JP2007289682A - Steam generator for eye - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steam generator for the eyes having an effect for improving three signs on near looking reaction causing lowering of sight. <P>SOLUTION: The steam generator 10 for the eyes has a steam warming heat generating part 11 utilizing the oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal to apply steam to the eye and the periphery of the eye, and produces steam warming heat for 1-30 min from its surface brought into contact with the eye and the periphery of the eye to set the temperature of the contact surface of the skin to 34-43°C over 1-120 min. The rigidity value of the steam generator 10 for the eyes is 0.01-10 N/width of 7 cm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a water vapor generator for eyes that is effective in improving the trilogy of near vision reaction that causes a reduction in visual acuity and in improving dry eye.

  Causes of vision loss and tired eyes such as blurred eyes, blurred eyes, difficult to see, and dry eyes are known as three symptoms of near vision reaction. These triads are three of a decrease in accommodation power, a decrease in pupil response, and an abnormality in vergence response. The decrease in accommodation is due to overtension of the ciliary muscle and hardening of the lens. The decrease in pupil response is caused by a decrease in pupil miosis rate and a decrease in reaction speed. The abnormality in the convergence response is caused by an abnormal change in the pupil position of the left and right eyes. As one cause of dry eye, incomplete formation of a tear film on the surface of the cornea due to occlusion of the Myboum gland is known.

  In this connection, the applicant first improves the visual acuity such as pseudomyopia and early presbyopia by improving the function of the control muscles such as ciliary muscles by supplying water vapor to the eyes and around the eyes. Proposed a vision improvement treatment device (see Patent Document 1). This vision improvement treatment device can easily and effectively recover vision loss, blurring, haze, etc. due to malfunction of the regulating muscles or convulsions by controlling the water vapor temperature released from the treatment device surface to 50 ° C or less. Can be made. That is, Patent Literature 1 describes that the visual acuity improvement treatment device described in the same literature is effective in improving the decrease in accommodation power among the above-mentioned three symptoms of near vision reaction. However, Patent Literature 1 does not describe whether the visual acuity improvement treatment device described in the same literature is effective in reducing pupil response and improving convergence response abnormality among the three features of near vision response. .

JP 2002-65714 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a water vapor generator for eyes that is effective in improving the trilogy of near vision reaction that causes a reduction in visual acuity and in improving dry eye.

  The present invention is a water vapor generator for eyes that has a steam heat generation part using an oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal and applies water vapor to the eyes and the periphery of the eyes. Water vapor is generated from the surface in contact with the periphery of the eye for 1 minute to 30 minutes, and the contacted skin surface temperature is set to 34 ° C. to 43 ° C. for 1 minute to 120 minutes. The object is achieved by providing a water vapor generator for eyes having a rigidity value of 0.01 to 10 N / width 7 cm.

  The eye water vapor generator of the present invention is effective in improving the three symptoms of near vision reaction that causes a reduction in visual acuity, that is, a decrease in accommodation power, a decrease in pupil response, and an abnormality in convergence response. Moreover, the water vapor generator for eyes of the present invention is effective in improving dry eye due to incomplete formation of a tear film on the corneal surface due to occlusion of the myobacterium gland.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The present invention relates to a water vapor generator for eyes used for applying heat accompanied by water vapor over a wide range of eyes and around the eyes. The eye water vapor generator is formed by housing a steam temperature heat generating part in a container. The container has a permeation site for water vapor generated from the steam temperature heat generation part. For example, the container is a flat one having a first ventilation surface having at least a part of a breathable part and a second ventilation surface opposite thereto and having a part of the breathable part at least partially. And water vapor permeate | transmits from the surface contact | abutted to the periphery of eyes. In this case, it is preferable that the air permeability of the first surface, which is a surface in contact with the eyes and the periphery of the eye, is 0.01 to 15000 seconds, and the air permeability of the second surface is 100 to 60000 seconds. Or a container is a flat thing which has a ventilation surface and the non-breathing surface which opposes it, and water vapor permeate | transmits the ventilation surface which is a surface contact | abutted to the eyes and eye periphery.

  The water vapor generator for eyes of the present invention imparts heat accompanied with water vapor over a wide range of the eyes and around the eyes. The eye periphery mentioned here refers to a region outside the eyelid fracture in the open eye state, and includes a region including the orbital region and a wide area. The application of heat means that the eye water vapor generator is directly brought into contact with the skin to give heat, and the heat is given indirectly through contact with the skin through inclusions capable of transmitting water vapor. To include both.

  FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an eye steam thermal sheet as an embodiment of the eye steam generator of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. The steam thermal sheet 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a substantially flat eye mask shape, and has a size sufficient to cover the above-described eye periphery. The steam temperature sheet 10 includes a steam temperature generator 11 and a container 12 that houses the steam temperature generator 11. The container 12 is flat, and a plurality of sheet materials are bonded together to form a sealed space in which the steam temperature generation unit 11 is accommodated. The container 12 having a flat shape has a first surface 13 located on the side close to the user's skin and a second surface 14 located on the opposite side and located on the side far from the user's skin. is doing.

  The steam heat generation part 11 contains an oxidizable metal. The steam temperature generator 11 is a part that generates water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature using heat generated by an oxidation reaction caused by contact of the oxidizable metal with oxygen.

  At least a part of the first surface 13 is a surface that can transmit air and water vapor, that is, a ventilation surface. On the other hand, at least a part of the second surface 14 is a surface through which air and water vapor can permeate, that is, a ventilation surface. When both the first and second surfaces are ventilation surfaces, it is preferable that water vapor is generated through the first surface 13 which is at least the surface abutting on the eyes and the periphery of the eyes. For example, the air permeability (JIS P8117) of the second surface 14 is equal to or greater than the air permeability (JIS P8117) of the first surface 13 so that water vapor is generated through the first surface 13. It is preferable to do. Instead of the second surface 14 being a ventilation surface, the second surface 14 may be a surface substantially impermeable to air and water vapor, that is, a non-venting surface.

  The steam thermal sheet 10 is used such that the first surface 13 side faces the user's skin surface (eye side) and the second surface 14 side faces outward. The water vapor generated by the heat generated by the steam temperature generator 11 is applied to the skin surface as the object through the first surface 13.

  Both the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 of the steam thermal sheet 10 are made of a sheet material. The container 12 of the steam thermal sheet 10 has a closed peripheral joint formed by joining the peripheral parts of the sheet materials constituting the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 to the peripheral part thereof. Part 15. The peripheral joint 15 is formed continuously. In the container 12, the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 are in a non-joined state at a portion inside the peripheral joint 15. Thereby, a single sealed space for accommodating the steam temperature heat generation part 11 is formed in the container 12.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, one steam temperature generator 11 is accommodated in the container 12. The steam temperature generator 11 is accommodated so as to occupy almost the entire space formed in the container 12. That is, a single steam temperature generator 11 is stored in the container 12, and the steam temperature generator 11 is stored so as to occupy almost the entire area of the container 12 excluding the peripheral joint 15. Since the steam thermal sheet 10 has such a configuration, the steam thermal sheet 10 has, for example, an eye and an eye circumference as compared with the visual acuity improvement treatment device described in Patent Document 1 described in the background art section. It becomes possible to make it contact | abut widely. As a result, not only ciliary muscles but also the eyes and other muscles related to near-eye reactions such as iris and ocular muscles are warmed by heat accompanied by water vapor to improve blood circulation. Thereby, as illustrated in the examples described below, a significant effect appears in improving the trilogy of near vision response. In addition, when the user has meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), the meibomian gland is heated by heat accompanied by water vapor, and the viscous secretion that has blocked the meibomian gland melts. Lipid is normally secreted from the meibomian glands. This lipid has a function of covering the outermost surface of the tear and preventing evaporation of the tear film and preventing the generation of dry eye. As a result, as illustrated in Examples described later, a remarkable effect appears in improving dry eye due to excessive evaporation of tears.

