US4471561A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insect eradicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-07-23
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Granted: 1984-09-18
•
Expires: 2002-07-23
Abstract
Abstract An insect exterminator having a base sheet of electrical insulating material, a source of electrical power, a first electrical contact extending along the length of the sheet, and a second electrical contact spaced from the first contact and also extending along the length of the sheet. The first and second electrical contacts are connected to the source of electrical power, so that a circuit is completed across the contacts only through an insects body as the insect attempts to traverse the contact.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Lapierre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:52
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M1/00; A01M1/14; A01M1/18; A01M1/02; A01M1/04; A01M1/22; A01M1/223; A01M2200/00; A01M2200/01; A01M2200/011; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
Insect exterminator comprising: (a) a planar base sheet of electrical insulating material adapted to completely encircle a structure upon which the insects to be exterminated are traveling, (b) a low voltage DC battery, (c) a pulsing circuit connected to the battery for producing low voltage pulses, (d) a transformer circuit connected to said pulsing circuit for converting said low voltage pulses to high voltage pulses, (e) a first elongated electrical contact connected to said transformer circuit, said first contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of the base sheet, and (f) a second elongated electrical contact connected to said transformer circuit, said second contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of said base sheet so that it is spaced from the first contact, said spacing being sufficient to normally prevent completion of a circuit across said contacts and for completion of a circuit across said contacts through an insect's body as the insect attempts to traverse the contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
Insect exterminator comprising: (a) a planar base sheet of electrical insulating material adapted to completely encircle a structure upon which the insects to be exterminated are traveling, (b) a low voltage DC battery, (c) a pulsing circuit connected to the battery for producing low voltage pulses, (d) a transformer circuit connected to said pulsing circuit for converting said low voltage pulses to high voltage pulses, (e) a first elongated electrical contact connected to said transformer circuit, said first contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of the base sheet, and (f) a second elongated electrical contact connected to said transformer circuit, said second contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of said base sheet so that it is spaced from the first contact, said spacing being sufficient to normally prevent completion of a circuit across said contacts and for completion of a circuit across said contacts through an insect's body as the insect attempts to traverse the contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
Insect exterminator comprising: (a) a planar base sheet of electrical insulating material adapted to completely encircle a structure upon which the insects to be exterminated are traveling, said base sheet having a primary layer adapted to lie against said structure, and a secondary layer attached to the primary layer and overlapping the first and second contacts so that the contacts lie between the primary and secondary layers, said secondary layer having a plurality of apertures which expose portions of the first and second contacts, (b) a source of electrical power, (c) a first elongated electrical contact connected to said source of electrical power, said contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of the base sheet, and (d) a second elongated electrical contact connected to said source of electrical power, said second contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of said base sheet so that it is spaced from the first contact, said spacing being sufficient to normally prevent completion of a circuit across said contacts and for completion of a circuit across said contacts through an insect's body as the insect attempts to traverse the contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
Insect exterminator comprising: (a) a planar base sheet of electrical insulating material adapted to completely encircle a structure upon which the insects to be exterminated are traveling, said base sheet having a primary layer adapted to lie against said structure, and a secondary layer attached to the primary layer and overlapping the first and second contacts so that the contacts lie between the primary and secondary layers, said secondary layer having a plurality of apertures which expose portions of the first and second contacts, (b) a source of electrical power, (c) a first elongated electrical contact connected to said source of electrical power, said contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of the base sheet, and (d) a second elongated electrical contact connected to said source of electrical power, said second contact being attached to and extending along the entire length of said base sheet so that it is spaced from the first contact, said spacing being sufficient to normally prevent completion of a circuit across said contacts and for completion of a circuit across said contacts through an insect's body as the insect attempts to traverse the contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
176 words
Insect exterminator comprising: (a) a planar base sheet of electrical insulating material adapted to completely encircle a structure upon which the insects to be exterminated are traveling, (b) a first elongated electrical contact attached to and extending along the entire length of the base sheet, (c) a second elongated electrical contact attached to and extending along the entire length of said base sheet so that it is spaced from the first contact, (d) a low voltage DC battery, (e) a pulsing circuit connected to the battery for producing low voltage pulses, and (f) a transformer circuit connected to said pulsing circuit and the first and second contacts for converting said low voltage pulses to high voltage pulses and for transmitting said high voltage pulses to the contacts only when a circuit is completed across said contacts, the spacing between said first and second contacts being sufficient to normally prevent completion of a circuit across said contacts and for completion of circuit across said contacts through an insect's body as the insect attempts to traverse the contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
176 words
Insect exterminator comprising: (a) a planar base sheet of electrical insulating material adapted to completely encircle a structure upon which the insects to be exterminated are traveling, (b) a first elongated electrical contact attached to and extending along the entire length of the base sheet, (c) a second elongated electrical contact attached to and extending along the entire length of said base sheet so that it is spaced from the first contact, (d) a low voltage DC battery, (e) a pulsing circuit connected to the battery for producing low voltage pulses, and (f) a transformer circuit connected to said pulsing circuit and the first and second contacts for converting said low voltage pulses to high voltage pulses and for transmitting said high voltage pulses to the contacts only when a circuit is completed across said contacts, the spacing between said first and second contacts being sufficient to normally prevent completion of a circuit across said contacts and for completion of circuit across said contacts through an insect's body as the insect attempts to traverse the contacts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-18 | 1988-03-19 | 1988-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-18 | 1992-03-19 | 1992-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-18 | 1996-03-19 | 1996-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |