Foam generator, foamable pesticide, and method
OwnerMichael F. Howeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The airtight foamable liquid reservoir of a portable foam generator includes a pressurized air inlet and a discharge tube with one or more venturi openings. As a foamable liquid within the reservoir is discharged from the reservoir by the pressurized air through the discharge tube, pressurized air enters the discharge tube through the venturi opening(s) to create a fluid foam from the foamable liquid. For pest control, the foam generator may be utilized to foam and dispense a foamable pesticide that, preferably, includes a non-repellant, nonionic foaming agent adjuvant. The foamed pesticide may be introduced into walls and relatively inaccessible building locations as well as over the entrances of and into passages and habitats used by pests.
Claims22
A portable foam generator to be carried by a person applying a fluid foam, comprising:
- an airtight reservoir for containing a foamable liquid;
- the reservoir having an upper end, a lower end, and a foamable liquid maximum fill line intermediate the upper end and the lower end of the reservoir;
- a pressurizing means for introducing pressurized air into the reservoir;
- a discharge tube for foaming the foamable liquid and discharging fluid foam made from the foamable liquid from the reservoir;
- the discharge tube having venturi opening means above the foamable liquid maximum fill line for introducing pressurized air within the reservoir into the discharge tube to mix with the foamable liquid, as the foamable liquid passes through the discharge tube, to form the fluid foam that is discharged from the reservoir by the pressurized air through the discharge tube;
- the total cross sectional area of the venturi opening means in the discharge tube being between 0.01% and 50% of the total transverse cross sectional area of the tubular passage in the discharge tube;
- and
- a hand-held foam dispensing means connected to the discharge tube for controlling the discharge of and dispensing the fluid foam delivered from the discharge tube.
The portable foam generator according to claim1, wherein:
- the hand-held foam dispensing means is mounted directly on the reservoir so that in use the reservoir is carried with the hand-held foam dispensing means.
A method of forming and dispensing a fluid foam, comprising
- providing a portable foam generator to be carried by a person;
- the portable foam generator having an airtight reservoir for containing a foamable liquid;
- the reservoir having an upper end, a lower end, and a foamable liquid maximum fill line intermediate the upper end and the lower end of the reservoir;
- the portable foam generator having a pressurizing means for introducing pressurized air into the reservoir;
- the portable foam generator having a discharge tube for foaming a foamable liquid and discharging fluid foam made from a foamable liquid from the reservoir;
- the discharge tube having venturi opening means above the foamable liquid maximum fill line for introducing pressurized air within the reservoir into the discharge tube to mix with a foamable liquid, as the foamable liquid passes through the discharge tube, to form a fluid foam that is discharged from the reservoir by the pressurized air through the discharge tube;
- the total transverse cross sectional area of the venturi opening means in the discharge tube being between 0.01% and 50% of the total cross sectional area of the tubular passage in the discharge tube;
- the portable foam generator having a hand-held foam dispensing means connected to the discharge tube for controlling a discharge of and dispensing a fluid foam delivered from the discharge tube;
- adding a foamable liquid to the reservoir of the portable foam generator;
- pressurizing the reservoir;
- and
- opening a valve in the hand-held foam dispensing means to cause the foamable liquid within the reservoir to be discharged through and formed into a fluid foam within the discharge tube and be dispensed from the hand-held foam dispensing means as a fluid foam.
A method of controlling pests, comprising:
- preparing a foamable liquid pesticide comprising a pesticide that is non-repellant to a selected type of pest and a foaming agent adjuvant that is non-repellant to the selected type of pest;
- forming a fluid foam pesticide from the foamable liquid pesticide;
- and
- dispensing the fluid foam pesticide at a location infested with the selected type of pest.
A foamable liquid pesticide, comprising:
- a pesticide that is non-repellant to a selected type of pest and a foaming agent adjuvant that is non-repellant to the selected type of pest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.