Insect trap

Abstract

An insect trap (1) includes a container (2), such as a bottle, within which is provided a reservoir of an insect-attracting liquid lure. An outlet (3) of the container (2) is initially closed by a removable cap or lid (4) which can be removed and replaced by a trap assembly (5), which mounts on a neck portion (7) of the container (2) when the insect trap (1) is in use. During use, the liquid lure stored within the container (2) evaporates, passing through the trap assembly (5) into the surrounding atmosphere to lure flying insects into the trap assembly (5).

Description

[0001] “Insect Trap”

[0002] Introduction

[0003] This invention relates to an insect trap, in particular for flying insects.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Various wasp, hornet and fly traps are currently available. Generally, these traps are supplied to customers in a number of different ways. For example, a trap only may be supplied. Alternatively, a trap with an associated recipe for preparing a DIY attractant may be provided. In another arrangement, a trap together with an insect attractant or lure which requires the addition of water to activate the lure is provided. In a still further product, a trap is provided together with a container, such as a bottle or doypack, which contains a liquid attractant which is poured into the trap as required when using the trap.

[0006] Examples of known insect traps include US 6112452 A which discloses an insect trap head adapted to engage threaded outlets of two different containers. The trap head has a perforated funnel forming an insect inlet which allows insects entrance into the container containing an attractant, but prevents escape of the insect from the container. In WO 2005 / 043997 A, there is disclosed a cap for a container with an insect attractant. The cap attaches to the neck of a container and has openings which allow insects into the container but resist escape of the insects from the container. Another insect trap is disclosed in CN 214801826 U, comprising a bottle body with a screw-on cap. The cap contains a lure which attracts insects through a number of insect inlets, the insects being trapped within the bottle body. A further insect trap is disclosed in GB 2328135 A, comprising a can forming a pheromone reservoir and having a cover with a plurality of inlet openings with sharp bottom edges separated by upstanding helical blades on the cover. A cap is mounted on top of the blades. Here again, insects can easily enter the can but have difficulty escaping from the can. In US 1 ,772,989 A, there is disclosed an insect trap with a relatively large entrance area. The insect trap has a container with a pair of spaced-apart partially-nested funnels containing a bait holder mounted at the neck of the container. Insects entering the funnels to access the bait fall through the funnels into the container. In US 1 ,867,252 A, there is disclosed an insect trap for mounting on a conventional fruit jar, threadedly engaging with a neck of the fruit jar. An insect attractant material is mounted in the fruit jar. The insect trap has a cap which screws onto the neck of the fruit jar. An insect inlet opening in the cap communicates through a frusto-conical mesh having a narrow lower outlet end with an interior of the fruit jar. Insects are attracted through the inlet opening and through the frusto-conical mesh into the jar where they are trapped. Another insect trap for mounting at the neck of a container containing bait is disclosed in US 6,158,165 A. The insect trap has a cover engagable with the neck of the container and supports an insect entrance tube which extends into the container. A retention mesh of interleaving wires, mounted within the entrance tube, allows passage of insects into the container, but prevents their escape from the container.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved insect trap which facilitates a more efficient use of materials and resources.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to the invention there is provided an insect trap, comprising a container, the container having an outlet closed by a removable lid, an insect-attracting lure mounted within the container, and a trap assembly engagable with the container outlet when the lid is removed from the outlet.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention the trap assembly includes a housing which is engagable with the container outlet to mount the trap assembly on the container, a vent passage extending through the housing communicating between an interior of the container and an exterior of the container when the housing is mounted on the container.

[0011] In another embodiment there is provided an insect trap, comprising: a container, the container having an outlet closed by a removable lid, an insect-attracting lure mounted within the container, a trap assembly engagable with the container outlet when the lid is removed from the outlet, the trap assembly including a housing which is engagable with the container outlet to mount the trap assembly on the container, a vent passage extending through the housing communicating between an interior of the container and an exterior of the container when the housing is mounted on the container, the trap assembly including a perforated screen for mounting across the vent passage, the perforated screen comprising a funnel having a frustoconical side wall with a plurality of spaced-apart vent slots extending through the side wall, the housing having a cover at a top of the housing.

