HK1217605B - Insect trap device and method of using - Google Patents

Description

Insect trap device and method of use

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to insect traps and, more particularly, to a removable insect trap having a small footprint and an aesthetically pleasing design.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/771,774, filed on March 1, 2013, entitled “Insect Trap Device and Method of Using,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/787,629, filed on March 15, 2013, entitled “Insect Trap Device and Method of Using,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

Flying insect pests have long been a nuisance and a health hazard. Insect traps have been used to eliminate flying insects since ancient times, and hundreds of different traps have been proposed and developed over the centuries. There's always a need to eliminate flies and mosquitoes—they inevitably find a way into homes. Recent outbreaks of Eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and harmful E. coli infections in the United States, and the public health threats spread by flying insects, have undoubtedly increased this demand. Because insects can see and be attracted by a combination of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, indoor insect traps can have their own UV and visible light sources. Insect traps typically include a fluorescent tube that emits UV and visible light to attract insects, as well as an adhesive plate to trap the insects. However, an insect trap that includes the fluorescent tube and a transformer to power it would be too large to fit anywhere the insect trap is needed, and would be too expensive to provide one for every room in a house. Additionally, insects can access the fluorescent tubes, which over time can collect dust and insect debris, obscuring the light and reducing the effectiveness of the trap. Furthermore, the adhesive sheet can be difficult to remove and replace without touching the adhesive and the trapped insects.

Summary of the Invention

An insect trap device and methods of using the same are described herein. The insect trap device effectively attracts and traps indoor insects and can be manufactured and sold at a lower cost than commercially available traps. The insect trap device is smaller than competing indoor insect traps and can be easily moved between locations. The insect trap device can also be more easily cleaned and maintained without contact with the trapped insects.

In a first aspect, an insect trap is disclosed, comprising: a trap portion comprising an enclosure having an adhesive surface and a first opening, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the enclosure and configured to adhere to insects; and a base portion comprising a light-emitting element and a mounting portion, wherein the light-emitting element is configured to provide light to the trap portion, and wherein the mounting portion is configured to communicate with a power source and receive power from 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 with the base portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the first opening is configured to allow insects to enter the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the enclosure comprises a second opening configured to allow light to be emitted from the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the light is not manipulated within the base portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the enclosure comprises a third opening configured to allow light from the base portion to be received into the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the enclosure is configured to distribute light in a predetermined pattern. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the enclosure comprises: a front housing portion having a first interior surface; and a rear housing portion having a second interior surface, wherein the front housing portion and the rear housing portion engage one another in a mating manner to form the enclosure; and wherein at least one of the first interior surface and the second interior surface is configured to manipulate light. In an embodiment of the first aspect, at least one of the first interior surface and the second interior surface comprises an adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the rear housing portion has a concave surface configured to uniformly reflect light within the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, light is conducted through the adhesive surface, thereby illuminating the adhesive surface to attract insects to the adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, an enclosure includes: a front housing portion having a first inner surface; a rear housing portion having a second inner surface; and a divider portion at least partially disposed between the front housing portion and the rear housing portion, wherein the front housing portion and the rear housing portion engage with each other in a mating manner to form the enclosure; and wherein the divider portion divides the enclosure into a front enclosure portion and a rear enclosure portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the divider portion includes a rear surface comprising a translucent material, and the divider portion includes a front surface comprising an adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the second inner surface of the rear housing portion includes a concave surface configured to reflect light onto the rear surface of the divider portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, light is conducted through the adhesive surface, thereby illuminating the adhesive surface to attract insects to the adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the rear surface of the divider portion is configured to receive light from the second inner surface of the rear housing portion, or directly receive light from the light-emitting element. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the divider portion is configured to receive light at an oblique angle and distribute the light within the divider portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the divider portion is configured to manipulate light. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the divider portion comprises a flat or wavy shape, wherein the shape of the divider portion is configured to optimize light distribution. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the base portion comprises a protrusion, and wherein the trap portion comprises a recess for receiving the protrusion, wherein the base portion engages the trap portion when the protrusion is received by the trap portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the trap portion comprises a protrusion, and wherein the base portion comprises a recess for receiving the protrusion, wherein the base portion engages the trap portion when the protrusion is received by the base portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the trap portion comprises a polymeric material, a fibrous material, or a carbon-based material. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the mounting portion comprises an electrical plug having a rigid conductor protruding substantially perpendicularly and directly from a rear surface of the mounting portion, wherein the conductor is capable of being plugged into an electrical outlet. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the power source comprises an electrical outlet or a battery. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the light-emitting element comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). In an embodiment of the first aspect, the light-emitting element comprises an ultraviolet (UV) LED and a blue LED. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the base portion comprises an energy stabilizer configured to provide a constant voltage to the light-emitting element. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the energy stabilizer comprises a full-wave rectifier circuit. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the base portion comprises an opening configured to allow light to be emitted from the base portion to the trap portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the opening comprises a transparent or translucent window. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the opening is adjacent to the light-emitting element. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the trap portion comprises an insect attractant. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the insect attractant is selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractant, dipteran insect attractant, homopteran insect attractant, lepidopteran insect attractant, linear lepidopteran insect pheromone, eugenol, methyl eugenol and Mediterranean fruit fly attractant. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the coleopteran insect attractant includes: western pine beetle aggregation pheromone, grain borer attractant, southern pine beetle aggregation pheromone, cotton weevil sex attractant, cypermethrinol, cypermethrinol, Japanese scarab beetle sex attractant, trimethyldioxytricyclononane, megatomoic acid, European elm pheromone, oryctalure, oryctalure, and trunc-call. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the dipteran insect attractant includes: ceralure, cypermethrin, latilure, moguchun, cypermethrin, and Mediterranean fruit fly sex attractant. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the homopteran insect attractant includes rescalure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the lepidopteran insect attractant includes female gypsy moth attractant. In embodiments of the first aspect, the linear lepidopteran insect pheromones include codlelure, pink bollworm sex attractant, red lacewing sex attractant, litlure, cabbage looper sex attractant, orfralure, and ostramone. In embodiments of the first aspect, the insect attractant is integral with the enclosure. In embodiments of the first aspect, the base portion includes an emitter. In embodiments of the first aspect, the emitter includes a piezoelectric speaker configured to emit an insect-attracting sound. In embodiments of the first aspect, the insect-attracting sound includes a frequency in the range of approximately 0.2 Hz to 240 kHz. In embodiments of the first aspect, the base portion includes a switch configured to allow a user to control a property of the trap. In embodiments of the first aspect, the property is selected from the group consisting of: power, light intensity, light wavelength or frequency, light flashing, light pattern, and combinations thereof. In embodiments of the first aspect, the switch includes a mechanical switch, an optical switch, an electronic switch, an electromechanical switch, or a Hall effect sensor. In embodiments of the first aspect, the enclosure includes a reflective surface. In embodiments of the first aspect, the adhesive surface is adjacent to the reflective surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the base portion includes an electrical circuit configured to vary a voltage to a light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element provides intermittent light to the trap portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the enclosure includes an outer surface at least partially surrounded by a sleeve, the sleeve configured to reduce an amount of light emitted by the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, at least one of the first inner surface and the second inner surface includes a textured surface configured to increase a surface area of the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the textured surface includes ribs extending for at least a portion of a length of the first inner surface or the second inner surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, at least one of the first inner surface and the second inner surface includes a textured surface configured to increase a surface area of the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the textured surface includes ribs extending for at least a portion of a length of the first inner surface or the second inner surface. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the trap further comprises: a light guide located adjacent the second inner surface of the rear shell portion, the light guide having a front surface and a rear surface, and the light guide being configured to receive light from the base portion and distribute the light in a predetermined pattern within the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the front surface of the light guide further comprises an adhesive material. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the rear surface of the reflector is configured to reduce the amount of light emitted in a predetermined direction. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the light guide is tapered so as to have a thicker depth at a portion adjacent to the base portion and a thinner depth at the opposite end. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the rear surface of the light guide is configured to reflect light into the light guide. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the light is reflected multiple times within the light guide before being emitted into the enclosure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the rear surface comprises a rear cover or light shielding layer. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the base portion further comprises an optical enhancement configured to guide light into the trap portion in a predetermined pattern. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the optical enhancement comprises a lens. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the enclosure includes an inner sleeve and the base portion includes an outer sleeve, the inner sleeve being configured to align with the outer sleeve. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the outer sleeve includes a panel having an opening. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the opening of the panel corresponds to the enclosure opening, and the opening of the panel and the opening of the enclosure provide an alignment structure. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the inner sleeve is configured to be placed into the outer sleeve. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the inner sleeve includes a tab for gripping the inner sleeve. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the base portion includes a docking switch configured to activate the light-emitting element when the trap portion is properly engaged with the base portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the trap portion includes a docking switch activator configured to activate the docking switch when the trap portion is properly engaged with the base portion. In an embodiment of the first aspect, the docking switch includes a mechanical switch, an optical switch, an electronic switch, an electromechanical switch, or a Hall effect sensor.

In a second aspect, an insect trap is disclosed that includes a trap portion and a base portion, wherein the trap portion includes: an enclosure having an adhesive surface and a first opening, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the enclosure and configured to adhere to insects; and a light-emitting element at least partially contained within the enclosure, wherein the light-emitting element is configured to provide light within the enclosure, and wherein the light-emitting element is configured to communicate with a power source and receive power from the power source, and the base portion is configured to removably engage with the trap portion and provide access to the power source. In an embodiment of the second aspect, the light-emitting element includes a plurality of electrical trap contacts, and wherein the base portion includes a plurality of electrical base contacts, the trap contacts being configured to communicate with the base contacts to provide power to the light-emitting element. In an embodiment of the second aspect, the base contacts are in communication with the power source. In an embodiment of the second aspect, the light-emitting element includes a light emitting diode (LED).

In a third aspect, a removable insect trap box is disclosed, comprising: an enclosure defining a box, the enclosure having an adhesive surface and a first opening, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the enclosure and configured to adhere to insects, wherein the first opening is configured to allow insects to enter the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure is configured to provide a predetermined pattern of light within the enclosure. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure further comprises a light-emitting element. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the light-emitting element comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). In an embodiment of the third aspect, the light-emitting element comprises an ultraviolet (UV) LED and a blue LED. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure comprises: a front housing portion having a first inner surface; and a rear housing portion having a second inner surface, wherein the front housing portion and the rear housing portion engage one another in a mating manner to form the enclosure; and wherein at least one of the first inner surface and the second inner surface is configured to manipulate light. In an embodiment of the third aspect, at least one of the first inner surface and the second inner surface comprises the adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the rear housing portion includes a concave surface configured to uniformly reflect light within the enclosure. In an embodiment of the third aspect, light is conducted through the adhesive surface, thereby illuminating the adhesive surface to attract insects to the adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure includes: a front housing portion having a first inner surface; a rear housing portion having a second inner surface; and a divider portion at least partially disposed between the front housing portion and the rear housing portion, wherein the front housing portion and the rear housing portion are engaged with each other in a mating manner to form the enclosure; and wherein the divider portion divides the enclosure into a front enclosure portion and a rear enclosure portion. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the divider portion includes a rear surface having a translucent material, and the divider portion includes a front surface having an adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the second inner surface of the rear housing portion includes a concave surface configured to reflect light onto the rear surface of the divider portion. In an embodiment of the third aspect, light is conducted through the adhesive surface to illuminate the adhesive surface to attract insects to the adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the rear surface of the divider portion is configured to receive light from the second inner surface of the rear shell portion, or directly receive light from the light-emitting element. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure includes a bottom surface that is configured to be removably received in the pluggable base. In an embodiment of the third aspect, wherein the enclosure includes a biodegradable material. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure includes an outer surface that includes a decorative element. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the decorative element includes a shape selected from the following: a flower, a plant, a shell, a company logo, a sports team logo, a football, a basketball, a soccer ball, an ice hockey puck, a football helmet, or a hockey stick. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the trap portion includes an insect attractant. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the insect attractant is selected from the group consisting of: sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractants, dipteran insect attractants, homopteran insect attractants, lepidopteran insect attractants, linear lepidopteran insect pheromones, eugenol, methyl eugenol and Mediterranean fruit fly attractant. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the insect attractant is detectable by insects at a distance of approximately 2 meters from the box. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure includes a textured surface configured to increase the surface area of the enclosure. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the textured surface includes ribs extending at least a portion of the length of the enclosure. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the box further includes: a light guide located within the enclosure, the light guide configured to receive light and distribute the light in a predetermined pattern within the enclosure. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the enclosure includes an inner sleeve configured to be received in and aligned with the outer sleeve. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the outer sleeve includes a panel having an opening. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the opening of the panel corresponds to the opening of the enclosure, and the opening of the panel and the opening of the enclosure provide an alignment structure. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the inner sleeve includes a tab for gripping the inner sleeve. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the case includes a docking switch activator configured to activate a docking switch when the case is properly engaged with the base portion. In an embodiment of the third aspect, the docking switch activator includes a mechanical switch, an optical switch, an electronic switch, an electromechanical switch, or a Hall effect sensor.

