Devices to help you stay awake

Abstract

It should have a simple configuration that does not require a power source, and be able to effectively eliminate drowsiness with immediate effect. [Solution] A sleep-wake-up device 1 used to stay awake by biting hard on one end, comprising a rod-shaped base part 10 and a biting part 20 that is enlarged in diameter over a predetermined axial length at one end of the base part 10, and characterized in that it is integrally formed from an elastic material having a predetermined hardness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drowsiness reliever that is particularly useful for preventing drowsy driving, and a drowsiness reliever tool capable of quickly waking up drowsiness by strongly biting.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as mechanical devices for preventing drowsy driving, various products such as voice / vibration alarms, drowsiness prevention apps, caffeine tablets, and gums have been developed.

[0003] However, the conventional technologies have the following problems. For example, ear-mounted voice / vibration alarms can certainly detect signs of drowsiness and achieve the effect of waking up drowsiness through warning sounds and vibrations. However, during long drives when drowsy driving is likely to occur, there may be problems with wearing, such as earache. Also, there may be cases where it is difficult to wear constantly, such as the possibility of difficulty in hearing external sounds. Furthermore, if the battery runs out, it may actually compromise safety. When installing a dedicated app on a smartphone, it is technically difficult to properly monitor the driver in the first place, and there is also a problem that the effect cannot be obtained if the smartphone is forgotten or the battery runs out. Caffeine tablets are likely to achieve the expected effect, but there is a problem that there is no immediate effect and ingestion may be restricted for pregnant women and others. Regarding gums, although they are a long-existing drowsiness reliever, they do not become a strong drowsiness reliever.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a simple configuration that does not require a power source and can effectively eliminate drowsiness with immediate effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The wake-up device described in claim 1 is a wake-up device used as an immediate wake-up device by biting hard on one end, and is characterized by being integrally formed from an elastic material having a predetermined hardness, comprising a rod-shaped base portion and a biting portion that is widened in diameter over a predetermined axial length at one end of the base portion.

[0007] In other words, the invention according to claim 1 makes it possible to achieve a rapid awakening effect by strongly biting an elastic material. Because the biting portion is enlarged in diameter, the biting depth naturally increases, and a good awakening effect can be expected. Because it is integrally molded, there is no possibility of accidental ingestion due to separation, which would occur if it were a separate part, thus ensuring safety. Furthermore, integral extrusion molding using the same material is also possible, allowing for the provision of inexpensive products.

[0008] The material can be silicone rubber. In terms of hardness, a hardness of 30° to 60° is preferred, and 40° to 50° is more preferred, according to JIS K6253's shear A standard. Furthermore, the material should have sufficient strength to withstand the biting force of an adult male's front teeth without tearing it.

[0009] The wakefulness device described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the wakefulness device described in claim 1, the minimum diameter of the biting portion is 5 mm or more, the maximum diameter is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm, the condition 1 ≤ maximum diameter / minimum diameter ≤ 5 is satisfied, the predetermined shaft length is in the range of 5 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and the total length is in the range of more than 30 mm and 200 mm or less.

[0010] In other words, the invention according to claim 2 is of a length that ensures safety by preventing accidental ingestion, and is sized so that saliva does not easily leak out of the mouth even when held in the mouth for a long time. Furthermore, because the different contact sensations due to the difference in diameter are sustained, the child naturally develops the habit of biting hard at appropriate times. Furthermore, it is preferable that the minimum diameter of the biting portion is 7 mm or more, the maximum diameter is within the range of 14 mm to 30 mm, the condition 1 ≤ maximum diameter / minimum diameter ≤ 1.5 is satisfied, the predetermined shaft length is within the range of 9 mm to 16 mm, and the total length is within the range of 90 mm to 125 mm. Note that diameter can also be referred to as width or thickness.

