JP7753597B2 - Water and/or air quality control materials and water and/or air quality control devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to water and/or air quality control materials that are easy to use at home and contain substances suitable for water quality control that remove odors and pollutants from water used in household appliances such as washing machines, flush toilets, bathtubs, sinks, aquariums, and hydroponic cultivation, and that supply active ingredients to optimize the water condition depending on the application, and/or substances suitable for air quality control that remove odors and pollutants from living spaces to ensure a comfortable living environment; water and/or air quality control devices that include these water and/or air quality control materials as components that function as water and/or air quality control units; and water and/or air quality control household products that utilize the water and/or air quality control materials and water and/or air quality control devices.

Once material desires are satisfied, humans begin to desire a clean, disease-free, and comfortable living environment—one free of odors and protected from invisible pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. As a result, it is now common to see antibacterial products boasting antibacterial treatments on household and kitchen utensils, food containers and packaging, clothing, stationery and toys, electrical and electronic products, housing and building materials, vehicles and aircraft, and more (Non-Patent Documents 1-3). Here, "antibacterial" is not limited to suppressing or inhibiting the growth of fungi, bacteria, and viruses, or killing or damaging them, but also encompasses sterilization, disinfection, sterilization, bacteriostatic, bacteriostatic, antiseptic, antifungal, and antifungal effects on non-pathogenic microorganisms. It should be noted, however, that due to the many academically similar terms in this field, there is little proper understanding of the term "antibacterial," and there are many misunderstandings about the effectiveness and utility of antibacterial products.

Furthermore, deodorizing agents, also known as deodorizers, air fresheners, and deodorizers, are sprayed in living spaces such as living rooms, toilets, kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways; inside household items such as shoe cabinets, refrigerators, and chests of drawers; in various public facilities such as hospitals, movie theaters, and schools; and inside vehicles such as automobiles, vehicles, and airplanes; and deodorizing products containing deodorizing agents in various forms are naturally kept on hand (Non-Patent Documents 4 and 5).

In the lead-up to this current situation, in order to enhance the effectiveness of antibacterial and deodorizing properties, various factors have been considered, such as the type of pathogen and odor source being targeted, as well as the usage and environment of the antibacterial and deodorizing products. The mechanisms of action of the antibacterial and deodorizing products have been selected, and improvements have been made to antibacterial agents and deodorizing products, as well as the product forms that use them (Non-Patent Documents 1-5). In particular, with regard to deodorizing products, not only is the functional value of deodorizing important, but the emotional value of the fragrance that users enjoy is also important, and it has been necessary to respond to changes in fragrances over time (Non-Patent Document 6).

For example, with regard to antibacterial agents, there has been a shift from organic to inorganic antibacterial agents, particularly from the perspective of safety and the durability of antibacterial effects (Non-Patent Document 3). In particular, many antibacterial agents have been developed in which fine particles and ions of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), etc., as well as compounds of these metals, are supported on carriers such as inorganic porous materials and hydroxyapatite (Patent Document 1).

Furthermore, anatase titanium dioxide ( _TiO2 ) photocatalysts, which generate highly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals when irradiated with ultraviolet light and decompose organic substances, i.e., pathogens and sources of malodors, have attracted attention and are being used as substances with both antibacterial and deodorizing functions (Non-Patent Document 7). Therefore, visible light-responsive Ti-based photocatalysts and tungsten oxide ( _WO3 )-based photocatalysts have been developed that exhibit photocatalytic function even in indoor environments where _TiO2 is exposed to little UV light (Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 8). Titanium (Ti)-containing hydroxyapatite, which has enhanced organic adsorption properties, and titanium phosphate-based compounds, which do not require light, have also been developed as antibacterial and deodorizing agents using titanium (Ti) (Patent Documents 3 and 4).

As mentioned above, "antibacterial" has a broad, inclusive meaning, but just as it has a variety of effects, such as killing, inhibiting the growth of, and removing microorganisms, preventing the deterioration of medicines and foodstuffs that contain microorganisms, and killing and inhibiting the growth of pathogens alone, "deodorizing fragrances" also have three main effects. First, they decompose and kill the microorganisms that cause odors. Second, they chemically and physically adsorb odors and remove them from the system. Third, they mask odors with a fragrance that is stronger than the odor itself. In practice, these effects are often combined to achieve the "deodorizing fragrance" function.

Therefore, as can be seen from the deodorizing products available on pharmacy shelves, a wider variety of materials and forms have been developed for deodorizing air fresheners and deodorizing products than for antibacterial agents and antibacterial products (Non-Patent Documents 4-6). Examples include spray deodorizing products, and products in which liquid, gel, or solid deodorizing products are stored in a container and the deodorizing product evaporates or absorbs odors. Furthermore, the emotional value of fragrances, which are enjoyed by users, is important for aromatic components, and they must also be able to respond to changes in fragrance over time. For this reason, a wide variety of fragrances are available, including floral, citrus, herbal, soap, and fruit flavors.

Furthermore, as the values of human lifestyles become more diverse, there is no end to the demand for such clean, disease-free, and comfortable living environments, and people are now demanding not only antibacterial and deodorizing fragrances, but also functions that maintain and promote the health of humans, animals, and plants in their daily lives, as well as functions that relieve the burden of daily household chores and other labor.

For example, there has been growing interest in products known as ceramic balls, which contain ceramics, a non-metallic inorganic material that has traditionally been used in ceramics, abrasives, heat exchange materials, refractory materials, and electronic and electrical components, as well as naturally occurring inorganic materials that contain metals, such as minerals and rocks (Non-Patent Document 9). These ceramic balls are said to have a wide range of effects, including not only antibacterial and deodorizing effects, but also cleaning effects, mineral replenishment effects, far-infrared effects, and negative ion effects, but many aspects of their effects remain unknown.

This is because ceramic balls can contain heavy metal ions such as Ag, Cu, and Zn present in minerals and rocks, as well as photocatalysts such as _TiO2 , giving them excellent antibacterial properties, and they can contain porous materials such as ceramics, minerals, and rocks, giving them excellent deodorizing properties that absorb odors, as typified by activated carbon and zeolite.It is also thought that this is because ceramic balls also have functions that maintain and improve the health of humans, animals, and plants in everyday life, such as replenishing minerals, relieving fatigue, activating cells, and improving cleaning power, as well as functions that relieve the burden of everyday housework and other labor.

For example, ceramic balls containing minerals and rocks are porous and rich in minerals such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca). Therefore, simply by attaching a filter containing ceramic balls to a water supply, mineral water can be obtained from tap water with chlorine compounds and other substances purified.

Furthermore, when such ceramic balls are made with minerals and rocks containing silicon dioxide (SiO ₂ ), and the ceramic balls are placed in a showerhead, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the far-infrared radiation effect of the SiO ₂ can reduce damage to hair, scalp, and skin, warm the body, and promote blood flow (Non-Patent Document 10). This far-infrared radiation effect is based on the ceramic balls' large content of SiO ₂ , which has a high emissivity for far-infrared rays. Note that this emissivity is defined as the ratio ε = W'/W between the ideal total radiant energy W, based on a "blackbody," an ideal object that absorbs all incident wavelengths of light and neither reflects nor transmits light, and the energy W' radiated by the object. SiO ₂ is opaque to far-infrared rays in the 3-1,000 μm range, and, according to Kirchhoff's law that emissivity and absorptivity are equal, has the property of easily absorbing and emitting far-infrared rays.