In a fourth aspect, a method is disclosed, comprising: providing a base portion for an insect trap; providing a first trap portion of the insect trap, wherein the first trap portion includes an opening; attaching the first trap portion to the base portion; coupling the base portion to a power source to power a light-emitting element, wherein the light-emitting element is located within the base portion or within the first trap portion and wherein the light-emitting element is configured to attract insects into the first trap portion; and receiving the insects into the first trap portion via the opening. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises: separating the first trap portion from the base portion; and discarding the first trap portion, wherein the insects remain in the discarded first trap portion. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the first trap portion is discarded without a person contacting the insects in the first trap portion. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the first trap portion includes an adhesive surface, and wherein the insects adhere to the adhesive surface. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the base portion includes a docking switch, wherein the docking switch is configured to activate the light-emitting element when the first trap portion is properly attached to the base portion. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, when the first trap portion is separated from the base portion, the light-emitting element is de-energized. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, when the first trap portion is separated from the base portion, the light-emitting element is partially shielded from emitting light. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the method further comprises: providing a second trap portion of the insect trap, wherein the second trap portion includes an opening; and attaching the second trap portion to the base portion. In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the first insect trap and the second insect trap have different configurations.

In a fifth aspect, a docking device is disclosed, comprising: a docking structure, the docking structure being configured to be activated in response to a docking activator, the docking activator being located on a separate element configured to engage with the docking structure, wherein the docking structure is connected to a power source and configured to control the power supplied to the optical element. In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the docking activator comprises a surface, a protrusion, a tab, or a magnet. In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the docking structure is configured to close when the docking activator engages with the docking structure, and is configured to open when the docking activator disengages from the docking structure. In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the docking structure is configured to be activated in response to pressure from the docking activator. In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the docking structure is configured to be activated in response to displacement of a docking switch.

In a sixth aspect, a removable insect trap box is disclosed, comprising: an enclosure defining the box, the enclosure having an adhesive surface and a first opening, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the enclosure and configured to adhere to insects; and a docking activator configured to engage with a docking structure in a mounting portion.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the appended claims set forth the features of the present technology with particularity, these technologies and their objects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG2 is a rear perspective view of the base portion of the insect trap of FIG1 with the trap portion removed;

FIG3 is an exploded view of the trap portion of the insect trap of FIG1 ;

FIG4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the insect trap of FIG1 ;

FIG5 is a cross-sectional view taken through a second embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG6 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG7 is a rear perspective view of the base portion of the insect trap of FIG6 with the trap portion removed;

FIG8 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a trap portion of the insect trap of FIG6 ;

FIG9 is a cross-sectional view taken through the insect trap of FIG6 showing the interior of the base portion and the trap portion;

FIG10 is a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG11 is a rear perspective view of the insect trap of FIG10 ;

FIG12 is a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG13 is a rear perspective view of the insect trap of FIG12;

FIG14 is a front perspective view of the insect trap of FIG12 showing the trap portion partially removed from the base portion;

FIG15 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a trap portion of the insect trap of FIG12;

FIG16 is a cross-sectional view taken through the insect trap of FIG12 showing the interior of the base portion and the trap portion;

FIG17 is an exploded view of a sixth embodiment of an insect according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG18 is a cross-sectional view taken through the insect trap of FIG17 showing the interior of the base portion and the trap portion;

FIG19 is a cross-sectional view taken through a seventh embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG20 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG19;

FIG21 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of an insect trap according to the principles of the present disclosure showing the trap portion removed from the base portion;

FIG22 is a cross-sectional view of the insect trap of FIG21; and

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 22 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the devices and methods described herein, some illustrative embodiments will now be described. For clarity and purposes of illustration, these devices and methods will be described with respect to insect traps for indoor residential or commercial use. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the devices and methods described herein may be appropriately modified and adapted.

As described herein, an insect trap may include: a light source; a removable enclosure having at least one opening; an adhesive surface at least partially located within the enclosure; and an optical device for redirecting light from the light source onto the adhesive trapping surface. The light source may include at least one light emitting diode (LED). The optical device may be attached to the removable enclosure and may be at least partially located within the enclosure. The optical device may include optical enhancements, such as reflectors, lenses, and/or diffusers. The insect trap may also include an insect attractant that emits a sound or scent. When the removable enclosure is removed from the insect trap, the light source in the insect trap may be deactivated. The insect trap may also include a rigid conductor protruding generally perpendicularly and directly from a rear surface of the insect trap, wherein the conductor may be inserted into an electrical outlet, whereby the insect trap may be installed by inserting the electrical plug into the outlet. Alternatively, the insect trap may include a battery power source electrically coupled to the light source.

The insect trap can effectively attract and trap indoor insects and can be manufactured and sold at a lower cost than conventional insect traps. An insect trap having this exemplary configuration can be smaller than competing indoor insect traps and can be easily moved between different locations. An insect trap having this exemplary configuration can be easily cleaned and maintained without contact with the trapped insects.

Referring to the drawings, FIG1 shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 110. Insect trap 110 includes a base portion 112 and a removable trap portion 114. A front surface 160 of base portion 112 may include a switch 116 that can be configured to turn insect trap 110 on and off by a user closing or opening switch 116 as desired. Alternatively, switch 116 can be configured to control other features, such as light intensity, a combination of light wavelengths, flashing light in different patterns or frequencies, an automatic setting to turn on when the room is darkened, or a remote control setting. Trap portion 114 includes a front housing 118 having at least one opening 120 in a front surface 168.

FIG2 shows a rear perspective view of the base portion 112 of the insect trap 110, with the trap portion 114 removed. Two conductive prongs 122 protrude from the rear surface 162 of the base portion 112. These prongs 122 are suitable for mounting the insect trap 110 to a wall and for providing power to the insect trap 110 by plugging the prongs 122 into a standard household wall outlet. Alternatively, the base portion 112 can be configured to sit or hang in any desired location and receive power from a battery (not shown) mounted within the base portion 112. While an electrical outlet and batteries are described as providing power to the trap 110, any suitable power source may be used. The base portion 112 includes a light-emitting element, such as one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 124. In some embodiments, the LEDs 124 include an LED that emits ultraviolet (UV) light and an LED that emits visible light (e.g., blue light). In some embodiments, the light-emitting element emits a combination of wavelengths to simulate sunlight. A transparent or translucent window 128 can be mounted in the top surface 126 of the base portion 112, wherein the window 128 is shown partially broken away to reveal the LEDs 124. The transparent or translucent window 128 protects the one or more LEDs 124 from dust and insect debris and allows the base portion 112 to be easily cleaned. A groove 130 can be provided in the top surface 126, and a rim or upwardly facing protrusion 132 can be provided on the perimeter 164 of the top surface 126.

FIG3 illustrates an exploded view of the trap portion 114 of the insect trap 110. The trap portion 114 includes a front housing 118 (having at least one opening 120), a divider 134, and a rear housing 140. In some embodiments, the divider 134 is constructed of or includes a transparent or translucent material and may be coated with a transparent or translucent adhesive 136 on a front surface 138. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the divider 134, as well as the material and thickness of the adhesive 136, are selected to transmit a significant portion of UV and visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the divider 134 and adhesive 136. In some embodiments, the rear housing 140 includes an interior surface 142 that is reflectively coated. Alternatively, the material and surface finish of the rear housing 140 can be configured to reflect UV and/or visible light without the need for a reflective coating. The rear housing 140 may include an opening 144 on its bottom surface 166 , or alternatively, the opening 144 may be replaced with a transparent or translucent window (not shown).

The front housing 118 and the rear housing 140 can be constructed of any suitable material, including thermoformed opaque plastic materials, or other opaque, transparent or translucent materials, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard or pulp. In some embodiments, the front housing 118 and the rear housing 140 are made by injection molding or by other suitable manufacturing techniques. As shown, the divider 134 is generally flat, but the divider 134 can be formed into a convex, concave or saddle-shaped profile or a combination of profiles to optimize the uniform distribution of light. Alternatively, the divider 134 can have ribs or other features that increase the surface area of the adhesive and create light/dark contrast areas - light/dark contrast areas are extremely noticeable to many types of insects and can be more attractive to them.

In some embodiments, the front housing 118 can be coated with a transparent, translucent, or opaque adhesive on the inner surface 170 to provide additional insect trapping efficiency and capability. Additionally, the front housing 118 can also have a reflective coating beneath the adhesive coating on the inner surface 170 to enhance its attractiveness to insects and further improve insect trapping efficiency and effectiveness.

In some embodiments, the front shell 118, the partition 134 and the rear shell 140 are connected together at their peripheries with an adhesive, but they can also be connected by other commonly used packaging assembly techniques (such as ultrasonic welding or RF sealing) or any other suitable assembly method. The material of the trap portion 114 can also include insect attractants. For example, the trap portion 114 can be impregnated with sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractants (including western pine beetle aggregation pheromone (brevicomin), grain borer attractant (dominicalure), southern pine beetle aggregation pheromone (frontalin), cotton weevil sex attractant (grandlure), tooth beetle dienol (ipsdienol), tooth beetle enol (ipsenol), Japanese beetle sex attractant (japonilure), trimethyldioxytricyclononane (lineatin), megatomoic acid, multistriatin, oryctalure, mycophagous acetol, and trunc-call), dipteran attractants (including ceralure, cue-lure, latilure, medlure, moguchun, muscalure, and trimedlure), homopteran attractants (including rescalure), lepidopteran attractants (including disparlure), linear lepidopteran pheromones (including codlelure, gossyplure, hexalure, litlure, and powdery mildew). The insect trap 110 may be provided with an insect attractant such as looplure, orfralure, and ostramone, as well as other insect attractants such as eugenol, methyleugenol, and siglure, or other substances that provide an odor that further enhances the insect trap 110's effectiveness in attracting insects. In this embodiment, the insect attractant is integral with the trap portion 114. Alternatively, the insect attractant may be embedded in a separate element that is mounted on the inner surface 170 of the front housing 118, or mounted through the opening 120 in the front housing 118, or mounted on the front surface 138 of the divider 134. It is desirable that the attractant be detectable by insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 110.