  In the steam thermal sheet 10 of the first embodiment, in addition to the wide application of water vapor to the eyes and around the eyes, the steam thermal sheet 10 is a surface that comes into contact with the eyes and the circumference of the eyes after contact with oxygen. Water vapor is generated from the first surface 13 for 1 to 30 minutes, preferably 5 to 25 minutes. In addition, during the application period of the steam thermal sheet 10, the temperature of the skin surface to which the sheet 10 is applied is increased to a minimum of 34 ° C. and a maximum of 43 ° C., preferably a minimum of 36 ° C. and a maximum of 41 ° C. By maintaining the temperature for at least 1 minute and at most 120 minutes, a higher effect appears in improving the trilogy of near vision reaction and dry eye. In addition, since the skin surface temperature is difficult to decrease due to the heat-retaining effect even after the generation of water vapor, the time for maintaining the skin surface temperature is longer than the duration of the water vapor.

  In the present invention, the duration of water vapor generation is measured as follows using the apparatus 30 shown in FIG. The apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 3 includes an aluminum measurement chamber (volume 2.1 L) 31, and an inflow path 32 for allowing dehumidified air (humidity less than 2%, flow rate 2.1 L / min) to flow into the lower portion of the measurement chamber 31. And an outflow passage 33 through which air flows out from the upper part of the measurement chamber 31. An inlet temperature / humidity meter 34 and an inlet flow meter 35 are attached to the inflow path 32. On the other hand, an outlet temperature / humidity meter 36 and an outlet flow meter 37 are attached to the outflow passage 33. A thermometer (thermistor) 38 is attached in the measurement chamber 31. A thermometer having a temperature resolution of about 0.01 ° C. is used. The steam thermal sheet 1 is taken out of the packaging material at a measurement environment temperature of 30 ° C. (30 ± 1 ° C.) and placed in the measurement chamber 31 with its water vapor discharge surface facing up. A thermometer 38 with a metal ball (4.5 g) is placed on it. In this state, dehumidified air is flowed from the lower part of the measurement chamber 31. A difference in absolute humidity before and after the air flows into the measurement chamber 31 is obtained from the temperature and humidity measured by the inlet temperature and humidity meter 34 and the outlet temperature and humidity meter 36. Further, the amount of water vapor released by the steam thermal sheet 1 is calculated from the flow rates measured by the inlet flow meter 35 and the outlet flow meter 37. Details of this apparatus are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-73688, which is related to the earlier application of the present applicant. On the other hand, the temperature of the skin surface is measured using LTST08-12 (Gram's thermistor type surface temperature measuring device). The skin temperature measurement site is the upper eyelid. The environmental temperature of the measurement is 20 ° C., and the measurement interval is 10 seconds.

In the first embodiment, it is possible to preferentially release water vapor through the first surface 13 by appropriately adjusting the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14. In addition to this, by appropriately adjusting the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14, it becomes easy to set the duration of generation of the steam temperature within the above range. Moreover, it becomes easy to set the temperature of the skin surface to which the steam thermal sheet 10 is applied within the above range. Specifically, the air permeability of the second surface 14 is equal to or greater than the air permeability of the first surface 13. The air permeability measured by JIS P8117 (conforming to ISO5636 / 5-Part5) is a value defined by the time taken for 100 ml of air to pass through an area of 6.42 cm ² . This high air permeability means that it takes time to pass air, that is, the air permeability is low. Conversely, a low air permeability means high air permeability. Thus, the magnitude of the air permeability is opposite to the air permeability. Comparing the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 with respect to the air permeability, the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 is equal, or the first surface 13 is the second one. It is preferable that the air permeability is higher than that of the surface 14, and by adjusting the balance of the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14, uniform vapor temperature is applied to the eyes and the periphery of the eyes. It becomes possible.

  The container 12 has a flat shape having a first surface 13 that is a ventilation surface and a second surface 14 that faces the first surface 13, and steam heat is generated through the first surface 13 that is the ventilation surface. It is made like that. The second surface 14 has an air permeability that is equal to or greater than the air permeability of the first surface 13. Here, when the value of the air permeability becomes extremely large, it will approach a non-air-permeable state. Therefore, when the air permeability of the second surface 14 is extremely large, the second surface 14 becomes a non-air-permeable surface. .

  When the second surface 14 is air permeable, the air permeability of the surface 14 is preferably 100 seconds or more, more preferably 100 to 60000 seconds, more preferably 1000 to 60000 seconds, still more preferably 4000 to 40000 seconds, It is particularly preferable that the time is 5000 to 25000 seconds so that air preferentially flows into the container 12 through the second surface 14 and water vapor is preferentially released through the first surface 13. It became clear as a result of their examination. As a result, air is stably supplied over the entire steam temperature / heat generation section 11, and the steam temperature / heat generation section 11 generates heat uniformly. The water vapor generated by the heat generation is uniformly applied to the user's skin surface through the first surface 13.

  In addition to the above-mentioned air permeability, the physical property value representing the ease of gas permeation of the sheet material is moisture permeability (JIS Z0208, 40 ° C., 90% RH, hereinafter referred to as the measured value of this method when referred to as moisture permeability). It has been known. And the easiness of permeation | transmission of the water vapor | steam of the air permeable sheet material in a heating tool like a disposable warmer is expressed exclusively by moisture permeability. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the ease of gas permeation is evaluated not by moisture permeability but by air permeability. By adjusting the value of air permeability, water vapor can be preferentially released from the first surface 13 even when the second surface has air permeability. The present inventors consider that this reason is caused by the difference in measurement conditions between air permeability and moisture permeability. The moisture permeability is measured under hydrostatic pressure, while the air permeability is measured under pressure. In the steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment, water vapor is generated by the heat generated by the steam thermal generator 11, and the inside of the container 12 is in a positive pressure state. In order to evaluate the ease of gas permeation under such conditions, it is better to use the air permeability measured under pressure than to use the water vapor permeability measured under hydrostatic pressure. It seems to be suitable for the condition.

  As described above, when the second surface 14, which is an outwardly facing surface, is breathable, the amount of water vapor released through the first surface 13 and the amount of water vapor released through the second surface 14. The amount depends on the air permeability of these surfaces. For example, although the second surface 14 allows air to flow in from the outside, the amount of water vapor released to the outside may be lower in the second surface 14 than in the first surface 13. That is, just because the amount of inflow of air through the second surface 14 is large, it cannot be said that the amount of water vapor released is large. One reason for this is that each surface of the container 12 has air permeability. That is, the balance of the air permeability between the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 affects the air inflow amount and the water vapor release amount on the second surface 14. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing the release of water vapor while ensuring the inflow of air through the second surface 14, the air permeability of the second surface 14 is equal to or the same as the air permeability of the first surface 13. In the case where it is large to some extent, it is preferable that the air permeability of the second surface 14 is equal to or less than three times the air permeability of the first surface 13.

  When the air permeability of the second surface 14 is sufficiently larger than the air permeability of the first surface 13, the air permeability of the second surface 14 is set to 5 times or more than the air permeability of the first surface 13, particularly It is preferably 10 times or more, particularly 100 times or more. Alternatively, the ratio of the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the air permeability of the second surface 14 (second surface / first surface) is preferably 0.5 or less, particularly preferably 0.2 or less. Under these conditions, the release of water vapor through the second surface 14 can be further reduced, and the release of water vapor through the first surface 13 can be further increased. On the other hand, when the second surface 14 is non-breathable, the inflow of air into the container 12 and the generation of water vapor are performed exclusively through the first surface 13.

  The air permeability of the first surface 13 itself is 0.01 to 15000 seconds, particularly 0.01 to 10,000 seconds, regardless of whether the second surface 14 is breathable or non-breathable. Is preferred. In the present invention, it is preferable to set the air permeability of the first surface 13, which is a surface through which water vapor permeates, and to set the conditions of the second surface 14 so as to generate the target temperature and water vapor amount.

