Patent Application
20060198858
The present invention relates to systems and methods of controlling household allergens using a covering filled with at least a pesticide. In particular, the invention relates to systems and methods of effectively controlling household pests by filling a covering surrounding the pests' habitats with compounds such as pesticides, and for significantly reducing the pests' attendant adverse reactions.
Household allergens, including the droppings of pest such as bed mites or house dust mites, are known to facilitate many unhealthy conditions. Recent or past reports, indicating that populations of such pests and subsequently the allergens are increasing in domestic environments, are still prevalent. In addition, current methods of maintaining homes at relatively constant temperature and humidity favor the ideal environment for the growth of these pests.
The pests are scavengers on dead organic matter. Such organic matter includes the shed skin scales of humans or animals. At the home, the shed skin is usually concentrated in furnishings such as beds and the associated bedding articles, or at areas where a pet frequents. The bed and associated bedding articles are optimal environments for the pests because the occupants provide the two elements to create the humid habitats: fluids and the shed skin cells. Regarding the first element, fluid, it is generally known that mammals perspire when they sleep. Certain references suggest that humans excrete ample amounts of fluid when we sleep. The second element that helps to create the ideal humid habitat for the pests is the shed skin scales. The nightly shedding of skin scales and perspired fluids provide a resource for the bed mites to feed.
Household animals can also be a source of allergens. A pet's saliva can cover the pet's shed cells, dander or hair to create an allergen or a resource for the pests to feed on and create more allergens.
Traditionally, methods to control such allergens and/or pests include impregnating the bedding materials or linens with pesticide, and encasing bedding with allergen pest resistant materials. Although, such traditional methods were marginally effective, the effect of prolonged human contact with such pesticides make such methods unappealing to consumers. Furthermore, such methods did not have widespread public or consumer acceptance because of the high initial entrance barrier and subsequent maintenance costs. The initial entrance barrier was high because a consumer had to buy the pest resistant bedding or impregnated bedding to achieve the benefit or limited the consumer's choices. Accordingly, only those buying such new beddings or linens could benefit from such methods. Furthermore, after buying the pesticide impregnated bedding, a consumer may have to keep recharging the pesticide in the bedding to maintain the effect. Similar barriers existed for bedding encased in pest resistant materials.
Other traditional methods for controlling the pests included buying a pesticide and soaking your bedding or linens in a pesticide solution. This method had a wider appeal since new and old consumers could practice it. However, the problem of prolonged human contact with the pesticide was still prevalent. Other drawbacks of the traditional control methods include the diminishing effect of the pesticide resistant bedding. After a period of use, such impregnated bedding had no effect since the pesticide may have a decreased efficacy over time.
Accordingly, there is a need for an easy and consumer-friendly system and method of controlling household allergens, such as pests. Furthermore, the system and methods must be conventional, disposable and adaptable for many other uses.
The present invention provides a system and method of effectively controlling household allergens. The system of controlling household allergens such as pests comprises a container with a fluid and a covering adapted to surround the location of the allergen. The container may be pressurized. The container includes a connector to enable a fluid coupling to the covering. The covering also includes a receptive connector to enable a fluid coupling to the container. The connectors may be quick disconnect couplings. The covering may be adaptably configured or fitted to the bedding to surround the furnishing where the allergen and pests exists. The covering may be semi permeable or permeable such that the contents of the container may fill it and surround the furnishing. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid in the pressurized container is a pesticide. In this embodiment, the pesticide is effective against pests such as house dust mites or bed mites.
The present invention further includes a method of effectively controlling household allergens such as pests. The method of controlling the pests comprises: connecting a pressurized fluid container to a covering; surrounding the furnishing; filling the covering with the fluid in the container; leaving the filled covering for a period of time; and removing the covering. The method may further comprise locally disinfecting the furnishing with a container filled with a pesticide. Further yet, the method may include disinfecting the furnishing or bedding articles or an area after an illness. Alternatively, the method may further comprise filling the covering with a desired fragrance, scent or perfume such that the furnishing or bedding articles acquire the desired perfume, scent or fragrant odor.
Definitions:
As used herein, the term “furnishing” includes, bedding articles such as mattresses, pillows, bed sheets or linens, cushions, comforters, upholstered portions of beds (such as headboards) or sofas or armchairs and in general any item or component of furnishing in any setting, which may serve as collections areas for the household allergens or habitat for dust mites, or bed mites or pests.
Accordingly, we provide a system and method of effectively controlling household allergens or pests such as house dust mites or bed mites. As shown in
Now referring to
Referring back to
Still referring to
The covering 50 may be constructed from a malleable material, such as plastic or fabric, to make the covering 50 semi-permeable or impermeable. The degree of permeability of the covering enables the covering 50 to retain the contents of the container 30 around the pest dwelling such that the pesticide can locally disinfect the targeted region or effectively control the pests and allergen in the targeted region. Additionally, the covering 50 may be constructed from a tear resistant material for longevity. In a specific embodiment the covering is made from the material used for making an inflatable air mattress.
As shown in
The present invention further includes a method of effectively controlling household allergens such as pests. The method comprises: surrounding or coupling a covering to a furnishing: connecting a pressurized fluid container to the covering; filling the covering with the fluid in the container; leaving the filled covering for a period of time; and removing the covering. The steps of the method may be performed simultaneously and sequentially. Furthermore, a user may perform some or all of the steps of the above method as many times as required to effectively control the pests.
In this method, the step of surrounding the furnishing with the covering is simple. Because the covering may be adaptably configured to surround the furnishing such as a bed, a user simply surrounds the furnishing. As used herein the term “user” refers to any subject that may use the invention.
After surrounding the furnishing with the covering, as shown in
The next step of the method is to fill the covering with the fluid in the container. In some embodiments, the correct coupling of both components, the container and the covering, activates the dispersion of the container's pressurized fluid. In other embodiments, a user may manually activate the dispersion of the container's contents. Preferably, the correct coupling of the components automatically activate the dispersion of the fluids.
After filling the covering with the container's contents, the user may leave the filled covering for a period of time. The period of time to leave the covering may be specified by a plethora of factors. The factors may be mainly related to the nature of the application and the type of fluid in the container. For example, if the user requires a disinfecting application, the user may have to leave the filled covering for a period whereby the pesticide can be effective. The pesticide manufacturer may suggest an effective disinfecting period. If, however, a user is performing a regular disinfection, such a routine biweekly disinfection of the bedding, the user may leave the filled covering for a relatively shorter period. Furthermore, if a user is using the invention for the application of a desired fragrance or scent, such as a perfume, for example, to achieve a pleasant fragrance in the bedding before setting out for a date, the user may leave the filled covering for still a different period of time. The term perfume refers to any odoriferous material, characterized by vapor pressure less that atmospheric pressure at ambient temperature.
After leaving the filled covering for a specified period of time, the user may remove the covering. In removing the covering, the user simply uncouples the covering from the furnishing or bedding. The step of removing the covering may further comprise uncoupling the container from the covering after removing the covering from the furnishing.
The method described herein may be used in a variety of applications. In a preferred application, a user can locally disinfect a furnishing such as a bed, to effectively control the pests. In this application, the user employs the method when the user is changing the linens of the bed. Alternatively, the user can cover the whole bed or furnishing, including the pillows, blankets, etc, with the covering to disinfect the whole furnishing region. In a similar application, a user may use a fragrant or perfumed fluid to achieve the desired scent. The application wherein the covering is used to cover the whole bed or furnishing, and thus disinfect the whole bed region, may be used in places such as hotels, hospitals or nursing homes, where clean and pest-free environments are desired.
