US1479648A - Flycatcher - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 1', 1924 C. J. CSTERA FLYCATCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

Filed Oct.

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u. m n@ @a C w@ m a Jari. 1, 1924 1,479,648

' C. J. CASTERA FLYCATCHER Filed Oct. 31. 1921 `3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Jan., l, i924 1,479,648

c. J. cAsTERA FLYCATCHER Filed Oct. 31. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

PATENT orties.

CHARLES J. CASTERA, LOSVANGELES, CALIEORNIA.

FLYGATCHVER.

Application led October 31, 1921. Serial No. 511,630.

To all whom t may concern:

`Be it known that I, CHARLES J. CASTERA, a citizen of the United IEntates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flycatchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a fly catcher, the principal objects of :my invention being to provide a device in the nature of a cabinet that is adapted to be positioned on a counter or show case and to equip said cabinet with continuously operating means that will attract flies and carry the same into a trap; to provide within the cabinet or housing a container that is adapted to receive the .flies after the same pass through the trap;to construct the trame of .the device Vso that `it will receive anumber ot removable panels, and which lat-ter may contain advertising cards or the like; to provide meansforcilluminating the panels that are arranged on the sides and ends` of the vcabinet'or housing; and further to provide a device of the character described which, when properlyv constructed, presents a neat and inishedappearance and which will ybe very' effective in performing its intended functions.

With the foregoing and other `objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more'fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe vaecompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a iy. trap of my improved construction.

F ig. 2 is a top plan view of the trap.

Fig. 3 is an, elevational view of a vibrating brush member that is utilized for directing the flies trom the endless carrier into the trap. Y

Fig. 4 in an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the endless belt or member that carries the lure -tor the fiies.

F ig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the sections of the endless belt.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of yone of the corners of the frame of the device.

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the brush member.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sec-tion taken through the center oic the trap that receives the tlies from the endless belt and the .con- -tainer that receives the iiies from the. trap.

F ig. 9is an elevational view of the means utilized for driving the endless lure carrying. belt.

Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe drivingmechanism that is arranged between the motor and the endless belt forming apart ofthe fly catcher. f

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate apractical embodiment ofthe invention, 10 designates a base upon which is secured a substantially rectangularskeleton frame comprising corner posts-11, intermediate side posts 12, uppersiderails 13, and upper end rails 14. Arranged 'between the upper side rails at points inset. from the end rails 14-are transversely 4disposed rails 15. Thespaces on the ends ot the frame-thus'constructed between the corner .posts l11, thel spaces between the corner vposts andv the intermediate side posts l2, .the spaces between saidintermediate side posts' and .the spaces between the upper end. rails 14 and transverse rails 15, are provided with removable frames 16 in which are arranged attractive pictures or advertising matter, andthus when the device is positioned on a` counter lor show case, Vitpresentsa sightly appearance, and the .flies caught by the machine are entirelyv hid from view. i f

Extending between the. intermediate portions Vof the upper side rails 13 and. between the transverse rails 15, is a series of transversely disposed bars 17 that serve to prevent objects ytrom accidentally dropping intothe open space at the top of the cabinet or housing and onto the upper portion of the -endless belt .operating therein.

J ournaled on. suitable supports. within the cabinet or .housing is a pair of transversely disposed shafts 18, and fixed on each shaft adjacent to its-ends are sprocket wheels 19, the outer edges or peripheries of which, between their .teeth 20, being curved inwardly to form depressions 21. Arranged for operation upon these pairs of sprocket wheels is an endless flexible member or. belt composed of chains, and each chain comprising a series of links 22, the adjacent ends of which are Vpivotally connected to each other by relatively short links 23, there being a pair of these short links between the ends of each pair of chain links 22, and said shorter links beingiadapted to engage over the teeth 2O of the sprocket wheels 19,:r see Fig. 4. They intermediate portions of the chain 22 are curved inwardly so that their lower edges bear in the depressionsy 21 in the sprocket wheels 19, and seated in notches 24 that are formed in the ends of links 22 above the pairs of short connecting` links 23, are the ends of transversely disposed rods 25. Connecting the rods 25 of each pair of links 22 are elastic members 26, and resting thereupon and supported by rods 25 is a concave plate 27, preferably of thin sheet metal. s

Formed in the outer edges of each pair of links 22 and at points intermediate their ends are notches 28 which receive the ends of a transversely disposed rod 29, and retained in position by said lrod upon the central portion of the corresponding plate 27 is a relatively narrowtransversely disposed plate 30, the edges of which carry relatively narrow channel-shaped members 3l in each of which is seated a wick-like member 32 of iibrousmaterial, and which, when the device is set for operation, is saturated with a liquid substance, preferably sweet, ,and which will serve as a lure for iiies. rlhus each concave plate 27 is provided, across its lower portion, with means that will lserve to attract flies and the like.

