Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~n877
MICROCRYSTAL NEGATIVE 101~ FIELD GENERATO~S
Back~round C f The Invention.
The field of the invention pertains to the generation of negative ions in a spacial
volume by electric, electromagnetic or other means and, in particular, to the generation of
negative ion fields for insect and pest control both indoors and outdoors.
Pesticide and other chemical means are commonly used to eradicate destructive,
unhealthful and nuisance insects such as termites, flies, mosquitos and gnats. However,
certain pesticides and other chemicals are now well known to create hazards to humans and
the natural environment.
More recently ultrasonic sound generators have been used with limited success against
certain insects and rodents. Likewise, devices such as the ElectraCat (TM) from Gregory Leef
of Long Beach, California superimpose a stressful fre~uencyvibration throughout a controlled
area to create an environment uncomfortable and stressful to insect pests and rodents. As a
result the pests and rodents leave the area.
Negative ion field generators have been developed to create an environment that is
less stressful and more healthful to humans. Such negative ion generators are electrically
powered and comprise an electrode configuration providing a high voltage corona discharge
effect. Some of the theory behind the use of negative ion generators is explained in a
pamphlet by Kurt W. Donsback, D.C. Ph.D. and Morton Walker, D.P.M. entitled ~What you
Always Wanted to Know Abou$ Negative lons~, Wholistic Publications, Rosarito Beach, Baja
California, Mexico.
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Such well known devices as the ultrasonic pest controllers and the negative ion
generators require an outside source of electric power and are relaRvely expensive.
surnmary Qf The Invention
The invention comprises a plurality of electr~chemically oxidized aluminum plates
placed in a specific indoor or outdoor geometric pattern. The etching process creates a
surface micro crystal configuration that in the specific geometric configuration apparently
generates fields of negative ions in the space wi~hin and about the geometric pattern without
the application of external energy sourses beyond the energy imparted in electro-chemically
oxidizing the plates. The invention controls and removes insect pests because insects
apparently thrive in fields of positive ions and are disturbed or repelled by fields of negative
ions. Higher mammals such as humans, however, apparently are benefitted by fields of
negative ions and are made uncomfortable by fields of positive ions. The plates are
directional with respect to the earth and therefore include indicia on the fronts of the plates
to specify the direction of the maximum effect with respect to the earth.
Description Of The Drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective placement of the aluminum plates indoors within a
room;
FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective placement of the aluminum plates outdoors about a ~;
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FIG. 3 illustrates placement on a post outside a home;
FIG. 4 illustrates in plan view placement about a yard and garden;
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FIG. 5 illustrates in perspectiveplacementofthealuminum plates inaswimmingpooli
FIG. 6 illustrates placement of a plate in a porous cloth bag;
FIG. 7 illustrates placement in a large farm field; ~ -
FIG. 8 is a photomicrograph of an untreated aluminum plate; and
FIG. 9 is a photomicrograph of a treated aluminum plate.
DescrlPtion Of The Preferred Embodiment.
Illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 is an interior room having four corners 2, 4, 6 and
8 at the junctures of the walls 10, 12, 14 and 16. Adhesively attached to the walls adjacent
the corners 2, 4, 6 and 8 are pairs of aluminum plates 18 and 20 at corner 2, 22 and 24 at
corner 4, 26 and 28 at corner 6 and 30 and 32 at corner 8. The aluminum plates 18 through
32 ate about 2 inches by 3 1/4 inches and less than 1/16 inches in thickness although the
exact size is not critical to the invention.
As mounted in the interior room the aluminum plates are facing each other in pairs.
More specifically, plates 20 and 30 are facing as indicated by the ~beam" 34, plates 18 and
24 are facing as indicated by ~beam" 36, plates 22 and 28 are facing as indicated by rbeam"
38 and plates 26 and 32 are facing as indicated by Hbeam~ 40.
Generally the plates are fitst mounted inside one or more rooms to rid the interior of
insect pests. Then the plates may be remounted outside the structure as shown in FIG. 2.
