FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device and a technique of preserving wood and/or any porous construction surface such as wall against termites and/or other pests and/or fungal attacks by way of preventive as well as corrective measure. More specifically  it relates to a device that is a suitable non-porous sheet of man-made polymer  with a suitable chemical mixed with pressure sensitive adhesive applied on the said manmade polymer and the technique of preserving wood/the porous construction surface by such device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people prefer using wood for their home structures and interior elements  which is prone to attack by agents such as fungus  mold spores  mildew or pests such as termites  ants etc. So  for those who still prefer using wood  preservation of wood against such agents is an essential task since these agents destroy the wood.

As regard the available knowledge on wood preservation so far  the type of wood preservation techniques are as follows:
1) Moisture control and temperature control basic preservation
Much of the moisture in wood is removed for most of its uses  as a result of which  wood is less susceptible to pest attack.
2) Drying:- Kiln drying and air drying
Kiln drying is a process of drying the water contained in the wood. Treatment is soaking the wood into the special chemical liquid that can prevent the termite attack. The pre cut wood sections are smeared with suitable chemical solution and then kept locked in seasoning chambers or drying kilns. However  this method require gestation period of up to two weeks  availability of expensive resources like drying kilns or seasoning chambers  high installation costs and high-energy consumption for maintaining high temperatures and pressure in these chambers  thereby the cost of wood preservation is very high.
3) Chemical Control
a) Vacuum pressure treatment- Powerful vacuum pumps evacuate the air out of the treatment vessel and the wood structure. The stronger the vacuum  the more preservative solution can be absorbed by the wood. While the vessel is being flooded with preservative solution  the vacuum must be maintained. Then  pressure pumps force the solution deep into the wood under extremely high pressure. The final vacuum ensures that the wood can be removed from the treatment plant without dripping. However  high initial costs for equipment and the energy costs are the biggest disadvantages.

b) Dipping: - This process consists of immersing the wood in a bath of creosote or other preservative for a few seconds or minutes. However  it requires more equipment and is not adequate for treating small lots of timber.

c) Brush and Spray Treatments: - Spraying poisonous chemical solution on and around wood surfaces is adopted. But with this method penetration is not significant and not suitable for long- term weathering.

Wood treating process in homes and offices usually involves applying a diluted solution of wood preservatives on the surface  and leaving the thus treated surface exposed to atmosphere. This technique of wood preservation is injurious to the health of person/persons involved and the people in the surrounding region. This process also increases toxicity in the atmosphere and cause sufficient unwanted harm to the nearby life. At the same time the effectiveness of the chemicals is limited to the upper reaches of the wood surface and does not penetrate deep enough to fully cure the wood and achieve the desired results.

Furthermore  special hazards are involved in applying chemicals to the wooden surface. Most chemicals used to protect wood from wood destroying agents must be toxic  to be effective. Moreover  the wood under treatment cannot be shifted or transported.

It can be further seen that certain other porous construction surfaces such as walls  more specifically old walls are affected by fungus  mold spores  mildew or pests such as red ants  carpenter ants  fire ants  black ants etc. So far the available knowledge of wall preservation  the following techniques are followed:
1) Spraying: - Fungicide solution or the disinfectant is sprayed on the affected surface. However  this approach usually fails because ants seen foraging over exposed surface is only a small colony. Typically  there will be thousands of additional ants including one or more egg-laying queens hidden somewhere in a nest. Eliminating queens and other colony members within nests is often the key to effective ant control. Similar is the case with fungus attack or other pest’s attack  wherein only the small amount of surface fungus or the related pests are treated by the spraying technique.

Spraying poisonous chemical solution in foundation trenches and in & around walls before and after filling the earth is adopted. In a completed building  the chemical solution is injected around walls on both sides liberally and closing the trenches made. But this penetration is not significant and not suitable for long- term weathering.

2) Baits: Ants or other pests affecting the surface are provided by the chemical mixed food. However  as practically observed ants are finicky in their food preferences and may alter them throughout the year. If one bait product isn’t attractive or doesn’t seem to be working  another has to be tried. Optimal results require sustained period of feeding  not just a brief visitation by a few ants. Thus  the method is time consuming and is still not fool proof.

