GB2248166A - A device for trapping insects or other small animals - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for trapping insects or other small animals comprising first and second trapping members 12, 16 movable from an open position to a closed position and manipulating means attached to the first and second trapping members to manipulate the trapping members from said open position to said closed portion, whereby an insect or other small animal can be trapped between the trapping members when the trapping members are in the closed position, and wherein when the trapping members are in the closed position a volume is defined therebetween such that the insect or other small animal remains substantially undamaged. <IMAGE>

Description

A DEVICE FOR TRAPPING INSECTS OR OTHER SMALL ANIMALS This invention relates to devices for trapping insects or other small animals.

During those parts of the year when insects are abundant it can be particularly irritating when one of them strays into your home. Most people prefer to remove the insect rather than kill it. In order to do this, several methods are employed. One of these methods is to place a cup or a beaker over the insect and then slide a piece of card under the beaker. The insect can then be released by removing the card when the person is outside the home.

The problem with this method is that it is often difficult to slide the card under the beaker without releasing the insect. Also, it involves the person being in close proximity to the insect which can result in the person being stung.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for overcoming the above problems.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a device for trapping insects or other small animals comprising first and second trapping members movable from an open position to a closed position and manipulating means attached to the first and second trapping members to manipulate the trapping members from said open position to said closed portion, whereby an insect or other small animal can be trapped between the trapping members when the trapping members are in the closed position, and wherein when the trapping members are in the closed position a volume is defined therebetween such that the insect or other small animal remains substantially undamaged.

The manipulating means may comprise first and second manipulating members connected respectively to the first and second trapping members. The manipulating members may be pivotally attached to each other at a pivot.

A handle may be provided on each manipulating member. The pivot may be arranged between each handle and the respective trapping member.

Urging means may be provided to urge the trapping members towards the closed position.

The urging means may comprise a spring attached to each manipulating member.

The second trapping member may be adapted to close the first trapping member thereby to trap the insect or other small animal when the trapping members are in the closed position.

The second trapping member preferably defines a volume such that the insect or other small animal remains substantially undamaged.

The or each trapping member is preferably formed of a flexible material which may comprise netting.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to this invention, showing the trapping members in the closed position; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the trapping members in the open position; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a device 10 for trapping insects or other small animals is shown. The device 10 comprises a first trapping member 12 which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a flexible material 14, such as netting mounted on a first rim 15 and a second trapping member 15 which, in the embodiment shown comprises a flexible material 17 mounted on a second rim 18 which is also formed of netting.

The device 10 also comprises manipulating means 19 in the form of first and second manipulating members 20,22. The first manipulating member 20 is attached at a first end thereof to the first trapping member 12 and the second manipulating member 22 is attached at a first end thereof to the second trapping member 16. The manipulating members 20, 22 are pivotally attached to each other at pivot 24.

In the embodiment shown, urging means 26 in the form of a spring 28 is attached to the manipulating members 20,22 as shown. The purpose of the spring 28 is described below.

Handles 30,32 are attached to the manipulating members 20,22 respectively at the opposite ends of the manipulating members to the first end. The handles 30,32 define apertures 34,36 for receiving the thumb and fingers of an operator.

In order to operate the device 10, the operator disposes a finger and thumb of one of his hands into the apertures 34,35 of the handles 30,32. By moving the handles 3D,32 in the direction shown by the arrows A and E the trapping members 12,16 are moved from a closed position as shown in Figure 1 to an open position as shown in Figure 2.

When it is desired to remove an insect, such as a bee, or other small animal which has strayed into, for example, a house, the operator moves the handles 30,32 to move the trapping members 12,16 to the open position.

The operator then moves the device 10 until the insect or other small animal is disposed between the first and second trapping members 12,16 and then moves the handles 30,32 to move the trapping members 12,16 to the closed position thereby trapping the insect or other small animal between the trapping members.

The volume defined by the first and second trapping members 12,16 when they are in the closed position should be such that the insect trapped therein is not damaged.

It will be appreciated that the first and second trapping members 12,16 can be formed of any material suitable for trapping an insect therein without damage. It will also be appreciated that the second trapping member 16 can be of any suitable configuration such that it can close the first trapping member 12. For example, in another embodiment, the first trapping member 12 could be formed of netting as shown in the drawings but the second trapping member could be formed of a firm plastics or other suitable material such that it acts merely to close the first trapping member 12 when the trapping members 12,16 are in the closed position.

It is particularly desirable that the distance from the trapping members 12,16 to the pivot should be greater than the distance between the handles 30,32; this enables a small change in the distance between the handles 30,32 to be transmitted as a large change in the distance between the trapping members 12,16.

The spring 28 enables the trapping members 12,16 to be held in the closed position to ensure that the insect or other small animal remains trapped until the operator desires to release it.

It is desirable that the first and second trapping members 12,16 are arranged such that when they are in the closed position there are no gaps between the rims 15,18 thereof through which the insect or other animal can escape.

When the device 10 is formed of a resilient material, it is desirable that the ends 12a,16a of the trapping members 12,16 remote from the pivot point should engage each other before the other ends 12,16 . This assists in ensuring that the trapping members 12,16 can be fully closed.

The handles 30,32, the manipulating members 20,22 and the rims 15,18 can be formed of a thermoplastics material.

Claims (10)

1. A device for trapping insects or other small animals comprising first and second trapping members movable from an open position to a closed position and manipulating means attached to the first and second trapping members to manipulate the trapping members from said open position to said closed portion, whereby an insect or other small animal can be trapped between the trapping members when the trapping members are in the closed position, and wherein when the trapping members are in the closed position a volume is defined therebetween such that the insect or other small animal remains substantially undamaged.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the manipulating means comprises first and second manipulating members connected respectively to the first and second trapping members, the manipulating members being pivotally attached to each other at a pivot.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein a handle is provided on each manipulating member and the pivot is arranged between each handle and the respective trapping member.

4. A device according to any preceding claim comprising urging means to urge the trapping members towards the closed position.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the urging means comprises a spring attached to each manipulating member.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the second trapping member is adapted to close the first trapping member thereby to trap the insect or other small animal when the trapping members are in the closed position.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the second trapping member defines a volume such that the insect or other small animal remains substantially undamaged.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the or each trapping member is formed of a flexible material.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the flexible material comprises netting.

10. A device for trapping insects or other small animals substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.