Furthermore, ceramic balls containing _TiO2 , a photocatalyst, can have antibacterial properties, which means that in hydroponics (hydroculture), a clean water environment can be maintained for a long period of time, suppressing the growth of mold and pathogens and preventing root rot.In addition, the water quality can be changed by eluting minerals, creating a water environment that is favorable for plant growth, reducing the amount of liquid fertilizer used and improving the taste of food.

Using these ceramic balls in laundry not only improves the cleaning, antibacterial, and deodorizing effects on laundry, but also cleans, antibacterial, and deodorizes the washing machine drum and its drain pipe, thereby reducing the burden of daily housework (Patent Documents 5 and 6). This is thought to be because the far-infrared radiation from _SiO2 promotes the penetration of water into laundry, enhancing cleaning power, and the photocatalyst _TiO2 exerts antibacterial and deodorizing effects. The cleaning effect can be further enhanced by using these ceramic balls in a laundry ball that prevents laundry from tangling and enhances cleaning effectiveness through physical collisions. One method for improving cleaning power is to incorporate magnesium (Mg) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH) ₂ ), which exhibit cleaning effects, into the ceramic balls, and this method is widely used in laundry cleaning products (Non-Patent Document 11).

As described above, the market is flooded with a variety of living environment maintenance products that use numerous antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, cleaning agents, and other products to create a clean, disease-free, comfortable living environment that is odor-free and protected from invisible pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, as well as a living environment that maintains and improves the health of humans and plants in their daily lives and relieves people from the burden of everyday housework.

However, these living environment maintenance products are household goods, and compared to food and pharmaceutical products, for which proper labeling is required by law, it is extremely difficult for the average consumer to distinguish their quality when purchasing them, and this becomes even more difficult when the intended use and environment in which they are used are also taken into consideration. As a result, there are cases in which average consumers are unable to enjoy the satisfactory effects and benefits of living environment maintenance products.

No matter how effective an antibacterial agent, deodorizer, mineral supplier, far-infrared emitter, or cleaning agent may be, in order to exert its effect, it must come into contact with liquids and gases containing pathogens and odors, particularly water and the air in living spaces in living environments. Therefore, a minimum specific surface area is required, and it is preferable for the particles to be in the size of a few microns to a few tens of microns.

For example, ceramic balls are produced by mixing highly effective antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral-supplying agents, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents with other ceramics and molding them into balls. These balls are approximately 7 to 10 mm in size and are manufactured using a method similar to the konpeito (candy) manufacturing method patented during the Meiji period: feeding raw materials and water into a mixer, rotating the mixer, and growing the balls until they are finally sintered (this ceramic ball manufacturing method is referred to as the "mixer granulation method" in this specification). As a result, the specific surface area of the ceramic balls themselves is small, and it is difficult to distribute the active ingredients unevenly on the ceramic ball surface, resulting in limited effectiveness. Furthermore, molding antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral-supplying agents, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents into ceramic balls requires special technology, making them difficult to manufacture.

As a result, currently, living environment maintenance products that can fully demonstrate the excellent effects of antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents are not available to the general consumer.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-28453 Patent No. 5567828 Patent No. 3678606 Patent No. 4430877 Utility Model Registration No. 3147925 Patent No. 5838273 Patent No. 2567719 Patent No. 3117614 Patent No. 3602654 JP 2009-84174 A Patent No. 3829640 Patent No. 4430877 Patent No. 5473324 Patent No. 5567828 JP 2016-53128 A Patent No. 3678606 Patent No. 3275032 Patent No. 4035622 Patent No. 5664952

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As explained in the Background Art section, when people's material desires are satisfied, they strive to ensure a clean, disease-free, and comfortable living environment that is free from unpleasant odors and is protected from invisible pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, as well as a living environment that maintains and improves the health of humans and plants in their daily lives and relieves them from the burden of everyday housework. However, among the many antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents that have been developed, no products have been found that exhibit excellent effects that fully satisfy these demands, and no household living environment maintenance products that can effectively utilize these products have been found.

The present invention aims to provide living environment maintenance products in a form that can fully demonstrate the excellent effects of antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide water and/or air quality control materials, water and/or air quality control tools using these materials, and household water and/or air quality control products using these materials and tools, as living environment maintenance products that purify the water and air used in living environments, maintain and improve the health of humans, animals, plants, etc. in everyday life, and relieve the burden of housework and other daily chores.

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have developed a method for collecting adsorbents such as activated carbon and zeolite, antibacterial agents carrying Ag ions, and crushed rock material containing a large amount of _SiO2 , with a basis weight (weight per unit area, generally expressed as g/m2). The inventors have found that by preparing a bag in which a nonwoven fabric having a thickness of ¹⁰⁰ μm or more and a thickness of 100 μm or more is enclosed, two or more of the bags are housed in a housing having an opening through which fluid can easily move, and these bags can be installed in a living room, toilet, kitchen, etc., or thrown into a water tank of a flush toilet, a bathtub, an aquarium, etc., it is possible to remove pathogens and odors present in water and/or air, to exhibit far-infrared effects during bathing, and to provide a living environment maintenance product that satisfies general consumers, which can be equipped with a wide variety of interchangeable antibacterial agents and adsorbents depending on the purpose and environment of use, i.e., a water and/or air quality control material in the above-mentioned bag, a water and/or air quality control tool using this material, and a water and/or air quality control household product using these materials and tools, and have completed the present invention.

First, the present invention provides a water and/or air quality control material characterized by one or more water and/or air quality control substances enclosed in a bag made of impermeable, captureable filter material. Therefore, the water and/or air quality control material of the present invention can use various forms of water and/or air quality control substances, and can be installed as is in living rooms, toilets, kitchens, etc., and can be placed in flush toilet water tanks, bathtubs, aquariums, etc. Furthermore, because the water and/or air quality control material of the present invention is simply enclosed in a bag made of deformable filter material, it may be preferable to use it as is or to further house it in a housing as described below, depending on the purpose and use, for example, damage from contact with laundry in a washing machine, cleaning effectiveness, limited installation space in a chest of drawers, the style of the aquarium when installed in an aquarium, and cost, allowing providers and users to freely choose.

Secondly, the present invention provides a water and/or air quality control device in which one or more of the above water and/or air quality control materials are housed in a housing equipped with components that function as water and/or air quality control units, and which is not intended for a specific purpose but can be used as a variety of household items or as components of household items. The housing's primary purposes are to protect against damage from contact with the external environment, to ensure stable installation, and to package or cover the filter material to enhance its design.

Thirdly, the present invention provides a water and/or air quality control household appliance in which one or more of the above-mentioned water and/or air quality control materials are provided with components that function as a water and/or air quality control unit and are housed in a housing with a specific application, or a water and/or air quality control household appliance that is equipped with the above-mentioned water and/or air quality control tool and has a specific application. This means that the water and/or air quality control material or water and/or air quality control tool that functions as a water and/or air quality control unit is housed in a housing configured with a form and function appropriate for the purpose and application, such as in a household appliance such as a laundry ball used in a washing machine, which preferably has not only antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning functions due to substances with water and/or air quality control functions, but also a cleaning promotion function through contact with laundry and a dust capture function for hair, lint, and other particles.

In this way, the basic unit that constitutes and shares water and/or air quality control devices and household water and/or air quality control appliances is the water and/or air quality control material, which is selected by combining a filter medium that is impermeable to but can capture substances with water and/or air control functions with substances that have water and/or air control functions. In other words, the basic technology of this invention is that the filter medium is limited to using substances with water and/or air control functions that are larger than the maximum size of the pores it forms, while the pores in the filter medium are large enough to allow fluids such as water and air to pass through with little resistance.