The goal of modern day wood and/or any porous construction surface preservation is to ensure a deep  uniform penetration of insecticides fungicides or other required chemicals in the wood and/or the affected surface  with reasonable cost  without endangering the environment and/or health. In case the wood under treatment can be transported and/or stored  it would be of an added advantage since it will ensure deeper penetration of chemicals or insecticides  since the treatment is taking place even when the wood is being transported and/or stored and thus will save the time also.

Therefore  there is a need to develop a preventive as well as corrective device and a technique for preservation of wood and/or any porous construction surface against termites  ants  fungus and other pests wherein the said device and technique achieves utility in preserving the wood and/or any other affected surface in ways that are superior  cheaper  environment friendly and more convenient compared to conventional means  thereby reducing time  cost and energy used in carrying out the method of wood and/or the affected surface preservation. Such device and technique of preservation must further allow the transporter or the customer to transport and/or store the wood while the wood is still under the treatment  thereby reducing the time even more. Mixing of certain aromatic compounds  fragrance or color to the device would have enhanced features.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to provide a flexible  non-porous  impermeable sheet for preserving the wood or any porous construction surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cost effective method to preserve wood or any porous construction surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple method to preserve wood or any porous construction surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a preventive as well as corrective novel technique for preservation of wood or any porous construction surface against pests and/or fungus and/or other wood and/or porous construction surface based pests  by way of the novel device.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide fragrance and/or the colour to the surface to be treated by the novel device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention  a device is made that is a suitable non-porous impermeable sheet of a man made polymer  that renders the outer surface impermeable to any type of fluids  and the inner surface coated with Pressure Sensitive Adhesive mixed with a suitable anti-termite liquid  fungicide  insecticide or any other liquid meant for treating and/or curing wood and/or the porous construction surface and the method or technique of wood and/or the porous construction surface preservation by way of the said device. The sheets may have an additional layer of Release Paper that will prevent the volatile liquids from escaping from the sheet  prior to usage. The inner surface of the device may additionally or solely have Aromatic compounds that give fragrance and/or color to the treated wood and/or any other surface. Additionally  the outer surface of the device may have a decorative appearance such as that of a wall-paper. The device and the method of the present invention offer solution for customers looking for effective  time saving  cost effective  appealing wood and/or any porous construction surface preservation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein below with reference to the drawings wherein:

Fig.1 illustrates the device when manufactured in the form of a sheet.
Fig. 2 illustrates the device when manufactured in the form of a roll.
Fig.3 is an exemplary illustration of plan view of the device placed on the wood surface along with the edge sealing tape  with a corner of the device folded for the sake of clarity of the drawing.
Fig.4 illustrates the side view of the device placed on the wood surface along with the edge sealing tape.
Fig.5 is the exemplary illustration of plan view of the device placed on any other porous construction surface such as wall  with a corner of the device folded  for the sake of clarity of the drawing.
Fig.6 illustrates the side view of the device placed on the porous construction surface such as wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention  a flexible device for preservation of wood and/or any porous construction surface is created wherein the surface of the device is made up of a non-porous impermeable man made polymer sheet and inner surface of the device is coated with the required chemical mixed with pressure sensitive adhesive. In Fig. 1  the device is manufactured in the sheet form and the inner surface (1) comprising of volatile and/or the liquid chemical of the device may be covered with a release paper (2) on its top. In fig 2  the device is manufactured in the roll form  and the release paper may not be required.

In figs 1 and 2 the device is manufactured from a sheet which is a man made polymer (3). The device has to be flexible to an extent that it can be bended and is not stiff. Another characteristic feature of the device is that the outer surface of the device is impermeable to any fluids with 0 (zero) percent porosity. The thickness of the sheet contained in the device is from 1 micron to 5 mm. The length is in the form of continuous reel of manageable length. Width is as per the trade requirement  up to 100 meter.

