e., warmer sections and extends substantially further along the refill (106) than the refill (106) in FIG. 19a. Furthermore, FIG. 19b illustrates an alternative embodiment of the design, including vents (250) along the upper housing (202) and lower housing (200), allowing heat to escape from the base (102) through the vents (250) due to the chimney effect. The heat map signature in FIG. 19b has been shown to attract more insects to the device and allows for optimized airflow through thermal convection and conduction to attract insects. Additionally, positioning the resistor (180) along the rear portion of the refill (106) toward the rotatable plug (108) during the test heats the area adjacent to the wall (112), thereby attracting more insects to this location. in other wordsIt was decided to lure them to the rear. Including resistors (180) along various parts of the base (102) may allow for various effects or may be optimized based on the type of insect lured to the device (100).

[0053] The configuration shown in FIG. 19b achieves a heat column containing a larger volume of space surrounding the refill (106) than the configuration shown in FIG. 19a. In another simulation (not shown), including two resistors (180) along the sides of the base (102) was found to achieve a heat column containing a much larger volume of space surrounding the refill (106) than the configuration shown in FIG. 19b. It was determined that the key to optimizing the area in the target temperature range is to control the natural convection column emanating from the base (102). For example, further optimization of 19B may include adjusting the area of ​​each vent as follows, and the convection column heats the refill (102) evenly.

[0054] Now, referring to FIG. 20, multiple efficacy tests for mosquito capture were performed. The experiments were controlled using mosquitoes and conducted using an experimental apparatus similar to the device (100). Individual experiments differed depending on the characteristics of the refills used in the experiments, such as color and pattern design. Otherwise, the adhesive used in the refills tested was the same. For each test, the test apparatus was connected to an electrical socket inside the chamber, and 30 mosquitoes were released into the chamber. Two hours after the introduction of the insects, the number of insects captured by the test samples was counted. In addition, the number of insects captured by the test samples was counted six hours after the introduction of the insects and 24 hours after the introduction of the insects.

[0055] As can be seen from the test results, the color / pattern designs of Blue Granite and Fly Box showed higher efficacy than other materials. The Blue Luma refill was colored with Pantone® 310; the Blue Granite refill included dots colored with Pantone® 2142, 291, 298, and black; the Fly Box refill had Pantone 2030 and a black pattern; the black refill was marked in black; and the white refill was colored in white. As shown in the graph in Fig. 20, the Blue Granite color refill achieved a higher yield at 2 and 6 hours, and the Fly Box pattern achieved a higher yield at 24 hours. The remaining colors (Blue Luma, Black and White) had lower acquisition rates than the Blue Granite and Fly Box refills, but in many cases, the difference in efficiency was not statistically significant. The Blue Granite refill showed the highest acquisition rates at 2 hours (16%) and 6 hours (20%), and the Fly Box pattern showed the highest acquisition rate at 24 hours (35%). As such, the test revealed that the Blue Granite and Fly Box adhesive boards contain desirable colors / patterns for use with the refills (106) of the device (100) to provide for increased mosquito capture.

[0056] Now that the individual components and assembly of the insect trap device (100) have been discussed, the operation of the insect trap device (100) and their relationship will be described. Before use, the insect trap device (100) is preferably provided to the user in a sealed container (not shown), such as a bag, box, or other package. When the user wishes to use the insect trap device (100), the user opens the container and takes out the insect trap device (100). In some embodiments, the user must attach the lens (104) to the base (102). However, it is also considered that the lens (104) may come pre-assembled to the base (102).

[0057] Next, the user removes any packaging around the refill (106). Then, the user grasps the peeling cover (232) from the refill (106) if there is a peeling start. The refill (106) is now in an operating state and ready to be inserted into the insect trap device (100). The user can now slide the refill (106) into the refill slot (156) of the base (102). The insect trap device (100) can now have the following features: it is in an operating state. In this operating state, the user can now plug the rotatable plug (108) into the wall socket (110). A switch (not shown) that allows the user to control the power supplied to the device (100) may be provided along the base (102). In some embodiments, there is no switch, and the device (100) has a single operating state "on," which is affected when the device is connected. When the device (100) is turned on, the LED (184) is illuminated, the light is refracted through the lens (104), and shines along the wall (112) adjacent to the wall socket (110).

