JP7516016B2 - mask - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mask worn on the face, and in particular to a mask that emits steam.

Masks have traditionally been used as a defense against fine dust particles such as pollen and yellow sand, and as a measure against infection from viruses and bacteria. Recently, mask functions have become more diverse, and a variety of masks have been proposed. For example, during sleep, the mouth is prone to dryness because food, drink, and saliva are not swallowed. In addition, the air is generally dry in winter, and air conditioners are turned on in offices all year round, even outside of winter. Therefore, there are many environments where the air is prone to dryness even during the day, making the mouth prone to dryness.

To prevent the mouth from drying out, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mask with a humidifying function. The mask in Patent Document 1 contains a water-containing body in a bag-shaped mask body that covers the nose and mouth, and the water contained in the water-containing body humidifies the mouth, preventing the mouth from drying out.

Re-table 2014/003156

However, the mask described in Patent Document 1 is not intended to be used to alleviate discomfort or pain in the throat.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a mask that can alleviate discomfort and pain in the throat.

The present invention relates to a mask that is worn on the face. The mask of the present invention comprises a mask body that covers a part of the wearer's face and a steam generator that emits steam, and the steam generator is characterized in that the amount of steam generated over a 30-minute period after steam generation is 150 mg or more and 30,000 mg or less.

In the mask of the present invention, it is preferable that the steam generator generates steam in an amount of 50 mg or more and 5,000 mg or less over a period of 5 minutes after steam generation.

In addition, in the mask of the present invention, it is preferable that the steam generator generates steam in an amount of 10 mg or more and 1000 mg or less over one minute after steam generation.

In addition, in the mask of the present invention, it is preferable that the steam generator emits steam that maintains the temperature of the space between the mask body and the mouth and nostrils of the face at 30 degrees or higher for at least 30 minutes after the mask is worn.

In addition, in the mask of the present invention, it is preferable that the steam generator emits steam that maintains the temperature of the space between the mask body and the mouth and nostrils of the face at 40 degrees or higher for at least 5 minutes after the mask is worn.

In the mask of the present invention, it is also preferable that the steam generating body is a water-containing body that retains water.

In addition, in the mask of the present invention, it is preferable that the water-containing body emits steam when heated.

In addition, in the mask of the present invention, it is preferable that the water-containing body is heated by being irradiated with microwaves.

When the mask of the present invention is worn, steam is generated from the steam generator, which supplies steam to the wearer's nose and mouth, humidifying the mouth and other areas. This prevents the mouth and other areas of the wearer from drying out, and keeps the throat moist.

At this time, the amount of steam generated from the steam generator is 150 mg or more 30 minutes after steam generation, and the wearer's mouth and other areas are humidified intensively by a large amount of steam in a short period of time. Therefore, if the wearer has a discomfort or pain in the throat, such as a tingling sensation, this can be effectively alleviated. On the other hand, since the amount of steam generated from the steam generator is 30,000 mg or less 30 minutes after steam generation, even if a large amount of steam comes into contact with the wearer's face, it is possible to prevent the wearer from feeling uncomfortable due to the steam when wearing the mask.

FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a rear view of the mask of the present embodiment. This is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X1 in FIG. FIG. 2A is a rear view of the storage section, FIG. 2B is a front view, and FIG. 2C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along X2-X2. FIG. 2A is a front view of the water-containing body, and FIG. 2B is a side view. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mask of the present embodiment worn by a wearer.

The actual form of the mask according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show the mask 1 of this embodiment.

The mask 1 comprises a mask body 2 that covers part of the wearer's face, specifically the area under the eyes (particularly the nose and mouth), and a steam generator 3 that emits steam. The mask body 2 comprises a covering part 5 that covers part of the wearer's face, and a bag-shaped storage part 6 that is provided on the face side of the covering part 5. The steam generator 3 is stored in the storage part 6 of the mask body 2. When the wearer puts the mask body 2 on the face, steam emitted from the steam generator 3 is supplied from the mouth and nose to the wearer's throat, and the oral cavity and nasal cavity (hereinafter referred to as "oral cavity, etc.") are humidified.

The covering part 5 can be rectangular in plan view. When worn on the face (when in use), the covering part 5 has an upper edge 50 that extends horizontally below the eyes of the wearer's face, a lower edge 51 that extends horizontally below the chin (or under the chin), and left and right side edges 52, 53 that connect the upper edge 50 and the lower edge 51. The size of the covering part 5 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, large enough that the left and right side edges 52, 53 run vertically across the cheeks to cover the nose, mouth, chin, and part of the cheeks.

The covering part 5 can be flat when not in use. In other words, the covering part 5 has a different structure from a three-dimensional type covering part. Specifically, the side edges of the two mask pieces are joined by heat fusion or the like, and when not in use, the two mask pieces are folded over at a folding part that extends vertically in the horizontal center, and the two mask pieces do not become flat even when unfolded, which is different in structure from a three-dimensional type covering part that forms a large space between the under the nose (nostrils) and the mouth when worn on the face. The flat type covering part 5 is closer to the surface of the face than the three-dimensional type covering part when worn on the face.

