Device for capturing insects

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for actively capturing insects, characterised in that it comprises a hollow transparent body (1) that is open at both ends, such that one end has an inlet (2) and the other end has an outlet (3), the outlet (3) being attached to a closed capture body (4).

Description

[0001]DESCRIPTION Device for capturing insects OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as the title of this specification establishes, is a device for capturing insects. This is an innovation that, within current techniques, provides advantages previously unknown. The device allows insects, especially flies, to be captured easily and quickly, and without the need to use insecticides or a traditional fly swatter with which each fly must be hit, often leaving organic remains after the impact. TECHNICAL SECTOR Therefore, this invention is limited to the sector of manufacturing elements or devices for capturing insects.STATE OF THE ART Within the state of the art relevant to the management of domestic pests, particularly flying insects such as flies, their annoying and disruptive nature is universally recognized, especially in closed environments such as homes, offices, and indoor food establishments (fishmongers, butchers). These insects are not only irritating due to their constant buzzing and contact with food and surfaces, but they can also be disease vectors by carrying pathogens. The need to control and eliminate flies has given rise to various solutions over the years. Traditional fly control methods have included a variety of chemical insecticides. These products, available in various forms such as aerosols, liquids, or emulsions, have been effective in rapidly reducing insect populations.However, their use is not without significant disadvantages, especially regarding their impact on indoor environments. The main drawback of aerosol insecticides is the inevitable contamination of the indoor environment. The volatile chemical compounds present in these products disperse into the air and settle on household surfaces, which can cause adverse health effects for residents, as they end up inhaling potentially toxic substances. Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides can contribute to the development of resistance in insect populations, reducing the products' effectiveness over time and increasing the need for more potent and, possibly, more harmful formulations. This cycle of dependence and escalation can lead to further deterioration of indoor air quality and increased exposure to harmful chemicals.In light of these concerns, innovation in the field of insect control has sought to develop safer and more environmentally friendly methods to mitigate the presence of flies in enclosed spaces. Alternatives include physical solutions, such as traps and barriers, as well as biological approaches that do not compromise air quality or the health of a home's occupants. The present invention fits into this context, offering a novel solution that addresses the shortcomings of conventional methods, improving the effectiveness of fly control without the side effects associated with chemical insecticides. The present invention is presented to address the detailed problems. No product with the same technical characteristics as the invention presented here is known to exist.DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is the creation of a device for capturing insects that provides a notable innovation within its field of application in the current state of the art, the characterizing details that make it possible being conveniently collected in the final claims that accompany this description. The device allows insects, especially flies, to be captured easily and quickly and, more importantly, without the need to use insecticides that are generally applied by aerosols. This device is especially useful in closed spaces where applying aerosols is very harmful to human health, since in closed spaces or with poor ventilation it is common for the insecticide aerosol to end up being inhaled by people.The insect-capturing device is based on the principle that prevails in almost all of nature: the risk zone principle. According to this principle, when animals or insects detect that something dangerous has entered their risk zone, they either flee or attack the intruder. Therefore, the insect-capturing device comprises a hollow body open at both ends, such that one end has an entrance with a surface area much larger than the exit. Thus, the insect will enter through this entrance without realizing that it is entering a trap. According to this invention, a much larger area ratio can be interpreted as one where the area ratio is greater than 2. What we need to achieve is for the flies or insects to enter the body through the entrance, which, as it is large, will be easy.Once the insect has entered the body, it will be guided to the exit opening, from where it will pass to a capture body, where it will no longer be able to escape. To facilitate the insect's entry into the body, in addition to the very large entry opening, the body will be transparent, so that the insect does not feel as if it is being engulfed by the device. The user must hold the device from the capture body or from the exit opening, always keeping a distance from the entry opening. Unlike other solutions, the transparency and ergonomics of the device body according to the present invention allow for the active capture of insects, especially flies, easily and quickly, without the need to use insecticides or leave behind organic debris.EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES In order to complete the description being provided and in order to assist in a better understanding of the features of the invention, a figure is attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following is represented. Figure 1 corresponds to a perspective view of the insect capture device. