STAGING SURFACE FLYING INSECT TRAP

Abstract

Devices are embodied that eliminate flying insect pests in quite a different way than others devices have used in the past. If insects are attracted to a surface large enough to accommodate their numbers and allowed to gather for a time without being restrained or bothered, it is possible by way of these embodiments at a single location to eliminate insects in very large number on a daily basis. Depending on a device's size and embodiment, from several hundred to far in excess of one hundred thousand flying insects per twenty-four hour period can be eliminated.

Claims

1. In combination: A surface, either rigid or flexible, upon or proximal to which a plurality of insect pests are attracted and able to stage, gathering at or near said surface for a predetermined period of time and means to attract and then after said predetermined period of time remove, physically degrade, biologically alter or genetically modify said insects either automatically or with human initiation.

2. An apparatus for the removal and disposition of, or the in-place degradation or modification of insect pests comprising: An element, element 1, which is a surface portion of a pre-existing construct or else is a surface portion of a construct manufactured for the present invention, upon which said insect pests can gather or hover near to within a few body lengths distance from in unmolested, unhindered fashion for a duration of time, said duration of time enabling an increasing accumulation upon said surface portion of said insects, said apparatus further comprising an element 2, which is a system that after said duration of time, automatically or with human initiation, causes or enhances the departure or removal to a further disposition the said gathered or hovering insects, or else causes their physical or biologic degradation or genetic modification.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein during said duration of time electromagnetic radiation is either reflected by a portion of said surface, transmitted through both a portion of said construct and a portion of its said surface, absorbed by either a portion of said construct's interior or its surface and then emitted at a portion of said construct's surface, with said reflected, transmitted or emitted radiation being of wavelength, duration, timing sequence, intensity or having the ability to create perceived movement, so as to attract said insects to said surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an element, element 3, producing an electromagnetic radiation that is either oriented in a direction substantially away from said surface, or is reflected by a portion of said surface, transmitted through both a portion of said construct and a portion of its said surface, generated at a portion of said construct's interior or its surface and then emitted at a portion of said construct's surface, absorbed by a portion of said construct's interior or its surface and then emitted at a portion of said construct's surface, said radiation being of wavelength, duration, timing sequence, intensity or having the ability to create perceived movement, so as to attract said insects to said surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said surface portion is of a structure or system of electric or electronic design that produces energy of visual or ultra-violet wavelength, with said visual or ultra-violet wavelength being generated by at least one member selected from the group of technologies consisting of incandescent, fluorescent, phosphorescent, coherent wavelength, liquid crystal display, plasma display, light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, other visual or ultra-violet wavelength technologies, said structure or system being controlled by appropriate devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an element, element 4, which is a speaker or other kind of electro-mechanical transponder in communication with said apparatus, and that when controlled by appropriate circuitry, causes mechanical vibrations to be induced within or upon said apparatus in order to produce an acoustic radiation discernable at a distance by said insects and to attract them.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an element, element 5, which is a speaker or other kind of electro-mechanical device that is operatively near said apparatus, and that when controlled by appropriate circuitry, produces an acoustic energy imparted to the air, wherein said insects are further attracted to said surface from a distance.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein insects, including mosquitoes, are attracted to said surface by utilizing in the proximity of said apparatus the propagation of either heat or water vapor or certain substances found in breath exhalation, perspiration or plant life, with at least one of said substances to be chosen from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, octanol, nonanal, sulcatone, goldenrod, milkweed, other chemical attractants, other biological attractants.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said insects are either automatically or with human initiation relocated by force or else relocate themselves from upon or hovering near said surface by way of a device or system that causes or enhances transport or departure of said insects to at least one further disposition selected from the group consisting of starvation, electric shock, negative air pressure, oxygen deprivation, air over-pressure, immersion in a fluid, severe overheating, dehydration, dismemberment, excessive physical contact pressure, biologically degrading electromagnetism, biologically degrading acoustic radiation, toxic substance, mobility limiting substance, genetic modification, other biologic modification.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said insects are either automatically or with human initiation, biologically degraded, genetically modified or terminated while at or near to said surface by way of a device or system that causes at least one disposition selected from the group consisting of starvation, electric shock, negative air pressure, oxygen deprivation, air over-pressure, immersion in a fluid, severe overheating, dehydration, dismemberment, excessive physical contact pressure, destructive electromagnetic radiation, destructive acoustic radiation, toxic substance, mobility limiting substance, genetic modification, other biologic modification.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a container is used to hold said removed, degraded or terminated insects for later disposition, or else to serve as a confinement vessel during the time said insects are being terminated, said container and contents then to be disposed of.

