JP7524800B2 - Body heating and cooling device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a body warming/cooling device.

A body warming/cooling device is known that uses a Peltier element to cool or heat the blood flowing through the user's carotid artery, thereby regulating the body temperature of the user. One such body warming/cooling device includes a device that includes a temperature control unit having a Peltier element, a heat exchange unit, and a pump unit that circulates water between the temperature control unit and the heat exchange unit through a tube member (Patent Documents 1 and 2). The temperature control unit includes a U-shaped plate that contacts the neck around the user's neck, and a Peltier element that cools or heats the plate.

JP 2011-83498 A JP 2015-100489 A

However, conventional technology leaves room for further improvement in terms of improving the user's comfort with regard to the sensation of coolness or warmth.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a body warming/cooling device that can improve the comfort of the user.

The body warming/cooling device of the embodiment includes a pair of first plates and a pair of first thermoelectric elements. The pair of first plates are provided at positions corresponding to the carotid arteries of the right and left neck of the user. The pair of first thermoelectric elements cool or heat each of the pair of first plates. The pair of first plates has a main surface facing the carotid arteries and a side surface connected to the main surface.

One aspect of the body warming/cooling device disclosed in this application can improve the comfort of the user.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a user wears a body warming/cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the neck main body is worn by a user. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the neck body portion is worn by a user. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the neck main body from the front side. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the shape of the first plate. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the neck body. FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the neck main body. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the neck main body from the front side. FIG. 9 is a top view of the neck body portion. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the elastic member. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the hinge member and the elastic member. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the band member. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the band member. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the band member. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the band member. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a method for fixing the first plate. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the cable member. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the heat exchange unit and the power supply unit. FIG. 19 is a front view of the heat exchange unit and the power supply unit.

Below, examples of the body warming/cooling device disclosed in the present application are described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the body warming/cooling device disclosed in the present application is not limited to the following examples.

Figure 1 shows the state in which the body warming/cooling device of the embodiment is worn by a user. In this embodiment, the front of the user is the front side of the body warming/cooling device 1 (neck main body part 2), and the rear of the user is the back side of the body warming/cooling device 1 (neck main body part 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the body warming/cooling device 1 includes a neck body 2, a cable member 3, a heat exchanger 4, and a power supply 5.

The neck body 2 is worn around the neck of the user and cools or heats the neck of the user using a heat medium supplied from the heat exchanger 4 via the cable member 3. The detailed configuration of the neck body 2 will be described later.

The cable member 3 is a member in which a flow path through which a heat transfer medium such as water or oil circulates and a power cord that supplies power to the neck main body 2 are molded as one unit. The detailed configuration of the cable member 3 will be described later.

The heat exchange unit 4 is, for example, a radiator, and when operating to cool the first plate of the body warming/cooling device, it cools the heat medium and supplies the cooled heat medium to the neck body 2 via the flow path of the cable member 3. Specifically, although not shown, the heat exchange unit 4 has a pump that sends the cooled heat medium, a blower fan for cooling the heat medium, and air inlets and outlets.

The power supply unit 5 is, for example, a rechargeable battery, and supplies power to the heat exchange unit 4 by being connected to the heat exchange unit 4 via a connection cord. The power supply unit 5 is also connected to the power cord in the cable member 3, and supplies power to the neck main body unit 2 via the power cord. The detailed configurations of the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5 will be described later.

(Configuration of the neck body)
Fig. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the neck main body part 2 is worn by a user. Fig. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the neck main body part 2 is worn by a user.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the neck body unit 2 is worn from the right and left sides of the user's neck to the back of the neck, cooling or heating the blood flowing through the carotid arteries in the right and left sides of the user's neck and the back of the neck.

Specifically, the neck body 2 cools or heats the blood flowing through the carotid arteries in the right and left sides of the user's neck using a pair of first plates 22, and cools or heats the back of the user's neck using a second plate 24.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the neck main body part 2 from the front side. As shown in Figure 4, the neck main body part 2 has a neck hanging member 21, a pair of first plates 22, a pair of first Peltier elements 23, a second plate 24, and a second Peltier element 25. The first Peltier element 23 is an example of a first thermoelectric element, and the second Peltier element 25 is an example of a second thermoelectric element.