FIG4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the insect trap 110 showing the interior of the base portion 112 and the trap portion 114. As shown, the divider 134 divides the trap portion 114 into a front enclosure 146 and a rear enclosure 148. In some embodiments, the base portion 112 includes a circuit board 150 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands, which is electrically connected to the conductive pins 122, the switch 116, and the one or more LEDs 124. However, for the sake of clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. The circuit board 150 may include electronic circuitry that receives ordinary household current from the conductive pins 122, responds to the position of the switch 116, and provides power to illuminate the one or more LEDs 124. Circuit board 150 may include an energy stabilizer, such as a full-wave rectifier circuit or any other circuit, that provides a stable voltage to one or more LEDs 124 when switch 116 is in the closed position. However, circuit board 150 may also provide a variable voltage to one or more LEDs 124 to provide flickering light, which some insect species find attractive. For example, a light flickering frequency in the range of approximately 0.05 Hz (e.g., to simulate the breathing rate of large mammals) to 250 Hz (e.g., the highest flickering frequency known to attract male houseflies) may be desirable, and the light-emitting element may be configured to flicker within this range. Circuit board 150 may provide power to one or more LEDs 124 to provide both UV light and visible light. However, circuit board 150 may be configured to provide power only to one or more UV LEDs 124, only to one or more visible light LEDs 124, or to provide variable power to produce a combination of flickering UV and visible light. The circuit board 150 can also be configured to drive a transmitter or transceiver, such as a piezoelectric speaker (not shown) or other device, that can be mounted in the base portion 112 to produce an insect-attracting sound. For example, the transmitter or transceiver can produce an insect-attracting sound having a frequency in the range of approximately 0.5 Hz (e.g., the heart rate of a large mammal) to 240 kHz (e.g., the highest frequency detectable by insects). In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 5 Hz to 100 kHz. In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 35 Hz to 50 kHz. It is desirable that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 110 be able to detect the insect-attracting sound. It is desirable that a person located beyond a radius of approximately 1 meter from the trap 110 be unable to detect the insect-attracting sound.

As shown, the groove 130 in the top surface 126 of the base portion 112 and the protrusion 132 on the top surface 126 of the base portion 112 engage with the trap portion 114 to secure the trap portion 114 in place during use, but any other form of attachment device that allows the trap portion 114 to be mounted to the base portion 112 in a secure but removable manner may be used instead.

In operation of the insect trap 110, the conductive pin 122 is inserted into an electrical wall outlet and the switch 116 can be moved to the closed position. One or more LEDs 124 emit light (preferably UV and visible light, as indicated by arrows) which is conducted through a window 128 in the base portion 112, through an opening 144 in the rear housing 140 of the trap portion 114, into the rear enclosure 148, and is conducted directly onto the reflectively coated interior surface 142 of the rear housing 140 and the rear surface 152 of the divider 134. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 112 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 114. The reflectively coated inner surface 142 of the rear housing 140 can include a concave shape and can be configured to reflect UV light and visible light from one or more LEDs 124 to evenly distribute the light onto the rear surface 152 of the divider 134, although the shape of the inner surface 142 of the rear housing 140 can have a convex shape or a saddle shape or a combination of shapes, or can also have ribs or other features to more evenly distribute the light.

Alternatively, the rear housing 140 can be mounted with an optical enhancement at or near the opening 144, the optical enhancement being configured to distribute UV and visible light (e.g., evenly, in a particular pattern, at a focal point, etc.) onto the rear surface 152 of the divider 134, such as an anamorphic lens (not shown) or any other lens or combination of lenses, which can replace or enhance the reflective-coated interior surface 142 of the rear housing 140. In some embodiments, UV and visible light from one or more LEDs 124 can be directed at and distributed throughout the rear surface 152 of the divider 134 at an oblique angle (e.g., an acute angle of approximately 0° to 90°), and can replace or enhance the reflective-coated interior surface 142 of the housing 140 or a lens mounted to the rear housing 140.

Thereafter, light can be conducted through the divider 134 and the adhesive coating 136 on the front surface 138 of the divider 134, entering the front enclosure 146. Due to the light-scattering properties of the divider 134, the adhesive coating 136 on the front surface 138 of the divider 134, or both, the light can be more evenly distributed. A portion of the light that enters the front enclosure 146 continues through one or more openings 120 in the front housing 118 and is emitted into the surrounding area where the trap is installed. Insects are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light emitted through the adhesive coating 136 and the one or more openings 120 in the front housing 118, flying or crawling into one or more openings 120 and onto the adhesive coating 136, where they become trapped in the adhesive (e.g., unable to escape the adhesive coating 136). A user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the one or more openings 120 in the front housing 118. When a sufficient number of insects have been trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 114 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or adhesive (which are inside the trap portion 114 and cannot be touched), and can replace the used trap portion 114 with a new trap portion 114. The new trap portion 114 can have an unused adhesive-coated surface and light-directing surface, ensuring that the insect trap 110 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that the benefit of the trap 110 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 114. In some embodiments, the manipulation of light occurs only within the trap portion 114. The manipulation of light can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved by combining manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., the interior surface 142, the divider 134, and the adhesive coating 136). In some embodiments, the manipulation of light produces a uniform distribution of light on the adhesive surface or adhesive coating 136. In some embodiments, light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with hot spots of higher brightness, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, on the adhesive coating 136 or within the trap portion 114.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

This configuration of the insect trap 110 can accommodate a variety of different trap sections 114 that can be removably mounted to the base section 112, each trap section 114 being uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of flying insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap section 114, as well as the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 120 in the front housing 118 of the trap section 114, can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of flying insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap section 114 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 114 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 114 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 112 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 112 is 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 112 is 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the opening 120 can have various shapes and/or sizes. For example, the opening 120 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the opening 120 can be a slot having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the opening 120 is circular, the diameter of the opening 120 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 120 is approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 120 is approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the opening 120 is slot-shaped, the opening 120 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 120 is approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 120 is approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, the opening 120 covers the entire trap portion 114 or a portion of the trap portion 114. For example, the opening 120 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of the trap portion 114. In some embodiments, the opening 120 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of the trap portion 114. In some embodiments, the opening 120 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of the trap portion 114.

FIG5 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 210. Insect trap 210 includes a base portion 212 and a removable trap portion 214. Two conductive prongs 216 (only one of these prongs 216 is shown) protrude from a rear surface 262 of base portion 212. These prongs 216 are suitable for mounting insect trap 210 to a wall and for providing power to insect trap 210 by plugging prongs 216 into a standard household electrical wall outlet. Alternatively, base portion 212 can be configured to sit or hang in any desired location and receive power from batteries (not shown) mounted therein. While an electrical outlet and batteries are described as providing power to trap 210, any suitable power source may be used. Base portion 212 includes a light-emitting element, such as one or more LEDs 218. In some embodiments, LEDs 218 include LEDs that emit ultraviolet (UV) light and LEDs that emit visible light (eg, blue light). In some embodiments, the light emitting elements emit a combination of wavelengths to simulate sunlight.

In some embodiments, a transparent or translucent window 222 is mounted in the top surface 220 of the base portion 212, wherein the window 222 is shown partially cut away to reveal the LEDs 218. The transparent or translucent window 222 protects the one or more LEDs 218 from dust and insect debris and allows the base portion 212 to be easily cleaned. The top surface 220 of the base portion 212 can include a groove 224, and an upwardly facing protrusion 226 is provided on the perimeter 270 of the top surface 220.

The trap portion 214 includes a front housing 228 and a light guide 238, wherein the front housing 228 has at least one opening 230. In some embodiments, the light guide 238 includes a front surface 254, an adhesive coating or layer 234 on the front surface 254, and a back cover 248. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the adhesive layer 234 are selected to transmit a significant portion of UV and visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the adhesive layer 234. The light guide can be tapered and can be configured to receive light from one or more LEDs 218 through its bottom surface 240 and to deflect and evenly distribute the light (e.g., across the front surface 254 and the adhesive layer 234). The back cover 248 can be configured to prevent light from being transmitted through the back, top, and side surfaces of the light guide 238. As provided herein, any suitable light guide can be used.

Front housing 228 can be made of any suitable material, including thermoformed opaque plastic material, or other opaque, transparent or translucent material, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard or pulp. In some embodiments, front housing 228 is made by injection molding or by other suitable manufacturing techniques.

The front housing 228 may also be coated with a transparent, translucent, or opaque adhesive on its inner surface (not shown) to provide additional insect trapping efficiency and capability. Additionally, the front housing 228 may also have a reflective coating beneath the adhesive coating on its inner surface to enhance its attractiveness to insects and further improve insect trapping efficiency and effectiveness. The front housing 228 and the light guide 238 may be joined together at their peripheries using an adhesive, although the front housing 228 and the light guide 238 may also be joined using other commonly used packaging assembly techniques (such as ultrasonic welding or RF sealing) or any other suitable assembly method.

As shown, the front housing 228 and the light guide 238 together form a front enclosure 246. The light guide 238 can be tapered (e.g., thicker at the bottom surface 240 and thinner at the top surface 242) and can be constructed of any transparent material that conducts UV light and/or visible light, such as acrylic or polycarbonate plastic. The inner surface (not shown) of the rear cover 248 can have a reflective coating to reflect light into the light guide 238 and through the front surface 254 of the light guide 238, thereby increasing the light transmission efficiency of the light guide 238. The light guide 238 can also have facets or other features of different sizes, different depths, and different densities on the front surface 254 to enhance the light transmission efficiency of the light guide 238.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the light guide 238 has facets or other features on its front surface 254 and is not tapered. A light guide 238 having small facets or other features on its front surface 254 is generally referred to as a light guide plate, although the facets or other features can be larger and still function effectively.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the light guide 238 may not have an adhesive coating, and the light guide 238 and the back cover 248 may be part of the base portion 212. In such embodiments, the trap portion 214 may include a transparent or translucent backing plate (not shown) having an adhesive coating on its front surface, the backing plate being attached to the front housing 228 at its periphery.

The material of the trap portion 214 may also include an insect attractant. For example, the trap portion 214 may be impregnated with sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractants (including brevicomin, dominicalure, frontalin, grandlure, ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, lineatin, megatomoic acid, sucralose ... acid, multistriatin, oryctalure, methylcalure, and trunc-call), dipteran attractants (including ceralure, cue-lure, latilure, medlure, moguchun, muscalure, and trimedlure), homopteran attractants (including rescalure), lepidopteran attractants (including disparlure), linear lepidopteran pheromones (including codlelure, gossyplure, hexalure, litlure, looplure, orfralure, and ostramone), and other insect attractants (such as eugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl eugenol). The insect attractant may be a mixture of eugenol and siglure, or other substances that provide an odor that further enhances the insect trap's effectiveness in attracting insects. In this embodiment, the insect attractant is integral with the trap portion 214. Alternatively, the insect attractant may be embedded in a separate element that is mounted on the interior surface 250 of the front housing 228, through at least one opening 230 in the front housing 228, or on the front surface 254 of the light guide 238. It is desirable that the attractant be detectable by insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 210.

In some embodiments, base portion 212 includes a circuit board 252 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands. Circuit board 252 is electrically connected to conductive pins 216 and one or more LEDs 218. However, for clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. Circuit board 252 can include electronic circuitry that receives ordinary household current from conductive pins 216 and provides power to illuminate one or more LEDs 218. Circuit board 252 can include an energy stabilizer, such as a full-wave rectifier circuit or any other circuit, to provide a stable voltage to one or more LEDs 218. However, circuit board 252 can also provide a varying voltage to one or more LEDs 218 to provide a flickering light, which some insect species find attractive. For example, a light flickering frequency in the range of approximately 0.05 Hz (e.g., to simulate the breathing rate of large mammals) to 270 Hz (e.g., the highest flickering frequency known to attract male houseflies) can be desirable, and the light-emitting element can be configured to flicker within this range. The circuit board 252 can provide power to one or more LEDs 218 for providing UV and visible light. However, the circuit board 252 can be configured to power only one or more UV LEDs 218, only one or more visible LEDs 218, or can be configured to provide variable power to produce a combination of flashing UV and visible light. The circuit board 252 can also be configured to drive a transmitter or transceiver, such as a piezoelectric speaker or other device, that can be mounted in the base portion 212 to produce an insect-attracting sound. For example, the transmitter or transceiver can produce an insect-attracting sound with a frequency ranging from approximately 0.5 Hz (e.g., the heart rate of a large mammal) to 240 kHz (e.g., the highest frequency detectable by insects). In some embodiments, the frequency is approximately in the range of 5 Hz to 100 kHz. In some embodiments, the frequency is approximately in the range of 35 Hz to 50 kHz. It is desirable that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 210 be able to detect the insect-attracting sound. It is expected that the insect-attracting sound will not be detectable to people outside a radius of about 1 meter from the trap 210.

