METHOD FOR REMOVING OR TREATING HARMFUL BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES WITHIN STRUCTURES AND ENCLOSURES

US 20090071062A1
Filed: 11/24/2008
Published: 03/19/2009
Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-39. -39. (canceled)

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Abstract

A process for removing or treating harmful biological and chemical substances from an enclosure, such as a building or vehicle by using heated air. The method of the present invention is non-toxic and can be performed in a relatively short amount of time while effectively killing and removing a large proportion of dead organisms and substantially reducing volatile organic compounds.

52 Citations

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55 Claims

1-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A method for removing pests from a structure, comprising the steps of:
- heating ambient air within the structure to a predetermined temperature of between 120°
  
  F. and 400°
  
  F. to either kill the pests or drive the pests from the structure;
  
  using a thermal imaging device to determine pest access points in the structure; and
  
  sealing the access points in the structure.
- View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
- - 41. The method of claim 40, including the step attracting the insects to a selected location within the structure.
  - 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the attracting step includes the step of placing bait within the selected location of the structure.
  - 43. The method of claim 40, wherein the heating step includes the step of distributing heated air into the structure using a heater passing heated air through a duct into the structure.
  - 44. The method of claim 40, wherein the heating step includes the step of placing a heater device within the structure.
  - 45. The method of claim 40, including the step of positioning a plurality of temperature or moisture probes at predetermined locations relative to structure monitor the temperature in the structure until the predetermined temperature is achieved.
  - 46. The method of claim 40, wherein the pests comprise scorpions and other arachnoids.
  - 47. The method of claim 46, including the step of spraying the scorpions and other arachnoids with silica air gel.

48. A method for killing insects in a portion of a multi-unit building, comprising the steps of:
- determining a discrete portion of the multi-unit building infested with insects;
  
  heating ambient air within the infested discrete portion to a predetermined temperature of between 110°
  
  F. and 400°
  
  F. for a sufficient time period to kill the insects.
- View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
- - 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the multi-unit building comprises a hotel, the discrete portion comprises a room of the hotel, and the insects comprise bed bugs.
  - 50. The method of claim 49, including the step of heating the ambient air in adjacent rooms to the infested room, totaling less than all of the rooms of the hotel.
  - 51. The method of claim 48, including the step of positioning a temperature or moisture probe to monitor the temperature in the discrete portion until the predetermined temperature is achieved.
  - 52. The method of claim 49, including the step of placing a temperature probe in a bed of the room.
  - 53. The method of claim 48, wherein the heating step includes the step of placing a heater device within the discrete portion.
  - 54. The method of claim 48, including the step of cleaning the discrete portion to remove the killed insects.
  - 55. The method of claim 48, including the step of sealing insect entry points to the discrete portion.

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Current Assignee
ThermaPure Incorporated
Original Assignee
ThermaPure Incorporated
Inventors
Hedman, David E.

Granted Patent

US 7,690,148 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

43/132.100
CPC Class Codes

A01M 1/2094   killing insects by using te...

A01M 1/24   Arrangements connected with...

A01M 19/00   Apparatus for the destructi...

A01M 21/04   Apparatus for destruction b...

A01M 2200/011   Crawling insects

A01M 2200/012   Flying insects

A61L 2/02   using physical phenomena

A61L 2/04   Heat A61L2/08 takes precedence

A61L 2/22   Phase substances, e.g. smok...

A61L 9/16   using physical phenomena

B01D 2257/2064   Chlorine

B01D 2257/90   Odorous compounds not provi...

B01D 2257/91   Bacteria; Microorganisms

F23G 7/06   of waste gases or noxious g...

F24F 2011/0005   to create underpressure in ...

F24F 8/20   by sterilisation

METHOD FOR REMOVING OR TREATING HARMFUL BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES WITHIN STRUCTURES AND ENCLOSURES

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

52 Citations

55 Claims

Specification

Solutions

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METHOD FOR REMOVING OR TREATING HARMFUL BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES WITHIN STRUCTURES AND ENCLOSURES

First Claim

1 Assignment

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

52 Citations

55 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links