Removable Insect Trap with LED and Heating Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insect traps are often too large and expensive, with fluorescent tubes that require frequent cleaning and glue boards that are difficult to maintain without touching trapped insects, limiting their effectiveness and usability.
Innovation Solution
A compact, cost-effective insect trap design featuring a removable trap portion with an adhesive surface and a base portion that includes a lighting element and heating element, allowing for easy cleaning and maintenance without direct contact with trapped insects, and utilizing LEDs or incandescent bulbs for light and heat, along with an insect attractant module for enhanced attraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluorescent tubes are used to attract insects, then the trap can effectively attract insects, but the trap becomes too large and expensive to fit wherever needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from traditional fluorescent tubes and replaces it with compact LED or incandescent bulbs. This removes the bulky ballast and housing required for fluorescent tubes, significantly reducing the trap's overall size while maintaining insect attraction effectiveness through appropriate wavelength selection (UV for LEDs or full spectrum for incandescent).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the light source by transitioning from fluorescent tube geometry to point-source LEDs or incandescent bulbs. This parameter change in light source type and wavelength distribution enables compact form factor while preserving the spectral characteristics necessary for insect attraction.
2Reliability
If fluorescent tubes are used to attract insects, then the trap can effectively attract insects, but the cost becomes too high to afford one for every room
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts disposable adhesive boards instead of expensive, complex fluorescent tube assemblies. The simple LED or incandescent bulb combined with a replaceable adhesive board creates a low-cost unit that can be manufactured and deployed widely without requiring expensive electronic ballasts or specialized fluorescent tube housings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the expensive fluorescent tube and transformer assembly, replacing it with inexpensive LED or incandescent lighting. This extraction of the costly components dramatically reduces the bill of materials and manufacturing cost while maintaining the essential light-attractant function.
3Reliability
If fluorescent tubes are used, then insects can be attracted, but the tube accumulates dust and insect debris blocking light and reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trap into a permanent base containing the light source and a removable adhesive board. This segmentation allows the adhesive board to be easily removed and replaced without handling the light source or electrical components, eliminating the need to clean accumulated debris while maintaining attraction effectiveness through fresh adhesive surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a removable adhesive board as an intermediary between the light source and the trapping function. This mediator captures all dust and insect debris, protecting the light source and electrical components from contamination while allowing easy replacement of the contaminated board without affecting the light-emitting components.
4Productivity
If glue boards are used to trap insects, then insects can be captured, but the boards are difficult to remove and replace without touching trapped insects and adhesive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trap system into a stationary base and a removable trap portion containing the adhesive board. This segmentation enables the trap portion to be easily detached and replaced without requiring users to touch the adhesive surface or trapped insects, improving safety and ease of maintenance while maintaining full trapping capacity.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, easy-to-maintain insect trap that effectively attracts and traps insects while minimizing contact with trapped insects, ensuring continuous operation and improved hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a base portion including a lighting element and a mounting portion, wherein the lighting element is configured to provide light to the trap portion
Implementation Method 2
a first heating element in communication with the power source, wherein the trap portion is configured to removably engage with the base portion and receive light from the base portion when engaged therewith, and wherein the first heating element provides heat to at least a portion of the trap when the trap is engaged
Implementation Method 3
a trap portion including an enclosure having an adhesive surface and a first opening, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the enclosure and is configured to adhere to an insect
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, as insect trap is disclosed including: a trap portion including an enclosure having an adhesive surface and a first opening, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the enclosure and is configured to adhere to an insect; and a base portion including a lighting element and a mounting portion, wherein the lighting element is configured to provide light to the trap portion, and wherein the mounting portion is configured to communicate with and receive power from a power source; and a first heating element in communication with the power source, wherein the trap portion is configured to removably engage with the base portion and receive light from the base portion when engaged therewith, and wherein the first heating element provides heat to at least a portion of the trap when the trap is engaged.