[0012] In another embodiment the cover is demountably engagable with the side wall of the housing.

[0013] In another embodiment there is provided an insect trap, comprising a container, the container having an outlet closed by a removable lid, an insect-attracting lure mounted within the container, and a trap assembly engagable with the container outlet when the lid is removed from the outlet, the trap assembly including a housing which is engagable with the container outlet to mount the trap assembly on the container, a vent passage extending through the housing communicating between an interior of the container and an exterior of the container when the housing is mounted on the container, the housing having a cover at a top of the housing, the cover having a downwardly extending skirt which is engagable with the housing to mount the cover on the housing, the skirt having opposed openings for alignment with the access openings in the housing side wall, and the cover being rotatable on the housing between an open position in which the skirt openings are aligned with the access openings in the housing side wall and a closed position in which the skirt closes the access openings in the housing side wall.

[0014] In another embodiment the cover has a downwardly extending skirt which is engagable with the housing to mount the cover on the housing. ln another embodiment the skirt has opposed openings for alignment with access openings in the housing side wall, and the cover is rotatable on the housing between an open position in which the skirt openings are aligned with the access openings in the housing side wall and a closed position in which the skirt closes the access openings in the housing side wall.

[0015] In another embodiment a central baffle plate is mounted within the cover between the skirt openings.

[0016] In another embodiment an upper end of the funnel has a flanged rim which is engagable with a periphery of the container outlet for mounting the funnel at the container outlet with the side wall of the funnel projecting into the container.

[0017] In another embodiment the funnel vent slots comprise elongate vent slots extending between an upper end and a lower end of the funnel.

[0018] In another embodiment the housing has a tubular side wall forming the vent passage with a pair of access openings at opposite sides of the side wall.

[0019] In another embodiment the cover is slidably engagable with the side wall of the housing.

[0020] In another embodiment the cover is rotatably engagable with the housing.

[0021] In another embodiment the cover is engagable with an inner face of the side wall of the housing.

[0022] In another embodiment the housing comprises a lower cap portion which is engagable with the container and an upper entrance chamber forming the vent passage, the upper entrance chamber being slidably mounted on the lower cap portion for movement between an upper open position and a lower closed position within the container.

[0023] In another embodiment the cover comprises a flat disc mounted at a top of the entrance chamber and projecting outwardly therefrom.

[0024] In another embodiment the container has a cylindrical outlet with a threaded exterior which is engagable by the removable lid and by the trap assembly to mount the trap assembly on the container.

[0025] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an insect trap according to the invention:

[0028] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the insect trap;

[0029] Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the insect trap;

[0030] Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the insect trap;

[0031] Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a bottle conversion kit forming portion of the insect trap;

[0032] Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another insect trap according to a second embodiment of the invention:

[0033] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lure container forming portion of the insect trap of Fig. 6; and

[0034] Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a further insect trap according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0036] Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5 thereof, there is illustrated an insect trap according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The insect trap 1 includes a container 2 within which is provided a reservoir of an insectattracting liquid lure. An outlet 3 of the container 2 is initially closed by a removable cap or lid 4 which can be removed and replaced by a trap assembly 5 when the insect trap 1 is in use. During use, the liquid lure stored within the container 2 evaporates, passing through the trap assembly 5 into the surrounding atmosphere to lure flying insects into the trap assembly 5.

[0037] In this case, the container 2 comprises a bottle having an upwardly projecting cylindrical neck portion 7 at a top of the container 2 forming the container outlet 3. An exterior of the neck portion 7 has a screw thread 8 for complementary engagement by associated screw threads on the lid 4 and on the trap assembly 5.