The neck strap 21 is a curved member that is U-shaped when viewed from above, and is placed around the user's neck. The neck strap 21 is made of a resin material such as polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate ABS (PC+ABS), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

The pair of first plates 22 are formed of a metal material such as aluminum. Each of the pair of first plates 22 is disposed at both ends extending to the front side of the neck hanging member 21. In other words, the pair of first plates 22 are disposed at positions corresponding to (contacting) the respective carotid arteries of the right and left sides of the user's neck.

The pair of first Peltier elements 23 are disposed inside both ends extending toward the front side of the neck hanging member 21, and are provided in contact with each of the pair of first plates 22. The pair of first Peltier elements 23 cool or heat each of the pair of first plates 22.

Here, the shape of the first plate 22 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the shape of the first plate 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the first plate 22 has a main surface 22a, an upper surface 22b, and a lower surface 22c. The main surface 22a faces the neck of the user and is a surface that contacts the person, and faces the carotid arteries of the right and left cervical parts of the user. The main surface 22a has a flat shape to face the neck of the user. The upper surface 22b is a surface that is connected to the upper side of the main surface 22a. The upper surface 22b is inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the main surface 22a so as to move away from the neck of the user as it moves upward (toward the head of the user) from the upper side of the main surface 22a. The upper surface 22b also has a curved shape that curves so as to protrude toward the neck of the user. The lower surface 22c is a surface that is connected to the lower side of the main surface 22a. The lower surface 22c is inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the main surface 22a so as to move away from the user's neck as it moves downward (toward the user's shoulder) from the lower side of the main surface 22a. The lower surface 22c also has a curved shape that curves so as to protrude toward the user's neck. Although not shown, the first plate 22 may also have a front side surface 22f (see FIG. 4) that connects from the main surface 22a to the front side of the main surface 22a.

Here, in the conventional technology, if the heating or cooling plate does not have a side surface, when the user tilts his/her head, the neck hits the exterior member (corresponding to the neck hanging member of the present disclosure) made of resin, making it difficult for the user to feel a cooling sensation (or a warm sensation). On the other hand, in this embodiment, the first plate 22 has a main surface 22a and a side surface (upper side surface 22b, lower side surface 22c, and front side surface 22f), so that even when the user tilts his/her head, the neck hits the side surface of the first plate 22, and the cooling sensation (or warm sensation) can be improved compared to the conventional case where there are no sides. In addition, since the upper side surface 22b is inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the main surface 22a, the neck can hit the side surface of the first plate 22 even when the user tilts his/her head slightly. Therefore, the first plate 22 has a high ability to follow the inclination of the neck. In addition, since the upper side surface 22b is curved, the first plate 22 can improve the cooling sensation (or warm sensation) without interfering with the movement of the user's neck even when the user tilts his/her head significantly. The same is true for the lower surface 22c. Although the body warming/cooling device of this embodiment has both the upper surface 22b and the lower surface 22c, it may have only one of the surfaces.

The second plate 24 is formed of a metal material such as aluminum. The second plate 24 is positioned inside the curved central portion on the back side of the neck-hanging member 21 (toward the user's neck). In other words, the second plate 24 is provided at a position that corresponds to (contacts) the back of the user's neck.

The second Peltier element 25 is disposed inside the curved central portion on the rear side of the neck hanging member 21 and is provided in contact with the second plate 24. The second Peltier element 25 cools or heats the second plate 24.

The first Peltier element 23 and the second Peltier element 25 are connected to each other by a tube member (not shown). Specifically, the tube member has a first path for sending a heat medium from the second Peltier element 25 to each of the pair of first Peltier elements 23, and a second path for sending a heat medium from each of the pair of first Peltier elements 23 to the second Peltier element 25.