[0011] In other words, if the shape is a cylindrical shape with the same diameter and not flattened, the contact sensation in the oral cavity will always be constant and unchanging. On the other hand, if the degree of flatness is too high, the position in which it is held in the oral cavity will always be the same, and again the contact sensation in the oral cavity will always be constant and unchanging. A shape that allows for easy axial rotation in the oral cavity, so as to change the contact sensation and sustain stimulation, is preferable. Furthermore, making it large enough so that saliva does not spill out allows for prolonged use. Specifically, it is preferable that it be large enough so that saliva does not spill out even when held in the mouth with the front teeth or canine teeth, without compromising the user experience.

[0012] The sleep-wake device described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the sleep-wake device described in claim 1 or 2, it is formed of an elastic material having holes that communicate in the axial direction and / or having different hardness in the radial direction.

[0013] In other words, the invention according to claim 3 has a shape that does not cause choking when swallowed, and also provides an awakening stimulus through a change in hardness.

[0014] The radial direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the base portion. It is preferable to increase the hardness on the inside. While the hardness may change continuously, a discontinuous change is preferable because it provides a higher arousal stimulus. Even if the hardnesses differ, integral molding is possible.

[0015] The wakefulness device described in claim 4 is characterized in that, in the wakefulness device described in claim 1, the biting portion is approximately cylindrical, approximately spherical, approximately elliptical prism, approximately elliptical sphere, approximately prismatic, or approximately conical in shape, or has a recess that is smaller in diameter than the rest of the axis midway along the axis and is rotationally symmetrical about the axis, or has a predetermined thickness and width and is approximately V-shaped or U-shaped arranged 180° rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis, or has a shape in which two identical flat plates of approximately triangular, approximately quadrilateral, other approximately polygonal, approximately circular, or approximately elliptical shapes are arranged in parallel and the base shaft portion is sandwiched between them.

[0016] In other words, the invention according to claim 4 allows the user to unconsciously search for a biting position based on its distinctive shape, thereby providing stimulation and maintaining or improving the alertness effect.

[0017] The term "conical shape" includes not only cones and pyramidal shapes, but also shapes obtained by flattening these shapes perpendicular to the axis. In the case of a conical shape, it is preferable that the axis of the cone coincides with the axial direction of the base axis. Having a recess along the axis that is smaller in diameter than the maximum diameter includes shapes such as a gourd shape. Examples of rotationally symmetric shapes around an axis include 180° rotational symmetry, 120° rotational symmetry, and 72° rotational symmetry. A roughly V-shape or U-shape, having a predetermined thickness and diameter and arranged 180° rotationally symmetrically with respect to the axis, can be described as a mouthpiece shape or a goose-leg shape in plan view. The predetermined diameter can be rephrased as a predetermined width. A triangle can be an isosceles triangle, and an example can be given where it is 180° rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis. A cross-sectional shape cut perpendicular to the axis can be integrally molded with the base shaft to form a weight-like shape. If the shape consists of two flat plates sandwiching the base shaft, the sides will have a different feel when bitten compared to the central part (shaft). Furthermore, in the case of a triangle, the feel when bitten will differ between the front and back, resulting in a rich variety of textures.

[0018] The wake-up device according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the wake-up device according to claim 1 or 2, the surface of the biting part has irregularities formed thereon.

[0019] That is, in the invention according to claim 5, when the front teeth are applied to the protrusions, unconscious location searching is performed, and the arousal effect is maintained and improved. In addition, it also has an arousal effect due to the stimulation by the tongue touch.

[0020] The concavities and convexities include, for example, a mode in which a large number of cylinders with a height of 1 mm and a diameter of 1 mm are implanted. In addition, the concavities and convexities may be formed in the form of ridges or grooves having a certain length.

[0021] The drowsiness arousal device according to claim 6 is the drowsiness arousal device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second biting part is provided which expands to a diameter or a shaped diameter different from the expanded diameter length over a shaft length different from the predetermined shaft length.

[0022] That is, the invention according to claim 6 provides two ends with different hardness or biting comfort due to the difference in size, and it is possible to select a biting part that fits one's own mouth, or select a biting part according to the mood at that time. When the second biting part is made smaller than the first biting part, an example can be given where the maximum diameter is within the range of 8 mm to 20 mm and the size satisfies 1 ≦ maximum diameter / minimum diameter ≦ 1.5.

Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly safe drowsiness arousal device that can be strongly bitten and obtain a rapid arousal effect by strongly biting. In particular, even when it is placed in the mouth or bitten for a long time, it is hygienic, rich in the change of the contact sensation, easy to induce biting, and is induced to form a natural bite.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory drawing showing a configuration example of the drowsiness arousal device of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an explanatory drawing showing an example of the state of wearing the drowsiness arousal device. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing other examples of bite shapes. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the configuration of the sleep-wakefulness device of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram (plan view (a), front view (b), right side view (c)) showing an example of the configuration of the wakefulness device of the present invention. Note that the drawing of the back biting part is omitted in the plan view (a).

[0026] The sleep-wake device 1 has a base shaft portion 10 that is a long rod in one direction, and biting portions 20 that are enlarged in diameter and integrally formed at both ends of the base shaft portion 10. Although both biting portions 20 are enlarged in diameter, they have different shapes. When distinguishing between the two, the one with fine protrusions will be referred to as biting portion 20a, and the other as biting portion 20b.

[0027] During manufacturing, injection molding will be used, in which the same material or a similar material will be poured into the mold (in this case, silicone, an elastic material, will be used). In other words, integral molding means that the parts are not joined or glued together, but are formed in a way that prevents separation. Since the wake-up device 1 is placed in the mouth, it is integrally molded to eliminate the risk of separate pieces entering the throat. However, there are no restrictions on shaping the material so that different parts have different hardnesses. As will be explained below, the chewing portion 20 has a different hardness. Also, depending on the specifications, the composition can be changed so that the inside is harder than the outside and the material can be integrally molded. By varying the chewing sensation, it encourages chewing harder without conscious effort (chewing harder enhances the awakening effect).

[0028] As mentioned above, the sleep-wake device 1 is made of silicone. In terms of hardness, according to JIS K6253's share A standard, the biting part 20a has a hardness of 50 degrees, and the biting part 20b has a hardness of 40 degrees, and these are designed and injection-molded accordingly. The biting part 20 is used by placing it in the mouth and biting it with the teeth, but its composition is such that it cannot be bitten off even with relatively sharp front teeth. That is, even the silicone material with the lower hardness of 40 degrees has a sufficiently high degree of cross-linking, so if it is of a certain size, it cannot be bitten off. However, elasticity-enhancing agents and other additives may be added as appropriate to increase tensile strength and improve fracture resistance. Needless to say, since it is put in the mouth, the additives must be non-toxic. The hardness can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the heating temperature, heating time, and pressure.

[0029] Furthermore, the sleep-wake device 1 is made of silicone using fluorescent or brightly colored materials. This is to enhance visibility as it is used inside a vehicle. In addition, it will be available in multiple colors to make it easier to distinguish between users. Depending on the specifications, phosphorescent material may be added so that it can be easily found even inside a vehicle at night.

[0030] Let me explain the details. The sleep-wake device 1 has a total length of 120 mm (the length of the base part 10 is 120 mm), an outer diameter of 8 mm, and an inner diameter of 4 mm, forming a cylindrical shape (a communication hole 11 is formed therein). Although the possibility of accidental ingestion is extremely low with this length, in the unlikely event that it is swallowed, it is formed to be hollow to prevent airway obstruction, thus ensuring safety. The gripping portion 20a is enlarged in diameter over a 15 mm end of the base shaft portion 10, and its cross-section is 14 mm in diameter and 20 mm in diameter, resembling an athletics track, and is formed in a columnar shape. As mentioned above, the base shaft portion 10 and the gripping portion 20 are integrally molded, and each refers to a specific part of the joint. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, small projections 21, each 1.5 mm high and with a cross-section of a regular pentagonal prism and a side length of 1 mm, are integrally molded in a 5-row, 6-column configuration, parallel to each other and facing outward in the short-axis direction of the biting surface (the spacing between peaks and valleys is approximately the same (a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2)). When the small projections 21 are arranged in this way, the contact stimulation of the tongue and oral cavity is sustained, inducing biting. Also, when they are planted at such narrow intervals, the tooth grip on the anterior teeth and canines is optimized, inducing a strong bite.

