Abstract
The invention relates to an active insect capturing device, comprising a capture opening having an opening edge, preferably at least one receiving chamber having at least one chamber wall, at least one glare light source, and an insect trap, wherein the insect capturing device comprises at least one carrying handle and is portable. The invention further relates to an active insect capturing device, comprising a capture opening having an opening edge, preferably at least one receiving chamber having at least one chamber wall, at least one glare light source, wherein the insect capturing device is an, in particular removable, vacuum cleaner attachment for a vacuum cleaner having a carrying handle.
Claims
1. An active insect capturing device comprising a capture opening having an opening edge, at least one glare light source, an insect trap and at least one receiving chamber having at least one chamber wall, wherein the active insect capturing device comprises at least one carrying handle and is portable.
2. An active insect capturing device comprising a capture opening having an opening edge, at least one glare light source, and at least one receiving chamber having at least one chamber wall, wherein the active insect capturing device is a removable vacuum cleaner attachment for a vacuum cleaner and has a carrying handle.
3. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one glare light source is adapted and arranged for directly illuminating a zone in front of the capture opening.
4. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one chamber wall and/or the opening edge are/is transparent and/or translucent.
5. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insect trap comprises a suction device which preferably generates a negative pressure.
6. The active insect capturing device according to claim 5, characterized in that said device comprises at least one filter and/or collection container through which air aspirated by the suction device is transported.
7. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving chamber is a receiving tube and the capture opening is formed on an end of the receiving tube.
8. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one glare light source is formed by at least one LED or by a plurality of interconnected LEDs, emitting light in the UV range.
9. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one glare light source is formed by or comprises a laser emitting light in the UV range.
10. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one brightness sensor for determining the brightness in the surroundings of the insect, at least one data processing device arranged and adapted for comparing the brightness in the surroundings of the insect determined with the at least one brightness sensor to the lighting intensity of the glare light source or to the adjustable lighting intensities of the glare light source, and optionally at least one control unit for adjusting the lighting intensity of the glare light source and/or optionally an indicator or output device.
11. The active insect capturing device according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one data processing device is arranged and adapted to determine a probability of capturing the insect based on the comparison of the brightness in the surroundings of the insect to the lighting intensity of the glare light of the glare light source, wherein the data processing device is connected or connectable to the indicator device or to the output device, which are adapted and arranged to indicate or output, respectively, the capture probability.
12. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one glare light source shines directly through the capture opening and/or that the glare light source is located behind the capture opening and/or in the receiving chamber.
13. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one glare light source is formed by an annular glare light source surrounding the capture opening, or is formed by multiple glare light sources arranged circumferentially around the capture opening.
14. The active insect capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising an energy generating device and/or an energy storage unit with which the at least one glare light source is supplied with energy.
15. A kit comprising an active insect capturing device comprising a capture opening having an opening edge, at least one glare light source, and at least one receiving chamber having at least one chamber wall, wherein the active insect capturing device is a removable vacuum cleaner attachment for a vacuum cleaner and has a carrying handle; and wherein the insect capturing device is fastenable to an end of a vacuum cleaner tube.
16. A method for capturing insects with an insect capturing device, comprising a capture opening having an opening edge, at least one glare light source, an insect trap and at least one receiving chamber having at least one chamber wall, wherein the active insect capturing device comprises at least one carrying handle and is portable, the method having the following steps: 1) Locating an insect on a surface, 2) Blinding the insect with the at least one glare light source, 3) Moving the insect capturing device closer to the blinded insect, 4) Capturing the insect with the insect trap.
17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the capturing of the insect does not require setting the insect capturing device on the surface.
18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that a flight reflex of the insect is triggered between steps 3) and 4) by nudging the insect with the receiving tube and/or by removing the blinding cone.
19. The method according claim 16, further comprising between steps 1) and 2), the following steps: a) Determination of the brightness in the surroundings of the insect, b) Comparison of the determined brightness in the surroundings of the insect to the lighting intensity of the glare light source, c) Determination of a capture probability on the basis of the comparison performed according to b), d) Display or output of the determined capture probability.
