Integration of surface heating to control pests

Abstract

Disclosed are designs and methods for integrating heating film onto surfaces and enclosures that are useful for preventing the infestation of pests. Specifically, designs to increase the effective heating area and location of said heating film within enclosures such as suitcases. Also, the use of heating films to create a thermal barrier to prevent pests from crawling across a surface. Heating films can be utilized that are inexpensive, low-profile, and lightweight.

1 . A system for eliminating pests in connection with heatable materials, the system comprising:
  an enclosure adapted to receive heatable materials, the enclosure having an exterior portion and an interior portion, the interior portion forming an interior compartment, the interior portion including walls having an interior surface defining the interior compartment; and    an infrared heating film integrated into the enclosure, the infrared heating film comprising a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a plurality of side heat channels configured to provide a heating area that extends beyond the bus bars;   wherein the first bus bar and the second bus bar are define, a first exterior film space adjacent to the first bus bar, and a second exterior film space adjacent the second bus bar, and an interior film space between the first bus bar and the second bus bar,   wherein the first bus bar is split by a cut line to form a first bus component and a second bus component, and wherein the second bus bar is split by a cut line to form a third bus component and a fourth bus component, and   wherein at least one side heat channel connects the first bus component and the second bus component along a path in the first exterior film space, at least one side heat channel connects the first bus component and the third bus component along a path in the interior film space, at least one side heat channel connects the second bus component and the fourth bus component along a path in the interior film space, and at least one side heat channel connects the third bus component and the fourth bus component along a path in the second exterior film space, and   wherein the infrared heating film is operable to kill pests at all locations within interior compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the infrared heating film is integrated into at least one wall of the interior portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the side heat channels are arranged to minimize the non-heated area in the at least one wall of the interior compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the enclosure comprises six walls and the heating element is integrated into all six walls of the interior portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a first exterior pocket on the exterior portion of the enclosure, and wherein the infrared heating film is adapted to kill pests within the first exterior pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the enclosure comprises further comprises a second exterior pocket on the exterior portion of the enclosure, and wherein the second exterior pocket is not heated by the infrared heating film. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second exterior pocket comprises an insulation layer used to reduce heat from an infrared heating film from penetrating the second exterior pocket. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a suitcase. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the suitcase comprises at least one suitcase divider, and wherein the infrared heating element is located within the suitcase divider. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a tilt sensor to determine orientation of the enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . A thermal barrier tape for inhibiting the self-mobility of a pest, the thermal barrier tape comprising:
  a base having an insulation layer, an upper side and a lower side, the base further comprising a heating element on the upper side of the base and an adhesive surface on the lower side of the base; and    a barrier layer comprising a heat conductive material, the barrier layer being adapted to transfer heat from the heating element while providing electrical isolation of the heating element from an upper surface of the thermal barrier tape;   wherein the thermal barrier tape can be applied to the surface of a floor via the adhesive surface on the lower side of the base, and wherein the thermal barrier tape is operable to control the surface temperature of the barrier layer when power is applied to the thermal barrier tape.   
     
     
         12 . The thermal barrier tape of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element comprises an infrared heating film, the infrared heating film comprising at least one bus bar and at least one heat channel, wherein the at least one heat channel comprises a carbon-graphite deposit. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal barrier tape of  claim 12 , wherein power is delivered to the thermal barrier tape by at least one of a rheostat, a TRIAC, or a transformer, and wherein the thermal barrier tape is operable to control the surface temperature of the barrier layer between 120 and 178 degrees Fahrenheit when power is applied to the thermal barrier tape. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal barrier tape of  claim 13 , wherein the thermal barrier tape has a thickness sufficiently low enough to allow wheeled hospital equipment to traverse across the barrier. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a thermal barrier to inhibit pest mobility within an area, the thermal barrier comprising a base having an insulation layer, a heating element on an upper side of the base and an adhesive surface on a lower side of the base, the thermal barrier also comprising a heat conductive barrier layer, the method comprising the steps of:
 surrounding the area with said thermal barrier tape by securing the adhesive surface of the thermal barrier tape to a surface of the area;   applying electrical power to the barrier tape; and   controlling the surface temperature of the barrier layer of the barrier tape be between 120 and 178 degrees Fahrenheit.