GB2304040A

GB2304040A - Insect net

Info

Publication number: GB2304040A
Application number: GB9516407A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Gordon Raynal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-10
Filing date: 1995-08-10
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-10
Also published as: GB2304040B; GB9516407D0

Abstract

An insect net 5 comprises an inflatable frame 15 defining a space 30 and a net 25 attached to the frame so as to at least partially enclose the space, entry means 35, 37 allow access to and from said space 30.

Description

ImProved Insect Net This invention relates to insect nets and in particular, though not exclusively, to insect nets intended to be used by campers, travellers and the like.

In tropical climates, despite advances in preventative medicine, mosquitos and other such insects still carry a number of serious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, filariasis and some forms of elephatiasis. In addition, they create considerable annoyance by their bites and buzzing.

For many years fine mesh nets, commonly known as mosquito nets, have been used, especially at night in order to obtain a bite free nights sleep, to provide a barrier between insect and man.

However existing mosquito nets require either a rigid frame to be erected around a bed, or the net to be suspended from a ceiling or similar overhanging anchor point. Problems arise in certain situations, for example when camping, where the bulk and weight of a rigid frame may be incompatible with the space available in a backpack, or when in open country with no suitable overhanging anchor point.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages.

Accordingly there is provided an insect net comprising a frame defining a space and a net attached to the frame so as to at least partially enclose the space, wherein the frame comprises one or more inflatable member(s).

The net may advantageously be provided with entry means to allow access to and from said space.

The inflatable member(s) of the frame may be manufactured from a plastics material such as PVC.

The net may of a fine mesh and be manufactured from nylon.

The net may advantageously be used to enclose at least a portion of a bed, mattress, cot, sleeping bag or similar.

The net may be provided with integral or remote pump means in order to inflate/deflate the inflatable member(s) of the frame.

The inflatable member(s) of the frame may each be manufactured with at least one internal chamber.

Preferably the net may be provided with a drawstring, elasticated hem or similar sealing means around a base thereof.

The net, with the inflatable frame member(s) deflated, may advantageously be stored in a compact state.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings which show: Figure 1. a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention wherein the frame is fully inflatable, and Figure 2. a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention wherein an alternative frame configuration is shown.

Referring to Figure 1. there is shown an insect net 5 (hereinafter referred to as a "mosquito net") erected around a mattress 10, the mosquito net comprising a frame 15 defined by a plurality of inflatable members 20 and sections of fine mesh net 25 provided between said members 20 of said frame 15. The frame 15 and net sections 25 serve to enclose a three dimensional space 30 above the mattress 10. One of the net sections 25a is provided with a pair of zips 35, 37 meeting at a common point 39 to allow access into and out of the mosquito net 5. The zips 35, 37 are preferably double sided and may be operated from both inside and outside of the mosquito net 5. The mosquito net 5 is further provided with a drawstring 40 around its base in order to prevent insects gaining access to the interior through gaps between the net sections 25 and the mattress 10.The drawstring 40 may be substituted for an elasticated hem or similar insect proof sealing means.

The inflatable frame members 20 may be manufactured from a hardwearing plastic material such as PVC to which net sections 25 manufactured from, for example, nylon may be bonded or otherwise attached. The frame members 20 may comprise a plurality of internal inflatable chambers in order to mitigate the consequences of one or more of them becoming punctured. Valves 45 are provided to enable the frame members 20 to be inflated by integral or remote pump means. The remote pump means may take the form of a reversible hand or foot pump, or any other type of pump suitable for the inflation/deflation of the frame 15. The pump means may conveniently be stored with the mosquito net 5 in a pouch, bag etc when the mosquito net 5 is deflated.

The relative dimensions of the frame 15 and net sections 25 may be varied in order to provide a mosquito net 5 for mattresses, beds, cots, sleeping bags etc of different sizes. Once deflated the mosquito net 5 may be folded, rolled or otherwise stored in a compact state.

Figure 2. shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the frame 15 is configured differently from that shown in Figure 1. As before the frame 15 is fully inflatable and comprises a pair of inflatable members 50 which form hoops 60, 65 around the head and foot of the mattress 10.

Said hoops 60, 65 are bridged by further inflatable members 55 which form ridge poles above the mattress. As with the previously described embodiment above, sections of net 25 are provided between the inflatable members 50, 55 to prevent insects from reaching the interior of the mosquito net 5. The mosquito net 5 is further provided with a pair of double sided zips 35, 37 and a drawstring 40 in order to seal the mosquito net 5 to the mattress 10.

The embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described are given by way of example only, and are not meant to limit the scope thereof in any way. It should particularly be appreciated that although the invention is described as a "mosquito net" for ease of understanding it is not limited only to use with mosquitos, and may be used to discourage attention from any unwanted insects.

Claims

1. An insect net comprising a frame defining a space and a net attached to the frame so as to at least partially enclose the space, wherein the frame comprises one or more inflatable member(s).

2. An insect net as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insect net is provided with entry means to allow access to and from said space.

3. An insect net as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inflatable member(s) of the frame are manufactured from a plastics material such as PVC.

4. An insect net as claimed in claim 3 wherein the net has a fine mesh and is manufactured from nylon.

5. An insect net is claimed in any preceding claim wherein the insect net is used to enclose at least a portion of a bed, mattress, cot, sleeping bag or similar.

6. An insect net as claimed in claim 5 wherein the insect net is provided with integral or remote pump means in order to inflate/deflate the inflatable member(s) of the frame.

7. An insect net as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inflatable member(s) of the frame provides at least one internal chamber.

8. An insect net as claimed in claim 7 wherein the insect net is provided with a drawstring, elasticated hem or similar sealing means around a base thereof.

9. An insect net as claimed in claim 8 wherein the insect net, with the inflatable frame member(s) deflated, is storable in a compact state.

10. An insect net substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig 1 or Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.