The tube member is disposed inside the neck hanging member 21. Specifically, the first path and the second path in the tube member are disposed side by side inside the neck hanging member 21. In other words, the tube members through which the heat medium circulates are disposed together in the neck hanging member 21.

In this way, by arranging the tube members together in the neck-hanging member 21, the tube members are connected to the neck-hanging member 21 without directly touching the surface of the user's body, so that the heat of the heat medium flowing through the tube members is prevented from being transmitted to the user and causing the user to feel the heat.

In addition, each of the pair of first Peltier element 23 and second Peltier element 25 is provided with a thermistor (not shown) that functions as a temperature sensor. As a result, even if the pair of first Peltier element 23 and second Peltier element 25 have different temperatures, the temperature can be controlled independently based on the detection results of each temperature sensor. In this way, since the pair of first Peltier element 23 and second Peltier element 25 can be temperature controlled independently, it is possible to prevent temperature variations caused by the temperature of one of the pair of first plate 22 and second plate 24 being lower (or higher) than the other temperature.

(Power switch)
Fig. 6 is a rear view of the neck main body part 2. As shown in Fig. 6, the neck main body part 2 further includes a connection part 26 connected to the cable member 3, and a power switch 27. The connection part 26 is provided on the outer surface of the neck hanging member 21 at a position corresponding to the rear of the neck of the user. Specifically, the connection part 26 is disposed directly behind the rear of the neck of the user.

More specifically, the connection part 26 is positioned at a predetermined height from the bottom end of the neck body part 2. The predetermined height is, for example, a height that corresponds to the height of the collar C (see FIG. 3) of a collared shirt such as workwear. This makes it possible to prevent the connection part 26 from getting caught on the collar even if the user is wearing a collared shirt.

The power switch 27 is a push-down switch that turns the power of the body warming/cooling device 1 on and off. The power switch 27 is provided on the outer surface of the neck-hanging member 21 at a position corresponding to the rear of the user's neck. Specifically, the power switch 27 is arranged next to the connection part 26. More specifically, the power switch 27 is arranged next to the neck direction of the user (hereinafter also referred to as the left-right direction). The power switch 27 is also electrically connected to the power cable 33 that is routed through the connection part 26. When the power switch 27 is turned on, the body warming/cooling device 1 starts up. More specifically, when the power switch 27 is turned on, power is supplied from the power supply part 5 to the heat exchange part 4 and the neck main body part 2 via the power cable 33. Note that a signal cable that transmits a signal from the power switch 27 may be provided separately from the power cable 33.

In this way, by arranging the power switch 27 on the neck hanging member 21, the power switch 27 is not hidden by clothing, etc., compared to when the power switch 27 is arranged on the heat exchange unit 4 or the power supply unit 5, for example, and operability can be improved. Also, by arranging the power switch 27 next to the connection unit 26 in the left-right direction, the power switch 27 can be prevented from being hidden by the collar, as with the connection unit 26. Also, by arranging the power switch 27 next to the connection unit 26, it is possible to provide the power switch 27 on the neck main body 2 while shortening the wiring distance of the power cable 33 from the connection unit 26 to the power switch 27 (the wiring distance within the neck main body 2).

(Positional Relationship Between the First Plate and the Second Plate)
Fig. 7 is a schematic top view of the neck body 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the first plate 22 and the second plate 24 are disposed at a position closer to the user's neck than the neck hanging member 21. In other words, the neck hanging member 21 is provided at a position farther away from the user's neck than the first plate 22 and the second plate 24.

As a result, the neck hanging member 21 does not touch the user's neck, so the heat of the heat medium in the tube member built into the neck hanging member 21 is less likely to be transferred to the user, and since only the first plate 22 and the second plate 24 come into contact with the user, the feeling of cooling (or warmth) is enhanced.

(Height of first plate)
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the neck main body part 2 from the front side. As shown in Fig. 8, it is preferable that the height h of the first plate 22 is less than a predetermined length. Specifically, the height h is 2/3 of the vertical length of an average person's neck, and is preferably less than 40 mm, for example.

