Abstract:
An extermination apparatus for extermination of insect pests is disclosed herein, In various aspects, the apparatus includes a housing that defines a chamber within. The chamber has a mouth that may be interposed over a surface to be treated, in various aspects. The housing, in various aspects, is, adapted to admit steam from a steam supply into the chamber. A bonnet may be removably disposed over the mouth of the chamber, with the bonnet being permeable to steam to allow the steam to flow from the chamber through the mouth and through the bonnet disposed over the mouth. Related methods of use of the extermination apparatus are also disclosed herein. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority and benefits of U.S. provisional patent application number 61/409032 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR THE EXTERMINATION OF INSECT PESTS” and filed 1 Nov. 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to extermination apparatus and related methods for the treatment of human habitats including the furnishings thereabout to kill insect pests. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0005]    As used herein, insect pests includes, for example, bedbugs, dust mites, roaches, fleas, and other such crawling insects that infest human habitats including carpets, bedding, and various furnishings within or about human habitats. Bedbugs includes members of  C. lectularius  and  C. hemipterus . Dust mites include the European house dust mite ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ), the American house dust mite ( Dermatophagoides farinae ) and  Euroglyphus maynei . Roaches include insects of the order Blattaria, and fleas include insects of the order  Siphonaptera.    
         [0006]    As an example of an insect pest, bedbugs have been known human parasite for thousands of years, and bedbug infestations have been on the increase in developed countries since the 1980&#39;s. Human habitats can become infested with bedbugs in a variety of ways: from bugs and eggs carried in on clothing and luggage, from infested items (e.g., furniture, clothes) brought into the home, migration from an adjacent apartment or townhouse, or from rodents or other animals including pets that transport the insect pest into the human habitat. Bedbugs may infest various human habitats such as hotel rooms, movie theaters, restaurants, airline cabins, vehicles such as automobiles and busses, and suchlike, as well as furnishings associated with the human habitat such as bedding, mattresses, chairs, sofas, seating, carpets, and drapes. 
         [0007]    Insect pests such as bedbugs may be exterminated by use of pesticides such as pyrethroids, dichlorvos, and malathion as well as DDT and propoxur. However, the use of pesticides may pose risks to human health. Furthermore, insect pests may develop resistance to pesticides. 
         [0008]    Mechanical approaches such as vacuuming up the insect pests and heat-treating or wrapping furnishings have been used to exterminate insect pests. For example, furniture such as a sofa or mattress may be placed in a heated chamber to kill the insect pests within the furniture by exposure to heat. Similarly, heaters may be deployed within a dwelling to heat the interior of the dwelling to a temperature sufficient to kill the insect pests within the dwelling. 
         [0009]    However, bedbugs, for example, can survive a wide range of temperatures and atmospheric compositions. The thermal death point for  C. lectularius  is 45° C. (113° F.), and all stages of life are killed by 7 minutes of exposure to 46° C. (115° F.). Application of such heat within a dwelling may damage the structure by, for example, causing window seals to fail, floors to warp, and so forth. As the temperature rises, the bedbugs or other insect pests may simply retreat into walls and other passageways that shield the insect pest from the heat or may evade the heat by retreating into adjacent rooms or apartments only to re-infest the dwelling when the temperature cools. 
         [0010]    Because of the limitations of heat treatment and of the use of insecticides, there is a need for improved extermination apparatus and related methods for the treatment of a human habitat including furnishings associated with the human habitat to exterminate insect pests thereabout. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    These and other needs and disadvantages are overcome by the extermination apparatus and related methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    An extermination apparatus for extermination of insect pests is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the extermination apparatus for the extermination of insect pests includes a housing that defines a chamber within. The chamber has a mouth that may be interposed over a region to be treated, the housing configured to admit steam from a steam supply into the chamber, the steam being dispersed through the mouth over the region to be treated, in various aspects. 
