JP7551464B2 - mask - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mask that is worn on the face, and in particular to a mask that has a humidifying function.

Masks have traditionally been used widely as a defense against fine dust particles such as pollen and yellow sand, and as a measure against infections such as viruses and bacteria. Recently, the functions of masks have become more diverse, and a variety of masks have been proposed.

For example, during sleep, there is no swallowing of food, drink, or saliva, which can easily lead to dryness of the oral cavity. In addition, the air is generally dry in winter, and even outside of winter, air conditioners are running in offices all year round. Therefore, there are many environments where the air is prone to dryness even during the day, which can easily lead to dryness of the oral cavity. To prevent dryness of the oral cavity, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mask with a humidifying function. The mask in Patent Document 1 houses a filter that holds water in the housing, and every time you breathe, the moisture in the filter turns into steam and is supplied to the oral cavity. This makes it possible to prevent dryness of the oral cavity.

The mask in Patent Document 1 can humidify the oral cavity well, but it is time-consuming because the user must place the wet filter in the storage section when using it, and because the filter contains not only water but also various chemicals such as moisturizers and preservatives, there is an issue that the user's hands will become dirty when touching it. In addition, there is an issue that the filter is prone to mold when stored before use due to the adsorption of preservatives to the filter.

Patent document 2 discloses a mask that contains a water bag filled with water. When using the mask of Patent document 2, the water bag breaks and opens when the mask is pressed, and the water in the water bag wets the entire mask, making it usable as a wet mask.

JP 2012-205926 A Utility Model Registration No. 3178657

The mask in Patent Document 2 is configured so that the mask itself becomes wet with water when the water bag is opened. Therefore, when the user wears the mask on their face, the wet mask touches the skin over a wide area of the face, not just the mouth, causing discomfort to the user.

The present invention was made with the above problem in mind, and aims to provide a mask that does not cause the user to get their hands dirty when used, and does not get the entire mask wet with water, causing discomfort to the user when worn.

The present invention relates to a mask with a humidifying function. The mask of the present invention includes a steam generator that houses a water bag that contains water, and a mask body that is worn on the user's face and can be equipped with the steam generator, and is characterized in that the water bag can be opened by receiving a pressing force to allow water to flow out, and the steam generator is breathable and can absorb water that has flowed out from the water bag.

The mask of the present invention can preferably be configured so that the viscosity of the water is 3000 mPa·s or more and 7000 mPa·s or less.

The mask of the present invention eliminates the risk of getting your hands dirty when using it, and prevents the entire mask from getting wet and causing discomfort to the user when wearing it.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mask of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the mask of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mask of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a steam generator. 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a method of using the mask of the present embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the mask of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 show the external appearance of the mask 1 of this embodiment. The mask 1 includes a mask body 2 that is worn on the user's face, and a steam generator 3 that can emit steam. The steam generator 3 is provided on the mask body 2. The mask 1 further includes a pair of ear bands 4 that are attached to the left and right sides of the mask body 2. Hereinafter, the direction in which the pair of ear bands 4 are connected (the left-right direction in Figures 2 and 3) will be referred to as the width direction, and the direction perpendicular to the width direction (the up-down direction in Figures 1 and 2) will be referred to as the up-down direction.

The mask body 2 is breathable and covers part of the user's face (the area under the eyes, particularly the nose and mouth). The mask body 2 has a symmetrical shape with respect to a width center line H (shown in FIG. 2). When the mask body 2 is folded in half along the width center line H, the width center line H has a shape that curves convexly in a direction away from the pair of ear straps 4. As a result, when the folded mask body 2 is unfolded and worn on the face, the mask body 2 has a three-dimensional shape, and a space is formed between the mouth/nostrils and the mask body 2 in the width center of the mask body 2.

The upper and lower edges of the mask body 2 are inclined diagonally downward and upward, respectively, so that the top and bottom widths gradually narrow toward the outer sides (left and right sides) in the width direction. The left and right side edges of the mask body 2 are shaped so that the center in the vertical direction is curved concavely to form a recess 20, and a pair of protrusions 21 are provided to sandwich the recess 20 between them. Ear straps 4 are attached to connect the pair of protrusions 21.

