Heatproof cover for wearable device

Abstract

To add a heatproof function to a wearable device regardless of the type of the wearable device.SOLUTION: A heatproof cover 1 is removably attached to a wearable device 2 that is worn on a human body. The wearable device 2 comprises a device body 21 for which a guaranteed operating temperature range has been set. The heatproof cover 1 comprises a cover body 3 and a heat storage pack 5. The cover body 3 is attached to the wearable device 2 so as to cover the device body 21. The heat storage pack 5 has a melting point set within the guaranteed operating temperature range, and is housed in the cover body 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technical field disclosed in this specification relates to a heat-insulating cover for a wearable device that is attached to a wearable device. [Background technology]

[0002] Wearable devices worn on the human body, such as watches, smartwatches, and wristbands with heart rate monitors, are used in everyday life. The guaranteed operating temperature range for wearable devices is generally set within the ambient temperature range of everyday life. The guaranteed operating temperature range is, for example, -10°C to 50°C, with an upper limit of approximately 60°C at most. However, the usage patterns of wearable devices are diversifying, and there is a need to use them outside the guaranteed operating temperature range. For example, with the recent sauna boom, there is a need to bring wearable devices that can measure biometric information such as heart rate and blood pressure into the sauna room and check their own condition.

[0003] In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wearable device that suppresses heat input into the watch body by providing a heat-resistant section in the watch body that is operably supported on the exterior case. Also, Patent Document 2 discloses a portable watch that suppresses heat transfer to the internal mechanism by arranging a linear sealant between an inner case that houses the internal mechanism and an outer case that covers the inner case, and by creating an airtight space between the inner case and the sealant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-149317 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-236531 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The wearable devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are equipped with a heat-insulating structure in the device body itself. However, no technology has been discovered that provides heat-insulating measures for wearable devices that do not have a heat-insulating structure. Therefore, currently, wearable devices that can be used in temperature environments outside the guaranteed operating temperature range, such as saunas, are limited to those equipped with a heat-insulating structure in the device body, such as the wearable devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. In the future, various needs for wearable devices are expected depending on their uses, so there is a demand for technology that can add heat-insulating functions to wearable devices regardless of the type of wearable device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the heat-resistant cover for wearable devices disclosed in this specification is configured to (1) be detachably attached to a wearable device that is worn on the human body and have a heat transfer suppression section that suppresses heat transfer to the wearable device.

[0007] The heat-insulating cover for wearable devices having the above configuration slows the rate of heat transfer to the wearable device using the heat transfer suppression section. Therefore, even if the wearable device itself does not have a heat-insulating structure, attaching the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices adds heat-insulating functionality, thereby suppressing malfunctions due to heat even when the wearable device is used in unusual temperature environments, such as a sauna or construction work under the blazing summer sun. The heat-insulating cover for wearable devices can be detachably attached to the wearable device, so it can be attached to different types of wearable devices, such as models and shapes, to add heat-insulating functionality. Therefore, the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices having the above configuration can add heat-insulating functionality to wearable devices regardless of the type of wearable device.

[0008] (2) In the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device described in (1), it is preferable that the biometric information acquisition unit provided on the wearable device has an exposed portion that exposes the biometric information acquisition unit that comes into contact with the human body to acquire biometric information.

[0009] The heat-insulating cover for a wearable device having the above configuration allows the biometric information acquisition section to be exposed from the exposed section and brought into contact with the human body, thereby adding a heat-insulating function to the wearable device without impairing the biometric information acquisition function of the wearable device.

[0010] (3) In the heat insulating cover for a wearable device described in (1) or (2), it is preferable that the heat transfer suppression part is located at a position that covers the device body of the wearable device that has an internal mechanism.

[0011] The heat-insulating cover for a wearable device having the above-described configuration can actively protect the internal mechanism of the wearable device from heat by the heat transfer suppression portion.

[0012] (4) In the heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to any one of (1) to (3), the heat transfer suppressing portion preferably includes a heat storage material.

[0013] The heat-insulating cover for wearable devices having the above configuration utilizes the heat exchange capacity of the heat storage material to slow the rate of heat transfer to the wearable device, and is therefore expected to provide a high heat-insulating effect with a compact structure.

[0014] (5) In the heat insulating cover for a wearable device described in (4), it is preferable that the heat transfer suppressing portion detachably houses a heat storage member in which the heat storage material is sealed in a container.

[0015] The heat insulating cover for a wearable device having the above-described configuration can be separated from the heat storage member, so that, for example, a deteriorated heat storage member can be replaced and the cover can continue to be used.

[0016] (6) In the heat insulating cover for a wearable device described in (5), it is preferable that it has a storage section for storing the heat storage member and an insertion opening provided at a position opposite the storage section, through which the heat storage member is inserted into the storage section.

[0017] In the heat insulating cover for a wearable device having the above configuration, for example, hot water that enters the storage compartment through one insertion opening is discharged through the other insertion opening, thereby suppressing a decrease in the heat exchange efficiency of the heat storage member.

[0018] (7) In the heat insulating cover for wearable devices described in (4), it is preferable that the heat transfer suppression part is a heat storage member in which the heat storage material is sealed in a container, which is integral with the heat insulating cover for wearable devices.

[0019] The heat insulating cover for wearable devices having the above-described configuration has a heat storage member integrally provided therein, thereby suppressing the formation of an air layer around the heat storage member. As a result, the heat insulating cover for wearable devices is expected to be more effective in slowing the rate of heat transfer to the wearable device by the heat storage member. Furthermore, the heat insulating cover for wearable devices can be washed as a whole without removing the heat storage member, allowing for hygienic repeated use.

[0020] (8) In the heat insulating cover for wearable devices described in (4), it is preferable that the heat transfer suppression part has a cavity provided in the heat insulating cover for wearable devices and the heat storage material filled in the cavity.

