JP2008220943A - Heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating device capable of giving a user excellent wearing feel, hardly becoming sweaty, and capable of stably sustaining the heat generation. <P>SOLUTION: The heating device 10 comprises an air-permeable first face 13 located close to the user's skin, a second face 14 located apart from the user's skin, and a heating part 11 interposed between these faces. The second face 14 has an adhesive part 16 to fix the heating device 10 to the clothes on the outer surface. The first face 13 is made of a non-woven fabric 13b with irregularities on the surface. The non-woven fabric 13b comprises a first fiber layer 21 including one face and a second fiber layer 22 including the other face. The layers 21 and 22 are partially jointed to each other, and a number of projections 24 and recesses 25 are formed on the first layer 21 side. One face of the non-woven fabric 13b is used as the first face 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating tool used for warming the body, and more particularly to a heating tool used to relieve menstrual pain.

  Various heating tools are known that are used to enclose a heat-generating material in a flat air-permeable bag and heat the body by the heat generated by the heat-generating material. For example, the applicant firstly has a body body composed of a surface layer, a back surface layer, the surface layer and a heating element interposed between the back surface layers, and extends outward from the upper edge of the body body when used. A portable body warmer has been proposed that includes a fixing piece provided on the body of the body so that the body can be attached to shorts (underwear) (see Patent Document 1). An adhesive is applied to the body and the fixing piece, and the body is attached to the outer surface of the shorts by the adhesive, and the fixing piece is folded on the inner surface of the shorts so as to straddle the opening of the shorts. paste. Therefore, there is a restriction that the mounting position of the warmer is near the opening of the shorts. The heat generated from the warmer is indirectly applied to the body through the fabric of the shorts. Therefore, since there are various types of shorts fabric, the degree of heat transfer may differ depending on the type of shorts.

  Apart from this portable warmer, a thermal body pad used to relieve menstrual pain has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). This thermal body pad includes a plurality of heat cells in which a heat-generating material is sealed between two layers, and has a first surface that is oxygen permeable and a second surface that directly contacts the user's body. Yes. This body pad is provided with attachment means for detachably attaching the body pad to a first surface having oxygen permeability. Since this body pad is used so that the second surface thereof directly contacts the user's body, heat transfer is direct. However, since the rough unevenness caused by a large number of heat cells is directly transmitted to the body, it cannot be said that the wearing feeling is good.

There has also been proposed a heat-generating bag in which a heat-generating composition is housed in a flat bag having a breathable adhesive surface and a non-adhesive surface (see Patent Document 3). This heat-generating bag is stabilized between the underwear and the skin by attaching the air-permeable adhesive surface of the heat-generating bag to the inside of the underwear and fixing it to the underwear so that the air-permeable adhesive surface faces the outside of the human body. It is intended to keep the breathable state and directly warm the human body by bringing the non-adhesive surface into contact with the skin. However, since the air-permeable adhesive surface, which is the air inflow surface, faces the undergarment, air may not be sufficiently supplied depending on the type of fabric of the undergarment. Furthermore, if the application area of the pressure-sensitive adhesive is restricted in order to ensure air permeability, there are cases where sufficient adhesive strength cannot be obtained.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-155895 JP-T-2001-507593 JP 2001-198150 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heating tool that can eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above.

  The present invention provides a first surface located on the side close to the wearer's skin and having air permeability, a second surface located on a side far from the wearer's skin, the first surface, and the second surface. And a heat generating part interposed between the heat generating part, an adhesive part for fixing the heat generating tool to the clothing is provided on the outer surface of the second surface, and the first surface is the surface The nonwoven fabric has a first fiber layer including one surface and a second fiber layer including the other surface, and both layers are partially bonded. A plurality of convex portions and concave portions are formed on the first fiber layer side, and a heating tool using the one surface as the first surface is provided.

  Since the surface which directly contacts the wearer's body is made of a nonwoven fabric having an uneven shape, the heating tool of the present invention has a good wearing feeling. Further, due to the uneven shape, the contact area with the wearer's body is reduced, and stuffiness is less likely to occur. Furthermore, due to the uneven shape, a space is formed between the wearer's body and the heating tool, so that air flows smoothly through the surface directly in contact with the wearer's body, The fever is stable and lasts.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (a) shows a plan view of a steam heating device as one embodiment of the heating device of the present invention as seen from the skin contact surface side. FIG.1 (b) is the top view which looked at this steam heating tool from the clothing contact surface side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

  The steam heating tool 10 according to the present embodiment is used to improve the wearer's physiological function by applying water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature generated from a heat generating portion included in the steam warm tool 10 to the wearer's body. . Especially the steam heating tool 10 of this embodiment is used suitably in order to relieve menstrual pain by applying the water vapor | steam heated by predetermined temperature to a female lower abdomen.

