OBJECT PROTECTION DEVICE |
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申请号 | US13973625 | 申请日 | 2013-08-22 | 公开(公告)号 | US20150053317A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2015-02-26 |
申请人 | Shi Hoo FAN; | 发明人 | Shi Hoo FAN; | ||||
摘要 | An apparatus for enveloping an object that is susceptible to infestation by insects, such as bed bugs, includes a pre-sized object encasement device equipped with selectively engaged sealing devices to prevent insects from infesting the object. The apparatus further employs a plurality of barriers to augment the selectively engaged sealing device to prevent insects that have already infested the object from exiting the object through any potential openings in the selectively engageable sealing device. | ||||||
权利要求 | I claim: |
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说明书全文 | 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing infestation of an object by insects and other pests. More particularly, the invention relates to an enclosure structure or encasement secured around a mattress or seat cushion which, while allowing for the removal of the mattress or seat cushion from the encasement, prevents the egress and ingress of bed bugs. 2. Discussion of the Related Art Insects of the genus Cimex, e.g., bed bugs, and other insects commonly infest mattresses and other bedding materials, as well as seat cushions. They can be found in almost any type of fabric material, such as airline seats, hotel mattresses, office chairs, couches and movie theater seats. Bed bugs live on the surface and the interior of fabric that comes into frequent contact with humans. Bed bugs feed on human blood, and some can transmit illness. As such, one of the most infested articles is the one where humans spend a significant amount of time, namely their mattresses. Thus, it is imperative to prevent bed bugs from colonizing bedding or seating items. This is because once such an item, such as a mattress, has been infested with bed bugs, it becomes unsuitable for resale or even general use. Even if successfully purged of the infestation, it is likely that the resale value will be limited. To prevent entry of bed bugs into a mattress various techniques and approaches have been tried in the past with varying levels of success. The prior art is filled with examples of mattress protection devices configured to prevent the movement of insects. Each of these prior art techniques have inherent drawbacks. For example, where mattress encasement devices rely on zipper driven enclosures, the zipper may become partially unzipped through movement of the mattress. Thus, bed bugs can be released from the mattress to infest other items or introduced into the mattress. Other prior art articles and devices have attempted to overcome this drawback by providing rigidly secured flaps and straps that seek to cover the ends of the zipper tracks. However, no complete solution exists in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,489 to Bell describes a mattress encasement designed to channel and trap bed bugs once they have infested a mattress. The disclosure, while providing an inherent barrier to some insects (e.g. large insects), fails to prevent the mattress from becoming infested. It merely prevents bed bugs from escaping an infested mattress. Thus, what is needed is a protection device that prevents insects from entering or leaving an item of bedding or a seat cushion. Accordingly, there exists a need to prevent bed bugs or other insects from infesting an object when that object has been inserted into a covering. The present device is directed an apparatus for repelling or preventing insects from entering or infesting an article. More specifically, the present device provides an article protector using selectively engaged barriers to ensure that insects are prevented from entering or leaving through the opening of the article encasement, especially a zippered opening. In a particular aspect of the present invention, the insect repelling barriers are secured to form a channel about a zippered opening that directs insects away from the potential points of entry into the article protector. These barriers are configured to maintain a nearly continuous flat sheet surface, while at the same time having flexibility to be selectively engaged. The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and drawings of illustrative embodiments of the invention in which: By way of overview and introduction, the present invention concerns an apparatus for enveloping an object that is susceptible to infestation by insects, such as bed bugs. As depicted in As seen in In an alternative arrangement, the material covering is impregnated with an anti-pest substance formed of at least a pesticide, insect repellant, anti-microbial compound or anti-viral substance. In particular, the anti-pest substance can be impregnated into the inner surface or interior of the material covering. For example, fibers forming the weave of the material sheet can, if applicable, be coated with an anti pest substance prior to formation of the material covering. In an alternative arrangement, anti-pest substance is sprayed or deposited on the material covering 20 prior to use. For example, silver compounds can be either impregnated into the threads forming the material covering 20 prior to its construction or the compound can be applied at a later manufacturing step. The material covering 20 is formed so as to completely enclose an article 10. By way of non limiting example, the material covering is configured to encapsulate a standard mattress. The material covering 20 is equipped with a sealable opening 40 located within one of the surfaces of the material covering. The opening 40 is configured to allow the insertion or removal of the article 10 into the interior volume of the material covering. