GB2275409A

GB2275409A - Fluorescent light insect trap

Info

Publication number: GB2275409A
Application number: GB9403695A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas S Nayler; T Kenneth Nayler
Original assignee: Envirolights Mfg Inc
Current assignee: Envirolights Mfg Inc
Priority date: 1993-02-25
Filing date: 1994-02-25
Publication date: 1994-08-31
Also published as: GB9403695D0; CA2116363A1

Abstract

An insect control light has an adhesive coated trap 22 mounted vertically in front of an ultra violet fluorescent light 20. The trap surface 32 is detachable and directed toward the light so that insects collected on the adhesive coating are hidden until removal. <IMAGE>

Description

INSECT CONTROL LIGHT The present invention relates to insect control lights.

It is well known that certain insects, particularly flying insects, are attracted to ultraviolet light, commonly known as black light. Various prior proposals have utilized the black light as an insect attractant and sought to control the insects by various means.

One such device utilizes high voltage electrodes which electrocute the insects as they fly through the device. These devices are effective to control flying insects and some devices provide a removable tray to collect most of the debris resulting from the electrocution of insects. However, it is necessary to disconnect the power source before the tray may be removed.

An alternative form of control light utilizes a low voltage electrode in the form of a grid which purports to stun the insect as it makes contact with the grid. The insect then falls onto a coated paper which retains the insect. This allows the insect to be removed. However, in this arrangement, the adhesive paper has to be disposed horizontally beneath the lights so that stunned insects will fall on to the paper. This means that the insects are visible after they have been trapped and their removal requires partial disassembly of the unit to allow access to the paper. Moreover, the horizontal disposition of the card promotes the collection of dust on the adhesive surface to reduce the effectiveness thereof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an insect control light which obviates or mitigates one or more of the above disadvantages.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an insect control light comprising a housing having a forwardly directed surface and a light source mounted in front of and adjacent to the surface. A detachable support extends in front of and is spaced from the surface. An insect trap is mounted on a rearwardly directed surface of the support whereby insects trapped by the trap are hidden by the support.

Preferably the support is detachable and is in front of the forwardly directed surface so that it may readily be removed without disassembly of the unit. This facilitates exchange of the trap.

The rearwardly directed surface of the support may be disposed vertically and thereby enhance the shielding of insects trapped on the trap.

It is preferred that the trap consist of an adhesive surface to which the insects adhere and may subsequently be removed. It is also preferred that the adhesive surface is on a substrate that can be removed from the support and replaced by a fresh adhesive coated substrate.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an insect control light; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the light shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the light shown in Figures 1 through 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembly of a pair of lights shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front elevation of a mounting plate used in the assembly of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side view of the mounting plate shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a side view, similar to Figure 5, of an alternative assembly of lights shown in Figure 1; Figure 9 is a front view of a mounting plate used to form the assembly of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a side view of the bracket shown in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a side view similar to Figure 5 of an alternative assembly of the lights shown in Figure 1.

Referring therefore to Figures 1-4, an insect control light 10 includes a housing 12 having forwardly directed recess 13 defined by a partition 14 and side walls 15. The partition 14 and side walls 15 are integrally molded into the housing 12 and one surface of the partition 14 provides a forwardly directed surface 16. The forwardly directed surface 16 is reflective and is preferably formed from anodised aluminum. The partition 14 also defines a rearwardly directed chamber 18 to accomodate electrical components that are supplied by an electrical cable 19. Cable 19 is preferably mounted on a spring-loaded drum so as to be retractable and allow the length of cord to be adjusted to suit the particular installation. The chamber 18 is closed by a panel 21 secured to the housing 12 and having apertures indicated at 23 to facilitate mounting of the lights 10.

A pair of fluorescent light assemblies 20 are mounted in the recess 13 adjacent to and in front of the forwardly directed surface 16. The fluorescent light assembly 20 includes a fluorescent tube emitting an ultra violet light commonly referred to as black light.

