# US 11,432,539 B2 · Insect trap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,539 B2 - Document ID: US11432539B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/758,778 - Filed: 2018-10-22 - Published: 2020-12-03 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-23 - Assignees: Brandenburg (UK) Limited - Applicants: Brandenburg (UK) Limited - Inventors: Mathew Varghese Kaye; Carl Baptista - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432539B2 ## CPC - A01M 1/04: {Attracting insects by} using illumination {or colours (A01M1/08 and A01M1/145 take precedence)} - A01M 1/026: {combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites (bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002)} - A01M 1/106: {for flying insects} - A01M 1/145: {Attracting and catching insects using combined illumination or colours and adhesive surfaces} - A01M 1/165: {Hanging or fastening means} - A01M 2200/012: Flying insects - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS ## Abstract The present disclosure describes a trap for catching or killing insects, and a method of attracting flying insects to an insect trap. The trap includes a back housing, an insect capture or killing mechanism, an insect attracting light source including light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit ultra violet radiation, and a cover with openings that allow insects to enter the trap. The light source is directed immediately inwardly through plus or minor 45 degrees towards the insect capture or killing mechanism and is precluded from being directed immediately outwardly through the cover. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trap for catching or killing insects comprising: a. a back housing; b. an insect capture or killing mechanism disposed in front of the back housing; c. an insect attracting light source comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit ultra violet (UV) radiation with a peak wavelength of 360-370 nm; and d. a cover, comprising openings allowing insects to enter and through which insect attracting light is dispersed, the cover being disposed in front of the back housing; wherein a plane (X-X) runs parallel to the back housing, the insect capture or killing mechanism, and the cover, and the insect attracting light source is positioned between the cover and the insect capture or killing mechanism and the LEDs are mounted in front of the back housing and the insect capture or killing mechanism, and behind the cover on a mount such that the insect attracting light source directs light: parallel to the plane (X-X) and with a spread of between plus 60 degrees to minus 60 degrees relative to the plane (X-X), by the natural configuration of the LEDs or by guides or baffles that channel the insect attracting light in the desired direction, and to a centre of the trap away from a perimeter running between the cover and the back housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guides or baffles comprise a carrying member and the LEDs are housed in the carrying member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The trap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrying member is shaped such that the light emitted is splayed to the plane (X-X) running parallel to the back housing, the cover, and the insect capture or killing mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The trap as claimed in claim 3, wherein the splay is up to 30 degrees relative to the plane (X-X) towards the insect capture or killing mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mount is positioned at, or inset from, the perimeter running between the cover and the back housing, and comprises a pair of facing LED carrying members, such that the LEDs are orientated in facing relationship and directed parallel to the plane (X-X) to direct light to the centre of the trap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The trap as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pair of facing LED carrying members are substantially U shaped to preclude light from being directed immediately outwardly through the cover or immediately inwardly onto the insect capture or killing mechanism and structured to control the spread of the light to plus 30 degrees to minus 30 degrees relative to the plane (X-X). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, further comprising reflectors seated in front of the insect capture or killing mechanism and behind or in front of the insect attracting light source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insect attracting light source includes 30-40 LEDs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, which is a smart internet enabled trap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The trap as claimed in claim 3, wherein the splay is up to 15 degrees relative to the plane (X-X) towards the insect capture or killing mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The trap as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one reflector seated in front of the insect capture or killing mechanism and behind or in front of the insect attracting light source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mount is of a substantially circular configuration, such that the LEDs are oriented in facing relationship to direct light to the centre of the trap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insect attracting light source is directed parallel to the plane (X-X) and with the spread controlled to plus 45 degrees to minus 45 degrees relative to the plane (X-X), by the natural configuration of the LEDs or by guides or baffles that channel the insect attracting light in the desired direction, and to the centre of the trap away from the perimeter running between the cover and the back housing. ### Claim 14 A method of attracting flying insects to an insect trap, comprising: diffusing light emitted by light emitting diodes (LEDs) which emit ultra violet (UV) radiation with a peak wavelength of 360-370 nm via a light source, wherein the LEDs are mounted in front of a back housing and an insect capture or killing mechanism, and behind a cover on a mount such that the light source is directed: parallel to a plane (X-X) running parallel to the back housing and with a spread of between plus 60 degrees to minus 60 degrees relative to the plane, by the natural configuration of the LEDs or by guides or baffles that channel the insect attracting light in the desired direction, and to a centre of the trap away from a perimeter running between the cover and the back housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein diffusing the light emitted by the LEDs includes splaying the light to the plane of the back housing and the insect capture or killing mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the splay is up to 30 degrees relative to the plane (X-X) towards the insect capture or killing mechanism.