[0021] The heat insulating cover for wearable devices having the above configuration has the heat storage material filled into the cavity and integrated into it, allowing for direct contact and heat exchange with the heat storage material. This is expected to improve the effect of slowing the heat transfer rate to the wearable device using the heat storage material. In addition, the heat insulating cover for wearable devices can be washed completely and reused hygienically.

[0022] (9) In the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device described in any one of (1) to (8), it is preferable that the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device has the heat transfer suppression portion and is capable of covering the device body of the wearable device having an internal mechanism, and a wearing belt that is connected to the cover body and that wears the device body on the human body.

[0023] With the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices having the above configuration, for example, when it becomes necessary to replace the band connected to the device body of the wearable device, the device body from which the band has been removed can be covered with the cover body, and the attachment belt connected to the cover body can replace the band of the wearable device, allowing the device body to be worn on the human body.

[0024] (10) In the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device described in (9), it is preferable that the attachment belt is detachably connected to the cover body.

[0025] In the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices having the above configuration, for example, if a band that connects to the device body can be used, the attachment belt is detached from the cover body and the device body is attached to the human body using the band. On the other hand, in the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices, for example, if the band that connects to the device body becomes unusable due to damage or the like and is detached from the device body, the attachment belt is attached to the cover body and the attachment belt replaces the band and the device body is attached to the human body. Thus, the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices can select whether or not to connect the attachment belt depending on whether the wearable device has a band, and can be used with wearable devices of different shapes.

[0026] (11) In the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices described in (10), it is preferable that the cover body is formed in a block shape from a flexible material, and the wearing belt is formed in a belt shape from a material whose strength against tensile load is greater than that of the material of the cover body.

[0027] In the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices having the above-described configuration, for example, a mounting belt connected to the cover body is worn on the body so as to flex the block-shaped cover body and bring the device body into close contact with the body. A tensile load acts on the mounting belt at the connection point with the cover body. The mounting belt is made of a material that has a greater tensile load resistance than the material of the cover body. Therefore, the heat-insulating cover for wearable devices is less susceptible to damage near the connection point between the mounting belt and the cover body compared to when the mounting belt and the cover body are made of the same material, such as silicone rubber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] The technology disclosed in this specification realizes a technology that adds a heat protection function to a wearable device, regardless of the type of wearable device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an example of use of the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an example of how a heat-insulating cover for a wearable device is attached. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing measurement points and test results in an evaluation test. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along line B-B. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment discloses a heat-insulating cover to be attached to a wearable device having a biometric information acquisition function.

[0031] First Embodiment As shown in FIG. 1, a heat-insulating cover for wearable devices (hereinafter referred to as "heat-insulating cover") 1 of the first embodiment is used by being attached to a wearable device 2 that is worn on a wrist 100 of a human body, for example.

[0032] (Outline of wearable device configuration) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wearable device 2 includes a device main body 21 and a band 22. The device main body 21 has a biosensor 23 on its back surface 21c, which faces the human body, capable of acquiring biometric information such as heart rate, blood pressure, and skin temperature. The biosensor 23 is an example of a “biometric information acquisition unit” or “internal mechanism.” The biosensor 23 has a guaranteed operating temperature set within the ambient temperature range of daily life. The biosensor 23 of this embodiment can acquire biometric information by bringing the sensor surface 23a into contact with the human body, and the guaranteed operating temperature range is set to between −20°C and 60°C. The biosensor 23 of this embodiment has a waterproof function. The device main body 21 does not have an integrated heat-insulating structure to prevent heat transfer to the biosensor 23. The band 22 is connected to the device main body 21, and its length can be freely adjusted to fit the thickness of the wrist 100.

[0033] (Configuration of heat insulating cover) The heat-insulating cover 1 has a cover body 3 and a heat storage pack 5. The heat storage pack 5 is an example of a "heat storage member." The cover body 3 is detachably attached to the wearable device 2 so as to cover the device body 21 of the wearable device 2. The heat storage pack 5 is housed in the cover body 3 and is arranged on a surface of the device body 21 other than the back surface 21c, i.e., in a location where external heat may be transferred to the biosensor 23 without contacting the human body. The heat-insulating cover 1 utilizes the heat storage capacity of the heat storage pack 5 to suppress the rate at which external heat is transferred to the biosensor 23 of the device body 21, thereby providing a heat-insulating function that protects the biosensor 23 from external heat.

[0034] 3, the cover body 3 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and includes a pair of fixing belts 4A, 4B for attaching the cover body 3 to the device body 21 of the wearable device 2. The pair of fixing belts 4A, 4B are examples of a "first fixing portion" and a "second fixing portion."

[0035] The cover body 3 is formed in a dome shape so that it can be easily placed over the device body 21. The cover body 3 has a double structure consisting of an outer skin 31 and an inner skin 32, and a storage section 33 for storing the heat storage pack 5 is provided between the outer skin 31 and the inner skin 32.

[0036] The outer cover 31 is provided with a pair of fastening belts 4A, 4B at both ends in the length direction (hereinafter referred to as the "length direction") of the band 22 of the wearable device 2. Each end of the pair of fastening belts 4A, 4B extends in a direction perpendicular to the length direction, i.e., in the width direction (hereinafter referred to as the "width direction") of the band 22, and is provided with a fastener 41. The length of the fastening belt 4A (4B) can be freely adjusted by changing the joining position of the fastener 41. The fastener 41 is made of a non-metallic material such as plastic with low thermal conductivity. The fastener 41 is, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener or a plastic button.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 4, the storage section 33 has an opening located inside the fixing belts 4A, 4B, at a position facing each other with the storage section 33 in between. This opening forms an insertion opening 34 for inserting the heat storage pack 5 into the storage section 33. The opening size of the insertion opening 34 is set smaller than the heat storage pack 5, preventing the heat storage pack 5 from accidentally falling out. The heat storage pack 5, the storage section 33, and the insertion opening 34 are an example of a "heat transfer suppression section."