The first surface 13 and the second surface 14 not only control their air permeability, but also their moisture permeability, so that the heat generation characteristics of the steam temperature heat generating part 11 become favorable, It becomes easier to keep the duration of the generation of the vapor temperature and the temperature of the skin surface described in the above in the above ranges. Air permeability is related to the degree of water vapor release, whereas moisture permeability is related to the degree of air inflow. This is because, as is apparent from the measurement conditions for moisture permeability described above, moisture permeability is measured under hydrostatic pressure, so it is suitable for evaluating the ease of passage of air under atmospheric pressure. Because. The moisture permeability of the first surface 13 is 100 g / (m ² · 24 h) or more, particularly 100 to 20000 g / (m, regardless of whether the second surface 14 is breathable or non-breathable. ² · 24 h), particularly 200 to 12000 g / (m ² · 24 h). However, when the second surface 14 is air-impermeable, the moisture permeability of the first surface 13 is preferably 100 to 20000 g / (m ² · 24h). On the other hand, when the second surface 14 is air permeable, the moisture permeability of the surface 14 is preferably 100 to 6000 g / (m ² · 24 h), and particularly preferably 200 to 5000 g / (m ² · 24 h). The moisture permeability conforms to JIS Z0208 and is either Condition A (25 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C., relative humidity RH = 90 ± 2%) or Condition B (40 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C., relative humidity RH = 90 ± 2). %), Measured using the calcium chloride method. Conditions A and B are selected based on the numerical value of moisture permeability. Generally, when the moisture permeability is large, measurement is performed under condition B. In any case, it is difficult to measure moisture permeability of 12000 g / (m ² · 24 h) or more due to the relationship with the moisture absorption weight. In the present invention, those having a moisture permeability of 12000 g / (m ² · 24 h) or more can be used.

  As described above, air permeability and moisture permeability are representative as physical property values representing the ease of gas permeation of the sheet material. The correlation between the two varies depending on the sheet material. That is, depending on the sheet material, there may be a certain degree of correlation between the two, or there may be no correlation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, setting a preferable range of moisture permeability in addition to the air permeability of the surfaces 13 and 14 has technical significance.

  In order to efficiently apply the steam temperature generated in the steam temperature sheet 10 of the present embodiment to the eyes and around the eyes so that the temperature of the skin surface is within the above-described range, the steam temperature sheet 10 and the skin surface Distance is also important. By setting this distance to an appropriate value, an appropriate temperature and amount of steam heat can be applied to the eyes and around the eyes, and a good feeling during use can be given. From this viewpoint, it is possible to keep the distance between the steam thermal sheet 10 and the skin surface at an appropriate value by setting the rigidity of the steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment to an appropriate value. Specifically, the steam thermal sheet 10 has a rigidity value set to 0.01 to 10 N / width 7 cm, preferably 0.03 to 8 N / width 7 cm, more preferably 0.05 to 5 N / width. 7 cm.

  In order to set the rigidity value of the steam temperature sheet 10 within the above range, for example, the material and thickness of the sheet material constituting the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 are appropriately selected, or steam temperature heat generation occurs. What is necessary is just to select the material and usage-amount which comprise the part 11 appropriately.

  In the present invention, the stiffness value of the steam thermal sheet 10 is measured by “RTA-500” (trade name), which is a bending strength tester manufactured by Orientec Co., Ltd. As shown in FIG. 4, the steam thermal sheet 10 is cut into two along a center line L (see FIG. 12) extending in the vertical direction, and is used as one test piece S thereof. When there is a possibility that the steam temperature generator 11 may leak from the cut portion, the cut portion is sealed with an adhesive sheet or the like. Both ends of the portion of the test piece S where the steam temperature generation unit 11 is present are supported with a span distance of 80 mm. A load is applied to the central portion of the test piece S at a crosshead speed of 20 mm / min with a plate-like pressing member P having a width of 50 mm and a tip radius of 5 mm. Let the maximum load at that time be the stiffness value. The pressing member P was arranged so that the width direction thereof coincided with the longitudinal direction of the test piece S. In the case where the measured values are different between the case where the test piece S is given from the first surface side and the case where the addition is given from the second surface side, the average value thereof is calculated, The value is the stiffness value.

  As described above, both the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 of the steam thermal sheet 10 are made of a sheet material. What kind of sheet material is used may be appropriately determined in consideration of the air permeability, moisture permeability, texture, touch, strength, and prevention of leakage of powders such as oxidizable metals. As the sheet material that controls the air permeability and prevents the powder from leaking out, a melt blown nonwoven fabric or a moisture permeable film is preferably used. It is also preferable to use synthetic paper. The moisture-permeable film is obtained by forming a melt-kneaded product of a thermoplastic resin and an organic or inorganic filler that is not compatible with the resin into a film shape and stretching it uniaxially or biaxially. It has a structure. As a sheet material used for the purpose of imparting strength, a spunbonded nonwoven fabric is preferably used. Moreover, as a sheet material used for the purpose of improving the texture, a thermal bond nonwoven fabric is preferably used. By configuring a laminated sheet by combining sheet materials having various air permeability and moisture permeability, the degree of freedom for setting the air permeability and moisture permeability of each ventilation surface to a desired value is increased. As an example, in a laminated sheet having a three-layer structure, a spunbond nonwoven fabric can be used as the innermost layer, a meltblown nonwoven fabric can be used as the intermediate layer, and a thermal bond nonwoven fabric can be used as the outermost layer.

  In FIG. 2, the sheets constituting each surface of the container 12 are represented as a single sheet. This is because the container 12 is schematically represented. Actually, these sheets may be composed of a single sheet or may be composed of a laminate of a plurality of sheets composed of the various sheets described above. The same applies to FIG. 13 described later. When one surface and / or the other surface constituting the container 12 is composed of a laminate of two sheets, a moisture permeable film or a moisture permeable film is used as the inner sheet, A non-woven fabric (for example, a non-woven fabric 13a shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B described later) can be used as the sheet.

  The principal part enlarged view of the nonwoven fabric 13a which comprises the outermost surface of the 1st surface 13 in the steam thermal sheet 10 of this embodiment is shown by Fig.5 (a) and (b). The nonwoven fabric 13a has a first fiber layer 21 including one surface and a second fiber layer 22 including the other surface. The first fiber layer 21 is laminated and partially bonded to each other. A large number of convex portions 24 and concave portions 25 are formed on the side. This one surface (first fiber layer 21) side is used as the outermost surface of the first surface 13. The first fiber layer 21 and the second fiber layer 22 are each composed of a fiber assembly. As shown in the drawing, the joint portion 23 between the first fiber layer 21 and the second fiber layer 22 is consolidated by the action of heat and / or pressure, and has a smaller thickness and a higher density than other portions of the nonwoven fabric 13a. It has become. As a result, on the first fiber layer 21 side, there are a large number of convex portions 24 dispersedly arranged in a predetermined pattern and a large number of concave portions 25 formed on the joint portion 23, and these convex portions 24. And the uneven | corrugated shape is formed in the surface of the 1st fiber layer 21 of the nonwoven fabric 13a by the recessed part 25. FIG. Here, the uneven pattern has a plurality of shapes such as a point shape having different sizes, an ellipse, and a longitudinal ridge, in addition to the substantially same point shape shown in FIG. Also, a random pattern can be configured. The inside of the convex part 24 is filled with fibers. The surface on the first fiber layer 21 side can be used as the outermost surface of the first surface 13 that is the skin contact surface (eye side) in the steam thermal sheet 10. Unlike the surface of the first fiber layer 21, the surface of the second fiber layer 22 is generally flat.

  Since the uneven shape is formed on the surface of the first fiber layer 21, when the steam thermal sheet 10 is used, the convex portion 24 mainly comes into contact with the wearer's skin. That is, the entire area of the surface of the first fiber layer 21 does not contact the wearer's skin, but the layer formed by the fiber aggregate of the convex portion 24 is partially contacted by point contact. A feeling of wearing that gives a feeling of feeling and bulkiness is obtained.

  According to the steam thermal sheet 10 provided with the nonwoven fabric 13a shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), due to the uneven shape of the surface of the first fiber layer 21, the steam thermal sheet 10 and the eyes and the periphery of the eyes The contact area is reduced and stuffiness is less likely to occur during wearing. Further, the steam thermal sheet 10 generates water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature. The convex portion 24 acts as a spacer that separates the steam thermal sheet 10 from the eyes and the periphery of the eyes. And applied around the eyes. Moreover, since the space of the eyes 24 and the surroundings of the eyes and the steam thermal sheet 10 is formed by the function of the protrusions 24 as the spacers, the first surface is a surface that is in direct contact with the eyes and the surroundings of the eyes. Inflow of air through 13 becomes smooth, and heat generation and generation of water vapor are stably maintained.