Further  in figs 1 and 2  the inner surface (1) of the device is coated with the Pressure Sensitive Adhesive mixed with requisite chemical that may be a fungicide  insecticide  anti termite liquid or any other chemical or liquid for preserving or curing the wood and/or any porous construction surface. The chemical surface has to be kept locked since manufacturing till consumption. To ensure this  in fig 1  the device has an additional layer of Release Paper (2) that will prevent the volatile liquids and/or chemicals and/or aromatic compounds etc from escaping from the device  prior to usage.

In one embodiment of the invention  the pressure sensitive adhesive on the inner surface of the device is mixed with any aromatic substance that gives fragrance from the surface on which the device was applied. This aromatic substance can be mixed solely with the pressure sensitive adhesive to act as a device applied for obtaining fragrance from the wood products/from other porous construction surfaces. Alternatively  the aromatic compounds can be mixed in consonance with the chemical or liquid for preserving or curing the wood and/or any porous construction surface to obtain the dual results of treatment as well as obtaining fragrance.

In one embodiment of the present invention  the pressure sensitive adhesive on the inner surface of the device is mixed with any other wood-property-altering chemical such as a chemical altering the color of the wood or a chemical to achieve better penetration of the preservative inside the wood surface. In one embodiment of the invention the device in fig. 3 is pressed onto the wood surface (2) to be treated  with the inner side (1) of the device down that is the side coated with the pressure sensitive adhesive mixed with the requisite chemical(s). Sufficient care is taken to remove any trapped air bubbles between the device and the wood surface under treatment  by pressing a cloth from center of the surface to the sides. In fig. 3  for liquids and/or chemicals that have a runny character on wood  additionally  an edge sealing tape (4) can be applied. This edge sealing tape will run overlapping the peripheral edges of the device and the surface under treatment. The edge sealing tape is of superior grade polymer in terms of thickness  strength  tack (surface adhesion) and is intended to control accidental run offs of liquids from between the device and the treated wood surface.

Fig. 4 is the side view of the device pressed on to the wood surface  wherein edge sealing tape (4) is adhered to the peripheral edges of the device and the wood surface (3) under treatment. Reference numeral (1) depict the inner side of the device coated with requisite chemicals and reference numeral (2) depict the release paper
.
The impermeable  non-porous sheet  thus on covering the wood surface to be treated  does the task of blanketing the exposed surface  thereby preventing the fumes of the chemical liquid from escaping into the atmosphere. This process achieves utility in wood preservation in ways that are superior  cheaper  environment friendly and more convenient compared to conventional means. The structure of wood is porous  composed of cells. Cell walls are composed of micro-fibrils of cellulose and hemicelluloses impregnated with lignin and are porous in nature. The objective of wood preservation is to coat the surfaces of these cell walls with preservative to protect them from decay to be caused by wood-destroying fungi and insects or other pests. This objective is achieved by following technique described in this embodiment by which the preservative does not escape in the atmosphere and penetrates deep into the cavities in the surfaces to be treated with the aid of pressure. The non-porous and impermeable outer surface of the device prevents the fumes of the chemical or the chemical itself from escaping in the atmosphere. Additionally  the preservative penetrates deep into the cavities of the cells and cell walls of the wood since the pressure sensitive adhesive facilitates this phenomenon.

The device thus attached to the wood surface is intended to stay with the wood surface for as long duration as possible  the minimum duration being one hour. The device ought to stay on during transportation and/or storage of the material and to be removed only at the time of final surface finishing. It is also pertinent to mention that an additional advantage of this device and technique is that the wood under treatment can be transported and /or stored  which is not the case in any other technique of wood preservation  known till date.

The long period of insulation by the man made polymer film promotes the inward movement of the fumes of the chemical solution/s. The naturally changing temperature and weather conditions replicate the situation similar to the pressure treatment of wood. The longer the time period and more versatile the temperature and weather conditions  more are the chances of deeper penetration of the anti termite solution  fungicide  insecticide or any other preservative solution or any other aromatic or wood - property -altering chemical to achieve better penetration inside the wood.

The procedure contained in the present invention works in a simple manner. The device along with the technique controls the outward flow of chemicals applied on the wooden surface to be treated and promotes the inward flow of such chemicals  thus treating the wood surface in an effective manner.

