Apparatus For Controlling Bedbugs

Abstract

A portable apparatus for the collection of bedbugs, their eggs, their larvae, their debris, and their feces has a vacuum-producing motor disposed within a housing. A collection port is used to draw the bedbugs into the housing along a flow path to a collection chamber featuring a variable environment sufficient to kill the bedbugs. The collection chamber can be heated or cooled, can contain insecticidal substances, or ultraviolet radiation sufficient for killing the collected bedbugs. The flow rate and temperature ranges are adjustable to create sufficient heat and time of contact to kill selected organisms. The apparatus is especially useful for treating bedbug infestations in their natural environment without the need for toxic chemicals, long-term treatments that make the space being treated uninhabitable and other more extreme treatment regimens.

1 . A portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs, said apparatus comprising:
 a body having a collection port at one end of said body, a collection chamber at another end of said body for retaining said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs, and a handle for gripping said body;   a fan assembly in communication with said collection port for drawing a vacuum to create an airstream through said collection port to said collection chamber for aspiration of said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs;   wherein said collection chamber has a variable environment sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs.   
     
     
         2 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 1  wherein said variable environment is at least one of:
 (1) a temperature change sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs; and 
 (2) an ultraviolet radiation increase sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
 
     
     
         3 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said temperature change is generated by at least one thermal grid in communication with said airstream. 
     
     
         4 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said temperature change is generated by a thermal mass heated to a temperature sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
     
     
         5 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said temperature change is adjustable by a user of said portable apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said temperature change is a decrease in temperature of said collection chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 6  wherein the temperature of said collection chamber is decreased to less than five degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         8 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said ultraviolet radiation increase is adjustable by a user of said portable apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said temperature of said collection chamber is increased to at least 115 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of time sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
     
     
         10 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 2  wherein said temperature of said collection chamber is increased to between 115 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of time sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
     
     
         11 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 1  wherein said collection chamber further comprises a removable bag. 
     
     
         12 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of said removable bag is formed from an electrically conductive material whereby electrical energy can be applied to said electrically conductive material to raise the temperature of said electrically conductive material to a degree sufficient to kill said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
     
     
         13 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 9  wherein said removable bag is disposable. 
     
     
         14 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a flexible, elongate member having a distal end and a proximal end attached to said collection port, and a nozzle attached to said flexible, elongate member distal end for aspirating said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs from restricted spaces. 
     
     
         15 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 12  wherein said nozzle includes a light for locating said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
     
     
         16 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 12  wherein said nozzle includes a magnifying glass for locating said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs. 
     
     
         17 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 1  wherein said fan assembly is adjustable to adjust the flow rate of said airstream. 
     
     
         18 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a mechanical forcing mechanism in communication with said airstream at a location intermediate said collection port and said collection chamber, said mechanical forcing mechanism for mechanically degrading said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs prior to said at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs reaching said collection chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The portable apparatus for the collection and destruction of at least one of bedbugs, bedbug larvae, and bedbug eggs as recited in  claim 18  wherein said mechanical forcing mechanism includes a pair of opposing rollers.