From the above viewpoint, it is preferable to set the thickness T1 (see FIG. 5B) of the convex portion 24 to 1 to 10 mm. Moreover, it is preferable to set thickness T2 (refer FIG.5 (b)) of the recessed part 25 to 0.01-5 mm, especially 0.1-1 mm. It is also preferable to set the ratio of T1 / T2 to 2 to 50, particularly 2 to 20. Furthermore, from the same viewpoint, the area ratio of the joint portion 23 to the area of the nonwoven fabric 13a (ratio of the area of the joint portion 23 per unit area of the nonwoven fabric 13a) is preferably 3 to 50%, and preferably 5 to 35%. Further preferred. The area of the joint 23 itself is preferably 0.1 to ⁵ mm ² , particularly preferably 0.1 to ¹ mm ² . The shortest distance between adjacent convex portions 24 (the distance from the center of the convex portion to the center of the adjacent convex portion) is preferably 0.5 to 15 mm, particularly preferably 1 to 10 mm.

  The thickness T2 of the concave portion 25 and the substantial thickness T1 of the convex portion 24 are measured from a cross-sectional photograph or a cross-sectional image of the topsheet in a non-pressurized state. In this invention, the 1st nonwoven fabric 13a is cut | disconnected so that it may pass along the vertex of the convex part 24, and the recessed part 25, The cross-sectional shape is observed using the microscope VH-8000 by Keyence Corporation, and the recessed part 25 The thickness T2 and the substantial thickness T1 of the convex portion 24 were measured.

The nonwoven fabric 13a preferably has a basis weight of 20 to 200 g / m ² , particularly 40 to 150 g / m ² . The basis weight is obtained by cutting the nonwoven fabric 13a into a size of 50 mm × 50 mm or more, collecting a measurement piece, measuring the weight of the measurement piece using an electronic balance with a minimum display of 1 mg, and converting it to the basis weight.

The nonwoven fabric 13a has air flowability in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the sheet) due to the uneven shape of the surface of the first fiber layer 21, and the flowability is at a predetermined pressure. It is maintained even under pressure. Specifically, the nonwoven fabric 13a has an air permeation capacity in the horizontal direction of 10 to 500 ml / (cm ² · sec), particularly 20 to 200 ml / (cm ² · sec) under a pressure of 50 cN / cm ^2. preferable. When the air permeation capacity in the horizontal direction under the pressure of 50 cN / cm ² is 10 ml / (cm ² · sec) or more, the nonwoven fabric 13a is remarkably pressurized during use of the steam thermal sheet 10 and is applied to the eyes and around the eyes. Even in close contact, the air permeability in the horizontal direction is sufficiently maintained, a space is maintained between the eyes and the periphery of the eyes, and the inflow of air can be ensured. As a result, the reaction of the steam temperature generator 11 is not hindered compared to a general nonwoven fabric. That is, even when the nonwoven fabric 13a is pressurized and is in close contact with the eyes and the periphery of the eyes while the steam thermal sheet 10 is worn, sufficient air circulation in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the sheet) is ensured. By this, air distribute | circulates to the steam temperature heat generation part 11, and heat_generation | fever is maintained stably. Moreover, generation | occurrence | production of the stuffiness during wearing of the vapor | steam thermal sheet | seat 10 can be prevented effectively, and skin troubles, such as the discomfort by a stuffiness, and a itch / rash, can be prevented reliably.

The air permeability capacity in the horizontal direction under a pressure of 50 cN / cm ² is measured by the following method. First, the thickness T3 of the nonwoven fabric 13a is measured under a pressure of 50 cN / cm ² . Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the nonwoven fabric 13a is cut into a square shape with a side of 50 mm, and the obtained measurement piece 40 is a square-shaped first acrylic plate having a square-shaped opening 41 with a side of 10 mm at the center ( (Dimension: 50 mm × 50 mm × 3 mm) 42 and the surface of the measurement piece 40 facing the user's skin side between the first acrylic plate 42 and the second acrylic plate 43 having the same configuration except that there is no opening. A measurement laminate 44 (see FIG. 7) is formed by sandwiching (the surface on which the convex portion 24 exists) facing the first acrylic plate 42 side. As shown in FIG. 7, this is set under the gasket 45 of the Gurley tester (B type) defined in JIS P 8117 with the first acrylic plate 42 side facing up, and the measurement piece 40 has a thickness T3. Compress until Next, the time required to introduce 300 ml of air through the opening 41 is measured at the center of the measurement piece 40 whose thickness is maintained at T3. Then, the unit area (1 cm ² ) of the opening 41 × the amount of air introduced per second (ml) is calculated to obtain the horizontal air transmission capacity under a load of 50 cN / cm ² .

Thickness T3 is measured using a KES measuring device (for example, “KES-FB series” trade name, model “KES-BF3” manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd.). The KES measuring instrument is a testing machine that can sandwich a measuring piece between a pressure plate and a pressure receiving plate and compress and deform the measuring piece in the thickness direction at a constant speed. First, the nonwoven fabric 13a is cut into a predetermined dimension (a dimension larger than the pressure plate) and set on the pressure receiving plate. Then, the pressure plate is lowered at a speed of 1.2 mm / min, and the measurement piece 40 is compressed between the pressure plate and the pressure receiving plate. The distance between the pressure plate and the pressure receiving plate when the load applied to the measurement piece 40 becomes 50 cN / cm ² in the compression process (= thickness of the measurement piece 40) is the thickness of the nonwoven fabric 13a under 50 cN / cm ² pressure. Let T3.

As a Gurley tester (B type) used for measuring the air permeability of the root in the horizontal direction, for example, “Gurley Densometer” manufactured by Kumagai Riki Kogyo Co., Ltd. shown in FIG. In order to compress the measurement laminate 44 and introduce air in the compressed state using the apparatus of FIG. 7, first, the measurement laminate 44 is placed with the first acrylic plate 42 side facing upward. The clearance between the gasket 45 and the facing surface 47 of the gasket 45 is set so that the measurement piece 40 has a target load thickness (thickness T3) by being positioned under the gasket 45 and rotating the sample clamping handle 46. Adjust. 6 and 7, reference numeral 48 denotes a silicon plate (hardness 50) having a square-shaped opening 49 having a side of 10 mm in the center, and prevents the introduced air from leaking from other than the edge of the measurement piece 40. In order to achieve this, it is interposed between the gasket 45 and the first acrylic plate 42. Then, the inner knob 51 is lifted by holding the lifting knob 50 and a predetermined amount of outside air is sucked into the cylinder (outer cylinder 52), and then the inner cylinder 51 is lowered into the outer cylinder 52. Thereby, 300 ml of air is introduced from the air supply port (not shown) at the center of the lower surface of the gasket 45 onto the center of the test piece 40 (pressure depends on the mass of the inner cylinder). Then, the time from the start of air introduction to the completion of the introduction of 300 ml of air is measured, and the air permeation capacity in the horizontal direction under a load of 50 cN / cm ² is calculated. In the figure, reference numeral 53 denotes a light projecting / receiving sensor, and a signal is transmitted by passing a strip-shaped slit plate (having a preset slit point) attached to the inner cylinder between the light projecting / receiving sensors. Send to digital counter and display the time digitally.

  If the constituent fiber of each fiber layer which comprises the nonwoven fabric 13a is demonstrated, the 2nd fiber layer 22 will contain the three-dimensional crimped fiber. In general, a three-dimensional crimped fiber exhibits a coiled (spiral) crimp. The 2nd fiber layer 22 may be comprised only from the solid crimped fiber, or may contain the other fiber. Examples of other fibers include ordinary thermoplastic fibers, regenerated fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton. When other fibers are included in addition to the three-dimensional crimped fibers, the blending amount of the other fibers may be 1 to 50% by weight, particularly 5 to 30% by weight, based on the entire second fiber layer 22. preferable. On the other hand, examples of the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 21 include ordinary thermoplastic fibers, regenerated fibers such as rayon, and natural fibers such as cotton. Moreover, the 1st fiber layer 21 may contain the solid crimped fiber.

  The preferable manufacturing method of the nonwoven fabric 13a is as follows. First, the fiber assembly which comprises the 1st fiber layer 21 and the 2nd fiber layer 22 is manufactured, respectively. As such a fiber assembly, for example, a web or a nonwoven fabric can be used. A nonwoven fabric is manufactured by the air through method, the heat roll method (heat embossing method), the airlaid method, the melt blown method etc., for example. The web is manufactured by a card machine, for example. In particular, it is preferable to use a non-woven fabric as the fiber aggregate constituting the first fiber layer 21 and to use a web as the fiber aggregate constituting the second fiber layer 22.

