GB2594996A

GB2594996A - An insect control device

Info

Publication number: GB2594996A
Application number: GB2007222.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul William Cain Jamie
Original assignee: Jamie Paul William Cain
Current assignee: Jamie Paul William Cain
Priority date: 2020-05-15
Filing date: 2020-05-15
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-15
Also published as: GB2594996B; GB202007222D0

Abstract

An insect control device for use within a refuse receptacle comprises a housing 10 with a pressuriser arranged to impel fluid from a spray fluid reservoir 19 though a nozzle at periodic time intervals under the control of a controller 16, which may be remote controlled. The device may be mounted on the inside of the hinged lid of a wheelie bin and have a tilt switch for safety to prevent operation when the lid is open. A motor 18 may operate a pump via gearing cogs and a lever (figure 5) which convert rotary motion to reciprocating motion to press a pump or actuate a pressurised cannister.

Description

AN INSECT CONTROL DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insect control device, in particular a device for controlling infestation of insects, and egg laying; more particularly but not exclusively within a waste or refuse receptacle such as a wheelie bin.

Background

Increasing numbers of areas in many societies are utilising wheelie bin refuse receptacles.

These are increasingly collected less frequently, for example fortnightly, and in many 15 societies, when weather is warm these receptacles can be fertile breeding grounds for insects.

For example, frequently the receptacle provides a territory that allows a flying insect to lay eggs, and in between openings of the lid the insect eggs can incubate, and the flies can accumulate ready to escape the next time the lid is opened. This can be problematic as a common house fly can cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, tuberculosis and many other unpleasant illnesses.

Prior Art

US 2011 0 116 969 (WALLIS) discloses a waste environment sanitation and disinfecting device comprising: a waste receptacle; a sanitizing agent; a canister configured to contain the sanitizing agent; a spray nozzle configured to dispense the sanitizing agent from the canister in response to the spray nozzle being triggered; an actuator configured to trigger the spray nozzle; and a placement device configured to attach to the waste receptacle wall; WO 2009 79 710 (CASTLE) discloses an automated deodoriser including insect 35 repellent and sanitiser for refuse container. A unit is mounted internal or external to a refuse container such as a waste bin, industrial bin or wheelie bin; if the unit is mounted externally a hole is present to facilitate access to the inside of the bin. The unit includes a mountable housing, a spray can containing a mix of deodoriser, insect repellent and sanitiser, an actuator and timer or transmitter/receiver components. The unit is not activated by the closing of the bin lid, however, can be operated manually, via the timer or via the remote transmitter and receiver system; ideally the unit is activated prior to opening of the refuse container. The unit is securely fastened to the refuse container, allowing it to remain in position at time of rubbish removal and the housing can be locked with a key.

US 3 739 944 (ROGERSON) discloses apparatus for automatically and periodically discharging a metered quantity of spray from an aerosol container is described. A DC motor is directly coupled in positive relationship through a reduction gear train and a valve contacting element with a metering valve of an aerosol container. A timing circuit which couples a battery power source to the DC motor delivers periodic power pulses to energize the motor and actuate the container valve. The spring return force in the valve returns the valve contacting element to its normal position at the end of each power pulse without requiring a disconnection of the positively coupled DC motor.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing 20 devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an insect control device 25 comprises: a housing, a fluid reservoir, at least one spray nozzle, a pressuriser arranged to impel fluid from the reservoir through the at least one nozzle at periodic intervals under control of a controller..

The reservoir may comprise a displaceable reservoir, for example an independently 30 available cannister. The fluid may be pressurised by the pressuriser or supplied pressurised as a pressurised cannister. In other embodiments the reservoir may be arranged to allow replenishment of fluid.

In some embodiments the pressuriser comprises a motor operating a pump. For 35 example such pump may comprise a gear arrangement for converting rotary motion from the motor to a reciprocating motion to depress a pump to impel fluid from the reservoir.

