Automatic robot bug killing device for mattress

Abstract

Provided herein is an automatic dry heat bug killing device for pest killing. By using the specially manufactured graphene-coated copper heating film, the dry heat device disclosed by the invention can easily reach the temperature higher than the temperature which is recognized to be lethal for bugs in all life stages, namely 45 DEG C; and the method is also effective in the aspect of ant killing. The device is meticulously designed to realize high portability and maneuverability, and can be customized to meet the requirements of disinfecting mattresses with different sizes in different scenes such as home use, commercial hotel use or hotel use. The device of the invention is also equipped with the ability to wirelessly connect to a mobile application, as well as an infrared sensor and a PID system for remote real-time monitoring and control.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 602,437 filed on November 23, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the extermination of bed bugs on mattresses. More specifically, an automatic dry heat bed bug extermination device for exterminating bed bugs and pests is provided herein. Background Art

[0003] Cimex lectularius, more commonly known as bed bugs, are small, reddish-brown, wingless, nocturnal insects that parasitize and feed on the blood of animals and humans.

[0004] Their small size, roughly 4-7 mm in length, and oval, flattened body shape help them infest indoor environments by hiding in cracks, crevices and furniture, particularly in bedding and mattress seams, which provide ideal hiding and resting locations very close to their food sources.

[0005] Although they do not transmit disease, they often cause skin irritation through their bites, forming an itchy rash or blisters. In rare but more serious cases, bed bug bites may cause allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, and even skin necrosis. If the infestation is severe or prolonged, the itching caused by bed bug bites may also lead to secondary effects such as difficulty sleeping and related problems including anxiety and stress.

[0006] Due to their ability to reproduce rapidly and high resilience, bed bugs have become a persistent problem worldwide. The global resurgence of bed bug infestations around the world, especially the famous 2023 Paris bed bug outbreak, has attracted worldwide attention in the prevention and control of bed bug infestations. With the lifting of travel bans attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, people have resumed global travel, which has played an important role in the spread and outbreak of bed bugs in tourist hotspots with high population density and high urbanization.

[0007] Although many bed bug extermination methods have been developed; however, each method has its own disadvantages. For example, chemical treatments using insecticides such as pyrethroids or desiccants are common. However, chemical insecticides can be harmful to human health over long periods of exposure, leading to health risks including but not limited to respiratory problems and skin irritation. In addition, because insecticides require direct contact to kill bed bugs, the insecticides may not be able to penetrate the mattress to reach bed bugs hiding deep inside the mattress, which may continue to reproduce and cause repeated infestations. Even more worrying, recent studies have shown that some bed bugs are developing insecticide resistance, which means that chemical treatments may become increasingly less effective in bed bug pest control.

[0008] Additionally, special mattress covers have been developed to address the problem of bed bug infestations. However, the covers are merely a means of enclosing the bed bugs within the mattress and preventing more bed bugs from infesting the mattress, but do not actually kill them. Furthermore, any damage and wear that results in any openings that allow bed bugs to exit or enter will render the cover ineffective.

[0009] While other treatment methods have been devised, including but not limited to UV irradiation, cryogenic treatment, or desiccant treatment, they generally require professional handling and may present other complications including health risks or high costs after prolonged exposure, or may be large-scale, time-consuming, and require space to be vacated, adding inconvenience.

[0010] Since multiple studies have shown that bed bugs cannot survive temperatures above 45°C (113°F), high-temperature steam heating has also been used as a bed bug control method. However, the humidity of the steam can damage nearby furniture and promote bacterial growth.

[0011] Therefore, dry heat is considered to be an effective bed bug extermination method. However, existing mattress dry heat usually involves installing bulky independent heaters on the floor, which requires the room to be vacated for 6-8 hours of continuous heating, which is extremely energy-intensive and cost-inefficient. In addition, in order to ensure thorough heating of the mattress, multiple heaters need to be repositioned, but the process is completely manual and lacks a monitoring system to specifically pinpoint the most effective placement of the heaters.

[0012] In view of the above, there is a need to develop a more cost-effective, more convenient and less energy-consuming dry heat device for thoroughly heating a mattress and killing bed bugs in the mattress, the dry heat device having a monitoring system to optimize the heating process. The present invention solves this need. Summary of the invention

[0013] In one aspect of the present invention, a portable, remotely controllable dry heat pest control device is provided for killing bed bugs on mattresses. The device includes a steering chassis equipped with a plurality of self-cleaning wheels, a dry heat chamber equipped with a fan unit and a printed circuit board (PCB), an automatic control and feedback monitoring system connected to the dry heat chamber, a circuit board housing, and a detachable handle. Specifically, each of the plurality of self-cleaning wheels is coated with a superhydrophobic material; and the dry heat assembly includes a ventilation chamber, a graphene-coated copper heater film, and an automatic lifting system equipped with a servo motor.