The covering portion 5 can be a single layer structure or a laminated structure of two or more layers, and each layer can be composed of a breathable sheet such as a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric. Among them, nonwoven fabrics made by the spunbond method, melt-blown method, thermal bond method, or spunlace method can be preferably used, and more preferably, nonwoven fabrics made by the spunbond method can be used from the viewpoint of touch and shape retention, and nonwoven fabrics made by the melt-blown method can be used from the viewpoint of cutting performance against pollen, viruses, etc. Taking the above points into consideration, a suitable layer structure for the covering portion 5 can be, for example, an SMS layer (a three-layer structure of spunbond/melt-blown/spunbond). In addition, an S layer (single layer of spunbond) or an SS layer (two-layer structure of spunbond/spunbond) can be preferably used. When the covering portion 5 has a laminated structure, the covering portion 5 can be formed by joining the outer edges of the sheets of each layer to a predetermined width by a known method such as sewing, ultrasonic welding, or heat fusion.

As the fiber materials for the woven and nonwoven fabrics constituting each layer of the covering portion 5, known materials can be used, for example, natural fibers such as paper and cotton; semi-synthetic fibers such as rayon and acetate; and synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and nylon. Among these, polypropylene and polyethylene are preferably used from the viewpoint of productivity, polypropylene can be used from the viewpoint of shape retention, and nylon can be used from the viewpoint of texture.

The covering part 5 can be structured to be stretchable in the vertical direction. For example, the covering part 5 has at least one pleat 54 formed by at least two folds extending in the horizontal direction. By expanding this pleat 54, the covering part 5 can be stretched in the vertical direction, and the size of the covering part 5 can be freely adjusted to correspond to the size of the wearer's face. In addition, by expanding the pleats 54, the covering part 5 is deformed to form an outward convex shape in the vertical direction, giving it a three-dimensional appearance, and it is possible to increase the space between the mask body 2 and the mouth and nostrils of the face.

Ear bands 7 are attached to the left and right side edges 52, 53 of the covering part 5 as a means for holding the covering part 5 on the wearer's face. The ear bands 7 can be attached to the covering part 5 by a known method such as sewing, ultrasonic welding, or heat fusion. The material of the ear bands 7 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the material be a stretchy material such as polyester. Note that various means other than the ear bands 7 may be used as a means for holding the covering part 5.

A linear nose piece 8 made of, for example, plastic resin such as polyethylene or biodegradable resin is provided at a position inside the upper edge 50 of the covering part 5. The nose piece 8 prevents a gap from being formed between the wearer's nose and the covering part 5, allowing the covering part 5 to fit the face. The nose piece 8 can be fixed in place, for example, by being built into the covering part 5 and joining the sheets of each layer that make up the covering part 5 at the top and bottom positions, for example by ultrasonic welding.

Next, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the storage section 6 has a first layer 60 on the face side and a second layer 61 on the cover section 5 side, and the outer periphery of the second layer 61 is joined to the first layer 60 except for the upper edge. As a result, the storage section 6 is formed into a bag shape with an opening at the top, into which the steam generator 3 can be inserted and held between the first layer 60 and the second layer 61. The upper edge of the second layer 61 of the storage section 6 is located lower than the upper edge of the first layer 60, making it easy to insert the steam generator 3 into the storage section 6 from the upper opening.

The storage section 6 is attached to the covering section 5 by joining the first layer 60 on the face side to the face side of the covering section 5 by a known method such as sewing, ultrasonic welding, or heat fusion. Only the upper edge of the first layer 60 of the storage section 6, which is located above the upper edge of the second layer 61, is joined to the face side of the covering section 5. This means that the storage section 6 does not get in the way when the covering section 5 is stretched vertically by spreading the pleats 54, and since the storage section 6 is not restrained by the covering section 5 and the weight of the steam generator 3 makes it easier to bring the steam generator 3 closer to the wearer's face, the steam emitted from the steam generator 3 can be efficiently supplied to the wearer's mouth, nose, and throat.

In addition, because the upper edge of the first layer 60 on the face side is joined to the face side surface of the covering part 5, when the wearer wears the mask 1, the first layer 60 is interposed between the upper opening of the storage part 6 and the wearer's face. As a result, even if steam generated by the steam generator 3 is released from the upper opening of the storage part 6, it is not released to the wearer's face side until it has passed through the first layer 60. This makes it possible to prevent the steam from directly hitting the wearer's face.

The storage section 6 is attached to the cover section 5 at a position lower than the upper edge 50 of the cover section 5. The upper edge 50 of the cover section 5 extends horizontally below the eyes of the wearer's face when the wearer wears the mask 1, so if the storage section 6 is attached to the upper edge 50 of the cover section 5, the nose will be covered by the steam generator 3 in the storage section 6. If the nose is covered by the steam generator 3, breathing through the nose will become difficult, and the steam generator 3 may come into contact with the nose, reducing the comfort of the mask 1. Therefore, the storage section 6 is attached to the cover section 5 at a position shifted downward by a predetermined height (e.g., 15 mm to 30 mm) from the upper edge 50 of the cover section 5 so that the storage section 6 is positioned under the wearer's nose when the wearer wears the mask 1.

The size of the storage section 6 need only be large enough to accommodate the steam generator 3 inside, and for example, the horizontal length can be 50 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and the vertical length can be 30 mm or more and 80 mm or less.

