Insect electrocution device

Claim 1

Insect electrocution apparatus comprising: means for producing radiant energy for attracting insects; and an insect electrocution assembly disposed about said radiant energy producing means and including: an outer electrode comprising a generally cylindrical grid having defined thereon a plurality of apertures separated by axially disposed continuous solid strips for permitting said radiant energy to pass outwardly therethrough and to permit insects to pass inwardly therethrough; an array of elongate, axially disposed inner electrodes disposed radially inward of said solid strips and arranged to lie other than radially inward of said apertures, the arrangement of said inner electrodes and said solid strips defining an insect electrocution region at the radially extending gap between said inner electrodes and said solid strips which is hidden from outside view by said solid strips, and such that dead insects falling from said electrocution region remain inside said outer electrode, the total area of the apertures in the outer electrode being relatively small as compared with the non-apertured area thereof, thereby to define an insect trap; an outer shading grid made of an insulating material and comprising a plurality of stacked, discrete, identical ring elements, each comprising a generally cylindrical inner ring portion from which extends an inclined circumferential portion which terminates in a second outer ring portion; and means for applying a voltage separation across said outer electrode and said array of inner electrodes sufficient to permit electrocution of insects located therebetween.