[0031] The size of the biting surface 20a is appropriate whether it is held between the front teeth or gripped between the back teeth, so saliva does not leak out of the mouth, making it hygienic. Furthermore, it is long enough that you won't accidentally swallow it. Even if it does get down your throat, most of it will be on your tongue, giving you plenty of time to spit it out reflexively.

[0032] Furthermore, a biting portion 20 (biting portion 20b) is also provided at the other end. Specifically, the gripping portion 20b widens in diameter over a 14 mm end of the base shaft portion 10. While the cross-section perpendicular to the shaft is circular, the cross-section along the shaft has a checkered or sawtooth-like shape with a series of peaks and valleys (resulting in an overall straight, bellows-like shape). The diameter of the valleys is 12 mm and the diameter of the peaks is 18 mm. The gripping portion 20b does not have any small protrusions like the one 21.

[0033] The biting parts 20a and 20b differ in overall size, surface properties and shape, and hardness, resulting in different biting strength and depth. By using both ends interchangeably, users can choose the biting strength that suits their mood at the time of use, making it easier to achieve an awakening effect.

[0034] Next, we will explain how to wear and use the sleep-prevention device 1. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how the sleep-wake device is worn. Of these, Figure 2(a) shows how it is worn, Figure 2(b) is a front view showing the sleep-wake device 1 inserted into the ring holder 40, and Figure 2(c) is a front view showing the insertion plug being inserted into the sleep-wake device 1. The sleep-wake device 1 is equipped with a holder 2 as an accessory. The holder 2 consists of a neck strap 30 and a ring holder 40 through which the sleep-wake device 1 is inserted or inserted.

[0035] The ring holder 40 is made of metal and has a ring-passing portion 41, an insertion ring portion 42, and a plug 43. The ring-passing portion 41 is a small ring through which the neck strap 30 passes, and is joined to the insertion ring portion 42. The insertion ring portion 42 is a ring of a predetermined shape and holds the sleep-wake device 1 by inserting it through it. The sleep-wake device 1 passes through the base portion 10, which is narrowed, and both ends are widened as gripping portions 20, so it catches and is held in place. Also, since it may be troublesome to remove it each time it is used, in this case the plug 43 can be inserted into the communication hole 11 of the base portion 10, and the sleep-wake device 1 can also be held in this way. The plug 43 is also joined to the insertion ring portion 42.

[0036] To use the device, when the user (driver) feels drowsy, they should remove the drowsiness-relieving device 1 from the ring holder 40 (depending on the specifications, it may be possible to use it without removing it) and bite down hard on the biting part 20 with their front teeth or canines (they may also bite down with their molars). Biting down hard provides a rapid awakening effect, allowing for immediate and quick wake-up. They may bite down multiple times as needed, or keep it in their mouth, so they can bite down hard as needed to continuously fight off drowsiness.

[0037] The wake-up device 1 is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the biting portion 20 may be formed on only one end. The shape of the biting portion 20 can be (a) roughly cylindrical, (b) roughly spherical, (c) roughly elliptical, (d) roughly elliptical, or (e) roughly prismatic, as shown in Figure 3. It can also be (f) a gourd shape, where the diameter is reduced in the middle. Furthermore, it can be (g) a roughly V-shape or U-shape with a predetermined thickness, such as a mouthpiece or goose-leg. The subscripts 1, 2, and 3 indicate the plan view, front view, and right side view, respectively. Although no communication holes are provided, they can certainly be provided. Furthermore, small protrusions, as shown in Figure 1, may be formed on these surfaces. Ribs may also be formed. For example, multiple ridges may be formed along the axis, encircling the surface of the gripping portion. Depending on the specifications, small protrusions or ridges may also be formed on the base shaft portion.