  The web constituting the second fiber layer 22 preferably contains latent crimped fibers. Latent crimped fibers can be handled in the same way as ordinary non-woven fabric fibers before being heated, and the coiled (spiral) three-dimensional crimp is developed and contracted by heating at a predetermined temperature. It is the fiber which has. The latent crimped fiber is composed of, for example, an eccentric core-sheath type composite fiber or a side-by-side type composite fiber containing two types of thermoplastic polymer materials having different shrinkage rates as components. As the latent crimped fiber in which the three-dimensional crimp is manifested by heating, for example, a latent crimpable fiber CPP (trade name) manufactured by Daiwa Boseki Co., Ltd. can be used.

  Next, the fiber aggregate constituting the second fiber layer 22 and the fiber aggregate constituting the first fiber layer 21 are overlapped, and these are partially joined in a predetermined pattern. Various methods can be used as a method for bonding the two as long as the bonding portion 23 in which the thickness of the first fiber layer 21 is reduced more than other portions can be formed. For example, hot embossing or ultrasonic embossing is preferable. The joints 23 may be in the form of scattered dots that are independent from each other, or may be linear, curved (including continuous waveforms, etc.), lattice, zigzag, or the like. The shape of each joint 23 when the joints 23 are arranged in the form of dots can be any shape such as a circular shape, a triangular shape, or a quadrangular shape. In this case, the arrangement pattern of the joints 23 can be a rhombus lattice, for example, as shown in FIG.

  Heat is applied to the bonded first fiber layer 21 and the second fiber layer 22, and the latent crimped fibers contained in the second fiber layer 22 are three-dimensionally crimped into a coil shape (spiral shape). For example, a method of blowing hot air by an air-through method can be used for applying heat. By this crimping, the constituent fibers of the second fiber layer 22 located between the joint portions 23 contract. Thereby, the second fiber layer 22 contracts in the in-plane direction. On the other hand, the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 21 do not shrink. Therefore, the contraction of the second fiber layer 22 in the in-plane direction causes the constituent fibers of the first fiber layer 21 located between the joint portions 23 to lose their place in the plane direction and move in the thickness direction. Thereby, the space between the joint portions 23 is raised, and a large number of convex portions 24 are formed on the first fiber layer 21 side. Further, a recess 25 is formed between the protrusions 24, that is, at the position of the joint 23. In this way, the nonwoven fabric 13a having a concavo-convex shape on the surface on the first fiber layer side is obtained.

  In the present invention, the first surface 13 of the steam thermal sheet 10 may be composed of the nonwoven fabric 13a alone, or may be used by stacking non-concave sheet materials. The non-woven fabric 13a can also be used in an overlapping manner on the outermost surface in contact with the surface. There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the kind of nonwoven fabric which comprises the surface of the 2nd surface 14. FIG. As the said nonwoven fabric, common nonwoven fabrics, such as an air through nonwoven fabric, a spun bond nonwoven fabric, a spun lace nonwoven fabric, a chemical bond nonwoven fabric, a heat bond nonwoven fabric, can be used, for example.

  The steam heat generation part 11 accommodated in the container 12 contains an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, an electrolyte, and water. Such a steam temperature generation part 11 consists of a heat generating sheet or heat generating powder, for example. When the steam temperature generation unit 11 is formed of a heat generating sheet, the heat generating sheet is preferably composed of a fiber sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a fibrous material, an electrolyte, and water. That is, it is preferable that the exothermic sheet is one in which a fiber sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a fibrous material, and an electrolyte is in a water-containing state. In particular, the exothermic sheet is preferably configured by containing an electrolyte aqueous solution in a molded sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, and a fibrous material. Examples of the heat generating sheet include a sheet-like material obtained by wet papermaking, and a laminate formed by sandwiching heat generating powder with paper or the like. Such a heat generating sheet can be manufactured using, for example, the wet papermaking method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-102761 related to the previous application of the present applicant, or the extrusion method using a die coater. On the other hand, when the steam temperature heat generating part 11 is made of exothermic powder, it is preferable that the exothermic powder includes an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a water retention agent, an electrolyte, and water. Of the heat generating sheet and the heat generating powder, it is preferable to use the heat generating sheet from the viewpoint that the vapor temperature heat can be uniformly applied to the eyes and around the eyes in any posture. In addition, the heat generating sheet is more advantageous than the heat generating powder because it is easy to make the temperature distribution of heat generation uniform and the ability to support an oxidizable metal is excellent.

  When the steam temperature generating part 11 is composed of a heat generating sheet, the heat generating sheet is 60 to 90% by weight, particularly 70 to 85% by weight of an oxidizable metal, 5 to 25% by weight, particularly 8 to 15% by weight. And an electrolyte containing 1 to 15% by weight, particularly 2 to 10% by weight of electrolyte with respect to 100 parts by weight of the molded sheet containing 5 to 35% by weight, particularly 8 to 20% by weight of fibrous material It is preferable that the aqueous solution contains 25 to 80 parts by weight, particularly 30 to 70 parts by weight. On the other hand, when the steam temperature generator 11 is made of exothermic powder, the exothermic powder is 20 to 80% by weight, particularly 20 to 50% by weight of oxidizable metal, 1 to 25% by weight, particularly 5 to 20% by weight. % Of the reaction accelerator and 3 to 25% by weight of the water content of 100% by weight of the water retaining agent, preferably 0.3 to 12% by weight of electrolyte and 20 to 60% by weight of water. . As various materials constituting the heat generating sheet and the heat generating powder, the same materials as those usually used in the technical field can be used. Further, the materials described in JP-A-2003-102761 described above can also be used.

The steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment is packaged by a packaging material (not shown) having an oxygen barrier property before use so that the steam thermal generation unit 11 does not come into contact with oxygen in the air. It has become. The oxygen barrier material, for example, its oxygen permeability coefficient (ASTM D3985) is ^{10cm 3 · mm / (m 2} · day · MPa) or less, are particularly ^{2cm 3 · mm / (m 2} · day · MPa) or less Such a thing is preferable. Specifically, a film such as an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyacrylonitrile, or a film obtained by depositing ceramic or aluminum on such a film can be used.

  It is preferable to attach an indication to the packaging material that the steam thermal sheet 10 improves eye fatigue and / or dryness. It is generally thought that the cause is eye fatigue and dryness. For example, by applying a steam tail annual sheet to the eyes and around the eyes, fatigue and dryness of the eyes will be improved, thereby relieving symptoms such as blurred eyes, hazyness, and difficulty in seeing things. Can be attached. By such a display, the present invention achieves three effects of improving the near vision response that causes a reduction in visual acuity that could not be achieved by conventional disposable warmers known to the consumer. I can let you know. Thus, the consumer will readily recognize the full value of the improved performance of the present invention. The display includes any information means that can convey the improved performance of the present invention to the consumer, such as symbols and graphics as well as characters. In addition, the display can include information indicating that the present invention is superior to other products. Further, in addition to or instead of attaching the above indication to the packaging bag, an instruction including the indication may be put in the packaging material together with the steam thermal sheet 10. Alternatively, the indication may be attached to the steam thermal sheet 10 itself.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the steam thermal sheet 10 taken out from the packaging material is used by being inserted between the eye mask 19 and the user's eyes in combination with the eye mask 19. By setting it as such a usage form, the steam temperature generated from the steam temperature sheet 10 can be applied uniformly to the user regardless of the posture of the user (for example, the supine position or the sitting position). This is advantageous in that the versatility of the usage scene of the steam thermal sheet 10 is improved. As an example, the steam thermal sheet 10 can be used while lying down at home. It can also be used immediately when you feel tired eyes or dry eyes during desk work. Furthermore, it can be used easily when traveling on a business trip (for example, in a train, airplane, car, etc.).