12. A method for eliminating or modifying insect pests comprising: (a) providing or utilizing a surface for said insects to be attracted to, so that a plurality of said insects either congregate directly upon or remain within several body lengths distance from said surface over a period of time, during which time period insects within the general vicinity are encouraged to increase the numbers gathered to said surface through a continuing attraction of new arrivals while the insects already gathered to said surface are left alone, remaining unhindered and unmolested and retaining their physical abilities, (b) attracting said insects to said surface by way of at least one of the effects or attractants selected from the group consisting of the emission, the transmission, the reflection, the absorption/re-emission of electromagnetic energy, acoustic vibration, water vapor, carbon dioxide, pheromones, octanol, nonanal, sulcatone, goldenrod, milkweed, other chemical attractants, other biological attractants, (c) providing at or near said surface, either automatically or with human initiation, the loss of freedom of movement of said insects or their physical degradation, by way of the application of at least one cause of said loss or freedom or degradation selected from the group consisting of being removed by vacuum and transported for further disposition, starvation, oxygen deprivation, dehydration, severe overheating, air under-pressure, air over-pressure, immersion in a fluid, excess physical contact pressure, mobility limiting substance, toxic substance, destructive acoustic radiation, electric shock, dismemberment, coherent energy beam, destructive electromagnetic radiation, biochemical modification, genetic modification, (d) providing for the final disposition of said insects by way of at least one member selected from the group consisting of sequestering biologically viable, biologically degraded or terminated insects in a throwaway container until an appropriate time, sequestering said insects in a burnable container for complete destruction, sequestering said insects in a container or confining volume that enters into communication with a substance or effect that causes said insects' ultimate termination or destruction, causing any remains of said terminated or degraded insects to enter the outside natural environment to be ultimately disposed, causing biochemically or genetically modified mosquitoes to enter the outside natural environment, whereby said insect pests are efficiently eliminated or modified in large numbers.

Description

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

[0106] FIG. 1 shows a vacuum wand system of one embodiment installed on a store wall for sweeping flying insects from a pre-existing staging surface that transmits light from pre-existing sources.

[0107] FIG. 2A is of the vacuum generation and insect trapping functions of FIG. 1. FIG. 2B shows a valve to keep the insects contained once trapped.

[0108] FIGS. 3A and 3C are of the drive components at the lower end of the wand of FIG. 1. FIGS. 3B and 3D depict the guiding components at the upper end of the wand.

[0109] FIGS. 4A and 4B concern an embodiment that is a large scale upright staging surface for public venues, with a vertically traveling vacuum wand and collector assembly.

[0110] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the drive mechanism for the public venue device of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0111] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are of the vacuum components of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0112] FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a table-mounted light emitting insect trap that produces light by way of a modern technology found in entertainment devices or flat panel advertising or lighting.

[0113] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C depict a solar cell power source for the light emitting device of FIG. 7 and also the drive and vacuum systems.

[0114] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are of a soffit-mounted vacuum trap embodiment that utilizes reflected light as an attractant.

[0115] FIGS. 10A and 10B show side and front views of the soffit-mounted embodiment.

[0116] FIGS. 11 and 12 are of an embodiment related to the soffit-mounted device of FIGS. 9 and 10, yet for use at a flexible staging surface rather than a soffit.

[0117] FIG. 13A depicts the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 in use at a flexible staging surface that is oriented substantially horizontally. FIG. 13B is a vertically oriented embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 with the trap having an approximate right angle bend to allow less torque by the embodiment against the vertically oriented staging surface, which runs up the side of a building.

[0118] FIG. 14 is an embodiment of a portable insect trap that has multiple transparent rotating staging surfaces and stationary vacuum inlets that, in conjunction with the rotating surfaces, bring about the vacuum sweeping of both the top and bottom of each rotating staging surface.

[0119] FIG. 15 shows the drive and rotational support mechanisms of the embodiment of FIG. 14 and gives a cursory look at its vacuum system.

[0120] FIGS. 16 and 17 are detailed views of the vacuum system of the embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15.

TABLE-US-00004 DRAWINGS - Reference Numerals  50 Flying insect(s)  52 Exterior wall  54 Pre-existing light source  56 Roof  58 Soffit 100 Storefront staging surface 110 Collector assembly 112 Collector assembly housing 113 Access door 114 Fan motor and blades 116 Fan support vanes 118 Protective grill 120 Collector 121 Collector valve assembly 122 Collector valve flap 123 Collector valve spring 124 Valve spring form 125 Valve frame 126 Funnel tube 128 Air funnel 130 Vacuum wand 132 Air intake slots 134 Incoming air 136 Outgoing air 140 Drive motor/helical pinion gear unit 142 Lower carriage assembly 144 Carriage front 146 Carriage wheel 150 Lower track 152 Linear helical gear rack 154 Helical pinion gear 160 Upper carriage assembly 170 Upper track 200 Public venue staging surface 210 Bifurcated vacuum wand 212 Wand mounting plate 220 Screw shaft 222 Screw shaft key slot 230 Wand drive assembly 232 Drive motor/gear reduction unit 233 Motor straps 234 Splined shaft 235 Motor mounting plate 236 Screw shaft gear 237 Internal threads 238 Screw shaft keys 239 Sliding collar 240 Upper pole 242 Pole sleeve 244 Pole stop 245 Sleeve bearings 246 Support bearing 248 Lower pole 250 Lower frame 252 Lower screw shaft support 260 Upper fra261 Upper pole frame support 262 Upper screw shaft support 270 Impinging light source 272 Non-impinging light source 290 Air intake ports 292 Air channeling wall 300 Flat panel staging surface 302 Table top 304 Solar panel 306 Table vacuum carriage 308 Air intake slot 310 Drive motor/gear reduction unit 312 Drive differential 314 Worm drive shaft 320 Axle 322 Wheel(s) 323 Axle bearing 324 Carriage support channel 400 Soffit staging surface 410 Non-integral light source 411 Electrical leads 412 Integral light source 419 Axle slot 420 Soffit vacuum carriage 421 Soffit carriage support channel 422 Channeling box 423 Soffit vacuum carriage top 424 Air intake bridging 425 Drive motor/gear reduction unit 426 Motor mount 428 Drive belt 429 Driven axle 430 Soffit collector canister 432 Canister access door 500 Flexible staging surface 502 Traction wheel 504 Side plate axle bearing 506 Clamping wheel 508 Clamping lever 510 Clamping lever pivot 512 Clamping lever spring 514 Side plate 516 Flexible staging surface assembly 517 Modified flexible staging surface assembly 600 Transparrent rotatable staging surface 601 Transparent rotatable staging surface assembly 602 Transparent support column 604 Vacuum inlet 606 Vacuum tube 608 Light source 610 Upper rotation assembly 612 Protective cover 614 Upper ball bearing 616 Upper mounting plate 620 Lower rotation assembly 621 Lower ball bearing 622 Lower mounting place 630 Drive motor/gear reduction unit 632 Drive gear 634 Driven gear 636 Controller 640 Air flow