The mask body 2 is composed of a first sheet 5 and a second sheet 6 overlapped on the first sheet 5, with the second sheet 6 placed on the face side and the first sheet 5 placed on the opposite side of the face. The two sheets 5, 6 are joined at the outer periphery except for the upper edge at a predetermined width using a known method such as heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, sewing, etc., and are joined at a predetermined width from the upper edge to the lower edge along the width center line H to form the mask body 2. The mask body 2 is provided with a storage section 22 capable of storing a steam generator 3 between the two sheets 5, 6 by overlapping the two sheets 5, 6. In this embodiment, a pair of storage sections 22 are provided on the left and right of the mask body 2 with the width center line H between them.

The mask body 2 may be formed by joining a pair of symmetrical mask pieces at the width center line H. The mask pieces are made of two sheets that are approximately half the size of the first sheet 5 and the second sheet 6, and are formed by joining the outer edges of the two sheets, excluding the upper edges, at a specified width.

The upper edge of the mask body 2 has an opening 23 formed by not joining the two sheets 5, 6, and the steam generator 3 can be inserted and removed from the storage section 22 through the opening 23. In this embodiment, a pair of left and right openings 23 are formed in the mask body 2, sandwiching the width center line H therebetween, corresponding to the pair of left and right storage sections 22.

The mask body 2 is formed with a joint 24 for holding the steam generator 3 in a predetermined position inside the storage section 22. The joint 24 is formed by linearly joining the first sheet 5 and the second sheet 6 using a known method such as heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, sewing, etc. The joint 24 is formed of a substantially horizontal portion extending in the left-right direction along the lower edge of the steam generator 3, and a vertical portion extending in the up-down direction along part of one of the left and right side edges, and this joint 24 restricts the steam generator 3 in the storage section 22 from moving downward or left-right.

The first sheet 5 is formed using a material that is breathable. The second sheet 6 is formed using a material that is both breathable and moisture-permeable. Moisture permeability is the property of allowing steam (water molecules) to pass through. As the second sheet 6 has moisture permeability, steam generated from the steam generator 3 in the storage section 22 passes through the second sheet 6 and is supplied to the user's face side. The moisture permeability of the second sheet 6 is not particularly limited as long as it allows steam generated from the steam generator 3 to pass through. Note that sheets that have breathability usually also have moisture permeability.

The first sheet 5 and the second sheet 6 can be made of sheet-like fibers such as woven fabric and nonwoven fabric, and among these, nonwoven fabric is preferably used. Examples of fiber materials for woven fabric and nonwoven fabric include natural fibers such as paper and cotton; semi-synthetic fibers such as rayon and acetate; synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), and nylon; and mixed fibers of these. Among these, polypropylene and polyethylene are preferred from the viewpoint of productivity, polypropylene is preferred from the viewpoint of shape retention of the mask body 2, and nylon is preferred from the viewpoint of the feel of the mask body 2 on the skin of the user.

When nonwoven fabric is used for the first sheet 5 and the second sheet 6, for example, spunbond nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, thermalbond nonwoven fabric, or spunlace nonwoven fabric can be used. Among them, spunbond nonwoven fabric is preferably used from the viewpoint of shape retention of the mask body 2, and meltblown nonwoven fabric is preferably used from the viewpoint of the cut performance of the mask body 2 against pollen, viruses, etc. The first sheet 5 and the second sheet 6 can be a single layer structure or a laminated structure of two or more layers, and examples of the laminated structure include SS nonwoven fabric (two-layer structure of spunbond nonwoven fabric/spunbond nonwoven fabric) and SMS nonwoven fabric (three-layer structure of spunbond nonwoven fabric/meltblown nonwoven fabric/spunbond nonwoven fabric).

For example, since it is preferable that the second sheet 6 on the face side has a good feel against the skin, a spunbond nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene can be preferably used, and since it is preferable that the first sheet 5 on the side opposite the face has good shape retention, an air-through nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene can be preferably used.