[0038] The trap assembly 5 comprises a cylindrical housing 10, a hollow interior of which forms a vent passage 11. A lower cap portion 12 of the housing 10 is threaded internally for engagement with the screw thread 8 on the neck portion 7 of the container 2 to mount the trap assembly 5 on the container 2.

[0039] An upper entrance chamber 14 of the housing 10 projects upwardly from the lower cap portion 12 and has a tubular cylindrical side wall 13. A pair of diametrically opposed access openings 15 communicating with the vent passage 11 are provided in the side wall 13 of the entrance chamber 14.

[0040] A funnel 16 has an upper flanged rim 17 which is engagable with and sits on a peripheral rim 18 of the neck portion 7 forming the container outlet 3. A frustoconical side wall 19 of the funnel 16 has a plurality of spaced-apart elongate vent slots 20 which extend through the funnel side wall 19 forming a perforated screen. The funnel vent slots 20 comprise elongate vent slots 20 extending between an upper end 21 a and a lower end 21 b of the side wall 19 of the funnel 16, terminating just short of the upper end 21 a and the lower end 21 b of the funnel 16. When the flanged rim 17 of the funnel 16 is seated on the peripheral rim 18 of the neck portion 7, the funnel side wall 19 projects downwardly through the neck portion 7 into the container 2.

[0041] A bottom 26 of the funnel 16 can be closed by either a solid plate or a mesh plate, in which case insects will be trapped within the funnel 16. Alternatively, the bottom 26 of the funnel 16 could be left open, allowing insects access into the container where they will be trapped. The upper flanged rim 17 of the funnel 16 fits within the lower cap portion 12. When the lower cap portion 12 is screwed onto the screw thread 8 at the neck portion 7 of the container 2, a shoulder 29 between an upper end of the lower cap portion 12 and a lower end of the upper entrance chamber 14 engages a top of the flanged rim 17 of the funnel 16 and clamps the upper flanged rim 17 against the peripheral rim 18 of the neck portion 7 of the container 2.

[0042] A cover 22 is mounted at a top of the housing 10 and is demountably engagable with and removable from the housing 10. The cover 22 has an umbrella roof 23 with a downwardly extending skirt 24 which is demountably engagable within a bore of the upper entrance chamber 14 portion of the housing 10, engaging an inner face 9 of the side wall 13. The skirt 24 is slidably engagable within the housing 10, being a snug push fit within the upper entrance chamber 14 and rotatably engages within the bore of the upper entrance chamber 14.

[0043] The skirt 24 has diametrically opposed openings 25. The cover 22 is rotatable on the housing 10 between an open position in which the openings 25 align with the access openings 15 in the upper entrance chamber 14 of the housing 10, and a closed position in which the skirt 24 partially or fully closes the access openings 15.

[0044] A central baffle plate 27 extends downwardly from the roof 23 between the openings 25. An eyelet 28 projects upwardly at a centre of the roof 23 for reception of a chord for hanging the insect trap 1 on a support if required.

[0045] It will be noted that the roof 23 has a decorative upper surface to enhance the appearance of the insect trap 1 and conceal it’s purpose in use.

[0046] In use, the container 2, charged with a liquid lure, is initially supplied closed by the lid 4 and with the associated trap assembly 5. The insect trap 1 can be set up for use by removing the lid 4, inserting the funnel 16 into the neck portion 7 of the container 2. The lower cap portion 12 of the housing 10 is then screwed onto the neck portion 7 and the skirt 24 of the cover 22 is inserted into the upper entrance chamber 14 of the housing 10. The liquid lure will, over time, evaporate, passing upwardly through the funnel 16, through the upper entrance chamber 14 of the housing 10 and out through the access openings 15, permeating the atmosphere and attracting flying insects to the insect trap 1. These flying insects enter the trap 1 through the access openings 15, move downwardly, guided by the baffle plate 27, and are trapped within the funnel 16. In an alternative arrangement, a funnel 16 with an open bottom 26 could be provided, in which case the insects will enter and be trapped within the container 2.

