Hand cooler

Abstract

To provide a hand cooling tool suitable for a palm cooling method of heat illness and a use method thereof.SOLUTION: A metallic hand cooling tool having a circular column shape or a cylindrical shape is made of metal having a coefficient of thermal conductivity k at atmospheric temperature of 15 W / (m k) or more and has calorific capacity C at atmospheric temperature of 70 J / K or more. Preferably, a diameter is in a range of 25 to 35 mm and an axis length is in a range of 60 to 100 mm. A use method of the hand cooling tool is to make an average temperature of the hand cooling tool 10 to 20°C by exposing the tool to cool air in a temperature range of 10 to 15°C or a temperature atmosphere of 10°C or less for a predetermined time or more. In consideration of a size and a body weight of a user, a size and a material of the hand cooling tool is selected preferably.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for cooling the human body, and particularly to a tool for cooling the palm of a person's hand (palm cooling method) and a method of using the same so that a person working outdoors or in a hot place does not mainly suffer from heat stroke.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the impact of global warming has been a concern, and there is also concern about the rapid increase in heat stroke patients in summer. The same is true in high-temperature workplaces. Heat stroke is a symptom of a heat disorder in the human body caused by the imbalance of water and salt in the body due to heat, resulting in a decline in the body temperature regulation function. The human body has a function to maintain its body temperature at a constant temperature. When a person's body temperature rises due to the heat of the outside air, the autonomic nervous system causes sweating to lower the body temperature. However, when staying in a sweltering heat or a hot environment for a long time, the function of the autonomic nervous system declines and it becomes difficult to sweat, and heat may accumulate in the body. If such a situation continues, it will cause various symptoms such as heat stroke.

[0003] When dealing with heat stroke or when a person has suffered from heat stroke, conventionally, the underarm, neck, and base of the foot of a person have been cooled to lower the body temperature. Since thick blood vessels pass near these locations, it is known that the body temperature can be effectively lowered. As a cooling method that can be done more easily than these methods, there is a palm cooling method.

[0004] In the extremities of the body, there are blood vessels called "AVAs" that connect arteries and veins like bypasses. AVAs are also called "arteriovenous anastomoses" and are abundant in hairless areas such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and cheeks. Normally, AVAs are closed, but they are known to open when body temperature rises, releasing heat and working to lower body temperature. The palm cooling method aims to lower the temperature of the blood by effectively cooling these AVAs, and then lower the core body temperature by having that blood circulate throughout the body. It is said that the ideal cooling temperature is in the range of 10-20°C for a few minutes, and overcooling is counterproductive as it causes blood vessels to constrict and blood circulation stops, meaning the blood is not cooled.

[0005] Various technologies have been proposed for palm cooling devices that are gripped. For example, a gripping stick made of a cooling agent, as described in Patent Document 1, has been proposed. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-49227 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, the above-mentioned conventional cooling devices using ice packs have the following problems. (1) Some instant cooling packs are not reusable. (2) It takes time to refreeze before reuse. (3) It cannot be reused without a freezer or similar. (4) The cooling temperature is too low, causing pain when gripped and making it impossible to hold for extended periods. (5) The cooling temperature is too low, causing vasoconstriction and hindering the decrease in body temperature. (6) Because it does not have high thermal conductivity, it cannot efficiently remove heat. In particular, the technology described in Patent Document 1 had the above-mentioned problems 2, 3, 4, and 6.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a hand cooling device suitable for cooling the palms of the hands in cases of heatstroke, and a method for using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The inventors conducted extensive research to address the aforementioned challenges and discovered the following: Resin materials have low thermal conductivity, requiring them to be cooled to sub-zero temperatures to achieve the desired cooling effect. Furthermore, once the temperature rises, it takes a long time to cool down to an appropriate temperature. On the other hand, they found that using a metal with high thermal conductivity, along with an easy-to-grip shape and a predetermined heat capacity, would create a suitable tool for preventing heatstroke.

[0010] The present invention, which advantageously solves the above problems, is a cylindrical or cylindrical metal hand cooler, characterized in that it is made of a metal with a thermal conductivity k of 15 W / (m·K) or more at room temperature, and has a heat capacity C of 70 J / K or more at room temperature.