  The steam heating tool 10 has a longitudinal direction X and a width direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and has a vertically long shape in the X direction. The steam heater 10 has an upper edge 10a and a lower edge 10b extending in the longitudinal direction X, and left and right side edges 10c and 10d extending in the width direction Y. The upper edge 10 a has a curved shape that is an inward convex shape toward the longitudinal center line L of the steam heating device 10. The lower edge 10b has a curved shape that is outwardly convex with respect to the vertical center line L. The left and right side edges 10c and 10d have curved shapes that are outwardly convex. Both end portions of the upper edge 10a are smoothly connected to upper end portions of the left and right side edges 10c and 10d. Similarly, both end portions of the lower edge 10b are smoothly connected to the lower end portions of the left and right side edges 10c, 10d.

  The steam heating tool 10 includes a heat generating part 11 and a container 12 that stores the heat generating part 11. The container 12 is flat and forms the outline of the steam heating device 10. The container 12 is formed by adhering a plurality of sheet materials to form a sealed space in which the heat generating portion 11 is accommodated. The container 12 having a flat shape has a first surface 13 located on the side close to the wearer's skin, and a second surface 14 on the side opposite to the first surface 13 located on the side far from the user's skin. is doing.

  The heat generating part 11 contains an oxidizable metal. The heat generating part 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. Details of the heat generating portion 11 will be described later.

  The first surface 13 has air permeability so as to allow air and water vapor to pass therethrough. On the other hand, the second surface 14 has a lower permeation of air and water vapor than the first surface 13. That is, the second surface 14 is less breathable or non-breathable than the first surface 13. Whether the second surface 14 is breathable or non-breathable is appropriately selected according to the specific application of the steam heating device 10.

  The steam heating device 10 is used such that the first surface 13 side thereof directly contacts the wearer's skin and the second surface 14 side directly contacts clothing (in this embodiment, shorts as will be described later). Is done. The water vapor generated by the heat generation of the heat generating portion 11 is directly applied to the wearer's skin as the object through the first surface 13.

  Both the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 of the steam heating tool 10 are made of a sheet material. The container 12 of the steam heating device 10 has a closed peripheral edge joint portion 15 formed by joining the peripheral edges of the sheet materials constituting the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 to the peripheral edge thereof. have. 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. As a result, a single sealed space for accommodating the heat generating portion 11 is formed in the container 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat generating portion 11 is accommodated so as to occupy almost the entire space formed in the accommodating body 12. That is, a single heat generating part 11 is accommodated in the container 12, and the heat generating part 11 is accommodated so as to occupy almost the entire area of the container 12 excluding the peripheral joint 15. In FIG. 2, the heat generating part 11 is simply accommodated in the sealed space of the container 12, but the heat generating part 11 and a part of the inner surface of the container 12 are joined using a bonding means such as an adhesive as long as the heat generation is not hindered. May be fixed.

The steam heating device 10 of the present embodiment is configured such that water vapor is preferentially released through the first surface 13 by appropriately adjusting the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14. Has been. Specifically, the air permeability of the second surface is made larger than the air permeability of the first surface. Here, the air permeability is a value measured by JIS P8117, and is defined as the time (seconds / 100 ml) in which 100 ml of air passes through an area of 645 mm ² under a constant pressure.
Therefore, a 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 and the level of air permeability are opposite to each other. In the present embodiment, when the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 is compared, the first surface 13 is higher than the second surface 14. That is, as described above, the second surface 14 is non-breathable or hardly breathable (that is, it has breathability but is less breathable than the first surface 13). It is.

  The container 12 has a flat shape having a first surface 13 that is a ventilation surface and a second surface 14 that is a non-ventilation surface facing the first surface 13, and passes through the first surface 13 that is a ventilation surface. Steam heat is generated. Or the container 12 has the flat form which has the 1st surface 13 which is a ventilation surface, and the 2nd surface 14 which is a difficult ventilation surface facing it, and is the 1st surface which is a ventilation surface. Steam temperature and heat are generated through 13. When the second surface 14 is difficult to breathe, the air preferentially flows into the container 12 through the second surface 14 by balancing the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14. In addition, water vapor is preferentially released through the first surface 13.

  When the second surface 14 is difficult to breathe, the second surface 14 is vented from the viewpoint of suppressing the release of water vapor through the surface 14 while ensuring the inflow of air through the second surface 14. The degree is preferably 5 times or more, more preferably 10 times or more the air permeability of the first surface 13. Alternatively, the ratio of the air permeability of the first surface 13 and the air permeability of the second surface 14 (first surface / second surface) is preferably 0.5 or less, particularly preferably 0.2 or less. Thereby, 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.

