CA1273795A - Portable electronic insect controller - Google Patents

Portable electronic insect controller

Info

Publication number
CA1273795A
CA1273795A CA000515355A CA515355A CA1273795A CA 1273795 A CA1273795 A CA 1273795A CA 000515355 A CA000515355 A CA 000515355A CA 515355 A CA515355 A CA 515355A CA 1273795 A CA1273795 A CA 1273795A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
grid
lantern
power supply
bars
supply means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000515355A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lance L. Millard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000515355A priority Critical patent/CA1273795A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1273795A publication Critical patent/CA1273795A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A portable electronic insect controller is provided wherein an electrified alternately polarized grid surrounds a light emitting region of a camping lantern. The grid includes a bottom and top ring spaced apart and substan-tially parallel to each other. Bars attached to the rings extend upward from the bottom ring and downward from the top ring in a spaced arrangement. A grid bracket includes grid posts which attach to the bottom ring and extend downward to engage a collar which extends around the outside of the lantern and is pulled securely against the lantern by buckle snap connectors. A base is provided onto which the lantern is secured and into which is housed a power source for electrification of the grid. The power supply steps up voltage from either a direct current source or alternating current source to a high enough voltage to arc across from one bar to the next when an insert enters the region between the bars. A safety interconnect strap connects the power supply and the grid carrying electrical energy to the grid.
The interconnect strap overlays the filling spout of the lantern and must be removed prior to refueling of the lantern, thus preventing refueling while the grid is elec-trified. During operation a high voltage standing wave is alternately polarized on the bars and when an insect passes near the bars, the electric charge arcs between the bars and the insect, thus killing the insect.

Description

~ ~ ~ 2~

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC INSECT CONTROLLER
BACKGROUND O:E~ THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
i The present invention relates to insect control equip-ment and more specifically to insert control equipment for use in a camping environment where no external power is available.
Descri tion of the Prior Art:
P
In recent years the interest in camping and related outdoor activities has greatly increased as recreation for people. Often times these activities include being outside during evening and night conditions where an external light source is necessary for illumination of the immediate surrounding area. The illumination ~here necessary, also attracts insects typically of a flying type, into the imme-diate area and frequently becomes`a nuisance to the peopleoccupying the area. There are presently many methods for control oE the insects, such as ;nsecticides sprayed into the area to be occupied, applying a repellent to the exposed body portions and/or clothing or providing a physi-cal barrier between the insects and the person such as anet. However, many of the purported solutions often have associated with them undesireable countereffects which may limit and/or exclude their application, including the use of toxic, harmful to man and wildlife and relatively short time-2S effectiveness chemicals. Further, the use of physicalbarriers, such as a net severly restricts rnovement and pro-vides relief only in a small area. Other problems encoun-tered in insect control result from there be;ng no external energy sQurce available9 thus conventional means excluding 0 chemicals and barriers are essentially non-existent.
-2
3~

SUMMARY OF T~IE INVENTION
~ A portable insect sontroller including a electrified alternately polarized grid surrounding the light emitting area o a camping lantern. Top and bottom rings spaced 5 apart with bars extending upward from the bottom ring and downward from the top ring comprise the grid. A grid brackct includes grid posts attached to the bottom ring extending downward to a collar which is secured to the lan-tern. A base supports the lantern and houses a power supply which includes a converter connected to a power source for stepping up the voltage. Safety interconnect strap connects the power supply to the grid and overlaps the filling spout of the lantern. A standing high voltage wave is alternately polarized on the bars and arcs between adjacent bars when an insect enters the region between two bars, thus killing the insect.