Specifically, for a substance with water quality control function and/or air quality control function to effectively exhibit antibacterial function, deodorizing fragrance function, mineral supply function, far-infrared radiation function, cleansing function, etc., the larger the contact area with fluids such as water and/or air, the better, and the smaller the substance, the greater the surface area. On the other hand, the filter medium forming the bag in which the substance with water quality control function and/or air quality control function is sealed must be able to capture the substance with water quality control function and/or air quality control function, and must have voids that allow fluids such as water and/or air to pass through without significant resistance.

Therefore, based on experimental results, it is preferable that the particle size of substances with water quality control functions and/or air quality control functions be approximately 1 μm to 5 mm, and substances with water quality control functions and/or air quality control functions are selected within this size range. If the particle size is smaller than this lower limit, the filter material capable of capturing these particles will have a reduced ability to permeate fluids such as water and/or air, which is undesirable, and if the particle size is larger than this upper limit, the water quality control function and/or air quality control function will be impaired.

On the other hand, the filter material preferably has at least its pore size of about 3 μm to 1 mm, its porosity of about 40% to 90%, and its air permeability of about 1 m ³ /m ² s to 200 ^m 3 /m ² s, and within this range, the filter material that can capture the substance with water quality control function and/or air quality control function is selected.If it is smaller than this lower limit, it can completely capture the substance with water quality control function and/or air quality control function, but the permeability of the fluid such as water and/or air of the filter material is significantly reduced, which is not preferred;If it is larger than this upper limit, the substance that can be used has water quality control function and/or air quality control function becomes too large, the effect of water quality control function and/or air quality control function is reduced, and the substance that can be used has water quality control function and/or air quality control function is limited, which is not preferred; and it can completely capture the substance with water quality control function and/or air quality control function of the above particle size. In knitted fabric, woven fabric and nonwoven fabric, there are also parameters such as basis weight, thickness, fiber diameter, etc., but for the filter material of the present invention, the above three parameters are the most important for the collection of the substance that has water quality and/or air quality control function.This is thought to be because, as will be described later, porosity is calculated from basis weight, thickness and fiber volume.

As such, substances with water quality control functions and/or air quality control functions must be selected with favorable functionality. However, there is a favorable interrelationship between the filter medium's ability to adequately capture substances with water quality control functions and/or air quality control functions and the substance's ability to fully demonstrate its effectiveness. By organically combining these, it is possible to obtain a living environment maintenance product that satisfies general consumers, i.e., a bag-shaped water and/or air quality control material. Below, we will explain in more detail the filter medium and substances with water quality control functions and/or air quality control functions that can be used in this invention.

The filter medium is preferably a mesh, knitted fabric, woven fabric, or nonwoven fabric. The mesh size allows the size of usable substances with water quality control and/or air quality control functions to be determined by their mesh opening size. Meanwhile, the permeability of knitted fabrics, woven fabrics, and nonwoven fabrics can typically be determined by their basis weight and thickness. However, as described below, it is preferable to determine and select the size of usable substances with water quality control and/or air quality control functions from the maximum pore size of the knitted fabric, woven fabric, or nonwoven fabric measured using a through-pore size distribution analyzer such as the bubble point method, water breakthrough method, mercury or non-mercury porosimetry, or gas adsorption method, which can evaluate pore sizes of approximately 0.3 μm to 1 mm, which is the lower limit of the size of substances with water quality control and/or air quality control functions used in this invention. Pore sizes of approximately 1 mm or larger can be confirmed using an optical microscope or visual inspection.

To accommodate size restrictions on substances with water quality control and/or air quality control functions, particularly small substances, the filter medium can be a laminated filter medium in which two or more of the same or different types of mesh, knitted fabric, woven fabric, and nonwoven fabric are laminated together to control the pore size. In this specification, such laminated filter medium will be referred to as laminated mesh filter medium if it contains at least mesh, laminated knitted fabric if it contains at least knitted fabric, laminated woven fabric if it contains at least woven fabric, and laminated nonwoven fabric if it contains at least nonwoven fabric.

Among these filter media, mesh and laminated mesh, as well as nonwoven fabric and laminated nonwoven fabric, are preferred. Mesh is a regularly woven fabric that can accurately sift through substances with water and/or air quality control functions. While stainless steel mesh and resin mesh are also available, resin mesh is preferred due to its high flexibility, the ability to use fine fibers, and the ability to select low pore size, porosity, and air permeability. Nonwoven fabrics, on the other hand, have a porous structure and can be made from a wide variety of organic and inorganic fibers with a wide range of materials, thicknesses, and lengths. This allows for a wide range of manufacturing methods to be selected, allowing for a wide range of properties to be tailored to the purpose and application, namely, breathability, water permeability, filtration (capture), pore size, and pore rate. Synthetic fiber nonwoven fabrics, in particular, offer a wide variety of options and are most suitable for the filter media of the present invention. Here, we will explain nonwoven fabrics in detail.

The nonwoven fabric material can be made from organic fibers such as natural fibers like cotton, wool, hemp, silk, and pulp, synthetic fibers like nylon, polypropylene, polyester, acrylic, and polyamide, or inorganic fibers like glass fiber, but synthetic fibers are most preferred from the standpoint of performance.

The manufacturing method basically consists of a fleece-forming process, which forms a fiber-accumulated layer known as fleece, and an interfiber bonding process, which bonds the fibers together. The fleece-forming process includes dry, wet, spunbond, and meltblown methods, while the interfiber bonding process includes chemical bonding, which uses emulsion or solution-based adhesives, thermal bonding, which does not use adhesives, needlepunching, which entangles fibers with needles, and spunlace, which entangles fibers with a high-pressure water jet. Because there are such a wide variety of manufacturing methods, a wide variety of nonwoven fabrics can be produced to suit different purposes and uses.

In particular, the fleece-forming method allows for a wide variety of fiber types, including fiber material, thickness, and length, resulting in a wide variety of nonwoven fabrics. The dry method is suitable for fibers approximately 10 to 100 mm in length. The fibers are passed through a carding machine, where they are oriented or unoriented by varying the rotation speed of uneven rolls and airflow. This allows for the production of nonwoven fabrics with a wide range of aperture diameters. The wet method involves dispersing fibers in water, then filtering them with a mesh wire, similar to the papermaking process, and drying them on a felt to accumulate the fibers. This method is suitable for short fibers approximately 10 mm in length or less, and is compatible with any fiber material, allowing the production of nonwoven fabrics with a uniform thickness and a wide range of basis weights. The spunbond method directly accumulates continuous, long fibers obtained by melting and spinning raw resin. Therefore, the fiber length is the same as the machine length, and although it is limited to synthetic fibers, it produces strong nonwoven fabrics. The meltblown method involves melting a resin and stretching it with high-temperature air sprayed from around a spinning nozzle to form thin fibers into a sheet, allowing for the production of nonwoven fabrics with the smallest pore size, with a fiber diameter of approximately 0.3 μm. For this reason, nonwoven fabrics (M) produced by the meltblown method and laminated nonwoven fabrics (S) produced by the spunbond method, such as laminated nonwoven fabrics with an S-M-S three-layer structure or an S-M-M-S four-layer structure, are used to produce medical masks that capture 99% or more of 1-3 μm pseudoviruses and N95 masks that capture 95% or more of 0.3 μm sodium chloride (NaCl) crystals.

In this way, nonwoven fabrics and laminated nonwoven fabrics can be given a wide variety of properties, including pore size and pore rate, making them suitable for a wide range of uses as filter media for capturing substances with various properties that have water quality control and/or air quality control functions.

