GB2214394A

GB2214394A - Insect traps

Info

Publication number: GB2214394A
Application number: GB8801775A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin Kee Leung; Kai Shun Leung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-01-27
Filing date: 1988-01-27
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-27
Also published as: CN1036496A; GB8801775D0; GB2214394B; CN2049468U

Abstract

A trapping device for flies has a cylindrical roller 14 on the surface of which material to attract flies is coated. The roller is steadily rotated. A trap 16 with a one-way inlet slot 62 is positioned near the roller. The flies can alight on a front exposed part of the roller and are carried to near the inlet slot to the trap where a wiper 64 is positioned to cause the flies to leave the surface of the roller and so encourage them to enter the trap through the slot. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN FLY TRAPS This invention relates to trapping device for flies and other flying insects.

Many forms of fly and insect catching devices are known. However, an object to the present invention is to provide a fly trap which is relatively simple in construction and operation yet is not unsightly in use but is extremely efficient in luring flies and other flying insects into a trapping device from which they cannot escape.

According to the invention there is provided a trapping device for flies and other forms of flying insect, comprising a rotatable roll which in use is arranged to carry over its cylindrical surface a material to which flies are attracted, means for steadily rotating that roll about its longitudinal axis, a trap for flies having a oneway inlet slot through which flies and other flying insedts can pass one direction but cannot return, the inlet of the trap being positioned close to the roll along a line substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the roll, and wiper means positioned substantially parallel to the inlet slot and along side the slot and substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the roll, the wiper means extending towards the surface of the roll with a spacing which is less than the size of a fly pr other flying insect to be attracted so that a fly or other flying insect cannot pass the wiper as the surface of the roll rotates past it, whereby flies and other flying insects are attracted to the roll and alight on it, and rotation of the roll delivers them to a position adjacent the inlet to the trap and the wiper means prevents them passing significantly beyond that position so that the flies, when tired of walking around the roller, will be likely to pass through the one-way inlet slot into the trap.

Such apparatus is very simple and yet highly effective in luring and catching flies and other flying insects. Also, the apparatus can be relatively compact and reasonably attractive in contrast, for example, with sticky fly papers which are unsightly.

The fly trap preferably has a housing which supports the trap and the rotatable roll. This housing can then define with the roll a relatively narrow region through which a fly on the roller will pass before it reaches the region of the one-way inlet. Thus, one part of the roll should be exposed to attract flies and thereafter that surface area of the roll, as the roller rotates, passes to the narrow region and then to the one-way inlet.

Therefore with such an arrangement the fly is encouraged to enter the trap since that would appear to the only way out for the fly.

Further to encourage the fly to enter the trap, the trap itself should be transparent or at least have a large number of very small openings which are too small to allow a fly to escape but which allow light and air to pass into -the trap and so encourage the fly to think that by entering the trap through the one-way inlet slot it is moving to the outside again.

It is also preferable that the width of the oneway inlet slot be adjustable so as to suit the particular flies and other flying insects which happen to be available in the environment in which the apparatus is working.

Thus, when one finds that there are larger flies than the average, then the width of the one-way inlet slot can be increased slightly to allow larger flies and other insects to enter whilst when one finds that the particular insects in the environment are somewhat on the smaller side then the width of the slot can be decreased.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is desirable that the trap itself be removable from the rest of the housing supporting the roll and operating components so that the trap can be emptied from time to time of accumulated dead flies and readily cleaned.

An example of a fly trap according to the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fly trap according to the invention; Figure 2 is an upright section through the trap; Figure 3 is an end view; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the components of the trap.

The fly trap 10 shown in the drawings comprises a housing 12 which supports a rotatable cylindrical roll 14.

Releasably attached to the-housing 12 is a trap 16.

The housing 12 comprises of a rear wall 20 and a pair of spaced walls 22 and 24 which project forwardly from the rear wall. The roll 14 is positioned between these two walls 22 and 24 and is rotatably supported by them.