[0047] Referring now to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, there is shown another insect trap, according to a second embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, a cylindrical container 32 is provided and a lower cap portion 33 of the housing 10 can be mounted at a top of the container 32 by screw threads engaging between the lower cap portion 33 and the top of the container 32, or the lower cap portion 33 may simply be a push fit into the top of the container 32. The cover 22 is provided by a domed roof 34. In this case also, the upper entrance chamber 14 is slidably engagable with the lower cap portion 33 and can be pushed down into the lower cap portion 33 with a lower edge 35 the roof 34 engaging against an upper rim 36 of the container 32 or lower cap portion 33 to close the trap 30.

[0048] Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown another insect trap, according to a third embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, a roof 43 of the housing 10 forms a cover of the housing 10 and is formed by a flat disc which projects outwardly of the upper entrance chamber 14 of the housing 10. In this case also, the upper entrance chamber 14 is slidably engagable with the lower cap portion 33 and can be pushed down into the lower cap portion 33 with a flat underside 44 of the roof 43 engaging against a flat top face 45 of the lower cap portion 33 to close the trap 40.

[0049] In this specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . An insect trap (1 ), comprising: a container (2), the container (2) having an outlet (3) closed by a removable lid (4), an insect-attracting lure mounted within the container (2), a trap assembly (5) engagable with the container outlet (3) when the lid (4) is removed from the outlet (3), the trap assembly (5) including a housing (10) which is engagable with the container outlet (3) to mount the trap assembly (5) on the container (2), a vent passage (11) extending through the housing (10) communicating between an interior of the container (2) and an exterior of the container (2) when the housing (10) is mounted on the container (2), the trap assembly (5) including a perforated screen (16) for mounting across the vent passage (11), the perforated screen (16) comprising a funnel (16) having a frustoconical side wall (19) with a plurality of spaced-apart vent slots (20) extending through the side wall (19), and a cover (22) at a top of the housing (10), characterised in that the cover (22) has a downwardly extending skirt (24) which is engagable with the housing (10) to mount the cover (22) on the housing (10), the skirt (24) having opposed openings (25) for alignment with access openings (15) in the housing side wall (13), and the cover (22) is rotatable on the housing (10) between an open position in which the skirt openings (25) are aligned with the access openings (15) in the housing side wall (13) and a closed position in which the skirt (24) closes the access openings (15) in the housing side wall (13).

2. The insect trap (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cover (22) is demountably engagable with a side wall (13) of the housing (10).

3. The insect trap (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a central baffle plate (27) is mounted within the cover (22) between the skirt openings (25).

4. The insect trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper end of the funnel (16) has a flanged rim (17) which is engagable with a periphery (18) of the container outlet (3) for mounting the funnel (16) at the container outlet (3) with the side wall (19) of the funnel (16) projecting into the container (2).

5. The insect trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the funnel vent slots (20) comprise elongate vent slots (20) extending between an upper end (21a) and a lower end (21b) of the funnel (16).

6. The insect trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (10) has a tubular side wall (13) forming the vent passage (11 ) with a pair of access openings (15) at opposite sides of the side wall (13).

7. The insect trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (22) is slidably engagable with the side wall (13) of the housing (10).

8. The insect trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (22) is rotatably engagable with the housing (10).

9. The insect trap (1 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover(22) is engagable with an inner face (9) of the side wall (13) of the housing (10).

10. The insect trap (30) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing (10) comprises a lower cap portion (33) which is engagable with the container (32) and an upper entrance chamber (14) forming the vent passage (11), the upper entrance chamber (14) being slidably mounted on the lower cap portion (33) for movement between an upper open position and a lower closed position within the container11 . The insect trap (40) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cover (43) comprises a flat disc mounted at a top of the entrance chamber (14) and projecting outwardly therefrom.

12. The insect trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (2) has a cylindrical outlet (7) with a threaded exterior (8) which is engagable by the removable lid (4) and by the trap assembly (5) to mount the trap assembly (5) on the container (2).

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