As shown, the groove 224 in the top surface 220 of the base portion 212 and the protrusion 226 on the top surface 220 of the base portion 212 engage with the trap portion 214 to secure the trap portion 214 in place during use, but any other form of attachment device that allows the trap portion 214 to be mounted on the base portion 212 in a secure but removable manner may be used instead.

In operation of the insect trap 210, the conductive pin 216 is inserted into an electrical wall outlet, and one or more LEDs 218 emit light, preferably UV and visible light, as indicated by the arrows. Light from the one or more LEDs 218 can be conducted through the window 222, into the thicker bottom surface 240 of the tapered light guide 238, and repeatedly reflected off the front surface 254 and the rear surface 256 of the light guide 238. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 212 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 214. A portion of the reflected light can be conducted through the front surface 254 of the light guide 238, thereby evenly distributing the light onto the adhesive coating 234 and through the adhesive coating 234 into the front enclosure 246. Due to the refractive and light-scattering properties of the adhesive coating 234 on the front surface 254 of the light guide 238, the light can be more evenly distributed. A portion of the light that enters the front enclosure 246 continues through one or more openings 230 in the front housing 228 and is emitted into the surrounding area where the trap 210 is installed. Insects are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light that is transmitted through the adhesive coating 234 and through the one or more openings 230 in the front housing 228, fly or crawl into one or more openings 230 and onto the adhesive coating 234, where they become trapped in the adhesive. A user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the one or more openings 230 in the front housing 228. When a sufficient number of insects have been trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 214 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or the adhesive (which are inside the trap portion 114 and cannot be touched), and can replace the used trap portion 214 with a new one. The new trap portion 214 can have unused adhesive-coated surfaces and light-directing surfaces, ensuring that the insect trap 210 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that the benefit of the trap 210 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 214. In some embodiments, the light manipulation occurs only within the trap portion 214. The light manipulation can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved through a combination of manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., the light guide 238, the front and back surfaces 254, 256, and the adhesive coating 234). In some embodiments, the light manipulation produces a uniform distribution of light across the adhesive surface or adhesive coating 234. In some embodiments, the light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with brighter hot spots, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, across the adhesive coating 234 or within the trap portion 214.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

This configuration of the insect trap 210 can accommodate a variety of different trap sections 214 that can be removably mounted to the base section 212, each trap section 214 being uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap section 214, as well as the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 230 in the front housing 228 of the trap section 214, can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap section 214 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 214 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 214 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 212 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 212 is 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 212 is 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the opening 230 can have a variety of shapes and/or sizes. For example, the opening 230 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the opening 230 can be a slot having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the opening 230 is circular, the diameter of the opening 230 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 230 is approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 230 is approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the opening 230 is slot-shaped, the opening 230 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 230 is approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 230 is approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, the opening 230 covers the entire trap portion 214 or a portion of the trap portion 214. For example, the opening 230 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of the trap portion 214. In some embodiments, the opening 230 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of the trap portion 214. In some embodiments, the opening 230 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of the trap portion 214.

FIG6 illustrates a front perspective view of a third embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 310. Insect trap 310 includes a base portion 312 and a removable trap portion 314. In some embodiments, a front surface 360 of base portion 312 includes a switch 316 that can be configured to turn insect trap 310 on and off by a user closing or opening switch 316 as desired. Alternatively, switch 316 can be configured to control other features, such as light intensity, a combination of light wavelengths, different flashing frequencies or patterns, an automatic setting that turns on when the room is darkened, or a remote control setting, for example. Trap portion 314 includes a front housing 318 having at least one opening 320.

FIG7 shows a rear perspective view of the base portion 312 of the insect trap 310, with the trap portion 314 removed. Two conductive prongs 322 protrude from the rear surface 362 of the base portion 312. These prongs 322 are suitable for mounting the insect trap 310 to a wall and for providing power to the insect trap 310 by plugging into a standard household wall outlet. Alternatively, the base portion 312 can be configured to sit or hang in any desired location and receive power from a battery (not shown) mounted within the base portion 312. While an electrical outlet and batteries are described as providing power to the trap 310, any suitable power source may be used. The base portion 312 includes a light-emitting element, such as one or more LEDs 324. In some embodiments, the LEDs 324 include an LED that emits ultraviolet (UV) light and an LED that emits visible light (e.g., blue light). In some embodiments, the light-emitting element emits a combination of wavelengths to simulate sunlight. A transparent or translucent window 328 can be mounted in the top surface 326 of the base portion 312, wherein the window 328 is shown partially cut away to reveal the LEDs 324. The transparent or translucent window 328 protects the one or more LEDs 324 from dust and insect debris and enables the base portion 312 to be easily cleaned. An upwardly facing protrusion or rim 330 projecting from the peripheral edge 364 of the top surface 326 of the base portion 312 can be used to secure the trap portion 314 in place during use, although any other form of attachment device that allows the trap portion 314 to be securely but removably mounted to the base portion 312 may be substituted.

FIG8 shows a partially cutaway perspective view of the trap portion 314 of the insect trap 310. The trap portion 314 includes a housing 318 forming an enclosure having one or more openings 320, and a transparent or translucent adhesive coating applied to one or more interior surfaces 334. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the housing 318, as well as the material and thickness of the adhesive coating, are selected to transmit a significant portion of UV and visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the housing 318 and the adhesive coating. The housing 318 can be constructed of any suitable material, including a thermoformed opaque plastic material, or other opaque, transparent, or translucent material, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard, or pulp. In some embodiments, the housing 318 is formed by injection molding or other suitable manufacturing techniques.

As shown, the housing 318 includes ribs 336 or other features that increase the surface area coated with the adhesive, create alternating light/dark areas (which some insect species find attractive), and help conduct insect-attracting light into the interior 370 of the trap 314. The exterior surface 368 of the housing 318, except for the bottom surface 336 and one or more openings 320, is covered with a sleeve 338 that is configured to reduce the amount of light emitted from the exterior surface 368 of the housing 318. The sleeve 338 can be constructed of any suitable material, including a thermoformed opaque plastic material, or other opaque, transparent, or translucent material, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard, or pulp. In some embodiments, the sleeve 338 includes a reflective coating on one or more of its interior surfaces, allowing the sleeve 338 to direct more light through the adhesive-coated interior surface 334 of the housing 318 and further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the insect attraction trap. In some embodiments, the sleeve 338 is replaced by a coating configured to reduce the amount of light emitted by the outer surface 368 of the housing 318, or by a coating applied to a reflective coating that is applied to the outer surface 368 of the housing 318 other than the bottom surface 366.

The material of the trap portion 314 may also include an insect attractant. For example, the trap portion 314 may be impregnated with sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractants (including brevicomin, dominicalure, frontalin, grandlure, ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, lineatin, megatomoic acid, sucralose ... acid, multistriatin, oryctalure, methylcalure, and trunc-call), dipteran attractants (including ceralure, cue-lure, latilure, medlure, moguchun, muscalure, and trimedlure), homopteran attractants (including rescalure), lepidopteran attractants (including disparlure), linear lepidopteran pheromones (including codlelure, gossyplure, hexalure, litlure, looplure, orfralure, and ostramone), and other insect attractants (such as eugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl eugenol). The insect attractant may be eugenol and siglure, or other substances that provide an odor that further increases the insect trap's effectiveness in attracting insects. In this embodiment, the insect attractant is integral with the trap portion 314. Alternatively, the insect attractant may be embedded in a separate element that is mounted on the inner surface 334 of the housing 318 or through the opening 320 in the housing 318. It is desirable that the attractant be detectable by insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 310.

FIG9 is a cross-sectional view taken through insect trap 310, illustrating the interior of base portion 312 and trap portion 314. In some embodiments, base portion 312 includes a circuit board 340 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands. Circuit board 340 is electrically connected to conductive pins 322 (only one of conductive pins 322 is shown), switch 316, and one or more LEDs 324. However, for clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. Circuit board 340 may include electronic circuitry that receives ordinary household electrical current from conductive pins 322, responds to the position of switch 316, and provides power to illuminate one or more LEDs 324. Circuit board 340 can include an energy stabilizer, such as a full-wave rectifier circuit or any other circuit, that provides a stable voltage to one or more LEDs 324 when switch 316 is in the closed position. However, circuit board 340 can also provide a variable voltage to one or more LEDs 324 to provide flickering light, which some insect species find attractive. For example, a light flicker frequency ranging from approximately 0.05 Hz (e.g., to simulate the breathing rate of mammals) to 250 Hz (e.g., the highest flicker frequency known to attract male houseflies) can be ideal, and the light-emitting element can be configured to flicker within this range. Circuit board 340 can provide power to one or more LEDs 324 to provide UV light and visible light, although circuit board 340 can be configured to provide power only to one or more UV LEDs 324, only to one or more visible light LEDs 324, or to provide variable power to produce a combination of flickering UV and visible light. In some embodiments, the circuit board 340 can be configured to drive a transmitter or transceiver, such as a piezoelectric speaker or other device, that can be mounted in the base portion 312 to emit an insect-attracting sound. For example, the transmitter or transceiver can emit an insect-attracting sound having a frequency in the range of approximately 0.5 Hz (e.g., the heart rate of a large mammal) to 240 kHz (e.g., the highest frequency detectable by insects). In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 5 Hz to 100 kHz. In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 35 Hz to 50 kHz. It is desirable that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 310 be able to detect the insect-attracting sound. It is desirable that a person beyond a radius of approximately 1 meter from the trap 310 be unable to detect the insect-attracting sound.

In operation of the insect trap 310, the conductive pin 322 is inserted into an electrical wall outlet and the switch 316 can be moved to the closed position. One or more LEDs 324 emit light (preferably UV and visible light, as indicated by arrows) that is transmitted through at least one window 328 in the base portion 312 and through the bottom surface 366 of the housing 318. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 312 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 314. A portion of this light continues to be transmitted upward within the enclosure, along one or more sides 372 of the housing 318, and out through the adhesive-coated inner surface 334. Another portion of this light continues to be transmitted through the bottom surface 366 of the housing 318 and into the enclosure, where it illuminates the adhesive-coated inner surface 334. A portion of the light that enters the housing 318 continues through the opening 320 and is emitted into the surrounding area where the trap is installed. Insects in the area are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light transmitted through the opening 320, fly or crawl into the opening 320 and reach the inner surface 334 coated with the adhesive, where the insects become stuck in the adhesive and become trapped. The user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the opening 320. When a sufficient number of insects are trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 314 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or the adhesive (which is inside the trap portion 314 and cannot be touched), and can replace the used trap portion 314 with a new one. The new trap portion 314 can have an unused adhesive-coated inner surface 334, the housing 318 has a clean bottom surface 366 (through which UV light and/or visible light is conducted into the trap portion 314), and the transparent or translucent material of the trap portion 314 has not been degraded by prolonged exposure to UV light, thereby ensuring that the insect trap 310 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that the benefit of the trap 310 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 314. In some embodiments, the manipulation of light occurs only within the trap portion 314. The manipulation of light can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved by combining manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., the housing 318 and the adhesive-coated inner surface 334). In some embodiments, the manipulation of light produces a uniform distribution of light on the adhesive surface or adhesive coating. In some embodiments, the light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with hot spots of higher brightness, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, on the adhesive coating or within the trap portion 314.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

This configuration of the insect trap 310 can accommodate a variety of different trap sections 314 that can be removably mounted to the base section 312, each of which is uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap section 314, as well as the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 320 in the housing 318 of the trap section 314, can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap section 314 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 314 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 314 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 312 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 312 is 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 312 is 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the opening 320 can have a variety of shapes and/or sizes. For example, the opening 320 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the opening 320 can be a slot having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the opening 320 is circular, the diameter of the opening 320 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 320 is approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 320 is approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the opening 320 is slot-shaped, the opening 320 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 320 is approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 320 is approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, the opening 320 covers the entire trap portion 314 or a portion of the trap portion 314. For example, the opening 320 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of the trap portion 314. In some embodiments, the opening 320 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of the trap portion 314. In some embodiments, the opening 320 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of the trap portion 314.

