The present invention relates to a device for catching insects. In particular, in the embodiment version described, this device is particularly effective in catching flying insects attracted by the light. The device according to the invention is therefore usable to prevent or reduce infestation by troublesome insects, for example, flies, mosquitoes or yet others. The device is finally usable for this purpose in very diverse environments, such as for example gardens, verandas or terraces of dwellings or of other public or private places, balconies or other spaces with openings exposed to the outside environment or yet other places.

A device for catching insects according to the known art comprises an emitter of ultraviolet light. Insects are in fact sensitive to such radiation, and they are attracted by it.

This device furthermore comprises a fan placed behind the emitter, which has the function of generating an airflow in its vicinity. A container is arranged behind the fan, and comprises an opening facing the fan, so as to be struck by the air flow. The insects are then sucked into this container.

The device is finally kept in position by a base, which ensures stable support. In the state of the art the pedestal keeps the fan in a horizontal position.

Disadvantageously, it can happen that the insects attracted by the light are not always caught because if, for example, the creature approaches from a peripheral direction, the turbulence present at the outer margins of the device drives the insect away from the container instead of pushing it inside.

In this context, the technical task underpinning the present invention is to propose a device for catching insects which improves effectiveness in catching insects.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to make available a device for catching insects capable of catching efficiently those coming from any direction, including peripheral .

A further object of the present invention is to propose a more efficient and effective device for catching insects .

The set technical task and specified aims are substantially attained by a device for catching insects comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the appended claims.

In accordance with a first aspect, these aims are achieved by a device for catching insects, comprising lure means for attracting insects; suction means for generating an air flow close to the lure means; a container associated with the suction means so that it is struck by the air flow and intercepts the insects; characterised in that the suction means generate an air flow oriented according to a direction of flow that is directed substantially downwards.

For the purposes of the present description, the direction of flow is considered directed downwards when at least a significant component of the air flow is directed downwards. 'Significant component' is intended to mean a component of the flow of such size as to significantly compromise the efficiency of the flight of an insect immersed in the flow. This causes the insect to fall as a result of its own weight, in combination with the effect of suction directed downwards. The insect is therefore firmly guided into the container so as to ensure its capture.

The effect of any peripheral turbulence is therefore limited, and is not sufficient, on its own, to allow the insect to escape.

Preferably, the invention comprises furthermore one of the following preferential characteristics.

The suction means generate an air flow which from the outside environment reaches and/or enters the device according to a direction of flow directed substantially downwards .

The direction of flow can be indicatively oriented according to an angle of between 30° and 60°, preferably equal to 45°, with respect to a horizontal plane.

The air flow oriented according to the direction of flow enters the device through one or more entry holes.

The device comprises preferably a frame having the function of structural support.

Preferably the frame has substantially the form of a ring, so as to allow an air flow to pass through it.

The frame forms a duct for the air flow.

Preferably, a cap closes the frame.

One or more entry holes are preferably provided to allow the introduction of air and insects into the device.

Preferably the entry hole or holes allow the introduction of air and insects into the duct.

Preferably the entry hole or holes face directly towards the outside. The entry holes are preferably formed in a front outer surface of the cap facing directly towards the outside environment .

The entry holes are preferably formed in a front outer surface of the cap facing upwards, preferably according to an oblique angle with respect to a horizontal plane and with respect to a vertical plane.

The front outer surface of the cap is preferably formed by a front half-part of the cap.

The entry hole or holes preferably face upwards.

The entry hole or holes have respective geometric axes preferably oriented according to an oblique angle with respect to a horizontal plane and with respect to a vertical plane.

One or more outlet holes are preferably provided in the cap, preferably facing downwards.

The outlet hole or holes are preferably formed through a rear half-part of the cap.

The outlet hole or holes allow the expulsion of air from the device.

The outlet hole or holes allow the expulsion of air from the duct .

In an advantageous embodiment, the suction means comprise a fan having an axis of rotation inclined, preferably oblique, with respect to a horizontal plane.

