Dipterous Insect Attractant Device with Pressure-Balancing Wick Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect attracting devices fail to maintain effective diffusion of attractant compositions under varying temperature and pressure conditions, leading to incomplete or halted diffusion, and lack a mechanism to control the diffusion process.

Innovation Solution

A container system with a cap and cover that balances internal pressure with atmospheric pressure, ensuring continuous and controlled diffusion of the attractant through a wick, using impermeable materials and a tipping mechanism to activate or deactivate diffusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If a wick is used to diffuse attractant composition continuously, then the attractant is released until completely consumed, but the diffusion cannot be deactivated and may be hindered by temperature and pressure changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of attractant diffusionVSAvoidreliability of diffusion under varying environmental conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a tipping mechanism that allows it to be switched between an inverted position (diffusion active) and an upright position (diffusion inactive). This dynamic repositioning enables the user to control whether the attractant diffuses or remains contained, resolving the contradiction between continuous diffusion duration and reliability under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes changes in the physical state of the attractant composition through temperature and pressure variations. The container is designed to maintain the attractant in a liquid state under normal conditions, but the system can respond to environmental changes by adjusting the diffusion rate or completely stopping diffusion through the tipping mechanism, thereby maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the container is made impermeable to contain the attractant, then the attractant is prevented from leaking, but the diffusion through the wick may be affected by pressure changes inside the receptacle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainment of attractant compositionVSAvoidamount of attractant available for diffusion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The container is designed with different permeability characteristics in different locations: the main body is impermeable to contain the attractant, while the wick provides a controlled pathway for diffusion. This local differentiation of permeability resolves the contradiction between containment and diffusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The wick acts as an intermediary element between the impermeable container and the external environment. It mediates the diffusion process by providing a controlled pathway that is not affected by pressure changes inside the receptacle, ensuring consistent attractant release while maintaining containment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the device is designed to diffuse attractant through a wick, then the attractant can be dispersed into the environment, but part of the composition may evaporate without being diffused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverate of attractant diffusionVSAvoidevaporation of attractant composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device maintains continuous diffusion of the attractant composition through the wick by keeping the container in the inverted position. This continuous action prevents evaporation losses by ensuring the attractant is constantly being diffused rather than sitting exposed, thereby resolving the contradiction between diffusion rate and substance loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 maintains consistent attractant diffusion regardless of environmental changes, ensuring complete use of the attractant composition and effective insect attraction.

Implementation Method 1

a wick (6) coupleable to the base (20) in connection with the lower opening (22), the wick (6) being configured to diffuse said attractant composition (5) by capillarity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP4458147B1Dipterous insect attracting device and trap using said device
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 PROBODELT
  • EP4458147B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4458147B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4458147B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a dipterous insect attracting device comprising a container, a wick coupleable to the container configured to diffuse an attractant composition arranged in the container by capillarity, and a cap coupled to the container closing same, the cap being configured to collapse or swell; wherein the attracting device is configured to be arranged in an activated position suitable for diffusing the attractant composition through the wick and to be arranged in a deactivated position in which the attractant composition is not diffused through the wick, wherein said cap is configured to collapse or swell as the attractant composition is diffused through the wick. A trap for capturing dipterous insects using the dipterous insect attracting device is also provided. Furthermore, an attractant composition indicated for attracting dipterous insects is provided.