[0011] Furthermore, the hand cooling device according to the present invention is (a) The diameter is in the range of 25 to 35 mm and the shaft length is in the range of 60 to 100 mm. (b) The surface of the metal has been treated with a rust-preventive coating. These would be more preferable solutions.

[0012] A method for using a hand cooling device according to the present invention, which advantageously solves the above problems, is a method for using the hand cooling device characterized in that the average temperature of the hand cooling device is set to a range of 10 to 20°C by exposing it to cold air in a temperature range of 10 to 15°C or an atmosphere with a temperature of 10°C or lower for a predetermined time or longer.

[0013] Furthermore, a more preferable solution for using the hand cooling device according to the present invention is to select the dimensions and materials of the hand cooling device taking into consideration the user's hand size and weight. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, a hand cooling device and its method of use are provided, and since a metal with high thermal conductivity is prepared with a predetermined heat capacity, cooling it to a predetermined temperature and holding it in the palm of the hand effectively lowers body temperature. By cooling it with a predetermined amount of cold air, it can be easily made into a cooling device and is also easy to regenerate. If it is prepared in an easy-to-grip shape and selected considering the size of the user's palm and weight, it can be handled more efficiently. The hand cooling device of the present invention is industrially useful as it contributes to preventing heatstroke. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a schematic front view showing the configuration of a hand cooling device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] The graph shows the relationship between the appropriate dimensions of the hand cooling device according to the above embodiment and age, where (a) represents the relationship between the appropriate diameter and age, and (b) represents the relationship between the shaft length and age. [Figure 3] This graph shows the temperature change when the hand cooling device according to the above embodiment is held in the palm of the hand. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are illustrative examples of tools and methods for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and do not limit the configuration to those described below. That is, the technical concept of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the technical scope described in the claims.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of a manual cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. At the same time, an example of dimensions is shown in FIG. 1 in mm units. The manual cooling device 1 according to the present embodiment is made of a columnar or cylindrical metal. It has a predetermined diameter 2 and an axial length 3. It is preferable that chamfers 5 are provided at the boundaries between the upper and lower circular plate surfaces and the outer peripheral surface. The safety of handling is improved. Also, it is preferable to have a perforation 4 upward. It becomes easy to carry and hang and fix through a string or the like. Further, the surface of the columnar or cylindrical metal described above may be smooth or may form irregularities.

[0018] The manual cooling device according to the present embodiment is made of a metal having a thermal conductivity k of 15 W / (m·K) or more at room temperature and a heat capacity C of 70 J / K or more at room temperature.

[0019] The manual cooling device according to the present embodiment has sufficient thermal conductivity, so that it can be held in the palm of the hand and efficiently take away heat (Problem 6), and there is no need to cool excessively. Further, the manual cooling device according to the present embodiment has sufficient heat capacity, so that by cooling to about 10°C and holding it in the palm of the hand, the time of maintaining the temperature in the range of 10 to 20°C can be appropriately maintained. Therefore, it can be held for a long time without feeling pain when grasped (Problem 4). In addition, it appropriately contributes to the reduction of body temperature without causing vasoconstriction (Problem 5). Furthermore, since the manual cooling device after being once warmed has sufficient thermal conductivity, it can be easily cooled to about 10°C by exposing it to cold air or the like and regenerated into a manual cooling device for preventing heat stroke (Problems 1 to 3).

[0020] The following are examples of metals used in the hand cooling device according to this embodiment. The thermal conductivity k shown below is assumed to be at room temperature. The thermal conductivity k of iron is 80 W / (m·K). The thermal conductivity k of SS400 is 52 W / (m·K). The thermal conductivity k of SUS304 is 16 W / (m·K). The thermal conductivity k of copper is 398 W / (m·K). The thermal conductivity k of brass is 106 W / (m·K). The thermal conductivity k of aluminum is 236 W / (m·K). On the other hand, the thermal conductivity k of general resins is 0.13 to 0.44 W / (m·K). Therefore, the thermal conductivity k of the metal used in the hand cooling device should be 15 W / (m·K) or higher. There is no particular upper limit, but to make the thermal conductivity k exceed 400 W / (m·K), it would be necessary to use expensive silver, which is not practical. Therefore, it is preferable to use a metal with a thermal conductivity k of 400 W / (m·K) or less. More preferably, it is a metal with a thermal conductivity k in the range of 50 to 250 W / (m·K). In particular, it is preferable to use iron or steel.