  When the second surface 14 is difficult to breathe, it is preferable that the air permeability of the surface 14 is 30000 seconds / 100 ml or more, particularly 40000 seconds / 100 ml or more, especially 50000 seconds / 100 ml or more. On the other hand, the air permeability of the first surface 13 is 100 to 30000 seconds / 100 ml, particularly 1000 to 20000 seconds / 100 ml, regardless of whether the second surface 14 is non-breathable or non-breathable. Preferably there is.

  As described above, both the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 of the steam heating device 10 are made of a sheet material. 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. The moisture-permeable film is obtained by forming a melt-kneaded material containing a thermoplastic resin and an organic or inorganic filler that is incompatible with the resin into a film shape and stretching it uniaxially or biaxially. It has a quality structure. 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 of the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 to a desired value is increased.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the 1st surface 13 is comprised from the moisture-permeable sheet | seat 13a and the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b which coat | covers the whole surface of this sheet | seat 13a. Since the air permeability of the first nonwoven fabric 13b is sufficiently higher than the air permeability of the moisture permeable sheet 13a, the air permeability of the first surface 13 is determined by the air permeability of the moisture permeable sheet 13a. On the other hand, the 2nd surface 14 is comprised from the sheet | seat 14a and the 2nd nonwoven fabric 14b which coat | covers the whole surface of this sheet | seat 14a. The sheet 14a is a moisture permeable sheet or a non-moisture permeable sheet. When the sheet 14 a is a moisture permeable sheet, the breathability of the moisture permeable sheet is lower than the breathability of the moisture permeable sheet 13 a constituting the first surface 13.

  The moisture-permeable sheet 13a and the first nonwoven fabric 13b constituting the first surface 13 may be joined only at the peripheral joint 15 or both may be joined over their entire surface. In the case where the entire surface is bonded, the two are bonded in a discontinuous bonding pattern so that the air permeability of the moisture-permeable sheet 13a is not impaired. The same applies to the joining mode of the sheet 14a constituting the second surface 14 and the second nonwoven fabric 14b. In FIG. 2, the first surface 13 and the second surface 14 of the container 12 are each configured to have two types of sheets. A combination of sheets may be used. In any case, it is preferable that 13b, which is a surface in direct contact with the skin, is a sheet having the following configuration.

  As apparent from the above description, in the steam heating device 10 of the present embodiment, the outer surface of the container 12 is constituted by the first nonwoven fabric 13b and the second nonwoven fabric 14b. And since the side which touches the skin is comprised from the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b, the vapor | steam heating tool 10 becomes the thing with the favorable touch. As a result, even when the steam heating tool 10 is used so as to directly contact the wearer's skin, a good wearing feeling can be obtained. Especially in this embodiment, since what is demonstrated below is used as the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b which comprises the 1st surface 13 which is a surface directly contact | abutted to a wearer's skin, a feeling of wear is further improved. In addition, various advantageous effects are exhibited.

  The principal part enlarged view of the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b used suitably for the steam heating tool 10 of this embodiment is shown by FIG. The first nonwoven fabric 13b has a two-layer structure having a first fiber layer 21 including one surface and a second fiber layer 22 including the other surface. The 1st fiber layer 21 and the 2nd fiber layer 22 consist of fiber aggregates, respectively, are mutually laminated, and are joined partially. 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 thickness smaller than other portions of the first nonwoven fabric 13b. The density is high. 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 1st nonwoven fabric 13b by the recessed part 25. FIG. Here, as a pattern of unevenness, as long as it has a good wearing feeling, in addition to the substantially same point shape shown in FIG. 3A, a combination of a plurality of shapes such as ellipses of different sizes and longitudinal ridges may be used. Well, random patterns can also be constructed. The inside of the convex part 24 is filled with fibers. The surface on the first fiber layer 21 side is used as the first surface 13 that is the skin contact surface in the steam heating device 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 heating tool 10 is worn, the convex portion 24 of the surface mainly comes into contact with the wearer's skin. That is, the entire surface of the first fiber layer 21 is not in contact with the wearer's skin, but is in partial contact with the point contact by the convex portion 24. Since the convex part 24 is formed of fibers and has a good cushion feeling and bulkiness, a good wearing feeling can be obtained by point contact by the convex part 24. On the other hand, in the thermal body pad described in Patent Document 1 described above, since there is a hard rugged sensation due to the heat cell containing a heating composition such as iron powder, the steam of this embodiment A good wearing feeling as obtained with the heating tool 10 is not obtained.

