The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 15, 1995
Mark H Miller, Hope, RI (US);
American Biophysics Corp., Jamestown, RI (US);
Abstract
An insect trap for trapping hematophagous insects utilizes a methanol fuel cell to provide carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat as attractive agents, and further utilizes electricity generated by the fuel cell to power the electrical components of the trap, thus eliminating the need for an external power source. The fuel cell is mounted in a tubular housing having inlet and outlet ends. The inlet end of a second tubular housing is mounted in spaced adjacent relation to the outlet end of the fuel cell housing. A fan, powered by the fuel cell, is mounted in the second housing for creating an air flow through the fuel cell housing and the second housing. The carbon dioxide and water vapor generated by the fuel cell are drawn through the fuel cell housing and into the inlet end of the trap housing by the air flow, while insects attracted to the device are also drawn into the inlet end of the trap housing by the air flow. A mesh bag is secured around the outlet end of the second housing for trapping insects drawn into the trap housing.