The shape of the bag formed using this filter material is not particularly limited, and it is preferable that it be sewn into a shape suitable for the purpose and use. Possible shapes include prismatic, flat, cylindrical, pyramidal, conical, spherical, oval, and drawstring shapes, as well as hollow or pleated shapes. Hollow and pleated shapes are preferred, as they provide a large contact area with fluids such as water and/or air. However, it is preferable that an opening and closing means, such as a zipper, string, or male/female member, be provided to allow replacement of the enclosed substance with water quality control and/or air quality control functions.

On the other hand, the substance having water quality control function and/or air quality control function is one or more selected from antibacterial metal ion-containing substances, antibacterial metal-containing substances, antibacterial metal compound-containing substances, photocatalyst-containing substances, deodorizing inorganic porous substances, cleansing inorganic substance-containing substances, and inorganic porous substances, and is sealed in a bag made of a filter material that can capture the substance according to its properties, and is provided as a water quality and/or air quality control material.

Examples of antibacterial metal ion-containing materials include inorganic antibacterial agents such as zeolite carrying one or more antibacterial metal ions such as Ag ions, Zn ions, and Cu ions (e.g., Zeomic (registered trademark) manufactured by Sinanen Zeomic Co., Ltd., Bactekiller (registered trademark) manufactured by Fuji Chemical Co., Ltd., and Patent Document 7), glass (e.g., Ion Pure (registered trademark) manufactured by Ishizuka Glass Co., Ltd., Million Guard (registered trademark) manufactured by Koa Glass Co., Ltd., and Non-Patent Document 12), magnesium aluminometasilicate ( _SiO2 - _Al2O3 - _MgO ) (e.g., Ice (registered trademark) manufactured by JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Industries, Ltd.), and zirconium phosphate (e.g., Novalon (registered trademark) AQ manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd.). Furthermore, ceramic balls containing these inorganic antibacterial agents and having a particle size of about 0.1 mm to 1 mm, ceramic balls containing such inorganic antibacterial agents and having a particle size of about 1 mm to 5 mm produced by a mixer granulation method, and particles having a particle size of about 0.1 mm to 1 mm obtained by crushing such ceramic balls having a particle size of about 1 mm to 5 mm or larger ceramic balls produced by a mixer granulation method can also be used. Ceramic balls having a particle size of about 0.1 mm to 1 mm can be produced by sintering a powder compact produced by placing raw materials in a mold using a compression molding machine. Ceramic balls produced by this sintering method generally develop pores depending on the density and heating conditions of the powder compact. However, the ceramic balls of the present invention are preferably porous bodies produced under conditions that facilitate pore development in order to increase the contact area with fluids such as water and/or air. Furthermore, crushed particles of ceramic balls can be produced using a crusher or other grinding machine using a grinding medium such as a hammer, roller, cutter, or ball. Depending on the purpose and application, one or more of these various antibacterial metal ion-containing materials can be selected, and the selected antibacterial metal ion-containing material can be combined with a suitable filter medium to produce water quality and/or air quality control materials.

Examples of antibacterial metal-containing materials include zeolites carrying antibacterial metals such as Ag, Zn, Cu, Au, Pt, and nickel (Ni)/palladium (Pd) as microparticles, nanoparticles, or coatings, activated carbon (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 13), activated alumina, hydroxyapatite (see, for example, Apacider (registered trademark) manufactured by Sangi Co., Ltd.), silica gel, tobermorite (see, for example, Patent Document 9), lime plaster, fired firebrick, coral sand (see, for example, Patent Document 8), diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, perlite, igneous rock, agate, and conglomerate, among other inorganic porous materials, in the form of granules of a specified size. Furthermore, similar to the antibacterial metal ion-containing materials, ceramic balls containing these inorganic antibacterial agents and having a particle size of approximately 0.1 mm to 1 mm, ceramic balls containing such inorganic antibacterial agents and having a particle size of approximately 1 mm to 5 mm produced by a mixer granulation method, and particles having a particle size of approximately 0.1 mm to 1 mm obtained by crushing such ceramic balls having a particle size of approximately 1 mm to 5 mm or larger ceramic balls produced by a mixer granulation method can also be used. Here, Ag, Zn, Cu, Au, and Pt have antibacterial effects against so-called pathogens, while Ni/Pd decomposes ethylene gas released from fruits and vegetables, thereby maintaining the freshness of the fruits and vegetables.

The antibacterial metal compound-containing material is, for example, a zeolite carrying a benzotriazole-Ag compound (see, for example, Patent Document 10), a SiO 2 containing an antibacterial metal or an antibacterial metal compound, or the like. Examples of suitable inorganic porous materials include sand having a coating of No. ₂ formed on its surface (Holokiller (registered trademark) Sand manufactured by Nikko Co., Ltd.); zeolite, activated carbon, activated alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica gel, tobermorite, plaster, fired refractory brick, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, perlite, igneous rock, agate, and conglomerate embedded with a hydrophobic substance such as rosin, higher fatty acid, or higher alcohol containing the inorganic antibacterial agent (see, for example, Patent Document 9); and inorganic porous materials such as zeolite, activated carbon, activated alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica gel, tobermorite, plaster, fired refractory brick, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, perlite, igneous rock, agate, and conglomerate coated with a light-inhibiting antibacterial titanium phosphate compound (see, for example, Patent Documents 11 and 12). Although the titanium phosphate-based compound has antibacterial and deodorizing properties by itself, it is more preferable that it contains a titanium silicate compound and/or a titanium borate compound, and all of these are collectively referred to as titanium phosphate-based compounds. In this case, as with the antibacterial metal ion-containing substance and the antibacterial metal-containing substance, ceramic balls containing these antibacterial metal compounds and their pulverized bodies can also be used.

When an inorganic porous body is used as a carrier for the above antibacterial metal-containing body and antibacterial metal compound-containing body, an inorganic porous body coated with a titanium phosphate compound is particularly preferred, as it maintains the specific surface area of the inorganic porous body, provides excellent adhesion between the antibacterial component and the inorganic porous body, and exhibits antibacterial activity with excellent sustained stability.

Examples of photocatalyst-containing materials include granules of a predetermined size of inorganic porous materials such as zeolite, activated carbon, activated alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica gel, tobermorite, plaster, fired firebrick, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, perlite, igneous rock, agate, and conglomerate, which carry photocatalyst microparticles or nanoparticles. The photocatalyst is preferably one or more selected from the widely used ultraviolet-responsive TiO ₂ , visible-light-responsive TiO ₂ , and visible-light-responsive WO ₃ (see, for example, Patent Documents 13 to 15). In particular, since the water quality control and/or air quality control material of the present invention is often used indoors, visible-light-responsive TiO ₂ and/or WO ₃ photocatalysts are preferred.

The photocatalyst-containing material is not limited to these, and examples that can be used include complexes in which metal ions of apatites such as hydroxyapatite, fluoroapatite, chloroapatite, tricalcium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, and calcium hydroxyapatite are substituted for Ti in TiO ₂ (e.g., Patent Document 16, PHOTOHAP (registered trademark) PCAP-100 manufactured by Taihei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), as well as granular materials of a predetermined size, such as _{TiO 2} particles coated with a porous calcium phosphate film or inorganic porous materials such as zeolite, activated carbon, activated alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica gel, tobermorite, plaster, fired firebrick, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, perlite, igneous rock, agate, and conglomerate (e.g., Patent Document 17).