In one embodiment of the invention  the device in fig. 5  which is a plan view and fig. 6  which is a side view  is pressed on any porous construction surface (3) that has been infected by fungus  mildew  spores  ants or any other pests  with the inner side (1) of the device as illustrated in any of the fig. 1 and 2 facing towards the surface (3). Again  sufficient care is taken to remove any trapped air bubbles between the device and the surface under treatment  by pressing a cloth from center of the surface to the sides. Additionally  an edge sealing tape may be applied if required. The device may be removed from the surface after treatment  or alternatively  the device shall be intended to stay on the surface under treatment for an indefinite period of time. In the latter case  the device would continue to treat the infected area  thus correcting as well as preserving the said area. It is also pertinent to mention here  that the effectiveness of the device as regards the treatment and preservation will increase over the period of time.

In one embodiment of the invention  the outer surface of the device can be made to look like a wall paper or any other appealing look  in which case  the device is then not required to be removed from the wall or any other porous construction surface and will give an appealing look to the surface under treatment.

In one embodiment of the invention  the houses that are to be kept locked for a long duration of time  the wood surfaces and/or any porous construction surfaces inside the house can be left covered by the said device so as to ensure the long term protection of such surfaces.

In one embodiment of the invention  the old furniture  any even surfaced raw wood or processed wood or ply can be protected or cured by the said device.

In one embodiment of the invention  the edge sealing tape and/or the device manufactured from the impermeable sheet may be made of any or a combination of two or many or all mentioned materials:
1. Plastic
2. Plastic coated fabric
3. Plastic coated Paper
4. Metalized paper
5. Polymer coated fabric or paper
6. Plastic coated wood skin
7. Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) sheet

It will be understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments of the present invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore  the above description should not be construed as limiting the invention but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
 
CLAIMS
I CLAIM
1. A device for preserving a porous surface in the form of a sheet or roll comprising of:
a) a non-porous impermeable outer surface;
b) pressure sensitive adhesive mixed with additives on the inner surface; and
c) an additional layer of Release Paper on the inner layer;
wherein the polymer has zero percent porosity and impermeability to any fluid.
2. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1  wherein the said non porous impermeable outer surface is made of manmade polymer selected from the group but not limited to Plastic  Plastic coated fibre  Plastic coated paper  metalized paper  Polymer coated fabric or paper  Plastic coated wood skin  Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or combination thereof.

3. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1  wherein the said inner layer is coated with pressure sensitive adhesives mixed with additives selected from the group but not limited to fungicides  insecticides  anti termite liquids and any other liquid known in the art used for preserving/ or curing any porous surface from pests such as termites  ants  fungus  mildews  spores and alike.

4. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1  wherein the said inner layer is coated with pressure sensitive adhesives and is devoid of any additives.

5. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1  wherein the said additives further include fragrant aromatic compounds mixed with pressure sensitive adhesive.

6. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1  wherein the said device being non porous is capable of protecting any porous construction surface from unwanted infestations like pests  termites  ants  mildews  spores  fungi  bacteria and moisture.

7. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the device is further coated with any other surface- property-altering chemical.

8. The device for preserving a porous surface as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the device is decorated to give an appealing look such as that of a wall paper.

9. A method for preserving a porous surface in the form of a sheet or roll comprising the steps  wherein
the said device is pressed down on to the surface to be treated  after releasing the release paper  if applicable  with the inner side of the device facing towards the surface to be treated; then by taking the sufficient care to remove any trapped air bubbles between the device; and the surface under treatment  by pressing a cloth from center of the surface to the sides and if required  an edge sealing tape of superior grade polymer in terms of thickness  strength  surface adhesion and intended to control accidental run offs of liquids from between the device and the treated wood surface  will run overlapping the peripheral edges of the device and the surface under treatment.
10. A device for preserving a porous surface in the form of a sheet or roll as described substantially herein the description and accompanying drawings.

Dated this 25th day of May 2012
SHRUTI KAUSHIK
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1324)