EP1420732A1

EP1420732A1 - Wearable cooling product

Info

Publication number: EP1420732A1
Application number: EP01270291A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Young-Whan Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-11
Filing date: 2001-12-07
Publication date: 2004-05-26
Also published as: WO2002047589A1; AU2002222734A1; EP1420732A4

Abstract

Disclosed is an wearable cooling product to improve a generative function or performance of a testicle and ensure health of a generated spermatozoid by employing sublimation/evaporation materials generating heat during sublimation and/or evaporation process thereof, or cooling/freezing materials having excellent cooling capacity to properly cool an area near the scrotum of a man. The cooling product of the present invention can efficiently maintain the cooling effect for long time and prevent the dew condensation and the generation of moisture by enclosing various cooling materials with a plurality of functional layers.

Description

WEARABLE COOLINGPRODUCT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wearable cooling product, and more particularly, to the wearable cooling product to improve a generative function or performance of a testicle and ensure health of a generated spermatozoid by employing sublimation/evaporation materials generating heat during sublimation and/or evaporation process thereof, or cooling/freezing materials having excellent cooling capacity to properly cool an area near the scrotum of a man.

Background Art

Generally, it is well known by a number of clinical studies and /or medical reports that the generation function of the spermatozoa in a scrotum of the man or the generated spermatozoid are very sensitive to heat and, even at a temperature greater than 33°C for an extended period of time, the generation performance is reduced and a concentration of spermatozoa is lowered.

Nevertheless, there is a tendency to overlook such problem in recent years that some of adult men including, without a limitation, men who enjoy a hot bath or sauna bath, male workers engaged in business under a high temperature environment such as an iron mill or a steel mill, a crystal melting furnace or other factories to produce, for instance, cement, ceramic wares or pottery, tile, calcined bricks and so forth, professional drivers, office workers, in particular, who are engaged in sedentary work and/or men who live in tropics are repeatedly exposed to the hot environment to cause heat accumulation in their scrota, whereby the generation performance of testicles, the concentration or activity of spermatozoa and the like are noticeably reduced to result in declination of energy, in particular, shrinkage of generation energy involving increase of sterile men.

Traditionally, the cooling pad has been used in different parts of body, but at the same time, it has been also limited to several parts of the body only, such as a forehead, cheek or chin, which does not have a lot of hairs around: loses flexibility depredating on temperature: has a relatively flat contact side, is rarely subject to friction and vibration: is less sensitive to a stimulation so that the users do not really uncomfortable even when a sticky adhesive directly touches their skin: and generates little condensed dewdrops or moisture.

But, most of men often have hairy scrota each being typically held within underwear, expanding and contracting dependent on temperature, having a great curvature and being sensitive to external stimulation. Thus, when the sticky adhesive is directly attached to the bare skin near the scrotum, it adheres to the skin at first, but exhibits the deterioration of adhesive property in time. Also, it is known that commercial pad products, which generate the condensed dewdrops or moisture, give the uncomfortable and uneasy feelings to users. According to the result of studies as described above, previously known products still have several drawbacks not to preferably apply to users and need to be improved to overcome the drawbacks.

Disclosure of Invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to solve the drawbacks and to provide a wearable cooling product that can improve generic performance of a testicle and protect a generated spermatozoid by cooling an overall scrotum at a proper temperature.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wearable cooling product which can prevent a volatile component generated by a sticky sublimation/evaporation material during a sublimation and/or evaporation process thereof from being in direct contact with the scrotum or hairs near the scrotum by forming a barrier film layer on at least one side of the sublimation/evaporation material.

It is still further object of the present invention to provide a wearable cooling product which can easily and simply prevent condensed dewdrops and moisture possibly caused by a temperature difference between outer and inner sides of a scrotum.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a wearable cooling product comprising; an adhesive layer formed to be adhered to an underwear of an user; an air- permeable layer made of an air-permeable material laminated on an upper end of the adhesive layer for easily passing the air through the adhesive layer; a sublimation/evaporation material layer, positioned on the upper end of the air-permeable layer, for sublimating and/or evaporating by a reaction thereof with a fresh air flowing into the underwear; a barrier film layer, applied on an upper end of the sublimation/evaporation material layer, for minimizing a contact between the scrotum and its surrounding area and the sublimation/evaporation material itself and volatile components produced before and after a vaporization process of the sublimation/evaporation material; and a non- woven layer placed on an upper end of the barrier film layer for softly contacting with the scrotum.

