Heatable enclosure for pest eradication

Abstract

Disclosed are heatable enclosures useful in treating materials for eradication of pests. Specifically, a heating layer which can be fitted or retrofitted into a numerous and wide variety of containers and enclosures, such as suitcases, boxes, trucks and trailers, which are operable to heat the enclosed space of the container to treat heatable materials over a period of time to eradicate pests. Heating films can be utilized that are inexpensive and lightweight.

1 . A system for killing pests on heatable materials comprising:
 a enclosure including an exterior carton that is configured to receive said heatable materials, said enclosure having an exterior surface and an interior surface and being formed of four side wall portions that surrounds an interior space of said enclosure, a bottom portion and a lid portion;   a plurality of heating films that generates infrared radiation comprising a resistive material that is disposed on a substrate, said heating films disposed in said interior space along each of said four side wall portions;   four insulating walls, an insulating floor and an insulating lid configured for placement into said box enclosure and disposed between said heating films and said wall portions, said bottom portion and said lid portion; and   a control device, that is operatively coupled to said heating films, that controls current flowing through said heating films so that said infrared radiation penetrates and heats said heatable materials when disposed in said enclosure to a sufficiently high temperature, for a sufficiently long period, to kill said pests.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said resistive material includes resistive wire heating elements. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said control device comprises:
 at least one temperature sensor disposed in said box enclosure that detects temperatures in an interior portion of said enclosure and generates temperature signals indicative of said temperatures; 
 a controller that receives said signals and controls said current flowing through said heating films. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said control device comprises a bi-metallic switch coupled to control said current flowing through said heating films. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of heating films is retrofit into said interior space of said enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of heating films are form fit integral components of said enclosure.