Projecting from one end of the roll 14 is a pin 26 and this extends into a small hole 28 in the wall 22 to provide a bearing for one end of the roll. At the other end, the roll is provided a gear wheel 30 which is joined to that other end of the roll and this is provided with a central projecting pin 32 which extends into a small hole 34 in the wall 24, again to provide a bearing for the other end of the roll.

To enable quick and easy removal and replacement of the roll for cleaning, a slot 36 is provided in the wall 24 leading to the hole 34. Slight flexibility in the walls 22 and 24 allows the user therefore to remove the pin 32 from the hole 34 and slide it out through the slot 36 so removing the roll. The roll is replaced by the opposite action.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 4, the wall 24 is positioned at an intermediate point along the rear wall 20 and this provides a compartment to the right as viewed in Figures 1 and 4 in which an electric driving motor 40 and associated gear wheels forming a reduction gear drive 42 to the gear wheel 30 are accommodated. Figures 2 and 4 shows the position of the various gears in the reduction gear drive 42 and it is not believed that further description is necessary. Suffice to say that the relatively high speed drive from the motor 40 is transformed to a relatively slow drive to the gear wheel 30 which in turn causes the roll 14 to rotate slowly in its bearings.

The motor 40 and the gear drive 42 are enclosed within a cover 44 in which is mounted an on and off switch 46 to control action of the motor. The motor is driven by means of batteries not shown house in a battery compartment 48 to which accesses obtain through an opening not shown in the rear wall 20 in conventional action.

Turning next to the trap 16 this comprises an upper box like portion 50 and a lower tray 52, the tray being a secure sliding fit to the bottom of the portion 50.

The portion 50 is open at its underneath leading to the tray. It is made of the transparent material and at either end is provided with means for attaching the trap 16 to the housing 12. These means comprise downwardly depending resilient clips 54 one of which is attached to the wall 22 and the other of which is attached to the cover 44 and a corresponding receiving slot 56 is formed in either end of the portion 50. The resilient clips 54, as best shown in Figure 3, include resilient arms 58 which are a snap fit in the slots 56 and so normally retain the trap against the under-side of the housing. Inward pressure on the two arms 58, however in the direction of the arrows 60 shown in Figure 3, enables the clips 54 to be released from the slots 56 and allows the trap to be removed temporarily from the housing 12 to empty it of accumulated flies and other insects.

At the-top of the portion 50 is provided a slot 62 whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the rotational axis of the roll 14. At one side of the slot is provided an integral upstanding wiper wall 64. This extends to close to the surface of the roll but does not quite touch it. The gap between the wall 64 and the surface of the roll is designed to be less than the size of a fly or other insect to be trapped so that a fly cannot pass between the wall 64 and the surface of the roll.

On the under-side of the trap and extending parallel to it are provided a pair of downwardly extending combs 66. Each of these combs has a main body portion 68 from which integrally depends a very large number of teeth 70. These teeth are very thin and so flexible and the sets of teeth extend across the slot towards one and another but, as best shown in Figure 2, in a generally downwardly depending fashion.

It is therefore possible for a fly to enter the trap 50 by passing between the teeth, displacing them slightly downwardly if necessary but it is not possible for a fly to push the teeth upwardly from the underneath and so the combs 66 form a one-way door underneath the slot 62.

To prevent flies by passing the combs 70, a downwardly depending flange plate 71 -(Figure. 2) is provided at either end of the slot 62.

Each body portion 68 of the combs 66 is joined to the top of the portion 50 by means of a pair of integral upwardly extending lugs 72. As best shown in Figure 4 these are received in short slots 74 in respect of the left-hand of the two combs as seen in Figure 4 and in longer slots 76 for the right-hand comb as seen in Figure 4. It is therefore possible to slide the right-hand comb 66 towards and away from the left-hand comb 66 to suit the size of flies in the -environment being trapped. Sometimes therefore -it will be desirable to increase the spacing of the combs and in other cases to decrease the spacing and by trial and error a suitable extent of opening can be determined.