         [0013]    Methods for treating a region to exterminate insect pests thereabout are disclosed herein. In various aspects, the methods may include the steps of biasing generally a mouth of a housing generally upon a surface of a region, and introducing steam into a chamber of the housing, the steam passing from the chamber through the mouth onto the region, the steam having sufficient temperature to exterminate insect pests that may be present about the region. 
         [0014]    This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the extermination apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the extermination apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary extermination apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  illustrates by cut-away frontal view portions of the exemplary extermination apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  illustrates by frontal view portions of the exemplary extermination apparatus of  FIG. 1A  including a steam line end of a steam tube; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  illustrates by bottom view portions of the exemplary extermination apparatus of  FIG. 1A  including the steam line end of a steam tube received within a coupling; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates by perspective view portions of another exemplary extermination apparatus; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates by perspective view portions of a third exemplary extermination apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates by perspective view portions of a fourth exemplary extermination apparatus; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates by plan view a bonnet portion of an exemplary extermination apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  illustrates by bar graph experimental results obtained for the heat characteristics in Degree-Seconds above 50° C. (or 122° F.) from various steam nozzles at a surface of a material being treated; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7B  illustrates by bar graph experimental results obtained for the heat characteristics in Degree-Seconds above 50° C. (or 122° F.) from various steam nozzles at a depth of 13 mm within the material being treated; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7C  illustrates by bar graph experimental results obtained for the heat characteristics in at a depth of 13 mm within the material being treated (or 122° F.) from various steam nozzles at a depth of 26 mm within the material being treated; and, 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates experimental results for bedbug mortality as a function of Degree-Seconds above 50° C. by Cartesian scatter plot. 
           [0027]    The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Extermination apparatus and associated methods for extermination of insect pests are presented herein. In various aspects, the extermination apparatus comprises a housing. The housing, in various aspects, defines a chamber therein. The housing defines a mouth that passes between the chamber and the external environment, in various aspects. The housing may be adapted for coupling to a steam source to allow steam to pass from the steam source into the chamber. The mouth of the chamber may be applied about a region so that steam may flow from the chamber through the mouth to contact the region. 
         [0029]    The associated methods, in various aspects, may include the steps of biasing generally a mouth of a housing generally upon a surface of the region and introducing steam from a steam source into a chamber of the housing, and passing the steam from the chamber through the mouth onto the region. In various aspects, the steam may have sufficient temperature to exterminate insect pests that may be present about the region. The steam may have sufficient temperature to at least partially disinfect the region, in various aspects. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1A  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary extermination apparatus  10  for extermination of insect pests. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , extermination apparatus  10  includes housing  30  defining exterior housing surface  32  and interior housing surface  34 . As illustrated, interior housing surface  34  defines housing chamber  38  (see  FIG. 1B ). Housing  30  forms a mouth  36  that opens forth between chamber  38  and the exterior environment. Coupling  70  may be disposed about housing  30  and steam line  60  may be connected to coupling  70 . As illustrated, steam line end  64  of steam line  60  is connected to steam supply  440  and steam line end  62  of steam line  60  is connected to coupling  70 . Steam line end  62  may be slideably received within coupling  70  and may be frictionally secured within coupling  70 , steam line end  62  may be secured to coupling  70  using various locking mechanisms, or steam line end  62  ma be secured to coupling  70  in various other ways or combinations of ways, in various implementations. The steam line end  62  may be removably secured to coupling  70  in some implementations, and steam line end  62  may be permanently secured to coupling  70  in other implementations. For example, in some implementation, the coupling  70  steam line end  62  may be formed in a generally unitary manner. The coupling  70  may be omitted in some implementations so that the steam line end  62  is generally received either permanently or removably by housing  30 . 
         [0031]    Steam line  60  may convey steam  420  (see  FIG. 1B ) from steam supply  440  into the chamber  38  of housing  30  through coupling  70 . Steam supply  440  may be, for example, the ROBBY PRO 4L from T.P.A Impex S.p.a. Piazzetta Albere, 3/4 36060 Romano d&#39;Ezzelino (VI), Italy or other suitable source of steam. The steam supply  440  may be generally portable in various implementations. The steam supply  440  produces steam by boiling of water in a reservoir therein, in various implementations. The water may be generally distilled or otherwise processed such that the water contains minimal dissolved or colloidal material in order to minimize deposition within the extermination apparatus or on the region to be treated. The steam supply  440  may be connectable to a source of electrical power such as mains electric by power cord  444  with the electric power used to produce the steam, in various implementations. 