Although the trap portion is mounted on the top surface of the base portion as shown in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 9, other configurations may also work effectively. For example, Figures 10 and 11 show a fourth embodiment of an insect trap in which the trap portion is mounted on the front of the base portion.

FIG10 is a front perspective view and FIG11 is a rear perspective view, both of which illustrate a fourth embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 410. A base portion 412 mounts to a household electrical wall outlet and is powered by being plugged into the household electrical wall outlet. Alternatively, the base portion 412 can be configured to sit or hang in any desired location and receive power from a battery (not shown) mounted in the base portion 412. Although an electrical outlet and battery are described as providing power to the trap 410, any suitable power source may be used. In some embodiments, the base portion 412 includes a circuit board (not shown) having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands.

A light-emitting element, such as one or more LEDs 414, can be mounted on a cross-shaped protrusion 416 protruding from the front surface 418 of the base portion 412. Alternatively, the LEDs 414 can form the protrusion itself. Although shown as a cross-shaped protrusion, the mounting surface and/or LED 414 configuration can be any desired shape. The trap portion 420 includes a housing 450 made of a translucent or transparent material, having one or more inner surfaces 422 coated with an adhesive and one or more openings 424. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the housing 450 and the material and thickness of the adhesive are selected to transmit a significant portion of UV and visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the housing 450 and the adhesive coating. The trap portion 420 can include a coating on one or more outer surfaces 452—except at the one or more openings 424 and the opening 426 in the rear surface 428—that is configured to reduce the amount of light emitted by the one or more outer surfaces 452. As shown, opening 426 is a cross-shaped cavity 454, but can be any desired shape. For example, cross-shaped protrusions 416 on front surface 418 of base portion 412 can engage recesses in cross-shaped cavity 454 in rear surface 428 of trap portion 420 to removably attach trap portion 420 to base portion 412. Thus, in this configuration, trap portion 414 is mounted in front of base portion 412.

In operation of the insect trap 410, the base portion 412 is plugged into an electrical wall outlet, and the trap portion 420 is mounted in front of the base portion 412. Light from one or more LEDs 414 (having UV and/or visible wavelengths) can be conducted into a cross-shaped cavity 454 in the rear surface 428 of the trap portion 420. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 412 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 414. A portion of this light can continue to conduct within the translucent or transparent walls of the trap portion 420, scattering and evenly distributing the light within the trap portion 420, and pass through the adhesive-coated inner surface 422. Another portion of this light can continue through the rear wall 456 of the trap portion 420 and into the interior 430 of the trap portion 420, where it illuminates the adhesive-coated inner surface 422. A portion of the light that enters the trap portion 420 can continue to travel through the one or more openings 424 and be emitted into the area surrounding the trap 410. Insects in the area are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light transmitted through the one or more openings 424, flying or crawling into the one or more openings 424 and reaching the adhesive-coated inner surface 422, where they become stuck in the adhesive and become trapped. A user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the one or more openings 424. When a sufficient number of insects have been trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 420 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or the adhesive (which is untouchable within the trap portion 314), and can replace the used trap portion 420 with a new one. The new trap portion 420 can have an unused adhesive-coated inner surface 422, a clean opening 426 in the rear surface 428 (UV light and/or visible light is transmitted into the trap portion 420 through the opening 426), and the transparent or translucent material of the trap portion 420 has not been degraded due to prolonged exposure to UV light, thereby ensuring that the insect trap 410 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that the benefit of the trap 410 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 420. In some embodiments, the manipulation of light occurs only within the trap portion 420. The manipulation of light can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved by combining manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., the trap portion 420 and the inner surface 422 coated with the adhesive). In some embodiments, the manipulation of light produces a uniform distribution of light on the adhesive surface or adhesive coating. In some embodiments, the light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with hot spots of higher brightness, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, on the adhesive coating or within the trap portion 420.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

This configuration of the insect trap 410 can accommodate a variety of different trap sections 420 that can be removably mounted to the base section 412, each trap section 420 being uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap section 420, as well as the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 424 in the trap section 420, can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap section 420 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 420 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 420 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 412 is approximately 10 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 412 is 10 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 412 is 10 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the opening 424 can have a variety of shapes and/or sizes. For example, the opening 424 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the opening 424 can be a slot having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the opening 424 is circular, the diameter of the opening 424 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 424 is approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 424 is approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the opening 424 is slot-shaped, the opening 120 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 424 is approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 424 is approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, opening 424 covers the entire trap portion 420 or a portion of trap portion 420. For example, opening 424 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of trap portion 420. In some embodiments, opening 424 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of trap portion 420. In some embodiments, opening 424 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of trap portion 420.

FIG12 is a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an insect trap, and FIG13 is a rear perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the insect trap, generally designated 510. Insect trap 510 includes a base portion 512 and a removable trap portion 514. Base portion 512 includes a housing 516 having a large opening 518 in a top surface 560 for receiving trap portion 514 and one or more smaller openings 520 on a front surface 562; and two conductive pins 522 on a rear surface 564. These pins are suitable for mounting insect trap 510 to a wall and providing power to insect trap 510 by plugging into a standard household wall outlet. While an electrical outlet is described as providing power to trap 510, any suitable power source may be used. Base portion 512 may be injection molded from opaque plastic, although other materials and construction techniques may also be used.

FIG14 is a front perspective view of an insect trap 510 showing a removable trap portion 514 partially removed from a base portion 512. The trap portion 514 can include a housing 524 having one or more openings 526 and tabs 528 adapted to remove and replace the trap portion 514. The trap portion 514 can be removed by grasping the tabs 528 and lifting the trap portion 514 out of the housing 516 of the base portion 512. In some embodiments, the openings 526 in the trap portion 514 match or correspond in size, shape, orientation, and position to the openings 520 in the base portion 512 such that, when the trap portion 514 is installed in the base portion 512, the openings 526 in the trap portion 514 align with the openings 520 in the base portion 512. In such an embodiment, the trap portion 514 can be considered an inner sleeve or bag, and the base portion 512 can be considered an outer sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve can be placed or inserted into the outer sleeve by a user.

FIG15 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the trap portion 514. The housing 524 includes an inner surface 530 coated with a translucent or transparent adhesive. As shown, the housing 524 includes ribs 532 or other features that increase the surface area coated with the adhesive, create alternating light/dark areas (which some insect species find attractive), and help conduct insect-attracting light into the interior of the trap portion 514. In some embodiments, the trap portion 514 is thermoformed from a translucent or transparent plastic sheet into two separate elements, or into a "clamshell" design (in which two sides are connected at one side and folded together), although the trap portion 514 can also be injection molded from a translucent or transparent plastic, constructed from translucent paper, or made from other materials. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the trap portion 514 and the material and thickness of the adhesive are selected to transmit a significant proportion of UV light and visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the trap portion 514 and the adhesive coating. The material of the trap portion 514 may also include an insect attractant. For example, the trap portion 514 may be impregnated with sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractants (including brevicomin, dominicalure, frontalin, grandlure, ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, lineatin, megatomoic acid, multistriatin, oryctalure, methylcalure, and trunc-call), dipteran attractants (including ceralure, cue-lure, latilure, medlure, moguchun, muscalure, and trimedlure), homopteran attractants (including rescalure), lepidopteran attractants (including disparlure), linear lepidopteran pheromones (including codlelure, gossyplure, hexalure, litlure, looplure, orfralure, and ostramone), and other insect attractants (such as eugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl eugenol). The insect attractant may be a mixture of eugenol and siglure, or other substances that provide an odor that further enhances the insect trap's effectiveness in attracting insects. In this embodiment, the insect attractant is integral with the trap portion 514. Alternatively, the insect attractant may be embedded in a separate element that is mounted on the inner surface 530 of the housing 524 or through an opening 526 in the housing 524. It is desirable that the attractant be detectable by insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 510.

FIG16 is a cross-sectional view taken through insect trap 510, illustrating the interior of base portion 512 and trap portion 514. In some embodiments, base portion 510 includes a circuit board 534 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands. Circuit board 534 is electrically connected to conductive pins 522 (only one of two conductive pins 522 is shown) and light-emitting elements, such as one or more LEDs 536—LEDs that emit ultraviolet (UV) light and/or LEDs that emit visible light (e.g., blue light). For clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. Circuit board 534 can include electronic circuitry that receives any household electrical current from conductive pins 522 and provides power to illuminate one or more LEDs 536. Alternatively, circuit board 534 can be configured to receive power from batteries (not shown) mounted in base portion 512. Although an electrical outlet and batteries are described as providing power to trap 510, any suitable power source may be used. Circuit board 534 may include an energy stabilizer, such as a full-wave rectifier circuit or any other circuit, to provide a stable voltage to one or more LEDs 536, although circuit board 534 may also be capable of providing a variable voltage to one or more LEDs 536 to provide flickering light, which some insect species find attractive. For example, a light flickering frequency in the range of approximately 0.05 Hz (e.g., to simulate the breathing rate of mammals) to 270 Hz (e.g., the highest flickering frequency known to attract male houseflies) may be desirable, and the light-emitting element may be configured to flicker within this range. Circuit board 534 may provide power to one or more LEDs 536 to provide both UV and visible light, although circuit board 534 may be configured to provide power only to one or more UV LEDs 536, only to one or more visible light LEDs 536, or to provide variable power to produce a combination of flickering UV and visible light. The circuit board 534 can also be configured to drive a transmitter or transceiver, such as a piezoelectric speaker or other device, that can be mounted in the base portion 112 to emit an insect-attracting sound. For example, the transmitter or transceiver can emit an insect-attracting sound having a frequency in the range of approximately 0.5 Hz (e.g., the heart rate of a large mammal) to 240 kHz (e.g., the highest frequency detectable by insects). In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 5 Hz to 100 kHz. In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 35 Hz to 50 kHz. It is desirable that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 510 be able to detect the insect-attracting sound. It is desirable that a person located beyond a radius of approximately 1 meter from the trap 510 be unable to detect the insect-attracting sound.

In operation of the insect trap 510, the conductive pin 522 is inserted into an electrical wall outlet. One or more LEDs 536 emit light (preferably UV and visible light, as indicated by arrows) that is transmitted through the rear surface 538 of the housing 524 of the trap portion 514. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 512 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 514. A portion of this light continues upward within the enclosure, along one or more sides 572 of the housing 524, and out of the adhesive-coated inner surface 530. Another portion of this light can continue through the walls of the housing 524 and into the enclosure, where it illuminates the adhesive-coated inner surface 530. A portion of the light that enters the enclosure can continue through the opening 526 in the trap portion 514 and the corresponding opening 520 in the base portion and be emitted into the area where the insect trap 510 is mounted. Insects in the area are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light transmitted through the opening 520 in the base portion 512, fly or crawl into the opening 520 and reach the adhesive-coated inner surface 530 of the trap portion 514, where the insects become stuck in the adhesive and become trapped. The user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the opening 520 and the opening 526. When a sufficient number of insects have been trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 514 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or the adhesive (which is inside the trap portion 514 and cannot be touched), and can replace the used trap portion 514 with a new one. The new trap portion 514 can include an unused adhesive coated inner surface 530, the housing 524 has a clean rear surface 538 (through which UV light and visible light are conducted into the trap portion 514), and the transparent or translucent material of the trap portion 514 has not been degraded by prolonged exposure to UV light, thereby ensuring that the insect trap 510 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that the benefit of the trap 510 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 514. In some embodiments, the manipulation of light occurs only within the trap portion 514. The manipulation of light can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved by combining manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., the housing 516 and the adhesive-coated inner surface 530). In some embodiments, the manipulation of light produces a uniform distribution of light on the adhesive surface or adhesive coating. In some embodiments, the light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with hot spots of higher brightness, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, on the adhesive coating or within the trap portion 514.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the adhesive thickness is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

This configuration of the insect trap 510 can accommodate a variety of different trap portions 514 that can be removably mounted to the base portion 512, each trap portion 514 being uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap portion 514, as well as the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 526 in the housing 524 of the trap portion 514, can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap portion 514 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap portion 514 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap portion 514 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 512 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 512 is 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 512 is 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the openings 526 and 520 can have various shapes and/or sizes. For example, the openings 526 and 520 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the openings 526 and 520 can be grooves having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the openings 526 and 520 are circular, the diameters of the openings 526 and 520 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameters of the circular openings 526 and 520 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameters of the circular openings 526 and 520 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the openings 526 and 520 are groove-shaped, the openings 526 and 526 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 526 and the slot-shaped opening 520 are approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 526 and the slot-shaped opening 520 are approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, opening 526 covers the entire trap portion 514 or a portion of the trap portion 514. For example, opening 526 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of the trap portion 514. In some embodiments, opening 526 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of the trap portion 514. In some embodiments, opening 526 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of the trap portion 514.

