Insect Control Device with Protective Casing and Access Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect control devices are hazardous for humans and animals due to direct access to insecticides, complex and expensive to manufacture, and unsuitable for indoor use, as they require a floor and can be difficult for insects to access effectively.

Innovation Solution

A compact, disposable device with a casing that protrudes from the upper part and contains an insecticide body, featuring passage openings that allow insects to access the insecticide while preventing human or animal contact, designed for easy placement on ant trails and efficient insecticide delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a simple plate with insecticide-impregnated body is used, then the device is simple and inexpensive, but people or animals can easily come into contact with the insecticide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity and low cost of deviceVSAvoidhuman or animal contact with insecticide
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a base plate for stability, a vertical wall structure forming protective sides, and an insecticide body positioned within the enclosed space. This segmentation allows the insecticide to be protected while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical wall structure acts as an intermediary barrier between the insecticide body and humans/animals. This mediator element prevents direct contact while still allowing the device to function, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a complex protective structure with frame and cover is used, then the insecticide is protected from contact, but the device becomes expensive and difficult to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against human or animal contactVSAvoidstructural complexity and manufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base plate and vertical wall structure are merged into a single integrated component that forms the protective enclosure. This merging reduces the number of separate parts, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed as a disposable unit with simple geometry that can be easily manufactured from inexpensive materials. The straightforward design allows for cost-effective production while providing adequate protection during its service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a ground-based frame structure is used, then the device protects poison effectively, but it is only suitable for outdoor use and cannot be placed indoors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of insecticideVSAvoidsuitability for indoor or outdoor use
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device transitions from ground-based horizontal placement to vertical orientation standing on a flat surface. This dimensional change allows the device to be placed on tables, counters, or other indoor surfaces rather than requiring insertion into the ground, enabling both indoor and outdoor use.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical wall structure with opening design provides universal protection functionality that works effectively in both indoor and outdoor environments. The same structure that protects against human contact also protects against environmental factors, making the device versatile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the poison is mounted high above the ground in a two-part design, then protection against contact is improved, but insect acceptance and accessibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against contact with larger creaturesVSAvoidinsect accessibility to insecticide
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The opening in the vertical wall structure provides localized access points at insect level, allowing insects to reach the insecticide body while the rest of the structure remains high enough to protect against human contact. This local quality approach resolves the accessibility contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the opening at the top of the structure, the opening is positioned at the bottom near the insecticide body. This inverted approach allows insects easy access while maintaining protection, as the opening location is optimized for insect behavior rather than human access prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Object-affected harmful factors

If a large device with frame and cover is used, then protection is effective, but the device is too large for indoor use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The unnecessary frame structure and removable cover are extracted from the design, leaving only the essential vertical wall structure with opening. This extraction reduces device size and complexity while maintaining the core protection function, making the device suitable for indoor use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3530114B1Devices for the control of insects
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 NIFRA PARFUMERIE NACHFOLGER PANNY
  • EP3530114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3530114B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3530114B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (1) for controlling insects, comprising a top part (2), a jacket (3) projecting substantially from a circumference of the top part (2), and an insecticide body (7), wherein the top part (2), the jacket (3), and a base (8) partially define a cavity (5) in a functional position, wherein the device (1) has the insecticide body (7) in the cavity (5), and at least one opening (4) to the cavity (5) is provided, and the device (1) has an inner part (10) in the cavity (5) formed by the jacket (3), top part (2), and base (8), which is connected to the top part (2), wherein the inner part (10) has an inner jacket (13), wherein the insecticide body (7) is located in a volume formed by subtracting the volume of the cavity formed by the inner jacket (13), the top part (2), and the base (8) from the volume of the cavity formed by mantle (3),the upper part (2) and the base (8) is subtracted.