User wearable object

Abstract

The utility model relates to an object capable of being worn by a user, which comprises a heating pad, a blanket and a heating pad, and is characterized in that the blanket is composed of at least two mutually fixed fabric elements; the utility model relates to a textile fabric comprising a) two textile elements, b) a heating element interposed between the two textile elements, c) at least one metal layer interposed between the heating element and one of the two textile elements, where the at least one metal layer is provided with a plurality of holes. In this way, in one aspect, by inserting at least one metal layer between the fabric layers, the thread temperature is significantly reduced without affecting the expected result, i.e. The surface temperature is about 40 DEG C. In addition, at the same time, the presence of the holes in the at least one metal layer allows air to pass through the holes themselves; therefore, the problem related to skin transpiration of a person using or wearing the heating pad is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a heating device that can be worn by a user. In particular, the utility model relates to a waist belt, a strap or other wearable object, which is provided with a heating pad with a perforated metal layer. Background Art

[0002] Heating pads are designed to locally heat a part of the body or to be worn by the user; wearable heating pads are typically thin so they can be integrated into a belt or strap and worn under clothing; they are typically designed to run on batteries or be connected to a very low voltage power source not exceeding 24 VDC.

[0003] Battery-powered heating pads, or heating pads designed to be powered by a safe extra-low voltage source, have been known for some time. They typically include a power control unit and an operating unit electrically connected thereto. The operating unit typically comprises a blanket, for example consisting of two layers of textile material joined together, and at least one heating element distributed within channels provided within the blanket.

[0004] The heating element is typically composed of at least one wire or electrically insulated carbon-based conductor arranged in a serpentine pattern consisting of alternating linear sections and curved elements (or "loops") connecting two adjacent linear sections, thereby providing a uniform temperature distribution across the surface of the heating pad.

[0005] Heating pads are known that are provided with a metal layer that is inserted between fabric layers (see, for example, published patent application No. US 2020 / 113357 or published patent application No. US 2018 / 208190). In this way, the temperature of the heating element is reduced to a minimum, which could lead to skin burns even if the fabric layer of the heating pad that is in contact with the skin itself is thermally insulating.

[0006] However, the metal layer sandwiched between the fabric layers can cause transpiration problems on the skin, thereby causing severe sweating problems for the user.

[0007] Therefore, the applicant of this patent application has found it necessary to create a heating pad that is able to simultaneously reduce the temperature of the heating element and obtain good performance with respect to skin transpiration of a person using or wearing the heating pad. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The utility model relates to an object wearable by a user, comprising a heating pad integrated therein.

[0009] In fact, the applicant of the present application surprisingly found that the above technical problem can be solved in an effective and reliable manner by a belt, a band or other object wearable by a user, comprising a heating pad integrated therein, the heating pad comprising: a) a blanket consisting of at least two textile elements fixed to each other; b) a heating element inserted between the two textile elements; c) at least one metal layer inserted between the heating element and one of the two textile elements, wherein the heating element and the metal layer are thermally insulating,

[0010] Characterized in that the at least one metal layer is provided with a plurality of holes.

[0011] Thus, on the one hand, by inserting at least one metal layer between the fabric layers, the temperature of the threads is significantly reduced, without affecting the desired result, namely a surface temperature of approximately 40° C. In fact, from a thermal point of view, the inserted metal layer acts as a heat conductor, minimizing the difference between the temperature of the heating element and the temperature of the outer surface of the heating pad blanket, while also reducing the time required to reach the surface temperature of approximately 40° C.

[0012] Furthermore, at the same time, the presence of holes in the at least one metal layer allows air to pass through the holes themselves; thus, problems associated with transpiration from the skin of a person using or wearing the heating pad are alleviated.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the holes are arranged along a plurality of lines parallel to one another, wherein between each of the lines and another of the lines adjacent thereto there is a passage without the holes.

[0014] In this way, an alternation is produced between regions with holes and regions without holes in the at least one metal layer.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the heating element is composed of an electric wire arranged in a serpentine shape, the electric wire having alternating linear sections and curved sections connecting the element between two adjacent linear sections, and wherein at least one of the linear sections of the heating element is arranged corresponding to one of the channels without the hole.