In this embodiment, the mask body 2 is composed of two sheets 5 and 6, but it may also be made into a laminated structure of three or more layers by overlapping another sheet on the front side (opposite the face) of the first sheet 5, for example.

As shown in Figure 4, the steam generator 3 houses a water bag 7 inside. The water bag 7 is in the form of a sealed bag, with water sealed inside. There are no particular limitations on the material from which the water bag 7 is made, so long as the sealed water does not leak or seep out, and a conventionally known water-impermeable and air-impermeable (non-moisture-permeable) bag can be used. Note that water-impermeable includes poor water permeability, which makes it difficult for water to pass through, and non-water permeability, which does not allow water to pass through.

Only water may be enclosed in the water bag 7, but other ingredients may be added to water as the main ingredient. Examples of other ingredients include polyols. There are no particular limitations on the polyols, but preferred examples include glycerin, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, 1,2 pentanediol, and 1,2-hexanediol, and more preferably glycerin is used in terms of safety. In addition to these, other ingredients that can be added to the water include preservatives such as methylparaben and phenoxyethanol, moisturizing agents such as hyaluronate and betaine, plant extracts, water-soluble thickeners such as xanthan gum, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), agar, guar gum, and carrageenan, fragrances such as eucalyptus and mint, and surfactants that solubilize fragrances (nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and anionic surfactants).

The amount of water enclosed in the water bag 7 is not particularly limited, but is preferably an amount that can supply a sufficient amount of steam to the user for a long period of time, such as during sleep, and is preferably 2 g or more, and more preferably 4 g or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of suppressing a decrease in the comfort of the mask 1 due to the weight of the water when the mask 1 is worn, the amount of water is preferably, for example, 7 g or less, and more preferably 5 g or less. If other ingredients are added to the water, the amount of water including the added other ingredients may be within the above-mentioned range.

The viscosity of the water sealed in the water bag 7 is not particularly limited, but if the viscosity of the water is too low, the water will flow out of the water bag 7 into the steam generator 3 with great force when the water bag 7 is opened, and depending on the seal strength of the seal part 33 on the outer periphery of the steam generator 3 described later, the seal part 33 may be damaged by the pressure of the water. On the other hand, if the viscosity of the water is too high, the water may not flow out of the water bag 7 into the steam generator 3 when the water bag 7 is opened. Therefore, the viscosity of the water is preferably 3000 mPa·s or more and 7000 mPa·s or less at 25°C, and more preferably 4000 mPa·s or more and 6000 mPa·s or less. When measuring the viscosity of water in the range of less than 1000 mPa·s, it is measured at 25°C and a rotation speed of 30 rpm using a B-type viscometer (TV-10 type, manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) with a rotor of SPINDLE No. M2. When measuring the range of 1000 mPa·s or more and less than 2500 mPa·s, the measurement is performed using a B-type viscometer (TV-10 model, manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) with a SPINDLE No. M2 rotor at 25°C and a rotation speed of 12 rpm. When measuring the range of 2500 mPa·s or more and less than 10000 mPa·s, the measurement is performed using a SPINDLE No. M3 rotor at 25°C and a rotation speed of 12 rpm. When measuring the range of 10000 mPa·s or more and less than 20000 mPa·s, the measurement is performed using a SPINDLE No. M4 rotor at 25°C and a rotation speed of 12 rpm.

The water bag 7 is structured so that it can be opened by application of a pressing force, allowing the water sealed inside to flow out (inside the steam generating unit 3). Here, the pressing force refers to a force that can be applied to the steam generating unit 3 with the water bag 7 stored therein while the user holds the steam generating unit 3 with one or both hands. As the above-mentioned structure, various conventionally known structures can be used, such as providing an easy-to-break line in the water bag 7 so that at least a part of the water bag 7 breaks when a pressing force is applied, or providing a part with weak sealing strength in the seal part 70 (shown in FIG. 4) on the outer periphery of the water bag 7 so that at least a part of the seal part 70 is broken by water pressure when a pressing force is applied.

