MXPA02010606A

MXPA02010606A - Mosquito net treatment indicator and method.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02010606A
Application number: MXPA02010606A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Stanley J Flashinski
Original assignee: Johnson & Son Inc S C
Priority date: 2000-04-26
Filing date: 2001-03-30
Publication date: 2003-03-10
Also published as: WO2001080636A1; AR028025A1; CN1444443A; BR0110398A

Abstract

A composition for treating insect nets. The composition is sufficiently colored that a user can see a color change in the net when the composition is applied to it, preferably by spraying, although the composition could also be used for treating by dipping or some other means of application. The composition includes a colorant; an insect control material; and a liquid carrier. Preferably, the liquid carrier is a sprayable liquid, whether by aerosol spraying or by use of conventional mechanical sprayers. Preferably the colorant changes from being colored to being colorless upon drying of by exposure to the air. A method of treating insect nets by use of the composition is also disclosed.

Description

INDICATOR AND MOSQUITO TREATMENT METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE I NVENTION The present invention relates to a material and method for treating bed nets, with insect controlling materials, such as insecticides or repellents. Mosquito nets are commonly used in many parts of the world to protect those who are sleeping from biting insects at night. It is known how to treat said mosquito nets with insect controlling materials to increase the safety of the protection obtained. In one method, the mosquito nets are immersed in a solution of the insect-controlling material, and then allowed to dry. However, it is less common for users to spray their nets with a liquid preparation of an insect-controlling material, supplied by means of an aerosol or a hand pump. It is believed that the latter method promises daily users to improve the effectiveness of their bed nets, with consequent improved control of insect-borne diseases, such as malaria. To be as effective as possible, the method of spraying as a mosquito treatment requires a full and complete treatment of the mosquito. All parts must be in contact with the spray. Otherwise, mosquitoes or other insects may land on the untreated areas of the mosquito net and may be in possibility of stinging who is sleeping, through the mosque uitero, if, for example, an arm of the sleeper is in contact with that part of the mosquito net. However, it is easy for a user who uses a conventional spray to not notice that a part of a mosquito net has not been treated. The dry, not sprayed, areas of a mosquito net are not noticeably different in appearance from sprayed or moistened areas. It is more likely that mosquito nets treated by immersion will be treated completely; However, also here, a visual confirmation of the complete treatment would be valuable. It will then be apparent that there is a need to ensure complete treatment of mosquito nets when a user applies an insect controlling material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NONDION The invention provides a composition for treating mosquito nets. The composition is colored sufficiently so that a user can see a color change in the mosquito when the composition is applied, preferably by spraying it, although the composition for immersion treatment, or by some other means of application, could also be used. application. The composition includes a colorant, an insect controlling material and an liquid carrier. Preferably the liquid carrier is a liquid that can be sprayed, sprayed with aerosol or by the use of mechanical sprinklers conventional The term "insect-controlling material" is defined to include insecticides, insect repellents and materials that modify the development of insect behavior. "Insect" includes real insects, as well as other small animals, commonly controlled with the same materials and the same methods used to control insects. The term "liquid carrier" includes diluents, solvents and the like, regardless of whether the composition, as a whole, is a solution, a liquid with two or more phases, a suspension, an emulsion or another form of liquid preparation. It is preferred that the colorant loses its color after being sprayed, or otherwise applied, to a mosquito net. The colorant could lose its color by drying the liquid carrier or by exposing the composition to air (either by pH change, oxidation, thermal change or gold mechanism). In a preferred embodiment, the colorant is visible at a first pH, and loses its color at a second pH; and the composition changes from the first pH value to the second, at a selected time after being applied to a mosquito net. A preferred dye of the latter class is thymolphthalein. U.S. Patent No. 4,681,471 discloses various dyes that lose their color by oxidation, such as triarylmethane, triphenylmethane, cyanine and methine dyes. The description of that patent and of all patents and publications that are made reference in the present, which are incorporated herein by means of that reference. The dyes selected from these groups, such as dyes that are easily oxidized to a colorless state upon exposure to air, for no more than a few minutes (preferably not less than two minutes) and no more than several days (preferably no more than seven days), are suitable for use in the present invention. Chromatic Technologies, Inc., of Colorado Springs, Colorado, E. U. A., produces thermochromic dyes that change color or disappear when heated, and return to their color when cooled. The technology is based on encapsulated dye particles that melt when heated. This fusion changes the optical properties of the particles, so that they lose their color. When it cools, they solidify and return to their color. The mosquito nets treated with these dyes could be treated so that they did not show color during the heat of the day, but that they returned to have some color during the coldest hours of the night. The method of the present invention for treating a mosquito net includes the steps of: providing a composition for treating mosquito nets that includes a colorant, an insect controlling material and a liquid carrier; apply the composition to the mosquito net, and dry the mosquito net. Preferably the composition thus provided is one in which the colorant loses its color after it has been applied to a mosquito net. It is more preferable that the dye loses its color when the liquid carrier dries or when It is exposed to the air. What is most preferred is that the step of providing a composition for treating mosquito nets includes providing said composition, in which the colorant is visible at a first pH, and it loses its color at a second pH; and the composition changes from the first pH value to the second pH value at a selected time after being sprayed on the net. The preferred dye of this type is thymolphthalein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following is an example of a composition for treating mosquito nets, which is in accordance with the present invention.