[0014] In one embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the graphene-coated copper heater film is fabricated by coating a copper film on a polyimide substrate using physical vapor deposition and performing laser scribing for patterning.

[0015] In another embodiment, the superhydrophobic material is selected from polytetrafluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, a wax-based coating, laser-induced aluminum or laser-induced graphene.

[0016] In other embodiments, the graphene-coated copper heater film has a thickness of less than 160 μm.

[0017] In another embodiment, the superhydrophobic material has a sliding angle of less than 7°.

[0018] In yet another embodiment, the dry heat chamber has a maximum output of 330°C.

[0019] In yet other embodiments, the automatic control and feedback monitoring system includes infrared sensors and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control system.

[0020] In other embodiments, the dry heat pest control device of the present invention further comprises a wireless Internet of Things (IoT) module, which can be connected to a mobile application for remote control and real-time monitoring.

[0021] In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for killing pests on a mattress using a portable, remotely controllable dry heat pest control device is provided. Specifically, the method covers killing bed bug eggs, bed bug nymphs, bed bug adults and ants.

[0022] In one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, the mortality rate of bed bug eggs, bed bug nymphs, bed bug adults and ants hidden in a mattress having a thickness of 0.5 mm is at least 99% under a heating temperature of 60° C. during an operation period of 30 seconds. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings refer to the same or functionally similar elements, and the accompanying drawings contain diagrams of certain embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present invention. It should be understood that these drawings depict embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. The present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1A and 1B The external appearance of the portable, remotely controllable dry heat pest control device for killing bed bugs of the present invention is shown. Figure 1A and Figure 1B They are the renderings and schematic diagrams of the exterior of the pest control device.

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic illustration of the bottom portion of the pest control device of the present invention for killing bed bugs is provided.

[0026] Figure 3 Schematic diagram showing the standby and operational configurations of the pest control device for killing bed bugs of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the structure of a multi-wheel embodiment of the pest control device for killing bed bugs of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5A and 5B The structure and working mechanism of the dry heat chamber of the pest control device for killing bed bugs of the present invention are demonstrated. Figure 5A Provide a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the dry heat chamber connected to the automatic lifting system; and Figure 5B A schematic diagram is provided to emphasize the structure and working principle of the copper heating film of the dry heat chamber.

[0029] Figure 6 It is a diagrammatic illustration of the high efficiency of the pest control device of the present invention for killing bed bugs, particularly ants and bed bugs.

[0030] Fig. 7A and 7B The air flow direction and heat transfer of the pest control device for killing bed bugs of the present invention are shown. Fig. 7A is a schematic diagram, and Figure 7B Simulation results showing the air flow direction and heat transfer of the device.

[0031] Figure 8 A schematic diagram is provided for simulating the operation procedure and movement of the pest control device for killing bed bugs of the present invention on a mattress. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] As discussed above, one of the more recognized environmentally friendly and safe methods of bed bug extermination is by dry heat to temperatures lethal to living bed bugs, which has been studied to be 45°C (113°F) or higher.

[0033] However, there remains a need for a more compact and intelligent dry heat system for eliminating bed bugs in mattresses as an improvement over existing systems which require installation of larger dry heat generators, require manual repositioning and lack real-time monitoring to ensure thorough heat treatment of an infested mattress.

[0034] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a novel portable, remotely controllable dry heat pest control device for killing bed bugs.

[0035] Figure 4 The design of a portable, remotely controllable dry heat pest control device is schematically shown, wherein a multi-wheel embodiment of the present invention is shown. First, the device 10 has a steering chassis 20 that not only allows one-way movement, but is also designed for steering to optimize movement and efficient navigation and coverage of the device 10 over the entire mattress.

[0036] It should be noted that the plurality of wheels 201 mounted to the chassis 20 are coated with a superhydrophobic material so as to be able to repel water and other liquids and prevent dirt, debris and contaminants from accumulating on the wheel surfaces, thereby imparting self-cleaning properties to the wheels and thereby maintaining optimal hygiene standards during the bed bug extermination operation of the device.

[0037] See also Figure 4 , 5A and 5B, the dry heat chamber 40 is connected to an automatic lifting system 60 equipped with a servo motor to allow the chamber to be raised and retracted toward the body of the device in standby mode; and lowered during operating mode to perform dry heating of the mattress (see Figure 3 ).

[0038] The dry heat chamber 40 further comprises an ultra-thin graphene-coated copper heating film 402, which is fabricated on a polyimide substrate and patterned via laser scribing to allow for optimal heat conduction and convection through hot air passing therethrough, having a heating capability to reach a constant temperature of 50-60° C. and a maximum heating temperature of 80° C. within a limited period of time. The heating process is further enhanced by a fan unit 401 which allows ventilation of the heated air to reach and penetrate the target insect infestation area of ​​the mattress.