Furthermore, similar to antibacterial metal ion-containing substances, antibacterial metal-containing substances, and antibacterial metal compound-containing substances, ultraviolet-sensitive _TiO2 microparticles or nanoparticles, visible-light-responsive _TiO2 and _WO3 microparticles or nanoparticles, and ceramic balls and pulverized bodies containing the above photocatalyst-containing substances can also be used.

Examples of deodorizing inorganic porous materials include granular materials of a specified size, such as zeolite, activated carbon, activated alumina, hydroxyapatite, silica gel, tobermorite, plaster, fired firebrick, coral sand, diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, perlite, igneous rock, agate, and conglomerate.

The zeolite may be either natural or synthetic. Activated carbon can be coconut shell charcoal, wood charcoal, coal, sawdust charcoal, bamboo charcoal, cocoon charcoal, coffee charcoal, etc., with cocoon charcoal, which has a large specific surface area, being particularly preferred from the viewpoint of deodorizing power (Patent Document 18). Silica has a high _SiO2 content and is excellent in far-infrared radiation, but graphite silica, which contains a lot of _TiO2 and is rich in minerals, is more preferred because it can be used for multiple purposes. Igneous rock and conglomerate are also preferred, including granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, and granitic conglomerate, for the same reasons as graphite silica.

In particular, in consideration of far-infrared radiation, inorganic porous bodies containing at least about 70 wt% of either _SiO2 or carbon (C), which have a thermal emissivity of at least 0.9 for far-infrared rays with wavelengths of 3 μm to 1 mm, are preferred. Therefore, particularly preferred inorganic porous bodies include activated carbon, silica stone, silica gel, fired refractory bricks containing a large amount of silicon carbide (SiC), coral sand, diatomaceous earth, silica stone, silica sand, granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, and agate.

Such inorganic porous materials can also be used as ceramic balls and their crushed bodies, as inorganic porous inclusions, and as substances with water quality control and/or air quality control functions.

Furthermore, since water containing magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH) ₂ ) and metallic magnesium (Mg) exhibits cleaning power, the cleaning inorganic substance and cleaning inorganic substance-containing body are preferably Mg(OH) ₂ and/or Mg alone, or a substance containing these. The reason why Mg(OH) ₂ exhibits cleaning power is thought to be because a small amount of Mg(OH) ₂ dissolves in water at 18°C at approximately 9.0 x 10-4 g/100 g, making the water weakly alkaline. Furthermore, Mg does not react with water at room temperature but reacts vigorously with boiling water to produce hydrogen (H ₂ ) and Mg(OH) _2. However, since an increase in pH and improved cleaning power are observed at room temperature, it is thought that even with water at room temperature, a small amount of Mg reacts to produce Mg(OH) ₂ (Non-Patent Document 11).

As the cleaning inorganic substance, particles, pellets, and balls of Mg(OH) ₂ and Mg can be used as they are. On the other hand, as the cleaning inorganic substance-containing material, for example, crushed hydrotalcite, which is primarily composed of Mg(OH) ₂ , can be used as it is. Ceramic balls containing Mg(OH) ₂ powder and Mg powder and crushed bodies thereof can also be used. In particular, ceramic balls containing Mg(OH) ₂ powder and Mg powder are preferably sintered powder compacts mixed with calcium sulfite powder, which is slightly soluble in water, and molded to a predetermined size (Patent Document 19). This is because it promotes the dissolution of Mg(OH) in water after reacting with water. However, it is more preferable to use the cleaning inorganic substance as it is.

These water and/or air quality control materials are the basic units of this invention. By selecting and mixing substances with water and/or air quality control functions and forming them into a form appropriate for the purpose and use, they can be used as living environment maintenance products that can fully demonstrate the excellent effects of antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents. More specifically, they purify the water and air used in living environments, and also function to maintain and promote the health of humans, animals, plants, etc. in everyday life, and to relieve the burden of daily housework and other labor. These living environment maintenance products can be installed in living rooms, toilets, kitchens, etc., and can also be added to flush toilet water tanks, bathtubs, aquariums, etc.

However, when used in a washing machine or spin-drying machine, for example, the filter media of the water and/or air quality control material frequently and violently collide with laundry, the walls of the washing and spin-drying tub, and the washing blades, which can subject the filter media to shear forces and damage it, so it is preferable to house it in a protective housing. Furthermore, it is preferable that the housing not only protect the water and/or air quality control material, but also function as a laundry ball to promote cleaning through contact with laundry and capture dust such as hair and lint. Furthermore, if each water and/or air quality control material contains a substance with a different water and/or air quality control function, it is possible to simply replace the water and/or air quality control material housed in the housing depending on the purpose and use, and the product can be disposable, making it an efficient and easy-to-use product.

Furthermore, for example, when installing water and/or air quality control materials in an aquarium tank to preserve water quality and promote the growth of aquatic plants, or when installing them at the water inlet of a hand-washing spout to a tank in a flush toilet for antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning purposes for the toilet bowl, tank, and piping, etc., it is preferable to house water and/or air quality control materials with exposed filter media in a housing with a shape, size, color, etc. that is suitable for the aquarium and toilet, taking into consideration the tastes, preferences, atmosphere, and aesthetic sense of the aquarium and hand-washing spout.

From this perspective, the present invention provides a water and/or air quality control device or a water and/or air quality control household appliance, characterized in that one or more water and/or air quality control materials are housed in a housing equipped with components that function as a water and/or air quality control unit. Furthermore, this air quality control household appliance may be a water and/or air quality control household appliance characterized in that it is equipped with one or more water and/or air quality control devices.

In other words, a water and/or air quality control device can be defined as a device that contains one or more water and/or air quality control materials, protects the water and/or air quality control materials, has a design, and can be used regardless of purpose or use. An air quality control household appliance can be defined as a water and/or air quality control device whose casing itself has a design and function specific to the purpose and use, or a water and/or air quality control device whose casing is used as is but is exteriorized with a casing or means with a new design and function.

Using laundry balls as an example, a water and/or air quality control device is a device containing water and/or air quality control material in a housing with a water and/or air quality control unit and a water inlet/outlet. This housing protects the filter material from collisions with laundry, the walls of the washing/spinning tub, and the washing blades, as well as damage caused by shear stress. This device can be used in living rooms, toilets, kitchens, flush toilet water tanks, bathtubs, aquariums, and other places, and is therefore defined as a water and/or air quality control device. However, if the housing of this water and/or air quality control device with a water inlet/outlet is itself a new housing equipped with cleaning promotion and dust capture functions, and the device containing the water and/or air quality control material is a laundry ball, it is defined as a water and/or air quality control household product. Additionally, the above-mentioned water and/or air quality control devices are used as they are, but are packaged with means for realizing cleaning promotion and dust capture functions, and the above-mentioned water and/or air quality control devices are housed in a new housing equipped with means for realizing cleaning promotion and dust capture functions. These are also laundry balls and are defined as water and/or air quality control household products.

Using aquariums and flush toilets as examples, water and/or air quality control devices containing water and/or air quality control materials in a housing with a water inlet and outlet that serves as the water and/or air quality control unit can be installed directly in an aquarium tank or a toilet hand-washing spout and function as water and/or air quality control devices. However, a housing in the shape of an aquatic plant suitable for an aquarium, with a water inlet and outlet that serves as the water and/or air quality control unit, containing water and/or air quality control materials, is also a water and/or air quality control household appliance. Furthermore, a housing suitable for a water inlet to a tank below a hand-washing spout, with a water inlet and outlet that serves as the water and/or air quality control unit, containing water and/or air quality control materials, is also a water and/or air quality control household appliance.