  Moreover, according to the steam heating tool 10 of this embodiment, due to the uneven shape of the surface of the first fiber layer 21, the contact area between the steam heating tool 10 and the wearer's skin is reduced, and stuffiness occurs during wearing. It is hard to generate. Further, the steam heating tool 10 generates water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature. The convex portion 24 acts as a spacer that separates the steam heating tool 10 from the wearer's skin, and the generated steam is efficiently worn. Applied to the skin of the elderly. And since the space which air distribute | circulates between a wearer's body and the steam heating tool 10 by the function as a spacer of the convex part 24, the 1st surface which is a surface which touches a wearer's body directly. 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. 3B) of the convex portion 24 in the first nonwoven fabric 13b to 1 to 30 mm, particularly 1 to 10 mm. Moreover, it is preferable to set thickness T2 (refer FIG.3 (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 first nonwoven fabric 13b (ratio of the area of the joint portion 23 per unit area of the first nonwoven fabric 13b) is preferably 3 to 50%, More preferably, it is 35%. 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 first non-woven fabric 13b in an unpressurized state. In this invention, the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b is cut | disconnected so that it may pass through 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 basis weight of the first nonwoven fabric 13b is preferably 20 to 200 g / m ² , particularly preferably 40 to 150 g / m ² . The basis weight is obtained by cutting the first nonwoven fabric 13b 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. Ask for it.

  As described above, the first nonwoven fabric 13b includes the first fiber layer 21 including one surface and the second fiber layer 22 including the other surface, each of which is composed of an assembly of fibers. The breathability of the nonwoven fabric 13b is sufficiently higher than the breathability of the moisture permeable sheet 13a, and the breathability of the first surface 13 is determined by the breathability of the moisture permeable sheet 13a. The air permeability (JIS P8117) of the first nonwoven fabric 13b is preferably 0.6 seconds / 100 ml or less, particularly 0.4 seconds / 100 ml or less from the viewpoint of sufficient air permeability. Moreover, it is preferable that a lower limit is about 0.3 second / 100ml.

In addition, the first nonwoven fabric 13b 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 thereof. Is maintained even under pressure at a predetermined pressure. Specifically, the first nonwoven fabric 13b 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. Preferably there is. 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 first non-woven fabric 13b is remarkably pressurized during wearing of the steam heating tool 10, and the wearer Even when it is in close contact with the body, the air permeability in the horizontal direction is sufficiently maintained, a space is maintained between the skin and the inflow of air can be ensured. As a result, the reaction of the heat generating portion 11 is not hindered compared to a general nonwoven fabric. That is, even when the first nonwoven fabric 13b is pressurized and is in close contact with the wearer's body while the steam heating tool 10 is worn, the air flowability in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the sheet) is improved. By ensuring sufficiently, air flows through the heat generating part 11 and heat generation is stably maintained. Therefore, good heat generation can be obtained without depending on the air permeability of the second surface 14. As a result, the area where the adhesive is applied to the second surface 14 can be freely designed without worrying about impeding air permeability. Moreover, generation | occurrence | production of the stuffiness during wearing of the steam heating tool 10 can be prevented effectively, and skin troubles, such as a discomfort by a stuffiness, and a rash / 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 first nonwoven fabric 13b under a pressure of 50 cN / cm ² is measured. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the first nonwoven fabric 13 b is cut into a square shape with a side of 50 mm, and the obtained measurement piece 40 is a square-shaped first having a square-shaped opening 41 with a side of 10 mm at the center. Between the acrylic plate (dimensions: 50 mm × 50 mm × 3 mm) 42 and the second acrylic plate 43 having the same configuration as the first acrylic plate 42 except that it does not have an opening, on the skin side of the wearer of the measurement piece 40 A measurement laminate 44 (see FIG. 7) is formed by sandwiching the surface to be directed (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 1st nonwoven fabric 13b is cut | judged to a predetermined dimension (size larger than the said pressurization board), and it is set on the said pressure receiving board. 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 (= thickness of the measurement piece 40) when the load applied to the measurement piece 40 becomes 50 cN / cm ² in the compression process is the first nonwoven fabric under the pressure of 50 cN / cm ^2. The thickness T3 is 13b.

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 1st nonwoven fabric 13b is demonstrated, the 2nd fiber layer 22 contains the three-dimensional crimped fiber. In general, a three-dimensional crimped fiber exhibits a coiled (spiral) crimp. The three-dimensional crimped fiber is preferably a latent crimped fiber in which crimps are expressed. 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. In particular, the first fiber layer 21 is made of a thermoplastic polymer material and has substantially no heat shrinkability, or is made of a fiber that does not heat shrink below the heat shrink temperature of the latent crimpable fiber, or the fiber. It is preferable to contain.