In some embodiments the gear arrangement is for converting rotary motion from the 5 motor to a reciprocating motion to depress a pressurised canister to impel fluid from the reservoir.

A canister works by using pressurized gas and fluid. In this way if an internal release hose is not below the fluid level and the canister is used, then the gas will escape and the canister will lose its pressure.

In some embodiments it may be envisaged that the canisters are designed to operate in a side position and not a more standard vertical upright position.

Once the gas has been used, then there is no way to extract the fluid meaning the canister would be unusable. It may be envisaged instead therefore that a system of refilling canisters locally or remotely may be encompassed within a system of operation including the device of the present invention.

In some embodiments the internal release hose may therefore be flexible so the hose will always be submerged below the fluid level, whereby by using a flexible hose, the hose will always be submerged in the fluid, and therefore the canister will always stay pressurized until all fluid has been used.

In some embodiments the housing may comprise a receptacle attachment means. In some embodiments this receptacle attachment means may be permanent, such that the device is comprised in a bin or on a bin lid or receptacle attachment means at retail or manufacture. For example the device may be attached to the underside of a wheelie bin lid.

In some embodiments the receptacle attachment means may be temporary or semipermanent. For example, in some embodiments the device may be attached to an existing bin lid.

The attachment means may comprise adhesive, screws, ferromagnetism or bolts.

The device may comprise a timer. In this way the release of spray from the nozzle or nozzles may be periodic according to the timer.

In some embodiments the device comprises a user control mechanism, which enables 5 a user to control volume of the release and/or frequency of the release according to preference.

In some embodiments of the device the energy source comprises a local energy source, for example a battery.

This battery may be rechargeable and/or displaceable.

In some embodiments the device comprises an energy harvesting source, for example in some embodiments the energy source may comprise a photovoltaic cell, or cells so 15 as to harvest solar energy for conversion to an electrical energy source.

The solar cell or cells may be envisaged to be located on the lid top in use, for example wired through the lid to a battery.

In some embodiments the housing may comprise a displaceable cover. The cover may be wholly or partially displaceable, for example hinged.

In some embodiments the cover covers the reservoir, so as to allow for its displacement or replenishment. In some embodiments the cover covers the battery to 25 allow for its replacement and/or recharging.

In some embodiments the device comprises a wireless transceiver or receiver, for example so as to allow for the device to be remotely controlled control mechanism. In this way the device may be controlled, for example the periods of release may be controlled, and/or the quantity of the release may be controlled, from a remote item of electronics, such as an independently provided smartphone, or a bespoke controller.

Such wireless transceiver may operate using shortwave radio, intermachine operability such as Bluetooth (RIM) or infrared. The device may comprise a transceiver or 35 receiver located on top of the lid, or distal from the housing.

In some embodiments the motor may cooperate with a transmission mechanism, where a rotary nozzle assembly is driven by the transmission mechanism, and a piston pump assembly is synchronously driven by the transmission mechanism and capable of injecting liquid into the rotary nozzle assembly such that the rotary nozzle assembly and the piston pump assembly are simultaneously driven by the transmission mechanism.

The piston pump assembly may continuously inject liquid into said rotary nozzle assembly such that the rotary nozzle assembly evenly sprays the liquid to the 10 surroundings during rotation.

In other embodiments the device comprises a geared cog arrangement for translation of rotary motion from the motor to reciprocating motion with respect to a pump on the canister, which arrangement comprises a planetary gear arrangement and a lever driven by a proximal gear, so that rotary motion of the motor drives a reciprocating lever, which in turn depresses the canister's pump.

The control spray may be deodoriser and repellent, so as to effectively and advantageously reduce the smell of bins especially in warmer weather and reduce the 20 likelihood of fly's spreading diseases and maggot infestations.