FIG17 shows an exploded view of a sixth embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 610. Insect trap 610 includes a base portion 612 and a removable trap portion 614. In this view, trap portion 614 is shown removed from base portion 612. In some embodiments, base portion 612 includes a switch 616 that can be configured to turn insect trap 610 on and off by a user closing or opening switch 616 as desired. Alternatively, switch 616 can be configured to control other features, such as light intensity, a combination of light wavelengths, flashing light in different patterns or frequencies, an automatic setting that turns on when the room is darkened, or a remote control setting, for example. Trap portion 614 includes a front housing 618 having at least one opening 620.

Two conductive prongs 622 (only one of the two prongs 622 is shown) protrude from the rear surface 670 of the base portion 612 (as shown in FIG. 18 ). These prongs 622 are suitable for mounting the insect trap 610 to a wall and for providing power to the insect trap 610 by plugging the prongs 622 into a standard household wall outlet. Alternatively, the base portion 612 can be configured to sit or hang in any desired location and receive power from a battery (not shown) mounted within the base portion 612. While an electrical outlet and batteries are described as providing power to the trap 610, any suitable power source may be used. The base portion 612 includes a light-emitting element, such as one or more LEDs 624, and a rear housing 626 including a reflectively coated inner surface 628. In some embodiments, the LEDs include an LED that emits ultraviolet (UV) light and an LED that emits visible light (e.g., blue light). In some embodiments, the light-emitting element emits a combination of wavelengths to simulate sunlight. In some embodiments, the material and surface finish of the rear housing 626 can be configured to emit UV light and/or visible light without the need for a reflective coating. As shown, the base portion 612 includes a transparent or translucent window 630, wherein the window 630 is shown in a partially cutaway manner to reveal the LEDs 624. The transparent or translucent window 630 protects the reflective inner surface 628 of the rear housing 626 and one or more LEDs 624 from dust and insect debris, and enables the base portion 612 to be easily cleaned. The transparent or translucent window 630 can be attached to the rear housing 626 at its periphery (not shown) by any suitable manufacturing technology (such as bonding or ultrasonic welding). In some embodiments, the transparent or translucent window 630 is attached to the rear housing 626 in a removable manner. The base portion 612 includes one or more openings 632. In some embodiments, an upwardly facing rim or protrusion 636 is provided on the perimeter 672 of the top surface 634 of the base 612 .

FIG18 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an insect trap 610, showing the interior of a base portion 612 and a removable trap portion 614, with the trap portion 614 mounted on the base portion 612. The removable trap portion 614 includes a front housing 618 having at least one opening 620, and a backing plate 638, which can be constructed of a transparent or translucent material and has a transparent or translucent adhesive 640 applied to a front surface 642. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the backing plate 638 and the material and thickness of the adhesive 640 are selected to transmit a significant portion of UV and/or visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the backing plate 638 and the adhesive 640. The front housing 618 of the trap portion 614 and the rear housing 626 of the base portion 612 can be constructed of any suitable material, including a thermoformed opaque plastic material, or other opaque, transparent, or translucent material, such as paper, paperboard, cardboard, or pulp. In some embodiments, the front housing 618 and the rear housing 626 are made by injection molding or by other suitable manufacturing techniques. The back panel 638 can be generally flat, although the back panel 638 can be formed with a convex, concave, or saddle-shaped profile, or a combination of profiles, to optimize the uniform distribution of light. Alternatively, the back panel 638 can have ribs or other features that increase the surface area to which the adhesive is applied, create alternating light/dark areas (some species of insects find alternating light/dark areas attractive), and help conduct insect-attracting light into the trap portion 614.

In some embodiments, the front housing 618 is coated with a transparent, translucent, or opaque adhesive on its inner surface to provide additional insect trapping efficiency and capability. In addition, the front housing 618 can also have a reflective coating beneath the adhesive coating on its inner surface to enhance its attractiveness to insects and further improve insect trapping efficiency and effectiveness. The front housing 618 and the back plate 638 can be connected together at their peripheries with an adhesive, but the front housing 618 and the back plate 638 can also be connected by other commonly used packaging assembly techniques (such as ultrasonic welding or RF sealing) or any other suitable assembly method. The material of the trap portion 614 can also include an insect attractant. For example, the trap portion 614 can be impregnated with sorbitol, coleopteran attractants (including brevicomin, dominicalure, frontalin, grandlure, ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, lineatin, megatomoic acid, sucralose ... acid, multistriatin, oryctalure, methylcalure, and trunc-call), dipteran attractants (including ceralure, cue-lure, latilure, medlure, moguchun, muscalure, and trimedlure), homopteran attractants (including rescalure), lepidopteran attractants (including disparlure), linear lepidopteran pheromones (including codlelure, gossyplure, hexalure, litlure, looplure, orfralure, and ostramone), and other insect attractants (such as eugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl eugenol). The insect attractant may be a mixture of eugenol and siglure, or other substances that provide an odor that further increases the insect trap's effectiveness in attracting insects. In this embodiment, the insect attractant is integral with the trap portion 614. Alternatively, the insect attractant may be embedded in a separate element that is mounted on the interior surface of the front housing 618, through the opening 620 in the front housing 618, or on the front surface 642 of the back plate 638. It is desirable that the attractant be detectable by insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 610.

As shown, the front housing 618 and the back plate 638 form a front enclosure 644 in the trap portion 614, and the rear housing 626 and the window 630 form a rear enclosure 646 in the base portion 612. In some embodiments, the base portion 612 includes a circuit board 648 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands, and the circuit board 648 is electrically connected to the conductive pins 622, the switch 616, and the one or more LEDs 624. However, for the sake of clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. The circuit board 648 can include electronic circuitry that receives ordinary household electrical current from the conductive pins 622, responds to the position of the switch 616, and provides power to illuminate the one or more LEDs 624. Circuit board 648 can include an energy stabilizer, such as a full-wave rectifier circuit or any other circuit, that provides a stable voltage to one or more LEDs 624 when switch 616 is in the closed position. However, circuit board 648 can also provide a variable voltage to one or more LEDs 624 to provide flickering light, which some species of insects find attractive. For example, a light flicker frequency in the range of approximately 0.05 Hz (e.g., to simulate the breathing rate of large mammals) to 250 Hz (e.g., the highest flicker frequency known to attract male houseflies) can be ideal, and the light-emitting element can be configured to flicker within this range. Circuit board 648 can provide power to one or more LEDs 624 to provide UV light and visible light. However, circuit board 648 can be configured to provide power only to one or more UV LEDs 624, only to one or more visible light LEDs 624, or can be configured to provide variable power to produce a combination of flickering UV and visible light. The circuit board 648 can also be configured to drive a transmitter or transceiver, such as a piezoelectric speaker or other device, that can be mounted in the base portion 612 to emit an insect-attracting sound. For example, the transmitter or transceiver can emit an insect-attracting sound having a frequency in the range of approximately 0.5 Hz (e.g., the heart rate of a large mammal) to 240 kHz (e.g., the highest frequency detectable by insects). In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 5 Hz to 100 kHz. In some embodiments, the frequency is in the range of approximately 35 Hz to 50 kHz. It is expected that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 610 will be able to detect the insect-attracting sound. It is expected that people outside a radius of approximately 1 meter from the trap 610 will not be able to detect the insect-attracting sound.

As shown, an upward protrusion or rim 636 on the top surface 634 of the base portion 612 engages with the trap portion 614 to secure the trap portion 614 in place during use, but may be replaced by any other form of attachment arrangement that allows the trap portion 614 to be mounted to the base portion 612 in a secure but removable manner.

In operation of the insect trap 610, the conductive pin 622 is inserted into an electrical wall socket and the switch 616 is moved to the closed position. One or more LEDs 624 emit light (preferably UV and visible light, as indicated by arrows) that is conducted through at least one opening 632 in the base portion 612, into the rear enclosure 646, and onto the reflectively coated interior surface 628 of the rear housing 626 and the rear surface 650 of the window 630. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 612 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 614. The reflective coated inner surface 628 of the rear housing 626 can include a concave shape and can be configured to reflect UV and visible light from the one or more LEDs 624 to evenly distribute the light onto the rear surface 650 of the window 630, although the inner surface 628 of the rear housing 626 can have a convex shape or a saddle shape or a combination of shapes, or can also have ribs or other features to more evenly distribute the light. Alternatively, the base portion 612 can be mounted with an optical enhancement at or near the opening 632 in the base portion 612, the optical enhancement being configured to distribute UV and/or visible light (e.g., evenly, in a particular pattern, at a focal point, etc.) onto the rear surface 650 of the window 630, such as an anamorphic lens (not shown) or any other lens or combination of lenses, which can replace or enhance the reflective coated inner surface 628 of the rear housing 626. Alternatively, UV light and/or visible light from one or more LEDs 624 can be directed at an oblique angle (e.g., an acute angle of approximately 0° to 90°) to the rear surface 650 of the window 630 and distributed throughout the window 630 of the base portion 612 and onto the back plate 638 of the trap portion 614, and can replace or enhance the effect of the reflective coated inner surface 628 of the rear housing 626 or the lens mounted to the base portion 612. The light can be conducted through the back plate 638 and the adhesive coating 640 on the front surface 642 and into the front enclosure 644. Due to the light-scattering properties of the window 630 of the base portion 612, the back plate 638 of the trap portion 614, the adhesive coating 640 on the front surface 642 of the back plate 638, or any combination of the window 630, back plate 638, and adhesive coating 640, light can be more evenly distributed. In some embodiments, a portion of the light entering the front enclosure 644 continues through one or more openings 620 in the front housing 618 and is emitted into the area where the trap is installed. Insects are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light transmitted through the adhesive coating 640 and/or through the one or more openings 620 in the front housing 618, flying or crawling into the one or more openings 620 and onto the adhesive coating 640, where they become trapped in the adhesive. A user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the one or more openings 620 in the front housing 618. When a sufficient number of insects have been trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 614 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or the adhesive (which is inside the trap portion 614 and cannot be touched), and can replace the used trap portion 614 with a new trap portion 614. The new trap portion 614 can have an unused adhesive-coated surface, ensuring that the insect trap 610 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that a benefit of the trap 610 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 614. In some embodiments, the manipulation of light occurs only within the trap portion 614. The manipulation of light can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved by incorporating manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., interior surface 628, window 630, backing plate 638, and adhesive coating 640). In some embodiments, the manipulation of light uniformly distributes light across the adhesive surface or adhesive coating 640. In some embodiments, the light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with brighter hot spots, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, across the adhesive coating 640 or within the trap portion 614.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

This configuration of the insect trap 610 can accommodate a variety of different trap sections 614 that can be removably mounted to the base section 612, each of which is uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap section 614, as well as the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 620 in the front housing 618 of the trap section 614, can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap section 614 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 614 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap section 614 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 612 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 612 is 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 612 is 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the opening 620 can have a variety of shapes and/or sizes. For example, the opening 620 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the opening 620 can be a slot having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the opening 620 is circular, the diameter of the opening 620 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 620 is approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 620 is approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the opening 620 is slot-shaped, the opening 620 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 620 is approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 120 is approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, the opening 620 covers the entire trap portion 614 or a portion of the trap portion 614. For example, the opening 620 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of the trap portion 614. In some embodiments, the opening 620 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of the trap portion 614. In some embodiments, the opening 620 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of the trap portion 614.

