GB2539947A

GB2539947A - A wasp repellent device

Info

Publication number: GB2539947A
Application number: GB1511600.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Piddocke Richard
Original assignee: WASPINATOR Ltd
Current assignee: WASPINATOR Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-02
Filing date: 2015-07-02
Publication date: 2017-01-04
Also published as: GB201511600D0

Abstract

A wasp repellent device comprising a bag having first and second ends and a side wall extending therebetween. The first end defines a mouth 6 and the second end is closed 8. A suspension member 9 is connected to the second end. A frame 11 is provided within the bag which can be arranged in extended and collapsed configurations. The frame is adapted to support the bag in an operative shape when in the extended configuration and to collapse flat as a disc when in the collapsed configuration. The frame is preferably a spiral when in an extended configuration. The device may be impregnated with citronella.

Description

A wasp repellent device

The present invention relates to a wasp repellent device. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a wasp repellent device comprising a bag having a collapsible frame therein, the frame being adapted to support the bag in an operative shape when in an extended configuration.

Wasp repellent devices comprising a bag are known. As an example, US 2006/0228053 discloses such a device. Such bags are typically substantially conical in shape and imitate the shape of a wasps nest. The outer surface of the bag is often striated to further increase the resemblance of the bag to a wasps nest.

In use the wasp repellent device is hung from a hook or from a branch of a tree. Wasps are known to have long range vision and are also highly territorial in nature. Any wasp which sees the wasp repellent device may confuse it with a real wasps nest of another colony and so may avoid the area.

The bag of the wasp repellent device is typically sold empty and compacted. This reduces the volume of the device on a shelf. This also reduces postage costs if the bag is offered for sale by mail order. Before the bag can be used however it must be filled with a suitable filler so that it assumes its correct wasps nest shape. A typical filler is one or more plastic carrier bags. This can be inconvenient for a user, particularly if they do not have a suitable filler to hand. This can lead to user dissatisfaction with the product.

The wasp repellent device according to the invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a wasp repellent device comprising a bag comprising first and second ends and a side wall extending therebetween, the first end defining a mouth and the second end being closed; a suspension member connected to the second end; and, a frame within the bag which can be arranged in extended and collapsed configurations, the frame being adapted to support the bag in an operative shape when in the extended configuration and to collapse flat as a disk when in the collapsed configuration.

The wasp repellent device according to the invention can be sent through the post and/or arranged on shelves with the frame in the collapsed configuration. In order to use the device a user deforms the frame to the extended configuration. In this configuration it supports the bag in an operative shape in which it resembles a wasps nest. The wasp repellent device can then be hung in a desired position.

Unlike the devices of the prior art, the wasp repellent device according to the invention can be assembled by a user without the need for any external components such as packing. This increases user satisfaction with the device.

Preferably, the operative shape of the bag is substantially conical, the diameter of the cone decreasing towards the open mouth.

Preferably, the frame is substantially planar in the collapsed configuration.

Preferably, the frame is a spiral when in the extended configuration, the diameter of the spiral decreasing towards the open mouth.

The first end of the bag can comprise a closing member adjustable for contracting the mouth of the bag.

The closing member can comprise an elastic loop.

Preferably, the wasp repellent device comprises a resilient loop arranged between the second end and side wall.

The resilient loop can be a wire loop.

Preferably, at least a portion of the bag is impregnated with chemical repellent to wasps.

The chemical can be citronella.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a wasp repellent device according to the invention in cross section; and.

Figure 2 shows the embodiment of figure 1 in cross section in use.

Shown in figure 1 is a wasp repellent device 1 according to the invention in cross section. The wasp repellent device 1 comprises a bag 2 which in turn comprises first and second ends 3, 4 having a side wall 5 extending therebetween.

The first end 3 defines a mouth 6. Extending around the mouth 6 is a closing member 7 which in this embodiment is an elastic loop.

The second end 4 is closed. In this embodiment it is closed by an end piece 8. A fixing loop 9 is connected to the end piece 8.

Extending between the first and second ends is a side wall 5. The side wall 5 is substantially frusto-conical with the diameter of the side wall 5 decreasing towards the mouth 6. The outer surface of the side wall 5 is typically striated, either by changes in colour or texture (or both). The striation increases the resemblance of the device 1 to a wasps nest.

Within the bag is a resilient loop 10, typically a wire loop. The resilient loop 10 is attached to the bag 1 at the join between the second end 4 and the end piece 8. The resilient loop 10 maintains the side wall 5 in a circular configuration.

Also arranged within the bag 2 is a frame 11. The frame 11 can be arranged in extended and collapsed positions. In this figure the frame 11 is shown in a collapsed configuration in which it is substantially a planar disk.

Shown in figure 2 is the wasp repellent device of figure 1 in use. The frame 11 is shown in the extended configuration. In this configuration the frame 11 supports the side wall 5 of the bag 2, supporting it in an operative position. In the operative position the bag 2 is substantially conical with the diameter of the cone decreasing towards the open mouth 6.

The fixing loop 9 is typically hung from a branch or hook so that it hangs with the open mouth 6 at the bottom. In this configuration the device I resembles a wasps nest and so repels wasps as described above.

In this embodiment the frame 11 is a spiral in the extended position with the diameter of the spiral decreasing towards the open mouth 6 as shown. Typically when sold the frame 6 comprises a flat piece of card with a spiral cut into it. The cuts may not extend all the way around the spiral so maintaining the spiral in the flat collapsed configuration. In use a user typically pushes the card with a thumb to deform the frame to the extended configuration.

In an alternative embodiment the frame 11 comprises a plurality of spirals.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the fixing loop 9 is replaced by a hook. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the bag 2 is a single fabric piece folded at the second end 4 to close the second end 4. In this embodiment the resilient loop 10 is arranged proximate to the second end 4 to maintain the bag 2 roughly in the correct shape.

In a further embodiment of the invention the wasp repellent device 1 does not include a resilient loop 10. The bag 2 is maintained in its operative position by the frame 11.

The bag 2 of the wasp repellent device is typically polypropylene.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the closing member 7 is a drawstring.

Claims

1. A wasp repellent device comprising a bag comprising first and second ends and a side wall extending therebetween, the first end defining a mouth and the second end being closed; a suspension member connected to the second end; a frame within the bag which can be arranged in extended and collapsed configurations, the frame being adapted to support the bag in an operative shape when in the extended configuration, and to collapse flat as a disk when in the collapsed configuration.

2. A wasp repellent device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative shape of the bag is substantially conical, the diameter of the cone decreasing towards the open mouth.

3. A wasp repellent device as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the frame is substantially planar in the collapsed configuration.

4. A wasp repellent device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first end of the bag comprises a closing member adjustable for contracting the mouth of the bag.

5. A wasp repellent device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the closing member comprises an elastic loop.

6. A wasp repellent device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a resilient loop arranged within the bag proximate to the second end.

7. A wasp repellent device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the resilient loop is a wire loop.

8. A wasp repellent device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a portion of the bag is impregnated with a chemical repellent to wasps.

9. A wasp repellent device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the chemical is citronella.

10. A wasp repellent device substantially as hereinbefore described.