         [0032]    Temperature gage  90  is disposed about housing  30  to measure the temperature within chamber  38  of housing  30  to allow a user to monitor the temperature of the steam  420  therein. For example, temperature gage  90  may utilize a bimetallic strip or other suitable means for measuring the temperature within chamber  38 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , extermination apparatus  10  includes bonnet  80  that covers mouth  36  of housing  30 . The bonnet  80  may be composed of various fabrics, cloths, and other such woven or otherwise permeable materials through which steam  420  may pass (see  FIG. 1B ). Thus, steam  420  may pass from the chamber  38  through the mouth  36  including bonnet  80  to the external environment. The material that composes bonnet  80  may have various textures, roughnesses, fineness of weave and may be otherwise adapted in various ways depending upon the particular manner that extermination apparatus  10  is to be utilized. In various implementations, the material from which the bonnet  80  is formed may include cotton, wool, various synthetics such as nylon and rayon, or microfiber. As illustrated, bonnet  80  is secured about lip  37  of housing  30  by bonnet band  83  that elastically engages lip  37 . The bonnet  80  may be removed to allow the bonnet  80  to be washed or replaced in this illustrated implementation. 
         [0034]    In other implementations, for example as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the bonnet  580  of extermination apparatus  500  may be composed of metal, plastic, or other generally non-permeable material. A plurality of holes  582  disposed therethrough to allow steam  420  to pass from the chamber, such as chamber  38 , through the bonnet  580 . In some implementation, the bonnet  80  may be generally compliant while, in other implementations, the bonnet  80  may be formed of a stiffer or generally more non-compliant material. In still other implementations, the bonnet  80  may be omitted so that steam  420  passes directly through mouth  36  of chamber  38  into the material being treated. 
         [0035]    The housing may be formed generally of various metals such as stainless steel or aluminum, various plastics, combinations thereof or other materials and combinations of materials capable of withstanding the temperature of the steam  420 . In the implementations illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the housing  30  includes housing portion  35  formed of aluminum and housing portion  33  formed of hard plastic. The plastic housing portion  33  may insulate the housing  30  to prevent dissipation of heat from the chamber  38  and may provide a cooler surface by which a user may manipulate the housing  30 . The aluminum housing portion  35  may be easily formable and lightweight and may have other advantages. Coupling  70 , steam line  60  may be formed of various plastics, metals, combinations thereof, and other suitable material, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the present disclosure. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1B  further illustrates extermination apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , steam tube  60  is received within coupling  70 . Steam  420  passes through steam line  60 , and the steam  420  is introduced into chamber  38  through ports  64  (see  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B ) disposed about steam line end  62  of steam line  60 . The steam  420  may turbulently mix within chamber  38  and the steam  420  may pass forth with a generally even distribution through mouth  36  of housing  30 . Bonnet  80 , which covers mouth  36  in this implementation, may enhance the generally even distribution of the steam  420  as the steam is distributed forth from mouth  36  through bonnet  80 . In other implementations in which the bonnet  80  is omitted, the steam is distributed forth from mouth  36  to the external environment including region  412 . 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , housing  30  is generally placed about surface  410  of region  412  in order to exterminate insect pests that may be present within region  412 . Region  412  may be, for example, a portion of carpeting, a portion of a seat, a portion of the fabric covering of a sofa, bedding, wall covering, drape, curtain, and so forth. As illustrated, the steam  420  passes through the surface  410  of region  412  into the inner portions  414  of region  412  to exterminate insect pests that may lie therein. For example, if region  412  is a portion of a carpet, the steam  420  passes into the carpet to generally contact the pile and the backing so as to exterminate any insect pests located within the pile, the backing, or thereabouts. 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , probe portion  92  of temperature gage  90  extends into chamber  38  to allow the temperature gage  90  to measure the temperature of the steam  420  within chamber  38 . The user may thus determine that the steam  420  within chamber  38  has a temperature sufficient to exterminate the insect pests and determine that the steam  420  within chamber  38  is not so hot as to damage the region  412  being treated. It has been found, for example, that a temperature of 71° C. (160° F.) will exterminate bedbugs in various applications. In various implementations, the steam may have a temperature within a range of from about 71° C. (160° F.) to about 93° C. (200° F.). 
