GB2258130A

GB2258130A - Fly trap.

Info

Publication number: GB2258130A
Application number: GB9109584A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony George Standfast Piper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-02
Filing date: 1991-05-02
Publication date: 1993-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-02
Also published as: GB2258130B; GB9109584D0

Abstract

A fly trap comprising first and second housings (3, 2), the second housing (3) surrounding the first housing (2). The first housing (2) defines a first chamber (1), and a second chamber being defined between the first and second housings. The first chamber has a fly entrance port (4) and a fly exit port (6), the fly exit port defining a passage from the first chamber to the second chamber and constituting the only entrance to the second chamber. The first and second housings (3 and 2) are each made from at least one flat blank of translucent material. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a fly trap.

The presence of flies are not only a nuisance but also a health hazard. Various mechanisms for killing them are in use. A number of these involve the use of posions and chemicals which are harmful to the environment. Others include electrical discharge devices which are costly and require special installation. The present invention provides a simple fly trap which is cheap to produce and has no harmful environmental effects.

According to the present invention there is provided a fly trap which in use comprises a first bait chamber for housing bait, said first chamber having a lower entrance port through which flies can enter, and a second chamber above said first chamber, said first and second chambers being interconnected by a narrow aperture. Preferably the trap is made of translucent material.

Preferably the first chamber is cone or pyramid shaped having the entrance port in the base and the bait in the base, and said aperture is in the apex of the cone or pyramid. Preferably the first chamber is housed in the second chamber, and preferably the second chamber is a square shaped box housing a first chamber in the form of a square based pyramid. Preferably the trap can be assembled from at least one flat blank of paper or plastic.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the errected invention.

Figures 2a to 2c show flat blanks used to form the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a first chamber 1 formed from a square-based pyramid 2 (with no base) which rest inside a box 3 on the base of the box 3 (which effectively forms the base of the pyramid). Base of the box 3 provides for the first chamber an entrance port 4 and a bait tray 5. Flies are attracted by the bait and thus enter the first chamber 1 through port 4. An aperture 6 is formed at the apex of pyramid 2 which leads into a second chamber 7, above the first chamber 1, formed by the space in the box not taken up by the pyramid 2. The device is made of translucent material, and when the device is out of doors, the second chamber 7 when viewed from first chamber 1 appears lighter due to light differential emitted from the sky and the ground respectively.Flies in chamber 1 are attracted upwards towards chamber 2 because it is lighter, and they then they pass through aperture 6 into the aparent free space of chamber 7. Once in chamber 7, flies are not normally attracted back into chamber 1 to escape as it is darker. Box 3 has a removable lid 10 through which lugs 8a and 8b can pass and which can be opened to dispense dead flies periodically during use. Box 3 has four legs 9a to 9d (see Fig 2a) so the device can be positioned on a flat surface.

Alternatively the device can hang from string connected to the holes in lugs 8a and 8b.

Referring to Figure 2a, box 3 of Figure 1 can be formed from folding along the dotted lines four side walls 3a to 3d of a flat blank, and connecting edges "X". The base of the box containing entry port 4 and bait tray 5 is attached to side wall 3d and formed by connecting edges "Y". As shown in Figure 2b, a lid 10 to the box 3 is provided having slots ila and lib to receive lugs 8a and 8b respectively. As shown in Figure 2c, the pyramid 2 is formed by folding along the dotted lines four triangular panels 2a to 2d.

The device of the invention can be made of paper, plastic, wire mesh or other suitable material. Being flat they are cheap to package and transport. The edges X,Y and Z can be connected by known means, e.g a "snap action" tongue and groove connection. The device can be made of translucent or transparent material. Any suitable bait can be used such as meat.

Further modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fly trap comprising first and second housings, the second housing surrounding the first housing, the first housing defining a first chamber, and a second chamber being defined between the first and second housings, the first chamber having a fly entrance port and a fly exit port, the fly exit port defining a passage from the first chamber to the second chamber and constituting the only entrance to the second chamber, wherein the first and second housings are each made from at least one flat blank of pliable material.

2. A fly trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing defines a hollow frustoconical member, with the fly entrance port being located at the wider end of the member, and with the fly exit port being located at the narrower end of the member.

3. A fly trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hollow frustoconical member is a hollow circular conical member.

4. A fly trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first housing is a square-based hollow pyramid, with the fly entrance port being located at the base of the pyramid, and with the fly exit port being located at the apex of the pyramid.

5. A fly trap as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first housing is formed from a single flat blank constituted by four adjoining panels each defining a truncated triangle, each pair of adjacent panels being delimited by a respective line of weakening, and the truncated portions of the triangular panels being contiguous, whereby the blank can be folded at the lines of weakening to form the pyramid-shaped first housing with the truncated portions of the panels defining the fly exit port and the base of the pyramid-shaped first housing being open.

6. A fly trap as claimed in claim 5, wherein the free edge portions of the two outer panels define connecting edge portions which, in use, can be fastened together to maintain the integrity of the pyramid-shaped first housing.

7. A fly trap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second housing has a generally cylindrical cross-section.

8. A fly trap as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second housing is generally cuboidal having four generally rectangular side walls, a lid and a base, the base being formed with an aperture constituting the fly entrance port.

9. A fly trap as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base of the second housing constitutes a support for the first housing.

10. A fly trap as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein at least the first housing and the lid of the second housing are formed from translucent material.

11. A fly trap as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least the side walls of the second housing are formed from a first flat blank, and the lid of the second housing is formed from a second flat blank, the first blank being constituted by at least four adjoining, generally rectangular panels, each pair of adjacent panels being delimited by a respective line of weakening, whereby the first blank can be folded at the lines of weakening to form the side walls of the cuboidal second housing.

12. A fly trap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the free edge portions of the two outer panels define connecting edge portions which, in use, can be fastened together to maintain the integrity of the side wall portion of the second housing.

13. A fly trap as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first blank further comprises a generally square base panel, one edge portion of which is joined to an end portion of one of the generally rectangular panels about a line of weakening, the base panel being formed with an opening constituting said aperture.

14. A fly trap as claimed in claim 13, wherein that edge portion of the base panel opposite to the edge portion joined to said one generally rectangular panel is formed as a connecting edge portion which can be fastened to a connecting end portion of another of said generally rectangular panels thereby to fix the base panel to the side wall panels.

15. A fly trap as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein each generally rectangular panel of the first blank is formed with at least one projecting tab portion, the tab portions being situated at the panel edges which are in the region of the base of the second housing, whereby the tab portions define feet for supporting the second housing with the base spaced from the surface which supports the feet.

16. A fly trap as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the second blank is constituted by a square panel having a generally rectangular flap along each edge thereof, each flap being delimited from the square panel by a respective line of weakening, whereby the second blank can be folded at the lines of weakening to form a shallow flanged lid.

17. A fly trap as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the lid and the side walls of the second housing are formed with interengageable connection members for holding the lid in place on the side walls.

18. A fly trap as claimed in claim 17, wherein a respective slot is formed in at least one of the lines of weakening of the second blank, the or each slot being adapted to receive a complementary tab formed on a corresponding edge of one of the generally rectangular panels of the first blank, the or each tab/slot pair constituting the interengageable connection means.

19. A fly trap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising a bait support member positioned in the region of the fly entrance port.

20. A fly trap as claimed in claim 19 when appendant to claim 8, wherein the bait support member is positioned within the aperture formed in the base of the second housing.

21. A fly trap as claimed in claim 20, wherein the bait support member is formed integrally with the base of the second housing.

22. A fly trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.