[0058] When the device (100) is turned on, the insect trap device (100) can operate on its own and can lure insects toward the device (100) for capture along the refill (106). In a preferred embodiment, the refill (106) maintains sufficient adhesiveness to capture insects for about 6 months or about 180 days. In some embodiments, the refill (160) has sufficient adhesiveness to capture insects for about 40 days to about 280 days, or about 80 days to about 240 days, or about 120 days to about 200 days. In some embodiments, the refill (106) can be used for about 3 days to about 60 days, or about 7 days to about 30 days, or about 10 days to about 20 days, or about 14 days.

[0059] Any embodiments described herein may be modified to include any of the structures or methodologies disclosed in relation to different embodiments. Additionally, the present disclosure is not limited to the shapes or sizes of the substrates and / or support components specifically illustrated. Furthermore, the support components of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be modified to work with various types of substrates consistent with the disclosure of the present specification.

[0060] Industrial applicability

[0061] Many modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description should be interpreted merely as illustrative and is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the device disclosed herein and to teach the best mode of doing so. Exclusive rights to all modifications within the scope of the appended claims are reserved.

Claims

Claim 1 A removable substrate for an insect attractant device having a main body having front and rear faces, the main body further comprising a grip portion and a lower portion disposed opposite to the grip portion, the lower portion comprising a first side portion and a second side portion with a gap extending between them, the first and second side portions extending along the opposing sides of the lower portion, an adhesive applied to the front face and the rear face, the adhesive being surrounded by an adhesive-free border on the front face and the rear face, and the first and second side portions configured to straddle a housing. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 In claim 1, the removable substrate, wherein the first side portion is a mirror image of the second side portion. Claim 4 A removable substrate according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is further applied to the first side portion and the second side portion. Claim 5 A removable substrate according to claim 1, further comprising a peel-off film applied to the front surface. Claim 6 In claim 1, the main body, the first side portion, and the second side portion are substantially planar with respect to each other, forming a removable substrate. Claim 7 In claim 1, the main body is a removable substrate having sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the removable substrate when the first and second side portions overlap the housing. Claim 8 In claim 1, the lower portion further comprises an adhesive-free region, and the retaining mechanism is a removable substrate disposed along the lower portion within the adhesive-free region. Claim 9 In claim 8, the retaining mechanism comprises a removable substrate including an outwardly extending protrusion defining a tab. Claim 10 An insect attractant device comprising: a base; a plug extending from a rear portion of the base; a plurality of LEDs disposed within the base; a lens fixedly coupled to the base and having a lower end and a periphery, wherein the lower end of the lens communicates directly with the plurality of LEDs via optical communication; and a substrate disposed between the lens and the plug, wherein the substrate includes a first side portion and a second side portion configured to span the base, and the periphery refracts light emitted by the plurality of LEDs. Claim 11 In claim 10, the periphery of the lens defines a chamfered surface, and the chamfered surface is an insect attractant that refracts light toward the substrate. Claim 12 In claim 10, an insect attractant device in which the plurality of LEDs are ultraviolet LEDs. Claim 13 An insect attractant device according to claim 11, characterized in that the chamfered surface of the lens is joined to the side surface and the front surface of the lens. Claim 14 In claim 10, the lens further comprises a front surface and a rear surface, and both the front surface of the lens and the rear surface of the lens are translucent insect attractant device. Claim 15 An insect attractant device comprising: a housing defining a front surface and a rear surface; an electronic assembly including a power source, a first resistor, and a plurality of LEDs, wherein the power source extends from the rear surface of the housing; a lens disposed along the housing; and a substrate disposed between the lens and the power source, wherein the substrate includes first and second side portions configured to span the housing, wherein the substrate is substantially flat, the substrate is spaced apart from the lens defining a first distance between them, and the substrate is spaced apart from the rear surface defining a second distance between them. Claim 16 In claim 15, an insect attractant device in which the heat dispersed by the first resistor causes the temperature between the substrate and the lens to be approximately 10 degrees higher than the maximum temperature between the substrate and the rear surface. Claim 17 In claim 15, an insect attractant device further comprising a second resistor. Claim 18 In claim 15, the insect attractant device comprising an adhesive applied to at least a first surface of the substrate. Claim 19 In claim 15, the insect attractant device comprising a chamfered edge that directs light in the direction of the substrate. Claim 20 In claim 15, the lens comprises an incision portion defining an inner edge, and the plurality of LEDs are an insect attractant device optically coupled to the inner edge.

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