         [0039]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate portions of extermination apparatus  10  including steam line end  62  of steam line  60  and steam line end  62  of steam line end  60  received in coupling  70 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , ports  64  are disposed about steam line end  62  of steam line  60 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , steam line end  62  of steam line  60  is received slideably within sleeve  75  of coupling  70 . Steam line end  62  of steam line  60  may be oriented within sleeve  75 , as illustrated, such that ports  62  align with slots  72  of coupling  70  so that steam  420  may flow through ports  62  into slots  72 . The slots  72  may distribute the steam  420  into chamber  38  of housing  30 . The steam line end  62  may be oriented in sleeve  75  such that sleeve portions  73  cover all or portions of ports  62  which may reduce the flow of steam  420  through ports  62  into the chamber  38  or may change the distribution of the steam from steam line  60  into chamber  38 . In the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the coupling  70  is generally at the apex of chamber  38 . Three ports  64  are disposed about seam line end  62  of steam line  60 . Other implementations may use various numbers of ports  64 , for example, two ports  64  or four ports  64 . In other implementations, ports, such as ports  64 , may be located at other than the apex of chamber  38 . Ports, such as ports  64 , for the inlet of steam into chamber  38  may be distributed about chamber  38  in various ways, not just at the apex. In implementations having coupling  70 , the coupling may be located generally about the apex of chamber  38 , as illustrated, or may be located in other position(s) about chamber  38 . A plurality of couplings, such as coupling  70 , or a plurality of steam lines such as steam line  60  may be provided in various implementations. Housing  30  may include a plurality of chambers  38  in some implementations. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  illustrates another exemplary extermination apparatus  100  for extermination of insect pests. In the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 3 , extermination apparatus  100  includes housing  130  that defines chamber  138  with mouth  136 . In the illustrative implementation of  FIG. 3 , the chamber  138  and mouth  136  have a generally rectangular shape. This may, for example, facilitate use of the extermination apparatus  100  in corners and other such rectangularly constrained regions. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates yet another exemplary extermination apparatus  200  for extermination of insect pests. In the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 4 , extermination apparatus  200  includes housing  230  that defines chamber  238  with mouth  236 . In the illustrative implementation of  FIG. 4 , the chamber  238  and mouth  236  have a generally polygonal shape. The extermination apparatus for extermination of insect pests may be configured in other geometries and shapes suitable for various purposes in various implementations. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates extermination apparatus  300  for extermination of insect pests. Extermination apparatus  300  consists of tube  315  having coupling  370  at tube end  317  and defining tube opening  318  at tube end  319 . Coupling  370  may be configured to receive a steam line end such as steam line end  62  of steam line  60  to convey steam  320  into tube  315  from a steam supply such as steam supply  440 . Steam  320  may exit tube  315  though tube opening  318 , as illustrated, and the steam  320  may be directed toward a region to be treated by pointing the tube opening  318  of tube  315  toward the area to be treated. This may be useful, for example, in treating various mechanisms such as the internal mechanisms of chairs, attachment points such as the attachment points of movie theater chairs to the floor, and in the treatment of locations within vehicles and other difficult to access locations as the steam  320  may be directed thereupon. Various nozzles and other features may be included about tube opening  318  to train the steam  320  as the steam  320  exits tube opening  318  in various implementations. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  illustrates a portion of a bonnet  580  of extermination apparatus  500  for extermination of insect pests. In this implementation, bonnet  580  may be composed of metal, plastic, or suchlike generally impermeable material or materials. Holes  582  are disposed about bonnet  580  to allow steam, such as steam  420 , to pass therethrough. The holes  580  may be arranged in various regular or irregular patters in various implementations. 