In addition, the wearable cooling product of the present invention may include one of cooling/freezing materials selected from a group consisting of water, salt water, dry ice, cooling gases, organic material, inorganic material, metallic material and compound of the materials; a cooling/freezing material filling part to provide the cooling/freezing material; and a heat insulation layer surrounded an outer side of the filling part to allow the cooling/freezing material to keep or gradually relieve chill at a desired temperature and to prevent the dew condensation onto the outer side of the filling part.

Also, the wearable cooling product further comprises a cartridge for receiving one of the cooling/freezing materials selected from a group consisting of water, salt water, dry ice, cooling gases, organic material, inorganic material, metallic material and compound of the materials; a cooling/freezing material filling part for putting the cartridge into the part; and a heat insulation layer surrounded an outer side of the filling part to allow the cooling/freezing material to keep or gradually relieve chill at a desired temperature and to prevent the dew condensation onto the outer side of the filling part.

Brief Description of Drawings The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2A through 2C are a plane view, a side view and a bottom view, respectively, illustrating the wearable cooling product described in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5A to 5C are a plane view, a side view and a bottom view illustrating the wearable cooling product described in Figure 4, respectively;

Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a variety of examples to use the cooling products according to the embodiments of the present invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 8A and 8B are a plane cross-sectional view and a side cross-sectional view illustrating the wearable cooling product described in Figure 7, respectively; Figures 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views illustrating another form of the cooling/freezing material filling parts in the cooling product according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 10 A to IOC are cross-sectional views illustrating various forms of the cooling product according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and figures 2 A to 2C are a plane view, a side view and a bottom view illustrating the wearable cooling product described in Figure 1, respectively.

Figures 1 through 2C show the wearable cooling product according to the embodiment of the present invention which can decrease a temperature of scrotum by employing the sublimation/evaporation heat, comprising a multi-layered construction formed of different functional layers to improve its efficiency. In more detail, the present invention includes an adhesive layer 10 to be adhered to an underwear such as underpants or shorts of a male user; an air-permeable layer 20 made of an air-permeable material laminated on an upper end of the adhesive layer 10 to easily pass the air through the layer 20; a sublimation/evaporation material layer 30 positioned above the air- permeable layer 20; a barrier film layer 40 applied on an upper end of the sublimation/evaporation material layer 40; and a non-woven layer 50 placed over the barrier film layer 40. Here, the adhesive layer 10 side is to be attached to an inside part of the underwear such as a pair of panties which contacts with the external air. On the other hand, the non-woven layer 50 side is for touching the scrotum. Such layers make it possible to decrease relatively high temperature of the scrotum area compared with the outside by generating the sublimation or evaporation heat through the sublimation/evaporation material.

The wearable cooling product according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be an adhesive layer made of adhesive materials or any other type layers such as a velcro tape. When the adhesive layer is used, it should be covered with a thin layer, such as an oily paper, before it is applied to the layer due to the sticky adhesive material. Further, the adhesive layer 10 may be made of different materials depending on what the users want.

The air-permeable layer 20 which provides an evaporation route to easily sublimate/evaporate the sublimation/evaporation material in the sublimation/evaporation layer 30 and disperse volatile materials as a result of the sublimation/evaporation process must have an excellent air-permeability and may be prepared by employing woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics made of natural and/or artificial fibers. In other word, since the sublimation/evaporation material does not take the heat out of the neighborhood until it is carried out the sublimation or evaporation process, this material is preferably located opposite to the scrotum and has necessarily an air-permeable portion to contact with the sublimation/evaporation material on its side.

As for the sublimation/evaporation material layer 30, a specific material causing the sublimation, the evaporation or both that are harmless to a human body is usually used. Also, the sublimation/evaporation material is preferably made of specially synthesized materials of a sticky paste or a solid states by way of controlling the cooling temperature and providing the convenience to the users. To do so, the material is selected from a group consisting of water, polyalcohols, gel type alcohols, solid alcohols, glycerin, glycol salicylate, mint, ethyl salicylate, camphor, menthol, polyacrylic acid, sodium polyacrylate, sodium carboxylmethyl cellulose, alum, triethanolamine polyacrylate, zinc oxide, aluminium hydroxide, propyleneglycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, gelatin, kaolin, sorbitol and aluminium glycinate and so forth.