The steam generator 3, which houses the water bag 7, is in the shape of a sealed bag. The steam generator 3 absorbs water that has flowed out of the water bag 7, retaining the water in the steam generator 3 and preventing the water from leaking out of the steam generator 3, and is structured to generate steam when the user breathes.

Specifically, the steam generator 3 is formed using a main sheet 30 made of, for example, a fiber material, a water-absorbent resin material, or a sponge-like resin material formed into a sheet shape. The main sheet 30 has a function of absorbing (containing) water that has flowed out of the water bag 7, and also has a function of allowing air generated by the user's breathing to pass through and generating steam when the water held by the steam generator 3 evaporates due to the user's breathing.

Examples of the sheet-like fibers used in the main sheet 30 include woven fabrics and nonwoven fabrics, with nonwoven fabrics being preferred. Examples of fiber materials for woven and nonwoven fabrics include natural fibers such as pulp and cotton; semi-synthetic fibers such as rayon and acetate; synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), acrylic, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride; and mixed fibers of these.

Among them, a nonwoven fabric using pulp can be preferably used for the main sheet 30, and the manufacturing method is not particularly limited, but it can be manufactured by an airlaid method or the like. From the viewpoint of productivity, processability and durability, it is preferable to mix pulp, which is the main component, with heat-fusible fibers such as polyethylene at a predetermined ratio. In this example, the main sheet 30 has a basis weight of preferably 200 g/m ² or more, more preferably 300 g/m ² or more, and even more preferably 500 g/m ² or more, in order to hold the water flowing out from the water bag 7. On the other hand, if the basis weight of the main sheet 30 is too large, the steam generator 3 becomes hard, and the user may feel uncomfortable when wearing the mask 1. Therefore, the basis weight of the main sheet 30 is preferably 1500 g/m ² or less, more preferably 1000 g/m ² or less, and even more preferably 600 g/m ² or less.

Alternatively, a sheet-like fiber containing an absorbent resin, such as a SAP sheet containing super absorbent polymer (SAP), can be preferably used for the main sheet 30. An SAP sheet is a nonwoven fabric (e.g., an airlaid nonwoven fabric) that supports and disperses SAP.

The steam generator 3 may have a single layer of the main sheet 30 or a multi-layer structure in which the main sheet 30 is combined with other sheets. From the viewpoint of durability and water retention, it is preferable to have a three-layer structure in which the main sheet 30 is sandwiched between a pair of breathable and moisture-permeable sheets 31, 32. For the pair of sheets 31, 32, for example, sheet-like fibers such as woven fabric and nonwoven fabric can be used, and among them, nonwoven fabric is preferably used. The pair of sheets 31, 32 may be made of the same material or different materials. Examples of the material for the pair of sheets 31, 32 include hydrophilic natural fibers, hydrophobic synthetic fibers, or blended fibers thereof. Examples of natural fibers include rayon and cotton, and rayon is more preferably. The hydrophilic material has the advantage that moisture is easily absorbed by the main sheet 30, making it easier to manufacture. Examples of synthetic fibers include polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), and polyethylene and polypropylene are preferable. The hydrophobic material has the advantage that it is possible to prevent wetting and stickiness. Therefore, it is preferable that the sheet 31 on the outer side (opposite the water bag 7) of the main sheet 30 is made of synthetic fibers, and the sheet 32 on the inner side (the water bag 7 side) is made of natural fibers such as rayon. The pair of sheets 31, 32 preferably have a basis weight of 20 g/ ^m2 or more and 50 g/ ^m2 or less.

The steam generator 3 can be made of the same material as the water-retaining filters used in conventional masks, or the same material as the absorbents used in body fluid absorbent articles that absorb body fluids such as vaginal discharge, menstrual blood, sweat, and urine.

The steam generator 3 is formed into a bag shape by stacking six sheets of the same shape and size, namely, two inner sheets 32, two main sheets 30 arranged on the outside of each inner sheet 32, and two outer sheets 31 arranged on the outside of each main sheet 30, and joining the outer edges at a predetermined width using a known method such as heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, sewing, etc. Note that the steam generator 3 may be formed into a bag shape by preparing a laminated sheet in which the inner sheets 32, main sheets 30, and outer sheets 31 of the same shape and size are integrated in advance, stacking the two laminated sheets, and joining the outer edges at a predetermined width using a known method such as heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, sewing, etc.