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

[0121] No embodiment among those described is to be considered preferred. They each have a place in the market, and by adjusting their design size, can overlap another's typical use.

[0122] Except for FIGS. 9A, 14 and 15 no electrical connections or controls are depicted. It is assumed by the author that practices well known in the art will have been followed in providing connections and controls during a design phase. Timing and movement limitation devices and applications, for instance 555 timer circuits and micro-switches are contemplated by the author, though other methods are not excluded.

Operation of the First Embodiment

[0123] A first embodiment, FIGS. 1-3, uses a staging surface (a store window) and an attractant (the store's internal lighting) that were in existence prior to the installation.

[0124] FIG. 1 depicts an already existing storefront staging surface 100, a storefront window, with the store's pre-existing light source 54 visible from the outside. Flying insects 50, mosquitoes in this case, have sensed the store giving off light and gathered at the surface 100.

[0125] The embodiment has a vacuum wand 130, a collector assembly 110, a lower track 150 together with a reversible drive motor/helical pinion gear unit 140 and a lower carriage assembly 142. There is a linear helical gear rack 152 affixed inside the lower track 150. The lower track is permanently affixed to exterior wall 52. There is also an upper track 170 that is permanently affixed to exterior wall 52. Upper carriage assembly 160 and lower carriage assembly 142 support and guide the vacuum wand 130, holding it in vertical orientation as it moves along the upper and lower tracks.

[0126] FIG. 2A shows the collector assembly 110 joined to the lower end of the vacuum wand 130. Users gain entry to the assembly through an access door 113. The vacuum wand 130 has air intake slots 132 through which incoming air 134 passes. The incoming air is drawn into the wand by fan motor and blades 114 in the collector assembly 110. As the incoming air 134 enters the wand it brings with it flying insect pests 50 that are gathered at the staging surface 100 as the vacuum wand sweeps over them. The insects are directed downward upon being sucked into the wand and pass through air funnel 128 at the bottom of the wand. The air funnel forms a seal within the wand, being joined to the wand along the wand's internal periphery, which doesn't allow air to leak by.

[0127] Funnel tube 126 is joined to the air funnel 128, and passes down into collector assembly housing 112. The funnel tube is threaded at its lower end to receive a collector valve assembly 121, which is mated to collector 120, a mesh bag for holding captured flying insects. The air passes through the collector and then through protective grill 118, which lies between the collector 120 and the fan motor and blades 114, and serves to prevent collector shredding and release of contents should the collector accidentally separate from the valve assembly 121. The outgoing air 136 exits at the bottom of the collector assembly 110. Baffling or other airflow enhancement around the fan motor and blades 114 to channel air passage and increase the fan's efficiency is not shown, though it is contemplated.

[0128] FIG. 2B shows the collector valve assembly 121. It is a short tube with internal threads that mate with the external threads on the funnel tube 126 and has a valve frame 125 affixed to it. The valve frame has a valve spring form 124 spanning its two sides. Wrapped around the spring form is a collector valve spring 123, made of spring wire, which has a short extension fastened off to the valve frame 125 for stability. The other end of the spring wire is an extension that reaches under a collector valve flap 122. The valve flap is hinged at the valve spring form 124, and is free to rotate about the axis of the spring form.

[0129] During operation the rush of air from the draw of the fan 114 through the funnel tube 126 and into the valve assembly 121 causes the valve flap 122 to open against the resistance of the valve spring 123. This opening action allows inducted insects to be carried by the rush of air through the valve and into the collector 120. The air flow is strong enough to prevent insects from escaping back through the valve.

[0130] When the fan 114 shuts off automatically at some point, and the air flow stops, the valve flap 122 returns to its closed position because of the closing force of the spring 123, causing the insects to remain trapped in the collector 120.

[0131] FIG. 3A is a portion of the lower part of the embodiment. Wand 130, with its attached collector assembly 110, is mounted to the lower carriage assembly 142. The lower carriage assembly has one carriage wheel 146 mounted to the carriage front 144 (FIG. 3B), beyond both sides of the vacuum wand. With the fan 114 operating, the reversible drive motor/helical pinion gear unit 140 propels the wand along the lower track 150. To accomplish this, a reversible motor in the drive unit 140 turns helical pinion gear 154, which is engaged with linear helical gear rack 152. As the lower carriage 142 reaches a terminal point near the distal end of the lower track 150 it automatically reverses direction, returning to a beginning point along the lower track. This double swiping of the staging surface 100 by the wand 130 under vacuum serves to remove insects that were not captured in the first pass.