         [0044]    In operation, an extermination apparatus for extermination of insect pests, such as extermination apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500 , may be positioned such that the mouth, such as mouth  36 ,  136 ,  236 , of chamber, such as chamber  38 ,  138 ,  238 , is generally oriented toward the region to be treated, for example region  412 . Steam, such as steam  320 ,  420 , may be supplied into the chamber. The steam may then exit the mouth of the chamber with a generally even distribution and may be dispersed over the portion of the region to be treated generally proximate the mouth of the chamber to exterminate insect pests within the region. A bonnet such as bonnet  80 ,  580  may be disposed over the mouth to aid in the dispersal of the steam in various implementations. The dispersion of steam over the region to be treated may be generally even in various implementations. In various implementations, the mouth may be sized or shaped to treat the particular region. For example, an extermination apparatus having a rectangular shaped mouth may be used to treat regions in corners. In various implementations, the steam temperature may be controlled such that the steam temperature is sufficient to kill the insect pests without damaging the material of the region to be treated. 
         [0045]    In various implementation, an extermination apparatus such as extermination apparatus  300  may be used to direct steam into crevasses, onto mechanisms, and so forth. In various implementations, a vacuum cleaner may be used following use of the extermination apparatus to remove the remains of insect pests by vacuuming up these remains. In various implementations, the moisture deposited by the steam onto the region being treated is allowed to air dry. 
         [0046]    In various implementations, the extermination apparatus, such as extermination apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500 , may be used for cleaning of hard surfaces i.e., floors, countertops, walls etc., and a cotton or microfiber bonnet may be attached to the extermination apparatus when the extermination apparatus is so employed. The bonnet may be included or omitted from the extermination apparatus depending upon the nature of the region to which the steam is to be applied. For example, the bonnet may be included in the extermination apparatus such that the bonnet covers the mouth, when the extermination apparatus is used to apply steam to hard surfaces, and the bonnet may be omitted when the extermination apparatus is used to apply steam to carpet, bedding, drapes, and other cloth or suchlike regions. 
         [0047]    In various implementations, the extermination apparatus, such as extermination apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500 , may be used for disinfection, and the extermination apparatus may disinfect by virtue of the heat of the steam. In various implementations, the extermination apparatus, such as extermination apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500 , may reduce the odor of tobacco smoke or other smoke odors. The steam may act to reduce these odors. In various implementations, speed of use of the extermination apparatus may be a factor in the design and footprint size of the extermination apparatus, such as extermination apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500 . The extermination apparatus, such as extermination apparatus  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  500 , in various implementations, delivers controlled and captured steam temperatures to the desired location while preventing the escape of steam vapors. The steam passes through the mouth and into the region being treated. In some implementations, the temperature of the steam may be adjustable. In some implementations, the quality of the steam may be adjustable. In some implementations, the housing may be secured to a handle and the handle may be, for example, a pole or other elongated member to allow the user to use the extermination apparatus on a ceiling, high wall, or otherwise facilitate use of the extermination apparatus. 
         [0048]    In various aspects, the extermination apparatus may be substantially quiet so that insect pests are not alerted to the presence of the extermination apparatus, and thus do not hide or escape or flee from the extermination apparatus. The noise of vapor steam spewing from a common vapor steam attachment may be eliminated with the vapor steam contained solely in the dome providing a form of a “sneak attack” to insect pests. 
       EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS 
       [0049]    Some experimental results were derived by Dr. Stephen A. Kells, Associate Professor, Dept. of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn. These experimental results are reported as follows. 
         [0050]    Two versions of the extermination apparatus, version  1  and version  2 , generally configured as extermination apparatus  10  in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A, and  2 B were tested. Version  1  of extermination apparatus  10  is referred to as the Steamdome in the experimental results presented in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C. The diameter of mouth  36  of version  1  is approximately 8 ½ inches (21.6 cm), and the length between mouth  36  and coupling  70  (i.e. the apex of chamber  38 ) is roughly 5 inches (12.7 cm). 
