WO2013138843A1

WO2013138843A1 - Insect killing device

Info

Publication number: WO2013138843A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000216
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edmond Tobias HODGES
Original assignee: Hodges Edmond Tobias
Priority date: 2012-03-21
Filing date: 2013-03-07
Publication date: 2013-09-26

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device for striking an insect. The device includes a striking portion having a striking area, and the striking area having a plurality of projections for impaling or trapping the insect.

Description

INSECT KILLING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for striking insects and similar pests. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, flyswatters are used for striking and killing flies, other insects (e.g. cockroaches, ants, etc) and other similar pests (e.g. spiders, moths, etc). Hereafter in this specification the term "insect" (or "insects") will be used. However it is to be clearly understood that this is merely for convenience and the invention is not necessarily limited to use on pests which are technically insects (i.e. the invention may also be used on other forms of pests such as spiders, moths, etc, which may not technically be insects).

[0003] A flyswatter usually includes a planar striking portion or face attached to an elongate handle. When a targeted insect rests on a surface, the striking face of the flyswatter may be used to strike and kill the insect.

[0004] In particular, a conventional flyswatter kills insects by crushing the insect between a solid surface and the striking face of the flyswatter. This action is typically unpleasant and unhygienic. When killing an insect with a conventional flyswatter, the user must wait for the insect to land on a suitable surface before attempting to strike the insect with the striking face of the flyswatter. .If the user successfully kills the insect, he or she would then have to clean the surface where the insect was struck.

[0005] Significantly, conventional flyswatters generally only work successfully at killing an insect if the insect lands on a solid, flat surface. If the insect lands on a corner, on something fragile (such as a glass, cup, plate, ornament, etc), or on a soft object (such as food, blinds or curtains, refuse, etc), a conventional flyswatter would be ineffective in killing the insect. Consequently, the user would have to wait for the insect to land on a more suitable surface before attempting to strike the insect.

[0006] A further problem with conventional flyswatters is that the insect is not always killed after being struck. In fact, an insect will sometimes simply fly away or otherwise escape after being struck, seemingly unharmed. Or even if the insect is harmed by the strike, the insect may nevertheless fly away or otherwise escape capture thereby preventing the insect from being disposed of in an appropriate manner (e.g. in the bin). [0007] Due to the above identified problems, a conventional flyswatter can be an inconvenient, time-consuming and frustrating tool for killing flies.

[0008] It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for striking an insect, the device including a striking portion having a striking area, and the striking area having a plurality of projections for impaling or trapping the insect.

[0010] Advantageously, the projections may function to impale or trap a flying insect in mid-air during a striking motion of the striking portion. This avoids the need to wait until the insect has landed on a surface before attempting to strike and kill the insect. The present invention may therefore provide a convenient and efficient device for killing an insect. Further, the device may avoid the need to 'crush' the insect against a flat surface thereby resulting in a more pleasant and hygienic method of killing insects.

[0011] Further, if an insect lands on a soft, non-flat surface or a corner, the projections may nevertheless impale or trap the insect when the striking portion is swung against the insect. Indeed, the projections may impale or trap the insect without making contact with the surface. In some instances, the insect may fly directly into the striking portion as the striking portion is nearing the insect, thereby allowing the projections to impale or trap the insect.

[0012] As mentioned, when the insect is struck, the projections impale or trap the insect. This may often kill or fatally injure the insect. Or even if the insect is still alive, the insect may nevertheless be trapped by being impaled on and/or squashed/squeezed between the projections. This in turn may prevent the insect from escaping and allow the insect to be disposed of as desired (e.g. in the bin), thereby further providing a reliable method of killing the insect.

[0013] The striking portion may have more than one striking area. For example, the device may have a striking area on two or more sides thereof. In some embodiments, the striking portion may be generally planar, and in this case one or both sides of the striking portion may define a striking area. The projections may extend from at least one of the striking areas. For example, if the striking portion is generally planar, the projections may extend from one or both sides thereof. The projections may extend at any suitable angle. Typically, the projections will extend substantially normal to the plane of the, or each, striking area, although no strict limitation is to be implied from this.

[0014] The projections may be arranged in any suitable manner in the, or each, striking area. For example, the projections may be arranged randomly over the area. Alternatively, the projections may be arranged in a regular pattern over the area. Preferably, the projections may be arranged in an array of rows and columns (or as a grid) and spaced apart at a distance of between 2mm to 4mm between projections. This distance between projections may be suitable for impaling and/or trapping common insects such as, for example, flies. More preferably, the projections are spaced apart at approximately 3mm. It will be appreciated though that the spacing between projections may be varied to suit, for example, to make the device suitable for use on insects of differing sizes.

