INSECT STICKY TRAP WITH CORRUGATED SURFACE

Abstract

An adhesive trap for entrapping pests such as insects such as flying or crawling insects, or other small creatures includes a corrugated panel defining a plurality of channels connected by convex peaks. For example, the corrugated panel, or a plurality of corrugated panels, may be configured and/or assembled to define a pillar or the like. A pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered only in the plurality of channels, such that the convex peaks of the corrugated panel are free of adhesive. The adhesive trap is effective at capturing target insects, and the adhesive-free outer portions facilitate handling of the traps without contacting the adhesive and reduces the risk and likelihood of inadvertently ensnaring or adhesively engaging larger, non-target creatures.

Claims

1. An adhesive trap for trapping small pests, the adhesive trap comprising: a corrugated panel defining a plurality of channels connected by convex peaks having a width; and a pressure sensitive adhesive adhered only to the plurality of channels, wherein the convex peaks of the corrugated panel are free of any adhesive.

2. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a bead of adhesive.

3. The adhesive trap of claim 2, wherein the bead of adhesive defines an outward-facing planar surface.

4. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises a thin adhesive layer.

5. The adhesive trap of claim 1, further comprising a linerboard that is fixed along a face of the corrugated panel.

6. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels have a height that is between 1/32 inches and ½ inches inclusive.

7. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the corrugated panel comprises between 98 corrugations per meter and 433 corrugations per meter.

8. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the corrugated panel comprises a tubular pillar.

9. The adhesive trap of claim 8, wherein the tubular pillar has a circular, hexagonal, triangular, or rectangular cross section.

10. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels are parallel channels.

11. The adhesive trap of claim 1, wherein the corrugated panel is a tubular member.

12. The adhesive trap of claim 11, wherein the tubular member has a round, square, triangular, or hexagonal cross section.

13. An adhesive insect trap comprising: at least one corrugated panel defining a plurality of channels that are connected by convex peaks such that the channels are spaced apart; an adhesive disposed on at least a center portion of each of the channels; wherein the convex peaks do not have any adhesive surface.

14. The adhesive insect trap of claim 13, wherein the at least one corrugated panel comprises a tube that is circular, triangular hexagonal, or square in cross section.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates corrugation pitch and height parameters for a corrugated panel, wherein the corrugated panel is shown with a linerboard;

[0021] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate a portion of three embodiments of adhesive insect traps in accordance with the present invention, wherein a uniform thickness of an adhesive is provided only in valley or channel portions of the corrugations, and a protruding portion of each corrugation does not have any adhesive;

[0022] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a portion of three embodiments of adhesive insect traps in accordance with the present invention, wherein a non-uniform thickness of an adhesive is provided only in channels of the corrugations, and a protruding portion of each corrugation does not have any adhesive;

[0023] FIG. 4A illustrates a portion of an adhesive trap using as shown in FIG. 2C, with an insect captured by the adhesive trap;

[0024] FIG. 4B illustrates a portion of an insect captured by the adhesive insect trap shown in FIG. 3A;

[0025] FIG. 5A shows an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention, formed as a flat panel;

[0026] FIG. 5B shows an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention, formed or assembled as an upright circular cylinder;

[0027] FIG. 5C shows an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention, formed or assembled as an upright hexagonal cylinder;

[0028] FIG. 5D shows an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention, formed or assembled as an upright triangular cylinder; and

[0029] FIG. 5E shows an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention, formed or assembled as an upright square cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] An adhesive trap configuration is disclosed that provides one or more corrugated surfaces or panels, wherein the adhesive panels are easier to handle and are less likely to entrap larger, non-target animals or to be damaged by inadvertent interaction with larger animals or the like. As used herein a corrugated panel (or corrugated sheet) is defined conventionally as a panel “shaped into wavy folds or alternating furrows and ridges” (see, www.dictiionary.com). The adhesive trap construction disclosed herein may be applied to a variety of pests, for example arthropods (e.g., insects), arachnids (e.g., spiders), reptiles, amphibians, small mammals (e.g., rats, mice, etc.), and the like, providing a new tool for combatting pestiferous and/or disease-vector critters.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a generic corrugated panel 10 defining a plurality of alternating ridges or peaks P (two shown) and grooves or channels C between adjacent peaks P. The channels C have a height 12 and a period or width 14. The corrugated panel 10 is shown optionally fixed to a linerboard 16, for example with an adhesive, fasteners, or the like. The linerboard 16 improves the structural rigidity of the corrugated panel 10.

