Insect repellant structure

Abstract

A structure for repelling flying insects from a selected space is described. The structure includes a cover, extending over the space, a support means to position and support the cover, an insect repellant dispersal means, which in a preferred embodiment includes an air circulation device, positioned beneath the cover, and a source of insect repellant positioned relative to the insect repellant dispersal means. In a preferred embodiment, the source of insect repellant includes citronella, which is introduced in the space in vaporous form, and is dispersed throughout the space by the insect repellant dispersal means.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structure comprising: 
 a cover defining a space thereunder;    a support means positioned on a support surface and configured to extend upwardly to and through said space and attached to said cover to support said cover;    a source of insect repellant positioned to introduce insect repellant into a portion of said space; and    insect repellant dispersal means positioned relative to said source of insect repellant for dispersing said insect repellant within a second portion of said space.    
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said insect repellant dispersal means includes an air circulation device.  
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said insect repellant dispersal means includes an electric fan connected to an electrical power source.  
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said electric fan is positioned below said cover and above said source of insect repellant, and said fan is of sufficient size and is oriented and operable at a speed to urge a quantity of said insect repellant towards said cover and back into at least a portion of said space.  
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 4  wherein said electric fan is operable to urge said insect repellant in a toroidal air circulation pattern in said space.  
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cover has a substantially concave shape as to said space.  
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cover has a perimeter and a crown and wherein said perimeter is spaced away from said crown and toward said support surface.  
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said perimeter is spaced from said crown at an effective angle from about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees from a plane proximate to the crown and intersecting perpendicularly the support means.  
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said cover is arcuate in cross section.  
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said source of insect repellant includes a plant extract in vaporous form.  
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said source of insect repellant includes citronella oil in vaporous form.  
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein said source of insect repellant is a citronella candle and wherein said dispersal means is a wick of said citronella candle.  
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said source of insect repellant includes a synthetic material.  
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is a tent canopy.  
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is a sunshade canopy.  
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein said cover is a porch roof.  
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is a gazebo roof.  
     
     
         18 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cover is an umbrella canopy.  
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 18 , wherein said support means includes 
 a pole, having a top end and a bottom end,    a means for securing said pole in an alignment extending perpendicular relative to said support surface, and    a frame connected to the top end of said pole to support said umbrella canopy.    
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 19 , wherein said frame includes 
 a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs being connected to said pole at the top end of said pole and each of said ribs also being connected to said umbrella canopy, and    for each rib of said plurality of ribs, a support arm, each support arm being connected at a first end to said insect repellant dispersal means and connected at a second end to a corresponding rib, and wherein said insect repellant dispersal means includes a sliding hub, which encircles said pole and is operable to advance said insect repellant dispersal means along said pole, urging said support arms and ribs outward to open said canopy, and also positioning said insect repellant dispersal means in a selected location.    
     
     
         21 . The structure of  claim 19 , wherein said insect repellant dispersal means includes an electric fan, connected to a source of electrical power, and wherein said insect repellant dispersal means is connected to said pole and is positioned above said source of insect repellant, and said fan is operable to urge said insect repellant to disperse in said space beneath said umbrella canopy.  
     
     
         22 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein said umbrella canopy has a concave shape relative to said pole, said electric fan is positioned above said source of insect repellant in the space under said canopy, and said fan is operable to urge a quantity of said insect repellant to move in a toroidal air circulation pattern beneath said umbrella canopy and within said space.  
     
     
         23 . The structure of  claim 20 , wherein said source of insect repellant is located on a platform connected to said pole.  
     
     
         24 . The structure of  claim 23 , wherein said platform is a table surface connected to said pole.  
     
     
         25 . The structure of  claim 23  wherein said source of insect repellant is a citronella candle.  
     
     
         26 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said source of insect repellant is an open container, containing a quantity of liquid insect repellant that produces said insect repellant in vaporous form.  
     
     
         27 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein said insect repellant source is a device producing an aerosol spray containing an insect repellant.  
     
     
         28 . An umbrella for repelling insects from a space, comprising: 
 a canopy extending above said space;    a pole, having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end positioned on a support surface and said pole aligned in a substantially vertical position perpendicular to said support surface;    a frame for supporting said canopy, said frame being connected to said canopy and also connected to the top end of said pole;    a source of insect repellent positioned to disperse said insect repellent into said space; and    an insect repellant dispersal means, positioned relative to said source of insect repellent, to urge a quantity of insect repellant from said source of insect repellant and disperse said quantity of insect repellant within said space.    
     
     
         29 . The umbrella of  claim 28 , wherein said insect repellent dispersal means includes an electric fan, connected to an electrical power source.  
     
     
         30 . The umbrella of  claim 29 , wherein said electric fan is positioned beneath said canopy and above said source of insect repellent, and is operable to urge said quantity of insect repellent towards said canopy and in a toroidal air circulation pattern in said space.  
     
     
         31 . The umbrella of  claim 30 , wherein said electric fan is attached to one of said pole or said frame, and is oriented to urge insect repellent upwards towards said canopy.  
     
     
         32 . The umbrella of  claim 30 , wherein said source of insect repellent is a citronella candle positioned beneath said insect repellant dispersal means on a platform connected to said pole.  
     
     
         33 . The umbrella of  claim 32 , wherein said insect repellant dispersal means includes a cylindrical hub positioned beneath said electric fan and oriented to channel air towards said electric fan.  
     
     
         34 . The umbrella of  claim 28 , wherein said canopy is concave in shape relative to said pole.