[0038] For example, the outer skin 31 and inner skin 32 of this embodiment are formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The outer skin 31 has a size that can cover the device body 21 of the wearable device 2. The inner skin 32 is shorter than the outer skin 31 in both length and width directions. The inner skin 32 is disposed near the center of the outer skin 31 in the length direction, and both widthwise ends thereof are joined to both widthwise ends of the outer skin 31 in alignment. The insertion opening 34 is formed by the unjoined portions of both longitudinal ends of the inner skin 32.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5 , the heat storage pack 5 includes a packaging container 51 having an outer edge 51a welded thereto, and a latent heat storage material 52 sealed in the packaging container 51. The latent heat storage material 52 is an example of a "heat storage material." The packaging container 51 is an example of a "container." The packaging container 51 of this embodiment is made of a material that is heat resistant to heat of 120°C, taking into account the temperature of the sauna room, which is between 80°C and 110°C. The packaging container 51 is also made of a flexible material. The material of the packaging container 51 may further have chemical resistance, flame retardancy, weather resistance, and electrical stability. The packaging container 51 is made of, for example, vinyl chloride resin.

[0040] The latent heat storage material 52 has a melting point set to a predetermined temperature, and suppresses changes in the ambient temperature of the device main body 21. The latent heat storage material 52 preferably has physical properties such that the melting point is adjusted to within a range of, for example, 30 to 60°C, corresponding to the upper limit temperature of 60°C of the guaranteed operating temperature range of the wearable device 2. The melting point of the latent heat storage material 52 of this embodiment is adjusted to be equal to or higher than approximately 40°C and equal to or lower than 50°C. The latent heat storage pack 5 has the latent heat storage material 52 in a gel state, and can be freely deformed to fit the shape of the cover main body 3. The composition of the latent heat storage material 52 is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 6279778, Japanese Patent No. 6279784, Japanese Patent No. 6439059, Japanese Patent No. 6500152, Japanese Patent No. 6596549, Japanese Patent No. 6682712, Japanese Patent No. 6778840, Japanese Patent No. 7013616, Japanese Patent No. 7137654, etc., and therefore description thereof will be omitted. The composition of the latent heat storage material 52 is not limited to these.

[0041] The heat storage pack 5 of this embodiment has a cross shape and includes a central heat storage section 5a that is rectangular in plan view, and side heat storage sections 5b, 5b, 5c, and 5c extending outward from all four sides of the central heat storage section 5a. The central heat storage section 5a is larger than the front surface 21b located on the opposite side to the back surface 21c of the device body 21, and can be arranged along the front surface 21b. The side heat storage sections 5b, 5b, 5c, and 5c can be bent relative to the central heat storage section 5a and can be arranged along the side surface 21d of the device body 21. The back surface 21c of the device body 21 is an example of a "first surface," the front surface 21b is an example of a "second surface," and the side surface 21d is an example of a "third surface."

[0042] (Example of using heat insulating cover 1) Next, an example of how to use the heat-insulating cover 1 will be described. Here, an example will be described in which a user who uses a sauna brings the wearable device 2 into the sauna room and checks their heart rate. In this embodiment, the room temperature of the sauna room is assumed to be 85°C. The melting point of the latent heat storage material 52 of the heat storage pack 5 is assumed to be 45°C.

[0043] A user attaches the heat-insulating cover 1 to the wearable device 2 to be used. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 , the user places the heat-insulating cover 1 over the device body 21 of the wearable device from the front surface 21b side of the device body 21. The user wraps the pair of fixing belts 4A, 4B around the bands 22 on both sides of the device body 21 and joins the ends of the fixing belts 4A, 4B with fasteners 41. Because the cover body 3 of the heat-insulating cover 1 is formed in a dome shape, it can be easily attached to the wearable device 2 so as to cover the front surface 21b and the side surface 21d of the device body 21. Both widthwise ends of the cover body 3 are folded toward the back surface 21c of the device body 21 in accordance with the wrapping of the fixing belts 4A, 4B. A gap S1 is formed between both widthwise ends of the cover body 3, exposing the sensor surface 23a of the biosensor 23. This gap S1 is an example of an “exposed portion.”

[0044] As shown in Figure 1, the heat insulating cover 1 has a heat storage pack 5 that deforms to follow the shape of the cover body 3, and the central heat storage section 5a and side heat storage sections 5b, 5b, 5c, 5c are arranged along the surface 21b and side surface 21d of the device body 21.

[0045] The user places the wrist 100 through the band 22 of the wearable device 2 to which the heat-resistant cover 1 is attached as described above, and fastens the band 22 so that the sensor surface 23a of the biosensor 23 exposed from the gap S1 of the heat-resistant cover 1 is in close contact with the wrist 100. The device body 21 of the wearable device 2 is worn on the user's wrist 100 with the heat-resistant cover 1 covering the device body 21 except for the sensor surface 23a.

[0046] The user wearing the wearable device 2 on the wrist 100 enters a sauna room where the room temperature is about 85° C. The wearable device 2 measures the user's heart rate via the sensor surface 23a of the biosensor 23 that contacts the wrist 100.

[0047] In the wearable device 2 of this embodiment, the upper limit temperature of the guaranteed operating temperature range for the biosensor 23 is 60°C, and if the device is brought into a sauna room where the temperature exceeds the upper limit by more than 20°C, there is a high possibility that the biosensor 23 will malfunction and will no longer be able to measure the heart rate.