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Regarding the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the description regarding the above-described embodiment is appropriately applied to points that are not particularly described. The steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment has the same outer shape as the steam thermal sheet of the embodiment described above. However, the shape of the space for accommodating the steam heat generator 11 is different from the steam heat sheet of the embodiment described above. Specifically, the container 12 is provided with two annular sealing portions 16 inside the peripheral joint 15. And the steam temperature generation part 11 is accommodated in the space formed by each annular sealing part 16, respectively. Between the annular sealing portion 16 and the peripheral joint portion 15, a non-joined portion 17 is formed in which the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 are in a non-joined state. The non-joining site | part 17 is located so that the steam temperature heat generating body 11 may be surrounded. A space is formed in the non-bonded portion 17.

  The space formed in the non-joining part 17 functions as an air storage part. This space serves as a control unit for water vapor generated from the steam thermal sheet 10. As a result, the periphery of the steam temperature generator 11 functions as a heat insulating portion for the heat generated from the steam temperature generator 11. This prevents the generated steam from escaping from the periphery of the steam thermal sheet 10 to the outside, and prevents the steam generated from the steam thermal sheet 10 from coming into direct contact with the outside air. Therefore, the fall of the temperature of the water vapor | steam applied to a user's skin from the steam thermal sheet 10 is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 9, each annular sealing portion 16 is provided so as to be positioned at a position corresponding to the eye socket of the user when the steam thermal sheet 10 is worn. In each annular sealing portion 16, the length W between the annular sealing portions in the lateral direction is larger than the distance from the inner eye angle to the outer eye angle of the user. In addition, the length H between the annular sealing portions in the longitudinal direction of each annular sealing portion 16 is large enough to cover the upper and lower eyelids of the user in the closed eye state. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, steam heat can be applied over a wide range of the user's eyes and around the eyes. From this viewpoint, the space surrounded by the annular sealing portion 16, that is, the area of the steam heat generating portion accommodated in the space in a plan view is 1500 to 6000 mm ² , particularly 1500 to 4000 mm ² , and further 2000 to 3500 mm ^2. It is preferable that From the same viewpoint, the length W in the horizontal direction is preferably 40 to 80 mm, particularly 50 to 70 mm, and the length H in the vertical direction is 30 to 100 mm, particularly 30 to 70 mm, and more preferably 40 to 60 mm. preferable.

  In FIG. 9, the shape of the space surrounded by the annular sealing portion 16 is a polygonal shape including corners on the outer periphery in addition to a circle or an ellipse, for example, FIG. In addition to the quadrangle as shown in Fig. 5, it may be a pentagon or a hexagon. In FIG. 9, two annular sealing portions 16 corresponding to the left and right eyes are formed. Instead, as shown in FIG. 12 described later, each steam is connected via a connection space 65. The spaces in which the heat generating portions are accommodated may be connected to each other, and the annular sealing portion may be formed so as to surround one space formed by being connected.

  Also in the steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment, the steam thermal generation unit 11 housed in the housing part 12 may be either a heat generating sheet or a heat generating powder, as in the embodiment described above. It is preferable to use a heat generating sheet from the viewpoint that steam temperature heat can be uniformly applied to the eyes and around the eyes even in a simple posture.

  Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). FIG. 12A shows a plan view of the state of the steam thermal sheet 10 according to the present embodiment before use as seen from the first surface side. FIG. 12B shows the state shown in FIG. The top view which looked at the state at the time of use of the vapor | steam thermal sheet | seat 10 shown to the 1st surface side is shown. Regarding the embodiment shown in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, the description regarding each embodiment described above is appropriately applied to points that are not particularly described. The steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment is used without being used together with an eye mask, unlike the previous embodiments.

  The steam thermal sheet 10 according to the present embodiment has ear hooks 60 and 60 on both left and right sides thereof. A pair of ear hooks 60 are provided on both sides of the first surface 13 of the steam thermal sheet 10 via ear hook connecting parts 61. The ear hook connecting portion 61 is linear and extends at an incline so that the upper end of the ear hook connecting portion 61 is positioned on the outer side in the width direction than the lower end at a position on the inner side in the width direction with respect to both side edges of the steam thermal sheet 10. . The shape of each ear hook 60 matches the shape of the steam thermal sheet 10 divided into two along the longitudinal center line L.

  In the state before use, the ear hooking portion 60 is disposed so as to cover the first surface 13 of the steam thermal sheet 10 as shown in FIG. The upper edge and the lower edge of the ear hook 60 substantially coincide with the upper edge and the lower edge of the steam thermal sheet 10. Thereby, in the state before use, the 1st surface 13 of the steam thermal sheet 10 is protected by each ear hook part 60, and the clean state is maintained. In addition, when the ear hook 60 has such a shape, after the ear hook 60 is formed in the container 12 in which the heat generating portion 10 is stored, the steam thermal sheet 10 and the ear hook 60 are simultaneously cut. There is an advantage that can be manufactured.

  When the ear hook 60 is unfolded and used from the state before use shown in FIG. 12A, the ear hook 60 is unfolded as shown in FIG. 12B. The overall shape is inclined outward and downward.

  The ear hooking part 60 is formed by providing an opening 62 in a sheet constituting the ear hooking part 60. The opening 62 has a substantially oval shape extending in the lateral direction of the steam thermal sheet 10. The opening 62 is gradually tapered toward the ear hook connecting portion 61. A plurality of slits 63 connected to the opening 62 are provided in the vicinity of the tip 60 a of the ear hook 60. The degree of opening of the slit 63 varies depending on the size of the user's face of the steam thermal sheet 10, so that the steam thermal sheet 10 fits the user's face exactly.

  The sheet constituting the ear hook 60 may be formed of any of a stretchable sheet, a non-stretchable and extensible sheet, or a non-stretchable and non-stretchable sheet. Examples of the material for the sheet include non-woven fabric, woven fabric, paper, and resin film.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the ear hooking portion 60 in a state before use is partially connected by a connecting region 64, with their tip portions opposed to each other. The connection area 64 is formed by perforations, for example. By this connection area 64, the ear hooking portion 60 in a state before use is apparently integrated, so that the first surface 13 of the steam thermal sheet 10 is surely covered.

  As shown in FIG. 12B, the steam thermal sheet 10 of the present embodiment has a pair of rectangular steam heat generation sections 11 at positions corresponding to the respective eyeballs. As shown in FIG. 13, which is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12A, the space that accommodates each steam temperature generation unit 11 is connected via a connection space 65 formed in the center in the horizontal direction of the steam temperature sheet 10. , It has become one space. Two steam temperature generation parts 11 are accommodated in this space. As a result, the air flow between the two steam temperature generators 11 becomes uniform, and the heat generation of the steam temperature generator 11 and the generation of water vapor become uniform.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment. For example, the steam thermal sheet 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 is used in combination with an eye mask, but instead of these steam thermal sheets, FIGS. 12A and 12B are used. The ear hook 60 shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to such examples.

[Example 1]
(1) Manufacture of sheet-like heating element <Raw material composition formulation>
・ Oxidizable metal: Iron powder, manufactured by Dowa Mining Co., Ltd., trade name “RKH”: 84% by weight
-Fibrous material: Pulp fiber (made by Fletcher Challenge Canada, trade name NBKP “Mackenzi (adjusted to CSF 200 ml)”): 8% by weight
Activated carbon: average particle size 45 μm, (manufactured by Nippon Enviro Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name “Carborafine”) 8% by weight

  Polyamide epichlorohydrin resin (manufactured by Seiko PMC Co., Ltd., trade name “100 parts by weight of solid content (total of oxidizable metals, fibrous materials and activated carbon) of the raw material composition”. WS4020 ") 0.7 part by weight and 0.18 part by weight of anionic flocculant sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., trade name" HE1500F "). Water (industrial water) was further added. The slurry was added until the solid content concentration became 12% by weight.

<Making conditions>
Using the slurry, it was diluted with water to 0.3% by weight immediately before the paper making head, and paper was made at a line speed of 15 m / min with a slanted short net paper machine to produce a wet shaped sheet.

<Drying conditions>
The molded sheet was sandwiched with felt, dehydrated under pressure, passed through a heating roll at 140 ° C. as it was, and dried until the water content became 5% by weight or less. The basis weight after drying was 450 g / m ² and the thickness was 0.45 mm. The composition of the molded sheet thus obtained was measured using a thermogravimetric measuring apparatus (TG / DTA 6200, manufactured by Seiko Instruments Inc.), and as a result, the composition was 84% iron, 8% activated carbon, and 8% pulp.