[0038] Furthermore, the biting part can also be formed using two identical, roughly triangular flat plates. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram (plan view (a), front view (b), right side view (c)) showing other configuration examples of the wakefulness device of the present invention. Note that the drawing of the biting part at the back is omitted in plan view (a).

[0039] The sleep-wake-up device 6 has a base shaft portion 60 that is a long rod in one direction, and biting portions 70 that are enlarged in diameter and integrally formed at both ends of the base shaft portion 60. The larger biting portion 70 will be referred to as biting portion 70a, and the smaller biting portion 70b.

[0040] The chewing portion 70a is formed of two identical flat plates 71, which are roughly triangular (isosceles triangles with rounded corners) in plan view, sandwiching the base portion 60. As shown in the plan view, the flat plates 71 and the base portion 60 are integrally molded in a 180° rotationally symmetrical shape, like a weight. In addition, five protrusions 72 are formed on the surface of the flat plates 71, towards the front and oriented perpendicular to the axis. This shape of the chewing portion 70a results in different hardness on the left and right sides compared to the center, and the gap between the plates narrows when chewed, adding an interesting chewing sensation. Furthermore, the width differs from front to back, and the contact with the oral cavity and tongue by the protrusions 72 is varied. Consequently, different stimuli are applied to the brain, enhancing the wakefulness effect.

[0041] The chewing part 70b is formed like a miniature version of the chewing part 20a of the wake-up device 1. Five pentagonal prism-shaped protrusions 73 are formed on each side. By appropriately chewing on the chewing parts 70a and 70b depending on one's mood, a wake-up effect can be obtained.

[0042] In this example, the flat plate 71 is roughly triangular, but it may also be based on a quadrilateral, pentagon, or hexagon, or it may be based on a circle or ellipse.

[0043] Furthermore, both drowsiness-preventing device 1 and drowsiness-preventing device 6 could be color-coded according to the hardness of the silicone rubber. It is also possible to mix in phosphorescent material to improve visibility even in a dark car. [Industrial applicability]

[0044] According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly eliminate drowsiness by biting firmly while driving. It can be used not only while driving, but also for long hours of desk work, night shifts, and other similar activities. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. A device to keep you awake 2 holders 10. Base part 11 Communication hole 20 Chewing area 21 Protrusion 30 Neck strap 40 Ring Holder 41 Wheel passage section 42 Insertion ring section 43 Plug 1. A device to keep you awake 6. Devices to combat drowsiness 60 Base part 70 Chewing area 71 Flat plate 72 protrusion 73 Pentagonal prism

Claims

1. A wake-up device used as an immediate wake-up aid by biting down hard on the end, The base part is based on a rod, A meshing portion that has been widened over a predetermined axial length at one end of the base shaft, A wake-up device characterized by being integrally formed from an elastic material having a predetermined hardness, which is equipped with the following features.

2. The wakefulness device according to claim 1, characterized in that the minimum diameter of the biting portion is 5 mm or more, the maximum diameter is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm, the condition 1 ≤ maximum diameter / minimum diameter ≤ 5 is satisfied, the predetermined shaft length is in the range of 5 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and the total length is in the range of more than 30 mm and 200 mm or less.

3. A wakefulness device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is made of an elastic material having holes that communicate in the axial direction and / or having different hardness in the radial direction.

4. The chewing part is, It is roughly cylindrical, roughly spherical, roughly elliptical, roughly elliptical, roughly prismatic, or roughly conical in shape. or, It has a rotationally symmetrical shape around the axis, with a recess that is smaller in diameter than the rest of the axis midway along it. or, It has a predetermined thickness and width, and is arranged in a roughly V-shape or U-shape with 180° rotational symmetry with respect to the axis. or The wake-up device according to claim 1, characterized in that two identical flat plates, which are roughly triangular, quadrilateral, other roughly polygonal, roughly circular, or roughly elliptical in shape, are arranged parallel to each other, with a base portion sandwiched between them.

5. The wake-up device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surface of the biting part has irregularities formed on it.

6. The wakefulness device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second biting portion is provided at the other end of the base portion, which has a diameter or shape different from the aforementioned enlarged diameter length.

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