Patent Application
20140290124
Bed bugs have recently resurged as a problematic insect, which feed exclusively on blood. They prefer warm areas and maintain a habitat in close proximity to their preferred host to accommodate the bed bugs' primarily nocturnal feeding cycle. “Bed bug” is the generic term given to the cimicid family of parasitic insects and cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, is the most well known as it feeds preferably on human blood. Thus, cimex lectularius type bed bugs are often found inside and in close proximity to human sleeping areas, such as inside of beds, bedding, dressers, nightstands, bedroom closets, and related sleeping areas. Other cimex species do exist and may feed on human hosts, but are primarily preferential to other hosts.
As a result of their habitat tendencies, bed bugs are readily transmitted to other areas. For example, as people travel or move from one residence to another, they may unknowingly transport these minute creatures among their clothes, bedding, luggage, garment bags, backpacks, etc, thereby exacerbating the infestation and resurgence problem. Of particular concern are hotels, motels, and other lodging venues. A room occupant may unwittingly caravan in the bed bugs while a subsequent occupant may unknowingly become a victim to the newly entrenched insects and consequently transport them back to their own residence or other travel destination.
Bed bugs are a growing nuisance and because of their blood feeding nature, their bites often result in health issues to the human host. For example, symptoms from bed bug bites can result in various types of skin rashes, allergic reactions, and sickness, possible dispersion of diseases and viruses, and even psychological effects.
Although bed bugs can readily populate, transport, and have become a growing problem, they can generally be eradicated simply by using pesticides or exposing their environment to high or low temperatures and even high levels of carbon dioxide. For example, in a “high temperature” treatment it is known that the thermal death point for bed bugs is about 45° C. (113° F.) in egg stages, however, all life stages can be killed by about 7 minutes of heat exposure at about 46° C. (115° F.).
As disclosed herein by the bed bug elimination systems and methods, the cycle of bed bug transport, infestation, and victimization can be treated and interrupted by a high temperature treatment. Thus, to address the need to eradicate and minimize problematic bed bugs, particularly for travelers, systems and methods to provide a portable high temperature treatment are hereby presented. It should be noted that while the bed bug elimination systems and methods disclosed are primarily directed towards a high temperature treatment, a cold temperature treatment and a carbon dioxide saturation is likewise contemplated by this disclosure. Moreover, many of the systems and methods discussed below may be similarly applicable by simple adaptation and/or reconfiguration.
Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a portable system to combat infestation and facilitate eradication of bed bugs. An exemplary embodiment may comprise a travel article and a heating mechanism, which may be integrated within the travel article to elevate an internal temperature of the travel article. The travel article may comprise a suit case, luggage, bag, backpack, garment bag, laptop bag, tote bag, purse, trunk and the like. The travel article may also comprise an integrated power source to power the heating mechanism or merely operate as a convenience to power other power needing devices.
Among various embodiments, the heating mechanism may comprise a resistive heating element, wherein the heating mechanism may comprise a temperature regulator to raise and/or maintain the internal temperature of the travel article to a temperature of at least 115° F.
Among other exemplary embodiments a system to combat infestation and facilitate eradication of bed bugs may comprise a travel article, a portable enclosure suitable for a traveler to transport the portable enclosure within the travel article, and an environment controlling mechanism to regulate an internal temperature of the portable enclosure. In an embodiment, the portable enclosure in an expanded form may comprise a volume to enclose at least one of the travel article and the travel article contents.
Among various exemplary embodiments, the environment controlling mechanism may comprise a resistive heating element and/or the environment controlling mechanism may alternately or concurrently couple to an air inlet port of the portable enclosure to receive air at an elevated temperature. The environment controlling mechanism may comprise a temperature regulator to regulate the internal temperature of the portable enclosure to a temperature of at least 115° F.
Among various representative embodiments, the present invention may comprise a method to manufacture, package, market, and/or sell the bed bug elimination system.
A more complete understanding of bed bug elimination systems and methods may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.
Elements and/or method steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular construction or sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of bed bug elimination systems and methods. Similarly, elements that disclose embodiments of various devices or systems may be assembled in various fashions are illustrated in the figures to similarly improve the understanding of embodiments of bed bug elimination systems and methods.
Bed bug elimination systems and methods may be described herein by terms of various functional elements and various method steps. Such functional elements may be realized by any number of hardware components configured to perform specified functions and to achieve various results. For example, the bed bug elimination systems and methods may employ various travel articles, such as suitcases, backpacks, bags, garment bags, tote bags, laptop bags, trunks, and the like. Moreover, the travel articles may comprise various mechanisms to raise the internal temperature of the travel article, including integrated heating devices, inlet ports to introduce air at an elevated temperature, integrated power sources, displays, and control panels. The system may further comprise an integrated and/or a removable enclosure, such as a polyvinyl bag to place items for heat treating. In addition, bed bug elimination systems and methods may be practiced in conjunction with any number of bed bug infested environments, and the systems and devices described are merely exemplary applications for the invention. Further, bed bug elimination systems and methods may employ any number of conventional techniques for manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and selling the described systems and devices.