The first layer 60 on the face side of the storage section 6 has moisture permeability. This moisture permeability is a property that allows steam (water molecules) to pass through. For example, the moisture permeability is preferably 1000 g/m ² /24 h or more, more preferably 2000 g/m ² /24 h or more, and even more preferably 3000 g/m ² /24 h or more. As a result, the steam generated from the steam generating body 3 in the storage section 6 passes through the first layer 60 and is released to the face side of the wearer. On the other hand, the second layer 61 on the cover section 5 side of the storage section 6 is moisture impermeable. This moisture impermeability is not limited to a property that completely does not allow steam (water molecules) to pass through, but also includes a property that allows a small amount of steam (water molecules) to pass through. For example, the moisture permeability is preferably 350 g/m ² /24 h or less, and more preferably 300 g/m ² /24 h or less. The non-permeable second layer 61 acts as a barrier to prevent steam from being released from the steam-generating unit 3 in the storage unit 6 to the side opposite the wearer's face. By making the first layer 60 of the storage unit 6 moisture-permeable and the second layer 61 moisture-nonpermeable in this way, steam generated from the steam-generating unit 3 can be released only to the wearer's face, and steam can be efficiently supplied from the mouth and nose to the throat of the wearer, while also humidifying the oral cavity, etc.

The first layer 60 and the second layer 61 of the storage section 6 are both thermally insulating. The storage section 6 stores the steam generator 3, which is heated by being irradiated with microwaves, for example, in a microwave oven, as described in detail below. When the temperature of the heated steam generator 3 drops, the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 drops. For this reason, the first layer 60 and the second layer 61 of the storage section 6 are thermally insulating, which makes it possible to prevent the temperature of the heated steam generator 3 in the storage section 6 from dropping rapidly, and as a result, more steam can be generated from the steam generator 3. Furthermore, since the steam generator 3 can generate warm steam for a long period of time, the wearer can feel comfortable and the usability of the mask 1 can be improved.

The first layer 60 of the storage section 6, which has the moisture permeability and heat insulation properties described above, can be made of, for example, a foamed resin sheet made of foamed polyurethane, foamed polyolefin, foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc., or a sheet-like fiber cotton. Examples of fibers that make up the fiber cotton include polyester fiber, polyolefin fiber, polyamide fiber, and acrylonitrile fiber.

The second layer 61 of the storage section 6, which is heat insulating and moisture impermeable as described above, can be constructed, for example, from the foamed resin sheet or sheet-like fiber cotton used in the first layer 60 described above, covered with a moisture impermeable material.

The storage section 6 is provided with a steam retention layer 62 capable of retaining steam on the face-facing surface of the first layer 60 on the face side. This steam retention layer 62 allows some of the steam emitted from the steam generator 3 in the storage section 6 and permeates the first layer 60 to pass through and be released to the wearer's face, and retains some of it, thereby increasing the humidity in the space created between the mask body 2 and the wearer's face when the wearer wears the mask 1. This makes it possible to prevent the wearer's mouth and other parts from drying out.

The steam retention layer 62 can be made of breathable sheet-like fibers such as woven fabric and nonwoven fabric, and among them, nonwoven fabric can be preferably used. As the nonwoven fabric, nonwoven fabrics made by the spunbond method, thermal bond method, spunlace method, etc. can be used, but nonwoven fabrics made by the thermal bond method and spunlace method are more preferably used from the viewpoint of touch, and nonwoven fabrics made by the spunlace method are particularly preferably used. As the fiber material of the woven fabric and nonwoven fabric constituting the steam retention layer 62, hydrophobic fibers can be preferably used from the viewpoint of preventing wetting and stickiness, and synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester can be used. Among them, polypropylene and polyethylene can be preferably used from the viewpoint of flexibility and productivity. In addition, it is preferable that the steam retention layer 62 is made of multiple (two in this embodiment) sheet-like fibers (e.g., nonwoven fabrics) superimposed from the viewpoint of steam retention function and flexibility.

The storage section 6 covers the wearer's mouth when the wearer wears the mask 1, so that the storage section 6 does not prevent the wearer from breathing through the mouth, the storage section 6 is provided with an air vent 9. As shown in FIG. 5, the air vent 9 is provided in an area of the storage section 6 that corresponds to the wearer's mouth. This makes it easier for the wearer to breathe through the mouth when wearing the mask 1.

Next, the steam generator 3 emits steam to humidify the wearer's mouth, etc., and is characterized by the fact that it emits a sufficient amount of steam in a short period of time after the wearer puts on the mask 1, supplying the steam intensively to the wearer's throat.

The steam generator 3 contains water, and when this moisture is heated, it quickly emits a large amount of steam. Furthermore, when the moisture is heated, the steam generator 3 emits warm steam. The moisture of the steam generator 3 may be heated, for example, by an external heating device before the wearer puts on the mask 1, so that the steam generator 3 immediately emits a large amount of steam after the wearer puts on the mask 1. The moisture of the steam generator 3 may also be continuously exposed to heat after the wearer puts on the mask 1, so that the steam generator 3 gradually emits a large amount of steam after the wearer puts on the mask 1. In the latter case, the steam generator 3 may generate heat by itself, and the moisture may be heated by the generated heat, or the moisture may be heated by a heat-generating element (for example, a disposable warmer).

