US537660A - Fly-switch - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

' P..W. WOOD.

FLY SWITCH.

No. 537,660. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

Z XWA i NlT ED STATES PATENT Prion.

FLY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,660, dated April 16, 1895. Application filed August 24,1894. Serial No. 521,231. (No model.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. YVOOD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at East Baldwin,in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved fly switch for killingflies and the objects of the invention are, first, to provide a device which will permit the passage of the air through and at the same time strike and kill the flies, and, second, to provide an improved handle adapted to readily clamp the switch or striking portion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of the switch. Fig. 2 is a View at right angles thereto; and Fig. 3 is a detail of the clamping portion of the handle.

The switch portion A consists of a piece of wire netting which may be of the shape shown in the drawings, or any other desired shape. It may be more or less flexible as is desired or may be stiff and unyielding, though slightly flexible netting is preferred. The edges are reinforced or bound to prevent wear, and the meshes are sufficiently close to prevent the flies passing through as the netting is waved or switched through the air.

The handle preferably consists of a single piece of stiff wire having the elongated loop portion 13 adapted to be grasped by the hand. The end portions B of the wire are bent into elongated coils of the same size and adapted to bear againsteach other, being forced together by the spring of the handle. The ends I) of the wires are pointed and terminate at opposite sides of the handle, centrally of the coils, where they are each bent inward toward the adjoining coil.

When the handle is to be applied to the netting it is only necessary to separate the coils and slip the netting between them and when in proper position allow the coils to spring together when they will clamp the netting, and the points I) penetrating the meshes will hold it securely from sliding between the loops.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood, as the open work of the netting and handle enables the switch to be swung very quickly through the air without forming an air cushion of compressed air in front of the switch as is the case with imperforated switches. Such an air cushion serves to push the flies before it and renders the action of the switch of no avail as the flies are given ample time to escape. With my device however no cushion is formed as the air passes readily through the open work and the flies or other insects receive no warning until they are struck by the strands of the wire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination the netted striking portion and the wire handle having clamping portions under spring tension for clamping the edge of the striking portion, substantially as described.

2. In combination the netted or open-workstriking portion, and the detachable handle consisting of a single piece of Wire bent to form an elongated loop with the end portions of the wire coiled to form clamping faces for clamping the striking portion, substantially as described.

3. In combination the netted or open-work striking portion, andthe detachable handle consisting of the single piece of wire ben'tinto an elongated loop and having its end portions coiled and bearing against each other to form clamping faces, the ends of the wire of each coil being pointed and bent inward toward the adjacent coil, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. WOOD.

Witnesses:

LINDLEY M. WEBB, GEORGE E. HIGHT.

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