[0132] FIG. 3B depicts an end view of the lower carriage assembly 142 in its track 150. Carriage front 144 laps over the lower track 150 and has two carriage wheels 146 affixed to it (one shown) that contact the floor inside the lower track and rotate as the carriage proceeds along the track. Linear helical gear rack 152 is affixed to the inside of the rear wall of the lower track and receives the helical pinion gear 154 that is turned by the drive motor 140 in propelling the carriage.

[0133] FIG. 3C illustrates an upper portion of the embodiment. The vacuum wand 130 is mounted to the upper carriage assembly 160, which travels along the upper track 170 on wheels 146 that are affixed to the carriage front 144 as in the lower carriage assembly 142 of FIG. 3B.

[0134] FIG. 3D shows the upper track 170 and its upper carriage assembly 160 in end view. The details of this carriage assembly and its track are the same as with the lower carriage assembly 142 and lower track 150 of FIG. 3B, except that there is the linear helical gear rack 152 in the lower track.

Using the First Embodiment

[0135] This embodiment, as with each of the others, operates automatically. This is to say that the motive power and the fan are controlled automatically. They come on at pre-determined timing intervals, the drive motor moving the vacuum system along a direction until a point of reversal is reached. At that pre-determined point, determined either by a positioning device or a timer (neither of which is shown), and with the fan still operating, the vacuum system reverses its positional direction, ending up for that cycle at its beginning location, where the drive motor and fan turn off until the next pre-determined cycle begins. This can happen automatically several times a day if desired.

[0136] In using the first embodiment at a store or other pre-existing location with a window, the store's (or other structure's) already existing independent internal lighting is the attractant. Once an electronic timer (not shown) is set that controls the on-off operation of the embodiment up to several times per, there is only one thing for an end user to do: perhaps daily if desired, the user can check to see if the collector 120 . . . which is the mesh bag attached to the collector valve assembly 121 . . . contains enough trapped insects to warrant the user exchanging the existing collector for a new one.

[0137] The user installs a new collector 120 as needed by opening the collector assembly access door 113 and unscrewing the collector valve assembly 121 from the threaded funnel tube 126. The collector 120 is affixed to the valve assembly 121, so that the collector and valve assembly are removed as a unit. When a collector is seen to have sufficient insects in it, the valve assembly 121, with its collector 120, is unscrewed from the funnel tube 126 and a new one is installed. The changed out collector unit is then discarded.

[0138] A transparent access door could be incorporated, so that checking the collector for fullness would be simpler. An ambient light monitor could be included with the embodiment's design to control operation more closely, especially where daylight saving time may affect the operation or distance from the equator is a factor.

Operation of the Second Embodiment

[0139] A second embodiment described, FIGS. 4-6, is of a device that is suitable for a large installation, perhaps a soccer stadium, a school or children's playing field. It is envisioned also as having use in a village setting.

[0140] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a public venue staging surface 200 oriented vertically. There is also contemplated by the author, but not described here, a horizontally orientated embodiment that works similarly.

[0141] Staging surface 200 is held in place by a lower frame 250 and an upper frame 260. These two frames also have a screw shaft 220 running between them. The upper frame is affixed to an upper pole 240 at the upper pole frame support 261, the upper pole being inserted to the upper frame support 261 and affixed in place. The upper pole 240 is secured at its lower end by being inserted to a pole sleeve 242 and seated upon a pole stop 244, which has been affixed to the interior of the pole sleeve 242. The upper pole is affixed to the pole sleeve by welding it in place.

[0142] The pole sleeve 242 is placed over a lower pole 248 which is anchored in the ground. The pole sleeve is held in place laterally by sleeve bearings 245 that are affixed within the pole sleeve 242 and allow the pole sleeve's free rotation upon installation of the pole sleeve over the lower pole 248 since the pole sleeve sits upon a freely rotating support bearing 246. The support bearing is affixed to the exterior of the lower pole 248 at a position that prevents the lower pole from contacting the pole stop 244 inside the pole sleeve. The support bearing 246 must be strong enough to carry the weight of the entire embodiment, extra the lower pole, and also allow rotation. Rotation of the embodiment about the axis of the lower pole 248 is necessary because of wind blowing against the staging surface 200. Without the ability to rotate, which lessens the force of the wind against the embodiment, a tall sail will have been created, and that could lead to the embodiment's destruction in a storm.

[0143] FIG. 4A further displays a bifurcated vacuum wand 210, its wand drive assembly 230 upon screw shaft 220 and a collector assembly 110. These are presented in the following discussion of FIGS. 5A and B, and 6A, B and C. Notice that light 270 is oriented toward the staging surface and light 272 is not. The reason light 272 is pointing up in the air is that a plume of flying insects may form within or around its beams and members of the plume may be attracted to the staging surface, thus undergoing a final disposition. It is also contemplated by the author that a plume that forms can be dealt with by a flexible containment device descending about the plume from above to trap it and bring about further disposition.

[0144] FIGS. 5A and B depict the drive mechanism that sweeps the bifurcated vacuum wand 210 over the staging surface 200. The wand is moved by way of a wand drive assembly 230. The wand is affixed to the drive assembly at a wand mounting plate 212, a metal plate that is welded to a sliding collar 239. The sliding collar is a smooth bore tube, the inner diameter of which allows it to travel along the screw shaft 220 without wobbling or binding.

