Biological vacuum device to enhance environmental quality

• US 5,806,238 A
• Filed: 09/12/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agricutlture United States of Americas The As Represented By The Secretary of, ServiceMaster Consumer Services, Inc. (Rentokil Initial PLC), Terminix International Company LP (Rentokil Initial PLC)
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Brenner, Richard J., Milne, David E., Hedges, Stoy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wesson, Theresa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/712,827
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 43/139, 43/138, 43/132.1, 15/344, 15/345, 15/346, 15/319, 15/339
• US Class Current: 43/139
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 3/00 Manual implements, other than sprayers or powder distributors, for catching or killing insects, e.g. butterfly nets
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 3/005 Manual suction tools for catching insects

Abstract

A vacuum device having a hand-held intake and collection unit and a hand-held heater/air exhaust tube assembly is used to chase and collect pests, such as insects, and their associated allergens from their harborages. The device has a system of filter assemblies which remove contaminants from the air and exhausts clean air back into the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A pest control device for insects and similar pests, comprising:

a means for generating a variable suction of air;

a hand-held intake means in fluid communication with said means for generating a variable suction, for strategically locating the suction by hand movement to collect pests wherein said hand-held intake means includes a hand-held intake and collection unit with a suction intake tube, a pistol grip and a pest counting/viewing chamber;

a hand-actuated control means for said means for generating a variable suction, on said hand-held intake means and connected to said means for generating a variable suction, for varying the suction by-hand control; and

an air filter means operatively connected to said means for generating a variable suction for filtering air from said intake means, to generate clean exhaust air from said intake means.

2. A pest control device of claim 1 in which the pest counting/viewing chamber includes a funnel, a clear tube affixed to the funnel and a screened diaphragm affixed to the tube, the hand-actuated control means includes a trigger attached to a pistol grip, the pest control device further comprising a cable connecting the trigger to the means for generating a variable suction and the pest control device further comprising a second cable connecting the trigger to the screened diaphragm, for moving the screened diaphragm and opening the counting/viewing chamber.

3. A pest control device as in claim 1, the pest counting/viewing chamber including a funnel, a clear tube affixed to the funnel, and a screened diaphragm affixed to the tube.

4. A pest control device as in claim 1, the hand-actuated control means including a trigger attached to the pistol grip.

5. A pest control device as in claim 4, further comprising a cable connecting the trigger to the means for generating a variable suction.

6. A pest control device as in claim 1, in which the means for generating a variable suction includes a housing and a vacuum motor in the housing.

7. A pest control device as in claim 6, the means for generating a variable suction including a variable vacuum bleeder valve operatively associated with the vacuum motor.

8. A pest control device of claim 7, the hand-actuated control means including a trigger attached to a pistol grip, the device further including a cable connecting the trigger to the variable vacuum bleeder valve for adjusting the valve and thereby varying the suction.

9. A pest control device for inserts and similar pests comprising:

a means for generating a variable suction of air;

a hand-held intake means in fluid communication with said means for generating a variable suction, for strategically locating the suction by hand movement to collect pests;

a hand-actuated control means for said means for generating a variable suction, on said hand-held intake means and connected to said means for generating a variable suction, for varying the suction by hand control; and

an air filter means for generating essentially allergen-free exhaust air from said means for generating a variable suction operatively connected to said means for generating a variable suction for filtering air from said intake means, wherein said air filter means includes means for removing from the air progressively and in order pests and debris, coarse particulate matter such as allergens, liquids and residual matter.

10. The pest control device of claim 9 in which the hand-held intake means includes a hand-held intake and collection unit with a suction intake tube and a pistol grip.

11. The pest control device as in claim 10, the hand-actuated control means including a trigger attached to a pistol grip.

12. The pest control device as in claim 9, further including a counting/viewing chamber that includes a funnel, a clear tube affixed to the funnel and a screened diaphragm affixed to the tube.

13. A pest control device as in claim 9, in which the means for progressively removing pests and debris, coarse particulate matter, liquids, and residual matter includes at least a coarse material filter, a moisture filter following the coarse material filter, and a HEPA filter following the moisture filter.

14. A pest control device as in claim 9, in which the means for progressively removing pests and debris, coarse particulate matter, liquids, and residual matter includes:

a first filter chamber positioned after said intake means in communication therewith for the collection of pests and debris;

a second filter chamber positioned after the first filter chamber and in communication therewith for collecting particulate matter such as allergens;

a third filter chamber positioned after the second filter chamber and in communication therewith for absorbing liquids; and

a fourth filter chamber positioned after the third filter chamber and in communication therewith for removal of remaining particulate matter in order to provide at least about 90% allergen-free exhaust air from said means for generating a variable suction.

15. A pest control device for insects and similar pests comprising:

means for generating a variable suction of air,

a hand-held intake means in fluid communication with said means for generating a variable suction, for locating the suction by hand movement to collect pests;

a hand-actuated control means for said means for generating a variable suction, on said hand-held intake means and connected to said means for generating a variable suction, for varying the suction by hand control;

an air filter means operatively connected to said means for generating a variable suction for filtering air from said intake means, to generate clean exhaust air from said intake means,

a heater means for heating air,

a means in fluid communication with said heater means and said air filter means for directing the clean exhaust air of the intake means through said heater to generate heated, clean air; and

a hand-held exhaust means in fluid communication with said means for directing the clean exhaust air, for locating said heated, clean air for chasing said pests from hiding places.