[0048] However, in the wearable device 2, the device body 21 is covered by the heat-insulating cover 1. The device body 21 is covered, except for the sensor surface 23a, by the heat storage pack 5 housed in the cover body 3. During a sauna bath, the heat storage pack 5 exchanges heat with the high-temperature air in the sauna room around the device body 21, slowing down the rate of heat transfer to the biosensor 23. In this way, the heat-insulating cover 1 protects the biosensor 23 from heat that exceeds the upper limit temperature of the guaranteed operating temperature range, allowing the biosensor 23 to stably measure the user's heart rate during a sauna bath.

[0049] The heat insulating cover 1 is arranged so that both widthwise ends of the cover body 3 are aligned with the wrist 100, and furthermore, a pair of fixing belts 4A, 4B are tightly wrapped around the band 22 and fixed with fasteners 41. This makes it difficult for the high-temperature air in the sauna room to enter the inside of the heat insulating cover 1. Therefore, the heat insulating cover 1 can prevent the high-temperature air in the sauna room from entering the cover body 3 and raising the ambient temperature of the biosensor 23.

[0050] The heat-insulating cover 1 has a non-metallic fastener 41 located on the wrist 100 side, so the fastener 41 does not heat up during sauna bathing. This prevents the user from feeling uncomfortable due to a rise in temperature of the fastener 41.

[0051] After staying in the sauna room for a predetermined time (e.g., 8 to 15 minutes), the user enters a cold bath or takes a break in the open air. In the heat insulating cover 1, the heat storage pack 5 is cooled by exchanging heat with cold water or the open air, and the heat storage capacity is restored. The heat storage pack 5 contains a small amount of latent heat storage material 52, and the latent heat storage material 52 is spread thinly inside the packaging container 51, so the heat storage capacity can be fully restored while taking a cold bath or taking a break.

[0052] The heat insulating cover 1 has insertion openings 34 provided in two locations inside the pair of fixing belts 4A, 4B, and both longitudinal ends of the storage section 33 are open, so that, for example, even if water flows into the storage section 33 from one insertion opening 34 while taking a bath, the water is discharged from the other insertion opening 34 and does not accumulate in the storage section 33. Therefore, the heat insulating cover 1 is less likely to have the heat exchange efficiency of the heat storage pack 5 reduced by bathwater or the like that has entered the cover body 3.

[0053] After taking a break, the user re-enters the sauna room. At this time, even if the cover body 3 of the heat-insulating cover 1 is wet, heat is first transferred from the hot air in the sauna room to the moisture, and then heat is exchanged between the water and the heat storage pack 5, which acts to slow down the rate of heat transfer to the biosensor 23.

[0054] The user repeats the cycle of sauna, cold bath, and rest several times. During this time, the heat storage pack 5 repeatedly exchanges heat. The heat insulating cover 1 prevents the temperature of the wearable device 2 brought into the sauna room from rising even if the heat storage pack 5 is not completely regenerated, and can prevent abnormalities in the biosensor 23. Therefore, the wearable device 2 can continuously measure the user's heart rate while using the sauna. The user may check the heart rate measured by the wearable device 2 as needed while using the sauna, or may check it all at once after using the sauna. If the wearable device 2 detects an abnormal heart rate, it may notify the user of the abnormality by vibrating or the like.

[0055] When the user has finished using the sauna, they loosen the band 22 and remove the wearable device 2 together with the heat-insulating cover 1 from their wrist 100. The user removes the heat storage pack 5 from the cover body 3 through one of the insertion openings 34, separating the cover body 3 from the heat storage pack 5. The cover body 3 can be washed in a washing machine or the like to remove dirt, making it hygienic to use. The heat storage pack 5 can be exposed to air or water and stored in another heat-insulating cover for reuse. The heat-insulating cover 1 has insertion openings 34 in two opposite locations across the storage section 33, making it easy to insert and remove the heat storage pack 5 from the cover body 3.

[0056] Such a heat-insulating cover 1 is attached so as to cover the device body 21 of the wearable device 2. Therefore, the heat-insulating cover 1 can be detachably attached to the device body 21 of wearable devices 2 of different shapes and sizes, making it easy to use. This makes it easier to place the heat storage pack in a suitable position, and can efficiently suppress the temperature rise of the device body.

[0057] (About heat insulation performance test) Next, a heat insulation performance test will be described. The inventors conducted a heat insulation performance test to examine the heat insulation performance of the heat insulation cover 1. The evaluation subjects for the heat insulation performance test were an example in which a heat insulation cover 1 having a heat storage pack 5 housed in the housing portion 33 of the cover body 3 was attached to a wearable device 2, a comparative example 2 in which a heat insulation cover having a cotton-synthetic fiber housed in the housing portion 33 of the cover body 3 was attached to a wearable device 2, and a comparative example 1 in which no heat insulation cover was attached to a wearable device. A bottle filled with water at 34°C, which is about the same as the average human skin temperature, was used as a human arm, and the wearable devices 2 for each comparison were wrapped around the bottle. The wearable devices 2 were the same model.

[0058] The cover body 3 is made of felt (100% polyester). The heat storage pack 5 of this embodiment contains 10 g of latent heat storage material 52 whose melting point is adjusted to 45°C.

[0059] In the test, as shown in FIG. 6, temperature sensors were attached to first to fourth measurement points P1 to P4 on the device body 21. Specifically, the first measurement point P1 is the sensor surface 23a of the biosensor 23, as shown in FIG. 6(A). The second measurement point P2 is the center position of the surface 21b of the device body 21, i.e., the position opposite the sensor surface 23a, as shown in FIG. 6(B). The third measurement point P3 is the connection position between the device body 21 and the band 22. The fourth measurement point P4 is the center position of the side surface 21d of the device body 21 that is not connected to the band 22, i.e., the side surface 23b of the biosensor 23, as shown in FIG. 6(C). In the test, the evaluation subjects of the example, comparative example 1, and comparative example 2 were simultaneously placed in a sauna room with an average room temperature of 85.6°C, and the measured temperatures were measured at the first to fourth measurement points P1 to P4. The average values of the measured temperatures at the first to fourth measurement points P1 to P4 for each evaluation subject are shown in FIG. 6(d).

