Electric exhaler for the vaporization of disinfesting insecticide products

• US 6,446,384 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zobele Holding SpA (Z Alpha SA)
• Original Assignee: Zobele Industrie Chimiche SpA (Z Alpha SA)
• Inventors: Pedrotti, Andrea, Giorgione, Fabrizio, Sordo, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSENTHAL, DANIELLE S
• Application Number:
  US09/870,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 431/29, 431/38, 392/386, 392/324, 392/403, 392/390, 392/394, 392/395, 392/391, 392/392, 219/543, 219/544, 219/546, 219/547, 219/548
• US Class Current: 43/129
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/011 Crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor

Abstract

An electric exhaler for the vaporization of disinfesting insecticide products comprises a heating resistance (R) and a refill of porous ceramic material (S) impregnated with an active substance apt to be evaporated at high temperature. The resistance (R) is apt to reach a surface temperature of at least 500° C. and the ceramic refill (S) is positioned in tight contact therewith. Preferably, the resistance (R) is cylindrical and the refill (S) has a cross-section having a Ω- or C-shape, the curved portion of which has an inner radius corresponding to the outer radius of the resistance

Claims

1. Electric exhaler for the fast vaporization of a disinfesting insecticide active substance having a low vapor pressure, comprising a heating resistance (R) adapted a to reach a surface temperature of at least 400°

C. and a refill (S) of porous ceramic material impregnated with said active substance, said resistance (R) having the shape of a straight cylinder and said ceramic refill (S) being a cylindrical body whose generating lines are parallel to the axis of the resistance (R) and the cross-section of which has an Ω

-shape, the resistance (R) and the ceramic refill (S) being so mutually positioned that a first central portion of said ceramic refill is in contact with the resistance (R) and partially surrounds the resistance and a second, pheripheral, portion of said ceramic refill has at least one wing projecting from said first portion, to rest the ceramic refill (S) on the structure of the electric exhaler.

2. Electric exhaler as in claim 1, wherein the inner radius of the curved portion of said Ω

-shape corresponds to the outer radius of the resistance (R).

3. Electric exhaler as in claim 1, wherein said ceramic refill (S) bears, with the wings of its Ω

-shape, on a plurality of vertical rods (3) projecting from the base (1) of the electric exhaler and formed, in one piece therewith, of a heat-resisting plastic material.

4. Electric exhaler as in claim 1, wherein said resistance (R) is fixed to the central portion of a metallic heatsink (5) having arms (5a, 5b) which are fixed to the structure of the electric exhaler.

5. Electric exhaler as in claim 4, wherein the arms (5a, 5b) of the metallic heatsink (5) are fixed to supports (4, 6) projecting from a base (1) or cap (2) of the electric exhaler and formed, in one piece therewith, of a heat-resisting plastic material.

6. Electric exhaler as in claim 4, wherein a portion (5c) of said metallic heatsink (5) is associated with a bimetallic thermostat (7), so as to transfer to said thermostat part of the heat transmitted by said resistance (R).

7. Electric exhaler as in claim 6, wherein said bimetallic thermostat (7) is adapted to interrupt the power supply to the resistance (R) after a preset period of operating time of said resistance.

8. Electric exhaler as in claim 6, wherein said bimetallic thermostat (7) is manually resettable or self-holding.

9. Electric exhaler for the fast vaporization of a disinfesting insecticide active substance having a rather low vapor pressure, comprising a heating resistance (R) adapted to reach a surface temperature of at least 400°

C. and a refill (S) of porous ceramic material impregnated with said active substance, said resistance (R) having the shape of a straight cylinder and said ceramic refill (S) being a cylindrical body whose generating lines are parallel to the axis of the resistance (R) and the cross-section of which has a C-shape the inner radius of which corresponds to the outer radius of said resistance (R), the ceramic refill (S) being fitted onto the resistance (R) so as to be entirely supported thereby.

10. Electric exhaler as in claim 9, wherein said resistance (R) is fixed to a central portion of a metallic heatsink (5) having arms (5a, 5b) which are fixed to the structure of the electric exhaler.

11. Electric exhaler as in claim 10, wherein the arms (5a, 5b) of the metallic heatsink (5) are fixed to supports (4, 6) projecting from a base (1) or cap (2) of the electric exhaler and formed, in one piece therewith, of a heat-resisting plastic material.

12. Electric exhaler as in claim 10, wherein a portion (5c) of said metallic heatsink (5) is associated with a bimetallic thermostat (7), so as to transfer to said thermostat part of the heat transmitted by said resistance (R).

13. Electric exhaler as in claim 12, wherein said bimetallic thermostat (7) is adapted to interrupt the power supply to the resistance (R) after a preset period of operating time of said resistance.

14. Electric exhaler as in claim 12, wherein said bimetallic thermostat (7) is manually resettable or self-holding.

15. Electric exhaler for the vaporization of disinfesting insecticide products, comprising a heating element and a porous support impregnated with an active substance adapted to be evaporated at high temperature, said heating element being a resistance (R) adapted to reach a surface temperature of at least 400°

C., said support being a refill (S) of porous ceramic material, said resistance (R) being fixed to a central portion of a metallic heat sink (5) having arms (5a, 5b) which are fixed to the structure of the electric exhaler, said arms of the metallic heat sink (5) being fixed to supports (4, 6) projecting from a base (1) or cap (2) of the electric exhaler and formed, in one piece therewith of a heat-resisting plastic material.

18. Electric exhaler as claimed in claim 15, wherein said bi-metallic thermostat (7) is manually resettable or self-holding.

16. Electric exhaler for the vaporization of disinfesting insecticide products, comprising a heating element and a porous support impregnated with an active substance adapted to be evaporated at high temperature, said heating element being a resistance (R) adapted to reach a surface temperature of at least 400°

C., said support being a refill (S) of porous ceramic material, said resistance (R) being fixed to a central portion of a metallic heat sink (5) having arms (5a, 5b) which are fixed to the structure of the electric exhaler, a portion (5c) of said metallic heat sink (5) being associated with a bi-metallic thermostat (7), so as to transfer to said thermostat part of the heat transmitted by said resistance (R).

17. Electric exhaler as claimed in claim 16, wherein said bi-metallic thermostat (7) is adapted to interrupt the power supply to the resistance (R) after a preset of operating time of said resistance.