~3~

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~ING
' Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the portabie eiectronic insect controller of this invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded top view of the grid assembly of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one half of the grid assembly;
Fig. 4. is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-S of fig. l;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of fig. l;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the power supply equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings wherein like re~erenece numerials designate identical or correspondin~ parts throughout the several views, the pr$table electronic insect controller of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in figure 1.
The insect controller 10 (figs 1, 3, 6 and 8) includes generally an electrified grid assembly 12 secured to a con-ventional liquid fuel camping lantern 14 by a grid bracket 16. A power supply 18 is housed in a base 20 and is electrically connected to the grid 12 by a safety intercon-nect strap 22 and a guard 24 overlays the grid 12.
Specifically, the grid 12 (figs. 1-7) is constructed of electrically conductive material and includes a top ring 26 and a bo-ttom ring 28 spaced apart and defining generally the light emitting area of the lantern 14. Each ring 26 and 28 includes two half sections 26a and 26b and 28a and 28b respectively. The half sections 26a and 28a are respec-tively joined to half sections 26b and 28b by rivets 30 about which each half section rotates and removable pins 32 at their opposite end, to hold each ring 26 and 28 in a cir-cular form. Spacing posts 34 extend vertically between the rings 76 and 28 and are interconnected by an insulating con-nector 36. The posts 34 rigidly hold the ~ings 26 and 28 in their spaced relationship while still maintaining the rings 26 and 28 electrically isolated from each other.
Bars 38 extend upward from the bottom ring 2B and down-ward rom the top ring 26 in an alternating pattern and generally spaced parallel to each other. The bars 38 are 73~S

electrlcally conductive from their specific ring 26 and 28.
Insulating tips 40 extend over the end of the bars 38 and are secured to the rings 26-28 that is opposite the elec-trically conductive ring from which the bar 38 extends. The tips 40 prevent bending of the bars 38 and their physicaly contacting the adjacent bar, also providing the rings 26 and bars 38 and rings 28 and bars 38 with electrical isolation from each other. The grid 12 is attached to the lantern 14 l by a bracket 16 which includes a collar 42 which is severed into two halves forming sections 42a and 42b which are held ¦ together by buckle snaps 44. Posts 46 are rigidly secured ¦ to the collar 42 and extend upward and contact the bottom ¦ ring 28 and hold the rings 26 and 28 and bars 38 in a fixed spaced relationship relative to the light emitting area of the lantern 14. The collar 42 tFig. 5) is isolated from the lantern 14 by an insulating strip ~3. The complete grid assembly 12 (Figs. 2-3) may be removed from the lantern by opening the buckle snaps 44 and removing the pins 32.
The power supply 18 may be of many designs. For field operation typica]ly a D.C. storage cell will be utilized for the power source 60, however, an AoC~ source where adaptable may be used. A conventional converter 62 is connected to the D.C. power source 60 and a conventional inverter 63 is used where an A.C. power source 60 is employed. A converter 62-inverter 63 steps up the voltage to several thousand volts, typically between one and one-half and six thousand volts with a current of less than six milliamperes. The specific voltage and current being in part dependent upon the spacing of the bars 40 and the capacity of the power source 60.

~3~

The base 20 is secured to the lantern 14 by a hinge 46 and clevis 48 (Fig. 1) and provides support for the lantern 14. Extending between the power supply 18 housed in the base 20 and the grid 12 is the safety interconnect strap 22.
The strap 22 is removably connected to the power supply 18 by a conventional plug 50 and includes a positive 52 and a negative 54 conductor which are connected to the power supply 18. A solid portion 56 extends between the conductors 52 and 54, The strap 22 passes directly over the fill spout 58 of the lantern 14, thus preventing refueling of the lantern 14 without first disconnecting the strap 22 from the power supply 18 via the plug 50 and rotating the lower portion 56 of the strap 22 by hinges 57 out from the fill spout 58. One of the conductors 52/54 is electrically connected to the ring 26 and the other conductor S2/54 likewise connected the ring 28. The grid 12 is thus charged with an opposite electric charge occurring on the rings 26-28 and ad~acent bars 38.
~ guard 24 extends around the outside area of the grid 2~ 12 to prevent an accidental contact with the grid 12 when it is electrically charged. The guard permits insects to freely pass through~ while still preventing contact with the grid 12 by an individual near the insect controller 10.
During operation of the insect controller 10, the power supply 18 charges the grid 12 with a high voltage standing wave, alternately polarized on the individual bars 40 of the grid 12. When an insect passes near two of the bars 40, the resistance between the bars 40 is reduced, thus the electric charge arcs between the bars 40 and the insect, thus killing the insect. The insect controller 10, while utilizing a ~2'73~

¦ D.C. storage cell for the power source 60, is fairly ¦¦ moveable from location to location. The light emitted by ~I the lantern 14 attracts the insects and they are eliminated
4 by Lhe action of the ~rid 1~.