A support member 22 extends across the recess 13 and is spaced forwardly from the forward facing surface 16. The support member 22 is detachably supported on a pair of blocks 24 integrally molded with the side walls 15 at opposite sides of the recess 13.

Support 22 is detachably secured to the blocks 24 by means of hook and loop type fastening strips 26 sold under the trademark "Velcro", one part of which is secured to the block 24 and one part of which is secured to a rearwardly facing surface 27 of the support 22.

As can best be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the upper and lower longitudinal edges 28 of the support 22 are turned over and spaced from the rearwardly facing surface 27. These therefore provide a channel 29 in which a substrate 30 is slidably received. The substrate 30 is typically a rectangular card that has an outer surface 32 directed toward the forward facing surface 16 and coated with a suitable adhesive to provide a trap for the insects. Preferably the adhesive is thermoplastic adhesive or ahot melt-adhesive with a U.V. stabilizer that remains tacky for the required period.

In operation therefore, the insect control light 10 is mounted on a vertical surface by keyhole apertures 23 provided in the panel 21 and connected to a suitable source of power through cable 19. The fluorescent light assemblies 20 emit black light and cause the insects to be attracted toward the forwardly directed face 16. The reflective surface 16 intensifies the source of light to enhance the attraction to the flying insects. Insects flying around the light assemblies 20 fly into contact with the adhesive surface 32 where they are retained by the adhesive coating.

The support 22 is positively held on the housing 12 by the fastening strips 26 but may be readily removed from the support block 24 on a periodic basis as required. As the support 22 is removed, the substrate 30 remains within the channel 29 until it is convenient to remove it and replace it with a clean substrate. The removal of the support 22 is simple and may be achieved in an unobtrusive manner. Moreover, the provision of the rigid support 22 provides a convenient carrier for the substrate 30 so that it can be removed in a discreet manner and replaced with a fresh, clean substrate.

The substrate 30 may be removed from the support 22 by simply sliding it longitudinally in the channel 29. However, when the support 22 is mounted on the housing 12, the side walls 15 inhibit accidental removal of the substrate 30. It will be noted from Figures 3 and 4 that the support 22 is V-shaped in cross-section so that the substrate 30 may be flexed to a curved configuration prior to insertion in the channel 29. The flexing of the substrate 30 provides a positive retention within the channel 29 so that the substrate 30 is not likely to slide out of the support while it is being transported to or from the unit. This permits the substrate to be changed in a discreet manner.

While in use, the support 22 provides a finished panel that obscures the surface 32 so that the collection of insects on the adhesive surface 32 does not adversely impact the user of the restaurant or other environment in which the insect control light is mounted.

Moreover, the generally upright orientation of the adhesive surface inhibits the collection of dust so that its useful life is enhanced.

The attachment of the support 22 to the housing 12 is preferably readily releasable but in certain applications a more permanent attachment may be preferred. In this case, a releasable screw or bolt may be used to attach the support. Where necessary, it is also possible to install a grill in front of the tubes 20 to prevent damage or unintentional removal. With the arrangement shown, such a grill may be installed behind the support 22 so that it does not interfere with the removal of the support and substrate.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1-4 is illustrated with the support 22 and fluorescent lights 20 extending in a generally horizontal direction. In this orientation, the unit may be attached directly to a wall as described.

The unit 12 is also suitable for installation with the support 22 and lights 20 orientated vertically.

Again, the unit may be mounted on a wall through use of apertures 23. The adhesive surface 32 is still hidden from view by the support 22 and remains orientated vertically to inhibit the collection of dust. The unit 10 may also be used with the panel 21 lying on a horizontal surface such as a table top. Although in this configuration the adhesive surface 16 is disposed horizontally, it is still shielded by the support 22 and is downwardly directed so that the collection of dust is inhibited. Such an orientation is likely to be used as a temporary installation rather than a permanent one but the light may still be used in that manner.

Light 10 may also be used in combination with similar lights to provide coverage over a 360 horizon.