To encourage flies to enter the trap 60 the upper portion 50 is transparent. The lower tray 52 has a very large number of small openings or slits 80. This allows for the passage of air and light and so to a fly passing through the slot 62, it appears that the trap is open to the atmosphere because there is fresh air and light. A fly does not fear entering the trap therefore.

In operation the user coats the surface of the roll 14 with some material which will attract flies.

Suitable materials are honey and jam but synthetic fly attracting materials can also be used. The roll is then set in motion by actuating the motor which rotates in the direction of the arrows 82 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Any flies attracted to the surface of the roller will therefore alight upon it and will be progressively carried around the roller.

Initially the flies will probably alight on the front of the roller as seen in Figure 1 and will be carried around the top to the back into a region 84 (Figure 2) between the rear of the roll and the wall 20. They will continue to be carried down and around the roller until they reach the region of the slot 62. The upstanding wall 64 however prevents them passing beyond it since the space between it under the surface of the roller is too small for the flies. The flies will therefore be forced to walk around the roll and in their desire to eat the material smeared on the roll will continue to do this.

When they eventually they tire they will seek a way out and to them the easiest way out is through the slot 62 into the light area of the trap 60. There is therefore little incentive for them to return by the region 84 which appears that much darker. They therefore pass or fall through this slot 62 past the teeth 70 of the combs 66.

Once in the trap.l6 however they are unable to escape since they cannot get back past the teeth 70.

Accumulated flies in the trap can thereafter be disposed of from time to time by removing the trap and emptying it, the tray 52 being separated from the portion 50.

The fly trap 10 can be used in the orientation shown in Figure 1 and in this connection a pair of slots 86 are provided in the wall 20 for screws to enable the trap 10 to be fitted say on an upright wall. As an alternative, the trap can be laid flat on a horizontal surface resting with the wall 20 on that surface. Under these circumstances, the effectiveness of the trap can sometimes be increased by providing a region full of water in which flies can drown. To achieve this as short integral wall 90 is provided and a body of water can then be provided in the area 92. This is not essential however.

As we will be appreciated the trap is simple to construct and simple in operation. However it is highly efficient and effective in catching and trapping flies and other flying insects.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A trapping device for flies and other forms of flying insect, comprising a rotatable roll which in use is arranged to carry over its cylindrical surface a material to which flies are attracted, means for steadily rotating that roll about its longitudinal axis, a trap for flies having a one-way inlet slot through which flies and other flying insects can pass in one direction but cannot return, the inlet of the trap being positioned close to the roll along a line substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the roll, and wiper means positioned substantially parallel to the inlet slot and alongside the slot and substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the roll, the wiper means extending towards the surface of the roll with a spacing which is less than the size of a fly or other flying insect to be attracted so that a fly or other flying insect cannot pass the wiper as the surface of the roll rotates past it, whereby flies and other flying insects are attracted to the roll and alight on it, and rotation of the roll delivers them to a position adjacent the inlet to the trap and the wiper means prevents them passing significantly beyond that position so that the flies, when tired of walking around the roller, will be likely to pass through the one-way inlet slot into the trap.

2. A trapping device as claimed in claim 1 which has a housing which supports the trap and the rotatable roll, the housing defining with the roll a relatively narrow region through which a fly on the roller will pass before it reaches the region of the one-way inlet.

3. A trapping device as claimed in claim 2 in which the trap itself is removable from the rest of the housing supporting the roll and operating components so that the trap can be emptied from time to time of accumulated dead flies and readily cleaned.

4. A trapping device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the trap itself is transparent.

5. A trapping device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the trap has a large number of very small openings which are too small to allow a fly to escape but which allow light and air to pass into the trap and so encourage the fly to think that by entering the trap through the one-way inlet slot it is moving to the outside again.

6. A trapping device as claimed in any preceeding claim in which the width of the one-way inlet slot is adjustable so as to suit the particular flies and other flying insects which happen to be available in the environment in which the apparatus is working.

7. A trapping device substantially as herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.