[0060] As shown in Figure 6(d), the time to reach 50°C was approximately 1.5 minutes for Comparative Example 1, approximately 9.5 minutes for Comparative Example 2, and approximately 11.8 minutes for the Example. The time to reach 60°C was approximately 56 minutes for Comparative Example 1, approximately 20.0 minutes for Comparative Example 2, and over 30 minutes for the Example. Therefore, it was found that the heat-insulating cover 1 can protect the biosensor 23 from heat exceeding the guaranteed operating temperature range for more than 30 minutes in a severely high-temperature environment of 80°C or higher using 10 g of phase change material 52. Staying in a high-temperature sauna room for more than 30 minutes continuously is unsafe for the user, as it significantly increases the risk of heatstroke. This test confirmed that the heat-insulating cover 1 equipped with the heat storage pack 5 can protect the biosensor 23 of the wearable device 2 from severely high temperatures when using a sauna.

[0061] As described above, the heat-insulating cover 1 of the first embodiment slows the rate of heat transfer to the wearable device 2 by the heat storage pack 5. Therefore, even if the wearable device 2 itself does not have a heat-insulating structure, attaching the heat-insulating cover 1 adds a heat-insulating function to the device, and malfunctions due to heat are suppressed even when the device is used in unusual temperature environments, such as a sauna or construction work under the blazing summer sun. The heat-insulating cover 1 can be detachably attached to the wearable device 2, and therefore can be attached to different types of wearable devices 2, such as models and shapes, to add a heat-insulating function. Therefore, the heat-insulating cover 1 of the first embodiment can add a heat-insulating function to the wearable device 2 regardless of the type of wearable device 2.

[0062] The heat-resistant cover 1 of the first embodiment has a heat storage pack 5 at a position that covers the device body 21 of the wearable device that is equipped with a biosensor 23, so that the heat storage pack 5 can actively protect the biosensor 23 of the wearable device 2 from heat.

[0063] The heat insulating cover 1 of the first embodiment can be separated from the heat storage pack 5, so that, for example, a deteriorated heat storage pack 5 can be replaced and continued to be used.

[0064] Second Embodiment Next, a heat insulating cover according to a second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 7 to 9. In a heat insulating cover 101 of the second embodiment, a latent heat storage material 52 is provided integrally with a cover body 103. This differs from the heat insulating cover 1 of the first embodiment in which the heat storage pack 5 filled with the latent heat storage material 52 is separate from the cover body 3. Here, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same configurations and processes as in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0065] The heat insulating cover 101 shown in Fig. 7 includes a cover body 103 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block, with a pair of fixing belts 104A and 104B attached to opposing sides of the cover body 103. The cover body 103 and the pair of fixing belts 104A and 104B are made of a water-repellent and flexible material. In this embodiment, the cover body 103 and the pair of fixing belts 104A and 104B are made of silicone rubber.

[0066] 8 and 9, the cover body 103 has a groove-shaped setting portion 103a and a U-shaped cross section. The cover body 103 can be attached to the wearable device 2 so as to cover the front surface 21b and the side surface 21d of the device body 21.

[0067] The cover body 103 is provided with a pair of protrusions 103b, 103b along both widthwise ends of the set portion 103a. The pair of protrusions 103b, 103b are provided so as to protrude inward from the open end of the set portion 103a, and a gap 103c narrower than the width of the band 22 is provided between the pair of protrusions 103b, 103b. The gap 103c is an example of an "exposed portion."

[0068] The cover body 103 has belt-shaped fixing belts 104A and 104B connected to both axial ends of the set part 103a, respectively. The pair of fixing belts 104A and 104B are wound around the band 22 of the wearable device 2. The pair of fixing belts 104A and 104B are connected to the cover body 103 at positions corresponding to the bottom of the set part 103a, and both ends are joined via fasteners 41 at positions different from the sensor surface 23a side (in this embodiment, on the upper surface side, on the back of the hand side).

[0069] As shown in FIG. 8, the cover body 103 has a cavity 103g formed in a position covering the device body 21, and the cavity 103g is filled with a latent heat storage material 52. The cavity 103g and the latent heat storage material 52 are an example of a "heat transfer suppression portion." In this embodiment, the cavity 103g is formed in a U-shape across positions corresponding to the front surface 21b and the side surface 21d of the device body 21, and the latent heat storage material 52 is accommodated in the position covering the device body 21. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cavity 103g is also formed in the pair of protrusions 103b, 103b. Note that the cavity 103g may be formed separately, for example, at positions corresponding to the front surface 21b and the side surface 21d.

[0070] The heat-insulating cover 101 is attached to the wearable device 2 by bending the cover body 103 to widen the gap 103c and inserting the device body 21 of the wearable device 2 into the attachment part 103a. When the cover body 103 returns to its original shape due to its own elasticity, it holds the device body 21 in a sandwiched manner. At this time, the gap 103c between the pair of protrusions 103b, 103b is narrowed, and the device body 21 is engaged with the pair of protrusions 103b, 103b, making it difficult for it to fall off from the attachment part 103a. The heat-insulating cover 101 is attached to the wearable device 2 by wrapping the fixing belts 104A, 104B around the band 22 and joining both ends with fasteners 41.

