Inflatable Insect Catcher Handle With Disposable Sticky Trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for insect control, such as manual killing or using chemicals, pose risks to users and are inefficient for reaching insects in hard-to-access areas, and existing devices like fly swatters and insect vacuums have limitations in effectiveness and safety.
Innovation Solution
An insect catcher with a handle assembly and a disposable trap featuring an inflatable material coated with a sticky substance, allowing for remote capture and disposal of insects without direct contact, and a reusable handle for easy operation and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual methods (hand, fly swatter) are used to kill insects, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation is poor and safety is compromised due to direct contact risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inflatable intermediary device that extends from a handle, allowing the user to trap insects remotely without direct contact. The inflatable portion acts as a mediator between the user's hand and the insect, enabling operation in hard-to-reach areas while maintaining safety and ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into distinct segments: a handle portion for user operation and an inflatable portion for insect contact. This segmentation allows the functional parts to be separated, with the inflatable portion being disposable and the handle reusable, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity.
2Reliability
If insecticides are sprayed directly onto insects, then the killing effectiveness is high, but harmful factors increase due to chemical exposure to users and residues on surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable portion of the device is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for cleaning residues from surfaces and prevents chemical contamination, as the disposable portion is thrown away rather than reused or cleaned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of chemical residues by using a mechanical trapping method instead. The sticky substance on the inflatable portion mechanically traps and kills insects without introducing chemical harmful factors, transforming the problem of chemical contamination into a beneficial mechanical solution.
3Ease of operation
If vacuum cleaners with long hoses are used to catch insects, then the ease of operation improves for reaching distant insects, but the device complexity increases and mobility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable portion dynamically changes from a compressed state in the handle to an expanded state during use. This dynamic transformation allows the device to extend its reach when needed while maintaining a compact form when not in use, resolving the contradiction between reachability and device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable portion uses a flexible thin-walled structure that can be compressed into a small volume within the handle and expanded to a larger size during operation. This flexible shell approach enables extended reach without permanently increasing device complexity or reducing mobility.
4Productivity
If bowl-shaped rigid heads are used in insect vacuums, then the productivity of insect capture improves, but adaptability decreases for corners and crevices
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable portion transitions from a compressed configuration that can be directed into corners and crevices to an expanded configuration that provides a large surface area for trapping insects. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between capture efficiency and versatility for different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible thin-walled inflatable structure can be maneuvered into tight spaces when deflated and then expanded to create an effective trapping surface, providing both the adaptability needed for corners and the productivity needed for effective insect capture.
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 insect catcher provides a safe, efficient, and cost-effective means to trap and dispose of unwanted insects without exposing users to hazards, effectively capturing insects in various locations, including corners and crevices, and ensuring the insect's death without residue or chemical exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable material as part of the trap which expands and is adapted to have direct contact with the insect to be trapped
Implementation Method 2
The outer surface of the balloon is coated with a sticky substance to adhere the insect to the balloon
Data Source
AI summary
An insect catcher for trapping insects. The insect catcher includes a handle assembly to receive and manipulate a trap for trapping insects. The insect catcher includes a trap to capture and dispose of an insect without an operator of the handle assembly contacting the insect, the trap removably attached to the handle assembly The insect catcher includes an inflatable material as part of the trap which expands and is adapted to have direct contact with the insect to be trapped.