'lhe'means utilized for imparting movement to the endless belt, includes a small electric motor 33 that is positioned on base 10 adjacent to the center thereof, the connections to said motor passing through a suitable switch 34 that is placed on the lower portion of oneend of the honsing, and said motor having associated with it an ordinary form of speed regulator 35. Carried by the shaft of motor 33 is a worm 36 that meshes with a relatively large worm wheel 37, the latter being` fixed on a shaft 38 and which shaft is journaled 'in a bearing 39 that is located at the upper end of a standard 40. Projecting laterally from standard 40 is an arm 41 on the outer end of which is formed a bearing 42 for a shaft 43, and the latter having fixed on one end a gear wheel 44 that meshes with a pinion 45 on shaft 38.

Gn the opposite end of shaft 43 is fixed a pin wheel 46, the teeth of which engage in the apertures 47 of a` disc 48 that-.is fixed on shaft 18. Thus as the motor 33 is operated, the train of gearing just described will impart relatively slow rotary motion to shaft 18 and the wheels 19 fixed thereupon, and the endless belt supported by said wheels 19 will slowly travel from one wheel to another with the overrunning portion of said endless belt occupying a substantially horizontal position just'beneath the cross bars 17, and with the underrunning portion of said belt passing beneath the support'for motor 33.

Arranged in one'end of the cabinet or housing and adjacent to that portion of the endless belt that passes from the top of the cabinet downwardly into the lower portion thereof, is a structure comprising a bottom @erases plate 49, end walls 50, and a curved inner plate 51, which latter is spaced apart a slight distance from the adjacent portion of the endless belt.

Pivotally connected to the upper portion of the curved inner end wall 51 is a series of depending pins or fingers 52 that are designed to sweep over the top of the overrunning portion ofthe belt and brush therefrom any flies that may tend to remain on the fibrous material 32 that is saturated with he lure. Arranged between the upper portions of the side walls 50 is a horizontally disposed section 53n of wire netting, the inner end of which extends downwardly over the top of the overrunning portion'of the endless belt a short distance away from the depending fingers 52, and which arrangement provides a passageway l53 that leads from the space directly above the overrunning portion of the belt upwardly and thence Y laterally into the chamber 54 between the upper end of the curved wall 51 and the reticulated member 53.

Arranged between the upper portions of the sidewalls 50 and beneaththe reticulated member 53, is a pair of side plates 55 of irregular shape and between which is arranged a series of curved sections 56 of reticulated material, the same being spaced apart to form series of connected channels or passageways, and the ends of said sectionsof recticulated material overlapping each other so to provide a tortuous passageway or maze into which Athe flies pass irom chamber 54 and in which they are trapped.

The outer upper one of the reticulated members 56 is provided with an inwardly extending portion 57 that lies beneath the intermediate portion of section 53a' and directly over the inlet chamber or passageway 54. arranged between certain of the members 55 at the lower portion of the trap or maze is an outlet opening 58 for the flies, and arranged beneath said opening against the side walls 50 are supports 59 for a pair of transverse rods 60, one of which is movable toward the other and being supported for sliding movement upon rods 61 that are seated in one of said rods 60 and pass through apertures in the other rod.

Supported by the rods 60 is the upper end of a container 62, preferably a paper bag, the open upper end of which is positioned directly below outlet opening 58 so as to receive the flies after they have passed through the trap or maze. Vhenever desired the rods 60 may be drawn toward each other to close the upper' end of the receptacle 62, and the latter containing trapped flies may be removed from the device. l

Pivotally connected to the inner portions of the top side rails 13 are horizontally disposed arms e3, the lower ends of which are curved downwardly, and the forward ends threads serve as a transverse deflector that moves over the outer ends .of the curved plates 27, thereby causing any flies that may be resting thereupon to pass into the depressions in said plates 27, and which depressions are occupied by the lure containing members 31..

