Method and Apparatus for Repelling Pests

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing pests sensitive to light from inhabiting an enclosed area. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a strobe light configured to emit high intensity flashes of light in a continuously repeated pattern, a mounting mechanism configured to mount the strobe light in the enclosed area, and a power source configured to supply energy to the strobe light; placing the strobe light in the enclosed area in a relatively central location; providing power to the strobe light; and driving pests sensitive to light from the enclosed area.

1 . An apparatus to repel pests from an enclosed area, the apparatus comprising:
 a strobe light configured to repeatedly emit high intensity flashes of light having intensities equal to or greater than 100,000 candlepower and having a flashing frequency of greater than or equal to sixty flashes per minute; and   a mounting mechanism having a mounting element supporting the strobe light and configured to mount the strobe light in the enclosed area;   wherein the strobe light and mounting mechanism are configured to consistently emit the high intensity flashes of light in a 180 degree range throughout the enclosed area; and   wherein the strobe light is configured to produce the high intensity flashes of light including intensities that repel by annoying or irritating the pests.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strobe light is configured to protrude from the mounting mechanism to disperse the high intensity flashes of light throughout the enclosed area. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism is configured to hang the strobe light from a support of the enclosed area. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a pattern of the flashes is repeated at a frequency of approximately ninety flashes per minute and for an extended period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a stand configured to support the strobe light in a relatively central location within the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to supply power to the strobe light and a switch coupled to the power source to manually regulate the power supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to supply power to the strobe light and a remote switch to remotely regulate the power supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to supply power to the strobe light and a motion sensor coupled to the power source to trigger the power supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to supply power to the strobe light and a timer coupled to the power source to control the amount of time for which power is supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         10 . A portable apparatus to repel pests sensitive to light from inhabiting an enclosed area, the apparatus comprising:
 a strobe light configured to emit light having an intensity equal to or greater than 100,000 candlepower as continuously repeated high intensity flashes at high frequency;   wherein the strobe light is configured to protrude from the mounting mechanism to disperse the high intensity flashes of light throughout the enclosed area;   in operation, the strobe light repelling at least one of rodents and insects from the enclosed area;   a mounting mechanism configured to mount the strobe light in the enclosed area; and   a power source configured to supply power to the strobe light.   
     
     
         11 . The portable apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a timer coupled to the power source to power on and power off the strobe light at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         12 . The portable apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting mechanism is waterproof. 
     
     
         13 . A method for vacating rodents and insects from an enclosed area, the method comprising:
 identifying an enclosed area inhabited by at least one of rodents and insects;   substantially eliminating extraneous sources of light from the enclosed area by covering any windows, other inlets, sources of light in the enclosed area;   providing a strobe light configured to repeatedly emit high intensity flashes of light in a range equal to or greater than 100,000 candlepower for the purpose of repelling the at least one of rodents and insects;   providing a mounting mechanism configured to mount the strobe light in the enclosed area;   providing a power source configured to supply energy to the strobe light;   placing the strobe light in the enclosed area;   emitting from the strobe light the high intensity flashes of light; and   repelling the at least one of rodents and insects from the enclosed area by the operations of providing, placing, and emitting.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein placing the strobe light further comprises hanging the strobe light from a support of the enclosed area. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising dispersing the high intensity flashes of light throughout the enclosed area. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising continuously repeating a pattern of the flashes at a high frequency. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising regulating the power supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising remotely controlling the power supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising utilizing a timer to monitor the power supplied to the strobe light. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising utilizing a motion sensor to trigger the power supplied to the strobe light.