The barrier film layer 40 is employed to minimize the contact the scrotum and its surrounding area with the sublimation/evaporation material itself and sublimate/volatile components generated before and after the evaporation process of the sublimation/evaporation material. Of course, the sublimation/evaporation material itself and the sublimate/volatile components are harmless to the human body but may be sticky, creating an uncomfortable and/or unpleasant feeling to touch.

The barrier film layer is prepared by a water-tight and air-tight film having a favorable flexibility and preventing the contact of volatile materials, which includes, without a limitation, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, urethane, nylon, aluminizing vacuum evaporation film, polyvinylchloride PNC), polyvinylacetate(PNA) and so forth.

The non-woven fabric layer 50 which directly touches the scrotum is preferably made of conventional non-woven fabric materials. Furthermore, the non-woven fabric layer 50 can prevent the dew condensation caused by the sublimation/evaporation process of the sublimation/evaporation material and absorb the residual moisture and/or water component other than the features described above.

Additionally, in order to efficiently remove the moisture and/or water component generated around the scrotum and the wearable cooling product, a water-removing layer, that is, a dehumidifying layer 60 may be preferably interposed between the barrier film layer 40 and the non-woven fabric layer 50. The dehumidifying layer 60 may be formed by two individual absorption layers comprising one for removing the water component and the other for removing the moisture part at need. Furthermore, a functional layer(not shown) is installed between the barrier film layer

40 and the non-woven fabric layer 50 to increase a generative performance of man, and the functional layer contains any one selected from a group consisting of extracts of ginseng, deer antlers, garlic, chitosan, penis of a sea bear and/or male silkworm.

Here, preferable absorbent materials for the water-absorption layer are selected from a group consisting of polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, porous pulps, hydrophilic natural or synthetic fibers, sponges and so forth. Whereas, the moisture-absorption layer is prepared by general deliquescent materials including, without a limitation, phosphates, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate anhydride, calcium chloride and/or porous materials such as silica gel, bentonite, charcoal powder, activate carbon, vermiculite, volcanic ashes or fly ashes and the like. Considering a safety of the material directly contacting with the bare skin, the porous material is preferably used better than the deliquescent material.

Figure 3 is a plane view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in figure 3, the cooling product is the same with the one manufactured according to the first embodiment of the present invention, except that it has a plurality of air-holes 70 to remove the condensed dewdrops or moisture possibly generated by sweat from the scrotum and its surrounding area and/or the temperature difference between inside and outside of the underwear of the user. Size, shape and/or number of the air-holes 70 are not particularly limited but may be varied a little, depending on weather, region and/or race. Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a wearable cooling product according to a third embodiment of the present invention, while figures 5A through 5C are, respectively, a plan view, a side cross-sectional view and a bottom view illustrating the wearable cooling product shown in figure 4. As illustrated in figures 4 through 5C, the cooling product is same to the one prepared according to the first embodiment of the present invention, excepting that it has further elastic bands 80 at both opposite ends of the cooling product.

The elastic bands 80 which provide a proper elasticity to the cooling product, in particular, a cooling pad to wrap the scrotum serve to prevent the pad from sliding down. Materials of the band are not particularly limited but preferably natural fabrics harmless to human body.

Also, each band 80 has a joint member 85 at its both ends, made of an adhesive material and/or a velcro tape. Of course, although not shown in the accompanying figures, the cooling product according to the third embodiment of the present invention can be provided with a plurality of air-holes to minimize the dew condensation and the generation of moisture.

Figures 6 A and 6B show a variety of examples to use the cooling products according to the above embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in the figures, the present products can be positioned and/or attached to the underwear of the user independent of where it is, especially inside or outside of the underwear.

In the following description, a wearable cooling product according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cooling product according to the fourth embodiment, while figures 8A and 8B are a plane cross-sectional view and a side cross- sectional view illustrating the same product shown in Fig. 7, respectively.

As illustrated in Fig.7 through Fig. 8B, the present cooling product is placed and forcibly cooled in any refrigerator or freezer and is applied to the underwear such as panties at need, comprising a cooling/freezing material filling part 110 to provide the cooling/freezing material; and a heat insulation layer 120 to allow the cooling/freezing material to keep or gradually relieve chill at a desired temperature and to prevent the dew condensation onto the outer side of the filling part.

Furthermore, at one side of the cooling product a joint member 130 is provided to mount the product to the underwear whereas the other side of the product is enclosed by a soft fabric such as a non-woven fabric material 150. The joint member 130 is connected to an outer side of the cooling product and an inner side of the underwear at its both ends, respectively and may preferably comprise a velcro tape, a button and button hole, a loop and string type means and the like without a limitation. In addition, the cooling product has a fastening means 140 to introduce or replace the sublimation/evaporation material at its side part, the fastening means 140 comprising, without a limitation, thermofusion type connection means, adhesive, zipper, tape or cover and so forth. The filling part 110 has a specific structure, in particular, a hollowed and/or a honeycomb structures which are selected depending on the state of the sublimation/evaporation material such as solid, liquid or gaseous states. More particularly, if the material is in either of the solid state or the liquid state having poor fluidity, the filling part is formed of hollowed structure. On the other hand, when the material is a liquid material having excellent fluidity and/or in a gaseous form, it preferably has the honeycomb structure to delay thermal diffusion by convection.

The heat insulation layer 120 is important to eliminate disadvantages caused by forced cooling or overcooling the product to result in a cold stimulation to the scrotum and/or by relieving chill too rapidly to generate the dew condensation onto the outer side of the filling part. In addition, the heat insulation layer 120 must further have a proper durability to endure an effect of freezing and thawing the sublimation/evaporation material filled in the cooling product, and a sealing ability to prevent the material from discharging out of the cooling product even the material undergoes the phase transition (or the phase change) process between solid, liquid or gaseous states, as well as be harmless to the human body and convenient as it touches the bare skin. Therefore, the insulation layer 120 is preferably prepared by any one material selected from inorganic, organic or metallic materials and/or a combination with at least one of them.

The sublimation/evaporation material is preferably any one selected from water, salt water, dry ice, cooling gases, organic material, inorganic material, metallic material and compound of the materials, however, is not intended to be limited thereby. Meanwhile, the insulation layer 120 has a plurality of micro-pores 160 encapsulating air to provide the insulation efficiency. Exemplified material useable in the insulation layer includes, without a limitation, foamed rubber, polyethylene foam, styrene foam, urethane foam, sponges or fabrics. Alternatively, the insulation layer may have a multi-layered structure sealed by at least two layers, the inner space of which is under vacuum and/or provided with air and/or an insulating gas.

The cooling product according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a compact size to reduce the discomfort at removing or on using the product to a minimum and a maximum cooling capacity to extend a chill-relieving period at a desired temperature. Figures 10 A to 10D illustrate various forms of the cooling products according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in particular, Fig. 10A showing a cooling product in a spherical form having a hollow 170 therein; Fig. 10B showing another spherical form of the cooling product having a honeycomb structure 180 therein; Fig. IOC showing a cooling product in a hemispherical form having a hollow therein; and Fig. 10D showing another hemispherical form of the cooling product having a honeycomb structure therein.

In the following description, a wearable cooling product according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the cooling product is same to the one prepared according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, excepting that the product has a cartridge 210 filled with the sublimation/evaporation material instead of directly introducing the sublimation/evaporation material into the filling part.

Since the cartridge 210 can be easily removed from the cooling product to be placed and cooled in the refrigerator and, after the cooling process, be inserted again into the filling part 110 of the cooling product to simply accomplish the purpose of the present invention. .

Moreover, the cooling product according to the fourth embodiment may potentially cause a cold stimulation by directly contacting the product in a cold state with the bare skin, whereas the cooling product according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention can prevent the stimulation by only cooling the cartridge to be inserted into the product even the product is directly applied to the bare skin of the user.

As described hereinabove, the wearable cooling product of the present invention can protect the scrotum from heat by simply attaching and/or adhering the product to the underwear such as panties; easily remove the condensed dewdrops or moisture possibly generated near the scrotum and its surrounding area; and prevent the sublimation/evaporation material and/or the cooling/freezing material from directly contacting with the bare skin of the user to noticeably reduce the discomfort and/or unpleasant feeling.