[0032] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are end views of three adhesive corrugated panel assemblies 100, 110, 120 respectively for an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention. Examples of adhesive traps that may be constructed using any of these corrugated panels are shown in FIGS. 5A-5E. Each of the corrugated panel assemblies 100, 110, 120 include a corrugated panel 10 and an optional linerboard 16 fixed to the corrugated panel 10. The corrugated panel 10 is preferably made from relatively sturdy materials, for example fiberglass, plastic, or glass. In currently preferred embodiments the corrugation height 12 of the corrugated panel 10 is between 1/32 inches and ½ inches.

[0033] In FIG. 2A each of the channels C in the corrugated panel 10 has a strip of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material 102 provided as a thin adhesive layer, for example a glue, disposed generally along a center portion of the channel C. The adhesive material 102 preferably extends along most or all of the length of the associated channel C. The adhesive material 102 is applied or affixed to the channel C such that the adhesive material 102 extends to approximately one third the height 12 of the channel C, for example between 30% and 40% of the channel height 12. The adhesive material 102 may be applied to the channel C in any suitable manner. For example, the adhesive 102 may be sprayed onto the associated channel C, applied with a brush or roller, or adhered directly to the panel 10 as a double-sided sticky tape.

[0034] FIG. 2B illustrates a corrugated panel assembly 110 similar to the assembly 100 shown in FIG. 2A, including an adhesive material 102′ disposed generally along a centerline of the associated channel C, defining a thin adhesive layer. The adhesive material 102′ is approximately centered in the associated channel and in this embodiment extends laterally to approximately half the height 12 of the channel, for example between 45% and 55% of the channel height 12.

[0035] FIG. 2C illustrates a corrugated panel assembly 120 similar to the assembly 100 shown in FIG. 2A, including an adhesive material 102″ disposed generally along a centerline of the associated channel C in a thin adhesive layer. The adhesive material 102″ is approximately centered in the associated channel and in this embodiment extends laterally to approximately three quarters the height 12 of the channel C, for example between 70% and 80% of the channel height 12.

[0036] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show end views of three other embodiments of corrugated panel assemblies 130, 140, 150 respectively for an adhesive trap in accordance with the present invention, and except as discussed below are similar to the embodiments described above. In these embodiments, the adhesive material 112 is disposed generally along a centerline of the associated channel C and is applied such that the adhesive material 112 is a bead of adhesive that partially fills the associate channel C, defining a generally planar, outwardly-facing adhesive surface in the associated channel C, and between peak portions of the corrugated panel.

[0037] In FIG. 3A, the adhesive material 112 fills the associated channel to approximately one third the height 12 of the channel, for example between 30% and 40% of the channel height 12, and presents a generally flat, outwardly-facing adhesive face. In FIG. 3B, the adhesive material fills the associated channel to approximately half the height 12 of the channel C, for example between 45% and 55% the height of the channel, and defines a generally flat, outwardly-facing adhesive face. In FIG. 3C, the adhesive material fills the associated channel to approximately three-quarters the height 12 of the channel, for example between 70% and 80% of the channel height 12.

[0038] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a portion of the corrugated panel assembly 150, and illustrating a pest 90 entrapped by the adhesive 112″. A target pest engaging the adhesive material 112″ similar to prior art adhesive pest devices such as fly paper and the like. Similarly, FIG. 4B illustrates a pest 90 entrapped by the adhesive 112′ of panel assembly 130. It will be appreciated that the a larger (non-target creature), for example, may engage the corrugated panel assemblies without becoming ensnared by the adhesive material recessed in the channels of the panel assemblies described above. Moreover, a person deploying, moving, or otherwise engaging with the adhesive panels may avoid direct contact with the adhesive material. The size and shape of the channels C in the corrugated panels, and type and quantity of adhesive provided in the channels C may be optimized for a particular application. Because the adhesive is provided only within the channels C, the outer perimeter of the corrugated flutes (i.e., ridges and grooves, see FIGS. 1-3) can be varied or adjusted for particular applications, for example depending on the size of the target insects and/or to avoid ensnaring non-target animals, such as birds, (with consideration of feather structures, perching behavior, and feet), bats, small rodents, and the like.

[0039] Optimal sizes and shapes of the corrugated flutes may also take into consideration typical human finger sizes to minimize user entanglement, as well as glue application requirements, coating area, etc. Common sizes of single-face corrugated flutes (paper cardboards) are A, B, C, E, and F flutes. Flute thickness (height), wavelength (pitch) as well as paper (or plastic) thickness for flutes and flat linerboard are variables that can be adjusted to be optimized for different target insects and/or applications. For sturdy plastic, glass or fiberglass corrugated surfaces, no linerboard is needed (see, FIG. 2; top). For example, a corrugated panel may be stood upright or hung with the adhesive applied in furrows on both sides of the panel; thus, the flute types and sizes for the single-face paper cardboards are contemplated for the more rigid materials without linerboard.

