Flexible tine insect swatter

#This invention relates to insect swatters, and more particularly, to insect swatters for killing insects on regular and irregular surfaces and for minimizing lateral expulsion of insect bodily fluids.

#Insect swatters are well known in the art to comprise an elongate handle with either a planar striking head or a brush-like striking head made up of a host of individual tines. Examples of the former are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,242,828 to Schurger, et al. and 2,963,816 to De Miller. It has been recognized in the art that insect swatters with these planar striking surfaces are difficult to utilize in killing insects on irregular surfaces. For example, the relatively large, planar surface is almost impossible to utilize in killing insects in the corner of a window sill. Another drawback associated with such insect swatters is that application of the swatter striking surface to an insect resting on a surface compresses the insect so as to cause lateral expulsion of the insect bodily fluids, commonly known as squishing. Squishing the insect causes unsightly and unsanitary staining of both the swatter striking surface and the surface on which the insect was resting prior to being swatted.

#In addition to insect swatters with a planar swatting surface, the prior art discloses swatters with a plurality of elongated flexible tines having one end secured to one end of the handle. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 552,703 to Burrowes; 395,022 to Wells; 648,794 and 644,303 to Rice; 161,870 to Dorrison; and 3,905,146 to Ralston. It is recognized that this type of swatter allows killing of insects on irregular surfaces, such as corners. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,115 to Mushkin, Col. 1, lines 8-18. This type of swatter, however, exacerbates the squishing problem. The planar striking surface type swatters tend to distribute the striking force over the entire surface of the insect. On the other hand, the individual tine of the brush-type swatter concentrates the force on an isolated area of the insect, increasing the likelihood of rupture of the insect body and expulsion of the insect bodily fluids. As a result, the insect tends to become adhered either to the surface upon which it was resting prior to being struck or to the tines of the brush-type swatter.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved insect swatter of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective fragmentary view of the tine sets of the insect swatter of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective fragmentary view of the interleaved tine sets, handle receiving tray and retaining member of the insect swatter of FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIG. 1, the improved insect swatter 10 of the present invention comprises a handle 12 and a substantially planar striking surface 14 comprising individual tines 16.

#The handle 12 has an elongate stem 20 suitable for gripping. One end of the stem 20 may be conveniently provided with an aperture 22 to facilitate hanging the insect swatter 10 from a hook, nail or other suitable protrusion. The handle stem 20 may be conveniently formed in a planar configuration having a laterally upstanding border 24 surrounding the periphery thereof for providing rigidity.

#The handle 12 also comprises a tray 30 attached to the stem 20. The planar portion of the stem 20 necks out to the width of the tray 30. The border 24 may conveniently be terminated into the side surface 32 of the tray 30, as shown in FIG. 3. The intersection between the stem 20 and the tray 30 forms a thickened section 34. In addition to the support provided by the handle stem border 24, the strength of the stem/tray joint may be augmented by a number of suitable means, including the stiffening rib 36 shown in FIG. 1. The handle 12 may be conveniently formed of many suitable materials, including wood, wire, metal and plastic. A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates forming the handle of a polymeric material, preferably polypropylene. Use of such material allows for easy molding of the handle 12 and use of brightly colored materials to enhance the attractiveness of the insect swatter 10.