INSECT TRAP

Abstract

The invention relates to an insect trap (10) and more particularly to an insect trap which has been designed to facilitate simple and efficient servicing, maintenance and cleaning. In a first aspect the trap comprises a. a back housing (12); b. a frame (14) swing mounted to said housing; and c. a cover (16) comprising openings (18) allowing insects to enter the trap and the frame supports one or a plurality of lights (22) such that said frame and lights can be moved from a first position where they overlie the back housing, to a second position where they lie clear of the back housing such that an insect catching means (100) which may be fitted over the back housing is readily accessible for replacement during servicing. In another aspect the trap comprises a. a back housing (12); b. a plurality of lights (22); and c. a cover (16) and the trap is adapted for ease of servicing and jet cleaning by the provision of shields (60) each of which sealably protect, from water ingress, a plurality of lights (22) at the positions where they connect to electrical fittings (24). In yet another aspect there is provided an insect capture means (100) with a general capture surface (102) and a separate surface (104) designed to facilitate record keeping.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. An insect catching device, comprising: at least two insect capture surfaces, a first surface including a first color, and a second surface including a second color different from the first color of the first surface, wherein the second color of the second surface is configured to facilitate at least one of ease of counting and ease of identification of captured insects.

20. (canceled)

21. The insect catching device according to claim 19, further comprising a line of weakening disposed between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the line of weakening includes at least one perforation, the second surface being detachable from the first surface along the line of weakening.

22. The insect catching device according to claim 19, wherein the second color of the second surface is a light color compared to the first color of the first surface.

23. The insect catching device according to claim 19, wherein the second surface includes grid lines marked thereon.

24. The insect catching device according to claim 19, wherein the second surface includes a non-capture area, wherein the non-capture area includes a medium for insect capture data.

25. The insect catching device according to claim 19, wherein the first color of the first surface is darker than the second color of the second surface for at least one of absorbing light and decreasing visibility of captured insects a viewer viewing the first surface through an insect trap cover.

26. The insect catching device according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes surface characteristics defining a plurality of grid lines extending at least one of parallel to each other and crossing each other.

27. The insect catching device according to claim 26, wherein the second surface further includes a non-capture area defining a medium for receiving insect capture data.

28-37. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The various aspects of the invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the following figures in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is perspective view of an insect trap according to the first aspect of the invention with the cover on and frame slightly open;

[0034] FIG. 2 is perspective view of an insect trap according to the first aspect of the invention with the cover removed;

[0035] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 with the cover and frame open to a much greater extent and with no glue paper present;

[0036] FIG. 4 is rear view of the insect trap of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 showing the cover being removed and the frame slightly open (without the shields of the second aspect);

[0038] FIG. 6 is view of the rear of the back housing with the lower left side shown enlarged;

[0039] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 showing the cover being removed and the frame slightly open (with the shields of the second aspect in place);

[0040] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the insect trap of FIG. 1 with the cover removed, the frame slightly open and the shield of the second aspect of the invention about to be fitted;

[0041] FIG. 9 is a detailed partial view of the shield of the second aspect of the invention in its fitted position;

[0042] FIG. 10 is a schematic showing two traps linked back to back for suspension mounting; and

[0043] FIG. 11 is perspective view of the insect trap of FIG. 3 with an insect catching means of the third aspect of the invention being fitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Referring to the Figs an insect trap (10) according to a first aspect of the invention comprises three basic components: a back housing (12); a frame (14) and a cover (16). These are clearly illustrated in FIG. 5. The frame (14) is a perimeter frame (FIG. 3), comprising upper (14a) and lower (14b) frame members and two side members (14c; 14d). The perimeter frame (14) is swing, swivel or hinge mounted to the back housing (12) via a swing mechanism (20) which is substantially hidden (FIG. 2).

[0045] A plurality of 15 W or 25 W UV lights (22), three are illustrated in the example, are connected to paired electrical fittings (24a; 24b) (FIG. 2), and wiring (not shown) runs in channels or conduits (not shown) which are sealed by rubber or silicon gaskets (not shown) and enclosed by fascia plates (26) (FIG. 3) which are preferably metallic such that they provide rigidity to the moulded plastics frame. The metal also allows the frame to be held shut against a magnetic contact (28) provided on the back housing (12). The wiring runs through the swing mechanism (20) (which is hollow) into the back housing (12) where it exits the rear face (30) at an IEC socket (32) (FIGS. 4 and 6). The back housing is additionally provided with one or more key hole apertures (34) to facilitate mounting, ventilation conduits (36) and cable stowage arms (38). It also comprises a space (40) for a heat sink (not shown) and fluorescent high frequency electronic ballast (42).