The steam generator 3 has a steam generation capacity that generates 150 mg or more and 30,000 mg or less of steam for 30 minutes after steam generation. The steam generator 3 has such a steam generation capacity that it can moisturize the wearer's throat and effectively alleviate discomfort and pain in the throat.

Here, "amount of steam generated over 30 minutes after steam generation" refers to the total amount of steam emitted within 30 minutes after the steam generator 3 is in a state where it can generate steam for the wearer. "A state where the steam generator 3 can generate steam for the wearer" refers to a state where a means is provided for the steam generator 3 to quickly generate a large amount of steam, and the steam generator 3 is attached to the mask 1.

For example, when the steam generator 3 is heated for use, it means a state in which the steam generator 3 is heated under conditions determined for use with the mask 1 and is attached to the mask 1. The steam generator 3 may be heated while attached to the mask 1, or may be heated alone and then attached to the mask 1 immediately. On the other hand, when the steam generator 3 is used while being heated by a heating element, it means a state in which the steam generator 3 is attached to the mask 1 and the heating element is in a state in which it can generate heat (for example, in the case of a disposable warmer, it is taken out of the outer bag and kneaded several times), and the steam generator 3 of the mask 1 is attached in a position where it can be heated. Also, when the steam generator 3 is used by heating it itself, it means a state in which the steam generator 3 is in a state in which it can generate heat (for example, in the case of a disposable warmer, it is taken out of the outer bag and kneaded several times), and is attached to the mask 1. The steam generator 3 may be in a state in which it can generate heat while attached to the mask 1, or may be in a state in which it can generate heat and then attached to the mask 1 immediately.

The amount of steam generated over 30 minutes after the mask 1 generates steam is measured by the following method. Specifically, the mask 1 equipped with the steam generator 3 capable of generating steam is placed in a desiccator with a volume of 532 cm ³ (length 14 cm × width 9.5 cm × height 4.0 cm) in an environment with a temperature of 10° C. and a humidity of 25% to 40% RH, and the desiccator is sealed. Then, the air in the desiccator is sucked into a cooling chamber at a temperature of −40±5° C. for 30 minutes at a suction rate of 7 L/min using a pump, and the weight M1 of the water condensed by cooling the steam in the cooling chamber is measured. In addition, under the same conditions, the air in the desiccator is sucked into a cooling chamber at a temperature of −40±5° C. in a state where the mask 1 is not present in the desiccator, and the weight M2 of the water condensed by cooling the steam in the cooling chamber is measured. The weight M1 of the water measured with the mask 1 minus the weight M2 of the water measured without the mask 1 is taken as the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3.

The amount of steam generated over the 30 minutes after the above-mentioned steam generation is not particularly limited as long as it is between 150 mg and 30,000 mg, but the greater the amount of steam generated, the better the wearer's throat can be moistened and the more effectively the discomfort and pain in the throat can be alleviated. On the other hand, if the amount of steam generated is too much, the wearer will feel more uncomfortable when wearing the mask 1. Therefore, the amount of steam generated is preferably between 410 mg and 24,000 mg, and more preferably between 410 mg and 18,000 mg.

The steam generator 3 preferably generates steam in an amount of 50 mg to 5,000 mg over a 5-minute period after steam generation, more preferably 330 mg to 4,000 mg, and even more preferably 330 mg to 3,000 mg. By allowing the steam generator 3 to generate such steam, it is possible to moisturize the throat of the wearer soon after putting on the mask 1, and also to rapidly alleviate discomfort or pain in the wearer's throat.

The amount of steam generated over a 5-minute period after steam generation refers to the total amount of steam emitted from the steam-generating unit 3 until 5 minutes have elapsed since it was made capable of generating steam for the wearer, and the measurement method is the same as the method for measuring the amount of steam generated over a 30-minute period after steam generation described above, except that the pump suction time is set to 5 minutes.

The steam generator 3 preferably generates steam in an amount of 10 mg to 1000 mg over one minute after steam generation, more preferably 120 mg to 800 mg, and even more preferably 120 mg to 600 mg. The steam generator 3 having such steam generation capability can immediately moisturize the throat after the wearer puts on the mask 1, and can immediately provide relief to any discomfort or pain in the wearer's throat.

The amount of steam generated over one minute after steam generation refers to the total amount of steam emitted from the steam-generating unit 3 until one minute has elapsed since it is made capable of generating steam for the wearer, and the measurement method is the same as the method for measuring the amount of steam generated over 30 minutes after steam generation described above, except that the suction time by the pump is set to one minute.

The steam generator 3 preferably has a steam generating capacity that maintains the temperature of the space between the mask body 2 and the mouth and nostrils of the wearer's face at 30 degrees or higher for at least 30 minutes, more preferably 60 minutes, after the wearer puts on the mask 1. If the temperature of the steam emitted from the steam generator 3 is high, the temperature of the space will be high, but the warm steam will make the space a comfortably humidified space, which can provide a relaxing effect to the wearer. Note that the temperature of the space does not need to reach 30 degrees or higher immediately after the wearer puts on the mask 1, and there may be a period of time for the temperature to rise. The temperature of the space (the temperature of the steam emitted from the steam generator 3) can be adjusted by the heating temperature of the steam generator 3.