[0071] For example, a sauna user puts the wearable device 2 with the heat-insulating cover 101 on their wrist 100 and enters the sauna room. The heat-insulating cover 101 has a latent heat storage material 52 filled in the cavity 103g of the cover body 103, which exchanges heat with external heat through the inner wall of the cavity 103g, slowing the rate at which the external heat is transferred to the biosensor 23. This prevents malfunction of the biosensor 23 of the wearable device 2 due to heat outside the guaranteed operating temperature range. The heat-insulating cover 101 can be detachably attached to the device body 21 of the wearable device 2, and can therefore be attached to different types of wearable devices 2 to add a heat-insulating function. Therefore, the heat-insulating cover 101 of this embodiment can add a heat-insulating function to the wearable device 2 regardless of the type of wearable device 2.

[0072] Furthermore, because the cover body 103 of the heat-insulating cover 101 is made of silicone rubber, the cover body 103 elastically deforms as the band 22 of the wearable device 2 is wrapped around it, allowing it to fit tightly around the wrist 100. This makes it difficult for air from the sauna room to get in between the cover body 103 and the wrist 100, suppressing the rate of heat transfer to the device body 21.

[0073] Furthermore, the pair of protrusions 103b, 103b of the heat-shielding cover 101 fits under the band 22, preventing a gap from being formed between the band 22 and the wrist 100. Therefore, the heat-shielding cover 101 prevents heat from entering the set part 103a from the connection part between the device main body 21 and the band 22, and can slow down the rate of heat transfer to the device main body 21.

[0074] Here, the fixing belts 104A and 104B of this embodiment are made of silicone rubber and are thicker than fixing belts made of fabric material. Therefore, if both ends of the fixing belts 104A and 104B are connected on the wrist 100 side (sensor surface 23a side), the cover main body 103 may float up from the wrist 100, and the sensor surface 23a may not contact the wrist 100.

[0075] Therefore, heat-resistant cover 101 has both ends of fixing belts 104A and 104B connected to it via fasteners 41 at positions different from the sensor surface 23a side. With this, when wearable device 2 with heat-resistant cover 101 attached is worn on wrist 100, sensor surface 23a comes into close contact with wrist 100, allowing biosensor 23 to measure biometric information.

[0076] In the heat insulating cover 101 of the second embodiment described above, the phase change material 52 is filled in the cavity 103g of the cover body 103 and is provided integrally with the cover body 103, so that heat exchange can occur through direct contact with the phase change material 52. As a result, the heat insulating cover 101 is expected to be more effective in slowing the rate of heat transfer to the device body 21 by the phase change material 52. Furthermore, the phase change material 52 in the heat insulating cover 101 is efficiently regenerated, for example, when a user takes a cold water bath after staying in a sauna room for a predetermined time. Furthermore, the heat insulating cover 101 can be washed and reused hygienically. Furthermore, since the cover body 103 is made of a water-repellent material, it dries easily after washing.

[0077] <Third embodiment> Next, a heat insulating cover according to a third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 10. A heat insulating cover 201 according to the third embodiment has attachment belts 204A and 204B integrally provided on a cover main body 203. This differs from the heat insulating cover 1 according to the first embodiment, which does not have attachment belts. Here, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same configurations and processes as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0078] The heat insulating cover 201 is formed by integrally molding a cover body 203 and a pair of mounting belts 204A, 204B. The cover body 203 and the pair of mounting belts 204A, 204B are made of a water-repellent and flexible material. In this embodiment, the cover body 203 and the pair of mounting belts 204A, 204B are made of silicone rubber.

[0079] The cover body 203 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block shape, and has holding holes 203a formed on the underside for holding the device body 21. The cover body 203 has a cavity 203g filled with a latent heat storage material 52. The cavity 203g and the latent heat storage material 52 are an example of a "heat transfer suppression portion." The cavity 203g is provided in a position on the cover body 203 that covers the front surface 21b and the side surface 21d of the device body 21 held in the holding holes 203a, i.e., a position outside the holding holes 203a.

[0080] The pair of attachment belts 204A, 204B are thin, strip-shaped and connected to opposing side surfaces of the cover body 203 with the retaining hole 203a in between. The attachment belt 204B is equipped with a buckle 205. The attachment belt 204A is formed with a plurality of adjustment holes 206 that engage with the buckle 205. The buckle 205 of this embodiment is made of a non-metallic material with low thermal conductivity, such as plastic. The buckle 205 may be made of metal if the heat-insulating cover 201 is not used in a high-temperature environment.

[0081] The heat-insulating cover 201 of this embodiment fits, for example, the device body 21 of the wearable device 2 with the band 22 removed, or the device body of a wearable device without a band, into the holding hole 203a, and holds the sensor surface 23a of the biosensor 23 exposed from the opening of the holding hole 203a. The opening of the holding hole 203a may have a protrusion to prevent the device body 21 from falling off.

[0082] The heat-shielding cover 201 is formed by wrapping the attachment belts 204A and 204B around the wrist 100 and engaging the buckle 205 with the adjustment hole 206 to fit the thickness of the wrist 100. As a result, the cover body 203 of the heat-shielding cover 201 is pulled directly by the attachment belts 204A and 204B and elastically deforms to fit the wrist 100, allowing the sensor surface 23a of the biosensor 23 to fit tightly against the wrist 100. Furthermore, the cover body 203 tightly fits tightly against the wrist 100, making it possible to slow down the rate of heat transfer to the device body 21 in the holding hole 203a.

[0083] The heat insulating cover 201 has a cavity 203g formed at a position corresponding to the surface 21b and the side surface 21d of the device body 21, and the cavity 203g is filled with the latent heat storage material 52. Therefore, in the sauna room, the latent heat storage material 52 exchanges heat with external heat, and the rate of heat transfer to the biosensor 23 slows down.

[0084] As described above, the heat insulating cover 201 of the third embodiment is integrally provided with the latent heat storage material 52 filled in the cavity 203g, and therefore can exchange heat through direct contact with the latent heat storage material 52. This is expected to improve the effect of the heat insulating cover 201 in slowing the rate of heat transfer to the device body 21 by the latent heat storage material 52. Furthermore, the heat insulating cover 201 can be washed as a whole and can be hygienically reused.