Claims

The embodiment of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claims are defined as follows:
1.
A portable electronic insect controller, comprising:
an electrified grid means being alternately polarized with a high voltage in association with a light producing camping lantern for electrocuting insects when they move within close proximity of the grid;
a power supply means for supplying a controlled source of electrical energy to the grid;
a base for supporting the camping lantern and housing the power supply means;
said grid means including a bottom and top ring, said rings being substantially parallel to each other, spaced apart and including bars, said bars extending upward from the bottom ring and downward from the top ring in a spaced arrangement and electrically isolated from each other;
said grid means further including a grid bracket, said bracket engaging the rings and the lantern to securely hold the rings and bars in a fixed position; and a safety interconnect means for electrically connecting the power supply means to the grid means and preventing the refueling of the lantern without disconnecting the grid means from the power supply means 2.

A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 1 further including a guard, said guard being spaced overlaying the grid means for preventing accidental contact with the grid means.

3.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power supply means includes a direct current power source electrically connected to a converter for stepping up the voltage in excess of one and one-half kilovolts, said voltage passing to the safety interconnect means.

4.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lantern includes a fuel refill opening and a cap normally closing said refill opening, said safety inter-connect means includes a separable strap electrically extending between said power supply means and said grid means and being positioned in covering relation over said cap whereby said strap must be separated thereby opening a circuit including said power supply means and said grid means before said cap can be removed from said refill opening to permit refueling of said lantern.
5.

A portable electronic insect controller, comprising:
an electrified grid means being alternately polarized with a high voltage in association with a light producing camping lantern for electrocuting insects when they move within close proximity of the grid;
a power supply means for supplying a controlled source of electrical energy to the grid;
a base for supporting the camping lantern and housing the power supply means;
said grid means including a bottom and top ring, said rings being substantially parallel to each other, spaced apart and including bars, said bars extending upward from the bottom ring and downward from the top ring in a spaced arrangement and electrically isolated from each other;
said grid means further including a grid bracket, said bracket engaging the rings and the lantern to securely hold the rings and bars in a fixed position; and a guard spaced overlaying the grid means for preventing accidental contact with the grid means.

6.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 5 further including a safety interconnect means for electrically connecting the power supply means to the grid means and preventing the refueling of the lantern without disconnecting the grid means from the power supply means.

7.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 6 wherein the power supply means includes a direct current power source electrically connected to a converter for stepping up the voltage in excess of one and one-half kilovolts, said voltage passing to the safely interconnect means.

8.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lantern includes a fuel refill opening and a cap normally closing said refill opening, a safety interconnect means includes a separable strap electrically extending between said power supply means and said grid means and being positioned in covering relation over said cap whereby said strap must be separated thereby opening a circuit including said power supply means and said grid means before said cap can be removed from said refill opening to permit refueling of said lantern.

9.
A portable electronic insect controller, comprising:
an electrified grid means being alternately polarized with a high voltage in association with a light producing camping lantern for electrocuting insects when they move within close proximity of the grid;
a power supply means for supplying a controlled source of electrical energy to the grid;
said grid means including a plurality of spaced apart bars, said bars being electrically isolated from each other with adjacent bars having opposite electrical charges;
said grid means further including a grid bracket operatively connecting said bars to the lantern to securely hold said bars in a fixed position; and a safety interconnect means for electrically connecting the power supply means to the grid means and preventing the refueling of the lantern without disconnecting the grid means from the power supply means.