The wearer can feel more comfortable if the temperature of the above space is somewhat higher. Therefore, it is preferable that the steam generator 3 emits steam that maintains the temperature of the above space at 40°C or higher for at least 5 minutes after the wearer puts on the mask 1. However, if the temperature of the above space is too high or if a relatively high temperature continues for a long period of time, there is a risk of the wearer being burned. Therefore, from the perspective of preventing burns to the wearer, it is preferable that the maximum temperature of the above space is 70°C or lower.

The temperature of the space is measured in the following manner. Specifically, in an environment with a temperature of 10°C and a humidity of 25% to 40% RH, the wearer immediately puts on the mask 1 equipped with a steam generator 3 capable of generating steam, and at the same time, a temperature sensor is inserted between the mask body 2 and the wearer's face, and the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is regarded as the temperature of the space.

The steam generator 3 can generate steam by being heated by microwave irradiation, for example, in a microwave oven. The steam generator 3 may be heated by microwave irradiation after being housed in the housing section 6 of the mask body 2, or may be heated by microwave irradiation and then housed in the housing section 6 of the mask body 2. When the wearer puts on the mask 1, the heated steam generator 3 is housed in the housing section 6 of the mask body 2, and the steam generator 3 generates a large amount of warm steam immediately after putting on the mask. The amount of steam generated can be adjusted by the heating temperature and water content of the steam generator 3. In order for the steam generator 3 to have the above-mentioned steam generating ability, it is preferable that the steam generator 3 is heated to 40°C or higher. On the other hand, in order to prevent the steam generator 3 from being too hot when touched, it is preferable that the steam generator 3 is heated to 95°C or lower.

The steam generating body 3 can be made of, for example, a water-retaining body that retains water. The water-retaining body can be made of a material that can be impregnated with water, such as an aggregate of fibrous materials, such as paper, woven fabric, or nonwoven fabric.

As the fiber material, hydrophilic fibers and blended fibers of hydrophilic fibers and synthetic fibers can be used, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, rayon, cotton, and pulp. Among these, pulp is preferred from the viewpoint of flexibility and water retention. The method for producing such a hydrous body is not particularly limited, but it can be produced by the airlaid method, etc., and from the viewpoint of productivity, processability, and durability, it is preferable to blend the main component pulp with heat-fusible fibers such as polyethylene in a predetermined ratio.

For example, when the hydrous body is formed of pulp, the ratio of pulp to heat-fusible fiber is 60:40 to 80:20. The hydrous body can be a single layer or a multi-layer structure, but from the viewpoint of durability and water retention, it is preferable to have a three-layer structure in which the fiber material is sandwiched between a pair of nonwoven fabrics. In this case, the layer sandwiched between the pair of nonwoven fabrics is called the middle layer, and the layer consisting of the pair of nonwoven fabrics is called the end layer. The nonwoven fabrics of the end layers may be made of the same material or different materials. Examples of the material of these nonwoven fabrics include hydrophilic fibers, hydrophobic fibers, synthetic fibers, or blended fibers of hydrophilic fibers and synthetic fibers. Examples of hydrophilic fibers include rayon and cotton, and rayon is preferable. The hydrophilic fibers have the advantage that the pulp is more likely to absorb moisture during production, making production easier. Examples of hydrophobic fibers include polyesters such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene and polypropylene are preferable. The hydrophobic fibers have the advantage that wetting and stickiness can be prevented. Therefore, it is preferable that the surface facing the wearer is made of hydrophobic fibers and the opposite surface is made of hydrophilic fibers such as rayon. The pair of nonwoven fabrics described above preferably has a basis weight of 20 g/ ^m2 or more and 50 g/ ^m2 or less.

The above-mentioned water-containing body is not particularly limited, but the basis weight is preferably 500 g/m ² or more, and more preferably 800 g/m ² or more. This allows a large amount of water to be retained. On the other hand, if the basis weight is too large, the water-containing body becomes hard, so that when the wearer wears the mask 1, the water-containing body does not deform to fit the facial shape of the wearer's mouth, which may cause the wearer to feel uncomfortable. Therefore, the basis weight of the water-containing body is preferably 1500 g/m ² or less, and more preferably 1000 g/m ² or less.

In addition to the above-mentioned fibrous material, the water-containing body can also be made by impregnating a porous body with water. The water-containing body can be made of any material that can retain water, and can also be made of an aqueous gel (a hydrous gel-like polymer) that contains a gelling agent and water.

A polyol may be added to the water contained in the steam generator 3. Examples of polyols include glycerin, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, 1,2 pentanediol, and 1,2-hexanediol, and among these, glycerin is preferred in terms of safety. In addition to these, preservatives such as methylparaben and phenoxyethanol, moisturizing agents such as hyaluronate and betaine, plant extracts, water-soluble thickeners such as xanthan gum, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), agar, guar gum, and carrageenan, fragrances such as eucalyptus and mint, and surfactants that solubilize fragrances (nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and anionic surfactants), etc., may be added as appropriate.