In this way, by keeping the height h of the first plate 22 below a predetermined length, it is possible to prevent the first plate 22 from hitting the Adam's apple or under the chin of the user, and to increase the degree of freedom when moving the neck.

(Three-part structure of the neck body)
Fig. 9 is a top view of the neck main body 2. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the elastic member 28. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the hinge member 29 and the elastic member 28. As shown in Fig. 9, the neck main body 2 can be separated into a rear member 2a on the rear side of the neck hanging member 21 and a pair of tip members 2b on the right and left sides of the neck hanging member 21.

The rear member 2a has a second Peltier element 25 built in and a second plate 24 provided on the outer side facing the human body. The pair of tip members 2b each has a first Peltier element 23 built in and a first plate 22 provided on the outer side facing the human body.

In this way, by making the neck body section 2 separable into the rear member 2a and a pair of tip members 2b, the size of the neck body section 2 can be varied simply by changing the length of the rear member 2a. In addition, since different sizes can be produced simply by changing the rear member 2a, mass productivity can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 9, the pair of first and second plates 22 and 24 are arranged so that the contact portions with the user's neck form a substantially triangular shape when viewed from above. In this way, by designing the neck main body 2 so that the contact portions are arranged in a substantially triangular shape, it is possible to accommodate a variety of neck shapes. Specifically, by using the straight line (base of the triangle) connecting the user's carotid artery with the contact portions of the pair of first plates 22 as a reference and changing the distance from the user's neck to the contact portion of the second plate 24 (apex of the triangle), it is possible to accommodate a variety of neck shapes.

As shown in FIG. 11, the rear member 2a and the pair of tip members 2b are connected by a hinge member 29, so that the tip member 2b can be bent relative to the rear member 2a. Specifically, the hinge member 29 is a plate-shaped member curved along the user's neck, and the tip member 2b and the rear member 2a are connected to both ends in the extension direction (neck direction). The hinge member 29 is arranged so that the height direction of the hinge member 29 is parallel to the direction from the user's shoulder to the neck (the direction in which the neck is extended) when the neck main body 2 is worn by the user. When the tip member 2b tries to rotate relative to the rear member 2a with the extension direction (neck direction) as the rotation axis, the hinge member 29 is deformed so that the hinge member 29 is twisted. In this way, the hinge member 29 is twisted with the extension direction (neck direction) as the rotation axis, allowing the tip member 2b to move flexibly relative to the rear member 2a. This allows the tip member 2b to bend in response to the movement of the user's neck, reducing the feeling of pressure on the user and improving the fit.

In this way, by using the hinge member 29 that can be deformed by twisting and bending, the tip member 2b can flexibly move in accordance with the movement of the neck. In particular, because the tip member 2b bends so as to rotate relative to the rear member 2a, the pressure received from the tip member 2b when the neck is bent can be reduced. In addition, by connecting the tip member 2b and the rear member 2a with the plate-shaped hinge member 29, the neck hanging member 21 can be easily assembled during manufacturing, improving mass productivity.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hinge member 29 is covered by the elastic member 28. That is, the elastic member 28 functions as a cover for the hinge member 29. Specifically, the elastic member 28 covers the portion of the hinge member 29 where twisting or bending occurs (hereinafter also referred to as the deformation portion). As shown in FIG. 11, the elastic member 28 has a portion (hereinafter also referred to as the extension portion) that extends in the extension direction relative to the deformation portion where twisting or bending occurs inside the hinge member 29 (between the user when worn). As shown in FIG. 10, the extension portions of the elastic member 28 that extend in the extension direction on both sides of the deformation portion where twisting or bending occurs of the hinge member 29 are covered by the tip member 2b and the rear member 2a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, a portion of the elastic member 28 that corresponds to the deformation portion that causes the twisting or bending of the hinge member 29 is provided between the rear member 2a and the tip member 2b (the right tip member or the left tip member). In addition, by providing an extension portion in the elastic member 28, the force that causes the twisted or bent hinge member 29 to return to its original shape (a shape curved around the user's neck) can be transmitted to the rear member 2a and the tip member 2b via the elastic member 28. In addition, since the extension portion of the elastic member 28 is provided only on the inside of the hinge member 29, the assembly work of inserting the hinge member 29 into the elastic member 28 can be easily performed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the elastic member 28 has a slit 28a. Specifically, the slit 28a is provided around the outer periphery of the elastic member 28.

