US1178139A - Device for killing insects. - Google Patents

Description

W. I. DIEDRICH.

DEVICE FOR KILLING INSECTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- I6, 1915.

1 178, 1 39. Patented Apr. 4;, 1916.

W- J. DIEDRWI'I WILLIAM J'. DIEDRICH, 0F WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN.

v DEVICE FOR KILLING INSECTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16-, 1915. Serial No. 45,784.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. DIEDRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waukesha, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Killing Insects, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings;

This invention relates to an improved 1nsect killing device and has for its primary object to provide a simple and effective means for killing flies and like insects, the device being so constructed as to eliminate the necessity of swinging the arm, in order to strike the fly with the implement.

It is more particularly the object of the invention to provide a device for the above purpose, embodying a handle member having a spring pressed pivoted hammer mounted therein, a flexible steel blade fixed at one end to the hammer and provided upon its other end with a wire screen plate, and means for causing a rapid vibration of said steel blade, when the hammer is released.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a fly killing device which is .in the form of a toy pistol and will, therefore, afford a certain degree of amusement to juveniles, the device as a whole beingexceedingly simple in its construction and, therefore, capable of manufacture at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of using my invention: Fig.. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the handle which is in the form of the handle usually provided upon cap pis-. tols and the like. This handle is of hollow construction and, in the top wall of the same, adjacent to itsforward end, a slot 6 is formed, through which the head of the hammer 7 projects. This hammer head normally extends longitudinally of the slot 6 and, at its forward end, a recess 8 is formed in thelower face thereof to receive the longitudinally projecting shoulder 9, at the forward end of the slot 6. -The hammer 7 is plvotally mounted upon a transverse pin 10 fixed at its ends in the opposite side walls of the handle 5 and the shank 11 of said hammer extends through the hollow handle and pro ects outwardly through a longitudinal 311M512 formed in the lower wall of the han- The forward end of the head of the hammer 7 is provided with a' kerf or slot, in

which one'end of the flexible steel spring plate 13 is fixed. To the other or free end of this spring plate, the wire screen head 14 is secured, said screen head being normally disposed in spaced relation to the forward end of the handle 5.

The hammer 7 is held in its normal position by means of a leaf spring 15, arranged within the hollow handle 5. One end of this leaf spring is engaged against an internal lug 16 formed upon the butt end of the hollow handle. The spring extends longitudlnally within the handle and over a pin 17, WhICh is spaced from the lug 16, said sprlng bearing against the opposite side of the pin, with respect to the side of the lug wh ch is engaged by the extremity of the sprlng. The other end of the leaf spring 15 bears against a shoulder 18 formed upon the head of the hammer 7. It will be understood from this construction that when the hammer 7 is drawn back to the position shown 1n Fig. 1, so that the spring plate 13 1s dlsposed in an approximately vertical posltlon, the free end of the leaf spring 15 is forced downwardly and said spring is placed under tension. Upon the release of the hammer the spring 15 acts to throw the hammer head and the spring plate 13 downwardly and violently engage the wire screen head 14 on the free end of the spring, upon the fly or other insect.

For the purpose of causing a snapping or vibration of the spring plate 13, I provide on the top wall of the hollow handle 5, at its forward end, a raised flange or lug 19, with which said spring plate contacts.

In the use of the device as above described, the operator securely grasps the handle 5 in one hand and with the thumb draws back the hammer head 7, thereby placing the spring 15 under tension, as above explained. When the device has been properly located with respect to the fly or other insect which Patented Apr. 41, 19145.

downwardly and upon the fly, thereby killing the same. It will be observed that by means of my device, swinging movements of the arm, which are required in all ordinary devices heretofore provided for this purpose, are rendered unnecessary so that the fly 1s given no warning of the approaching danger or otherwise frightened away. The invention will, therefore, be very reliable and effective in practical use.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown a slightly modified form of the device, wherein the use of the pivoted spring pressed hammer is dispensed with and the flexible steel spring plate 13' is fixed at one of its ends, directly to the handle member 5. The forward end of this member is in spaced relation to the fixed end of the spring plate and is provided with a raised flange or rib 19', in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the use of this latter construction, the operator grasps the handle 5' in one hand and, with the finger of the other hand, raises the outer free end portion of the spring plate 13. When the wire mesh head on the end of said spring has been disposed over the fly, the spring plate is released so that upon its return to normal position, the wire head will be engaged upon the insect with sufiicient force to kill the same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of operation of the several described embodiments of my invention, will be clearly and fully understood. Both constructions are quite simple, may be easily and quickly operated and provide effective and reliable means for killing the insects. It will be understood that the wire mesh head on the free end of the flexible spring plate may be of any desired size or shape. When the spring plate loses its resiliency, a new one may be readily attached to the pivoted hammer head or to the handle 5'. While I have disclosed what I believe to be the simplest mounting and arrangement of the pivoted hammer and the spring. for operating the same, it is to be borne in mind that such features of the device may be conon one end, and a flexible spring plate carried by said handle and projecting over said rib and beyond the forward end of the handle, the forward extremity of said' plate having a striking head fixed thereon, said spring plate being adapted for engagement upon said upstanding rib, whereby the plate is caused to vibrate.

2. In a device of the character described, a handle member, a pivoted spring pressed hammer mounted in said handle member, and a flexible spring plate fixed at one end to the hammer and projecting beyond the forward end of the handle, said spring plate hazing a striking head fixed upon its free on 3. In a device of the character described, a handle, a spring pressed hammer mounted in the handle, a flexible steel plate fixed .at one of its ends to the hammer, plate normally extending longitudinally of the handle and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, a strikinghead fixed upon the free end of said spring plate, said plate being adapted to be raised to an approximately vertical position, when the hammer is cocked, and an upstanding rib formed on the forward end of the handle with which said spring plate is adapted to engage, when the hammer is released, whereby said plate is vibrated. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. DIEDRICH." Witnesses:

ALBERT N. CooMBs, HELEN L. COUNSELL.

said spring

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