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
Description
[0086] Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained by way of example with reference to schematic drawings, without limiting the invention.
[0087] Therein:
[0088] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the active insect capturing device comprising a suction device;
[0089] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment;
[0090] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment;
[0091] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment;
[0092] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment;
[0093] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device comprising a cage trap;
[0094] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sketch of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device;
[0095] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment; and
[0096] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device comprising a suction device.
[0097] FIG. 1 shows the perspective view of an embodiment of the active insect capturing device 1 comprising a capture opening 2 having an opening edge 6, at least one receiving chamber 21 having an interior 16 having at least one chamber wall 5, at least one glare light source 3 and an insect trap 9 in the form of a suction device, wherein the insect capturing device comprises a carrying handle 10 and is portable. The chamber wall 5 comprises the opening edge 6, which delimits the capture opening 2. The at least one glare light source 3 emits the glare light 4 in the direction of the capture opening 2. Venting slits 12 expel the air that was sucked in by the suction device. The suction device can be turned on and off with the activation switch 11. The at least one glare light source 3 is positioned in the center area of the capture opening 2 by a centering bracket 7. The interior 16 is provided between the capture opening 2 and the insect trap 9 in the form of a suction device. The carrying handle 10 is also located beyond the receiving chamber 21 and on a side of the receiving chamber 21 opposite the capture opening 2.
[0098] FIG. 2 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 101 comprising a capture opening 102 having an opening edge 106, at least one receiving chamber 121 having at least one chamber wall 105, and at least one glare light source 103. An insect trap is not shown, since the device is an active insect capturing device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment, and the vacuum cleaner can optionally form an insect trap. Vacuum cleaners typically comprise a suction device, which generates a negative pressure. The at least one glare light source 103 is positioned in the center area of the capture opening 102 by means of a centering bracket 107 in the form of a bar. The at least one glare light source 103 emits the glare light 104 in the direction of the capture opening 102 so that the insect X can be blinded. The insect capturing device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment comprises a connector 118 for attaching a vacuum cleaner tube. The interior 116 of the receiving chamber 121 is provided between the capture opening 102 and the connector 118.
[0099] FIG. 3 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 101 comprising a capture opening 102 having an opening edge 106, at least one receiving chamber 121 having at least one chamber wall 105, and at least one glare light source 103. In this embodiment, the at least one glare light source 103 is in the form of an LED halo ring, which surrounds the capture opening 102. The LEDs are integrated in the opening edge 106 of the chamber wall 105 of the receiving chamber 121. An insect trap is not shown, since the device is an active insect capturing device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment. The at least one glare light source 103 emits the glare light 104 from the opening edge 106 of the capture opening 102 so that the insect X can be blinded. The insect capturing device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment comprises a connector 118 for attaching a vacuum cleaner tube. The interior 116 of the receiving chamber 121 is provided between the capture opening 102 and the connector 118.
[0100] FIG. 4 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 101 comprising a capture opening 102 having an opening edge 106, at least one receiving chamber 121 having at least one chamber wall 105, and at least one glare light source 103. An insect trap is not shown, since the device is an active insect trapping device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment, wherein the associated vacuum cleaner can form the actual trap for insects. The at least one glare light source 103 is positioned in the center area of the capture opening 102 by means of a centering bracket in the form of a crossbar 108. The at least one glare light source 103 emits the glare light 104 in the direction of the capture opening 102 so that the insect X can be blinded. The insect capturing device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment comprises a connector 118 for attaching a vacuum cleaner tube. The interior 116 is provided between the capture opening 102 and the connector 118. The at least one glare light source 103 is supplied with current via a cable 114 from a solar cell 113.
