Insect controlling bands

• US 8,602,261 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Koele, Tara L., deGraft-Johnson, Kwamena Gyakye, Davis, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GULLEDGE, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/428,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20100272767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 222/146.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2061 using a heat source
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/12 using odoriferous substances, e.g. aromas, pheromones or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg

Abstract

Disclosed herein are insect repellant wrist and ankle bands. The bands contain a space within which a substrate that has been impregnated with an insect control repellant can be heated by a heater such as a pouch providing an exothermic chemical reaction. Thus, the bands can efficiently act as repellant dispensers without the need for the user to apply the repellant directly to the user'"'"'s skin or clothing.

Claims

1. A wearable device, comprising:

a band structure;

a substrate that has a volatile insect control chemical mountable on the band structure; and

a heater positioned to be suitable to, when initiated, heat the substrate to expedite dispensing of the volatile insect control chemical, wherein the device does not have a fan;

wherein the band structure has an upper cover and a lower support such that when the upper cover lies on top of the lower support they form a housing with a cavity there between;

wherein the device is configured with ribs underneath the lower support that are configured to insulate where the device is worn from being exposed to heat generated by the heater while also being configured to allow air flow from inwardly of the band up to the heater.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the heater is in a form of a holder that retains a heating structure.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the holder is in a form of a pouch, and the heating structure comprises chemicals positioned in the pouch that if initiated will chemically generate heat.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the chemicals can be caused to generate heat by exposure to air.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the chemicals comprise iron powder.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the substrate and heater are positioned in the cavity between the upper cover and lower support.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity can be opened when it is desired to remove the substrate and/or heater, and/or replace one or both.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the volatile insect control chemical comprises a repellant selected from the group consisting of transfluthrin and metafluthrin.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the volatile insect control chemical is a mosquito repellant.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the band structure is configured such that in use the volatile insect control chemical is dispensed both radially up out and also sideways.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein there are two such substrates that sandwich the heater.

12. A wearable insect controlling device, the device comprising:

a band structure;

a substrate that has a volatile insect control chemical mountable on the band structure; and

a heater positioned to be suitable to, when initiated, heat the substrate to expedite dispensing of the volatile insect control chemical;

wherein the heater is of a type that can be initiated by exposing chemicals in the heater to air; and

wherein the band structure has an upper cover and a lower support such that when the upper cover lies on top of the lower support they form a housing with a cavity there between; and

wherein the device is configured with ribs underneath the lower support that are configured to insulate where the device is worn from being exposed to heat generated by the heater;

wherein the device is configured without a fan.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is wearable on a human wrist or human ankle.