The amount of steam generated by the steam generator 3 affects its moisture content, so it is preferable that the steam generator 3 contains a large amount of water in order to have the steam generation ability described above. The moisture content of the steam generator 3, including other components, is preferably 6 g or more, more preferably 12 g or more, and even more preferably 18 g or more. In addition, from the viewpoint of the effect of the weight of the steam generator 3 on the feeling of use when the wearer wears the mask 1, the moisture content of the steam generator 3 is preferably 30 g or less, and more preferably 24 g or less.

Since the steam generator 3 contains a large amount of water, a large amount of steam can be supplied to the wearer's throat, and since the steam generator 3 does not cool down easily after being heated, the temperature of the heated steam generator 3 can be maintained at a high temperature for a long time. As a result, more steam can be generated from the steam generator 3, and warm steam can be generated for a long time, making the wearer comfortable and improving the usability of the mask 1.

The steam generating unit 3 may be rectangular in plan view. Since the steam generating unit 3 is used around the mouth of the wearer when the wearer wears the mask 1, the size of the steam generating unit 3 is preferably, for example, 4 cm to 14 cm in the horizontal direction and 2 cm to 7 cm in the vertical direction, and more preferably, 7 cm to 11 cm in the horizontal direction and 3 cm to 6 cm in the vertical direction. The area of the steam generating unit 3 is preferably, for example, 8 ^cm2 to ⁹⁸ cm2, and more preferably, ²⁵ cm2 to ⁵⁰ cm2.

The steam generator 3 has an air vent 30 at a position corresponding to the air vent 9 of the storage section 6 of the mask body 2. The air vent 30 is formed as a notch like the air vent 9, and is formed to extend upward from the lower edge of the steam generator 3 at the center position in the left-right direction of the steam generator 3. This makes it easier for the wearer to breathe through their mouth when wearing the mask 1. In addition, by aligning the air vent 30 of the steam generator 3 with the air vent 9 of the storage section 6, the steam generator 3 can be held in a specified position within the storage section 6, and the steam generator 3 can be stored in the storage section 6 without any mistake in its orientation.

In addition, because the ventilation hole 30 extends vertically at the center position in the width direction of the steam generator 3, the steam generator 3 can be easily folded along the ventilation hole 30 at the center position in the left-right direction. As a result, even if the steam generator 3 is relatively hard, when the wearer puts on the mask 1, the steam generator 3 can easily deform to conform to the facial shape around the wearer's mouth, improving the comfort of the mask 1.

The steam generator 3 may be provided with one or more vents, for example consisting of small diameter holes, in addition to the positions corresponding to the vents 9 of the storage section 6. The steam generator 3 does not necessarily need to have the vents 30 at positions corresponding to the vents 9 of the storage section 6. For example, two steam generators 3 may be individually stored in the areas to the right and left of the vents 9 of the storage section 6, and each steam generator 3 may be provided with the desired vents, or may not have any vents.

Before the wearer puts on the mask 1, that is, before it is stored in the storage section 6, the steam generator 3 is preferably stored in a bag made of an impermeable aluminum laminate film, aluminum-deposited PET film, transparent (silica)-deposited PET film, or the like.

When the mask 1 of this embodiment is worn by a wearer, the heated steam generator 3 generates warm steam, which humidifies the wearer's mouth and other areas. This prevents the wearer's mouth from drying out.

At this time, the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 150 mg or more in 30 minutes after steam generation, and a large amount of steam is emitted from the steam generator 3 in a short period of time, and a large amount of steam is supplied intensively to the wearer's throat. Therefore, if the wearer has discomfort or pain in the throat, this can be effectively alleviated. Furthermore, if the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 410 mg or more in 30 minutes after steam generation, the discomfort or pain in the wearer's throat can be even more effectively alleviated. On the other hand, since the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 30,000 mg or less in 30 minutes after steam generation, even if a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's face, it is possible to prevent the wearer from feeling uncomfortable due to the steam when wearing the mask 1.

In addition, according to the mask 1 of this embodiment, the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 50 mg or more in 5 minutes after steam generation, and a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's throat early after the wearer puts on the mask 1, so that the wearer's throat discomfort and pain can be improved quickly after putting on the mask. If the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 330 mg or more in 5 minutes after steam generation, the wearer's throat discomfort and pain can be improved even more effectively. On the other hand, since the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 5000 mg or less in 5 minutes after steam generation, even if a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's face, the wearer can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to the steam when wearing the mask 1.

In addition, according to the mask 1 of this embodiment, the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 10 mg or more in one minute after steam generation, and a large amount of steam is immediately supplied to the wearer's throat after the wearer puts on the mask 1, so that the wearer's throat discomfort and pain can be immediately alleviated after putting on the mask. If the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 120 mg or more in one minute after steam generation, the wearer's throat discomfort and pain can be further effectively alleviated. On the other hand, since the amount of steam generated from the steam generator 3 is 1000 mg or less in one minute after steam generation, even if a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's face, the wearer can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to the steam when wearing the mask 1.

In addition, according to the mask 1 of this embodiment, after the wearer puts it on, the temperature of the space is maintained at 40 degrees or higher for at least 5 minutes, making the space a comfortably humidified space, which can provide a relaxing effect to the wearer and improve the comfort of using the mask 1.