[0101] FIG. 5 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 101 comprising a capture opening 102 having an opening edge 106, and at least one glare light source 103. In this embodiment, the at least one glare light source 103 is in the form of an LED halo ring, which surrounds the capture opening 102 and is fastened on the outside to the chamber wall 105 or the opening edge 106. An insect trap is not shown, since the device is an active insect trapping device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment. The at least one glare light source 103 emits the glare light 104 from the opening edge 106 of the capture opening 102 so that the insect X can be blinded. The insect capturing device 101 in the form of a vacuum cleaner attachment comprises a connector 118 for attaching a vacuum cleaner tube. The interior 116 of the receiving chamber 121 is provided between the capture opening 102 and the connector 118. Optionally, provision can be made of secondary glare light sources 117, which hide other areas of the insect capturing device 101 by means of a glare.
[0102] FIG. 6 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 201 comprising a capture opening 202 having an opening edge 206 and at least one glare light source 203. In this embodiment, the insect trap 209 comprises a cage trap 215 and the springs 219. The cage trap 215 can spring forth from its original position in order to capture an insect. A carrying handle 210 is provided with an activation switch 211 for this purpose. The cage trap 215 is shown in a pretensioned position, in which the springs 219 are compressed. Upon actuation of the activation switch 21, the cage trap 215 is disengaged and the springs 219 relax, pushing the cage trap 215 forward. It then pops out via the opening edge 206 in order to capture an insect X, which was blinded by the glare 204 of the at least one glare light source 203. The at least one glare light source 203 is positioned in the center area of the capture opening 202 by means of a centering bracket 207 in the form of a rod. The cage trap can be electrically charged in order to kill the insect. The cage trap is located in a receiving chamber.
[0103] FIG. 7 is a schematic sketch of an embodiment in the sense of the present invention. The insect X is situated at a distance D from the capture opening 302 defined by the opening edge 306. The glare light 304 forms a blinding cone, by which the insect is blinded and is thus unable to perceive the opening edge 306. Consequently, the insect does not move away when the insect capturing device 301 is moved toward it. During this process, the user can hold the insect capturing device by the carrying handle 310. The clearance A1 is thus the inner diameter of the interior 316. The distance A2 is the distance between the at least one glare light source 303 and the chamber wall 305. The distance A2 is suitable for the passage of insects. A3 is the distance between the opening edge 306 and the glare light source 303. In this case it is preferred if this distance is at least 0.5 cm.
[0104] FIG. 8 shows the schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 401 comprising a capture opening 402 and at least one glare light source 420. The at least one glare light source 420 shines glare light 404 into the chamber wall 405, which is then emitted at the circumferential opening edge 406. The receiving chamber 421 in the form of a receiving tube having the interior 416 is provided between the capture opening 402 and the connector 418. The receiving chamber 421, in particular the receiving tube, comprises a light-conducting material, for example fiber-optic cables. The at least one glare light source 420 shines light into this light-conducting material in such a way that it exits at the circumferential opening edge 406. The at least one glare light source 420 can be formed by multiple point-source LEDs. This embodiment has the advantage of ensuring in particular that the opening edge 406 does not cast any shadows.
[0105] FIG. 9 shows the perspective view of a further embodiment of the active insect capturing device 501 comprising a capture opening 502 having an opening edge 506, at least one receiving chamber 521 having at least one chamber wall 505, at least one glare light source 503 and an insect trap 509 in the form of a suction device, wherein the insect capturing device comprises a carrying handle 510 and is portable. The chamber wall 505 comprises an opening edge 506, which delimits the capture opening 502. The at least one glare light source 503 emits the glare light 504 in the direction of the capture opening 502. Venting slits 512 expel the air that was sucked in by the suction device. The suction device can be turned on and off with the activation switch 511. The embodiment of FIG. 9 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 mainly in that the receiving chamber, in particular the receiving tube 521 and the interior 516, are longer than in FIG. 1.
[0106] The features of the invention disclosed in the preceding description, in the claims and in the drawings may be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in any combination.
