No-smear flyswatter

Abstract

A flyswatter ( 10 ) having an elastically deformable swatting member ( 16 ) with a plurality of protrusions ( 20 ) formed thereon. The protrusions ( 20 ) are spaced apart on the swatting member ( 16 ), and have a height somewhat less than the height of the insect. When the swatting member ( 16 ) is struck on an object upon which the insect rests, the protrusions ( 20 ) contact the object, and the swatting member ( 16 ) elastically deforms and bows outwardly and strikes the insect without flattening or squishing the insect.

1 . A flyswatter, comprising a handle; 
 an elastically deformable swatting member having at least one striking surface for striking an insect, said swatting member attached to said handle;    said swatting surface having a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions attached thereto, a spacing of said protrusions being sufficient so that when the swatting member is struck against an object on which the insect rests, portions of the elastically deformable swatting member located between adjacent protrusions deform sufficiently so that one said deformed portion contacts the insect; and    said elastically deformable swatting member and said protrusions are constructed so that a substantial portion of each said deformed portion does not contact the object during the swatting operation.    
   
   
       2 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein a height of said protrusions is about a height of an insect to be swatted, or higher.  
   
   
       3 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein each said protrusion is spaced apart substantially more than a lateral size of an insect.  
   
   
       4 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said protrusion are spaced apart more than about one inch.  
   
   
       5 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said striking member is constructed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       6 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said striking member includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough.  
   
   
       7 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said handle, said swatting member and protrusions are molded as an integral unit.  
   
   
       8 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said swatting member and said protrusions are formed as an integral unit.  
   
   
       9 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , further including a second swatting surface on said swatting member, said second swatting surface having a plurality of protrusions formed at spaced-apart locations thereon, and formed with heights different from a height of protuberances located on said one swatting surface.  
   
   
       10 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said protrusions are one of bumps or ridges.  
   
   
       11 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said protrusions are a combination of bumps and ridges.  
   
   
       12 . The flyswatter of  claim 1 , wherein said bumps are pillar-shaped with flat ends.  
   
   
       13 . A flyswatter, comprising; 
 a plastic handle;    a plastic swatting member having a swatting surface on each side thereof, each said swatting surface adapted for striking an insect, and said swatting member attached to said handle;    each said swatting surface having a plurality of spaced-apart plastic bumps projecting above the respective swatting surfaces, portions of said swatting member located between neighbor bumps constructed so as be deformed toward an object when the swatting member is struck against the object, said deformation being convex so that a crown portion of the deformed portion approaches the object, but a substantial portion of said deformed portion does not contact the object, and each said deformed portion of said striking member returns to a rest state immediately subsequent to said deformation; and    said handle, said swatting member and said bumps all molded as an integral flyswatter.    
   
   
       14 . A method of swatting insects with a flyswatter, comprising the steps of: 
 applying a force to the flyswatter to strike an object on which the insect rests;    the striking force of said flyswatter on the object causing a plurality of small contact areas of said flyswatter to contact said object, and causing said large swatting areas located between said small contact areas to elastically deform and bow toward said object and strike the insect;    only a small area, if any, of the bowed large swatting areas contacts the object; and    the deformation of at least one large swatting area of said flyswatter imparting a quick and sharp impact to the insect without substantially compressing the insect on said object.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including deflecting the large swatting areas of the flyswatter so as to be snapped toward the object due to elastic deformation of the large swatting areas, and where the large swatting areas snap back to respective rest positions after contact of the small contact areas with the object.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the shape of the bowed large swatting areas is not affected by contact of the plural small contact areas with the object on which the insect rests.