[0145] The sliding collar 239 is situated on the screw shaft 220 between two screw shaft gears 236 that have internal threads 237 that mate to external threads on the screw shaft 220. The screw shaft gears sandwich the sliding collar loosely so that the gears can be easily turned while in contact with the sliding collar 239.

[0146] A drive motor/gear reduction unit 232 is reversible and engages the two screw shaft gears 236 by way of two splined shafts 234. These shafts, each spinning in the same direction, cause the two screw shaft gears 236 to be turned in the same direction, so that the gears move up and down the screw shaft 220 in unison. Screw shaft keys 238, which are plugs that protrude through the sliding collar 239 and into a milled out zone in the screw shaft key slot 222, are welded into place in the sliding collar 239. The screw shaft keys 238 prevent the sliding collar from beginning to rotate about the screw shaft 220 as the sliding collar travels along the screw shaft.

[0147] The drive motor/gear reduction unit is held to a motor mounting plate 235 by motor straps 233 and a cradling system or other appropriate devices. The motor mounting plate is welded to the sliding collar 239.

[0148] FIGS. 6A, B and C show the vacuum wand 210 in detail. FIG. 6A illustrates the incoming air 134 having entered air intake ports 290, which are located along the edges at the top and bottom of the vacuum wand. Upon entering the wand the air is directed toward the collector assembly 110. There is an interior air channeling wall 292 toward the mounting plate 212 end of the wand, beyond where the air enters the funnel tube 128 in exiting the wand. The wall helps the air and insects to enter the air funnel, and thus the collector, by deflecting air downward.

[0149] FIG. 6B demonstrates why the wand 210 is designated as “bifurcated”. The wand 210 is seen in end view, looking from the outboard edge of the embodiment (the left side of FIG. 4A) inward toward the screw shaft 220 and upper pole 240. The wand is cloven, allowing it to pass along both sides of the staging surface 200. In FIG. 6B the end of the vacuum wand that is joined to the wand mounting plate 212 is seen to be behind the staging surface 200, as is the left side of collector assembly 110.

[0150] FIG. 6C shows incoming air 134 entering the vacuum wand 210 and proceeding through to enter the collector assembly 110 at the air funnel 128. The four air intake ports 290 along the inboard edges of the bifurcated wand 210 have air 134 passing through them as the wand 210 sweeps the staging surface 200. The staging surface is shown here as discontinuous upper and lower parts of the whole in order to allow a clearer view of the air flow into the funnel 128 and on through the collector 120.

Using the Second Embodiment

[0151] Please see USING THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, with the addendum that in addition to the motive power and vacuum system being able to be set by the user and run automatically, the second embodiment's lighting is also controlled automatically and can be pre-determined by the user as to on-off times as best fit the user's needs.

Operaton of the Third Embodiment

[0152] A third embodiment, FIGS. 7-8, is of a smaller device, one that mounts horizontally to a transparent table top and is suitable for the deck or patio at a house. However, it can be re-configured to large scale by grouping a number of the device's flat panel surfaces together in an array, and see duty trapping insects as though a vertically oriented billboard placed out in a field, using the type of vacuum wand from the first embodiment.

[0153] FIG. 7 is of a flat panel staging surface. A flat panel display 300, of a type used in entertainment or communication devices, is oriented downward from the underside of a table. In this embodiment the flat panel display 300 is mounted by affixing its back side to the back side of an upward-facing solar panel 304, which is itself mounted to the underside of a table 302 with a transparent top. The solar panel 304 powers the embodiment by way of charging a battery at the table, not shown.

[0154] There is a table vacuum carriage 306 that moves along two carriage support channels 324. The support channels are affixed to the underside of the table top 302 and are tall enough to allow the table vacuum carriage 306, which rides on wheels 322, to sweep underneath the flat panel 300. The wheels 322 are driven by a reversible drive motor/gear reduction unit 310. The vacuum carriage 306, has two air intake slots 308 in its top side and it utilizes an attached collector assembly 110 to power the vacuum and hold collected insects.

[0155] FIGS. 8A, B and C are more detailed views of the flat panel embodiment of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8A wheels 322 (only two of four are shown) are affixed to axles 320 (one axle is numbered). Motive power is supplied by the drive motor/gear reduction unit 310. The axles are turned by a drive differential 312 and its worm drive shaft 314, which mates to the axles. The flat panel display 300 is seen in FIG. 8A to be joined over its area to the solar panel 304. Also seen is the air funnel 128 (in hidden view), that leads to the collector assembly 110.

[0156] FIG. 8B is an end view along the line of the axles 320. Solar panel 304 is joined to the underside of the table top 302 and the flat panel display 300 is joined to the back side of the solar panel. The wheels 322 are riding in a carriage support channel 324 and the worm drive shaft 314 is seen in contact with the axles 320, which pass through axle bearings 323 (one shown in FIGS. 8B and C) in the side walls of the vacuum carriage 306 (FIG. 8A). Worm gearing in the axle is not shown.

[0157] FIG. 8C shows the embodiment from along the line of a carriage support channel 324, a view rotated 90 degrees from the line of the axles 320. Incoming air 134 is depicted as passing through the vacuum carriage 306 (FIG. 8A) and the air funnel 128, and out through the bottom of the collector assembly 110 at 136.

Using the Third Embodiment

[0158] Please see USING THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, with the addendum that in addition to the motive power and vacuum system being able to be set by the user and run automatically, the third embodiment's flat panel lighting is also controlled automatically and can be pre-determined by the user as to on-off times as best fit the user's needs.