Accordingly, the invented cooling product is very effective in increasing a generative performance of man and protecting the generated spermatozoid.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What Is claimed Is:

1. A wearable cooling product comprising: an adhesive layer formed to be adhered to an underwear of an user; an air-permeable layer made of an air-permeable material laminated on an upper end of the adhesive layer for easily passing the air through the adhesive layer; a sublimation/evaporation material layer, positioned on the upper end of the air- permeable layer, for sublimating and/or evaporating by a reaction thereof with a fresh air flowing into the underwear; a barrier film layer, applied on an upper end of the sublimation/evaporation material layer, for minimizing a contact between the scrotum and its surrounding area and the sublimation/evaporation material itself and volatile components produced before and after a vaporization process of the sublimation/evaporation material; and a non- woven layer placed on an upper end of the barrier film layer for softly contacting with the scrotum.

2. The product according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive material.

3. The product according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is formed of a velcro tape.

4. The product according to claim 1, wherein the air-permeable layer is selected of any one from natural woven or non-woven fabrics, synthetic woven or non-woven fabrics materials.

5. The product according to claim 1, wherein the sublimation/evaporation material is selected of any one from a group consisting of water, polyalcohols, gel type alcohols, solid alcohols, glycerine, glycol salicylate, mint, ethyl salicylate, camphor, menthol, polyacrylic acid, sodium polyacrylate, sodium carboxylmethyl cellulose, alum, triethanolamine polyacrylate, zinc oxide, aluminum hydroxide, propyleneglycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, kaolin, sorbitol, and aluminum glycinate.

6. The product according to claim 1, wherein the barrier film layer is selected of any one from a group consisting of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, urethane, nylon, aluminum vacuum deposited film, polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl acetate.

7. The product according to claim 1, wherein further comprises a dehumidifying layer interposed between the barrier film layer and the non-woven fabric layer to remove water component or moisture.

8. The product according to claim 7, wherein the dehumidifying layer is a water- absorption layer selected of any one from a group consisting of polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, porous pulps, hydrophilic natural or synthetic fibers and sponges.

9. The product according to claim 7, wherein the dehumidifying layer is a moisture- absorption layer selected of any one from a group consisting of phosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate anhydride, calcium chlorides, silica gel, diatomite, bentonite, charcoal powder, activate carbon, vermiculite, volcanic ashes and fly ashes.

10. The product according to claim 1, further comprises a functional layer containing any one selected from a group consisting of extracts of ginseng, deer antlers, garlic, chitosan, penis of a sea bear and/or male silkworm between the non-woven fabric layer and the barrier film layer.

11. The product according to claim 1, wherein the air-permeable layer comprises a plurality of air-holes formed by passing through multiple layers.

12. The product according to claim 1, further comprises elastic bands at opposite ends of the product, each of both ends of elastic bands includes a joint member to connect each other.

13. The product according to claim 1, wherein the joint member is formed of an adhesive material.

14. The product according to claim 1, wherein the joint member is formed of a velcro tape.

15. A wearable cooling product comprising: a cooling/freezing material selected from a group consisting of water, salt water, dry ice, cooling gases, organic material, inorganic material, metallic material and compound of the materials; a cooling/freezing material filling part for providing the cooling/freezing material; and a heat insulation layer surrounded an outer side of the filling part to allow the cooling/freezing material to gradually relieve chill at a desired temperature and to prevent the dew condensation onto the outer side of the filling part.

16. The product according to claim 15, wherein the heat insulation layer has a joint means to be adhered to the underwear at its one side and a non-woven fabric layer for softly contacting with the scrotum its other side.

17. The product according to claim 15, wherein the heat insulation layer is formed by any one material selected from a group consisting of foamed rubber, polyethylene foam, styrene foam, urethane foam, sponges and fabrics.

18. The product according to claim 15, wherein the heat insulation layer has a plurality of micro-pores.

19. The product according to claim 15, wherein the heat insulation layer is a space formed by multiple sealed layers.

20. The product according to claim 19, wherein the formed space is under vacuum state.

21. The product according to claim 19, wherein the space is provided with air.

22. The product according to claim 15, wherein the filling part has a hollowed structure.

23. The product according to claim 15, wherein the filling part is formed by a honeycomb structure.

24. A wearable cooling product comprising: a cartridge for receiving any one of the cooling/freezing materials selected from a group consisting of water, salt water, dry ice, cooling gases, organic material, inorganic material, metallic material and compound of the materials; a cooling/freezing material filling part for putting the cartridge into the filling part; and a heat insulation layer surrounded an outer side of the filling part to allow the cooling/freezing material to gradually relieve chill at a desired temperature and to prevent the dew condensation onto the outer side of the filling part.