In this way, by providing the slit 28a, for example, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of wrinkles that occur in the elastic member 28 when the tip member 2b moves. In addition, the slit 28a makes it possible to make the step at the connection point of the rear member 2a and the tip member 2b less noticeable. In addition, by providing the outer periphery of the elastic member 28 between the tip member 2b and the rear member 2a, it is possible to prevent the tip member 2b and the rear member 2a from directly hitting the neck when wearing it. This not only has the design effect of making the step less noticeable, but also prevents hard parts from hitting the neck. In addition, by providing an extension portion in the elastic member 28, the force of the hinge member 29 that has been twisted or bent and tries to return to its original shape can be transmitted to the elastic member 28, the rear member 2a, and the tip member 2b. In addition, since the extension portion of the elastic member 28 is provided only inside the hinge member 29, the assembly work of inserting the hinge member 29 into the elastic member 28 can be easily performed.

(Band member)
12 to 15 are diagrams for explaining the band member. As shown in Fig. 12, the neck main body 2 further includes a band member 60 provided on the neck hanging member 21. Specifically, the band member 60 is provided on the outer peripheral member 210 of the tip member 2b of the neck hanging member 21.

More specifically, the band member 60 is fixed to either the right or left end member 2b by a magnet member 61 (first fixing member). Also, as shown in FIG. 13, the band member 60 has a plurality of holes 62 (second fixing member) on the side opposite the magnet member 61.

The band member 60 has multiple holes 62 that fit into pin members (not shown) provided in the outer peripheral member 210. In other words, the band member 60 is fixed to the other tip member 2b by the pin members, thereby clamping the right and left tip members 2b.

This allows the right and left end members 2b to be fixed while maintaining a specified distance, improving the fit of the neck body 2. In this way, the band member 60 can surround the entire circumference of the user's neck, reducing the risk of the neck body 2 falling off unintentionally.

In addition, one side of the band member 60 is fixed by the magnetic force of the magnet member 61. Therefore, even if an unexpected situation occurs in which an external force that the user does not anticipate is applied to the neck main body part 2 (for example, a situation in which the neck main body part 2 is pulled strongly by a third party), if the external force exceeds the magnetic force of the magnet member 61, the magnet member 61 will detach, preventing the neck main body part 2 from strangling the user's neck. In this way, the safety of the user can be increased.

The band member 60 can adjust the distance between the right and left end members 2b by changing the position of the hole 62 into which the pin member is inserted. In other words, the band member 60 has an adjustment mechanism composed of the multiple holes 62 and the pin members.

This allows the length of the neck body part 2 to be adjusted by inserting the pin member into the hole part 62 at a position according to the length of the user's neck, improving the fit of the neck body part 2 for a variety of users.

In this embodiment, the first fixing member is the magnet member 61, and the second fixing member is the hole portion 62. However, both the first fixing member and the second fixing member may be the magnet member 61. Alternatively, at least one of the first fixing member and the second fixing member may be another fixing member, such as an adhesive.

As shown in FIG. 14, the band member 60 is arranged along a step 210a provided at the bottom of the outer peripheral member 210. Specifically, the band member 60 is arranged so as to be accommodated in the step 210a, which is the lower step of the outer peripheral member 210. Here, the step 210a has a step surface 210a1 that forms the step, and a lower step surface 210a2 that is surrounded by this step surface 210a1.