The operation of my improved y catcher is as follows:

The rotary motion 4of the motor shaft is transmitted through the train of gearing to one of the sets of wheels 19 carrying the endless belt, and the overrunning portion of the latter moves slowly along beneath the opening in the top of the cabinet, and which opene ing is provided with the cross bars 17.

Flies attracted by the lure contained in the channel-shaped members 31 will alight upon the surfaces of plates 27, and as the machine operates said flies will be slowly carried along until they reach' the section 532L beneath the depending inner end of reticulated member 53.l The pivotally mounted depending fingers 52 riding over the upper surfaces of the plates 27 will cause the flies to leave said plates, and as they fly upwardly the natural tendency for them will be to fly toward the nearest opening which is the passageway 54, and thus said flies will enter the trap or maze comprising the reticulated members 56 between the plates 55. From this trap or maze the flies will eventually pass downward through outlet opening 58 into the container 62, and when a sufficient number of flies have accumulated in said container, the latter may be removed from the machine after its upper end has been closed by drawing rods 60 together.

Arranged on the side and end rails 13 and 14 of the machine are brackets 67 carrying electric lamps 68, the connections to which are controlled by a switch 69, and the lat-ter being preferably located on the lower portion of one end of the cabinet or housing. These lights provide means whereby the illustrated cards or advertising matter contained in the panels 16 may be' readily observed at night.

A fly catcher of my improved construction is of relatively simple structure, presents a neat and finished appearance, is constructed with removable panels that are adapted to receive cards bearing attractive illustrations or advertising matter, may be operated with the expenditure of comparatively little power, and provides veffective means for catching flies.

It will be understood that minor changes in size, form and construction of the various parts of-myimproved fly catcher may be;.madev and vsubstituted forv those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of' my invention, the scope of whichzis set forth in the appended claims.v

l claim as my invention:

1. In a fly trap, a housing, portions of the walls and top thereof being provided with removable panels, there being an opening in the top of said housing, and means within said housing for attracting Vand catching flies. i. f

2. Ina fly catcher, a housing, removable panels forming parts of the walls and top of said housing which panels are adapted to receive advertising cards, electric lamps arranged on the upper portion of said housing, an endless flexible member arranged for operation within the housing, a trap of reticulated material arranged adjacent to one end of said endless flexible member, and a collapsible container adapted to receive flies after the same pass through said trap.

3. In a fly catcher, a housing, removable panels forming parts of the walls and top of said housing which panels are adapted to receive advertising cards, electric lamps arranged on the upper portion of said housing, an endless flexible member arranged for operation within the housing, a trap of reticulated material arranged adjacent to one end of said endless flexible member, a collapsible container adapted to receive flies after the same pass. through the trap, and means for imparting continuous movement to said endless flexible member.

at. In a fly catcher, a housing, removable panels forming parts of the walls and top of said housing which panels are adapted to receive advertising cards, electric lamps arranged on the upper portion of' said housing, an endless flexible member arranged `for operation within the housing, a trap of reticulated material arranged adjacent to one end of saidendless flexible member, a collapsible container adapted to receive flies after the same pass through said trap, a series of lure containing members carried by said endless flexible member, and means for imparting continuous movement to said endless exible member.

5. In a fly trap, an endless flexible member mounted for operation, said endless flexible member including a series -of concave plates, channel-shaped lure containing members arranged on said plates, a trap adjacent to one end of said endless flexible member, and means arranged for vibratory movement adjacent to said trap for dislcdging flies from the lure containing members on said endless flexible member.

6. In a Hy-catehing machine, sprocket wheels arranged in space relation, endless chains trained about and operatively connecting said wheels, elastic members arranged in spanning relation to said chains, and lure carrying members Carried by said elastic members.

7. ln a fly trap, an endless oonveyer formed at intervals With depressions, lure containing members secured to the oonveyer within the depressions, a trap adjacent one end of the conveyer, means for deflecting the flies on the Conveyer into said depressions, and means for dislodging the flies on the conveyer and members so that they are directed to said trap.

8. In a Hy trap, an endless conveyer Mmes@ formed at intervals with depressions, lure containing members secured to the oonveyer Within the depressions, a trap adjacent one end of the conveyer, means Vfor defleoting the flies on the Vconveyer into said depressions7 said means comprising a plurality or" flexible members mounted for rocking movement, and means for dislodging the flies on the conveyer or members so that they are directed to said trap.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.V

CHARLES J. C-ASTERA.

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