Ceiling-Mounted Insect Catching System with UV Shielding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect-catching devices in buildings, particularly those using UV light and electrocution or adhesive sheets, face issues such as body explosion from electrocution, space inefficiency, visual intrusiveness, and complex mounting, especially in areas like food shops where hygiene and aesthetics are crucial.

Innovation Solution

A ceiling-mounted insect-catching system with UV lamps partially shielded by a cover plate, integrated into the ceiling structure, using a tray-like holder with reflection plates and adjustable mounting for easy installation, which directs light effectively around 360 degrees and conceals the glue sheet from view, allowing for efficient and aesthetically pleasing insect capture without space loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electrocution method is used to catch insects, then insects are eliminated quickly, but insect bodies explode and spread through the space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect elimination speedVSAvoidinsect body explosion and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful electrocution method into a beneficial non-electrocution method by using adhesive glue sheets. Instead of eliminating insects through destruction (which causes body explosion), the invention uses adhesion to trap insects intact, thereby converting a harmful approach into a hygienic solution suitable for food storage areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If catching device is mounted on wall or post, then insects can be caught effectively, but device takes up valuable space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect catching effectivenessVSAvoidspace occupied by device
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions the mounting approach from vertical wall/post mounting to horizontal ceiling mounting. By utilizing the ceiling dimension, the device effectively uses three-dimensional space utilization, allowing the catching device to be positioned above the space rather than occupying wall or floor area, thus preserving valuable commercial space while maintaining catching effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If catching device is placed at eye level, then insects are visible to users, but this creates visual intrusiveness and disagreeable sensation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect visibility for monitoringVSAvoidvisual intrusiveness and user discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent relocates the catching device from eye-level vertical positioning to ceiling-level horizontal positioning. This dimensional change places the device above the user's line of sight, eliminating visual intrusiveness and discomfort while still allowing monitoring of insect capture through the transparent or translucent cover plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making the cover plate transparent or translucent in specific areas. This allows users to monitor insect capture locally through the cover plate without requiring the entire device to be visible, thus maintaining monitoring capability while minimizing visual impact on the overall space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If UV lamp is fully exposed, then insect attraction is maximized, but lamp and glue sheet become visually intrusive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect attraction efficiencyVSAvoidvisual intrusiveness of lamp and glue sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the cover plate transparent or translucent in specific areas while opaque in others. This allows UV light to pass through transparent sections for insect attraction while opaque sections shield the glue sheet and lamp components from direct view, thus maintaining attraction efficiency while reducing visual intrusiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the cover plate as an intermediary element between the UV lamp/glue sheet and the user's view. The cover plate mediates by being transparent or translucent to UV light (allowing insect attraction) while being visually concealing to human eyes, thus resolving the conflict between attraction efficiency and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Ease of operation

If special mounting measures are taken for wall mounting, then device can be installed, but installation becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice installationVSAvoidmounting requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies mounting by transitioning from vertical wall mounting to horizontal ceiling mounting. The device is designed to be suspended from or integrated into the ceiling structure, which typically has standardized support points and easier access for installation, thereby reducing mounting complexity compared to wall installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 system enhances insect-catching efficiency while minimizing visible impact and space usage, maintaining effective UV light attraction and easy maintenance, making it suitable for various building environments, especially in food storage and sales areas.

Implementation Method 1

a lamp which emits powerful ultraviolet (UV) light. It has been found that insects are attracted by this UV light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet light attraction: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The oblique surfaces (43) are oblique with respect to the horizontal direction and are arranged so as to reflect light along the cover plate (36)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the insects, once they have been attracted by the UV light, are not electrocuted but become stuck on a sheet provided with an adhesive layer, also referred to as glue sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP1937908B1Device and ceiling system for catching insects in a building space
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 INVENTIONS CARE
  • EP1937908B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1937908B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1937908B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a ceiling system, comprising a number of longitudinal beams and/or transverse beams to be arranged in longitudinal arrangement and/or transverse arrangement in a building space, a number of ceiling panels to be arranged on the longitudinal and/or transverse beams, and at least one insect catching device, which comprises: - a horizontal holder supported by the transverse beams and/or longitudinal beams; - one or more electrical lamps for emitting ultraviolet light to the surrounding area for the purpose of attracting insects; - a connecting element for connecting the lamp to the domestic mains supply; and - a fixing element for fixing insects attracted by the light.