  A preferred method for producing the first nonwoven fabric 13b 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 nonwoven fabric or a web 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 assembly constituting the first fiber layer 21 is overlapped on the fiber assembly constituting the second fiber layer 22, 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). The temperature of the heat to be applied is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the latent crimped fiber included in the second fiber layer 22 starts to shrink. 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. Moreover, the recessed part 25 is formed between the convex parts 24, ie, the position of the junction part 23. Thus, the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b whose surface by the side of the 1st fiber layer 21 is uneven is obtained.

  The first surface 13 of the steam heating device 10 is composed of the first nonwoven fabric 13b having the above-described configuration, while the type of the second nonwoven fabric 14b constituting the second surface 14 is not particularly limited. . As the second nonwoven fabric 14b, a general nonwoven fabric such as an air-through nonwoven fabric, a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a spunlace nonwoven fabric, a chemical bond nonwoven fabric, or a heat bond nonwoven fabric can be used.

  On the surface of the second nonwoven fabric 14b constituting the second surface 14, there is provided an adhesive portion 16 for fixing the steam heating tool 10 to a wearer's clothing, for example, shorts (see FIG. 1B). ). The adhesive portion 16 is formed by applying an adhesive such as an acrylic resin or a vinyl acetate resin, which is a thermoplastic resin, to the surface of the second nonwoven fabric 14b. These resins are preferably non-transferable. The adhesion part 16 may be formed in the whole region of the surface of the 2nd nonwoven fabric 14b, or may be formed partially.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the steam heating device 10 is used by being fixed to the inner surface of the shorts 30 by the adhesive portion 16 so that the upper edge 10 a is located on the upper side and the lower edge 10 b is located on the lower side. . In this state, the longitudinal direction of the steam heating tool 10 coincides with the horizontal direction. Since the steam heating tool 10 is directly fixed to the inner surface of the shorts 30, the steam heating tool 10 can be fixed at a desired position regardless of the shape of the shorts 30 (deep or crotch). In particular, as shown in the figure, when the steam heating device 10 is fixed at a position corresponding to the crotch portion 30b of the front body 30a of the shorts 30, that is, the position corresponding to the lowermost abdomen, water vapor to the wearer's body. The effect of alleviating menstrual pain due to the application of becomes remarkable. Generally, since the shorts 30 has a shape cut from the front body 30a toward the crotch 30b, when the contour of the steam heating device 10 matches the cut shape, the bottom abdomen of the wearer It is possible to fix the steam heating tool 10 at a position corresponding to the above with good fit. Therefore, the steam heating tool 10 has a curved shape such that the lower edge 10b is convex outward with respect to the longitudinal center line L of the steam heating tool 10 (see FIG. 1A).

  From the viewpoint of fixing the steam heating device 10 at a position corresponding to the lowermost abdomen of the wearer with better fit, the lower edge 10b and the side edges 10c, 10d preferably have a curved shape as described below. . That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a straight line L drawn parallel to the tangent line H at a position 20 mm below the tangent line H at the lowermost position of the lower edge 10 b and the vertical center line C of the steam heater 10. When the intersection is S, the position 45 mm away from the intersection S on the straight line L is T, and the tangent of the side edge 10d (10c) of the steam heater 10 passing through the position T is P, the lower edge 10b and the side edges 10c and 10d preferably have a curved shape such that an angle θ between the tangent line P and the straight line L is 100 to 150 degrees, particularly 100 to 130 degrees. In this connection, the length in the X direction (see FIG. 1) of the steam heater 10 is preferably 120 to 180 mm, particularly preferably 130 to 160 mm, and the length in the Y direction (see FIG. 1) is 70 to 100 mm. In particular, the thickness is preferably 80 to 90 mm.

  According to the steam heating tool 10 of the present embodiment, by attaching it as shown in FIG. 4, heat from water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature is directly applied to the wearer's body, so menstrual pain is effective. Alleviated. This is because the heat accompanying the generation of water vapor is faster in heat conduction than the heat not accompanied by the generation of water vapor, so that the temperature in the deep part of the human body can be further increased. As the temperature in the deep part of the human body increases, the thermal center is stimulated via the autonomic nerve, thereby expanding blood vessels and increasing blood flow, and increasing peripheral temperature. It is thought that menstrual pain is relieved by it. In particular, it is known that menstrual pain (primary dysmenorrhea) is caused by excessive contraction of the uterus due to secretion of prostaglandin (PG). It is considered that menstrual pain is alleviated by increasing blood flow by heating with the steam heating device 10 and thereby preventing PG retention in the uterus.

