WO2010015884A1

WO2010015884A1 - Portable insect swatter

Info

Publication number: WO2010015884A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/053191
Authority: WO
Inventors: Darren Aster Gunasekera; Stephen Sutjiadi
Original assignee: Darren Aster Gunasekera; Stephen Sutjiadi
Priority date: 2008-08-08
Filing date: 2008-08-08
Publication date: 2010-02-11

Abstract

An insect swatter is disclosed to trap and kill more insect than a typical insect swatter. An insect attracting means is used within the frame of a swatter to attract insect towards the electrocuting grid. In the first embodiment, the swatter 10 has at least a blue light emitting diode 16 to attract insect towards the electrocuting grid to kill the insect. A second embodiment describes a swatter 30 with a suction fan 26 to attract and pull insect towards the electrocuting grid 14. A third embodiment 40 has a combination of suction fan 26 and at least a blue light emitting diode 16 to attract and confuse insect towards the insect swatter. An optional accessory may include a base 28 to provide a stationary upward position for the swatter.

Description

PORTABLE INSECT SWATTER

The present invention relates to insect control device, more particularly to a portable insect control device using electrical power for trapping and killing insects.

BACKGROUND

Insects presence especially mosquitoes are causing nuisance and harm towards human. Insect control is essential to control the population of insects. There are various ways to repel and control insects using electrical powered device.

Insects are attracted by ultraviolet light. A bug zapper describes a housing using ultraviolet light to attract insects to a trap. The trap can be chemical, mechanical or electrical trap. A chemical trap uses insecticides to kill the insect. A mechanical trap prevents the insect from moving away from the trap while an electrical trap has electrocuting grid to electrocute the insect. Usually such trap is successful in killing insects by electrocuting the insect to death. There are various embodiments of bug zapper which have evolved and combine a mixture of chemical, mechanical and electrical trap.

Another attempt uses liquid with insect repelling properties. The liquid is electrically burnt to repel insects. The liquid is than replenished after the liquid is consumed after each use.

A further attempt uses ultrasonic device to mimic sound emitted by insect. For example, a female mosquito does not want to get close to a male mosquito or a dragonfly when it is hunting for blood. The ultrasonic device mimics the sound of male mosquito or dragonfly. The female mosquito gets confused and avoids the ultrasonic device.

Now insect swatter is popularly used to kill insects. Insect swatter is a portable electrical device having the shape of a racket, which has an electrocuting grid on its head to electrocute insects by swatting an insect with the electrocuting grid. The swat can be conveniently used indoor or outdoor. The above mentioned drawbacks are overcome by the present invention. It is desirable to have an efficient insect control device to effectively attract and kill the insects.

SUMMARY

The present invention is conceived to efficiently trap and kill insects, particularly mosquitoes. Insect attracting means, such as blue Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are used in conjunction with the swatter to attract and confuse more insects to fly towards the swat.

It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a portable insect controlling device. The swatter can be easily hand carried on its grip.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an insect controlling means which can operate and charge its battery at the same time.

It is also an objective of the present invention to have a suction fan on the swatter. The suction fan acts to attract and pull more insect into the electrocuting grid by preventing the insect from flying further away.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a base for the swatter so that it can stand on its own and still function to control insect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of an insect swatter with blue LED according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the insect swatter with suction fan;

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the insect swatter with suction fan and blue LED; and Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the insect swatter with a base stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Fig. 1 , there is illustrated an embodiment of an insect swatter with blue LED. The insect swatter comprises a frame 12, an electrocuting grid 14, at least a blue LED 16, a position switch 18, a button 20, a grip 22, a power supply and a plug 24.

The swatter has blue LED 16 within the boundaries of the frame 12 to attract insects such as mosquito to the direction of the LED. The insect attracting means is essential to effectively attract more insect towards the swatter. Blue LED which emits ultraviolet rays is preferable. The electrocuting grid 14, within the boundaries of the frame, can kill insects that fly towards it or when the swatter is moved towards the direction of the insect. The grip 22 allows a user to manually hold and move the swatter towards a targeted insect. Hence, the swatter is a hybrid of ultraviolet apparatus in a portable swatter.

The swatter has a position switch 18 which provides a position to power the blue LED. The position switch may also provide a position to empower the electrocuting grid. Other than the switch, the button 20, when pressed, empowers the electrocuting grid temporarily with power. When the button is depressed, the electrocuting grid has no power. Hence, the button has a different role from the position switch where power is momentarily delivered to the electrocuting grid to conserve power. A user can press and depress the button to kill insect when needed. The plug 24 allows a user to charge the power supply, usually a battery hidden beneath the grip, of the swatter. The swatter may be operated while the battery is charged at the same time.

Referring to Fig. 2, an insect swatter with a suction fan is disclosed. The swatter 30 has a suction fan 26, as insect attracting means, to attract insect towards the electrocuting grid. This embodiment of swatter is similar with a typical swatter with the addition of a suction fan. The fan can prevent insect from flying further away from the swatter by sucking the insect towards the electrocuting grid. The suction fan can be empowered by operating the position switch or button. The suction fan can also act as a device which provides wind to a user. The other features of the swatter have the same function as a typical swatter as described in the first embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 3, an insect swatter 40 combining a blue LED and a suction fan is disclosed. The blue LED 16 and suction fan 26 attracts insects towards the electrocuting grid so that the insect can be killed at the electrocuting grid. The blue

LED and the suction fan can be empowered by operating the position switch 18 or button 20. The combination of blue LED and suction fan attracts more insect towards the electrocuting grid. The other features of the swatter have the same function as described in the first embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 4, the end of a swatter's grip is placed on a base 28. The base allows the swatter to be operated in a stationary upward position. The base may charge the power supply of the swatter in this position. The swatter can attract insects in this position.

Accordingly, an insect swatter is disclosed to enhance insect trapping. The swatter is fitted with insect attracting means, such as blue LED or suction fan or a combination of both. The blue LED and suction fan attracts more insect towards the electrocuting grid. The swatter has a grip and it is portable.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope on any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiment thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of various embodiments.

Claims

1. A portable insect swatter 10 comprising: a frame 12, an electrocuting grid 14, a grip 22, a power supply, and an insect attracting means, wherein the insect attracting means is positioned within the frame of the portable device to attract insects towards the electrocuting grid contained in the frame to kill the insect.

2. An insect swatter 10 according to claim 1 , wherein the insect attracting means comprises of at least a blue light emitting diode 16, said blue light emitting diodes positioned within the frame attract insects towards the electrocuting grid contained in the frame to kill the insect.

3. An insect swatter according to claim 1 wherein the insect attracting means comprises of a suction fan 26, said suction fan positioned within the frame attracts insects towards the electrocuting grid contained in the frame to kill the insect.

4. An insect swatter according to claim 1 wherein the insect attracting means comprises of a suction fan 26, and at least a blue light emitting diode 16, said blue light emitting diodes and suction fan positioned within the frame attract insects towards the electrocuting grid to kill the insect.

5. An insect swatter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a base 28 which provide a stationary upright position for the swatter.

6. An insect swatter according to claim 5, wherein the base 28 provides a charging means for the power supply of the swatter.

7. An insect swatter according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the power supply of the swatter can be charged and the function of the electrocuting grid can be operated at the same time.