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns an innovative device for capturing insects, which responds to the need to effectively control the presence of these animals, especially in closed environments, without resorting to methods that may be harmful to humans or the environment. By way of example, it can be used for the active capture of flies while they are stationary on a surface.The device that is the object of this patent comprises a hollow and transparent body (1), open at both ends, which facilitates the visualization of the insect inside it. This body (1) has an entrance mouth (2), which will generally have a significantly larger surface area than the exit mouth (3), optimizing the probability of the insect entering the device. The transparent nature of the body (1) allows, on the one hand, better visualization of the user and, on the other, that the insect does not have the sensation of the proximity of its capture, so it is not motivated to flee beforehand. Therefore, thanks to the transparency of the body (1) a high efficiency is achieved in the capture of insects using the device according to the present invention.The exit mouth (3) is connected to a capture body (4), such that the insect, once it enters through the entrance mouth (2), is guided through the body (1) until it is confined in the capture body (4). That is, the exit mouth (3) has reduced dimensions compared to the entrance mouth (2), but they are large enough to be crossed by the insect to be captured. Particularly, the entrance mouth (2) can have a diameter between 5 and 40 cm, while the exit mouth (3) can have a diameter between 1 and 10 cm. In a preferred embodiment, the body (1) has a first section (1.1), adjacent to the entrance mouth (2), which is made of a flexible material that facilitates its handling and adaptation to different contexts. The second section (1.2), close to the exit mouth (3), is composed of a semi-rigid material that ensures the structural integrity of the passage towards the capture body (4).In this embodiment, as it is a device used with one hand, preferably holding the capture body (4) or the semi-rigid second section (1.2), the user can use his second hand, unoccupied during capture, to close the inlet mouth (2). In this way, the first section (1.1) can be shrunk by the unoccupied hand and folded through the second section (1.2), so that the captured insect is forced to be confined within the capture body (4). Typically, the body (1) will have an elongated conical or truncated conical shape, a design that naturally guides the insect towards the capture body (4) due to the progressive decrease in diameter along its length. It could also be pyramidal in shape.In one embodiment, the capture body (4) is a closed compartment having an opening designed to precisely engage the outlet mouth (3), ensuring that insects cannot escape once inside the device. The capture body (4) defines a hollow volume, where the insect (e.g. a fly) is retained and can be removed by the user of the device at a later stage. In particular, the capture body (4) may comprise means for retaining the insect in the opening that engages the outlet mouth (3). Said retaining means is configured to keep the insect confined within the capture body (4), improving the capture capability of the device. Thus, the retaining means has two positions: a closed position and an open position.In the closed position, the retaining means seals the capture body (4), preventing the passage or exit of insects towards the body (1), while, in the open position, the capture body (4) is not sealed, and a captured insect can be confined in the body (1). In a particular embodiment, the retaining means is a non-return plug or valve. In a particular embodiment, thanks to the non-return capacity of the capture body (4), the volume of the capture body (4) is configured to contain a group of insects simultaneously. In this way, the user can capture said group of insects in one or several capture stages and eliminate the insects as a group. In this case, the capture body (4) can incorporate a vacuum cleaner, preferably powered by a battery, which facilitates the active capture of the insects by generating an air flow directed towards its interior.Specifically, said vacuum cleaner is coupled to a second opening of the capture body (4). In this way, the use of a vacuum cleaner associated with the capture body (4) generates a current that directs the captured insect to the capture body (4), without the need to use an unoccupied hand as described in the previous alternative. In this sense, the suction provided by the vacuum cleaner allows the non-return retention means to move and drag the insect to the capture body (4). Due to the suction force, other insects present in the capture body (4) cannot return to the second section of the body (1) while the retention means is in an open position. Once the insect has been captured, the user can stop the suction and, consequently, the retention means returns to the closed position, confining the insects within the capture body (4).In another embodiment, the capture body (4) is additionally provided with a series of slots whose size is meticulously designed to be smaller than that of a common fly, allowing the passage of air but preventing the escape of the captured insects. In a particular embodiment, the slots have a pitch of 1 to 5 mm. In this case, the capture body (4) can be placed under the tap causing the wet insects to lose their ability to fly and thus being able to eliminate them in the preferred manner. In a particular embodiment, the slots can be arranged in the second opening of the capture body (4). In this way, the vacuum cleaner can be coupled during the capture stage and uncoupled for the insect elimination stage.This device represents a significant advance in the state of the art, providing an effective and safe solution for capturing insects, minimizing the risks associated with the use of insecticides and improving the quality of life in inhabited spaces. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to explain it further so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages derived from it, stating that, within its essentiality, it may be put into practice in other embodiments that differ in detail from the one indicated by way of example, and to which it will also achieve the protection sought, provided that its fundamental principle is not altered, changed or modified.

Claims

1. An active insect capture device, characterized in that it comprises a hollow, transparent body (1) open at both ends, such that one end has an inlet (2) and the other end has an outlet (3), the outlet (3) being connected to a closed capture body (4).

2. An active insect capture device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet (2) has a surface area much larger than the surface area of ​​the outlet (3).

3. An active insect capture device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) comprises a first flexible section (1) close to the inlet (2) and a second semi-rigid section (1.2) close to the outlet (3).

4. An active insect capture device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) has a conical or truncated conical shape.- Active insect capture device according to claim 1, characterized in that the capture body (4) comprises a battery-powered vacuum cleaner.

6. Active insect capture device according to claim 1, characterized in that the capture body (4) has a series of slots smaller than a fly.

7. Active insect capture device according to claim 1, characterized in that the capture body (4) comprises a non-return valve blocking the outlet.

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