It may be envisaged that a 1-hour window for releases may be reset to up to 6 hours, In some embodiments the controls or controller may comprise a tilt switch. Such tilt 25 switch may be envisaged to turn the device off, for example where the lid is open. In this way if the user is placing rubbish in the bin, or the bin has been blown over due to weather. In some embodiment in this way the device will shut until the lid is closed again. This is so that the user is not liable to be squirted with aerosol or chemicals or fluids. In addition or the alternative there is no wastage of fluids if the bin is blown over. 30 According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a refuse receptacle incorporating a device substantially as described herein.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only 35 and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the 5 present invention.

Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; And Figure 5 shows an isometric view of an arrangement of cogs for the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures generally there is shown an embodiment of the device generally comprising an insect control device 99 for a refuse receptacle (not shown) comprising a hinged lid, the device comprising a housing 10, a spray fluid reservoir 19, one or more spray nozzles (not shown), an energy source 15 and a motor 18, wherein the motor is arranged to impel fluid from the reservoir through one or more nozzles in periodic intervals as controlled by a processing means 16.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a 30 substantially rectanguloid housing, with an elongate open face for attachment to a frame 1 providing the attachment means 2.

The housing is formed in plastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or may be aluminium or steel.

The embodiment is attached to the underside of a wheelie bin lid in use or at manufacture.

The attachment means is provided by an outwards extending flange, which flange 5 provides plural screw holes, for screw attachment means. The flange may also be used for adhesive bonding to the underside of the bin's lid in use.

The opposing elongate face provides a front face in use and includes a spray nozzle hole 5 centrally. The hole is wide such that in this way the nozzle is directed 10 downwards in use into the bin when the lid is closed and dispersed evenly.

The end faces of the housing provide displaceable hatches 3,4 for accessing internal space of the housing when attached to the bin lid underside. In some embodiments the housing may be displaceable from a frame.

The internal space of the housing comprises a displaceable pressurised canister 19 of insect control fluid, a pair of standard AA batteries 15 and an electric rotary motor 18. The electronics may be potted to avoid water damage.

As shown in Figure 5 the motor drives gearing cogs which in turn push against the release of the canister so as to periodically provide a release of fluid from the canister through the nozzle Timing and control of the release is controlled by a printed circuit board processing 25 means 16 powered by the batteries.

The control means in the pictured embodiment is envisaged to be remote, so as to be controlled by a remote control or smartphone or similar electronic equipment for example independently provided and equipped with a bespoke software application.

In some other embodiments the control means may be local, and further comprises a slider switch (not shown) which turns the release on or off and provides intermediate timer settings. In this way for example the motor may be programmed to expel fluid from the nozzles at a periodic interval pattern, for example once a day or hour.

The housing is screwed to the frame 1, where the frame comprises female bosses for strength of screw connection, and the connection further comprises a silicone gasket to seal the housing's internal space.

The canisters include a flexible internal hose tube to ensure no wastage of fluid from the canister's internal reservoir. This hose tube thereby may be envisaged to reach to the bottom of the internal reservoir, and/or into corners.

The cogs comprise a lever cog which depresses the canister's pump in a reciprocating 10 motion, where the lever cog is asymmetric as shown in Figure 5.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely 15 combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. An insect control device comprises: a housing, a fluid reservoir, at least one spray nozzle, a pressuriser arranged to impel fluid from the reservoir through the at least one nozzle at periodic intervals under control of a controller.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the pressuriser comprises a pressurised canister.
3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the pressuriser comprises a motor operating a pump.
4. A device according to claim 3 includes a gear arrangement for converting rotary motion from the motor to a reciprocating motion to depress a pump to impel fluid from the reservoir
5. A device according to claim 3 comprising a gear arrangement for converting rotary motion from the motor to a reciprocating motion to depress a pressurised canister to impel fluid from the reservoir.
6. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a tilt switch for control of the controller.
7. A refuse receptacle comprising a device according to any preceding claim.
8. A refuse receptacle according to claim 6 comprises a hinged lid.