[0085] Furthermore, in the heat-shielding cover 201 of the third embodiment, for example, when it becomes necessary to replace the band 22 connected to the device body 21 of the wearable device 2, by covering the device body 21 from which the band 22 has been removed with the cover body 203, the attachment belts 204A, 204B connected to the cover body 203 can replace the band 22 of the wearable device 2, allowing the device body 21 to be worn on the wrist 100 of the human body.

[0086] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a heat insulating cover according to a fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 11. In a heat insulating cover 301 according to the fourth embodiment, attachment belts 304A and 304B can be detachably connected to a cover main body 303. This differs from the heat insulating cover 201 according to the third embodiment, in which attachment belts 204A and 204B are integrally provided on the cover main body 203. Here, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same configurations and processes as those in the third embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0087] The heat insulating cover 301 comprises a cover body 303 and attachment belts 304A and 304B, which are made of different materials. The cover body 303 is made of a flexible material and is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped block. The attachment belts 304A and 304B are made of a material with high strength against tensile loads and are shaped like thin strips. In this embodiment, the cover body 303 is made of silicone rubber, and the attachment belts 304A and 304B are made of fabric material.

[0088] An appliance body holding hole 303a for holding the appliance body 21 is formed in the underside of the cover body 303. Band holding grooves 303e for holding the band 22 are formed in the underside of the cover body 303 at positions facing each other across the appliance body holding hole 303a. A pair of protrusions 303b protrude inward from the openings of the band holding grooves 303e along both widthwise ends, preventing the band 22 from falling off. The cover body 303 has a cavity 303g formed along the outer side of the appliance body holding hole 303a, into which the latent heat storage material 52 is filled. That is, the cover body 303 has the cavity 303g formed at a position corresponding to the front surface 21b and side surface 21d of the appliance body 21 attached to the appliance body holding hole 303a, and the latent heat storage material 52 is integrally provided. The cavity 303g and the latent heat storage material 52 are an example of a "heat transfer suppressing portion."

[0089] Hooks 311A and 311B are integrally molded by insert molding or the like on the side of the cover body 303 where the band holding grooves 303e and 303e open. Hook holes 307A and 307B that engage with the hooks 311A and 311B are formed in the attachment belts 304A and 304B. The hooks 311A and 311B are positioned so that they do not come into contact with the human body. The hooks 311A and 311B may be made of metal or non-metal.

[0090] In the heat-insulating cover 301 of the fourth embodiment, for example, when the band 22 of the wearable device 2 can be used, the attachment belts 304A and 304B are detached from the hooks 311A and 311B. In the heat-insulating cover 301, the device body 21 and the band 22 of the wearable device 2 are attached to the cover body 303, similar to the cover body 203 of the heat-insulating cover 201.

[0091] On the other hand, when band 22 of wearable device 2 becomes unusable due to damage or the like and is detached from device body 21, attachment belts 304A and 304B are attached to hooks 311A and 311B of heat-resistant cover 301. With device body 21 from which band 22 has been detached fitted into device body holding hole 303a, attachment belts 304A and 304B replace band 22 and attach device body 21 to the human body.

[0092] Therefore, the heat-insulating cover 301 can select whether or not to connect the attachment belts 304A, 304B depending on whether or not the band 22 of the wearable device 2 is present, and can be adapted to wearable devices 2 of different shapes.

[0093] The heat-insulating cover 301 can fit the biosensor 23 to the wrist 100 by connecting the attachment belts 304A and 304B so that the cover body 303 is pulled and elastically deformed. In this case, a large load acts on the attachment belts 304A and 304B near the hook holes 307A and 307B that engage with the hooks 311A and 311B. The attachment belts 304A and 304B of this embodiment are made of a material that has a higher strength against tensile load than the material of the cover body 303. Therefore, the heat-insulating cover 301 is less susceptible to damage near the hook holes 307A and 307B of the attachment belts 304A and 304B than when the attachment belts 304A and 304B and the cover body 303 are made of the same material (silicone rubber in this embodiment).

[0094] It should be noted that this embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the heat-insulating cover 1 may be formed in a shape other than a dome shape, such as a flat shape or a quadrangular pyramid shape. The wearable device 2 to which the heat-insulating cover 1, 101 is attached may be of a different model or shape from the above embodiment. The wearable device 2 may have a heat-resistant structure.

[0095] For example, the heat insulating covers 1, 101, 201, and 301 may use a heat insulating member as an example of a "heat transfer suppression section" instead of the heat storage pack 5 or the latent heat storage material 52. However, by using the heat storage pack 5 or the latent heat storage material 52 as an example of a "heat transfer suppression section," the heat insulating covers 1, 101, 201, and 301 utilize the heat exchange capacity of the latent heat storage material 52 to slow the rate of heat transfer to the wearable device 2, and are therefore expected to achieve a high heat insulating effect with a compact structure.

[0096] For example, the heat-resistant covers 1, 101, 201, and 301 may be used to protect biosensors and the like from heat when using wearable devices for safety management during work in extremely hot outdoor environments in summer, even if the environment is not extremely high temperature like a sauna.

[0097] For example, the heat-insulating covers 1, 101, 201, and 301 may be attached to a wearable device that does not have a biometric information acquisition function, such as a wristwatch. The wearable device 2 may have other functions, such as a function to measure activity levels such as the number of steps taken and a function to acquire location information, in addition to the biometric information acquisition function, such as a smartwatch. The wearable device 2 may be attached to a location other than the wrist 100, such as an arm, leg, or chest.

