Repellant system and method

Abstract

An insect repellant system that provides volatized pest repellant at a radius to the system. The repellant system includes at least one housing with (i) a base and an upper housing removably joined to the base to define an inner region of the housing, (ii) a repellant reservoir having a wick extending upwardly through a neck of the reservoir that receives a repellant fluid that is transferred by the wick during operation of the insect repellant system, and (iii) an evaporator system having a heater element coupled to a support assembly. The upper housing includes at least one upper fluid outlet and the base including at least one inlet opening. In an installed position, the repellant reservoir is inserted into the inner region and the wick extends through the support assembly and into the heater element to volatize repellant fluid carried by the wick.

1 . An insect repellant system that provides pest repellant at a radius to the system, the system comprising:
 a main housing having a base and an upper housing removably joined to the base to define an inner region, wherein the upper housing includes a top wall and sidewall extending downward from the top wall, the upper housing including at least one upper fluid outlet and the base including at least one inlet opening;   a repellant reservoir having a wick extending upwardly through a neck of the reservoir, wherein the reservoir defines a chamber that receives a repellant fluid that is transferred by the wick during operation of the insect repellant system;   an evaporator system positioned within the upper housing, the evaporator system including:
 a support assembly coincident with the sidewall of the upper housing, the support assembly including a lower wall with an aperture and a support wall arrangement that defines an upper receptacle, 
 a heater element positioned within the upper receptacle, the heater element having an opening that is aligned with the aperture of the support assembly; 
   wherein in an installed position, the repellant reservoir is inserted into the inner region and an upper extent of the wick extends through the aperture in the support assembly and into the opening of the heater element.   
     
     
         2 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein in the installed position, a bottom portion of the repellant reservoir extends into the base of the main housing. 
     
     
         3 . The insect repellant system of  claim 2 , wherein the base is configured to define a base receiver that receives the bottom portion of the repellant reservoir in the installed position. 
     
     
         4 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein in the installed position, a bottom portion of the repellant reservoir extends beyond the upper housing and into the base of the main housing. 
     
     
         5 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein in the installed position, an upper extent of the repellant reservoir is received by a receiving surface of the support assembly to join the repellant reservoir to the support member. 
     
     
         6 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly has at least one flange formed around the aperture, the flange configured to engage a ridge formed on the neck of the repellant reservoir in the installed position. 
     
     
         7 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a bottom wall and a side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, and wherein the inlet opening is formed in the bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein the main housing includes means for coupling the upper housing to the base, wherein the coupling means allows an operator to open the main housing and gain access to the repellant reservoir when the reservoir is empty. 
     
     
         9 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein the support wall arrangement extends upward from a periphery of the lower wall to define the upper receptacle in which the heater element is positioned. 
     
     
         10 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir coupler joined to the repellent reservoir and configured to facilitate engagement of the repellant reservoir in the installed position. 
     
     
         11 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein outer dimensions of repellant reservoir are less than an inner dimensions of upper housing to define a gap between the repellant reservoir and the upper housing that provides an internal fluid flow path through the main housing, and wherein the internal fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the inlet opening of the base. 
     
     
         12 . The insect repellant system of  claim 1 , wherein the wick includes an upper end that resides adjacent to an upper surface of the heater element. 
     
     
         13 . A mosquito repellant system that provides pest repellant at a radius to the system, the system, comprising:
 a main housing having a base and an upper housing removably joined to the base to define an inner region,
 wherein the base has a bottom wall, a side wall arrangement extending upward from the bottom wall, and at least one inlet opening, and 
 wherein the upper housing includes a top wall and side wall arrangement extending downward from the top wall, and at least one fluid outlet opening; 
   a repellant reservoir having a wick extending upwardly through a neck of the reservoir, wherein the reservoir defines a chamber that receives a repellant fluid that is transferred by the wick during operation of the insect repellant system;   an evaporator system positioned within the upper housing, the evaporator system including:
 a support assembly coincident with the sidewall of the upper housing, the support assembly including an intermediate wall with an aperture and a support wall arrangement extending from the intermediate wall to define an upper receptacle, 
 a heater element positioned within the upper receptacle, the heater element having an opening that is aligned with the aperture of the support assembly; 
   wherein in an installed position, the repellant reservoir is inserted into the inner region of the main housing and an upper extent of the wick extends through the aperture in the support assembly and into the opening of the heater element.   
     
     
         14 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein in the use position, a bottom portion of the repellant reservoir extends into the base of the main housing. 
     
     
         15 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 14 , wherein the base is configured to define a base receiver that receives the bottom portion of the repellant reservoir in the use position. 
     
     
         16 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein in the use position, a bottom portion of the repellant reservoir extends beyond the upper housing and into the base of the main housing. 
     
     
         17 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein in the use position, an upper extent of the repellant reservoir is received by a receiving surface of the support assembly to join the repellant reservoir to the support member. 
     
     
         18 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein the support assembly has at least one flange formed around the aperture, the flange configured to engage a ridge formed on the neck of the repellant reservoir in the use position. 
     
     
         19 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein the base comprises a bottom wall and a side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, and wherein the inlet opening is formed in the bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein the main housing includes means for coupling the upper housing to the base, wherein the coupling means allows an operator to open the main housing and gain access to the repellant reservoir when the reservoir is empty. 
     
     
         21 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein the support wall arrangement extends upward from a periphery of the intermediate wall to define the upper receptacle in which the heater element is positioned. 
     
     
         22 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , further comprising a reservoir coupler joined to the repellent reservoir and configured to facilitate engagement of the repellant reservoir in the use position. 
     
     
         23 . The mosquito repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein the repellant reservoir and the upper housing are configured to define a gap there between that provides an internal fluid flow path through the main housing, and wherein the internal fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the inlet opening of the base. 
     
     
         24 . The insect repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein the wick includes an upper end that resides adjacent to an upper surface of the heater element. 
     
     
         25 . The insect repellant system of  claim 13 , wherein during operation of the insect repellant system, an operating temperature of the heater is approximately 140 degrees Celsius to enable the heater to volatize repellant fluid.