In this embodiment, one side of the band member 60 is fixed to the lower surface 210a2 by the magnetic force of the magnet member 61. As described above, the lower surface 210a2 is surrounded by the step surface 210a1. As a result, the movement of the band member 60 is restricted by the step surface 210a2, so that the band member 60 can be prevented from shifting upward (toward the user's face). Here, an example in which the step 210a is provided on the upper side of the band member 60 has been described, but a step may also be provided on the lower side of the band member 60 to prevent the first fixing member from moving up and down. In addition, the magnet member 61 of the band member 60 is fixed to the lower surface 210a2 by magnetic force at a position according to the length of the user's neck, but in order to prevent the first fixing member from easily shifting in the neck direction (hereinafter also referred to as the left-right direction) due to a slight external force, a protrusion may be provided on the surface of the lower surface 210a2 of the outer peripheral member 210 so as to increase the static friction coefficient with the first fixing member.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the band member 60 is provided below the center of the outer peripheral member 210 in the vertical direction.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the spacing of the upper part of the neck is wider than the spacing of the lower part of the neck (so-called an inverted V shape), which increases the range of movement of the upper part of the neck and prevents the tip member 2b from coming into contact with the neck when the neck is moved. More specifically, because the upper side of the tip member 2b is wider, it is possible to prevent the upper side of the neck from coming into contact with the tip member 2b and being compressed when the neck is moved.

As shown in FIG. 12, the band member 60 has transparency that allows light to pass through. This allows the front side of the neck body 2 to be seen through, improving the design and reducing the impression that the wearer is wearing a collar.

As shown in FIG. 13, the band member 60 has a curved shape that is gently curved along the longitudinal direction. This allows the band member 60 to be positioned along the periphery of the neck main body 2, reducing the possibility of the band member 60 protruding from the periphery of the neck main body 2 and getting caught.

(Method of fixing the first plate)
Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a method for fixing the first plate 22. As shown in Fig. 16, the first plate 22 is fixed to an outer peripheral member 210. Specifically, the first plate 22 has a claw portion 22e and a recessed portion 22d. The outer peripheral member 210 has a claw portion 210c and a recessed portion 210b.

The claw portion 22e of the first plate 22 fits into the recess 210b of the outer peripheral member 210, and the claw portion 210c of the outer peripheral member 210 fits into the recess 22d of the first plate 22. This fixes the first plate 22 to the outer peripheral member 210.

This reduces the difficulty of assembling the neck body portion 2 during the manufacture of the first plate 22, improving mass productivity.

(Configuration of cable members)
Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the cable member 3. As shown in Fig. 17, the cable member 3 is a member formed by covering the tube members 31 and 32, the power cable 33, and the heat insulating member 34 with a coating 35 so that they are integrated together. Here, the heat insulating member 34 may be made of a material having a higher thermal resistance value than the tube members 31 and 32. The coating 35 may be made of a flexible material such as silicon or PP.

The tube members 31 and 32 have a flow path through which the heat medium circulates. Specifically, of the two tube members 31 and 32, one tube member 31 sends the heat medium from the heat exchange unit 4 to the neck main body unit 2, and the other tube member 32 sends the heat medium from the neck main body unit 2 to the heat exchange unit 4.

The power cable 33 is connected to the power supply unit 5 via the heat exchange unit 4. The power cable 33 serves as a power supply path for supplying power from the power supply unit 5 to the neck body unit 2. The power cable 33 supplies power to at least one pair of the first Peltier element 23 and the second Peltier element 25. In addition to the power cable 33, a ground line is also connected to the first Peltier element 23 and the second Peltier element 25.

The heat insulating member 34 is arranged so as to cover the periphery of the tube members 31 and 32. The covering 35 covers the tube members 31 and 32, the power cable 33, and the heat insulating member 34. By configuring the cable member 3 in this manner, heat transfer from the outside (for example, sunlight or the outside air around the user) to the tube members 31 and 32 is blocked. Heat transfer from the tube members 31 and 32 to the outside is also blocked. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the tube members 31 and 32 are partially covered with the heat insulating member 34, but the range covered by the heat insulating member 34 can be changed as appropriate depending on the need for insulation. Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the tube members 31 and 32 are covered all around with the covering 35. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the entire length of the tube members 31 and 32 (the entire length from the neck body part 2 to the heat exchange part 4) is covered with the covering 35. However, the tube members 31 and 32 do not necessarily need to be covered all around and all over with the covering 35.