Then, the temperature of the space will remain at 30 degrees or higher for a total of 30 minutes. Therefore, for example, if a wearer wears mask 1 while sleeping, they will be able to sleep comfortably and wake up with a good throat condition.

In addition, according to the mask 1 of this embodiment, the steam generator 3 is made of a water-containing material and generates steam when heated, so it can be configured to generate a large amount of steam with a simple structure. Furthermore, since the steam generator 3 is heated by being irradiated with microwaves, for example in a microwave oven, it does not take time for the steam generator 3 to generate steam, so it can be configured to generate a large amount of steam immediately after the wearer puts on the mask 1.

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

For example, in the above embodiment, the steam generator 3 is heated by being irradiated with microwaves, for example, in a microwave oven, but the method for heating the steam generator 3 is not particularly limited, and various methods may be used.

In the above embodiment, the heated steam generator 3 is housed in the housing 6 of the mask body 2, and warm steam is generated and supplied from the steam generator 3. Alternatively, a heating element (such as a disposable hand warmer) of the same or approximately the same size as the steam generator 3 may be attached to the surface of the housing 6 facing the cover 5, and the steam generator 3 in the housing 6 may be continuously heated by the heating element, so that the steam generator 3 generates and supplies warm steam. In this case, after the wearer puts on the mask 1, the amount of steam generated gradually increases, and the amount of steam generated over the 30 minutes after steam generation is 150 mg or more and 30,000 mg or less. In order for the steam generator 3 to have the above-mentioned steam generation ability, it is preferable that the heating element generates heat of 40°C or more.

In the above embodiment, the steam generator 3 is heated by other heating means to generate steam, but it may also generate heat by itself, like a disposable hand warmer, to heat the moisture content and generate steam.

In the above embodiment, the steam generator 3 generates steam by heating, but it may be configured to generate steam by a method other than heating. Furthermore, the steam generator 3 may be configured to quickly generate the above-mentioned amount of steam by naturally evaporating the moisture contained therein without applying any measures.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a vapor retaining layer 62 is provided on the first layer 60 on the face side of the housing section 6, but this vapor retaining layer 62 does not necessarily have to be provided.

In the above embodiment, the first layer 60 and the second layer 61 of the storage section 6 both have thermal insulation properties, but only one of them may have thermal insulation properties, or neither of them may have thermal insulation properties.

In the above embodiment, the first layer 60 of the storage section 6 is moisture permeable and the second layer 61 is moisture impermeable, but both may be moisture permeable.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the storage section 6 is attached to the cover section 5 at a position lower than the upper edge 50 of the cover section 5, but it may be attached to the cover section 5 at the position of the upper edge 50 of the cover section 5.

In the above embodiment, the upper edge of the first layer 60 on the face side of the storage section 6 is located above the upper edge of the second layer 61 on the cover section 5 side and joined to the cover section 5, but the upper edge of the second layer 61 on the cover section 5 side may be located above the upper edge of the first layer 60 on the face side and joined to the cover section 5.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the storage section 6 is provided with a ventilation hole 9, but this ventilation hole 9 does not necessarily have to be provided.

In the above embodiment, the upper edge 50, the lower edge 51, and the left and right side edges 52, 53 of the cover 5 are formed in straight lines, but for example, the upper edge 50 may be formed in a curved or convex line shape toward the upper side, and/or the lower edge 51 may be formed in a curved or convex line shape toward the lower side, and/or the left and right side edges 52, 53 may be formed in a curved or convex line shape toward the inside.

In the above embodiment, the steam generator 3 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, but it may have various shapes, such as a triangular shape, a square shape, other polygonal shapes, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape.

In the above embodiment, the cover portion 5 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, but it may have various shapes, such as a triangular shape, a square shape, other polygonal shapes, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape.

In the above embodiment, the covering portion 5 is structured to be stretchable in the vertical direction by the pleats 54, but the means for making the covering portion 5 stretchable in the vertical direction is not limited to the pleats 54 and various other means can be used. For example, the covering portion 5 may be structured to be stretchable in the vertical direction by forming gathers in the covering portion 5. Note that the means or structure for making the covering portion 5 stretchable, such as the pleats 54, does not have to be provided in the covering portion 5.

In the above embodiment, the cover portion 5 is flat, but it may be three-dimensional.

The following describes examples and comparative examples of the present invention. In the following, tests were conducted to examine the relationship between the amount of steam generated by the steam generator and the effect of improving discomfort and pain in the throat. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

The steam-generating body is formed to be 50 mm long x 60 mm wide, and has a structure (water-containing body) in which an airlaid nonwoven fabric (basis weight: 800 g/ ^m2 ) made of pulp and heat-fusible fibers is sandwiched on both sides by a spunlace nonwoven fabric (basis weight: 30 g/ ^m2 ) made of rayon. A vent hole (notch) is formed in the center position in the left-right direction of the lower edge of the steam-generating body, and the steam-generating body as a whole is concave in plan view (notch: 20 mm long x 10 mm wide). This steam-generating body is impregnated with the water-retaining liquid shown in Table 1 below.