Preferably the fan is operatively arranged between the entry holes and the outlet holes, respectively located upstream and downstream of the fan.

The device furthermore comprises at least one supporting unit defining a resting surface which is inclined relative to the direction of flow. The term "resting surface" is intended to mean an ideal surface passing through at least three points of the supporting unit, located so as to lend themselves to acting against a continuous flat surface (for example a floor or other extended surface) , so as to keep the device in a condition of static equilibrium.

Advantageously, this makes it possible to maximise the capture of insects, combining the action of sucking downwards with the horizontal speed of movement possessed by the insect approaching the device, attracted by the lure means .

The lure means can be of optical type, for example with the aid of an ultraviolet ray lamp. In addition or alternatively, lure means of olfactory, acoustic or other type may be used.

In further detail, the resting surface is preferably inclined with respect to the direction of flow by an angle of between 30° and 60°, preferably equal to 45°. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting unit can be switched between a first position in which it is resting on a floor (or on another horizontal shelf) and a second position in which it is hanging on a wall (or on another vertical structure) . Consequently, the resting surface is substantially horizontal in the first position and substantially vertical in the second position. Advantageously, this enables greater versatility in the installation and use of the device.

According to the invention, furthermore, the angle of inclination between the direction of flow and a horizontal plane has a substantially equal value in the first and in the second position. This makes it possible to keep the effects connected with the air flow unchanged irrespective of the mode of installation of the device.

The device comprises furthermore a closing unit associated with the container and having a predetermined orientation with respect to a vertical direction. The closing unit is switchable between a first and a second configuration for keeping said predetermined orientation constant when the supporting unit is respectively in the first position and in the second position. The closing unit has the task of closing the container when the fan ceases to operate, thus preventing the escape of insects previously caught. The switchability of position and the consequent invariability of its orientation relative to the vertical allows the closing unit to perform this function irrespective of the mode of installation of the device, because the force of gravity affects the closing unit in the same way in both modes of installation.

In detail, the closing unit comprises a shutter engaged on the container and lying preferably on a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow (F) . The shutter is furthermore rotatable around the direction of flow (F), preferably through an angle of 180°, to switch the closing unit between the first and the second configuration. Advantageously, this makes it extremely easy to reconfigure the device according to the preselected mode of installation.

In further detail, the shutter comprises an annular outer support, fixed to the container. The shutter comprises furthermore a plurality of doors, each hinged on the annular support so as to be opened by the air flow produced by the suction means. Each door has a hinging axis lying on a plane perpendicular to the direction of flow. The shutter comprises furthermore a plurality of counterweights each carried by a respective door to apply a moment with respect to the hinging axis and close the respective door by gravity. According to the invention, the shutter is arranged in such a way as to ensure that the moment with respect to the hinge is directed to closing it. This makes the assembly of the device particularly simple and consequently inexpensive. In accordance with a further aspect, the invention proposes a new method for catching insects, which preferably provides the use of a device described above. According to said method, insects attracted by lure means are sucked in and conveyed towards a container by means of an air flow directed downwards, generated in proximity to the lure means.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for catching insects, as illustrated in the attached drawings, in which :

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for catching insects according to the present invention;

- figures 2a and 2b are exploded perspective views of a detail of the device of figure 1 in a first and a second operative configuration;

- figure 3 is a lateral view in exploded section of the device of figure 1; - figures 3a and 3b are enlarged views of a detail of the device of figure 1 in the operative configurations of figures 2a and 2b; and

figures 4a and 4b are side views of the device of figure 1 in two different operative configurations.

With reference to the attached drawings, no. 1 indicates a device for catching insects according to the present invention .

This device 1 comprises a frame 4 having the function of structural support. The frame 4 has substantially the form of a ring, so as to allow an air flow to pass through it. In other words, the frame 4 forms a duct 5 for the air flow.

