Bed Bug Trap With Inverted Adhesive and Tapering Space
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bed bug traps are either costly, complex, or fail to effectively detect and trap bed bugs without alerting them, leading to reduced effectiveness in infestation control.
Innovation Solution
A simple bed bug trap design featuring a tapering space between an inner and outer element, with adhesive on the inner surface, allowing bed bugs to crawl onto the outer surface before being immobilized on their dorsal side, made from inexpensive materials like paper or cardboard, and optionally using a lure to enhance attraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pit-fall traps are used, then bed bugs can be trapped, but the traps are costly and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into two separate conical elements (inner and outer cones) that can be assembled around each other. This segmentation allows for a simpler construction while maintaining the effective tapering space geometry, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cone is nested within the outer cone to form the tapering space. This nested structure creates the functional geometry needed for bed bug trapping while using simple conical shapes that are easy to manufacture from materials like paper or cardboard
2Reliability
If adhesive is placed on the outer surface of the trap, then bed bugs are trapped, but the bed bugs detect and grow wary of the trap
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing adhesive on the outer surface where bed bugs would detect it, the adhesive is inverted to the inner surface of the outer cone. Bed bugs crawl along the outer surface unaware, then are unexpectedly contacted by adhesive on the inner surface when they enter the tapering space, preventing them from detecting or becoming wary
3Ease of manufacture
If the trap is made from inexpensive materials, then cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The use of conical shapes provides a simple geometric form that is easy to manufacture from inexpensive materials like paper or cardboard. The curved conical surfaces naturally create the required tapering space geometry without requiring complex manufacturing processes or high-precision fabrication
4Ease of manufacture
If the trap structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture improves, but the ability to detect captured bed bugs may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive on the inner surface of the outer cone causes captured bed bugs to be oriented with their dorsal sides facing outward. This inverted orientation makes captured bed bugs highly visible from the outside, allowing easy detection without complicating the trap structure
Solution Approach 2:
The contrast between the bed bug's dark dorsal side and the lighter trap interior creates visual detection. The adhesive contact on the dorsal side makes the bed bug visible against the trap background, facilitating easy detection of captures
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 is effective in capturing bed bugs without alerting them, allowing easy detection and handling, and can be supplied in a space-saving, unassembled state, making it suitable for widespread use and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive is provided on at least part of, preferably all of, the inner surface of the outer element for adhering to the dorsal side of a bed bug
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a trap (10) for bed bugs (2) comprising an inner element (20) having an outer surface (24) delimited by a first base (22) and a first top (26), and an outer element (80) being hollow and having a second base (86) and a second top (88) delimiting an inner surface (84). The outer element is positioned around the inner element with the second top adjacent the first top and the second base adjacent the first base, whereby a tapering space (12), tapering towards the first top, is defined between the outer surface of the inner element and the inner surface of the outer element. The tapering space is accessible to bed bugs crawling on the outer surface of the inner element through a base opening defined between the outer surface of the inner element and the second base. An adhesive (6) is provided on at least part of the inner surface of the outer element for adhering to the dorsal side (4) of a bed bug crawling on the outer surface of the inner element. The invention further relates to a method of detecting and/or trapping bed bugs.