As shown in FIG. 17, the power cable 33 is disposed in the space formed between the coating 35 and the tube members 31, 32. This forms a space between the coating 35 and the tube members 31, 32, improving the thermal insulation between the tube members 31, 32 and the outside. In this embodiment, the power cable 33 is provided to be connected to each of the pair of first Peltier elements 23, second Peltier element 25, and power switch 27.

This allows the cable member 3 to reduce the effects of sunlight and outside air on the tube members 31 and 32. In addition, by covering the power cable 33 and the tube members 31 and 32 with the covering 35 and bundling them together, the design can be improved and the power cable 33 and the tube members 31 and 32 can be reduced from getting caught on the outside. The covering 35 may be molded integrally with the power cable 33 and the tube members 31 and 32, or may be molded separately.

(Heat exchange section and power supply section)
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5. Fig. 19 is a front view of the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5. As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5 are independently attached to the waist of the user.

This allows the weight to be distributed more evenly than when the heat exchange unit 4 and power supply unit 5 are integrated, allowing the user to adjust the balance when wearing the device by, for example, changing the wearing position. Furthermore, by wearing the heat exchange unit 4 and power supply unit 5 separately (independently), the device can be more responsive to the movements of the user's body. Furthermore, by wearing the heat exchange unit 4 and power supply unit 5 separately (independently), the weight balance of the heat exchange unit 4 and power supply unit 5 relative to the human body can be easily adjusted.

Specifically, the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5 are arranged side by side on the user's waist in the direction of the user's waist (hereinafter also referred to as the left-right direction). This makes the overall configuration of the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5 horizontally long, which prevents the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5 from getting in the way when bending the waist (sitting down).

The heat exchange unit 4 has a connection portion 41 with the cable member 3 disposed on the upper surface of the housing 40. This allows the length of the cable member 3 connecting the heat exchange unit 4 and the neck main body 2 to be as short as possible, preventing the cable member 3 from getting in the way when putting on the body warming/cooling device, etc.

The heat exchange unit 4 also has a connection part 42 arranged on the underside of the housing 40. The power supply unit 5 also has a connection part 51 arranged on the underside of the housing 50. The connection part 42 of the heat exchange unit 4 and the connection part 51 of the power supply unit 5 are connected by a connection cord (not shown). This allows power to be supplied from the power supply unit 5 to the heat exchange unit 4. The heat exchange unit 4 drives a heat dissipation fan (not shown) and the like using the power supplied from the power supply unit 5.

The heat exchange unit 4 also has an uneven surface 410 on the surface of the housing 40. This allows the user to distinguish between the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5 by touch without visually identifying them.

(effect)
As described above, the body warming/cooling device 1 according to the embodiment includes a pair of first plates 22 and a first Peltier element 23. The pair of first plates 22 have a main surface 22a facing the carotid artery and a side surface 22b connected to the main surface 22a. As a result, even when the user tilts his/her head, the neck comes into contact with the side surface of the first plate 22, improving the sensation of coolness (or warmth). In other words, the comfort of the user can be improved.

The body warming/cooling device 1 according to the embodiment also includes a neck-hanging member 21 with a first Peltier element 23 provided inside. The right and left end members 2b of the neck-hanging member 21, on which the first Peltier element 23 is provided, can be freely folded relative to the rear member 2a arranged behind the right and left end members 2b. This allows the end members 2b to bend in response to the movement of the user's neck, thereby reducing the sense of pressure on the user and improving fit.

In addition, in the neck hanging member 21 according to the embodiment, the right and left end members 2b, each of which incorporates a pair of first Peltier elements 23, and the rear member disposed behind the end members 2b are connected by a hinge member 29. This allows the neck hanging member 21 to be easily assembled during manufacturing, improving mass productivity.