  The heat generating part 11 in the steam heating tool 10 will be described. The heat generating part 11 includes an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, an electrolyte, and water. Such a heat generating part 11 consists of a heat generating sheet or heat generating powder, for example. When the heat generating portion 11 is formed of a heat generating sheet, the heat generating sheet is preferably a water-containing fiber sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a fibrous material, an electrolyte, and water. That is, 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 or the extrusion method using a die coater according to the previous application of the present applicant. On the other hand, when the exothermic part 11 consists of exothermic powder, it is preferable that exothermic powder is comprised including an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a water retention agent, 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 water vapor can be uniformly applied in any posture. Further, the heat generating sheet is more advantageous than the heat generating powder because the temperature distribution of heat generation can be made uniform easily and the ability to support an oxidizable metal is excellent.

  When the heat generating portion 11 is formed of a heat generating sheet, the heat generating sheet is preferably 60 to 90% by weight, more preferably 70 to 85% by weight of oxidizable metal, preferably 5 to 25% by weight, and more preferably 8 to 15%. Preferably, the molded sheet containing 5% by weight of a reaction accelerator and preferably 5 to 35% by weight, more preferably 8 to 20% by weight of fibrous material, is preferably 1 to 15% by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the molded sheet. More preferably, the aqueous electrolyte solution containing 2 to 10% by weight of the electrolyte is preferably 30 to 80 parts by weight, more preferably 40 to 70 parts by weight. On the other hand, when the exothermic part 11 is made of exothermic powder, the exothermic powder is preferably 20 to 50% by weight, more preferably 25 to 40% by weight of oxidizable metal, preferably 3 to 25% by weight, more preferably. Is preferably 0.3 to 10% by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of a solid content containing 5 to 20% by weight of a reaction accelerator and preferably 3 to 25% by weight, more preferably 5 to 20% by weight of a water retention agent. More preferably, the electrolyte aqueous solution containing 0.5 to 5% by weight of the electrolyte is preferably 20 to 70% by weight, more preferably 30 to 60% by weight. 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 heating tool 10 of the present embodiment is entirely packaged by a packaging material (not shown) having oxygen barrier properties before use, so that the heat generating portion 11 does not come into contact with oxygen in the air. Yes. As an oxygen barrier material, for example, the oxygen permeability coefficient (ASTM D3985) is 10 cm ³ · mm / (m ² · day · MPa) or less, particularly 2 cm 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 heating device 10 relieves menstrual pain. Such a display can inform the consumer that the present invention achieves the alleviation of menstrual pain that could not be sufficiently achieved by the conventional disposable warmers known in the art. 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 heating device 10. Or you may attach the said display to the steam heating tool 10 itself.

  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, in the above-described embodiment, the shorts are described as an example of the clothes to which the steam heating tool 10 is fixed. Steam heating equipment can be fixed to clothing.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment is an example which applied the heat generating body of this invention to the steam heating tool, this invention substantially produces | generates water vapor | steam known as heating elements other than a steam heating tool, for example, a disposable body warmer. The present invention can be similarly applied to a heating element that generates heat without accompanying.

  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. Unless otherwise specified, “%” and “part” mean “% by weight” and “part by weight”, respectively.

[Example 1]
(1) Production of heat generating part <Slurry blending>
・ Fiber: Pulp fiber (NBKP, manufacturer: Fletcher Challenge Canada, trade name “Mackenzie”, CSF 140 ml) 8%
・ Oxidizable metal: Iron powder (manufactured by Dowa Iron Mining Co., Ltd., trade name “RKH”) 83%
・ Reaction accelerator: Activated carbon (manufactured by Nippon Enviro Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name “Carborafine”) 9%
Polyamide epichlorohydrin resin (manufactured by Seiko PMC Co., Ltd., trade name “WS4020”) based on 100 parts of the solid content of the raw material composition (total of fibrous material, oxidizable metal and reaction accelerator) “) 0.7 part and 0.18 part of carboxymethylcellulose sodium (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., trade name“ HE1500F ”) as an anionic flocculant was added. Further, water (industrial water) was added until the solid concentration was 12%.

<Paper making conditions>
Using the raw material composition, it was diluted with water to 0.3% immediately before the paper making head, and paper was made with an inclined short paper machine at a line speed of 15 m / min to produce a wet shaped sheet.

