Flexible Arthropod Trap Insert with Curved LED Shade
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arthropod trapping devices are either too bright, too large, or too expensive for widespread use in homes, and they often require handling trapped insects directly to replace the adhesive.
Innovation Solution
A compact and portable arthropod trapping device with a housing featuring a base with LED lights and a curved shade that receives a flexible insert with an adhesive surface, designed to attract and trap arthropods without direct contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large fluorescent tube is used to emit light to attract insects, then the trapping effectiveness is improved, but the device becomes too bright, too large, and too expensive for home use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light source parameters from traditional fluorescent tubes to LEDs with specific peak wavelengths (365-380nm UV and 430-470nm blue). This parameter change maintains effective arthropod attraction while significantly reducing light brightness and energy consumption, making the device suitable for home environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a reflective concave surface at the light source and a curved shade to locally concentrate and direct light toward the adhesive surface. This creates high light intensity where needed (at the adhesive) while controlling overall device brightness, resolving the contradiction between trapping effectiveness and aesthetic appearance.
2Reliability
If a large fluorescent tube is used to emit light to attract insects, then the trapping effectiveness is improved, but the device size becomes too large to fit in small spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the large fluorescent tube with compact LED light sources that have comparable or superior attraction effectiveness for arthropods. This parameter change in light source technology enables the device to achieve effective trapping in a compact form factor suitable for small indoor spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a curved shade and reflective concave surface that focus light efficiently toward the adhesive. This curved geometry maximizes light utilization and trapping effectiveness while minimizing the overall device volume, allowing compact placement in various locations.
3Reliability
If a glue board is used to trap arthropods, then the trapping function is achieved, but the glue board becomes difficult to remove and replace without touching trapped insects and adhesive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trapping device into a permanent housing containing the light source and a removable insert containing the adhesive. This segmentation allows users to easily remove and replace only the insert when needed, avoiding contact with trapped insects while maintaining continuous trapping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the adhesive component into a separate removable insert that can be independently handled. This extraction enables maintenance operations to be performed on the insert alone, eliminating the need to touch the housing or trapped insects during replacement.
4Volume of moving object
If smaller disposable traps with LED lights are used, then the device size and cost are reduced, but the trapping effectiveness decreases compared to larger fluorescent tube traps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light source parameters to use LEDs with specific peak wavelengths (365-380nm UV and 430-470nm blue) that are highly effective for arthropod attraction. This parameter optimization enables compact LED-based traps to achieve trapping effectiveness comparable to or exceeding larger fluorescent tube traps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a reflective concave surface and curved shade to concentrate LED light efficiently toward the adhesive surface, maximizing the utilization of light from the compact LED sources. This local quality enhancement ensures high trapping effectiveness despite the small overall device size.
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 device effectively captures arthropods while being aesthetically pleasing and easy to maintain, as the insert can be replaced without touching trapped insects or adhesive.
Implementation Method 1
A first LED having a peak wavelength of from about 400 nm to about 500 nm is mounted on the base and is configured to emit light
Implementation Method 2
The curved shade is configured to receive the insert and comprises a LED-facing surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of trapping arthropods by providing a substantially planar, flexible insert having a LED-facing surface having an adhesive for trapping the arthropods disposed thereon. Then, bending the insert into a curved configuration and inserting the insert into an arthropod trapping device. The device includes a housing having a base and a curved shade. The curved shade is configured to receive the insert and comprises a LED-facing surface. A first LED having a peak wavelength of from about 400 nm to about 500 nm is mounted on the base and is configured to emit light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the LED-facing surface of the shade. A second LED having a peak wavelength of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm is mounted on the base and is configured to emit light in a direction substantially parallel to the LED-facing surface of the shade.