The body warming/cooling device 1 according to the embodiment also includes a band member 60 that is fixed to one of the right and left end members 2b of the neck-hanging member 21 with a first fixing member and fixed to the other end member with a second fixing member, thereby clamping the end member 2b. This allows the right and left end members 2b to be fixed while maintaining a predetermined distance, improving the fit of the neck main body 2. The predetermined distance is a distance that corresponds to the length of the user's neck.

The body warming/cooling device 1 according to the embodiment also includes tube members 31, 32 having a flow path for sending a heat medium to the first Peltier element 23, a heat exchange unit 4 that is attached to the user's waist and sends a cooled or heated heat medium to the tube members 31, 32, and a power supply unit 5 that is attached to the user's waist independently of the heat exchange unit 4 and supplies power to the heat exchange unit 4. This improves the ability to follow the movements of the user's body, and also makes it easy to adjust the weight balance of the heat exchange unit 4 and the power supply unit 5.

The body warming/cooling device 1 according to the embodiment also includes a power switch 27 provided on the neck-hanging member 21. This improves the operability of the body warming/cooling device 1.

The body warming/cooling device 1 according to the embodiment also includes tube members 31, 32 having a flow path for circulating a heat medium between the heat exchanger 4 and the neck-hanging member 21, a power cable for supplying power to the first Peltier element 23 and the second Peltier element 25, and a cable member 3 having a coating 35 that covers the tube members 31, 32 and the power cable. This improves the design and reduces the possibility of the cords (power cable 33 and tube members 31, 32) getting caught on the outside.

The cable member 3 is not limited to the embodiment, and may be configured such that the power cord and tube members 31 and 32 are bundled together and a mesh tube (braid) is placed around them.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as the scope and gist of the invention.

Reference Signs List 1 Body warming/cooling device 2 Neck main body 2a Rear member 2b Tip member 3 Cable member 4 Heat exchanger 5 Power supply unit 5b Tip member 21 Neck hanging member 22 First plate 22a Main surface 22b Upper surface 22c Lower surface 22d Recess 22e Claw portion 23 First Peltier element 24 Second plate 25 Second Peltier element 26 Connection portion 27 Power switch 28 Elastic member 28a Slit 29 Hinge member 31, 32 Tube member 33 Power cable 34 Heat insulating member 35 Cover 40 Housing 41, 42, 51 Connection portion 50 Housing 60 Band member 61 Magnet member 62 Hole portion 210 Outer peripheral member 210a Step 210b Recess 210c Claw portion

Claims (5)

A pair of first plates provided at positions corresponding to the carotid arteries of the right and left cervical regions of the user;
a pair of first thermoelectric elements for cooling or heating each of the pair of first plates;
Equipped with
The pair of first plates include
A body warming/cooling device having a main surface facing the carotid artery, and side surfaces bent from the main surface in a direction away from the neck on the upper and lower sides in a height direction of the main surface. The aspect is
The body warming/cooling device according to claim 1 , wherein the side surface is bent from the main surface in a direction away from the neck at a front side in a front-rear direction perpendicular to a height direction of the main surface. A second plate provided at a position corresponding to the rear of the neck of the user;
a second thermoelectric element for cooling or heating the second plate;
a tube member having a flow path for supplying a heat medium to the first thermoelectric element and the second thermoelectric element;
a neck-hanging member having the first thermoelectric element, the second thermoelectric element and the tube member provided therein and the pair of first plates and the second plate provided thereon;
Further equipped with
The pair of first plates and the second plate include
The body warming/cooling device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the body warming/cooling device is provided at a position closer to the body of the user than the neck hanging member. The tube member is
a first path for supplying the heat medium from the second thermoelectric element to each of the pair of first thermoelectric elements, and a second path for supplying the heat medium from each of the pair of first thermoelectric elements to the second thermoelectric element,
The first path and the second path are
The body warming/cooling device according to claim 3 , which is arranged inside the neck hanging member. The body warming/cooling device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a temperature sensor provided on each of the pair of first thermoelectric elements and the pair of second thermoelectric elements.

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