[0021] As described above, when the hand cooling device according to this embodiment is used to prevent heatstroke, it needs to be held in the palm of the hand and maintained at a temperature in the range of 10 to 20°C for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, the hand cooling device according to this embodiment has a heat capacity C of 70 J / K or more. On the other hand, there is no particular upper limit specified for the heat capacity C, but increasing the heat capacity C increases the bulk and mass, which may make it difficult to handle. Therefore, it is preferable to set the upper limit of the heat capacity C to about 500 J / K. It is more preferable that the heat capacity C is in the range of 100 to 400 J / K.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a graph illustrating the relationship between the appropriate dimensions of a hand cooler and age. In Figure 2(a), the diameter relative to the circumference of a cylinder that can be gripped without excess is calculated from the length of the middle finger. 3 mm is added to the calculated value to determine the appropriate diameter, which is then plotted for each age and gender and connected by line segments. It can be seen that the appropriate diameter for a hand cooler is in the range of 25 to 35 mm. In Figure 2(b), the shaft length is calculated from the width of the hand. 5 mm is added to the calculated value to determine the appropriate shaft length, which is then plotted for each age and gender and connected by line segments. It can be seen that the appropriate shaft length for a hand cooler is in the range of 60 to 100 mm. If the diameter or shaft length is excessively large, the area not in contact with the palm increases, making it inefficient and potentially bulky and difficult to grip. On the other hand, if the diameter or shaft length is excessively small, the heat capacity may be insufficient.

[0023] Since hand dimensions vary depending on age, gender, and individual differences, it is preferable to select a design that is appropriate in terms of size, ease of grip, and ease of handling. Furthermore, depending on the purpose of cooling, it may be made as a solid cylinder or a cylindrical shape, with a lightweight, high-heat-capacity material packed inside.

[0024] If the metal used is susceptible to corrosion, such as iron or steel, it is preferable to apply a rust-preventive treatment to the metal surface. For the rust-preventive treatment, a thickness that does not affect heat transfer is preferable. Corrosion-resistant plating or rust-preventive coating can be applied.

[0025] Another embodiment of the present invention involves using the hand cooler by exposing it to cold air at a temperature range of 10 to 15°C for a predetermined time or longer, thereby bringing the average temperature of the hand cooler to a range of 10 to 20°C. Alternatively, it may be exposed to a temperature atmosphere of 10°C or lower for a predetermined time or longer.

[0026] For example, a hand cooler can be cooled to around 10°C by exposing it to the cool air from an air conditioner in an indoor environment (10-11°C) for 5 minutes. This allows for easy regeneration after use as a hand cooler for heatstroke prevention. Alternatively, it can be stored in a temperature-controlled cabinet at a temperature of 10°C or lower. [Examples]

[0027] A hand cooler with the dimensions shown in Figure 1 was made from steel (SS400). Its heat capacity was approximately 400 J / K. After cooling to about 11°C, an adult male with a body temperature of 36.2°C held the hand cooler, and Figure 3 shows the temperature change on the surface of the hand cooler. The solid line shows the result of the first use, and the dotted line shows the result of the second use after cooling the hand cooler with 10.5°C cold air for 5 minutes after the first use. From the results in Figure 3, it can be seen that the temperature was maintained in the 10-20°C range, which is considered suitable for preventing heatstroke, for more than 4 minutes, indicating its effectiveness. It can also be seen that it is easily regenerative. [Industrial applicability]

[0028] The hand cooling device and its method of use according to the present invention can contribute to preventing heatstroke by holding the hand cooling device in the palm of the hand, and is industrially useful because it can be easily recycled. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 1 Cooling device for hands 2 diameter 3 axis length 4 holes 5. Chamfer

Claims

1. A cylindrical or cylindrical metal hand cooler having a perforated hole, Made of iron or steel with a thermal conductivity k of 15 W / (m·K) or higher at room temperature. The heat capacity C at room temperature is 70 J / K or more. Cooling device for hands.

2. A hand cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter is in the range of 25 to 35 mm and the shaft length is in the range of 60 to 100 mm.

3. The hand cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the metal is treated with a rust-preventive coating.

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