Insect Trap with Movable Inlet and Adhesive Bed Bug Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The resurgence of bed bugs as urban pests has highlighted the need for effective detection, monitoring, and control methods, as existing measures are inadequate in managing infestations.
Innovation Solution
An insect trap design featuring a housing with a movable inlet, a trap chamber, and an actuator mechanism that allows insects to enter and be trapped, combined with an attractant composition and adhesive surfaces to capture bed bugs effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable inlet mechanism is added to the trap housing, then the ability to capture and retain insects is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet is designed as a movable component that can transition between open and closed positions. The actuator mechanism enables dynamic control of the inlet opening, allowing the trap to adapt its state from insect-accessible to insect-retaining, thereby improving capture reliability without requiring multiple separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanism serves multiple functions: it opens the inlet to allow insect entry, closes the inlet to trap insects inside, and can be integrated with the attractant release system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each operation, managing device complexity while improving reliability
2Ease of operation
If an actuator mechanism is integrated into the housing, then the control over protrusion movement is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion is nested within the reservoir, and the actuator mechanism is integrated into the housing structure. The actuator connects to the protrusion through a compact arrangement where components are nested or integrated rather than separately mounted, reducing assembly steps and manufacturing complexity while maintaining control precision
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanism is merged with the housing structure, sharing common components and mounting points. The connection between the actuator and protrusion is integrated into the overall trap assembly, reducing the number of separate parts and assembly operations required, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining operational precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-package system with selective permeability is used for attractant release, then the control over attractant release rate is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inner package is made from a porous or gas-permeable material that allows controlled diffusion of attractant molecules. This selective permeability provides adaptability in attractant release rates without requiring complex mechanical control mechanisms, as the release is regulated by the inherent properties of the porous material
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-package system uses composite material structures with different permeability characteristics. The outer impermeable package combined with the inner permeable package creates a controlled release system where the composite structure manages attractant diffusion rates, providing versatility while keeping the device structure relatively simple
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 trap effectively captures bed bugs by luring them into a chamber using pheromones and adhesive surfaces, providing a practical solution for managing infestations.
Implementation Method 1
an inner package enclosed within the outer package, the inner package being permeable to gas
Implementation Method 2
a substrate comprising an adhesive disposed upon at least a portion of a surface of the substrate, the substrate configured to adhere to the first surface of the first housing
Data Source
AI summary
An insect trap (1) may include a first housing (10); a reservoir (40) at least partially defined by the first housing (10); a protrusion disposed within the reservoir (40) and extending inward from an interior surface of the first housing (10), the protrusion (42) configured to pierce a package disposed within the reservoir (40); an actuator (44) connected to the protrusion (42) such that when the actuator (44) is moved, the protrusion (42) moves with the actuator (44) within the reservoir (40); a second housing (60) moveably engaging the first housing (10); a trap chamber (70) partially formed by the first and second housings (10, 60); an inlet (72) into the trap chamber (70); and wherein the second housing (60) is movable between a first position where the inlet (72) is open and a second position where the inlet (72) is closed. The trap (1) may include a package (152) enclosing an attractant composition. The package (152) has a release rate of the attractant composition from about 5 μg per day to about 500 μg per day.