         [0051]    Version  2  of extermination apparatus  10  is referred to as the Steamdome Jr. in the experimental results presented in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C. The diameter of mouth  36  in version  2  is approximately 5 ½ inches (14.0 cm), and the length between mouth  36  and coupling  70  (i.e. the apex of chamber  38 ) is roughly 4 ½ inches (11.4 cm). 
         [0052]    Version  1  and version  2  of extermination apparatus  10  were tested on layers of polyester batting covered with a cotton sheet. Thermocouples were placed at different depths of the polyester to record temperature increases. Two types of trials were run, including steam penetration and mortality of adult bed bugs. 
         [0053]    Regarding penetration of the steam into fabric, version  1  and version  2  of extermination apparatus  10  were compared against the standard triangular steam head and the floorbrush. The normal protocol is to pass the steam nozzle over the fabric with just enough pressure so the nozzle is just touching the fabric. The surface temperature is taken with non▭contact thermometer, just after the nozzle passes over an area. Nozzle speed was adjusted such that the surface temperature was between about 71° C. and about 82° C. (160° F. and 180° F.). To assess the heat delivery, the amount of degrees at each second that the temperatures were above 50° C. (or 122° F.) was used. This is termed Degree-Seconds herein. The Degree-Seconds were analyzed at each depth in the fabric. Each nozzle was run 5 times and the surface temperatures acted as a co▭variable in the analysis. 
         [0054]    Under the same conditions, version  1  (Steamdome) outperformed the triangle and floor brushes ( FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, &amp;  7 C). It delivered more Degree-Seconds than the other two brushes. It also penetrated the fabric better than the other two brushes.  FIG. 7A  illustrates the surface temperature, just under the cotton sheet;  FIG. 7B  illustrates penetration to 12 inch; and  FIG. 7C  illustrates penetration to 1 inch. Version  2  (Steamdome Jr.) was equivalent to the two brushes. It appears that the penetration was deeper to 1 inch into the fabric with the versions  1  and  2  of the extermination apparatus  10 . The horizontal line in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C is a mortality line that relates to bed bug mortality. 
         [0055]    Bed bugs were placed in three places on the polyester batting, just under the top sheet. Along with the insects, a thermocouple was placed to measure temperature increase. When the run was set, a steam nozzle was passed over the fabric in a manner as previously described. For this work, the triangular brush was selected so the results would be comparable to previous work that was completed. It is the measurement of mortality versus Degree-Seconds that is important. 
         [0056]    Below 33° Degree-Seconds (&gt;50° C.) mortality of bed bugs was variable; proportional mortality was between 0 (no mortality) and 1 (complete mortality). The points above 33° Degree-Seconds resulted in complete mortality. This estimate, which is referred to as the mortality line, was placed on the graphs ( FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C) as a reference point for where complete mortality is likely to occur. Version  1  of extermination apparatus  10  provided greater heat, well above this mortality estimate, while version  2  of extermination apparatus  10  was comparable to the traditional brushes. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate heat characteristics in Degree-Seconds above 50° C. (or 122° F.) from different steam nozzles. The letters (A and B) indicate significant differences in the temperature-time measurement among the nozzles. The mortality line indicates an approximate estimate of the minimum Degree-Seconds above 50° C. to cause complete mortality. The three graphs show temperature differences at the surface, ½″, and 1″ into the polyester batting, respectively. 
         [0058]      FIG. 8  illustrates the mortality of bed bugs when exposed to different Degree-Seconds above 50° C. The line indicates an approximate estimate of the minimum Degree-Seconds above 50° C. to cause complete mortality; all points greater than 33° Degree-Seconds result in a proportional mortality of 1. 
         [0059]    The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Accordingly, variations of the apparatus and methods that differ from these exemplary implementations may be encompassed by the appended claims. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.