[0016] In this way, the heating element is placed in the heating mat with its linear section corresponding to the non-porous channel of the metal element, thus avoiding interference with the line of holes and allowing the passage of air through the holes themselves to ensure good transpiration.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of holes has a diameter of 1.0 mm. 2 Up to 50.0mm 2 Cross-sections within the range.

[0018] In this way, sufficient air passage is achieved through the hole itself.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the aperture has a substantially circular shape; however, in other alternative embodiments, the aperture has an oval, rectangular, square or similar shape.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the metal of the at least one metal layer has a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / mK, preferably at least 200 W / mK.

[0021] In this way, the at least one metal layer has a high conductivity because it has a high thermal conductivity.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the metal of said at least one metal layer is selected from the group consisting of brass, zinc, aluminum, copper, silver or alloys thereof; preferably it is made of aluminum.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the heating pad used in the present invention also includes a battery or other power source, such as a power supply, which can provide direct current (DC) with a voltage not exceeding 24 volts, preferably direct current with a voltage not exceeding 12 volts, which can activate the heating element.

[0024] According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the heating pad used in the present invention further comprises a power source, such as a power supply, capable of providing alternating current (AC) with a voltage not exceeding 24 volts, preferably AC with a voltage not exceeding 12 volts, which can activate the heating element.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the battery or other power source is integrated into the heating pad or can be electrically connected to the heating pad.

[0026] In this way, it is possible to connect, for example, a heating pad to a computer or other device via a USB socket.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the battery or other power source is connected to the heating mat via an interconnecting cable.

[0028] This way, the battery can be detached from the heating pad and recharged after its use.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the heating pad used in the present invention comprises a first metal layer inserted between the heating element and one of the two fabric elements and a second metal layer inserted between the heating element and the other of the two fabric elements.

[0030] In this way, both outer surfaces of the blanket are properly heated without increasing the temperature of the heating element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further features and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from an examination of the following detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, which is given for indicative and non-limiting purposes and is presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 for this purpose, in which:

[0032] - Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a heating pad used in the present invention, showing a single metal layer provided with holes;

[0033] - Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Detail of a medium heating pad, where the heating elements are located in the channels between the holes in the metal element.

[0034] - Figure 3 This is an embodiment of the inner side of the waist elastic band of the utility model, which contacts the user's body and has Figure 1 and Figure 2 Heating element in. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The following specific embodiments refer to specific examples of the wearable object of the present invention, but do not limit the contents thereof.

[0036] Figure 1 A heating pad 1 for use in the present invention is described, which is intended to be worn by a user (e.g. integrated into a belt or strap), or applied to the user's body, so that heat released by the heating pad can reach the user's body, thereby providing benefit to the user.

[0037] The heating pad 1 comprises a blanket made by joining together two textile elements 2a, 2b, between which is placed a heating element 3 consisting of wires arranged in a serpentine shape, i.e. having alternating linear sections 3a and curved elements (or "loops") 3b connecting two adjacent linear sections 3a.

[0038] The heating mat 1 further comprises a metal layer 4 placed between the heating element 3 and the textile element 2a; the metal contained in the metal layer 4 is a highly conductive metal with a conductivity of about 200 W / mk, such as aluminum.

[0039] The metal layer 4 is provided with holes 6 with a diameter of about 3 mm to allow air to pass through. The holes 6 are arranged along multiple lines 7a, 7b, 7c, ... (see Figure 2 in the metal layer 4, between each line 7a, 7b, 7c and its adjacent line 7a, 7b, 7c, thereby forming a non-porous channel 6 8a, 8b.

[0040] In at least some of the channels 8a, 8b without holes 6, at least one of the linear portions 3a of the heating element 3 is positioned.

[0041] Thus, the presence of the holes 6 in the metal layer 4 allows air to pass through the holes 6 themselves; thus, problems associated with perspiration on the skin of a person using or wearing the heating pad are alleviated.

[0042] Furthermore, by aligning the heating element 3 (particularly its linear portion 3a) with the channels 8a, 8b of the metal layer 4, which are free of holes 6, between the fabric layers 2a, 2b, the advantage is achieved by not blocking the holes 6 (thus allowing the passage of air through the holes 6 to remain unobstructed). At the same time, the advantage is achieved by significantly reducing the temperature of the threads, i.e., a surface temperature of approximately 40°C, without affecting the desired result. Indeed, from a thermal point of view, the inserted metal layer 4 acts as a conductive material, minimizing the temperature difference between the heating element 3 and the outer surface of the blanket of the heating pad 1, and also reducing the time required to reach a surface temperature of approximately 40°C.

