Pest collecting vacuum

Abstract

A vacuum device and method of use for capturing unwanted pests includes a housing including a carrying handle, an inlet opening capable of communicating unwanted pests therethrough, an inlet duct in open communication with a bag cavity, an exhaust duct in open communication with at least one exhaust vent, a bag cavity adapted to receive a bag including at least one layer of air-permeable material, optionally including a pesticide, a plurality of pliable members sealingly engaging one another when the vacuum is not operating and cooperating to form a passageway when the vacuum is operating, and a bag mounting flange, at least one exhaust vent in open communication with the exhaust duct for passing exhaust air away from the housing to air surrounding the housing; and a suction-creating device that creates suction thereby forming a vacuum within the housing. Optionally, the bag may include a pleasantly scented compound.

1 . A vacuum device for capturing unwanted pests comprising:
 a housing including
 a carrying handle for carrying the vacuum device, 
 an inlet opening capable of communicating unwanted pests therethrough, 
 an inlet duct in open communication with a bag cavity, 
 an exhaust duct in open communication with at least one exhaust vent, 
 a bag cavity adapted to receive a bag and in open communication with the inlet duct and the exhaust duct, 
 at least one exhaust vent in open communication with the exhaust duct for passing exhaust air away from an interior portion of the housing to air surrounding the housing; 
   a bag including
 at least one layer of air-permeable material, 
 a plurality of pliable members that sealingly engage one another when the vacuum is not in operation and that cooperate to form a passageway when the vacuum is in operation, 
   a mounting flange for retaining the bag in the bag cavity; and   a suction-creating device that creates suction thereby forming a vacuum within the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet duct comprises:
 a tubular duct including a peripheral wall, and   a low-friction material to prevent pests from gaining traction while being communicated through the inlet duct.   
   
   
       3 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet opening is annular in shape and is adapted to receive a cap to prevent pests from escaping from the vacuum device. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is in electromechanical communication with a motor. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum device of  claim 4 , wherein the power source comprises:
 a battery.   
   
   
       6 . The vacuum of  claim 4 , wherein the power source comprises:
 a cord including a plug for plugging into an electrical outlet.   
   
   
       7 . The vacuum device of  claim 4 , wherein the power source comprises:
 a battery and a cord combination.   
   
   
       8 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein a fan is disposed within the exhaust duct and is in mechanical communication with a motor so that rotation of the motor causes rotation of the fan, thereby creating suction at the inlet of the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein a switch is connected to both the motor and the power source and wherein the switch operates to connect or disconnect the motor from the power source. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises:
 an opening in the housing in open communication with the bag cavity to allow removal of the bag from the bag cavity; and   a bag access door to cover the opening in the housing.   
   
   
       11 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the suction creating device comprises:
 a housing,   an inlet opening to allow air surrounding the housing to be communicated into the housing,   a bag cavity to retain the bag,   a motor including a motor shaft that rotates when power is supplied thereto,   a fan in mechanical communication with the motor that causes the surrounding air to be moved when rotated by the motor,   a plurality of exhaust vents that allow air that has been communicated into the housing to be expelled therefrom after being communicated past the bag cavity,   a power source that provides energy to the motor, and   a switch for activating or deactivating the device that when activated, the switch places the motor and the power source into electromechanical communication with one another, and that when deactivated, the switch removes the motor and power source from electromechanical communication with one another.   
   
   
       12 . A vacuum device for capturing unwanted pests comprising:
 a housing including
 a carrying handle for carrying the vacuum, 
 an inlet opening capable of communicating unwanted pests therethrough, 
 an inlet duct in open communication with a bag cavity, 
 an exhaust duct in open communication with at least one exhaust vent, 
 a bag cavity adapted to receive a bag and in open communication with the inlet duct and the exhaust duct, 
 at least one exhaust vent in open communication with the exhaust duct for passing exhaust air away from an interior portion of the housing to air surrounding the housing; 
   a bag including,
 at least one layer of air-permeable material, 
 a plurality of pliable members that sealingly engage one another when the vacuum is not in operation and that cooperate to form a passageway when the vacuum is in operation, 
 a mounting flange for retaining the bag in the bag cavity, 
 an outer membrane in open communication with the inlet duct and the exhaust duct formed from an air-permeable material and adapted to receive an inner membrane therein, 
 an inner membrane in open communication with the opening aperture and disposed within the outer membrane, the inner membrane formed of an air-permeable material, and 
 a pesticide disposed within the inner membrane. 
   
   
   
       13 . The vacuum of  claim 12 , wherein an indicator light is in electromechanical communication with the power source and the switch. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum of  claim 12 , wherein the outer membrane comprises:
 a synthetic or organic compound having a pleasant scent associated therewith that is communicated through the exhaust duct and discharged from the vacuum through the exhaust vents when exhaust air is passed through the outer membrane.   
   
   
       15 . The vacuum of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a telescopic extension, the telescopic extension including
 a plurality of telescoping extension tubes in telescopic engagement with one another, with at least one of the plurality of telescoping extension tubes adapted to sealingly engage the inlet opening, 
 a low-friction material to prevent pests from gaining traction while being communicated therethrough, 
   a cap adapted to sealingly engage an annular opening associated with an end of at least one of the plurality of extension tubes.   
   
   
       16 . A method of capturing unwanted pests comprising:
 providing a vacuum device having an inlet opening, a switch, a motor, a power supply, an inlet duct, a bag cavity, an exhaust duct, a plurality of exhaust vents, and a bag;   placing the inlet opening of the vacuum device in a proximate location to a pest;   manipulating the switch to an on position thereby supplying power to the motor;   creating suction within the vacuum device;   exhausting air communicated through the inlet duct into the bag cavity and into the exhaust duct through the plurality exhaust vents in the housing;   communicating the pest into the bag cavity;   depositing the pest in the bag; and   retaining the pest in the bag.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 replacing a bag full of unwanted pests with a replacement bag.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a quantity of pesticide within the bag to exterminate the pest.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a pleasantly scented compound within the bag; and   dispersing the pleasantly scented compound from the bag by movement of air therethrough when the vacuum device is operated.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 using a telescopic extension attached to the inlet opening of the housing to capture the pest.