Acoustic lethal ovitrap

Abstract

An acoustic lethal ovitrap, comprising a tray defining an inner space and having a floor which slopes downwardly toward a center point, and also having a side wall defining a curved internal radius; a housing mounted within the tray; a transducer and power/control unit mounted within the housing for generating acoustic energy at a desired wavelength; a solar panel mounted on the housing and producing power for the transducer and power/control unit of the apparatus; wherein the tray captures water and attracts mosquitos to the water within the tray, and the transducer within the housing generates acoustic energy sufficient to kill mosquitos as they are attracted to the device.

Claims

1. An acoustic lethal ovitrap, comprising: a tray defining an inner space and having a floor which slopes downwardly toward a center point, and also having a side wall defining a curved internal radius; a housing mounted within the tray; a transducer and power/control unit mounted within the housing for generating acoustic energy at a desired wavelength; a solar panel mounted on the housing and producing power for the transducer and power/control unit of the apparatus; wherein the tray captures water and attracts mosquitos to the water within the tray, and the transducer and power/control unit is configured and adapted to generate acoustic energy in water within the tray, the acoustic energy being sufficient to kill mosquitos on or in contact with the water within the tray.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer generates acoustic energy resonant with a dorsal tracheal trunk of a mosquito.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer is an acoustic transducer having a cylindrical piezo ceramic for generating sound in a horizontal toroid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tray defines an open top area to expose water to sight of female mosquitos.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tray has drain ports in the side wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tray has a two-textured black interior, such that the interior is smooth below the drain ports and rough above the drain ports.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a holder supporting the housing above the floor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side wall has a variegated exterior surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing has an upper portion having an outside edge, and further comprising a plurality of blue LED lights arranged on the outside edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention appears hereinbelow, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is perspective view of an acoustic lethal ovitrap in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a housing for components of the present invention and support for solar panel and LED components of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a further perspective view of the housing similar to that of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a further perspective view of a housing according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a housing according to the invention including solar panels;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tray for defining the water reservoir and holding the other components of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a central portion of the tray;

(12) FIG. 11 is a further view of the tray of FIG. 9, with the housing and solar panel in place;

(13) FIG. 12 is a side view of the tray of FIG. 9, with housing and solar panel in place;

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 9, with housing and solar panel in place;

(15) FIG. 14 is a top view of the tray of FIG. 9, with housing and solar panel in place;

(16) FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing and solar panel in position with the central structure of the tray in accordance with the present invention;

(17) FIG. 16 is a further perspective view of the tray with housing and solar panel according to the invention;

(18) FIG. 17 is an itemized illustration of an apparatus according to the invention identifying key features of the invention; and

(19) FIG. 18 is a further view of an apparatus according to the invention with further key features identified.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(20) The invention relates to an acoustic lethal ovitrap 10, that is, a trap for trapping various species of mosquito using acoustics as the lethal agent and having advantageous components to allow for a safe, pesticide-free trap which is effective for all species of mosquitos.

(21) The apparatus includes a tray 12, in this embodiment, a generally circular open-topped tray as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, and also as illustrated in FIGS. 9-16. The tray has a bottom 14 which preferably slopes toward the center 16 as illustrated in FIG. 3, and a sidewall 18 which can have a thickened upper edge 20 and an inner wall which curves inwardly to the increased thickness. This structure with internal radius provides for hanger strength, and also for a shadowed area which is attractive to mosquitos as described above.

(22) The tray can also have a plurality of drainage ports 22 as shown in FIGS. 1-4, and these drainage ports can help to prevent over-filling of the tray with rainwater, and further help to ensure maintenance of the water at a desired level within the tray.

(23) In the central portion of the tray, a holder 24 is provided for holding a housing 26 which contains electronics as well as a solar panel 28, as will be discussed further below. This holding structure can be provided in the form of four upwardly extending prongs 30 as shown in FIG. 4 which will hold and stabilize the housing 26 referred to above. Other structures would also suffice.

(24) The tray 12 preferably has a two-texture black interior, smooth below the drain ports and rough above the drain ports, as this is helpful in attracting mosquitos. Further, the outside sidewall 28 of the tray can be provided having a blue/white variegated exterior 32, as this helps to attract mosquitos.

(25) As shown in FIG. 3, a housing 26 is positioned and held by the central mounting structure 30 of the tray, and this housing serves to contain the various functioning components of the apparatus, and also serves to support a solar panel for powering these components. The solar panel 28 is shown as the square component held in the upper portion of the housing. The housing contains a transducer and generator of acoustic energy which, when tuned to be resonant with the dorsal tracheal trunk of mosquitos, ruptures this portion of the mosquito, thereby killing the mosquito.

(26) The components of this device can be in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,011. This patent is incorporated herein by reference.

(27) The housing 26 can also have, preferably along an outside edge of the upper portion, a plurality of blue LED lights 34, the operation of which is controlled by electronics within the housing and powered by the solar panel, such that the LEDs, referred to as “blue motion LEDs”, can be operated to attract mosquitos to the trap.

(28) FIGS. 5-18 show further illustrations of the housing 26, and FIG. 8 includes a solar panel to be held by the housing.

(29) FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of center 16 and a holder 24 according to the invention.

(30) It should be appreciated that the tray and the housing are constructed and designed to attract mosquitos. Further, the tray is also designed to collect rain water such that a desired level of water can be maintained in the device without any maintenance by the user.

(31) The solar panel obtains and stores sufficient power to operate the blue motion LEDs, and also to operate the transducer to generate acoustic energy at the desired wavelength.

(32) It should be readily appreciated that the appatus in accordance with the invention is a very simple and effective, yet maintenance free, apparatus and system for trapping and killing mosquitos, specifically mosquito larvae, and the apparatus according to the invention is not accompanied by any of the drawbacks identified above with respect to pesticides and the like.

(33) It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.