Suitable posts 42, 44 and 46 are placed about the structure and plates mounted vertically on
the posts replicating the indoor configuration of FIG. 1. Again the plates are paired facing
each other as indicated by the beam lines 48, 50, 52 and 54.
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As illustrated in FIG. 3 the plates 56, whether mounted on posts 58 as shown in FlCs.
~ and 3 or indoors as shown in FIG. 1, have a preferred orientation with trian~ular indicia 60
pointing upward. The preferred orientation for above ground pest removal is with the
triangular indicia 60 pointing upward.
FIG. 4 illustrates in plan view a home 62 and garden 64 encompassed by a rectangular
array 66 of plates mountecl on posts 68 at the four corners of the array. It is not required that
the array always be rectangular, rather it is important that the plates be paired facing each
other as noted above and that the view therebetween or "beam" 70 be unobstructed. The
view between the paired plates or "beam" must be substantial, however, the plates need not
be at exactly the same elevation.
In FIG. 7 multiple arrays 72 for protecting a farm field 74 and crop are iliustrated in
plan view. Each eight plate array may be used to shield up to one acre with posts 7~ or trees
used to support the plates. In outdoor use the plates may be protected by mounting in porous
cloth bags 78 mounted on posts 80 with a tie wire 82 as illustrated in FIG. 6.
Illustrated in FIG. 5 is a swimming pool equipped with a plurality of plates 84
positioned in vertical planes adjacent the pool corners in the same paired facing as in FIG. ~;
1. The plates are positioned above the surface 86 of the pool. However, the triangular
indicia 88 point downward, i.e., the plates are reversed in vertical orientation.
The preferred plate material is a color electrochemically etched or color anodized
aluminum plate about the size of a playing card. The preferred color of the anodized plates
is a bright but light purple or lavender produced with "Sandoz Violet 3-D" from Sandoz
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C~ .icals of Charlotte, North Carolina.
The plates have been examined before and after the color anodizing process under a
scanning election microscope. Before processing the photomicro~raph in FIG. 8 of the
surface of the aluminum plate (taken at 15 KV and 1 0,OOOX) shows a structure of little or no
crystal structure regularity. After processing the photomicrograph in FIG. 9 of the surface of
the aluminum plate (taken at 1 5KV and 1 1 ,OOOX) shows large numbers of pyramidal s~uare
or rectangular crystals with little or no crystal structure irregularity. A test by an independent
physicist diseovered the ability of the processed plates to ~generate~ a magnetic field
equivalent to 9,000 gauss. This is in comparison with calibration of an unprocessed plate to
zero gauss.
The preferred color of the anodized plates is important to the effeetiveness of the
plates. For unknown reasons other anodizing colors are apparently not as effective as the
preferred color although showing some of the effects. The vertical orientation of plates in use
is determined by the vertical orientation in the anodizing bath. The upwardly pointing
triangu lar indicia 60 are placed on each plate pointing toward the plate edge at the top when
the plate is in the anodizing bath.
As noted above the plates are paired about an area or volume. The paired plates
should not be obstructed therebetween by metal or non-metal materials (i.e., the ~beam~
therebetween should not be obstructed). The plates should also be kept reasonably clean,
from dust and dirt. Washing periodically is suggested.
The specific scientific reasons for the apparent effectiveness of the paired geometric
arrays of the plates is unknown. The best explanation to date for the apparent effectiveness
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at couraging pests such as California termites, Florida and Texas roaches, ants, and
mosquitoes and plant life such as mildew and scum on water is the generation of negative ion
fields or an improvement in the ratio of negative ions to positive ions in the geometric area
or volume about the array of paired plates.
Limited in-house and field tests by the applicant and others support the
discouragement of insect pests and the enhanced comfort and apparent warmth felt by
humans. The initial yard tests by applicant indicate a longer or enhanced growing season
because the leaves on trees within the applicant's yard remained green and finally fell later
than leaves on adjoinin~ properties.
Despite the dearth of scientific support for the effects noted above, the effects are
supported by unsolicited correspondence from persons who have tried the plates and found
them to be successful in the applications disclosed above.
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