Operation of the Fourth Embodiment

[0159] A fourth embodiment, FIGS. 9-10, is shown in a home use configuration. But this embodiment has application at any building that has soffits at the exterior juncture of roof and wall. And beyond soffits, any structure that allows mounting on an underneath portion within flying insect range is a good candidate. And too, the staging surface can be made to be flexible, depending on the materials used. Thus it can overlap with the next embodiment, that of FIGS. 11-12.

[0160] FIGS. 9A, B and C are of a soffit staging embodiment. The soffit is that part of a building's roof that overhangs an exterior wall. Typically it is paneled to cover up a view of the roof rafters from below.

[0161] Soffit 58 is seen in FIG. 9A to be extending from exterior wall 52 out to meet the roof 56 at the roof's extremity. A soffit staging surface 400 is affixed to the soffit, oriented downward. Non-integral light source 410 is mounted to wall 52. Electrical leads 411 run to the light source and to a soffit vacuum carriage 420.

[0162] FIGS. 9B and 9C show flying insects 50 at the underside of the staging surface 400, most of them on the surface, but some are hovering just underneath. Others have been drawn into the device. The current direction of motion of the vacuum carriage 420 is from right to left. The soffit vacuum carriage of FIGS. 9B and 9C incorporates a light source 412 that is integral to the carriage. Light rays are seen to be reflected by the staging surface 400. Incoming air 134 and outgoing air 136 are shown. Wheels 322 (FIGS. 10A and B) are riding on the inside of soffit support channels 421. A soffit collector canister 430, with its canister access door 432, is at the bottom of the vacuum carriage 420.

[0163] FIGS. 10A and 10B are respectively an end view and a face view of the soffit vacuum carriage 420. The soffit collector canister 430 is attached at the bottom of the carriage. FIG. 10A shows a reversible drive motor/gear reduction unit 425 mounted to the vacuum carriage top 423 by way of a motor mount 426. A drive belt 428 runs from the drive motor 425 to a driven axle 429. Both axles pass through axle slots 419 in a channeling box 422. The box guides the airflow into the air funnel 128 and protects the motor and drive belt from contamination by insects. The axle slots allow the channeling box, which is open-topped, to be slid over the axles and affixed to the vacuum carriage top 423 after the motor and drive belt are installed to the carriage top. The axles pass through axle bearings 323 (one shown in FIG. 10A) in the side walls of the vacuum carriage's top 423. Incoming air is shown at 134, passing through air intake ports 290 (FIG. 10B) in the top of the vacuum carriage.

[0164] FIG. 10B shows the vacuum carriage 420 installed to the carriage support channels 421, which are integral to the soffit staging surface 400. Wheels 322 are riding in the support channels 421. The drive belt 428 is shown connecting the drive motor 425 to the driven axle 429. There is air intake bridging 424 extending across the air intake ports 290 that gives strength to the relationship between the vacuum carriage top 423 and the body of the vacuum carriage 420. The air intake port 290 shown in FIG. 10B is a segment of one long port extending across the width of the vacuum carriage. The single port at this near side is interrupted by spaced apart air intake bridging 424.

[0165] Soffit collector canister 430 houses collector 120 and its integral collector valve assembly 121. Protective grill 118 is installed to make sure that the collector and fingers stay out of the area of the fan motor and blades 114. The collector and valve assembly are installed by user entry through canister access door 432.

Using the Fourth Embodiment

[0166] Please see USING THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, with the addenda that in this fourth embodiment a soffit collector canister 430 and its canister access door 432 have replaced the collector assembly 110 and the access door 113 of the first embodiment. And the present embodiment's attractant lighting, as with each embodiment—second through sixth—is controlled automatically at the user's discretion.

Operation of the Fifth Embodiment

[0167] A fifth embodiment, FIGS. 11-12, utilizes a flexible staging surface in sheet form. This is suitable over a wide range of applications, from backyard use as a hammock-like device, up to large scale use as a protective ring around a village, where a plurality have been connected together.

[0168] FIG. 11 is of a flexible staging surface assembly 516. Although the soffit staging surface 400 and carriage support channels 421 of FIGS. 9 and 10 can easily me made flexible, the flexible staging surface of FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 has the advantage of being less expensive to produce per linear foot. The embodiment involves a sheet of material, flexible staging surface 500, strong enough to hold a vacuum device's weight. The surface is a light-reflective sheet that passes between two sets of wheels at each end of a soffit vacuum carriage 420, two wheels on top of the staging surface and two wheels on the underside. A driven axle 429 provides motive power to the embodiment, being turned by a reversible drive motor 425 acting through a drive belt 428. The driven axle 429 is beneath the staging surface 500 and is joined to a traction wheel 502 at each end of the axle (only one shown in this view). Another wheel 322 is also beneath the staging surface. It isn't driven, but is contemplated to easily be. Side plate axle bearings 504 (one shown) are used in a side plate 514 at each side of the vacuum carriage 420 (see FIG. 12).

[0169] On top of the flexible surface 500 are clamping wheels 506. These are free to rotate and are affixed to a clamping lever 508 that pivots on a clamping lever pivot 510, which is a pin through a hole in the side plate 514 that allows the clamping lever to be raised and lowered. Each clamping wheel 506 is positioned directly above the wheel beneath it when in operation to provide proper stability and compressive force. A clamping lever spring 512 provides the force necessary for good contact at the four wheels.