The reason why the present invention is distinguished from water and/or air quality control materials, water and/or air quality control devices, and water and/or air quality control household appliances is that the present invention has the following effects, enabling it to efficiently provide living environment maintenance products for a variety of purposes and uses. First, by preparing water and/or air quality control materials containing a wide variety of substances with water and/or air quality control functions and preparing a housing capable of housing multiple units of these water and/or air quality control materials, it is possible to efficiently produce water and/or air quality control devices suitable for a variety of purposes and uses. Second, even for purposes and uses that require a special housing, the housing of the water and/or air quality control device can be shared to create a water and/or air quality control household appliance. Third, by providing a housing for the water and/or air quality control device with a special housing tailored to the purpose and use, it is possible to provide a water and/or air quality control household appliance that replaces the water and/or air quality control materials. The ability to freely select these is also a major feature of this invention.

The present invention provides living environment maintenance products that can fully demonstrate the excellent effects of antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents, and are suitable for a variety of purposes and uses in living spaces, including living rooms, toilets, kitchens, flush toilet water tanks, bathtubs, and aquariums. More specifically, living environment maintenance products that purify the water and air used in living environments and also have functions such as maintaining and promoting the health of humans, animals, and plants in daily life and relieving the burden of housework and other daily chores can be provided in the form of water and/or air quality control materials, water and/or air quality control tools using these materials, and household water and/or air quality control products that utilize these materials and tools, which can be efficiently selected and combined with a wide variety of substances that have effective water and/or air quality control functions.

1A is a schematic plan view of a water and/or air quality control material according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which an antibacterial agent is encapsulated in a flat bag body made of nonwoven fabric; 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line X in 1A; and 1C is a schematic plan view of a water and/or air quality control material according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which an adsorbent is encapsulated in a prismatic bag body made of nonwoven fabric. 1A is a schematic front view of a water and/or air quality control material according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which a cleaning agent is enclosed in a drawstring bag made of nonwoven fabric. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line Y in FIG. 1A. 1A is a schematic view of the appearance of a spherical water and/or air quality control device according to one embodiment of the present invention, which contains the water and/or air quality control material containing the antibacterial agent, adsorbent, and detergent shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line Z in FIG. 1A. 4 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a projectile-shaped laundry ball having the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in FIG. 3 embedded therein and equipped with a laundry pressing portion according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a spherical laundry ball according to one embodiment of the present invention, which contains the water and/or air quality control material shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , which encapsulates the antibacterial agent, adsorbent, and detergent, and which is provided with a water and/or air quality control section that is an opening that allows fluid movement, and a laundry pressing section. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a projectile-shaped laundry ball in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in FIG. 3 is embedded, and which is provided with a laundry pressing portion and a sponge-function portion for capturing dust and the like, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a projectile-shaped laundry ball in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in FIG. 3 is embedded and which is provided with a laundry pressing part and a brush function part for capturing dust and the like, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a spherical laundry ball according to one embodiment of the present invention, which contains the water and/or air quality control material shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , which encapsulates the antibacterial agent, adsorbent, and detergent, and which is provided with a water and/or air quality control section which is an opening that allows fluid movement, a laundry pressing section, and a sponge-function section that captures dust and the like. 1A is a schematic diagram of a household appliance for controlling water and/or air quality for a flush toilet, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in Fig. 3 is housed. 1B is a schematic diagram showing an installation situation when the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in Fig. 3 and the household appliance for controlling water and/or air quality for a flush toilet, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in a flush toilet tank. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in FIG. 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention when used in an aquarium. 4 is a schematic diagram of a water and/or air quality control household appliance according to one embodiment of the present invention, which contains a spheroidal water and/or air quality control device, which is a modified version of the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in FIG. 3, and is used as a hand-washing sprayer. 4 is a schematic diagram of a water and/or air quality control household appliance that contains the spherical water and/or air quality control device shown in FIG. 3 and serves as a deodorizer, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes the present invention in more detail using the embodiments shown in the drawings, with the intention of clarifying its technical concept. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, which is limited only by the technical concept set forth in the claims.

1 is a schematic diagram of a water and/or air quality control material according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a bag made of nonwoven fabric. (a) is a schematic plan view of a water and/or air quality control material 10 in which an antibacterial agent 11 is sealed in a flat bag 12, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line X in (a). (c) is a schematic plan view of a water and/or air quality control material 20 in which an adsorbent (not shown) is sealed in a prismatic bag 22. As is clear from the figure, in this embodiment, fasteners 13 and 23 form an opening and closing mechanism that allows replacement of a substance with water and/or air quality control function, such as an antibacterial agent. This allows for easy replacement of a wide variety of substances with water and/or air quality control function.

The antibacterial agent 11 is coconut shell activated carbon with a particle size of approximately 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm coated with an antibacterial titanium phosphate compound that does not require light, and the adsorbent is synthetic zeolite with a particle size of 0.5 mm to 4.8 mm. The filter medium of the water and/or air quality control material 10 in which the antibacterial agent 11 is encapsulated is a polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabric manufactured by the spunbond method with an opening size of approximately 40 μm to 300 μm, a porosity of approximately 80%, and an air permeability of approximately 180 ^m3 / ^m2 ·s. The filter medium of the water and/or air quality control material 20 in which the adsorbent is encapsulated in a prismatic bag 22 is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwoven fabric manufactured by the wet method with an opening size of approximately 10 μm to 40 μm, a porosity of approximately 70%, and an air permeability of approximately 25 ^m3 / ^m2 ·s. The pore size was determined by the bubble point method, the porosity was calculated from the basis weight, thickness and fiber volume, and the air permeability was determined by the Frazier method (JIS L 1096).

The coconut shell activated carbon coated with a titanium phosphate compound is a mixture of coconut shell activated carbon coated with a titanium phosphate compound and coconut shell activated carbon coated with a titanium silicate compound, and was produced with reference to Patent Document 12. The coconut shell activated carbon coated with a titanium phosphate compound was produced by reacting titanium tetrachloride at room temperature in a mixed solution of isopropyl alcohol and purified water in the presence of coconut shell activated carbon, followed by adding an aqueous phosphoric acid solution and further reacting. The coconut shell activated carbon coated with a titanium silicate compound was produced by adding silicon tetrachloride at room temperature in a mixed solution of isopropyl alcohol and purified water in the presence of coconut shell activated carbon, followed by adding titanium tetrachloride and further reacting. The coating amounts of the titanium phosphate compound and titanium silicate compound are preferably approximately 1 to 3 wt% relative to the coconut shell activated carbon, and the ratio of the titanium silicate compound to the titanium phosphate compound is preferably approximately 20 to 50 wt%.

Figure 2 shows a water and/or air quality control material 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which a cleaning agent is sealed in a drawstring bag 32 made of nonwoven fabric. (a) is a schematic front view, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along section line Y in (a). In this example, an interchangeable entrance/exit for substances with water and/or air quality control functions, such as antibacterial agents, is provided by an interlocking portion 33, which opens and closes when a male member and a female member interlock. This allows for easy replacement of a wide variety of substances with water and/or air quality control functions.

The cleaning agent used was magnesium hydroxide with a particle diameter of approximately 15 μm, and the filter material of the water and/or air quality control material 30, in which the cleaning agent is sealed in a drawstring bag 32, was a PP nonwoven fabric manufactured by the meltblown method with an opening diameter of approximately 3 μm to 10 μm, a porosity of approximately 50%, and an air permeability of approximately 7 m ₃ /m ₂ ·s.