As shown in Figure 5, a pair of lights indicated at 10a is orientated with the panels 21 facing one another on opposite sides of a mounting plate 40. The mounting plate 40, shown in further detail in Figures 6 and 7, includes a pair of upper hooks 42 projecting on opposite sides of the plate 40 and a pair of lower hooks 42 each projecting to one side of plate 40 and disposed diagonally to the respective upper hooks 42. The upper hooks 42 and lower hooks 44 are received in the mounting slots 23 provided in the rear panel 21 so that each of the lights 10 is retained on the mounting plate 40.

Plate 40 is provided with mounting points 46 that permit the mounting plate 40 to be suspended from a suitable structure. In this way, a combined installation is provided that may be suspended within a room and provide full coverage over a 360 horizon.

A similar effect may be obtained by mounting a pair of lights 10 in a similar manner on a mounting plate 40b that is provided with a pedestal 48. This is shown more fully in Figures 8-10, where like reference numerals will be used to denote like components with the suffix "b" added for clarity.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 8, each of the light units 10b are mounted on opposite sides of the plate 46b in a similar manner to that described above.

The plate 46b includes a pedestal 48 at its lower edge that has a forwardly-inclined portion 50 and a planar foot 52. The pedestal 48 provides a stable support for the plate 40b and allows a pair of lights 10b to be positioned on a horizontal surface.

It will be appreciated that a similar arrangement could be made with the lights 10 orientated so that the support strip 22 and light assemblies 20 extend horizontally. This is achieved by simply adjusting the dimensions of the support plate 40 to suit the preferred orientation.

Claims

We claim:

1. An insect control light comprising a housing having a forwardly directed surface and a light source mounted in front of and adjacent to said surface, a support member extending in front of and spaced from said forwardly directed surface and an insect trap mounted on a rearwardly directed surface of said support whereby insects trapped by said trap are obscured by said support.

2. An insect control light according to claim 1 wherein said support is detachable from said housing.

3. An insect control light according to claim 2 wherein said trap is removably mounted on said support.

4. An insect control light according to claim 3 wherein said trap includes a substrate carried by said support and having an adhesive surface directed toward said forwardly directed surface.

5. An insect control light according to claim 4 wherein said support includes a channel to receive said substrate.

6. An insect control light according to claim 5 wherein said rearwardly directed surface of said support is concave to provide a concavity and said substrate is dimensioned relative to said channel to be flexed into said concavity upon insertion into said channel.

7. An insect control light according to claim 2 wherein said support member extends across said forwardly directed surface and is supported at opposite ends by a releasable attachment.

8. An insect control light according to claim 7 wherein said forwardly directed surface is formed by a base of a recess in said housing and said support extends between spaced locations on side walls of said recess.

9. An insect control light according to claim 8 wherein said forwardly directed surface is reflective.

10. An insect light according to claim 9 wherein said light source includes at least one fluorescent tube mounted on said base.

11. An insect control light according to claim 10 wherein said tube extends generally parallel to and is spaced from said support.

12. An insect control light according to claim 11 wherein a pair of tubes is provided, each on an opposite side of said support.

13. An insect control light according to claim 12 wherein said trap includes a substrate carried by said support and having an adhesive surface directed toward said forwardly directed surface.

14. An insect control light according to claim 13 wherein said support includes a channel to receive said substrate.

15. An insect control light according to claim 14 wherein said rearwardly directed surface of said support is concave to provide a concavity and said substrate is dimensioned relative to said channel to be flexed into said concavity upon insertion into said channel.

16. An insect control light according to claim 8 wherein said support is attached to said housing by hook and loop type fastener.

17. An insect control light according to claim 15 wherein said support is mounted on pads formed on said side walls, said pads being operable to limit movement of said substrate in said channel when said support is mounted on said pads.

18. An insect control light according to claim 8 wherein said housing includes a chamber located rearwardly of said recess to accomodate electrical controls for said light source.

19. An insect control light substantiaily as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.