[0046] Behind each light (22) there is provided a reflector (44) which is held in place by stops (46) which enable the reflectors to be sprung mounted thereby facilitating ease of removal for cleaning (FIG. 2). An insect capturing means (100), in the form of e.g. a castellated adhesive paper (FIG. 11) can be easily fitted and/or removed by swinging open the frame (14) and cover (16) of the closed trap (FIG. 1) by placing ones fingers under a flange (48) which extends from the perimeter frame member (14c) opposite the hinged frame member (14a) to an open position as shown in FIG. 3. An adhesive paper (100) can then be fitted to the inner face (50) of the back housing (12) over ridges (52) by pushing it over shaped retaining pegs (54) and moving it in a downwardly direction such that the paper is held in place by the pegs (54). To remove the paper the paper is lifted to align the castellation with the pegs before pulling it over the pegs.

[0047] The cover (16) is made of a translucent material and has an innermost surface which is shaped or roughened to maximise the transmission of UV light as set out in EP1457111. The openings (18) which allow insects in are louvered and are angled to prevent the lights (22) being visible when viewed substantially perpendicularly to the normal plane of the back housing (12). The general principle of maintaining a pleasant appearance of trap is set out in EP0947134 but the use of louvers is a further improvement in this regard. In particular, the louver openings (18) are paired about a centre axis (x-x) to provide a downward and upward inflexion respectively of between 30 and 60?.

[0048] The second and an independent aspect of the invention illustrated by the insect trap is most clearly illustrated with reference to FIGS. 7-9. It relates to a trap which need not comprise a frame (14) swing mounted to the back housing (12) as per the first aspect of the invention. It addresses the issue of trap serviceability and simplifies the seal mechanism around a trap comprising a plurality of lights (22) and paired electrical fittings (24a; 24b) making the trap well suited to jet washing (to IP65 requirements). Rather than seeking to place a sealed fitting around each contact point, instead shields (60) are fitted around a plurality of lights (22) and a plurality of electrical fittings (24a or 24b) to sealable protect a plurality of contacts simultaneously against water ingress. In this manner two single shields (60) can be removed to access a plurality of lights. In addition to speeding up the process of changing the lights the provision of two manually operable screw fittings (62), which face outwardly and are readily accessible to service personnel, simplifies the change. Thus, each shield (60) comprises a shaped housing (64) comprising a plurality of generally arcuately shaped recesses (66) which are designed to sealingly sit over silicon sealing members or gaskets (68) (FIG. 9) which are fitted about the lights (22) such that when the shields are secured in place over the sealing members (68) the connections are made water tight.

[0049] The traps are designed such that two traps can be connected via a connector (80) (FIG. 10) which slots into apertures (82) in the rear face (30) of the back housing (12). The connector (80) comprises a plurality of apertures (84) running there through allowing cables (86) to be used to suspend the traps.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 11, the insect capture means (100), according to the third aspect of the invention, is designed to facilitate identification of and/or counting of captured insects and record keeping. It comprises at least two insect capture surfaces (102; 104), a first surface of which (102) is one colour or shade, preferably black or a dark colour, and a second surface (104) of which is designed to facilitate ease of counting and or identification of captured insects and which is most preferably white or a light shade, as most insects are dark.

[0051] Preferably, the second surface (104) is easily detached or otherwise separated from the first surface (102) for record keeping, there being a line of perforations (106) or other means facilitating folding and separation, between the first (102) and second (104) surface.

[0052] The second surface includes a non-glued area (108) outside of grid lines (110) for insertion of data, such as date of use information. The grid lines are of a regular size, e.g. 2.5 mm.sup.2 to facilitate data capture, such as, number of insects per given area.

[0053] The second surface (104) can be at any position but it is preferred to position it within the trap at a position which reflects either average or maximum capture. Maximum capture is likely to occur at the bottom of the trap and accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated, the second surface is the surface which folds to catch falling insects.