In more detail, the device 1 comprises a cap 13, 14 which closes the frame 4. Preferably the cap 13, 14 comprises a front half-part 13 and a rear half-part 14. Each half-part 13, 14 has one or more holes 13a, 14a to allow the air to pass through and, in the case of the front half-part 13, to allow insects, too, to pass through.

In other words, as may be seen from the attached drawings, one or more entry holes 13a are provided to allow the introduction of air and insects into the device 1, and more precisely into the duct 5. To this end the entry holes 13a are preferably facing directly outwards .

From the attached drawings it may furthermore be noted that the entry holes 13a are preferably formed in a front outer surface of the cap facing directly towards the outside environment. This front surface may be formed by the front half-part 13 and is preferably facing upwards, according to an oblique angle with respect to a horizontal plane and with respect to a vertical plane.

The entry holes 13a, too, preferably face upwards. Their axes are preferably oriented according to an oblique angle with respect to a horizontal plane and with respect to a vertical plane.

One or more outlet holes 14a are also provided in the cap 13, 14, preferably facing downwards. The outlet holes 14a, preferably formed through the rear half-part 14, allow the expulsion of air from the device 1, and more precisely from the duct 5.

The device 1 furthermore comprises lure means 2 which have the function of attracting insects. These lure means 2 may be of olfactory, acoustic, luminous or yet other type.

In detail, the lure means 2 are connected to the frame 4. In the preferred embodiment, the lure means 2 comprise a UV ray lamp 3. According to the preferred embodiment, shown in exploded view in figure 3, this lamp 3 has the form of a ring, and is located in a front zone of the device 1. The light emitted by the lamp 3 is visible in a wide sector, in particular through the holes 13a in the front half-part 13 of the cap, so as to increase the possibility of attracting troublesome insects .

In a preferential form of embodiment, the lamp 3 is enclosed inside the front half-part 13 of the cap. To increase the efficiency of the luring, at least the front half-part 13 of the cap may be made of transparent material. The frame 4 may have associated with it an annular diaphragm 4a whose surface facing towards the lamp 3 may be advantageously painted or treated with material that is reflective or in any event suitable for attracting insects. To produce the aforementioned air flow, in particular oriented according to a direction of flow (F), the device 1 comprises suction means 2. In detail, the suction means 6 act in proximity to the lure means 2 in such a way as to suck in the attracted insects. In the embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings, the suction means 6 comprise a fan 7 connected to the frame 4 and located downstream of the lure means 2 with respect to the air flow produced. In other words, the fan 7 sucks in towards itself the insects which approach the lure means 2.

In more detail, the fan 7 is placed inside the duct 5.

The fan 7 is operatively arranged between the entry holes 13a and the outlet holes 14a, respectively located upstream and downstream of the fan. This fan 7 is preferably a helix with axial action, driven by a motor 15, preferably electric, not further described because it is known.

According to the present invention, the suction means 6 generate an air flow directed substantially downwards. In other words the suction means 6 generate an air flow which from the outside environment reaches and/or enters the device 1 according to a direction of flow F directed substantially downwards. More particularly, the direction of flow can be roughly oriented according to an angle of between 30° and 60°, preferably equal to 45°, with respect to a horizontal plane. The air flow oriented according to the direction of flow F enters the device 1 through the entry holes 13a.

In detail, the fan 7 comprises an axis "A" of rotation inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. In use, in fact, the fan is arranged in such a way that the axis "A" of rotation is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane by an angle of between 30° and 60°, preferably equal to 45°. Consequently, the air flow produced by the rotation of the fan 7 will itself also have the same orientation, i.e. the above-mentioned direction of flow "F" will be parallel to the axis of rotation "A" of the fan 7.

In particular, the device 1 comprises at least one supporting unit 17, which forms a resting surface "p" for this device, inclined with respect to the direction of flow "F", in particular by an angle of between 30° and 60°, preferably equal to 45°. In other words, the axis "A" of rotation of the fan 7 is inclined with respect to the resting surface "P". In further detail, the supporting unit 17 comprises a pedestal 18 fixed to the frame 4 and located externally with respect to the cap 13, 14.

