UV LED Insect Trap with Removable Adhesive Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insect traps that use chemicals or electroshocking kill grids pose safety risks and are undesirable for home use, while passive traps are less effective in attracting insects during the daytime.

Innovation Solution

A plug-in insect trap device that combines a light source with a removable adhesive substrate, using UV and blue light to attract insects, and a double-sided adhesive refill to catch them, designed for daytime effectiveness and home-friendly aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electroshocking kill grids are used to attract and kill insects, then insect trapping effectiveness is improved, but safety risks to small animals, pets, and children increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect trapping effectivenessVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful electroshocking kill grid from the system and replaces it with a safe adhesive substrate. The light attraction mechanism is retained, but the killing mechanism is fundamentally changed from electrocution to gentle adhesion, eliminating safety risks while maintaining insect trapping effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful electroshocking mechanism into a beneficial safe adhesive mechanism. The light continues to attract insects as before, but instead of being electrocuted, insects are gently captured by the adhesive substrate, transforming a harmful element into a safe and effective solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If chemical attractants and baits are used in passive traps, then insect attraction is improved, but user acceptance decreases due to chemical concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect attractionVSAvoiduser acceptance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the light attraction mechanism from active traps with the adhesive substrate from passive traps, creating a hybrid system that uses UV and blue LED lights to attract insects during daytime without requiring chemical attractants or baits, thus maintaining user acceptance while improving insect attraction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spectral parameters of light by using specific UV and blue LED wavelengths that are particularly attractive to insects during daytime, replacing the need for chemical attractants while maintaining or enhancing insect attraction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If light traps are used to attract insects, then insect attraction during daytime is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect attraction during daytimeVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the light source into multiple LED chips with different wavelengths (UV and blue) that can be mounted on a circuit board within the housing. This segmentation allows for effective daytime insect attraction while keeping each individual LED component simple and the overall device manageable in complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If adhesive is applied to large surface areas of the substrate, then insect capture effectiveness is improved, but adhesive exposure and potential contamination increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect capture effectivenessVSAvoidadhesive contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies adhesive to the substrate in advance during manufacturing, then protects it with a removable film until use. This preliminary action allows the adhesive to be fully applied for maximum insect capture effectiveness while preventing contamination and premature activation through the protective film barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 attracts and catches insects during the daytime without chemicals or electroshocking, allowing for discreet placement in homes due to its compact and attractive design.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide and an entrapment substrate. The light guide directs light from a light source, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), to the entrapment substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight guidance: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

Adhesive traps are sticky traps that can be simple flat panels or enclosed structures. Adhesive traps are often baited, and ensnare insects with an adhesive substance.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4714264A2Insect trap device
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 SC JOHNSON & SON INC
  • EP4714264A2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4714264A2 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4714264A2 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A removable substrate for an insect attractant device includes a body having front and rear faces, a grip portion, and a base disposed opposite the grip portion. The removable substrate further includes a first lateral portion extending from the base, and a second lateral portion extending from the base. A projection extends outwardly from the base, lowermost ends of the first and second lateral portions are disposed below the projection, and an adhesive is applied to the front face and the rear face.