[0015] Preferably, the projections are in the form of spikes or needles. Alternatively, the projections may be shaped like blades. In one embodiment, the projections are shaped like bristles. The spikes may be of any suitable length. The spikes in each striking area may be approximately 6mm to 7mm long.

[0016] Preferably, the device includes a protective portion extending around a periphery of the, or each, striking area. The protective portion may extend partially or entirely around the periphery of the, or each, striking area. Typically, the protective portion includes a wall. The wall may extend around the periphery of the striking area at any suitable angle. Preferably, the wail extends substantially parallel to the orientation of the projections.

[0017] The protective portion may extend slightly beyond the plurality of projections in the striking area (or in some or all of the striking areas). The protective portion may extend beyond the length of the projections by approximately 1mm. This distance by which the protective portion extends beyond the length of the projections may be suitable for impaling and/or trapping common insects such as, for example, flies between the projections and a surface, when the striking portion is struck against the surface. It will be appreciated though that the dimensions of the protective portion may be varied to suit, for example, to make the device suitable for use on insects of differing sizes. The protective portion advantageously protects the projections against damage when the striking portion is struck against a solid and generally fiat surface.

[0018] The device may include a handle for allowing a user to control the swing of the striking portion. The handle may be attached to, or integral with the striking portion. The handle may be of any suitable shape. Preferably, the handle is elongate. The length of the elongate handle may range between 150mm to 250mm. Preferably, the length of the elongate handle is approximately 200mm.

[0019] The device may be made from any suitable material. Preferably, the material is lightweight and rigid enough to trap/impale an insect on impact, yet also flexible and/or robust enough to endure repeated strikes against hard surfaces. For example, the device may be made from plastic materials.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of striking an insect, the method including

striking an insect with a striking portion of an insect striking device, and

impaling or trapping the insect between projections extending from the striking portion.

[0021] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

[0022] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0024] Figure 1 is a plan view of a device for striking an insect according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 is a section view of the device of Figure 1 taken along the line A-A. [0026] Figure 3 is a side view of the device of Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Figure 1 shows a device 10 for striking an insect. The device 10 includes a striking portion 12 having a striking area 14 on either side thereof. Each striking area 14 has a plurality of projections 16 for impaling or trapping the insect. The projections 16 are arranged in an array of rows and columns. In this preferred embodiment, the projections are spaced apart from each other at approximately 3mm. A protective portion 18 extends around the periphery of the striking portion 12. The device 10 also includes a handle 20 attached to the striking portion 12 for enabling a user to hold the device 10 by the handle 20 and control the swing of the striking portion 12. In one embodiment, the length of the elongate handle 20 is approximately 200mm.

[0028] As shown in the cross-sectional view of the device 10 in Figure 2, the projections 16 extend from both sides of the striking portion 12. In the particular embodiment shown, the projections on each side are approximately 6mm to 7mm long.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the protective portion 18 includes a wall, which extends around the periphery of the striking portion 12. The protective portion 18 extends beyond the length of the projections 16 on both sides. The protective portion 18 advantageously protects the projections 16 from damage when the striking portion 12 is struck against a surface. In the particular embodiment shown, the wall of the protective portion 18 has a thickness of approximately 15mm and therefore extends beyond the projections 16 on each side by approximately 1mm. This distance by which the protective portion 18 extends beyond the length of the projections 16 is suitable for impaling and/or trapping common insects, such as flies, between the projections 16 and a flat surface, when the striking portion 12 is struck against the flat surface.

[0030] When the device 10 is used to strike an insect, a user swings the device 10 by the handle 20 and aims the striking portion 12 at the insect whilst the insect is flying in mid-air or once it has landed on a surface. Once the striking portion 12 strikes the insect, the projections 16 impale and/or trap the insect so that the insect can be disposed of appropriately.

[0031] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0032] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for striking an insect, the device including

a striking portion having a striking area, and

the striking area having a plurality of projections for impaling or trapping the insect.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, including a protective portion extending around a periphery of the striking area.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protective portion includes a wall extending substantially parallel to the projections.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the protective portion extends beyond the plurality of projections.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the striking portion is generally planar and having two sides, each side of the striking portion defines a striking area.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the projections extend from each side of the striking portion.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein a protective portion extends from both sides of the striking portion.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes a handle.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections extend from the striking portion in a direction generally perpendicularly to the plane of the striking area.

10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections are spaced apart at a distance of between 2mm to 4mm.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the projections are spaced apart at 3mm.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein each projection is shaped like a blade.

13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein each projection is shaped like a spike or needle.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections are arranged in rows and columns.

15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is made from plastic.

16. A method of striking an insect, the method including

striking an insect with a striking portion of an insect striking device, and