Insect trap

Abstract

An insect trap for use with containers, including garbage receptacles. An insect trap is attached or molded to or otherwise integrated with a container and relies on the contents within the container to attract or lure insects into a trap compartment designed to effectively entrap insects therein. Used trap compartments are discarded into the container using release mechanisms, sliding mechanisms, and other mechanisms that allow the used trap compartment to be discarded without coming in direct contact with the used trap compartment.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An insect trap for a receptacle comprising
 a housing having a top plate with a plurality of shaft holes;   an actuator to which a plurality of shafts is attached, where each shaft has a bottom end, where the bottom ends of the plurality of shafts are passed downwardly through the shaft holes;   a release plate, where the release plate is attached to the bottom end of the plurality of shafts;   a post, where the post has a top end that is attached to the top plate of the housing, where the post has a hole that extends longitudinally, where the post has a bottom end opposite of the top end; and   a trap compartment, where the trap compartment is releasably attached to the bottom end of the post;   where displacing the actuator causes the release plate to push against the trap compartment thereby detaching the trap compartment from the post.   
     
     
         2 . The insect trap of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has external threads, where the insect trap further comprises a nut, where the nut comprises internal threads, where the internal threads of the nut mate with the external threads of the housing thereby enabling the attachment of the insect trap to the receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The insect trap of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of springs, where the plurality of springs is within the housing, and where the plurality of springs provides a restorative ford between the release place and the top plate of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The insect trap of  claim 1 , wherein the post has a ring that radially protrudes outward. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An insect trap comprising
 a trap body, where the trap body comprises a cartridge post;   a retaining ring, where the retaining ring mates with the trap body;   a spring;   a plunger, where the plunger mates with the trap body, where the spring resides between the plunger and the trap body, where the spring provides a restorative force between the plunger and the trap body;   a push button, where the push button comprises legs, where each leg comprises a tab, where the plunger resides between the push button and the trap body, where the legs of the push button mate with the trap body, where the tab of each leg resists removal of the push button from the trap body thereby preventing removal of the plunger from the trap body; and   a cartridge, where the cartridge is secured to the cartridge post;   wherein the plunger, when engaged by the push button, comes in contact with the cartridge.   
     
     
         7 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , wherein the trap body comprises a plurality of ridges, where the retaining ring mates with the ridges of the trap body 
     
     
         8 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , where the cartridge post of the trap body comprises a lip, where the lip resists removal of the cartridge from the cartridge post. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , wherein the cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a lid. 
     
     
         11 . The insect trap of  claim 10 , wherein the lid comprises a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         12 . The insect trap of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge body comprises an opening with a plurality of relief cuts extending outward therefrom. 
     
     
         13 . The insect trap of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge further comprises an adhesive, where the adhesive is secured to an inner surface of the cartridge body, the lid, or both the cartridge body and the lid. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , wherein the plunger has an opening, where the opening provides access from above the plunger into the trap body. 
     
     
         16 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , wherein the cartridge post has an opening, where the opening provides access from the trap body to the cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , wherein there is a gap between the push button and the plunger, where the gap provides access to a volume between the push button and the plunger. 
     
     
         18 . The insect trap of  claim 6 , wherein the plunger comprises a plurality of legs, where the trap body comprises a plurality of openings, where the plurality of legs mates with and extends through the plurality of openings in the trap body. 
     
     
         19 . A method of trapping insects, comprising the steps of:
 securing an insect trap to a container, where the insect trap comprises a trap body, where the trap body comprises a cartridge post; a spring; a plunger, where the plunger mates with the trap body, where the spring resides between the plunger and the trap body; a push button, where the push button comprises legs, where the plunger resides between the push button and the trap body, where the legs of the push button mate with the trap body; and a cartridge, where the cartridge is secured to the cartridge post; and   placing odorous material within the container.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of depressing the push button, whereby the plunger engages the cartridge to remove the cartridge from the cartridge post. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of placing a cover over the insect trap, whereby the cover resists odors from exiting the container through the insect trap, and whereby the cover resists fluids and other materials from entering the container through the insect trap. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the container is a garbage receptacle. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the odorous material comprises garbage. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)