[0040] In some embodiments the corrugated panel is flexible, and configured to wrap around a fixed object, for example the base of a tree, or a movable object such as a movable container or post. For example, the corrugated panel may be formed as a flexible elongate panel, and configured to be installed as a spiraled wrap around the movable or fixed object. It is contemplated, for example, that a corrugated panel may include adhesive in the channels of both sides of the panel and wrapped around the base of the object. In some embodiments it may be preferable to install corrugated adhesive panels in alternating arrangements with adhesive applied on opposite sides of adjacent panels. The particular pattern of the adhesive placement may be configured to the specific behavioral characteristics of the pest targeted by the particular application.

[0041] In exemplary embodiments, the adhesive may be any pressure sensitive adhesive (“PSA”), or other type of glues that will adhesively ensnare a target insect. It is contemplated that the adhesive may be applied using (i) one or more spray heads (air spray or airless spray), (ii) wheel/roller systems, (iii) jetting systems, (iv) slot applicators/extruders, and/or (v) brush and/or trowel systems, for example. Other adhesive application systems as are known in the art may alternatively be used, including applying or printing narrow strips of adhesives or adhesive tapes into the furrows. In another embodiment an adhesive is applied to the entire surface and non-adhesive blocking strips are applied over the peaks of the corrugations that block the adhesive from adhering to the peaks.

[0042] In one method of making the adhesive trap with the desired glue area/thickness and patterns, glue is applied to the furrows in strips as a thin layer of adhesive membrane, e.g., thickness range from 1-40 mil, to cover a bottom ¼ to ½ or ¾ of the valley-ridge sloped surface area, in the grooves, leaving the corrugation top section (upper ridge section) with no adhesive. For example, the non-adhesive portions may comprise ¼ or more total corrugation area. In some embodiments, an adhesive may be applied as a thick bead having a diameter, for example, ⅓ to ½ or less of the groove height. Although uniform spacing of the corrugated surfaces are shown, it is contemplated that the corrugation spacing may be non-uniform. In some embodiments the ridge sections may be non-parallel, for example expanding in a fan-like arrangement.

[0043] Regardless of the corrugation types (sizes), the glue area along with the thickness of the glue in the groove should be sufficient to ensnare or capture target pests but restricted to the channels of the corrugated sheet or panel such that the corrugated panel may be handled by a user without contacting the adhesive directly, and to avoid or reduce the risk of contact by feathers or body parts of non-target creatures such as birds or bats. For example, the selected corrugation sizes or combination of corrugation sizes, and the glue area/thickness may be selected to engage multiple insect legs (at least 3) of a target insect no matter where the target insect lands on the corrugated surface.

[0044] It is contemplated that the corrugated or fluted panels may have color and/or pattern combinations providing a visual attractant for target insects, such as flies and/or social wasps. Examples of visual attractants on flat surfaces are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,015,988, to Zhang et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. It is believed that the three-dimensional characteristics of visual attractants on a corrugated surface will improve the efficacy of the attractant to target insects. In some embodiments the inner surface

[0045] FIG. 5A illustrates a panel structure 110 that may be formed using any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A-2C or 3A-3C. In preferred embodiments the corrugated panel 100 has corrugations having a height between 1/32 inches and ½ inches, inclusive, and the corrugations are spaced to provide between 98 corrugations per meter and 433 corrugations per meter. A plurality of the panels 110 may be assembled or manufactured unitarily such as a hexagonal pillar 210 shown in FIG. 5C, a rectangular pillar 220 shown in FIG. 5D, a square pillar 230 shown in FIG. 5E. Non-corrugated pillar devices for insect visual attractant are disclosed, for example, U.S. Des. Pat. No. D700,269, to Chapin et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. It will be appreciated by persons of skill in the art that the target insects for adhesive insect traps may inform the placement of the adhesive.

[0046] In some embodiments the corrugated panel may be formed as an elongate flexible ribbon or tape that may be wrapped in a spiraling arrangement around an existing structure, for example a tree, fencepost, light post, power pole, or the like. For example, it is contemplated that spacers (not shown) may be fixed to an inner surface of the elongate flexible ribbon or tape, such that the flexible ribbon is spaced away from the structure, to provide access insect (or other pest) access to space between the structure and the ribbon. An adhesive applied only to the side of the flexible ribbon facing the structure would provide a non-adhesive outer face, and an inner surface that does not adhere to structure.

[0047] While illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.