[0170] FIG. 12 shows the soffit vacuum carriage 420 in face view, mounted to the flexible staging surface 500. The staging surface is shown as though terminating at the four wheels shown, but the staging surface should be recognized as extending in both directions, into the page and out toward the viewer.

[0171] As mentioned, the clamping wheels 506 squeeze down upon traction wheels 502 by way of the force provided by the clamping lever spring 512 acting upon the clamping lever 508. The lever, which has a fit to the clamping lever pivot 510 that allows for rotation of the lever, is lifted during the placement of the assembly 516 on the flexible staging surface 500. If the staging surface is laterally stiff, then the assembly can be placed on it at an end of the staging surface that has been temporarily disconnected from a supporting device.

Using the Fifth Embodiment

[0172] Please see USING THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, with the addenda that here in this fifth embodiment the same soffit collector canister 430 as with the fourth embodiment, and its canister access door 432 (not numbered on drawings 11 and 12), have replaced the collector assembly 110 and the access door 113 of the first embodiment, and the present embodiment's attractant lighting is controlled automatically, as with the second through sixth embodiment.

Operation of the Sixth Embodiment

[0173] A sixth embodiment, FIGS. 14-17, is seen as having use in a family's yard or deck setting. It can also be designed to be taken on outings and powered by a car's electrical system or by solar cells. And it can be scaled to larger size and used inside supermarkets and other buildings.

[0174] FIG. 14 is an external view of a transparent rotatable staging surface assembly 601. This embodiment is contemplated for use by families outside on the deck or in the yard. A larger derivative of it could be used in supermarkets or other buildings, and a smaller device could be used at picnics or other outings, being plugged into a car's electrical system. Or it could carry its own battery, charged by a solar panel.

[0175] FIG. 15 has the embodiment in more detail. A transparent rotatable staging surface 600, in the shape of a circular platen, is affixed at the top of a transparent support column 602. Several other transparent platens are likewise affixed at lower depths along the column, holes having been placed at the centers of these platens to allow installation on the column. The support column 602 enters a base 646 at a hole (not shown) in the middle of the base's upper level and goes through to the floor.

[0176] Vacuum inlets 604 are placed on either side of the various staging surfaces, top and bottom, and open into a vacuum tube 606 that confines air flow 640 (FIG. 16) as it is drawn down the vacuum tube by a fan motor and blades 114 (FIG. 16). An integral light source 608 attracts flying insects to the embodiment, where they gather in number.

[0177] A drive motor/gear reduction unit 630 turns a drive gear 632 that is mated to a driven gear 634. The driven gear is affixed to the support column 602 by way of a hole in the gear's center.

[0178] At the left of the drawing assembly 610 shows one of two identical bearings, an upper ball bearing 614 used to hold the transparent support column 602 in place. The upper bearing is affixed to an upper mounting plate 616. The upper plate is affixed to the top of the base 646. There is a protective cover 612 affixed to support column 602 that seals the bearing area from contaminants from above. The cover skirts the top of the bearing and extends down to very close to the top of the base, keeping insects from getting underneath.

[0179] The other bearing, the lower ball bearing 614 of assembly 620 at the bottom-right of FIG. 15, is affixed to a lower mounting plate 622. The lower mounting plate is affixed to the floor of the base 646. The support column 602 runs through the lower ball bearing and part of the way through the hole in the lower mounting plate 622, not coming into contact with the floor of the base.

[0180] There is an electronic controller 636 that sets the times for the embodiment to operate and recognizes the ambient light level for control purposes. Associated electrical wiring is displayed.

[0181] FIG. 16 shows the interior of the vacuum tube 606 in greater detail. The vacuum tube is joined to the base 646. Air flow 640 carries flying insects 50 that are removed from the staging surfaces 600 into the air funnel 128, the construction of which seals the interior of the tube, preventing downward flowing air from going past the funnel.

[0182] A collector 120 and its integral collector valve assembly 121 are removably attached to a funnel tube 126 at the base of the air funnel 128. A collector valve flap 122 is shown in the opened position, caused by the air flow drawn by the fan 114. Captured insects are brought through the valve assembly and into the collector as the air flow draws them. The insects are kept from going back up through the valve assembly by the incoming air flow. Once the fan stops the valve flap closes, sealing the insects in the collector.

[0183] A protective grill 118, which is below the level of the vacuum tube access door 642 (FIG. 17), prevents the collector from being ruptured by the fan 114 in case the collector were to come loose from the collector valve assembly 121. The grill also serves to keep fingers from coming into contact with the fan.

[0184] The fan 114 is mounted in the vacuum tube 606 by way of fan support vanes 116 that are affixed to the interior of the tube. Outgoing air exits through an exhaust tube 644.

[0185] FIG. 17 is a front view of the vacuum tube 606. The fan 114 is not running and the access door 642 is open for entry to the inside. A new collector 120, with its valve assembly 121, have just been installed at the funnel tube 126. The valve assembly is in the closed position.

Using the Sixth Embodiment

[0186] Please see USING THE FIRST EMBODIMENT, with the addenda that here a vacuum tube 606 and its vacuum tube access door 642 have replaced the collector assembly 110 and the access door 113 of the first embodiment, and this sixth embodiment's attractant lighting, as with each embodiment—second through sixth—is controlled automatically. It is set to come on and shut off at the user's discretion, as is the case also with the embodiment's rotation and vacuum.