The seal strength of the seal portion 33 on the outer periphery of the steam generator 3 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the seal strength is set so that the seal portion 33 is not damaged by the pressure of the water when it flows out of the water bag 7, causing water to leak out of the steam generator 3.

The pair of ear straps 4 are for holding the mask body 2 on the user's face, and can be hooked on the left and right ears of the user. The ear straps 4 can be attached to the mask body 2 by known methods such as heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, and sewing. The material of the ear straps 4 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a stretchy string-like or strip-like material such as polyester. Note that various means other than the ear straps 4 may be used as a means for holding the mask body 2 on the user's face. For example, an adhesive layer may be provided on the left and right sides of the mask body 2, and the left and right sides of the mask body 2 may be attached to the user's face through the adhesive layer, or holes may be formed on the left and right sides of the mask body 2 through which the ears can fit, and the left and right sides of the mask body 2 may be hooked on the left and right ears of the user through the holes.

As described above, in the mask 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the steam generator 3 is housed in the housing 22 of the mask body 2, and when the user presses the steam generator 3 from above the mask body 2 with his/her hand, the water bag 7 in the steam generator 3 is opened, causing water to flow out of the water bag 7 and the steam generator 3 to absorb (absorb) the water. Then, when the user wears the mask 1 on his/her face and breathes, air passes through the steam generator 3, and the water held by the steam generator 3 evaporates to generate steam, which is supplied to the user's mouth, effectively humidifying the mouth and preventing it from drying out.

In addition, according to the mask 1 of this embodiment, the steam generator 3 is capable of absorbing and retaining water, so water that has flowed out of the water bag 7 is prevented from leaking out and wetting the mask body 2. Therefore, there is no risk of the user feeling uncomfortable when wearing the mask 1 on their face.

In addition, with the mask 1 of this embodiment, the user does not need to place a wet filter in the storage section as with conventional masks, and only needs to press the steam generator 3, which saves time and effort and eliminates the risk of the user's hands getting dirty with water. Furthermore, because the water is sealed in the water bag 7, it is possible to prevent mold from growing on the steam generator 3 when the mask 1 is stored before use.

In addition, according to the mask 1 of this embodiment, the viscosity of the water in the water bag 7 is 3000 mPa·s or more and 7000 mPa·s or less, so when the water bag 7 is opened, water does not flow out of the water bag 7 with force into the steam generator 3, preventing damage to the steam generator 3.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As a modified example, in the above embodiment, the mask body 2 is formed by overlapping at least two sheets 5, 6, and the steam generator 3 is housed between the two sheets 5, 6, so that the mask body 2 can be equipped with the steam generator 3. However, the method for enabling the mask body 2 to be equipped with the steam generator 3 is not particularly limited, and for example, a method may be adopted in which a pocket for storing the steam generator 3 is attached to the mask body 2, and the steam generator 3 is stored in the pocket.

As another variation, in the above embodiment, the mask body 2 has a three-dimensional structure that forms a large space between the nostrils and the mouth when worn on the face. However, the structure of the mask body 2 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a structure that is flat before use, and when worn on the user's face, stretches in the vertical direction by spreading one or more pleats, etc. (a structure that fits closer to the surface of the face than a three-dimensional structure).

1 Mask 2 Mask body 3 Steam generator 7 Water bag

Claims (1)

A steam generator having a water bag therein for sealing water;
a mask body that is fitted to a user's face and that can be equipped with the steam generator;
The water bag can be opened by receiving a pressing force to allow water to flow out,
The steam-generating body is formed by laminating an outer sheet having breathability and an inner main sheet capable of absorbing water flowing out from the water bag,
The mask body is formed by joining the outer periphery of two breathable sheets, except for the upper edge, to each other, and includes a storage section for storing the steam generator .
A mask characterized by:

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