Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Combining of separately supplied fluids
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-13
2004-10-19
Mar, Michael (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Combining of separately supplied fluids
C239S318000, C239S077000, C239S411000, C239S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06805307
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to an improved device, system, and method for the spraying and application of liquids and/or liquid-gas mixtures for a number of purposes such as: insect control/eradication, pesticide applications, medicinal or medical product spraying applications, including spraying antibiotics among livestock, chickens, pigs, etc. and antidotes for potential terrorist activities, herbicide applications, insecticide applications, paint applications, misting applications, cooling applications, water applications, fertilizer applications, horticultural applications, solid-stream applications, and application of cleaning/stripping/degreasing solutions for household and industrial uses. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cost effective, low-maintenance, and transportable liquid spraying system for the efficient application of liquid materials used to control insect populations, such as mosquito control products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional mosquito control methods and spraying systems utilized and found in the prior art generally consisted of thermal smoke generators. Typically, this device or process involves the creation of a gaseous smoke that serves as a carrier for the selected insecticide, pesticide, water, petroleum or synthetically formulated liquids. The use of thermal smoke generators, particularly when mounted on motorized vehicles, can often create visual obstructions and lead to dangerous spraying conditions, especially in residential areas. In addition, the application of the gaseous smoke can be inefficient, uneven, require a large amount of pesticide to be integrated with the gaseous smoke, and can be poorly targeted due to the influence of ambient environmental and weather conditions, such as wind, topography, etc.
More recently, spraying techniques have begun to utilize Cold Aerosol Ultra Low Volume (ULV) generators to disperse insect and mosquito control products. Ultra Low Volume technology provides a light cloud of spray comprising a very specific size of droplet. The use of Ultra Low Volume generators typically allow an efficient delivery of a very specific amount of liquid or chemical to the targeted areas inhabited by insects, such as the mosquito, thereby reducing the amount of liquid chemical required for spraying. Typically, the Ultra Low Volume spray clouds are generated through the use of either gas driven blowers or electrically driven rotary sleeves. The Ultra Low Volume blowing equipment can produce a significant amount of undesirable emissions and comprise a number of components which need to be maintained and/or calibrated, such as pumps, meters, flow controls, and filtering devices. In this regard, the expense of such equipment is often cost prohibitive to many smaller municipalities, commercial applicators, or homeowner/development groups that seek to provide mosquito control and insect spraying services to its citizens and residents.
While these prior art devices can perform well and do effectuate mosquito control in many circumstances, they often require a large capital investment to place the equipment into service, utilize a large amount of maintenance resources during operation as well as storage space during periods of non-use, and require additional labor demand to monitor and maintain the systems to ensure that they are in working order when needed. For instance, multi-component Ultra Low Volume spraying packages often require placement and mounting upon dedicated spraying vehicles. In turn, the entity or organization charged with responsibility for the spraying application process is required to devote both financial and technical resources to transportation the multi-component equipment during operation and justify the expenses to its respective constituency, residents, or other recipients of the spraying services.
Moreover, in recent years, state and federal health agencies and organizations in the United States have documented the introduction and spread of a number of viruses and diseases that have been traced to airborne-carrying insects, such as the mosquito. For example, the West Nile Virus and forms of malaria and encephalitis have been identified in both human and animal subjects. In some cases, these viruses have been fatal to humans with children and the elderly being particularly susceptible. At the same time, state and federal environmental legislation and environmental preservation causes have sought protection for “wetlands” areas to preserve the natural environment in designated areas which may be directly adjacent to areas inhabited by human residents. Although preservation of natural resources and the ecosystem are important objectives, a traditional “wetlands” area is generally conducive to the habitation and breeding of large numbers of mosquito populations. Given the airborne and mobile nature of a flying insect, such as the mosquito, the mosquito population often comes into contact with human inhabitants living nearby.
In response to these newly documented health dangers being carried by the mosquito and potential human transmission of life-threatening diseases through contact with the mosquito, both the public and governmental authorities have focused on the need to protect residential populations through cost-effective mosquito control management programs. In so doing, one of the clearest and basic needs is to provide physical equipment and infrastructure to facilitate the application of spraying techniques to control the mosquito population in residential areas.
Accordingly, there is need for a simple low cost system and spraying technique that provides an integrated and dependable application of selected liquid materials to designated geographic areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a spraying system and techniques/methods for the application of liquid materials to targeted portions of the ambient environment, and particularly one for the efficient spraying of selected liquid droplets, such as (without limitation) liquids employing chemical formulations for insect control/eradication, herbicide application, insecticide application, paint application, water application, fertilizer application, antibiotic application and application of cleaning, stripping, and degreasing solutions for household and industrial uses. Although it is contemplated that the present invention has particular application and utility in the field of spraying and disseminating formulations and agents to facilitate mosquito and insect control thereby protecting human populations from diseases and pathogens, such as the West Nile Virus, malaria, and various forms of encephalitis, it should be seen that the present invention may also be utilized to deliver formulations and agents to control mosquitos and various insects among animal and livestock populations, zoos, food production facilities that utilize live animals, and game preserves. Further, the present invention could be utilized to deliver airborne medical products, vaccines, and antidotes to both human and animal populations in response to a specific medical or epidemiological event. The system generally employs a kit or combination of spraying equipment which is lightweight, compact, and requires a relatively low level of maintenance on the part of the entity applying the materials. The system functions through the spraying of accurate and efficient droplets through the combination of fluid and air by means of a low emission engine or other power source and a compressor. It is contemplated that the present invention may further comprise a dual-use feature having functionality as an air compressor with regulated air take-off whereby a plurality of tools or devices could also be powered through the air compressor utilizing various forms of fittings, such as quick disconnect fittings known in the art.
In a particular preferred embodiment, the efficient liquid droplet size may have fixed or variable flow capabilities, which can be gravity or siphoned fed, and facilitated through the us
Dorendorf Bruce
Ripley Verlyn
Dobrusin & Thennisch PC
Gorman Darren
Mar Michael
RD, Incv
LandOfFree
Spraying device, system and methods of dispersing and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Spraying device, system and methods of dispersing and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spraying device, system and methods of dispersing and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3279817