The supporting unit 17 is switchable between a first position, shown in figure 3b, in which it is resting on a floor "0" and a second position in which it is fixed to a wall "V". By way of example, the supporting unit 17 can be fixed to the wall "V" through a hook "G" attached to a wall-plug "T".

Consequently, the resting surface "P" is substantially horizontal in the first position and substantially vertical in the second position. It should be noted that an angle of inclination between the direction of flow ("F") and a horizontal plane has a value preferably equal in the first and in the second position.

The device 1 comprises furthermore a container 8 associated with the suction means 6. The container 8 is fixed to the supporting frame 4, and is furthermore placed downstream of the lure means 2 in such a way as to be struck by the air flow and intercept the insects. To perform this function the container 8 is permeable to air but does not allow the insects which are thrust into it to pass through.

In more detail, the container 8 comprises a basket 9 having an opening 9a located in proximity to the fan 7. The basket 9 is assembled starting from a lattice 10 of rods 11, between which a net 16 is stretched. This net 16 is similar to that used in mosquito nets, and has meshes sufficiently fine to prevent captured insects from passing through it.

The device 1 comprises furthermore a closing unit 12 for the basket 9, associated with the container 8 and in particular with the opening 9a. This closing unit 12 is installed over the opening 9a so as to allow insects to pass through when it is struck by an air flow produced by the fan 7. When the fan 7 is deactivated the air flow is interrupted, and the closing unit 12 comes into operation, closing the opening 9a so as to prevent insects escaping. The structure of the closing unit 12 will be described in detail below.

According to the present invention, the closing unit 12 is set up according to a predetermined orientation relative to a vertical direction. The closing unit 12 is furthermore switchable between a first and a second configuration, in such a way as to keep said predetermined orientation constant when the supporting unit 17 is respectively in the first position and in the second position.

In detail, the closing unit 12 comprises a shutter 19 engaged on the container 8. In particular the shutter 19 has a shape compatible with the opening 9a of the basket 9 (for example the circular shape shown in figures 2a and 2b) . The shutter 19 furthermore lies preferably on a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow "F". According to the invention, the shutter 19 is rotatable around the direction of flow "F", preferably through an angle of at least 180°, in such a way as to switch the closing unit between the first and the second configuration.

In more detail, the shutter 19 has an annular support 19a fixed to the container 8, in particular to the opening 9a of the basket 9. Preferably, the annular support 19a is removably fixable at the opening, and orientable according to at least two distinct positions, respectively rotated through 180° around the axis "A" of rotation of the fan 7.

The shutter 19 comprises furthermore a plurality of doors 20, each hinged on the annular support 19a of the shutter 19 in such a way as to be opened by the air flow produced by the suction means 2 (as shown in detail 3a of figure 3) and closed by the force of gravity (as shown in detail 3b of figure 3) .

Each door 20 has a hinging axis "B" extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow "F", and also to the axis of rotation of the shutter 19. The shutter 19 comprises furthermore a plurality of counterweights 21, each carried by a respective door 20 at the hinging axis "B" to apply a tilting moment with respect to the hinging axis "B" and close the respective door 20. It should be noted that each door 20 comes into abutment with a counterweight 21 of the adjacent door 20. According to the invention, the shutter 19 is arranged in such a way as to ensure that the moment generated by the counterweight 21 with respect to the hinging axis "B" is directed to closing the shutter itself. In other words, the shutter 19 can be rotated with respect to the axis "A" of rotation of the fan 7 to ensure the correct positioning of the counterweight 21 with respect to the hinging axis "B" of the door 19.

The shutter 19, together with the basket 9, can be advantageously housed in rear half-part 14, which is in its turn removably engaged on the supporting frame 4, for example by means of snap-fit engaging devices. Following removal of the rear half-part 14 from the supporting frame 4 it is thus possible to extract the basket 9 together with the shutter 19 for periodic emptying and cleaning.