Adhesive Pillar Insect Trap with Bird Guards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adhesive insect traps often inadvertently capture non-target species, such as birds and small animals, due to their adhesive surfaces, particularly when used outdoors, which poses a safety and environmental concern.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a base member, cap member, and an adhesive pillar with elongate bird guards and spike members that maintain a spacing from the adhesive surface, preventing non-target species from coming into contact with the adhesive, thereby deterring their entrapment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If adhesive strips are used to entrap flying insects, then insect capture effectiveness is improved, but non-target species (birds, small animals) may inadvertently become ensnared
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces bird guards as intermediary protective elements that are attached to the adhesive pillar. These bird guards create a physical barrier between non-target species (birds, small animals) and the adhesive surface, preventing harmful entrapment while allowing the adhesive to remain effective for target insects. The bird guards act as a mediator that selectively protects vulnerable areas of the adhesive pillar.
2Productivity
If adhesive pillar is exposed fully to attract insects, then insect attraction is improved, but risk of non-target species contact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively covering only certain portions of the adhesive pillar with bird guards. The bird guards are positioned at heights and angles that specifically protect areas most likely to contact birds and small animals, while leaving other areas exposed to maintain insect attraction. This localized protection approach preserves overall adhesive effectiveness while mitigating specific safety risks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bird guards effectively reduce the risk of non-target species being ensnared by the adhesive, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of the insect trap while maintaining its ability to capture target insects.
Implementation Method 1
the pillar has an outer surface comprising an adhesive coating
Data Source
AI summary
An insect trap with bird guards prevents or deters small animals from becoming stuck to the trap, and includes a pillar mounted between a base member and a cap member. The pillar is located radially inwardly from the outer perimeter of the base and cap members, and has an outer surface having a coating of an adhesive selected for ensnaring target insects. A number of bird guards have end portions attachable to the base member and the cap member, and include a plurality of elongate members extending between the end portions, and are spaced away from the pillar. A spacing member, for example, a crossbeam, connects the elongate members for each guard, and is positioned radially inwardly from the elongate members, and at an intermediate longitudinal position, such that the elongate members will not engage the adhesive surface. The base and cap may further include spike members that extend away from the pillar.