Abstract
An electrically heated barrier for containers storing organic waste that generates a temperature that blocks housefly maggots incubated in the container's waste from emerging to the exterior of the container, and that inhibits maggots and other crawling invertebrates on the exterior of the container from accessing the waste stored therein.
Claims
1. An apparatus for creating a barrier that prevents the emergence of maggots and other crawling invertebrates from a container used to store organic waste, said container having an open top, a closed base and closed side walls, and said apparatus having an electrical junction, a heating element, and a temperature controller placed electrically in-line with said heating element, wherein said electrical junction may convey power from an external electrical power source to said heating element, and wherein said heating element is disposed circumferentially about the interior surface of said side walls so that when power is conveyed to said heating element, any maggot or other invertebrate crawling upward from said organic waste normally stored in said container must encounter a segment of surface area and/or said heating element that has attained a temperature that prevents further upward movement of said maggot or said invertebrate, and wherein said temperature controller may provide a means to maintain the temperature of said heating element within a specific temperature range as the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment varies.
2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said heating element is affixed to an insert for said container, said insert being thin-walled and dimensioned so that when said insert is inserted into said container, the exterior surface of said insert fits snuggly against the interior surface of said container.
3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said heating element is affixed to the downward protruding flange of a lid, said flange being thin-walled and dimensioned so that when said lid is placed onto said container, the said heating element abuts the interior surface of said container.
4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said heating element is affixed to the side walls of said container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a slant perspective view of an organic waste container insert according to the first embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a slant perspective view of an extant container and insert according to the first embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a simple schematic showing the terminal junction components according to all described embodiments of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a slant perspective view of a lid for an extant container according to the second embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a slant perspective view of an extant container and lid according to the second embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a slant perspective view of a container with partial cut-away according to the third embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] While the following text presents a detailed descriptions of three embodiments of the invention, the legal scope of the invention is defined by the claims of this patent as numerous variations of the described embodiments could be implemented, using current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this invention which would still fall within the purview of the said claims.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the invention is an insert 1, having; an insert wall 2, composed of an electrically non conducting material with insert wall upper edge 3, and insert wall lower edge 4; a terminal junction 5, disposed on the insert wall interior surface 6; and an heating element 7, disposed circumferentially about the insert wall 2. The two ends of the heating element 7 terminate at the terminal junction 5 with a small gap 8 between them. The terminal junction 5 may be connected to an external electrical power source connector 9.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, the insert 1 is intended for insertion into a container 10 having a container brim 11 that generally defines a flat plane and a central cavity extending downwardly therefrom with generally vertical side walls that define the interior container surface 12. When insert 1 is inserted into the container 10, the insert wall exterior surface 13 fits snuggly against the interior container surface 12 so that the insert wall upper edge 3 runs approximately even with the container brim 11.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the heating element 7 is an electrical conductor that may be imbedded in the insert wall 2, or disposed along the insert wall lower edge 4, or on the insert wall interior surface 6. The specific resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of the heating element 7 are chosen to attain a temperature that prevents maggots from crossing the heating element 7, and the gap 8, throughout the range of ambient temperatures in which the insert 1 is specified to operate when the terminal junction 5 is connected to the external electrical power source 14 by means of the external electrical power source connector 9.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, an internal power connector 15 that may connect to the external power source connector 9, and a means of temperature control 16 that maintains the temperature of the heating element 7 within a specified range as the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment varies, are disposed within the terminal junction 5.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 4, the second described embodiment of the invention is a lid 17, comprising; a lid top 18 and a flange 19 composed of an electrically non conducting material with flange exterior surface 20 and flange lower edge 21; a terminal junction 5, disposed in the lid top 18; and a heating element 7, disposed circumferentially about the flange 19. The two ends of the heating element 7 terminate in the terminal junction 5 with a small gap 8 between them. The terminal junction 5 may be connected to an external electrical power source connector 9.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, the lid 17 is intended for insertion into a container 10 having a container brim 11 that generally defines a flat plane and a central cavity extending downwardly therefrom with generally vertical side walls that define the interior container surface 12. When the lid 17 is inserted into the container 10, the heating element 7 fits snuggly against the interior container surface 12.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the heating element 7 is an electrical conductor and is disposed near or along the interior or exterior of the flange lower edge 21. The specific resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area of the heating element 7 are chosen to attain a temperature that prevents maggots from crossing the heating element 7 and the gap 8 throughout the range of ambient temperatures in which the lid 17 is specified to operate when the terminal junction 5 is connected to the external electrical power source 14 by means of the external electrical power source connector 9.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an internal power connector 15 that may connect to the external power source connector 9, and a means of temperature control 16 that maintains the temperature of the heating element 7 within a specified range as the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment varies, are disposed within the terminal junction 5.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 6, the third embodiment of the invention is a container 10 composed of an electrically non conducting material having a container brim 11 that generally defines a flat plane and a central cavity extending downwardly therefrom with generally vertical container side walls that define the interior container surface 12; a terminal junction 5, disposed on or in the side wall of the container 10; and a heating element 7, disposed circumferentially about the interior container surface 12. The two ends of the heating element 7 terminate at the terminal junction 5 with a small gap 8 between them. The heating element 7 is an electrical conductor with specific resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area chosen to attain a temperature that prevents maggots from crossing the heating element 7, and the gap 8, throughout the range of ambient temperatures in which the container 10 is specified to operate when the terminal junction 5 is connected to the external electrical power source 14 by means of the external power source connector 9.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, a power connector 15 that may connect to the external power source connector 9, and a means of temperature control 16 that maintains the temperature of the heating element 7 within a specified range as the ambient temperature of the surrounding environment varies, are disposed within the terminal junction 5.
[0038] Although the invention has been described in terms of three possible embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications, additions, and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