FIG19 shows a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 710, with FIG20 being an enlarged view of a portion of FIG19 . Insect trap 710 includes a base portion 712 and a removable trap portion 714. As shown, base portion 712 includes a switch 716 that can be configured to turn insect trap 710 on and off by a user closing or opening switch 716 as desired. Alternatively, switch 716 can be configured to control other features, such as light intensity, a combination of light wavelengths, flashing light in different patterns or frequencies, an automatic setting that turns on when the room is darkened, or a remote control setting, for example. Two conductive prongs 718 (only one of the two conductive prongs 718 is shown in this view) protrude from the rear surface 770 of the base portion 712. The two conductive prongs 718 are suitable for mounting the insect trap 710 to a wall and for providing power to the insect trap 710 by plugging the prongs 718 into a standard household wall electrical outlet. Alternatively, the base portion 712 can be configured to sit or hang in any desired location and receive power from a battery (not shown) mounted in the base portion 712. Although an electrical outlet and batteries are described as providing power to the trap 710, any suitable power source may be used. In some embodiments, a slot 722 is provided in the top surface 720 of the base portion 712, and upwardly facing protrusions 724 are provided on the periphery of the top surface 720.

The trap portion 714 includes a front housing 726 having at least one opening 728, a divider 730, a rear housing 736, a light-emitting element such as one or more LEDs 740, and electrical trap contacts 742. In some embodiments, the divider 730 is constructed of a transparent or translucent material and coated with a transparent or translucent adhesive 732 on a front surface 734. In some embodiments, the material and thickness of the divider 730 and the material and thickness of the adhesive 732 are selected to transmit a significant portion of UV light and/or visible light, for example, greater than 60% of the light is transmitted through the divider 730 and adhesive 732. In some embodiments, the LEDs 740 include LEDs that emit ultraviolet (UV) light and LEDs that emit visible light (e.g., blue light). In some embodiments, the light-emitting elements emit a combination of wavelengths to simulate sunlight. As shown, each of the one or more LEDs 740 is provided with two electrical trap contacts 742. Thus, each pair of trap contacts 742 is electrically connected to its respective LED 740.

In some embodiments, the rear housing 736 includes an inner surface 738 that is coated to be reflective. Alternatively, the material and surface finish of the rear housing 736 can be configured to reflect UV light and/or visible light without the need for a reflective coating. The front housing 726 and the rear housing 736 can be constructed of any suitable material, including thermoformed opaque plastic materials, or other opaque, transparent or translucent materials such as paper, paperboard, cardboard or pulp. In some embodiments, the front housing 726 and the rear housing 736 are made by injection molding or by other suitable manufacturing techniques.

As shown, the divider 730 is generally flat, but the divider 730 can be formed with a convex, concave, or saddle-shaped profile, or a combination of profiles, to optimize the distribution of light. Alternatively, the divider 730 can include ribs or other features that increase the surface area coated with the adhesive, create alternating light/dark areas (which some insect species find attractive), and help conduct insect-attracting light into the interior of the trap portion 714. In some embodiments, the front housing 726 is coated with a transparent, translucent, or opaque adhesive on the interior surface to provide additional insect trapping efficiency and capability. Additionally, the front housing 726 can have a reflective coating beneath the adhesive coating on the interior surface to enhance its attractiveness to insects and further improve insect trapping efficiency and effectiveness. The front shell 726, the divider 730 and the rear shell 736 can be connected together at their peripheries with an adhesive, but the front shell 726, the divider 730 and the rear shell 736 can also be connected by other commonly used packaging assembly techniques (such as ultrasonic welding or RF sealing) or any other suitable assembly method.

The material of the trap portion 714 may also include an insect attractant. For example, the trap portion 714 may be impregnated with sorbitol, coleopteran insect attractants (including brevicomin, dominicalure, frontalin, grandlure, ipsdienol, ipsenol, japonilure, lineatin, megatomoic acid, sucralose ... acid, multistriatin, oryctalure, methylcalure, and trunc-call), dipteran attractants (including ceralure, cue-lure, latilure, medlure, moguchun, muscalure, and trimedlure), homopteran attractants (including rescalure), lepidopteran attractants (including disparlure), linear lepidopteran pheromones (including codlelure, gossyplure, hexalure, litlure, looplure, orfralure, and ostramone), and other insect attractants (such as eugenol, methyl eugenol, and methyl eugenol). eugenol and siglure) or other substances that provide an odor that further increases the efficiency of the insect trap 110 in attracting insects. In this embodiment, the insect attractant is integral with the trap portion 714. Alternatively, the insect attractant can be embedded in a separate element that is mounted on the inner surface of the front housing 726, or mounted through an opening 728 in the front housing 726, or mounted on the front surface 734 of the divider 730. It is desired that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 710 will be able to detect the attractant. As shown, the divider 730 divides the trap portion 714 into a front enclosure 744 and a rear enclosure 746.

In some embodiments, the base portion 712 includes a circuit board 748 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands, the circuit board 748 being electrically connected to the conductive pins 718, the switch 716, and the electrical base contacts 750. However, for clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. Although two base contacts 750 are shown in the base portion 712 for each of the LEDs 740 in the trap portion 714, any suitable number may be used. The base contacts 750 can be configured to provide an electrical connection to the trap contacts 742 when the trap portion 714 is removably mounted to the base portion 712. The circuit board 748 may include electronic circuitry that receives ordinary household electrical current from the conductive pins 718, responds to the position of the switch 716, and provides power to the base contacts 750, which in turn provides power to the trap contacts 742 and illuminates the LEDs 740 in the trap portion 714 when the trap portion 714 is mounted to the base portion 712. In some embodiments, the circuit board 748 may include an energy stabilizer, such as a full-wave rectifier circuit or any other circuit, that provides a stable voltage to the one or more LEDs 740 when the switch 716 is in the closed position and the trap portion 714 is mounted to the base portion 712, although the circuit board 748 may also provide a varying voltage to the one or more LEDs 740 to provide a flickering light, which some species of insects find attractive. For example, a light flickering frequency in the range of approximately 0.05 Hz (e.g., to simulate the breathing rate of a large mammal) to 250 Hz (e.g., the highest flickering frequency known to attract male houseflies) may be desirable, and the light-emitting element may be configured to flicker within this range. Circuit board 748 may provide power to one or more LEDs 740 for providing both UV and visible light, although circuit board 748 may be configured to power only one or more UV LEDs 740, only one or more visible LEDs 740, or may be configured to provide variable power to produce a combination of flickering UV and visible light. Circuit board 748 may also be configured to drive a transmitter or transceiver, such as a piezoelectric speaker (not shown) or other device, that may be mounted in base portion 112 to produce insect-attracting sounds. For example, the transmitter or transceiver may produce insect-attracting sounds with frequencies in the range of approximately 0.5 Hz (e.g., the heart rate of a large mammal) to 240 kHz (e.g., the highest frequency detectable by insects). In some embodiments, the frequency is approximately in the range of 5 Hz to 100 kHz. In some embodiments, the frequency is approximately in the range of 35 Hz to 50 kHz. It is desirable that insects within a radius of approximately 2 meters from the trap 710 be able to detect the insect-attracting sound. It is desirable that people within a radius of more than approximately 1 meter from the trap 710 be unable to detect the insect-attracting sound.

In some embodiments, the base portion 712 includes a groove 722 and a protrusion 724 in the top surface 720, which are configured to engage with the trap portion 714 to secure the trap portion 714 in place during use, but may be replaced by any other form of attachment device that allows the trap portion 714 to be mounted to the base portion 712 in a secure but removable manner.

In operation of the insect trap 710, the conductive prong 718 is inserted into an electrical wall outlet, the switch 716 is moved to the closed position, and the trap portion 714 is mounted to the base portion 712. One or more LEDs 740 emit light (preferably UV and visible light, as indicated by arrows) which is conducted into the rear enclosure 746 and onto the reflectively coated interior surface 738 of the rear housing 736 and the rear surface 752 of the divider 730. In some embodiments, the light is not manipulated in the base portion 712 and is emitted directly into the trap portion 714. The reflectively coated inner surface 738 of the rear housing 736 can be concave in shape and can be configured to reflect UV light and/or visible light from one or more LEDs 740 to evenly distribute the light onto the rear surface 752 of the divider 730, although the shape of the inner surface 738 of the rear housing 736 can have a convex shape or a saddle shape or a combination of shapes, or the inner surface 738 of the rear housing 736 can also have ribs (not shown) or other features to more evenly distribute the light. Alternatively, an optical enhancement can be mounted to the rear housing 736 near or above the LED 740, or mounted to the LED 740, the optical enhancement being configured to distribute UV light and visible light (e.g., evenly, in a specific pattern, at a focal point, etc.) to the rear surface 752 of the partition 730, such as an anamorphic lens (not shown) or any other lens or combination of lenses, which can replace the reflectively coated inner surface 738 of the rear housing 736 or can enhance the effect of the reflectively coated inner surface 738 of the rear housing 736. Alternatively, UV light and/or visible light from one or more LEDs 740 can be directed at an oblique angle (e.g., an acute angle of approximately 0° to 90°) toward the rear surface 752 of the divider 730 and throughout the divider 730, replacing or enhancing the effect of the reflective coated inner surface 738 of the rear housing 736 or a lens mounted to the rear housing 736 or the LEDs 740. This light can be conducted through the divider 730 and the adhesive coating 732 on the front surface 734 into the front enclosure 744. Due to the light scattering properties of the divider 730, the adhesive coating 732 on the front surface 734, or both, the light can be more evenly distributed. A portion of the light that enters the front enclosure 744 continues through one or more openings 728 in the front housing 726 and is emitted into the area where the trap 710 is mounted. Insects are attracted by the UV light and/or visible light transmitted through the adhesive coating 732 and/or through one or more openings 728 in the front housing 726, flying or crawling into the one or more openings 728 and onto the adhesive coating 732, where they become trapped in the adhesive. A user can observe the trapped insects by looking through the one or more openings 728 in the front housing 726. When a sufficient number of insects have been trapped, the user can easily disassemble and discard the entire used trap portion 714 without touching the trapped insects, insect fragments, or the adhesive (which is kept out of reach of the trap portion 714) and replace the used trap portion 714 with a new one. The new trap portion 714 can have an unused adhesive-coated surface and light-directing surface, ensuring that the insect trap 710 will continue to efficiently and effectively attract and trap insects.

It should be understood that the benefit of the trap 710 is the manipulation of light within the trap portion 714. In some embodiments, the manipulation of light occurs only within the trap portion 714. The manipulation of light can include reflection, refraction, polarization, and/or scattering and is achieved by combining manipulative elements or surfaces (e.g., inner surface 738, divider 730, and adhesive coating 732). In some embodiments, the manipulation of light produces a uniform distribution of light on the adhesive surface or adhesive coating. In some embodiments, the light is manipulated to produce a predetermined pattern, such as a uniform distribution, a uniform distribution with hot spots of higher brightness, a hot spot pattern, and/or combinations thereof, for example, on the adhesive coating or within the trap portion 714.

Any suitable adhesive material can be used as part of the adhesive surface for trapping insects. In some embodiments, pressure-sensitive adhesives can be used, such as acrylic resins, butyl rubber, natural rubber, nitrile, silicone, styrene block copolymers, polyethylene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, and vinyl ether. Typically, the thickness of such adhesives should be approximately within the range of 0.01 mm to 1 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive is approximately within the range of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm, with the most commonly used thickness being approximately 0.1 mm.