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 40 is formed in the material covering 20 and is a bordered by at least two end portions of the material covering 22, 24. The two end portions of the material opening 22, 24 are configured to be any size or shape necessary to admit entry of the object 10. In an alternative arrangement, the opening is oval, circular or irregular in shape. The ends portions 22, 24 of the material covering 20 are joined together to seal the opening 40. The end portions 22, 24 are configured such that when joined together with sealing elements or devices, that the opening is fully closed. As illustrated in In the illustrated arrangement, the sealing elements 22a, 24a are zipper style fasteners configured to enable the two ends 22, 24 of the opening 40 to be joined. In a differing embodiment, the end portions 22, 24 are each equipped with a magnetic, or weak adhesive coating that allows for the two end portions to be joined in such a state that insects cannot enter or exit the interior volume through the opening 40. As seen in As seen in As shown in As shown in In the illustrated embodiments the material covering 20 and the first barrier 80 is formed of the same material. In alternative arrangements, the first barrier 80 is formed of any material that is suitable for use as an insect impermeable barrier. For example, the first barrier 80 can be selected from natural or synthetic fabrics or other materials that are sufficiently configured so as to deter insects from attempting to pass through. The first barrier 80, in a particular arrangement, is coated with pesticides or insect repellant. The pesticides or insect repellant can be selected from those pesticides used to treat or impregnate the material covering 20. As seen in The top portions of the first and second barriers (80a, 100a) are attached to the material covering 20 by means of stitching or an adhesive at the top portion of the zipper track. The top portions of the first and second barriers are configured to span the top part of the zipper track and form a tight, impenetrable seal that prevents access to the zipper track head 50 through the secured portion. In an embodiment of the present invention, the secured top portions are secured to the material covering by tightly stitched fabric thread. In an alternative embodiment, the secured portions are attached to the material body via thermal bonding, permanent adhesives or even a further Velcro® strip. Each of the bottom portions of the barriers (80b, 100b) is equipped with a securing mechanism 120 designed to secure at least one side of the barrier to the material body. By securing at least two sides of the barrier (e.g. 80a, 80b) a channel or path is constructed that limits pest access to the zipper. In an alternative embodiment, the additional securing mechanisms are provided for the remaining sides of the barrier. In this configuration, an area around the opening is completely sequestered from the remainder of the material. As such, the movement of insects into and out of the volume enclosed by the material covering is restricted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the sealing mechanism employed by the present invention. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, each of the sides perpendicular to the top and bottom portions of the barriers (80a, 80b) are equipped with selectively engageable sealing mechanisms. In the illustrated embodiment, the two perpendicular sides are attached via Velcro® fasteners. The present invention uses tight stitching to join the material body 20 to the first and/or second barrier in several places. Those skilled in the art will quickly appreciate those types and manner of stitching necessary to prevent migration of infesting insects. Additionally, in an alternative arrangement, the stitching is coated with pest resistant materials that ward off insects, for example silver compounds. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the material body 20 is impregnated with chemical compounds or pesticides directed to specific insect species. In a further embodiment, the material body is coated in a thermally reflective coating that ensures that the temperature of the volume enclosed by the present invention is elevated relative to the ambient temperature. The present invention also incorporates a methodology of using the apparatus to carry out and achieve the function of protecting an article from infestation by insects, such as bed bugs, by enclosing the article in an insect-impermeable covering. Such a method involves, but is not limited to, an insertion step, wherein the article is inserted into the material covering. A securing step is provided, wherein a barrier is secured to span the closed end position of a sealing device, such as the zipper, and provide a sealed environment. A sealing step is provided wherein the material covering is sealed such that the barrier is positioned between the sealing device and the article in question. It should be understood that various combination, alternatives and modifications of the present invention could be devised by those skilled in the art. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. |