16. A pest control device as in claim 15, in which the hand-held exhaust means includes a hand-held heater and exhaust unit with an exhaust tube and a pistol grip.

17. A pest control device as in claim 16, further comprising:

a means for generating a variable flow of said exhaust air; and

hand-actuated control means for said means for generating a variable flow of said exhaust air, on said hand-held heater and exhaust unit and connected to said means for generating a variable flow of said exhaust air, for varying the flow by hand control.

18. A pest control device as in claim 16, further comprising:

means on said hand-held heater and exhaust unit for controlling the temperature of the heated air.

19. A pest control device for insects and similar pests, comprising:

a means for generating a variable suction of air, including a housing, a vacuum motor in the housing, and a variable vacuum bleeder valve operatively associated with the vacuum motor;

a hand-held intake means in fluid communication with said means for generating a variable suction, including a hand-held intake and collection unit with a suction intake tube, a pistol grip, and a pest counting/viewing chamber, for strategically locating the suction by hand movement to collect pests, the pest counting/viewing chamber including a funnel, a clear tube affixed to the funnel, and a screened diaphragm affixed to the tube;

a hand-actuated control means for said means for generating a variable suction, on said hand-held intake means and connected to said means for generating a variable suction, including a trigger attached to the pistol grip, the trigger being operatively connected to the variable vacuum bleeder valve for adjusting the valve and thereby generating a variable suction, for varying the suction by hand control, the trigger also being operatively connected to the screened diaphragm, for moving the screened diaphragm and opening the counting/viewing chamber,

an air filter means operatively connected to said means for generating a variable suction for filtering air from said intake means, to generate clean exhaust air from said intake means, and including means for generating essentially allergen free exhaust air from said means for generating a variable suction, and further including means for removing from the air progressively in order pests and debris, coarse particulate matter such as allergens, liquids, and residual matter, with the following;

a first filter chamber positioned after said intake means in communication therewith for the collection of pests and debris;

a second filter chamber positioned after the first filter chamber and in communication therewith for collecting particulate matter such as allergens;

a third filter chamber positioned after the second filter chamber and in communication therewith for absorbing liquids; and

a fourth filter chamber positioned after the third filter chamber and in communication therewith for removal of remaining particulate matter in order to provide at least about 90% allergen-free exhaust air from said means for generating a variable suction;

the device further comprising;

a heater means for heating air;

a means in fluid communication with said heater means and said air filter means, for directing the clean exhaust air of the intake means through said heater means to generate heated, clean air; and

a hand-held exhaust means in fluid communication with said means for directing the clean exhaust air, including a hand-held heater and exhaust unit with an exhaust tube and a pistol grip, for strategically locating said heated, clean air for chasing said pests from hiding places;

a means for generating a variable flow of said exhaust air; and

hand-actuated control means for said means for generating a variable flow of said exhaust air, on said hand-held heater and exhaust unit and connected to said means for generating a variable flow of said exhaust air, for varying the flow by hand control; and

means on said hand-held heater and exhaust unit for controlling the temperature of the heated air.

20. A pest control device for insects and similar pests, comprising:

a vacuum assembly including a housing, a vacuum motor in the housing, and a variable vacuum bleeder valve operatively associated with the vacuum motor, to generate a variable suction of air;

a hand-held intake and collection unit with a suction intake tube, a pistol grip, and a pest counting/viewing chamber, to strategically locate the suction by hand movement to collect pests, the pest counting/viewing chamber including a funnel, a clear tube affixed to the funnel, and a screened diaphragm affixed to the tube;

a hand-actuated control, on said hand-held intake and collection unit and connected to said variable vacuum bleeder valve, including a trigger attached to the pistol grip, the trigger being operatively connected to the variable vacuum bleeder valve for adjusting the valve and thereby generating a variable suction, to vary the suction by hand control, the trigger also being operatively connected to the screened diaphragm, to move the screened diaphragm and open the counting/viewing chamber;

an air filter assembly operatively connected to said hand-held intake and collection unit and to said vacuum assembly for filtering air, to generate essentially allergen free clean exhaust air from said intake and collection unit, and further including filters to remove from the air progressively and in order pest and debris, coarse particulate matter such as allergens, liquids, and residual matter, as follows;

a first filter chamber positioned after said intake and collection unit in communication therewith to collect pests and debris;

a second filter chamber positioned after the first filter chamber and in communication therewith to collect particulate matter such as allergens;

a third filter chamber positioned after the second filter chamber and in communication therewith to absorb liquids, and

a fourth filter chamber positioned after the third filter chamber and in communication therewith to remove remaining particulate matter in order to provide at least about 90% allergen-free exhaust air;

a diverter in fluid communication with said air filter assembly to divert exhaust air;

a second bleeder valve operatively associated with the diverter and filter assembly;

a hand-held heater and exhaust unit in fluid communication with said diverter, to direct the clean exhaust air, including an exhaust tube, a pistol grip, and a heater to heat air, to strategically locate heated, clean air to chase said pests from hiding places;

a hand-actuated control of said second bleeder valve to generate a variable flow of said exhaust air, on said hand-held heater and exhaust unit and connected to said second bleeder valve, to vary the flow by hand control; and

a control on said hand-held heater and exhaust unit for controlling the temperature of the heated air.