<Dehydration and drying conditions>
The molded sheet was sandwiched with felt and dehydrated under pressure, passed through a heating roll at 140 ° C. as it was, and dried until the water content became 5% 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 / DTA6200, manufactured by Seiko Instruments Inc.), and as a result, it was 83% iron, 9% activated carbon, and 8% pulp.

<Aqueous electrolyte solution>
Electrolyte: Purified salt (NaCl)
Water: Distilled water Electrolyte concentration: 5%

<Electrolytic aqueous solution addition conditions>
The obtained molded sheet was cut to 4.9 × 10.8 cm, and three sheets were stacked, and then impregnated with 5% saline corresponding to 45% with respect to the weight of the molded sheet to produce a sheet-like heating part. did.

(2) Production of container A container having the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was produced. A moisture-permeable polyethylene porous moisture-permeable film (air permeability 20000 seconds / 100 ml) was used as the moisture-permeable sheet 13a. What was manufactured with the following method was used as the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b. The moisture-permeable sheet 13a and the nonwoven fabric 13b were joined only at their peripheral portions, and both were in a non-joined state at a portion inside the peripheral portions. A moisture-permeable polyethylene porous moisture-permeable film was used as the sheet 14a. A polyester-based spunbonded nonwoven fabric (basis weight 40 g / m ² ) was used as the second nonwoven fabric 14b. The sheet 14a and the second nonwoven fabric 14b were laminated with a hot melt adhesive. The air permeability of the laminate of the sheet 14a and the second nonwoven fabric 14b was 60000 seconds / 100 ml. The size of the obtained container was 155 mm in the X direction and 85 mm in the Y direction. Further, the angle θ shown in FIG. 5 was 120 degrees.

(3) Manufacture of Steam Heater The heat generating part was accommodated in the obtained container, and the steam heater having the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was obtained. This steam heating tool generates heated steam from the first surface 13 side.

(4) Manufacture of the first nonwoven fabric 13b (a) Manufacture of the first fiber layer 21 Using a core-sheath type composite fiber NBF (H) [trade name, 1.1 dtex × 51 mm] manufactured by Daiwa Boseki Co., Ltd. as a raw material, a card A card web having a basis weight of 10 g / m ² was manufactured by the method, and this was used as the first fiber layer 21. The core-sheath type composite fiber has polyethylene terephthalate as a core component and polyethylene as a sheath component.
(B) Production of second fiber layer 22 Latent spiral crimped fiber manufactured by Daiwa Boseki Co., Ltd. [CPP fiber (trade name), 2.2 dtex × 51 mm, heat shrinkage starting temperature 90 ° C.] as a raw material by a card method A card web having a basis weight of 20 g / m ² was manufactured and used as the second fiber layer 21.
(C) Manufacture of the 1st nonwoven fabric 13b The 1st fiber layer 21 and the 2nd fiber layer 22 were piled up, and it joined partially by the ultrasonic embossing method. The joint portion 23 was a circle having a diameter of 1.5 mm ² and formed the pattern shown in FIG. 3A as a whole. After joining both, hot air of 130 ° C. ± 10 ° C. is blown for about 1 to 10 minutes by an air-through method to crimp the latent crimped fibers of the second fiber layer 22 and contract the second fiber layer 22 and between the joints The first nonwoven fabric 13b having a large number of convex portions 24 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B was produced by projecting the first fiber layer 21 in a convex shape. The inside of the portion where the first fiber layer 21 protruded in a convex shape was filled with fibers as shown in FIG. The basis weight of the obtained first nonwoven fabric 13b was 60 g / m ² , the basis weight of the first fiber layer 21 was 20 g / m ² , and the basis weight of the second fiber layer 21 was 40 g / m ² . Moreover, the thickness T1 in the convex part 24 was 2.0 mm, and the thickness T2 in the concave part 25 was 0.8 mm. The area ratio of the joint 23 was 9%. Furthermore, the horizontal air permeability measured by the method shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 was 140 ml / (cm ² · sec).