[0043] The size of the holes 6, the number of holes 6 per line 7a, 7b, 7c and the number of lines 7a, 7b, 7c are determined at any time according to the size of the metal layer 4, the size of the heating element 3 and the number of linear parts 3a of the heating element 3 itself.

[0044] In the first embodiment, the heating element 3 is activated by a battery (not visible in the figure) which is connected to the heating mat 1 by an interconnecting cable 5. The battery may be detachable so as to be recharged after use.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the heating element 3 is activated by a safety extra low voltage power supply not exceeding 24 volts AC (or alternatively DC), preferably not exceeding 12 volts AC (or alternatively DC), via said interconnecting cable 5 .

[0046] In a further alternative embodiment, the heating element 3 is activated by a safe extra low voltage power supply of not more than 24 volts AC (or alternatively DC), preferably not more than 12 volts AC (or alternatively DC), integrated directly into the heating mat 1 .

[0047] Of course, many modifications and variations to the described preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and still remain within the scope of the invention.

[0048] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the structure of the heating pad 1 includes two fabrics 2a, 2b constituting a blanket, a heating element 3 and a battery, but other alternative embodiments that still fall within the scope of protection of the present invention may have a greater number of fabrics constituting a blanket, and a greater number of heating elements, or a greater number of batteries, or interconnecting cables intended to be powered by an extremely low safety voltage source not exceeding 24 volts AC (or alternatively DC), or a combination of such alternative embodiments.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the structure of the heating mat 1 includes a metal layer provided with holes. However, in other alternative embodiments, the heating mat of the present invention may include a first metal layer inserted between the heating element and one of the two fabric elements, and a second metal layer inserted between the heating element and the other of the two fabric elements, wherein both the first metal layer and the second metal layer are provided with holes. In this case, each hole in the first metal layer and the corresponding hole in the second metal layer are arranged along the same vertical line to allow for adequate airflow.

[0050] In this way, both outer surfaces of the blanket are properly heated without increasing the temperature of the heating element.

[0051] Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described, which are for illustrative and non-limiting purposes only, but is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A user-wearable object comprising a heating pad (1) integrated therein, the heating pad comprising: a) A blanket consisting of at least two textile elements (2a, 2b) fixed to each other; b) A heating element (3) inserted between the at least two textile elements (2a, 2b); c) At least one metal layer (4) inserted between the heating element (3) and one of the two textile elements (2a, 2b), wherein the heating element (3) and the metal layer (4) are thermally insulating, and characterized in that the at least one metal layer (4) is provided with a plurality of holes (6).

2. The user wearable object according to claim 1, characterized in that The holes (6) are arranged along a plurality of lines (7a, 7b, 7c) parallel to each other, wherein a channel (8a, 8b) without the holes (6) exists between each of the lines (7a, 7b, 7c) and another adjacent line (7a, 7b, 7c).

3. The user wearable object according to claim 2, wherein: The heating element (3) is composed of an electric wire arranged in a serpentine shape, the electric wire having alternating linear portions (3a) and curved portions (3b) connecting two adjacent linear portions (3a), and wherein at least one of the linear portions (3a) of the heating element (3) is arranged corresponding to one of the channels (8a, 8b) without the hole (6).

4. The user wearable object according to claim 3, characterized in that Each of the plurality of holes (6) has a diameter of 1.0 mm. 2 Up to 50.0mm 2 Cross-sections within the range.

5. The user wearable object according to claim 4, characterized in that The metal of the at least one metal layer (4) has a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W / mK.

6. The user wearable object according to claim 5, characterized in that The metal of the at least one metal layer (4) is selected from the group consisting of brass, zinc, aluminum, copper, silver or alloys thereof.

7. The user wearable object according to claim 6, wherein: It also includes a battery or other power source, integrated into the heating pad (1) or electrically connected to the heating pad (1), capable of providing direct current (DC) with a voltage not exceeding 24 volts, suitable for activating the heating element (3).

8. The user wearable object according to claim 7, wherein: The battery or other power source is connected to the heating mat (1) via an interconnecting cable (5).

9. The user wearable object according to claim 6, wherein: Also included is a power supply capable of providing alternating current (AC) at a voltage not exceeding 24 volts, suitable for activating the heating element (3).

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