Thymolphthalein is a dye that is blue at a basic pH, specifically at a pH of more than 9.3. When applying the composition to a mosquito net, either by immersion or (what is preferred) by spraying from a mechanical sprayer, the thymolphthalein is blue and is visually apparent to a user. When the composition reacts with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form carbonic acid, the pH drops and the thymolphthalein changes to a state in which it lacks color. Through this resource a user can immediately detect any part of a mosquito net that has not been treated properly; but the mosquito net is then restored to its normal color as soon as the composition is dry with air. Other pH-sensitive dyes (such as phenolphthalein, cited by way of example only) can be used in place of thymolphthalein in the pH-adjusted compositions to change the color conversion point of the dyes. The preferred liquid carrier for the compositions of the present invention is water, the preferred compositions being aqueous solutions or emulsions. However, non-aqueous liquid carriers are also possible. with appropriate dyes. The mosquito nets can be treated with the compositions of the invention; such as, for example, with the composition just described above, but without limitation to it, simply by immersing the mosquito in a container filled with the composition. Alternatively, and preferably, the mosquito net can be sprayed with the composition. Any conventional type of technique for spraying the net may be used including, by way of example only, the use of a hand sprayer (such as a pump for applying conventional insecticide or a trigger sprayer of the type which is commonly used for the prod. household cleaning products) or a pressure vessel, such as an aerosol can, when a suitable propellant is added, or a sprayer that uses compressed air, such as the manual pump sprayer class commonly used to apply chemicals to the lawn or garden. The foregoing description is merely of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Whoever is skilled in the art will readily consider alternative modalities which, however, will fall within the scope and breadth of the present invention. Thus, the claims must be given consideration in order to understand the full scope of the invention.

APLICABI LI DAD IN DUSTRIAL A composition and a method are described that have application in the practical control of insects, when they are used with mosquito nets.

Claims

CLAIMING IS 1. - A composition for treating mosquito nets, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a dye; (b) an insect controlling material; and (c) a liquid carrier; in which said dye loses its color when exposed to air. 2.- The composition in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the colorant loses its color after being applied to a mosquito net. 3.- The composition in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the dye loses its color when the liquid carrier dries. 4.- The composition in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the dye is visible at a first pH value and loses its color at a second pH value; and the composition changes from the first pH value to the second pH value at a selected time, after being applied to a mosquito net. 5. The composition according to the claim 4, further characterized in that the composition is initially basic and becomes less basic when it reacts with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to form carbonic acid; doing so that the coloring loses its color. 6. The composition according to claim 5, further characterized in that the dye is selected from the group consisting of thymolphthalein and phenolphthalein. 7.- The composition in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that said composition can be sprayed. 8. A composition for treating mosquito nets, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a colorant; (b) an insect controlling material; and (c) a liquid carrier; where the dye is visible at a first pH value and loses its color at a second pH value, and the composition changes from the first pH value to the second pH value at a selected time after it has been applied to the mosquito net. 9. The composition in accordance with the claim 8, characterized in that the colorant loses its color after being applied to a mosquito net. 10.- The composition of conformity with the claim 8, further characterized in that the colorant loses its color when the liquid carrier dries. 11. The composition in accordance with the claim 8, characterized in that the colorant loses its color when exposed to air. 12. - The composition in accordance with the claim 8, characterized in that the composition is initially basic and becomes less basic when it reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form carbonic acid, which causes the dye to lose its color. 13. The composition according to claim 12, further characterized in that the dye is selected from the group consisting of thymolphthalein and phenolphthalein. 14. The composition according to claim 8, further characterized in that the composition is sprayable. 5. A method for treating a mosquito net, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) providing a composition for treating mosquito nets, which includes a colorant, an insect-controlling material and a liquid carrier; (b) apply the composition to the mosquito uitero; and (c) drying the mosquito net; where the colorant loses its color when exposed to air. 16. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that in the step of providing a composition for treating mosquito nets is included the provision of said composition in which the dye loses its color after being exposed to a mosquito. uitero 17. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that in the step of providing a Composition for treating mosquito nets is included the provision of said composition in which the colorant loses its color when the liquid carrier dries. The method according to claim 15, further characterized in that in the step of providing a composition for treating mosquito nets is included the provision of said composition in which the dye is visible at a first pH value and loses its color at a second pH value; and the composition changes from the first pH value to the second pH value a selected time after it has been applied to a mosquito net. 19. The method according to claim 18, further characterized in that in the step of providing a composition for treating mosquito nets is included the provision of said composition which is initially basic and becomes less basic when reacted with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form carbonic acid, which causes the dye to lose its color. 20. The method of compliance, with claim 15, further characterized in that in the step of providing a composition for treating mosquito nets is included the provision of said composition, in which the dye is selected from a group consisting of thymolphthalein and phenolphthalein.