The insect trap 710 of this configuration can accommodate a variety of different trap portions 714 that can be removably mounted to the base portion 712, each trap portion 714 being uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, the overall size and shape of the trap portion 714, the size, shape, and orientation of the opening 728 in the front housing 726 of the trap portion 714, and the wavelength and brightness of the LED 740 can be uniquely configured to attract and trap a particular species or species of insects. For example, in some embodiments, the trap portion 714 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 20 mm to 600 mm high, and 5 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap portion 714 is approximately 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 20 mm to 200 mm high, and 5 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the trap portion 714 is approximately 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 20 mm to 130 mm high, and 5 mm to 50 mm deep.

In some embodiments, the base portion 712 is approximately 20 mm to 600 mm wide, 10 mm to 150 mm high, and 10 mm to 150 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 712 is 20 mm to 200 mm wide, 10 mm to 100 mm high, and 10 mm to 80 mm deep. In some embodiments, the base portion 712 is 20 mm to 130 mm wide, 10 mm to 50 mm high, and 10 mm to 50 mm deep.

As provided herein, the opening 728 can have a variety of shapes and/or sizes. For example, the opening 728 can be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and/or elliptical in shape. Alternatively, the opening 728 can be a slot having a straight, curved, or wavy shape or pattern. If the opening 728 is circular, the diameter of the opening 728 can be approximately 0.5 mm to 30 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 728 is approximately 0.5 mm to 20 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular opening 728 is approximately 0.5 mm to 15 mm. If the opening 728 is slot-shaped, the opening 728 can be approximately 2 mm to 30 mm wide and 5 mm to 500 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 728 is approximately 2 mm to 20 mm wide and 5 mm to 200 mm long. In some embodiments, the slot-shaped opening 728 is approximately 2 mm to 15 mm wide and 5 mm to 100 mm long.

In some embodiments, the opening 728 covers the entire trap portion 714 or a portion of the trap portion 714. For example, the opening 728 may cover a range of approximately 1% to 75% of the surface area of the trap portion 714. In some embodiments, the opening 728 covers approximately 5% to 50% of the surface area of the trap portion 714. In some embodiments, the opening 728 covers approximately 10% to 30% of the surface area of the trap portion 714.

FIG21 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of an insect trap, generally designated 810. Insect trap 810 includes a trap portion 814 and a base portion 812. In FIG21 , trap portion 814 is shown removed from base portion 812. In some embodiments, trap portion 814 includes a tab 818 projecting downwardly from a bottom surface 850. Base portion 812 can have a corresponding opening 824 (as shown in FIG23 ) for receiving tab 818 when trap portion 814 is mounted to base portion 812. As shown, base portion 812 includes a switch 816.

FIG22 is a cross-sectional view of insect trap 810 showing trap portion 814 mounted to base portion 812, and FIG23 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG22. In some embodiments, base portion 812 includes a circuit board 822 having a programmable processor or chip (not shown) for executing commands. Circuit board 822 is configured to provide power and instructions to desired components (e.g., switch 816, LED 826, etc.). However, for clarity, not all electrical connections are shown. In some embodiments, circuit board 822 includes a docking switch or trap switch 820 mounted thereon. Tabs 818 on trap portion 814 can protrude through corresponding openings 824 in base portion 812 and engage electrical trap switch 820 when trap portion 814 is mounted to base portion 812. The trap switch 820 can be configured to close when the tab 818 on the trap portion 814 engages the trap switch 820, and can be configured to open when the tab 818 is lifted off the trap switch 820 (e.g., when the trap portion 814 is removed from the base portion 812). In some embodiments, the trap switch 820 is configured to activate in response to pressure from the tab 818 on the trap portion 814. Alternatively, the trap switch 820 can be configured to activate in response to the tab 818 being displaced on the trap portion 814. Alternatively, the trap switch 820 can be configured as an optical switch to close when the light beam is interrupted by the protrusion 818 of the trap portion 814, or can be configured as a Hall effect sensor to close when in proximity to a magnet on the trap portion 814, or can be configured as any other switch or sensor that opens or closes when the trap portion 814 is installed or removed from the base portion 812.

Trap switch 820 is electrically connected to circuit board 822 and/or switch 816 so that optical elements such as UV light and/or visible light LEDs 826 are deactivated when trap portion 814 is removed from base portion 812, thereby preventing a user from directly viewing the UV light and/or visible light from LEDs 826. Alternatively, trap switch 820 can be electrically connected to circuit board 822 and/or switch 816 so that only UV LEDs 826 are deactivated when trap portion 814 is removed from portion 812.

In view of the many possible embodiments in which the principles of this discussion may be applied, it should be recognized that the embodiments described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings are intended to be illustrative only and should not be considered to limit the scope of the claims. For example, although the angle measurements relative to the primary direction of light from the LEDs are described for simplicity, the angles can also be relative to a vertical axis. In addition, for each of the embodiments, the front portion of the housing (or the entire housing or the entire trap portion) can be formed to have a variety of decorative and/or functional shapes. For example, the housing can be shaped to resemble a flower or plant, or a shell, or a company logo, or a sports team logo, or a football, or a basketball, or a soccer ball, or an ice hockey puck, or a football helmet, or a hockey stick, or any other shape. Each of the exemplary embodiments may also include elements from other embodiments even if not explicitly shown. Therefore, the technology as described herein contemplates all such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (35)

1. An insect trap, comprising: The insect trap portion (814) and the base portion (812), the base portion (812) including a light-emitting element (826) and a switch (820), the insect trap portion (814) including: A closed enclosure comprising an adhesive (136) and a first opening (120) through which insects can fly or crawl into the insect trap portion (814); and The downwardly protruding tab (818) causes the switch (820) of the base portion (812) to shift when the insect trap portion (814) is mounted on the base portion (812), thereby closing the switch (820). 2. The insect trap according to claim 1 further includes a bottom surface (850), from which the tab (818) protrudes. 3. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein the base portion (812) further includes a conductive pin (122) that can be inserted into an electrical socket. 4. The insect trap according to claim 3, wherein the switch (820) activates the light-emitting element (826) when the tab (818) of the insect trap portion (814) causes the switch (820) to shift. 5. The insect trap according to claim 3, wherein when the tab is disengaged from the switch (820), the switch (820) deactivates the light-emitting element (826). 6. The insect trap according to claim 1, wherein when the insect trap portion (814) is mounted to the base portion (812), the tab (818) protrudes through the opening (824) in the base portion (812). 7. The insect trap according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tab (818) protrudes downward from the bottom surface (850) of the insect trap portion (814). 8. A method of using an insect trap according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: The insect trap portion (814) is mounted on the base portion (812), wherein the base portion (812) further includes a conductive pin (122) that can be inserted into an electrical socket, the tab displaces the switch (820) to close the switch (820), and When the switch (820) is closed, the light-emitting element (826) is activated. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising inserting the conductive pin into the electrical socket. 10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the insect trap portion further includes an adhesive surface, and an insect received in the insect trap portion via the first opening adheres to the adhesive surface. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising separating the insect trap portion from the base portion and discarding the insect trap portion. 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising removing the insect trap portion (814) from the base portion (812) and deactivating the light-emitting element (826). 13. A method of using an insect trap according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: The insect trap portion (814) is attached to the base portion (812); The base portion (812) is connected to a power source to provide power to the light-emitting element (826), wherein the light-emitting element (826) is located within the base portion (812), and wherein the light-emitting element (826) is configured to attract insects to the insect trap portion (814); Insects are received into the insect trap portion (814) via the first opening of the insect trap portion (814); and The switch (820) is configured to activate the light-emitting element (826) when the insect trap portion (814) is properly installed on the base portion (812). 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the light-emitting element (826) is de-energized when the insect trap portion (814) is separated from the base portion (812). 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising separating the insect trap portion (814) from the base portion (812) and discarding the insect trap portion (814), wherein the insect remains in the discarded insect trap portion (814). 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the insect trap portion (814) is discarded without human contact with the insect in the insect trap portion (814). 17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the insect trap portion (814) includes an adhesive surface, and wherein the insect is adhered to the adhesive surface. 18. A method of using an insect trap, comprising: Provides the base portion of the insect trap; A first trap portion of an insect trap is provided, wherein the first trap portion includes an opening; The first trap portion is attached to the base portion; The base portion is connected to a power source to provide power to a light-emitting element, wherein the light-emitting element is located within the base portion or within the first trap portion, and wherein the light-emitting element is configured to attract insects to the first trap portion; and Insects are received into the first trap portion through the opening, and The base portion includes a docking switch configured to activate the light-emitting element when the first trap portion is correctly mounted to the base portion. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first trap portion includes an adhesive surface, and wherein the insect adheres to the adhesive surface. 20. The method of claim 18 or 19, further comprising providing a second trap portion including an opening of the insect trap and attaching the second trap portion to the base portion. 21. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the docking switch comprises a mechanical switch, an optical switch, an electronic switch, or a Hall effect sensor. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mechanical switch is an electromechanical switch. 23. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the first trap portion further includes a docking switch activator, which activates the docking switch when the first trap portion engages the base portion. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the docking switch activator is a surface, a protrusion, a tab, or a magnet. 25. A method of using an insect trap, comprising: Provides the base portion of the insect trap; A first trap portion of an insect trap is provided, wherein the first trap portion includes an opening; The first trap portion is attached to the base portion; The base portion is connected to a power source to provide power to the light-emitting element, wherein the light-emitting element is located within the base portion or within the first trap portion, and wherein the light-emitting element is configured to attract insects to the first trap portion; Insects are received into the first trap portion through the opening; Separate the first trap portion from the base portion; and Discard the first trap section. The insect is held in the discarded first trap portion, and When the first trap portion is separated from the base portion, the light-emitting element is de-energized. 26. A method of using an insect trap, comprising: Provides the base portion of the insect trap; A first trap portion of an insect trap is provided, wherein the first trap portion includes an opening; The first trap portion is attached to the base portion; The base portion is connected to a power source to provide power to the light-emitting element, wherein the light-emitting element is located within the base portion or within the first trap portion, and wherein the light-emitting element is configured to attract insects to the first trap portion; Insects are received into the first trap portion through the opening; Separate the first trap portion from the base portion; and Discard the first trap section. The insect is held in the discarded first trap portion, and When the first trap portion is separated from the base portion, the light-emitting element is at least partially blocked and unable to emit light. 27. An insect trap, comprising: The trap portion includes a closed body having an adhesive surface for trapping insects and a first opening through which insects can fly or crawl into the closed body, wherein the adhesive surface is at least partially contained within the closed body; and The base portion includes a light-emitting element, a mounting portion, and a docking switch, wherein the light-emitting element provides light to the trap portion, and the mounting portion is connected to a power source and receives power from the power source; and The trap portion is removably engaged with the base portion, and the docking switch activates the light-emitting element when the trap portion engages with the base portion. 28. The insect trap according to claim 27, wherein the docking switch comprises a mechanical switch, an optical switch, an electronic switch, or a Hall effect sensor. 29. The insect trap according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the trap portion further includes a docking switch activator, the docking switch activator activating the docking switch when the trap portion engages with the base portion. 30. The insect trap according to claim 29, wherein the docking switch is a surface, a protrusion, a tab, or a magnet. 31. The insect trap according to claim 29, wherein the docking switch is closed when the docking switch activator engages the docking switch and is opened when the docking switch activator disengages from the docking switch. 32. The insect trap of claim 29, wherein the docking switch is activated in response to pressure from the docking switch activator. 33. The insect trap according to claim 29, wherein the docking switch is activated in response to the displacement of the docking switch activator. 34. The insect trap of claim 27, wherein the trap portion further includes a tab that, when the trap portion is mounted in the base portion, protrudes through a corresponding opening in the base portion and engages with the docking switch. 35. The insect trap according to claim 28, wherein the mechanical switch is an electromechanical switch.