Patent Application
20090084023
This invention relates to flying insect repellant systems, and in particular an air screen repellant system.
Outdoor enjoyment is often diminished by the encroachment of mosquitoes and other flying insect. Studies have shown that mosquitoes avoid places with wind speeds that approach their own flying speeds, which depending on species range generally between 0.9 and 1.5 mph (miles per hour). Wind speeds above this level interfere with the mosquitoes ability to fly. It is also known that mosquitoes are attracted to the plume of carbon dioxide and lactic acid that humans release during respiration and perspiration. Since wind helps disperse the plume of carbon dioxide and lactic acid given off by humans, wind can also be used to hide humans from the mosquitoes.
Various devices and methods have been used to reduce the presence of mosquitoes and other flying insects in various outdoor and open air settings. Some rely on the attraction of insects to devices that kill or trap the insects. The most common method is chemical insecticides and repellants. Insecticides simply kill the insects within the area. Chemical repellants are dispersed in the air or applied to the ground within the desired area to be rid of insects. Other chemical repellants are applied directly to the exposed skin to prevent the insects from being attracted directly to humans.
Various fans and air screen devices have also been developed as a mosquito and flying insect deterrent. These fans and air screen devices generate an air flow, which is designed to create a physical barrier of moving air through which the mosquitoes will not pass. These fans and air screen devices have had limited success because they often only generate the air barrier across a planar opening and cannot create a perimeter barrier around any particular area.
The present invention seeks to provide an air screen repellant system that can be adapted to provide an “insect free” zone for any outdoor or “open air” application. The various embodiments of the air screen repellant system of this invention use a series of blowers designed and arranged to circulate a continuous vertical air curtain from one blower to the next to create a physical barrier of continuous moving air around the perimeter of an “insect free” zone. The blowers can be configured and arranged to accommodate an outdoor area of any shape or size and can be integrated directly into the construction of a deck, patio, shelter or other open air structure. The velocity of the moving air curtain is maintained between the blowers by the action of tangential fans, which draws air into the blower from the adjacent blower, as well as propelling air outward toward the next adjacent blower. The blowers maintain the velocity of the air curtain at sufficient velocities (generally over 2.0 mph (miles per hour) to prevent mosquitoes from passing between the blowers. The movement of the air curtain also helps disperse the carbon dioxide and lactic acid plume emitted by humans that attracts mosquitoes and prevents the mosquitoes from locating its source. Other embodiments of this invention can also incorporate into the blowers a mechanism for dispersing insect repellent or fragrance into the air curtain. The dispersion mechanism allows insect repellants, such as DEET, to be actively or passively introduced into the air curtain to further deter the encroachment of mosquitoes and other flying insects.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, in which:
Referring now to the drawings,
Each of blowers 20 and 22 stand approximately 6 feet tall and include a tangential fan 30 disposed within a slender blower housing 24. Ideally, blower housing 24 is stamped sheet metal, formed from a durable vinyl plastic or constructed from any suitable material. In addition, column housing 24 may be decorated or embellished to match or enhance the appearance and decor of the patio deck, porch or shelter as required. As best shown in
As shown, the plurality of blowers 20 are spaced around the perimeter of patio deck 2 approximately every eight feet. Blowers 20 generate a continuous vertical air curtain 12, which is circulated from one blower to the next around the perimeter of patio deck 2. Fans 30 are selected to create an air curtain having at least an average velocity of 2.0 miles per hour. Blowers 20 and 23 are spaced around the perimeter so that the output air flow from one blower is drawn into the next blower, which creates a curtain of air flow moving at a relatively constant rate around the perimeter of patio deck 2. The rotation of fan vanes 32 creates a negative pressure that draws airflow into the blower through inlet opening 25 and a positive pressure that expels an airflow through outlet opening 27. Air curtain 12 creates a physical barrier, which prevents mosquitoes and other flying insects from entering the area of patio deck 2. Air curtain 12 generated by blowers 20 and 22 extends vertically approximately six feet (6′) above patio deck 2.
It should be noted that blowers 20 and 22 may be integrated as posts for the fences and railings around the decks, porches, patios and yards. Integrating the blowers into such fence and railing posts provides an insect repellant system that is unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing. The blowers may be located and configured to form a desired insect-free boundary. In addition, blowers 20 and 22 can also be incorporated with additional conveniences, such as lighting 36 and sound speakers 38. As shown in FIG. A, lighting 36 can be mounted to blower housings 24 and wired into the electrical systems used to run the tangential fans. Similarly, sound speakers 38 are mounted within blower housings 24 and wired to conventional home A/V systems to provide music and ambient sound for the patio deck 2.
One skilled in the art will note that the present invention can be adapted to provide an “insect free” zone for any outdoor or “open air” application. The various embodiments of the air screen repellant system of this invention use a series of perimeter blowers designed and arranged to circulate a continuous vertical air curtain from one blower to the next, and thereby create a physical barrier of continuous moving air around the perimeter of an “insect free” zone. The velocity of the moving air curtain is maintained between the blowers by the action of the tangential fans, which draws air into the blower from the adjacent blower, as well as propelling air outward toward the next adjacent blower. The velocity of the air curtain is sustained at sufficient velocities (over 2.0 mph) to prevent mosquitoes from passing between the spaced blowers. The movement of the air curtain also helps disperse the carbon dioxide and lactic acid plume emitted by humans that attracts mosquitoes and prevents the mosquitoes from locating its source. Other embodiments of this invention incorporate into the blowers a mechanism for dispersing insect repellent or fragrance into the air curtain. The dispersion mechanism allows insect repellants to be actively or passively introduced into the air curtain to further deter the encroachment of mosquitoes and other flying insects. The combination of the series of perimeter blowers and the repellant dispersion mechanism fitted within the blowers provides an effective mosquito repellant system, which can be used in any outdoor or open air application.
The blowers can be configured and arranged to accommodate an outdoor area of any shape or size and can be integrated directly into the construction of a deck, patio, shelter or other open air structure. The blowers can be adapted to be powered electrically by available AC line current or DC batteries. The tall slender blowers provide an unobtrusive appearance. The blower housing can also be configured, painted and decorated to blend into the surrounding decor. The electric tangential fans operate quietly while still generating the air flow necessary to create the air curtain and all moving parts are enclosed in the blower housing for safety. The blowers can also be fitted with other conveniences, such as lighting and sound speakers.
The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.