The cover part of the mask body is structured by overlapping two sheets of spunbond nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene. The size of the cover part is 90 mm long x 180 mm wide, the basis weight of the outer nonwoven fabric is 20 g/ ^m2 , and the basis weight of the inner nonwoven fabric is 40 g/ ^m2 . The storage part of the mask body is structured such that the layer on the face side is a foamed resin sheet made of foamed polyolefin and two sheets of spunbond nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene (basis weight: 20 g/ ^m2 ) are overlapped, and the layer on the cover part side is structured such that a non-moisture permeable material is overlapped on a foamed resin sheet made of foamed polyolefin. The size of the storage part is 70 mm long x 120 mm wide.

For each of the masks in the examples and comparative examples, the amount of steam generated was measured for 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 30 minutes after steam generation with the steam generator housed in the housing of the mask body. The results are shown in Tables 2 to 4. The method for measuring the amount of steam generated was as described above.

For each of the masks in the examples and comparative examples, 20 subjects who felt discomfort or pain in the throat were asked to wear them for 30 minutes in an environment with a temperature of 20°C and a humidity of 35% RH, and sensory tests were conducted on the following items: feeling of moisture in the throat when wearing the masks, improvement in discomfort or pain in the throat, and discomfort caused by steam. The evaluation criteria for each item were as follows:

- Sensation of moisture in the throat when wearing: 1 point: I don't feel any difference in moisture compared to before wearing.
2 points: Feels slightly more moisturized than before wearing.
3 points: Feels more moisturized than before wearing.
4 points: Feels more moisturized than before wearing.
5 points: Feels much more moisturized than before wearing.

- Improvement in throat discomfort/pain when wearing: 1 point: No difference in throat discomfort/pain compared to before wearing.
2 points: The discomfort and pain in my throat has improved slightly compared to before I started wearing the mask.
3 points: The discomfort and soreness in the throat has improved compared to before wearing the mask.
4 points: The discomfort and pain in my throat has improved significantly compared to before I started wearing the mask.
5 points: The discomfort and soreness in my throat has improved significantly compared to before I started wearing the mask.

- Discomfort due to steam when wearing: 1 point: Very uncomfortable.
2 points: Very uncomfortable.
3 points: A little uncomfortable.
4: Almost no discomfort.
5: Not uncomfortable at all.

For each item, the cumulative scores of all test takers were calculated, and 81 to 100 points were graded as "S", 61 to 80 points were graded as "A", 41 to 60 points were graded as "B", and 40 points or less were graded as "C". The evaluation results are shown in Tables 2 to 4.

The results in Tables 2 to 4 show that the mask of the present invention can prevent the wearer's mouth from drying out and keep the throat moist.

In addition, the mask of the present invention can effectively alleviate throat discomfort or pain in wearers who experience discomfort or pain in the throat because the amount of steam generated is 150 mg or more 30 minutes after steam generation, and it can even more effectively alleviate throat discomfort or pain because the amount of steam generated is 410 mg or more 30 minutes after steam generation.

In addition, the mask of the present invention generates 30,000 mg or less of steam 30 minutes after steam generation, meaning that even if a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's face, the steam will not cause discomfort to the wearer.

In addition, the mask of the present invention generates 50 mg or more of steam five minutes after steam generation, so that it can quickly alleviate the discomfort or pain in the throat of a wearer who feels discomfort or pain in the throat after wearing it, and generates 330 mg or more of steam five minutes after steam generation, so that it can even more effectively alleviate the discomfort or pain in the throat.

In addition, the mask of the present invention generates less than 5,000 mg of steam within 5 minutes of steam generation, meaning that even if a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's face, the steam will not cause discomfort to the wearer.

In addition, the mask of the present invention generates 10 mg or more of steam one minute after steam generation, so that it can immediately alleviate the discomfort or pain in the throat of a wearer who feels discomfort or pain in the throat after wearing it, and generates 120 mg or more of steam one minute after steam generation, so that it can even more effectively alleviate the discomfort or pain in the throat.

In addition, the mask of the present invention generates less than 1,000 mg of steam in one minute after steam generation, meaning that even if a large amount of steam is supplied to the wearer's face, the steam will not cause discomfort to the wearer.

1 Mask 2 Mask body 3 Steam generating body (water-containing body)
5 Covering part 6 Storage part

Claims (6)

A mask comprising a mask body that covers a part of a wearer's face and a steam generator that generates steam by heating moisture ,
The heated steam generator is provided in the mask body,
The mask, wherein the steam generator generates steam in an amount of 150 mg or more and 30,000 mg or less for 30 minutes after steam generation, and generates steam in an amount of 120 mg or more and 1,000 mg or less for 1 minute after steam generation. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the steam generator generates steam in an amount of 50 mg or more and 5,000 mg or less over a period of 5 minutes after steam generation. The mask according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steam generator generates steam that maintains the temperature of the space between the mask body and the mouth and nostrils of the face at 30 degrees or higher for at least 30 minutes after the mask is worn. The mask according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steam generator generates steam that maintains the temperature of the space between the mask body and the mouth and nostrils of the face at 40 degrees or higher for at least 5 minutes after the mask is worn. The mask according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the steam generating body is a water-containing body that holds water. The mask according to claim 5 , wherein the water-containing body is heated by being irradiated with microwaves.

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