Portable Insect Trap Using Removable Glue Board
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insect traps that use electrical discharge for killing insects are not portable, noisy, unsanitary due to insect disintegration, and require frequent cleaning, making them unsuitable for outdoor use such as camping trips.
Innovation Solution
A portable insect trap design featuring a housing with rechargeable batteries, a pair of lamps, and a removable double-sided glue board with adhesive layers, allowing for easy replacement and maintenance, housed within a grill structure that attracts and traps insects effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical discharge is used to kill insects, then insects are effectively killed, but the device becomes noisy and unsanitary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of electrical discharge and replaces it with a harmless mechanical trapping mechanism using glue boards. The glue board system removes the noise and disintegration problems while maintaining insect capture effectiveness, as insects are trapped intact on the adhesive surface rather than being disintegrated by electrical discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable glue boards that can be easily replaced when saturated with insects. This disposable approach eliminates the need for cleaning and maintenance associated with electrical discharge systems, and the glue boards can be discarded once used, avoiding the sanitary issues of insect accumulation and disintegration.
2Reliability
If electrical discharge is used to kill insects, then insects are effectively killed, but the device requires frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cleaning requirement by extracting the kill function and replacing it with a trap-and-hold mechanism. Insects are captured on the glue board surface and remain there intact, eliminating the need to clean disintegrated insect parts from electrical discharge systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a discard approach where used glue boards are simply removed and replaced rather than cleaned. The glue boards are designed to be disposable, and when saturated with insects, they are discarded as a complete unit, eliminating all cleaning operations.
3Reliability
If fixed location electrical power connection is used, then insects are effectively trapped, but the device loses portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal insect trap that functions effectively both indoors and outdoors by using battery power instead of fixed electrical connection. The trap maintains its insect capture effectiveness while gaining portability, allowing it to be used in multiple locations including camping trips and outdoor activities where fixed power is unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the electrical power system with a battery-powered system, replacing the fixed mechanical electrical connection with a portable chemical energy source. This substitution enables the device to operate independently of fixed power infrastructure while maintaining the electrical components needed for the lamp and fan operations.
4Strength
If heavy components are used for durability, then the device becomes more robust, but portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into modular components including the housing, lamp assembly, fan, and glue board holder. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for lightweight construction while maintaining overall durability. The modular design enables the use of lighter materials without compromising structural integrity, as each segment can be independently strengthened where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials in the housing and component construction to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio. By using composite materials, the device gains durability and robustness without the weight penalty of traditional heavy materials, enabling portability while maintaining structural integrity for outdoor use.
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 portable trap effectively captures insects using UV and visual lamps while being lightweight, easy to clean, and cost-effective to manufacture, providing a sanitary and efficient solution for outdoor insect control.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of lamps which attract insects to the glue board
Implementation Method 2
a pair of lamps which attract insects to the glue board
Implementation Method 3
The glue board is double-sided and has a layer of adhesive on both sides of a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A portable insect trap includes a base which supports a pair of lamps and a removable double sided glue board which is removably mounted between the lamps. A shield which has apertures in the form of a grill work allows insects which are attracted by the lamps to enter the shield and then become trapped by adhesive layers on the glue board.