[0098] For example, the heat-insulating covers 1, 101, 201, 301 may be attached to the wearable device 2 so as to completely cover the device body 21. In other words, there may be no exposed portion. However, by having an exposed portion (in the above-described embodiments, the gaps S1, 103c and the openings of the holding holes 203a, 303a) that expose the biosensor 23, the biosensor 23 can be exposed from the exposed portion and brought into contact with the human body, and therefore a heat-insulating function can be added to the wearable device without impairing the bioinformation acquisition function of the wearable device.

[0099] For example, the heat storage pack 5, cavity 103g, and cavities 203g and 303g do not necessarily have to be disposed at positions corresponding to the surface 21b and the side surface 21d of the device body 21. For example, they may be disposed only on the surface 21b of the device body 21, or on the surface 21b and part of the side surface 21d. However, by providing the heat storage pack 5, cavity 103g, or cavities 203g and 303g at positions corresponding to the surface 21b and the side surface 21d on the heat insulating covers 1, 101, 201, and 301, the latent heat storage material 52 is provided at a position that comes into contact with the outside air when the wearable device is worn on the human body. This allows the heat insulating covers 1, 101, 201, and 301 to effectively protect the biosensor 23 from heat by the latent heat storage material 52.

[0100] For example, the heat insulating cover 1 may have one insertion opening 34 or three or more insertion openings 34. However, by providing the heat insulating cover 1 with the insertion openings 34 at two locations inside the fixing belts 4A, 4B that connect to the cover body 3, at positions facing each other across the storage section 33, for example, hot water that enters the storage section 33 from one insertion opening 34 is discharged from the other insertion opening 34, thereby suppressing a decrease in the heat exchange efficiency of the heat storage packs 5. Furthermore, the heat insulating cover 1 allows the heat storage packs 5 to be freely inserted and removed from the storage section 33 between the outer skin 31 and inner skin 32 via the insertion openings 34, making it possible to wash the cover body 3.

[0101] For example, the heat storage pack 5 may have a shape other than a cross, such as a circle. However, since the heat storage pack 5 of the heat insulating cover 1 has a cross shape, it is easy to arrange the heat storage pack 5 around the device main body having a different outer shape, such as a rectangular parallelepiped or cylindrical shape.

[0102] For example, the cover body 3 may be formed by a method other than joining the outer skin 31 and the inner skin 32 along both widthwise ends. For example, the cover body 3 may be formed from a cylindrical material or a material formed by joining two flat materials at one location to form a cylindrical shape.

[0103] For example, the heat insulating covers 101, 201, 301 may be formed by integrally molding the heat storage packs 5 with the cover bodies 103, 203, 303. Such heat insulating covers are integrally arranged at positions where the heat storage packs 5 cover the device body 21, thereby suppressing the formation of an air layer around the heat storage packs 5. This is expected to improve the effect of the heat insulating cover in slowing the rate of heat transfer to the device body 21 by the heat storage packs 5. Furthermore, the heat insulating covers can be washed as a whole without removing the heat storage packs 5, allowing for hygienic repeated use.

[0104] For example, the pair of protrusions 103b, 103b may be omitted from the heat-insulating cover 101. The two end portions of the pair of fixing belts 104A, 104B may be joined at locations different from the above-described configuration, as long as the locations are different from the sensor surface 23a. For example, if the pair of fixing belts 104A, 104B are thin, such as fabric belts, and the sensor surface 23a can be brought into contact with the wrist 100, the two end portions may be joined on the sensor surface 23a side.

[0105] For example, the exposed portion may be formed by a method other than a gap, such as a hole formed in the cover body.

[0106] For example, the attachment belts 304A and 304B of the heat insulating cover 301 may be made of the same material as the cover body 303. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1,101,201,301 Heat-resistant covers for wearable devices 2. Wearable devices 5. Heat storage pack (an example of a heat storage material) 51 Container 52 Latent heat storage material (an example of a heat storage material) 21 Device body 21b Surface (an example of the second surface) 21c Back side (example of the first side) 21d side 23 Biometric sensor (an example of a biometric information acquisition unit) 33 Storage unit 34 Insertion port 203,303 Cover body 204A, 204B, 304A, 304B wearing belt S1,103c Gap (example of exposed area)

Claims

1. It is detachably attached to a wearable device that is worn on the human body. a heat transfer suppression unit that suppresses heat transfer to the wearable device; A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

2. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 1, a biometric information acquisition unit provided in the wearable device, the biometric information acquisition unit contacting the human body to acquire biometric information, and having an exposure portion for exposing the biometric information acquisition unit; A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

3. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 1, The heat transfer suppression unit is disposed at a position where it covers a device body of the wearable device having an internal mechanism. A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

4. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 1, The heat transfer suppression portion includes a heat storage material. A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

5. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 4, The heat transfer suppressing unit detachably accommodates a heat storage member in which the heat storage material is sealed in a container. A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

6. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 5, a housing portion that houses the heat storage member; an insertion port provided at a position facing each other across the accommodation portion, through which the heat storage member is inserted into the accommodation portion; having A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

7. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 4, The heat transfer suppressing section is integrally provided with a heat storage member in which the heat storage material is sealed in a container. A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

8. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 4, The heat transfer suppression portion is a cavity provided in the heat-insulating cover for a wearable device; The heat storage material filled in the cavity; having A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

9. The heat insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 1, a cover body that has the heat transfer suppression portion and is capable of covering a device body of the wearable device that has an internal mechanism; a wearing belt connected to the cover body and used to wear the device body on the human body; having A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

10. The heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 9, The attachment belt is detachably connected to the cover body. A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

11. The heat-insulating cover for a wearable device according to claim 10, The cover body is formed in a block shape from a flexible material, The attachment belt is formed in a belt shape from a material having a strength against a tensile load greater than that of the material of the cover body. A heat-resistant cover for a wearable device configured as follows.

Images