(5) Evaluation 1
<Measurement of blood flow>
About the obtained steam heating tool, the relaxation effect of the menstrual pain was evaluated in the following procedure. Six healthy female college students (average age 21.9 ± 1.5 years) were used as subjects. Of the 6 subjects, 4 subjects were menstrual pains and 2 subjects were not menstrual pains. The subject was put a steam heating device on the lower abdomen during the menstrual period. The wearing time was 5 hours. The blood velocity of the uterine artery of the test subject was measured using an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (ALOCA, SSD-3500) before and 5 hours after mounting the steam heating device. According to this apparatus, a blood flow waveform of an artery is obtained, and Vmax (maximum blood flow velocity in systole) and Vmin (minimum blood flow velocity in diastole) are obtained from the blood flow waveform. Then, a resistance index value defined by RI = (Vmax−Vmin) / Vmax is obtained from Vmax and Vmin. The RI value is an index reflecting peripheral vascular resistance, and the smaller the value, the easier the blood flows. The measurement result of the RI value of each subject before and after the application of the steam heating tool is shown in FIG. In addition, the measurement measured 5-10 places with respect to 1 test subject, and computed the average value. From this result, it can be seen that the RI value decreased for 4 subjects out of 6 subjects. An examination of the breakdown of the four subjects whose RI values decreased revealed that all of them were suffering from menstrual pain. That is, it was found that the result shown in FIG. As a result of the interview survey, all four subjects who suffered from menstrual pain replied that menstrual pain (lower abdominal pain) was relieved. From the above results, it can be seen that when the steam heating device of the present invention is applied to a subject who has trouble with menstrual pain, the RI value is lowered, that is, the blood flow is improved. It can be seen that Further, although not shown in the figure, the feeling of stuffiness due to the installation of the steam heating device was not recognized, and skin irritation or the like did not occur.
(6) Evaluation 2
<Measurement of skin temperature>
FIG. 9 shows the skin temperature when the obtained steam heating tool was applied to the inside of the shorts and used so that the heat generating part hit the lower abdomen. For the measurement, a data collection type handheld thermometer LT-8 manufactured by Gram Corporation was used to measure the skin temperature at the center where the heat generating part hits. From the results shown in the figure, it can be seen that the skin temperature around 40 ° C. lasted for 5 hours or more. During this measurement, there was no sense of incongruity or stuffiness while wearing the steam heater. Further, when the shorts were detached once in 6-7 hours after the heat generation, the steam heating tool did not peel off due to the desorption.

Fig.1 (a) is the top view which looked at the steam heating tool as one Embodiment of the heating tool of this invention from the skin contact surface side, FIG.1 (b) is the top view seen from the clothing contact surface side. is there. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. Fig.3 (a) is a perspective view which expands and shows the principal part of the nonwoven fabric used for the steam heating tool shown in FIG. 1, FIG.3 (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which expands and shows the principal part of this nonwoven fabric. It is. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the steam heating tool shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to the shorts. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of measuring an angle formed between the lower edge and the horizontal line in the steam heating device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a view showing an instrument for measuring the air permeation capacity in the horizontal direction of the first nonwoven fabric. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an apparatus for measuring the air permeation capacity in the horizontal direction of the first nonwoven fabric. FIG. 8A is a graph showing the RI value of the uterine artery of the subject before and after application of the steam heating device obtained in the example, and FIG. 8B is a graph showing the amount of change in the RI value. . FIG. 9 is a graph showing the skin temperature in a state where the steam heating tool obtained in the example is attached to the wearer's skin.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Steam heating tool 11 Heat generating part 12 Container 13 1st surface 13a Moisture permeable sheet 13b 1st nonwoven fabric 14 2nd surface 14a Sheet 14b 2nd nonwoven fabric 15 Peripheral joining part 16 Adhesive part

Claims (5)

A first surface located on the side close to the wearer's skin and having air permeability, a second surface located on the side far from the wearer's skin, and interposed between the first surface and the second surface A heating tool having a heating part arranged,
An adhesive part for fixing the heating tool to clothing is provided on the outer surface of the second surface, and the first surface is constituted by a nonwoven fabric having a concavo-convex shape on the surface,
The non-woven fabric has a first fiber layer including one surface and a second fiber layer including the other surface, and both layers are partially joined to each other, and a plurality of convex portions and A heating tool which is formed with a recess and uses one of the surfaces as the first surface. It has a vertically long shape having upper and lower edges extending in the longitudinal direction and left and right side edges extending in the width direction,
The upper edge has a curved shape that is inwardly convex toward the longitudinal center line of the heating tool, and the lower edge is a curved shape that is outwardly convex with respect to the longitudinal center line. The heating tool according to claim 1, wherein the left and right side edges have curved shapes that are outwardly convex.   The intersection of the straight line L drawn in parallel with the tangent line H at a position 20 mm below the tangent line H at the lowermost position on the lower edge and the longitudinal center line C of the heating tool is S, and the straight line L When the position 45 mm away from the intersection S on the upper side is T and the tangent line of the side edge of the heating tool passing through the position T is P, the lower edge and the side edge are the tangent line P and the straight line L. The heating tool according to claim 2, wherein the heating tool has a curved shape such that the formed angle θ is 100 to 150 degrees.   The heating tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second surface is less breathable or non-breathable than the first surface.   The heating tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat generating part generates water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature.

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