<Preparation of sheet heating element>
Two obtained molded sheets were overlapped, and the following electrolytic solution was injected so that the amount of the electrolytic solution was 50 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the molded sheet. Capillary phenomenon was used to infiltrate the electrolyte into the entire molded sheet to obtain a sheet-like heating element.

<Electrolyte>
Electrolyte: Purified salt (NaCl)
Water: Industrial water Electrolyte concentration: 5% by weight

<Production of steam thermal sheet>
The first surface was formed by laminating a spunbond nonwoven fabric of PET, a meltblown nonwoven fabric of PP, and a spunbond nonwoven fabric of PP and rayon. The air permeability was 0.01 seconds as the lower limit to be measured, and the moisture permeability was 12000 g / (m ² · 24 h). The second surface was constituted by arranging a stretched porous polyethylene moisture-permeable film containing calcium carbonate on the inside and an air-through nonwoven fabric on the outside. The basis weight of the moisture-permeable film was 45 g / m ^2. The air-through nonwoven fabric was a core-sheath type composite fiber having polyethylene terephthalate as a core and polyethylene as a sheath, and the basis weight was 20 g / m ² . The air permeability of the second surface was 10,000 seconds / (100 ml · 6.42 cm ² ), and the moisture permeability was 1000 g / (m ² · 24 h).

  The eye mask-shaped container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was manufactured using these materials, and the sheet-like heating element was housed therein. Thus, a steam thermal sheet was obtained. The rigidity value of the steam thermal sheet was 0.4 N / width 7 cm.

  It was 15 minutes when the generation | occurrence | production duration time of steam temperature was measured according to the method described previously using the obtained steam temperature sheet. The state of water vapor generation (up to 10 minutes) is shown in FIG. Moreover, when the temperature of the skin surface to which the steam thermal sheet was applied was measured according to the method described above for three male subjects (six eyes) aged 39 to 43 years, it was being applied at an environmental temperature of 25 ° C. The skin temperature was maintained at 37-40 ° C. for about 20 minutes.

  In addition, using the obtained steam thermal sheet, eye accommodation (a subjective accommodation), pupil response, and vergence reaction were measured. Each measurement was conducted on 7 male subjects (14 eyes) aged 39 to 43 years, (i) after performing VDT work for 2 hours, and (b) after (a) and a steam thermal sheet. Went under two circumstances after applying. In the case of (b), a steam thermal sheet was inserted between the eye mask and the eyes of the subject as shown in FIG. The application time was 10 minutes. As a control, the measurement was also performed after maintaining the closed state for 10 minutes using only the eye mask without using the steam thermal sheet. Eye accommodation was measured using Kowa Accomodometer KOWANP (trade name), and pupil and vergence responses were measured using Tri-IRIS C9000 (trade name) manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics. The results are shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 15 shows the measurement result of the eye accommodation power (substantial accommodation power). The subjective adjustment force on the vertical axis in the figure represents the reciprocal of the near point distance (m), and the unit is D (diopter). The larger the value on the vertical axis, the higher the adjustment power. For example, it is generally said that the near point distance of a person in their 20s is 10D or more, whereas it is said to be 5D in a person in their 30s and 3D in a person in their 40s. As is clear from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the subjective adjustment power increases and the eye adjustment power is improved with a significant difference.

  FIG. 16 shows the measurement results of the pupil response. The vertical axis is the pupil diameter and the unit is mm. The pupil diameter is continuously measured by moving the visual target back and forth in front of the subject's eyes, and the pupil diameter change at that time (the difference between the pupil diameter at the time of mydriasis and the pupil diameter at the time of miosis) is miotic. Is the diameter. The larger the value of the miosis diameter, the higher the pupil response. As is clear from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the miosis diameter increases, and the pupil response is improved with a significant difference.

  FIG. 17 shows the result of the congestion response measurement. The vertical axis is the pupil movement distance, and the unit is mm. The pupil position is continuously measured by moving the visual target back and forth in front of the subject's eyes, and the amount of change in the pupil position at that time is the pupil movement distance. The greater the pupil movement distance, the higher the convergence response. As is apparent from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the pupil movement distance is increased, and the convergence reaction is improved with a significant difference.

[Example 2]
Regarding the production of the sheet-like heating element, <raw material composition blending>, <paper making conditions>, and <drying conditions> were the same as in Example 1. About other conditions, operation, etc., the steam thermal sheet shown in Drawing 12 (a) and Drawing 12 (b) was obtained as follows.

<Preparation of sheet heating element>
One obtained molded sheet (single eye area 26.95 cm ² ) was used, and the following electrolyte was injected so that the amount of the electrolyte was 35 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the molded sheet. Capillary phenomenon was used to infiltrate the electrolyte into the entire molded sheet to obtain a sheet-like heating element.

<Electrolyte>
Electrolyte: Purified salt (NaCl)
Water: Industrial water Electrolyte concentration: 5% by weight

<Production of steam thermal sheet>
A stretched porous polyethylene moisture-permeable film containing calcium carbonate was used for both the first surface and the second surface of the container. The basis weight of the moisture-permeable film was 47 g / m ² , the air permeability was 8058 seconds, and the moisture permeability was 765 g / (m ² · 24 h). The first surface of the container was constituted by arranging a polyethylene moisture permeable film on the inside and arranging the nonwoven fabric 13a shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) on the outside. This nonwoven fabric 13b was manufactured by the method described above. The basis weight of this nonwoven fabric 13a was 75 g / m ² . The thickness T1 of the convex portion in the nonwoven fabric 13b was 1.8 mm, and the thickness T2 of the concave portion was 0.5 mm. The 1st fiber layer 21 in the nonwoven fabric 13a was comprised from the polyethylene terephthalate fiber. The second fiber layer 22 was composed of polypropylene / polyethylene fiber. The second surface of the container was configured by arranging a polyethylene moisture permeable film on the inside and a spunbonded nonwoven fabric on the outside. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric had a basis weight of 30 g / m ² using a core-sheath composite fiber having polyethylene terephthalate and a core and polyethylene as a sheath as a raw material.

Example 3
The operations other than <Production of Steam Thermal Sheet> were performed in the same manner as in Example 2 to obtain the steam thermal sheet shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b).

<Production of steam thermal sheet>
The first surface was formed by laminating three stretched porous polyethylene moisture permeable films containing calcium carbonate and the nonwoven fabric shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The same nonwoven fabric as in Example 2 was used. The basis weight of the moisture-permeable film was 20 / m ² per sheet. When three moisture permeable films were laminated, the air permeability was 2583 seconds, and the moisture permeability was 3496 g / (m ² · 24 h). The second surface was made of a non-breathable laminated nonwoven fabric. The non-breathable laminated nonwoven fabric was a composite obtained by heating and bonding a nonwoven fabric composed of a core-sheath type composite fiber having a core made of polyester and a sheath made of polyethylene, and a polyethylene film, and the basis weight was 65 g / m ² .

Example 4
The operations other than <Production of Steam Thermal Sheet> were performed in the same manner as in Example 2 to obtain the steam thermal sheet shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b).

<Production of steam thermal sheet>
The first surface was formed by laminating two sheets of moisture-permeable synthetic paper and the nonwoven fabric shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The same nonwoven fabric as in Example 2 was used. The basis weight of the moisture-permeable synthetic paper was 40 g / m ² per sheet. When the moisture-permeable synthetic paper was laminated, the air permeability was 135 seconds / (100 ml · 6.42 cm ² ), and the moisture permeability was 4760 g / (m ² · 24 h). The second surface was composed of the same non-breathable laminated nonwoven fabric as in Example 3.

  When the stiffness values of the steam thermal sheets obtained in Examples 2 to 4 were measured by the above method under the conditions of a span distance of 80 mm and a crosshead speed of 20 mm / min, the load was applied from the first surface 13. In the case of application, 0.07 N / width 7 cm and 0.08 N / width 7 cm when the load was applied from the second surface 14.

