Insect infestation reduction method

Abstract

A method of preventing infestation of a bed by creeping insects; said method including the application of a barrier to the legs of said bed; said barrier comprising a disc or layer of material inimical to at least a selection of said creeping insects; said disc or layer interposed between an upper end of each bed leg and the underside surface of a bed base of said bed.

1 - 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . A method of preventing infestation of a bed by creeping insects; said method including the application of a barrier to the legs of said bed; said barrier comprising a relatively thin disc or layer of material inimical to at least a selection of said creeping insects; a surface of said relatively thin disc of material having a dynamic coefficient of friction less than 0.4; said disc or layer interposed between an upper end of each bed leg and the underside surface of a bed base of said bed. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said coefficient of friction prevents a creeping insect traversing a substantially horizontal underside of said disc or layer. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91  wherein properties of said surface include resistance to van der Waal forces. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said disc or layer is composed of polytetrafluoroethylene or similar compounds; such compounds commonly known as Teflon®. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said disc or layer is sized so as to extend beyond the periphery of an upper end of said bed leg; an extended portion of said disc or layer forming a substantially horizontal annular underside surface between said periphery and said bed base. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95  wherein said extended portion extends radially at least 15 mm from said periphery. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said disc or layer is provided with a central aperture; said aperture sized so as to allow passage therethrough of a securing bolt of said bed leg. 
     
     
         98 . A method of reducing infestation of a bed by climbing insects; said method including interposing insect impeding barriers in the form of a relatively thin disc or layer of material inimical to at least a selection of said creeping insects at supporting elements of said bed; said method including the steps of:
 (a) detaching each supporting element of said bed;   (b) applying said insect impeding barrier to an upper end of said supporting element;   (c) re-attaching said supporting elements to said bed such that said barrier is interposed between said upper end of said supporting element and an underside of said bed, and   wherein said barrier has a surface with a dynamic coefficient of friction less than 0.4.   
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98  wherein said supporting element is a bed leg;
 said bed leg attaching to an underside of a bed base of said bed by a length of threaded rod projecting from said upper end of said bed leg. 
 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 98  wherein said barrier is formed as a disc or layer of low friction material. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 98  wherein said disc or layer is sized to project radially from a periphery of said bed leg so as to expose an annular surface of said low friction material forming a substantially horizontal underside surface between a periphery of said bed leg and said underside of said bed. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101  wherein said disc or layer extends radially from said periphery by at least 15 mm. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101  wherein said disc or layer extends radially from said periphery by between 10 and 20 mm. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 98  wherein said method includes the further steps of interposing offset blocks between a bed head of said bed and an adjacent wall; said offset blocks including an insect impeding barrier. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104  wherein said insect impeding barrier includes application of a low coefficient of friction tape to surfaces of said offset blocks; said offset blocks configured so as to present one or more upwardly sloping upper surface only, between said bed head and said adjacent wall. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 104  wherein said insect impeding barrier includes a ring of low coefficient of friction material; said ring of material including vertical surfaces projecting radially from surfaces of said offset blocks. 
     
     
         107 . A method of preventing infestation by creeping insects of a bed or other elevated structure; said method including the application of a barrier to the legs or substructure of said bed or other elevated structure; said barrier comprising a band of a material inimical to at least a selected group of said creeping insects. 
     
     
         108 . A relatively thin disc or layer of material for interposing between an upper portion of a bed leg and the underside of a bed base; said disc or layer of material inimical to traversing by bed bugs and other creeping insects; said disc or layer of material sized so as to project radially beyond the periphery of said upper portion of said bed leg thereby presenting an exposed substantially horizontal underside, annular portion, of said material. 
     
     
         109 . A kit for providing protection of infestation of a bed by bed bugs and other climbing insets; said kit comprising packaging containing a number of relatively thin discs or layers of a low coefficient of friction material; said discs or layers adapted for interposing between upper portions of bed legs and the underside of a bed base of said bed. 
     
     
         110 . A bed proofed against infestation by bed bugs and other climbing insects; said bed provided with barriers comprising a relatively thin disc or layer or an offset block preventing access to mattress and bedding of said bed; said barriers including surfaces of low coefficient of friction material; said barriers interposed between an upper portion of legs of said bed and the underside of the bed base. 
     
     
         111 . A method of preventing infestation of a bed by creeping insects; said method including the application of a barrier to the legs of said bed; said barrier comprising a disc or layer of material made from a low co-efficient of friction material inimical to at least a selection of said creeping insects; said disc or layer interposed between an upper end of each bed leg and the underside surface of a bed base of said bed. 
     
     
         112 . A method of reducing infestation of a bed by climbing insects; said method including interposing insect impeding barriers at supporting elements of said bed; said barriers made from a low co-efficient of friction material; said method including the steps of:
 (d) detaching each supporting element of said bed;   (e) applying said insect impeding barrier to an upper end of said supporting element;   (f) re-attaching said supporting elements to said bed such that said barrier is interposed between said upper end of said supporting element and an underside of said bed.   
     
     
         113 . A disc or layer of material for interposing between an upper portion of a bed leg and the underside of a bed base; said disc or layer of material inimical to traversing by bed bugs and other creeping insects; said disc or layer of material sized so as to project radially beyond the periphery of said upper portion of said bed leg thereby presenting an exposed substantially horizontal underside, annular portion, of said material; said material made from a low co-efficient of friction material. 
     
     
         114 . A kit for providing protection of infestation of a bed by bed bugs and other climbing insets; said kit comprising packaging containing a number of discs or layers made of a low coefficient of friction material; said discs or layers adapted for interposing between upper portions of bed legs and the underside of a bed base of said bed. 
     
     
         115 . A bed proofed against infestation by bed bugs and other climbing insects; said bed provided with barriers preventing access to mattress and bedding of said bed; said barriers made from a low co-efficient of friction material or said barriers including surfaces of low coefficient of friction material; said barriers interposed between an upper portion of legs of said bed and the underside of the bed base.