Various representative implementations of bed bug elimination systems and methods may be applied to any portable system. Referring now to
Among various exemplary embodiments, travel article 101 may also comprise many of the typical accessories associated with travel articles and many of these accessories may be complimentary to bed bug elimination system 100, for example, handles, telescopic or otherwise, hooks, straps, wheels, and the like.
Continuing with
Continuing with
Continuing with an exemplary embodiment, heating source 102 may be an integral heating source of article 101, but in other exemplary embodiments article 101 may comprise a heating source that is not integrated within article 101, for example the heating source may be removable for external use, repositionable, flexible, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, heating source 102 may comprise a resistive heating element, wherein the resistive heating element may be positioned between the exterior body of article 101 and an inner lining such that the resistive heating element does not directly contact internal items so as to protect the items from direct heat. Moreover, heating source 102 may be placed within various parts of article 101, such as at the bottom of article 101, as is shown by heating source 102 in
While an exemplary embodiment may comprise a resistive heating element as the heating source 102, other mechanisms that can elevate the internal temperature of article 101 may be used, for example, chemical reactive components that produce an exothermic reaction may be used, microwaves, solar mechanisms, electromagnetic devices and systems, frictional elements, etc.
In other exemplary embodiments, direct heating sources, such as heating source 102, may not be used, but rather indirect devices and systems may be used to raise the internal temperature of article 101. For example and with reference to an inlet port 112 of
Among the various heating (or cooling) sources discussed, such sources may be capable to heat (or cool) to temperatures that fall within a wide range, for example, to temperature significantly in excess of 46° C. (115° F.) or significantly below −32° C. (−26° F.), and in some embodiments, maybe an order of magnitude higher or lower.
Continuing with heating source 102, heating source 102 may be powered by an electrical plug 108 that may be plugged into an external power supply, such as a wall outlet, battery pack, or any other external power supply mechanism. Alternately, heating source 102 may be powered by a power source that is integrated within article 101, for example a battery pack 105, and battery pack 105 may comprise replaceable or rechargeable batteries. As an additional benefit, battery pack 105 may serve not only to provide power for heating source 102, but rather as a power supply to provide power to other devices via an outlet 104. In some exemplary embodiments electrical plug 108 and/or battery pack 105 may be detachable/removable for use with other devices and/or applications.
Among various exemplary embodiments, article 101 of bed bug elimination system 100 may comprise a display 120 to convey information in digital or analog form, such as temperature, time and any other status information of travel article 101. Moreover, display 120 may further comprise control elements to control aspects of article 101. For example, controls of display 120 may regulate heating source 102, power input from plug 108 and/or battery pack 106, etc. Display 120 may be hard wired to communicate directly with various article 101 components or wirelessly. Additionally, display 120 may comprise various IC circuitry, memory, software, and the like to operate as intended. Display 120 may also communicate in hard wired or wireless form with an external PC, smart phone, tablet, and the like to exchange information, receive input and/or control various elements of article 101.
Among various exemplary embodiments, article 101 of bed bug elimination system 100 may comprise an enclosure 110,
Bed bug elimination system 100 has been described above with respect to various functional elements that serve to enable the system to operate as intended however; other elements now known or developed in the future may be implemented. Moreover, bed bug elimination system 100 is directed toward bed bug type pests, but the system 100 may be directed towards any other type of pest, insect, vermin, bacteria, mold, virus, etc.
In accordance with exemplary embodiments of bed bug elimination systems and their method for manufacture, and with reference to
Manufacturing the travel article (the block 310), similar to travel article 101, may comprise manufacturing at least one of a suit case, luggage, bag, backpack, garment bag, laptop bag, tote bag, purse, and trunk. Manufacturing the travel article (the block 310) may further comprise manufacturing various elements associated with the travel article to raise the internal temperature of the travel article, such as integrated power sources, such as battery pack 105, integrated outlets, such as outlet 104, power cords, such as power cord 108, inlet valves, such as inlet valve 120 and/or 220, and displays and control panels, such as display/control panel 120. Manufacturing the travel article may further comprise manufacturing the travel article to comprise an integrated or removable enclosure, such as enclosure 110.
Integrating within the travel article a heating mechanism that operates to elevate the internal temperature of the travel article (a block 320) may comprise integrating a heat source, similar to heat source 102 and 106, wherein the heating mechanism may comprise a resistive heating element. Moreover, the heating mechanism may comprise a temperature regulator to regulate the internal temperature of the travel article to a temperature of at least 115° F.
Among the exemplary methods described herein, and although a particular order of actions is depicted in
The bed bug elimination systems and methods described herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion of exemplary embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. For example, other exemplary embodiments may comprise some, all, or a combination of the embodiments disclosed. For example, alternate embodiments may comprise a combination of some or all of the embodiments depicted in
In the foregoing specification, bed bug elimination systems and methods have been described with reference to specific bed bug elimination exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of bed bug elimination systems and methods as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and any modifications are intended to be included within the scope of bed bug elimination systems and methods. Accordingly, the scope of bed bug elimination systems and methods should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described. For example, the steps recited in any method claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus, device or system claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular bed bug elimination embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “containing”, “having”, “including”, “includes”, “is” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition, device, system or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition, device, system or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of bed bug elimination systems and methods, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, packaging elements, marketing efforts, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