[0039] The dry heat chamber 40 is mounted to the PCB as a power outlet and is further connected to a PID control mechanism and infrared sensor as an automatic control and feedback mechanism that can measure temperature in real time and allow instant and automatic response and fine-tuning adjustments to the operation of the device 40, including movement and temperature control, to ensure uniform and thorough heating of the mattress to kill bed bugs. These systems and circuit boards are compactly placed and protected in the circuit board housing 30 of the device.

[0040] A wireless Internet of Things (IoT) module is also installed within the unit, which can be connected to a mobile application for on-demand remote control and real-time monitoring. Using the mobile application, the temperature and movement of the unit can be remotely controlled based on real-time temperature feedback from the infrared sensor, and adjustments to dry heat operation can be made instantaneously without the need for professional pest control services.

[0041] The detachable handle 50 can be selectively installed or uninstalled to achieve portability and maneuverability. Optionally, the device can also be operated under manual control to achieve greater operational flexibility.

[0042] The removable handle 50 further includes a ventilation chamber 501 so that hot air can be effectively directed and delivered to the target eradication area for more thorough heat penetration.

[0043] It should also be noted that the steering chassis 20 can also be equipped with a track with a super-hydrophobic coating instead of multiple super-hydrophobic self-cleaning wheels as desired. These different configurations enable the device to autonomously navigate through mattresses and bedding of various sizes, such as single mattresses, double mattresses, queen-size mattresses or king-size mattresses, or other bedding.

[0044] Examples

[0045] Figure 4 An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 , wherein a steering chassis 20 is attached with six wheels coated with a superhydrophobic material and possessing self-cleaning properties.

[0046] For the dry heat chamber 40 , the ultra-thin copper heating film 401 in the exemplary embodiment is patterned via laser scribing to have a dense vertical serpentine pattern.

[0047] Specifically, the thickness of the graphene-coated copper heating film in this embodiment is less than 160 μm.

[0048] like Fig. 7A and 7B It was observed in Figure 1 that this exemplary embodiment of the bed bug extermination device of the present invention was able to uniformly heat the target infested area of ​​the mattress to over 60° C. within a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm.

[0049] Specifically, exemplary embodiments of the device of the present invention are not only capable of eliminating bed bugs at different life stages (eggs, nymphs, and adults), but are also effective in eliminating ant infestations.

[0050] Throughout this specification, unless the context dictates otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" should be understood to imply the inclusion of the stated integer or groups of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or groups of integers. It should also be noted that in this disclosure and especially in the claims and / or paragraphs, terms such as "comprises", "comprised", "comprising", etc. may have the meanings ascribed to them in U.S. patent law; for example, they allow for elements not expressly stated, but exclude elements found in the prior art or that affect the basic or novel characteristics of the invention.

[0051] Furthermore, throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0052] References in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," etc. indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it should be understood that it is within the knowledge of a person skilled in the art to implement this feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

[0053] Other definitions of selected terms used herein can be found in the detailed description of the present invention and are applicable throughout the text. Unless otherwise defined, all other technical terms used herein have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0054] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in light of these teachings, alternative embodiments may be implemented without undue experimentation or without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The present invention shall be limited solely by the appended claims, which include all such embodiments and modifications when examined in conjunction with the above description and drawings.

Claims

1. A portable, remotely controllable dry heat pest control device for killing bed bugs on mattresses, characterized in that: include: a steering chassis equipped with a plurality of self-cleaning wheels or tracks; a dry heat chamber having a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted therein; an automatic lifting system equipped with a servo motor connected to the dry heat chamber; an automatic control and feedback monitoring system connected to the dry heat chamber; Circuit board housing; as well as Removable handle; Each of the plurality of self-cleaning wheels or tracks; the wheel or track surface is coated with a super hydrophobic material; and The dry heat components include a fan unit, a graphene-coated copper heater film, and an automatic lifting system equipped with a servo motor.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The graphene-coated copper heater film is fabricated by coating a copper film on a polyimide substrate using physical vapor deposition and subjected to laser scribing for patterning.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The graphene-coated copper heater film has a thickness of less than 160 μm.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The super hydrophobic material is selected from polytetrafluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, a wax-based coating, laser-induced aluminum or laser-induced graphene.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that The sliding angle of the superhydrophobic material is less than 6°.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The dry heat chamber has a maximum output of 330°C.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The automatic control and feedback monitoring system includes an infrared sensor and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control system.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that Further included is a wireless Internet of Things (IoT) module that can be connected to a mobile application for remote control and real-time monitoring.

9. A method for killing pests on a mattress using the device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pests include bed bug eggs, bed bug nymphs, bed bug adults and ants.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The mortality of bed bug eggs, bed bug nymphs, bed bug adults and ants hidden in a mattress having a thickness of 0.5 mm was at least 99% under a heating temperature of 50° C. during an operation period of 30 seconds.

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