Figure 3 shows a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 containing a water and/or air quality control material 10 in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a flat bag 12 as shown in Figures 1(a) and (b), a water and/or air quality control material 20 in which an adsorbent is sealed in a prismatic bag 22 as shown in Figure 1(c), and a water and/or air quality control material 30 in which a cleaning agent is sealed in a drawstring bag 32 as shown in Figure 2, all according to one embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a schematic external view of the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line Z in (a).

As shown in the figure, the water and/or air quality control device 40 must be provided with a water and/or air quality control section 41 through which fluids such as water and/or air can move in order for the contained water and/or air quality control materials 10, 20, and 30 to function, and in this embodiment, this is provided with a cylindrical opening. Additionally, the water and/or air quality control materials 10, 20, and 30 must be designed to be openable and closable so that they can be easily replaced. In this embodiment, the water and/or air quality control device 40 is divided into a cover member 42 and a water and/or air quality control material storage member 43, and the cover member 42 and the water and/or air quality control material storage member 43 can be opened and closed. This allows for easy replacement of a wide variety of water and/or air quality control materials.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a projectile-shaped laundry ball 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 shown in Figure 3 is embedded and which is equipped with laundry pressing portions 120-160.

As is clear from the figure, the embedded portion 110 of the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 contains water and/or air quality control material 10 in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a flat bag 12, water and/or air quality control material 20 in which an adsorbent is sealed in a prismatic bag 22, and water and/or air quality control material 30 in which a detergent is sealed in a drawstring bag 32, the laundry pressing portion 120 of the disk-shaped main pole, and the laundry pressing portion 13 of the first semi-disk-shaped vertical single wing that fits onto the diameter of the disk-shaped main pole 120. 0, a first semi-disk-shaped horizontal wing laundry pressing section 140 that fits into a first semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 130, a second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing laundry pressing section 150 that fits onto the diameter of the disc-shaped main pole 120, and a second semi-disk-shaped horizontal wing laundry pressing section 160 that fits into the second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 150. The embedded section 110 of the housing is equipped with a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40, forming a flying object-shaped laundry ball 100 that functions as a water and/or air quality control household appliance.

By using this laundry ball 100 in laundry, the water and/or air quality control materials 10, 20, which contain antibacterial agents and adsorbents, have excellent antibacterial and deodorizing effects on laundry, and the synergistic effect of the water and/or air quality control material 30, which contains detergent, and the laundry pressing parts 120-160 improves cleaning power. Furthermore, the laundry pressing parts 120-160 of this flying object-shaped laundry ball 100 prevent laundry from tangling, further enhancing antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning power. The water and/or air quality control materials 10, 20, 30 also have antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning effects on the washing tub, spin tub, drain pipe, etc.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a spherical laundry ball 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which contains the water and/or air quality control materials 10, 20, 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2, which contain antibacterial agents, adsorbents, and detergents, and which is equipped with a water and/or air quality control section 220, which is an opening that allows fluid movement, and a protruding laundry pressing section 210.

This water and/or air quality control household appliance functions as a laundry ball, incorporating the basic components of a water and/or air quality control unit 41, a lid member 42, and a water and/or air quality control material container 43, which are fluid-transferable openings required for the housing of a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 containing a water and/or air quality control material 10 in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a flat bag 12, a water and/or air quality control material 20 in which an adsorbent is sealed in a prismatic bag 22, and a water and/or air quality control material 30 in which a detergent is sealed in a drawstring bag 32. The water and/or air quality control household appliance thus incorporates a protruding laundry pressing portion 210. By providing the water and/or air quality control device with functions suited to the purpose and use, it is possible to provide a water and/or air quality control household appliance that allows for easy selection and replacement of water and/or air quality control materials.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a projectile-shaped laundry ball 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 shown in Figure 3 is embedded and which is equipped with laundry pressing portions 320-360 and a sponge-like portion 370 for capturing dust and other particles.

This is the laundry ball 100 in Figure 4, but with the added function of capturing dust, hair, etc. adhering to laundry.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a projectile-shaped laundry ball 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 shown in Figure 3 is embedded and which is equipped with laundry pressing sections 420-460 and a brush function section 470 for capturing dust and other particles.

This has a brush function part 470 instead of the sponge function part 370 in Figure 6, and in addition to its ability to capture dust, hair, etc. that adheres to laundry more effectively than a sponge function, it also improves cleaning power with its brush function.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the exterior of a spherical laundry ball according to one embodiment of the present invention, which contains the water and/or air quality control materials 10, 20, 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2, which contain antibacterial agents, adsorbents, and detergents, and which is equipped with a water and/or air quality control unit 520, which is an opening that allows fluid movement, a laundry pressing unit 510, and a sponge function unit 560 that captures dust and other particles. Like the laundry ball in Figure 6, this is the spherical laundry ball 200 shown in Figure 5, with the added function of capturing dust, hair, and other particles adhering to laundry.

Figure 9 shows an example of an embodiment in which a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 containing a water and/or air quality control material 10 in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a flat bag 12, a water and/or air quality control material 20 in which an adsorbent is sealed in a prismatic bag 22, and a water and/or air quality control material 30 in which a cleaning agent is sealed in a drawstring bag 32, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, and 7, is used in a flush toilet.

Figure 9(a) is a schematic diagram of a flush toilet water and/or air quality control household appliance 600 that houses the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 shown in Figure 3. Figure 9(b) also shows an example in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 shown in Figure 3 is installed directly in a flush toilet water storage tank 1, and an example in which the flush toilet water and/or air quality control household appliance 600 shown in Figure 9(a) is installed in the flush toilet water tank lid 3 directly below the hand-washing spout 4.

In this way, the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 can be used for different purposes and applications. The spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 installed in the flush toilet water storage tank 1 is used for antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning purposes for the flush toilet tank and flush toilet piping. On the other hand, when the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 is housed in a special-purpose housing designed to be installed on the flush toilet lid 3 directly below the hand-washing spout 4 and consisting of a lid member 610 equipped with a water passage 620, a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 housing housing 630, and a water passage and housing support cylindrical portion 640, the device is used as a water and/or air quality control household appliance 600 for antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning purposes for hands. In this case, the device can also be used for antibacterial, deodorizing, and cleaning purposes for the flush toilet tank and flush toilet piping.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 can also be used to maintain the water quality of an aquarium. In this application, mineral-releasing graphite silica, granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, granite conglomerate, etc. can be used as a deodorizing inorganic porous material that functions as an adsorbent, thereby promoting the growth of aquatic plants.

Furthermore, Figure 11 shows a water and/or air quality control household appliance in which an oval-shaped water and/or air quality control device 50, which, like the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40, is composed of a water and/or air quality control section 51, which is an opening that allows fluid movement, a cover member 52, a water and/or air quality control material storage member 53, and a fitting portion 54 between the cover member 52 and the water and/or air quality control material storage member 53, is used as a hand-washing sprayer 700, but differs only in shape.

Although not shown, if silica stone, graphite silica stone, granite porphyry, quartz porphyry, or granite conglomerate, which have a high _SiO2 content and excellent far-infrared radiation properties, are used as the adsorbent for the water and/or air quality control material 20 in which the adsorbent is sealed in a prismatic bag 22, it can also be used in a bathtub or the like to provide a body warming effect.

Finally, Figure 12 shows an embodiment in which a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 is used for air quality control. As is clear from the figure, this embodiment is a water and/or air quality control household appliance in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 is contained in a housing consisting of a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 receptacle 810 and an antibacterial deodorizing device main body 820 equipped with a water and/or air quality control unit 830, which is an opening that allows fluid movement, and is used as an antibacterial deodorizing device 800. In this way, the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 can be used for antibacterial and deodorizing purposes in living spaces. However, in this case, the water and/or air quality control material 30 in which a detergent is sealed in a drawstring bag is not required.

