Questions on the applicability of the heat and filtration patents

by Dr. Michael R. Linford
September 10, 2018

I was at the restoration conference in Las Vegas this past week and many people asked me about the heat and filtration patents (8,499,489 and 6,327,812) that are set to expire this next year. The abstract is quite specific on what these patents cover, and the wording of the patent ensures a narrow interpretation of the technology. As always, emphasis is mine.

A method and kit of components for destroying organisms and toxins in from an enclosure such as a building. Temperature sensing probes are installed in the enclosure to indicate structure temperature and a recorder is used to record the temperature of said sensing probes in real time. Hot air is introduced into the enclosure through one or more ducts to raise the structure temperature to at least about 120.degree. F., as monitored by the temperature sensing probes. This is sufficient to kill essentially all insects, bacteria, virus, dust mites, spiders, silver fish, fungi and toxic molds such as aspergillus oryzae, aspergillus terreus, aspergills versicolor, cladosporium hergbarum, stachybotrys chartarum, penicillium aurantiogriseum, pencillium chrsogenum, pencillium glabrum and fusarium oxysporum.[sic] and the like. The air can exit through open doors and windows or through ducts to a filter assembly that captures the remains of the organisms. Ozone may be added to the heated air to improve efficiency. Preferably, air when extracted from an egress duct downstream of the filters improves air flow through the enclosure and filters. A typical building can be treated in six to eight hours.

Let’s examine each of the main points above and discuss how they do not apply to many GreenTech Heat treatments.

• Hot air is introduced into the enclosure through one or more ducts... Immediately I can assure you these patents do not apply to closed-system treatments with our electric ePro electric bed but heaters. Closed systems recirculate the air through the heaters and do not rely on ducts to bring fresh air into the treatment area.
• The air can exit through open doors and windows or through ducts to a filter assembly that captures the remains of the organisms.This is a technique used during open-system heat treatments typically applied to direct- or indirect-fired heaters. Again, these patents do not apply to closed-system treatments with our electric ePro electric bed but heaters.
• This is sufficient to kill essentially all insects, bacteria, virus, dust mites, spiders, silver fish, fungi and toxic molds such as aspergillus oryzae, aspergillus terreus, aspergills versicolor, cladosporium hergbarum, stachybotrys chartarum, penicillium aurantiogriseum, pencillium chrsogenum, pencillium glabrum and fusarium oxysporum...This list reads like a Reader’s Digest edition of our Compendium of Thermal Death Points.
• The air can exit through open doors and windows or through ducts to a filter assembly that captures the remains of the organisms. All the filtering happens outside of the structure after the treatment air has exited the structure either through doors or windows, or is ducted into a filter inside the treatment area. Even if you are treating an infestation that requires statutory filtration, placing a HEPA filter inside the treatment area, so long as it does not have air ducted to it, looks to not violate this patent.

As I examined the claims for these patents, they all rely on air being filtered outside of the treatment zone or by means of air ducted into the filter.

As we expand into the structural remediation market, we have a long list of proven technologies that are not encumbered by patents for both killing insects, bacteria, molds, and other microorganisms, and improving the quality of the air within a structure. GreenTech Heat provides 24/7 technical support to our clients and extensive presale support to future clients. Your success is the only true measure of our success. As always, please feel free to contact us at 855-GTH-BUGS (855-484-2847) ext 2 with any specific questions you may have, and to discuss your equipment needs and how we can help you build your business.

Dr. Mike