10.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 9 further including a guard spaced from and overlaying the grid means for preventing accidental contact with the grid means.

A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 9 wherein the power supply means includes a direct current power source electrically connected to a converter for stepping up the voltage in excess of one and one-half kilovolts, said voltage passing to the safety interconnect means.

12.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 9 wherein said lantern includes a fuel refill opening and a cap normally closing said refill opening, said safety interconnect means includes a separable strap electrically extending between said power supply means and said grid means and being positioned in covering relation over said cap whereby said strap must be separated thereby opening a circuit including said power supply means and said grid means before said cap can be removed from said refill opening to permit refueling of said lantern.

13.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 10 wherein said lantern includes a fuel refill opening and a cap normally closing said refill opening, said safety interconnect means includes a separable strap electrically extending between said power supply means and said grid means and being positioned in covering relation over said cap whereby said strap must be separated thereby opening a circuit including said power supply means and said grid means before said cap can be removed from said refill opening to permit refueling of said lantern.

14.
A portable electronic insect controller, comprising:
an electrified grid means being alternately polarized with a high voltage in association with a light producing camping lantern for electrocuting insects when they move within a close proximity of the grid;
a power supply means for supplying a controlled source of electrical energy to the grid;
said grid means including a plurality of spaced apart bars, said bars being electrically isolated from each other with adjacent bars having opposite electrical charges;
said grid means further including a grid bracket operatively connecting said bars to the lantern to securely hold said bars in a fixed position;
a guard spaced from and overlaying the grid means for preventing accidental contact with the grid means; and a safety interconnect means for electrically connecting the power supply means to the grid means and preventing the refueling of the lantern without disconnecting the grid means from the power supply means.

15.
A portable electronic insect controller as claimed in claim 14 wherein the power supply means includes a direct current power source electrically connected to a converter for stepping up the voltage in excess of one and one-half kilovolts, said voltage passing to the safety interconnect means.
CA000515355A 1986-08-05 1986-08-05 Portable electronic insect controller Expired CA1273795A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000515355A CA1273795A (en) 1986-08-05 1986-08-05 Portable electronic insect controller

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000515355A CA1273795A (en) 1986-08-05 1986-08-05 Portable electronic insect controller

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1273795A true CA1273795A (en) 1990-09-11

Family

ID=4133681

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000515355A Expired CA1273795A (en) 1986-08-05 1986-08-05 Portable electronic insect controller

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1273795A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4603505A (en) Portable electronic insect controller
US4962611A (en) Portable electronic insect controller
US4274123A (en) Animal repellant apparatus
US6584933B1 (en) Squirrel-proof bird feeder
US3717802A (en) Solid state electronic bird repellent system
US20140352200A1 (en) Insect Killing Apparatus and Method of Construction
IE55525B1 (en) A heat protection device for overvoltage arrester magazines
DE2908015A1 (en) GAS LIGHTER
CA1273795A (en) Portable electronic insect controller
FR2525822B1 (en) ELECTRIC BATTERY WITH ZINC AND HALOGEN ELECTRODES
GB2354693A (en) Vermin trap
US3807698A (en) Electrified fence
US5557879A (en) Ant shocking apparatus
FR2454724A1 (en) ELECTRICAL SUPPLY DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A DC LOAD
JP2002000163A (en) Energizable electric net for preventing animal
CN110140702A (en) A kind of trap
CN215123545U (en) Intelligent control safety mosquito killer lamp
NZ509206A (en) An electric fence conductor comprising a sheathed conducting wire surrounded by a stainless steel wire
CN221576632U (en) Mosquito dispeller
ATE227456T1 (en) SECURITY FENCE MADE OF CONDUCTIVE GRIDS
JP3832630B2 (en) Electric fence
CN216849373U (en) High-reliability rubber sleeve cable
JP4502838B2 (en) Electric fence power supply unit
KR20040068637A (en) Device driving away birds using electric shock
DE20115263U1 (en) Electric tea light

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKLA Lapsed