The foregoing describes embodiments of living environment maintenance products that can fully utilize the excellent effects of antibacterial agents, deodorizing air fresheners, mineral suppliers, far-infrared emitters, and cleaning agents; more specifically, living environment maintenance products that purify the water and air used in living environments, maintain and improve the health of humans, animals, plants, and other living beings in daily life, and also relieve the burden of daily housework and other labor. These include water and/or air quality control materials, water and/or air quality control tools using these materials, and household water and/or air quality control appliances that utilize these materials and tools. However, these are merely examples, and various modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the technical concept set forth in the claims without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The water and/or air quality control materials, water and/or air quality control devices, and water and/or air quality control household appliances of the present invention are created by controlling the size of the substance that controls water and/or air quality and the pore size of the filter material that forms the bag that encloses it. They have the potential to be applied not only to antibacterial agents, deodorizers, and cleaning agents, but also as a technology that effectively and efficiently utilizes the functions of a wide variety of solid substances, such as catalytic functions, plant growth-promoting functions, and biodegradability-promoting functions, making them highly applicable industrially.

1. Flush tank water storage tank 2. Flush handle 3. Flush tank lid 4. Hand-washing spout 5. Aquarium tank 6. Water 7. Aquatic plants 8. Goldfish 10. Water and/or air quality control material in which an antibacterial agent is sealed in a flat bag 11. Antibacterial agent 12. Bag formed from nonwoven fabric 13. Zipper 14. Adhesive surface 20. Water and/or air quality control material in which an adsorbent is sealed in a prismatic bag 30. Water and/or air quality control material in which a cleaning agent is sealed in a drawstring bag 31. Cleaning agent 32. Laminated nonwoven fabric 33. Interlocking portion between male and female members 40. Spherical water and/or air quality control device 41 in which a water and/or air quality control material is contained. Water and/or air quality control unit 42, which is an opening that allows fluid movement. Lid member 43. Water and/or air quality control material containing member 44 Fitting portion 50 between cover member 42 and water and/or air quality control material storage member 43; Oval-shaped water and/or air quality control device 51 in which water and/or air quality control material is stored; Water and/or air quality control section 52 which is an opening through which fluid can move; Cover member 53; Water and/or air quality control material storage member 54; Fitting portion 100 between cover member 52 and water and/or air quality control material storage member 53; Flying object-shaped laundry ball 110 in which spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 is embedded; Embedded portion 120 of spherical water and/or air quality control device 40; Laundry pressing portion 130 of disc-shaped main pole; First semi-disc-shaped vertical single-wing laundry pressing portion 140 which fits onto the diameter of disc-shaped main pole 120 a first semi-disk-shaped horizontal laundry pressing portion 150 that fits into the first semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 130; a second semi-disk-shaped vertical laundry pressing portion 160 that fits onto the diameter of the disc-shaped main pillar 120; a second semi-disk-shaped horizontal laundry pressing portion 200 that fits into the second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 150; a spherical laundry ball 210 that contains water and/or air quality control material; a protruding laundry pressing portion 220; a water and/or air quality control portion 230 that is an opening that allows fluid movement; an upper hemisphere 240 that contains water and/or air quality control material; a lower hemisphere 250 that contains water and/or air quality control material; a fitting portion 300 between the upper hemisphere 230 and the lower hemisphere 240; and a flying object-shaped laundry ball 310 that has a sponge function and has a spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 embedded therein. An embedded portion 320 of the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40; A laundry pressing portion 330 of the disk-shaped main pillar; A laundry pressing portion 340 of a first semi-disk-shaped vertical wing that fits on the diameter of the disk-shaped main pillar 320; A laundry pressing portion 350 of a first semi-disk-shaped horizontal wing that fits on the first semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 330; A laundry pressing portion 360 of a second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing that fits on the diameter of the disk-shaped main pillar 320; A laundry pressing portion 370 of a second semi-disk-shaped horizontal wing that fits on the second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 350; A sponge function portion 400; A flying object-shaped laundry ball 410 having a brush function in which the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40 is embedded; An embedded portion 420 of the spherical water and/or air quality control device 40. A laundry pressing portion 430 of the disk-shaped main pole; A laundry pressing portion 440 of a first semi-disk-shaped vertical wing that fits on the diameter of the disk-shaped main pole 420; A laundry pressing portion 450 of a first semi-disk-shaped horizontal wing that fits on the first semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 430; A laundry pressing portion 460 of a second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing that fits on the diameter of the disk-shaped main pole 420; A laundry pressing portion 470 of a second semi-disk-shaped horizontal wing that fits on the second semi-disk-shaped vertical wing 450; A brush function portion 500; A spherical laundry ball 510 having a sponge function and containing water and/or air quality control material; A protruding laundry pressing portion 520; A water and/or air quality control portion 530 which is an opening that allows fluid movement; An upper hemisphere 540 containing water and/or air quality control material. Lower hemisphere 550 containing water and/or air quality control material; Fitting portion 560 between upper hemisphere 530 and lower hemisphere 540; Sponge function portion 600; Water and/or air quality control household appliance for flush toilet 610 containing spherical water and/or air quality control device 40; Lid member 620 provided with a water passage opening; Water passage opening 630; Housing 640 for housing spherical water and/or air quality control device 40; Cylinder portion 700 for water passage and housing support; Hand washing sprayer 710 containing oblong spherical water and/or air quality control device 50; Sprayer body 720; Bottle 730; Nozzle 740; Handle 800; Antibacterial deodorizing product 810 containing spherical water and/or air quality control device 40; Receptacle 820 for spherical water and/or air quality control device 40; Antibacterial deodorizing product body 830 Water and/or air quality control section, which is an opening that allows fluid movement X, Y, Z cutting lines

Claims (7)

A water and/or air quality control material for removing malodors and pollutants from water and air, characterized in that coconut shell activated carbon coated with a titanium phosphate compound having a particle size of 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm is used as an antibacterial agent, and synthetic zeolite having a particle size of 0.5 mm to ^4.8 mm is used as an adsorbent, and is enclosed in a nonwoven fabric having an opening size of 10 to 300 μm, a porosity of 70 to 80%, and an air permeability of ²⁵ to 180 m 3 /m 2·s. The water and/or air quality control material described in claim 1, characterized in that the coating amount of the titanium phosphate compound is 1 to 3% by weight relative to the coconut shell activated carbon. The water and/or air quality control material according to claim 1, characterized in that the titanium phosphate-based compound is a titanium phosphate compound. The water and/or air quality control material according to claim 1, characterized in that the titanium phosphate compound is a titanium phosphate compound containing a titanium silicate compound and/or a titanium borate compound. The water and/or air quality control material according to claim 1, characterized in that the titanium phosphate compound is a titanium phosphate compound containing a titanium silicate compound, and the titanium silicate compound accounts for 20 to 50% by weight of the titanium phosphate compound. A water and/or air quality control device or water and/or air quality control household appliance, characterized in that one or more of the water and/or air quality control materials described in any one of claims 1 to 5 are contained in a housing equipped with an inlet and/or outlet for water and/or air. A laundry ball characterized in that one or more of the water quality and/or air quality control materials described in any one of claims 1 to 5 are contained in a housing equipped with a water and/or air inlet/outlet, and one or more of a protruding laundry pressing portion with a cleaning promoting function, a spongy sponge function portion with a dust capturing function, and a brush-like brush function portion.