ADVANTAGES

[0187] The advantages of the present embodiments over the prior art have been explored in what has been written above. Not delving back into those per se, it seems good to mention the advantages broadly here. In doing that I'll say that the advantages fall into two categories: Health and Comfort.

[0188] As mentioned in the section DISCUSSING PRIOR ART GENERALLY and also the section BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES, mosquitoes cause an awful lot of death and misery around the world. If malaria doesn't kill the people afflicted, or make them blind, it at the least is the gift that keeps on giving. Recurrences are for life. And then there are dengue fever, Chikungunya, encephalitis, West Nile and now Zika. It's as though there are six horsemen of the apocalypse.

[0189] If a few devices of the present embodiments were stationed around and in villages, near water, and powered by solar cells charging batteries, and in the aggregate 1,000,000 mosquitoes or more were eliminated per 24 hour period, it wouldn't be long before the rates of disease in those locales would fall. That is one great advantage provided by these embodiments over the prior art. The large scale control of mosquito populations is certainly more feasible this way than with devices that attack the problem one mosquito at a time.

[0190] When I was in Vietnam everyone in the bush had a bottle of mosquito repellant containing DEET stuck in an elastic band around his helmet. It was either use the stuff or get taken prisoner by the mosquitoes. One advantage with the present embodiments is that now over time, as those pesky little disease and discomfort vectors are killed en masse, less poison will be needed to be applied to your skin to be absorbed. And too, less spraying of toxins should occur. That too is a long term advantage of the present embodiments.

[0191] And as to comfort: Mosquitoes damage an awful lot of picnics, outings, golf and soccer games, and more around the world, including sleep. They disrupt group gatherings of friends who want to sit around in the outdoors, peacefully enjoying themselves. And yard work? Forget it when the mosquitoes are out in force. The present embodiments can greatly help with these problems.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS and SCOPE

[0192] Thus the reader will see that at least one of the staging surface embodiments provides a more effective, scalable and economical device than what is known in the prior art. The reader will also see that one or more of the embodiments are safer to use and store, because of not using a combustible fuel, and that they are more environmentally friendly, not needing to produce carbon dioxide to operate. Too, the reader will see that by not leaving the remains of insects on any part of the embodiments as a burned, messy, electrocuted residue that serves as an incubator for germs until manually cleaned off, the embodiments produce a healthier, more germ-free environment local to the user.

[0193] While my above descriptions contain many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as exemplification of several embodiments thereof. Other variations are possible. For example, the concept of “staging surface” can be broadened to that of a “staging zone”.

[0194] In this the freedom of movement of flying insects has been expanded. Insects would be free to fly in any direction within a volume of “staging space”. There may or may not be a surface designed as an element for them to be attracted to. For instance, they could be attracted and gather in the air, under the influence of a light shining in any direction, even downwardly. And when so gathered in a localized fashion, perhaps forming a plume or simply a swarm in the air, they could be confined by a mesh or membranous device that is either lowered or raised or otherwise placed about them as they fly, trapping them for further disposition. If you can attract them you can terminate them.

[0195] A further example of a staging zone embodiment is the use of an illuminating or illuminated pole to form a nuclei for insect plumes. A tall pole could contain lights along or within it, or have light shined upon it, to attract insects. The attracted insects could fly around within the proximity of the lighted pole, even above it. At an appropriate time a mesh or membranous device could be either dropped or raised about the insects, trapping them for further disposition.

[0196] Of course, light doesn't need to be the sole attractant for any of the embodiments. As given in the claims and prior art, other things work. Blood meal simulants, pheromones, acoustical waves, heat, even radio frequency or microwave energy . . . coherent or non-coherent . . . is contemplated as useful with any of the embodiments, even those of this concluding section.

[0197] As to the mechanisms used to eliminate, vacuum devices don't have to be employed. A group of insects can be incapacitated or terminated while voluntarily gathered at a surface or a zone in various ways which are contemplated by the present author. Though not as good for the environment as removing insects by vacuuming them, insects can be sprayed with toxic substances, such as the natural Bt toxin or an engineered analogue or derivative. There are also common yard sprays by companies such as Cutter and Spectracide that will cause death to flying insects, though perhaps not immediately. Sprays can be applied by automatic devices designed in conjunction with the staging surfaces or the 3-dimensional zones of the present embodiments, or their vacuum systems.

[0198] Another mechanism contemplated is acoustical overpressure, where sonic pressure waves impinge upon the insects, similar to the subjecting of kidney stones to fragmentation by a sonic resonator, though the insects, being made of soft tissue, wouldn't fragment per se, but they might be biologically damaged in other severe ways. A resonator or transponder, along with an engineered power source, could replace a vacuum system or work in conjunction with it. If the staging surface were largely reflective as far as the acoustical waves to be used, then the acoustical energy would have a greater effect on the insects. Using this application in 3-space, without the reflective boundary of a staging surface may still work.

[0199] And heating by microwave energy, either while insects are staging on or near a surface, or are flying in open air (3-space) would be very damaging to them. Also included in this is the use of laser beams. A laser wouldn't need to track an individual insect. That can be expensive. A laser of the appropriate wavelength could automatically scan an entire staging surface periodically, for instance by being aimed along the length of a staging surface, its beam skimming the length within a few millimeters of the surface, and then its beam being caused to sweep the surface, mowing down the insects in its path. A laser could also be moved along a longitudinal track spaced apart from the staging surface, scanning its destructive energy back and forth as the laser traverses the length of the surface.