In Examples 2 to 4, each of the eyes has a sheet-like heating element separately, and the size of each sheet-like heating element is less than the above-described span distance of 80 mm. In the case of measurement, there is a concern that the rigidity value of the steam thermal sheet cannot be obtained at the portion including the steam heat generation part. Therefore, except that the span distance was 40 mm and the crosshead speed was 5 mm / min, the rigidity value was measured using the measurement method described above, and the accuracy of measurement under the above conditions was confirmed. Between the measured value N under the conditions of the span distance of 80 mm and the crosshead speed of 20 mm / min and the measured value A of the span distance of 40 mm and the crosshead speed of 5 mm / min, the following conversion formula (1 ) Is empirically known to hold.
N = A × (1/2) · (7 / sample width) (1)
The rigidity value obtained using this conversion formula (1) and the measured value A under the conditions of the span distance of 40 mm and the crosshead speed of 5 mm / min was 0.06 N / width 7 cm. Therefore, it was confirmed that the measurement under the conditions of the span distance of 80 mm and the crosshead speed of 20 mm / min was correct.

  In addition, with regard to the steam thermal sheet obtained in Examples 2 to 4, the method described above for the temperature of the skin surface to which the steam thermal sheet was applied to five male subjects (10 eyes) aged 39 to 46 years. As a result, the temperature of the skin during application was maintained at 37 to 40 ° C. for about 20 minutes. Further, when the duration of water vapor generation of the steam thermal sheet was measured according to the method described above, the steam thermal sheet of Example 2 was 15 minutes, Example 3 was 20 minutes, and Example 4 was 20 minutes.

  Using the steam thermal sheet obtained in Examples 2 to 4, BUT (Break Up Time), near vision, eye accommodation (objective accommodation), pupil response, and convergence reaction were measured. Each measurement was conducted on 5 male subjects (10 eyes) aged 39 to 46 years old (b) after VDT work for 3 to 4 hours and (b) after b) and steam. This was done under two conditions after applying the hot sheet for 10 minutes. The measurement method is the same as in Example 1. Near vision was measured using the left and right eyes from a distance 30 cm away from the vision table under correction, using a standard near-range vision chart. The BUT was measured for each of the right eye and the left eye with a stopwatch under the observation of a slit fistula microscope after fluorescein staining and immediately after opening the eye until the tear oil film layer was broken. The measurement result was an average value of individual measurement values. The results are shown in FIGS.

  18 (a) and 18 (b) show the measurement results of the oil layer breaking time (BUT) of tears on the cornea surface of the eye. The BUT on the vertical axis in the figure represents the time (seconds) from immediately after blinking until the tear oil layer on the corneal surface is broken. The larger the value on the vertical axis, the lower the dry eye degree. A healthy person is generally determined to be dry eye if it is 10 seconds or longer and 5 seconds or shorter. As can be seen from the results shown in the figure, by applying the steam thermal sheet, the BUT value increases and the dry eye state of the eyes is improved.

  FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B show the measurement results of the near vision of the eye. As is apparent from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the subjective adjustment power is increased and the eye adjustment power is improved.

  20 (a) and 20 (b) show the measurement results of the eye accommodation power (substantial accommodation power). As is clear from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the subjective adjustment power increases and the eye adjustment power is improved with a significant difference.

  FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B show the measurement results of the pupil response. The vertical axis is the pupil diameter and the unit is mm. As is clear from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the miosis diameter increases, and the pupil response is improved with a significant difference.

  FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B show the congestion response measurement results. As is clear from the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that by applying the steam thermal sheet, the value of the pupil movement distance increases and the convergence reaction is improved.

  As is apparent from the results shown in FIG. 15 to FIG. 22, by applying the steam thermal sheet, it is possible to improve the trilogy of near-sight reactions (eye adjustment, pupillary reaction, and vergence reaction) that cause visual acuity reduction. It turns out that there is an effect. Moreover, it turns out that it is effective in improvement of BUT (time from the time of blinking to the tearing oil layer of the cornea surface being broken) causing dry eye.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the steam thermal sheet for eyes of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an apparatus for measuring the duration of steam generation in the steam thermal sheet for eyes of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for measuring the rigidity value of the steam thermal sheet for eyes. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of a nonwoven fabric preferably used for the steam thermal sheet for eyes of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing an instrument for measuring the air permeation capacity in the horizontal direction of the nonwoven fabric shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing an apparatus for measuring the air permeation capacity of the nonwoven fabric shown in FIG. 5 in the horizontal direction. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage pattern of the steam vapor thermal sheet for eyes shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a plan view (corresponding to FIG. 1) showing another embodiment of the steam thermal sheet for eyes of the present invention. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the usage state of the steam vapor thermal sheet for eyes shown in FIG. Fig.12 (a) is the top view which looked at the state before use of another embodiment of the steam thermal sheet of this invention from the 1st surface side, FIG.12 (b) is FIG.12 (a). It is the top view which looked at the state at the time of use of the steam thermal sheet shown to 1 from the 1st surface side. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. FIG. 14 is a graph showing how water vapor is generated from the steam vapor thermal sheet for eye obtained in Example 1. FIG. 15 is a graph showing the effect of improving eye accommodation by the eye steam thermal sheet obtained in Example 1. FIG. 16 is a graph showing the effect of improving the pupillary reaction by the eye steam thermal sheet obtained in Example 1. FIG. 17 is a graph showing the effect of improving the convergence reaction by the steam-heat sheet for eyes obtained in Example 1. 18 (a) and 18 (b) are graphs showing the BUT improvement effect by the steam vapor thermal sheets obtained in Examples 2 to 4. FIG. 19 (a) and 19 (b) are graphs showing the effect of improving near vision by the steam vapor sheet for eyes obtained in Examples 2 to 4. FIG. 20 (a) and 20 (b) are graphs showing the effect of improving eye accommodation by the eye steam thermal sheets obtained in Examples 2 to 4. FIG. FIGS. 21A and 21B are graphs showing the effect of improving the pupillary reaction by the eye steam thermal sheets obtained in Examples 2 to 4. FIG. 22 (a) and 22 (b) are graphs showing the effect of improving the convergence reaction by the steam vapor thermal sheets obtained in Examples 2 to 4.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Steam-heat sheet | seat for eyes 11 Steam-heat generation part 12 Container 13 1st surface 14 2nd surface 15 Peripheral junction part 16 Annular sealing part 19 Eye mask

Claims (11)

  An eye water vapor generator that has a steam heat generation section that utilizes an oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal and that provides water vapor to the eyes and the periphery of the eyes. Water vapor is generated from the contacted surface for 1 minute to 30 minutes, and the contacted skin surface temperature is set to 34 ° C. to 43 ° C. for 1 minute to 120 minutes. A water vapor generator for eyes having a diameter of 0.01 to 10 N / width of 7 cm.   The steam temperature generator is accommodated in a flat container having a first ventilation surface and a second ventilation surface opposite to the first ventilation surface, and water vapor is generated through at least the eyes and a surface in contact with the periphery of the eyes. The steam generator for eyes according to claim 1, which is configured as described above.   The air permeability (JIS P8117) of the second surface is equal to or greater than the air permeability (JIS P8117) of the first surface so that water vapor is generated through the first surface. Water vapor generator for eyes.   The water vapor generator for eyes according to claim 3, wherein the air permeability of the first surface is 0.01 to 15000 seconds and the air permeability of the second surface is 100 to 60000 seconds. The water vapor generator for eyes according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the moisture permeability of the first surface is 100 g / (m ² · 24 hr) or more.   The steam for eye according to claim 1, wherein the steam temperature generation part is accommodated in a flat container having a ventilation surface and a non-venting surface opposite to the ventilation surface, and water vapor is generated through the ventilation surface. Generator. The water vapor generator for eyes according to claim 6, wherein the moisture permeability of the ventilation surface is 100 to 20000 g / (m ² · 24 hr).   The steam heat generation part is made of a heat generating sheet that contains an aqueous electrolyte solution in a molded sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, and a fibrous material, and can generate heat by contact with air. The water vapor generator for eyes according to any one of 7 above.   The water vapor generator for eyes according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which has ear hooks on both right and left sides.   The water vapor generator for eyes according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is used by being inserted between the eye mask and a user's eyes in combination with a my mask.   The water vapor generation for eyes according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an indication that the tiredness and / or dryness of the eyes is improved is attached, or is put in a package with the indication. body.

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