Blower unit and air-conditioned clothing

Abstract

In order to provide an air-conditioning-clothes blower fan unit that provides excellent comfort when worn and that is capable of efficiently suppressing a feeling of heat, the present invention provides a blower unit (1) for air-conditioning clothes, the blower unit being disposed between the clothes and the body to generate an air flow between the clothes and the body. The blower unit is characterized by: having a case (2) and a fan (51) loaded in the case; having, in the case, at least one air intake port (31) for taking in air and at least one blower port (21) for sending the taken-in air into the clothes; having the at least one air intake port at a position that serves as a case bottom surface when the blower unit is disposed between the clothes and the body; having, in the case, a ventilation flow path (33) that has a substantially rectangular cross-section and that extends from the air intake port, which is disposed at the position serving as the case bottom surface, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the fan; and having, inside the ventilation flow path, a partition (32) that divides the substantially rectangular cross-section into two or more in the same direction as the flow of air.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a ventilation unit that can suppress the feeling of heat, thereby maintaining a comfortable environment inside the clothing, and can provide air-conditioned clothing that is superior in terms of wearing comfort and design in various wearing situations such as offices and homes. [Background technology]

[0002] As a measure against global warming, raising the air conditioner temperature in summer and lowering it in winter are effective ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, changing the air conditioner temperature reduces comfort in indoor spaces such as offices and homes, and in particular, the stickiness caused by sweating in summer can be a problem. Therefore, clothing that uses fans to circulate air within the garment to maintain comfort has been proposed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes clothing that allows for temperature control inside the garment by blowing outside air into the garment using a fan-equipped ventilation unit. According to this technology, outside air can be blown into the garment in a user-friendly and rational manner, even when work tools are being worn.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 proposes a fan unit that has an intake passage area that secures a passage area for air to enter and allows air to be drawn in from below the fan unit. According to this technology, it is possible to prevent the intake port from being covered by clothing, which would prevent air from being drawn in.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 proposes a ventilation fan for clothing that promotes sweat evaporation by directing an intake airflow near the skin. According to this technology, the user can arbitrarily ventilate the parts of their body that feel hot, making it possible to create a comfortable climate inside the clothing. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-36535 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-133493 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-59493 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to blow air to specific parts of the wearer's body as desired, making it possible to cool the wearer's body rationally. Furthermore, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to prevent the air intake from being covered by clothing, which prevents air from being drawn in. However, the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 require a high rotation speed of the blower fan in order to efficiently evaporate sweat emitted from the body during work, resulting in increased noise from the fan that hinders activity. In addition, the blower unit for generating airflow cannot be made thin, causing a feeling of foreignness, and thus it has the problem of being unsuitable for everyday wear in office or home settings where one sits in a chair with a backrest.

[0008] Furthermore, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3, by directing the intake airflow close to the skin to promote sweat evaporation and utilizing the exhaust airflow for ventilation, it is possible to create a comfortable climate inside clothing. However, the proposed ventilation fan for clothing has numerous vents on the front wall, back wall, bottom wall, and a pair of side walls, and draws air into the fan through the gaps between the fan and battery installed inside the box. As a result, the airflow is dispersed into many areas, and the amount of air drawn in from each individual vent becomes small. Consequently, there is a problem in that the target area cannot be efficiently ventilated.

[0009] The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art and to provide a fan unit for air-conditioned clothing that offers excellent comfort when worn and can efficiently suppress the feeling of heat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The inventors' investigations revealed that by using a fan to blow air locally onto areas with high skin moisture content and relatively simple movement, such as the back and underarms where sweating is heavy, it is possible to efficiently cool the body even with a relatively small amount of airflow. Furthermore, they found that by placing the intake portion of the fan in the area from the back to the waist, where heat tends to accumulate, and generating airflow, an even greater cooling effect can be obtained.

[0011] Therefore, after diligent research, the inventors have found that by positioning the fan's intake section at a location corresponding to the back and waist area, and by providing a partition wall that divides the ventilation passage extending from the intake section, it is possible to efficiently draw in and blow air while making the blowing unit thinner. This results in a blowing unit and air-conditioned clothing having said unit that are superior in terms of wearing comfort and design in various settings such as offices and homes, and thus the present invention has been completed.

[0012] In other words, it is achieved by the following means: (1) A ventilation unit for air-conditioned clothing, which is placed between the clothing and the body and generates an airflow between the clothing and the body, It has a case and a fan installed inside the case, The case has at least one intake port for taking in air and at least one exhaust port for sending the taken-in air into the clothing, and at least one of the intake ports is located at the bottom of the case when the blower unit is positioned between the clothing and the body, and the case has a substantially rectangular cross-section ventilation passage that extends from the intake port located at the bottom of the case in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fan, and the ventilation passage has partition walls inside that divide the substantially rectangular cross-section into two or more parts in the same direction as the airflow. (2) The ventilation flow path is characterized in that the thickness in the rotational axis direction of the fan is 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and the air blowing unit according to (1) above. (3) An air-conditioning garment comprising the air blowing unit according to (1) or (2) above. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0013] According to the air blowing unit of the present invention, when the air blowing unit is disposed between the garment and the body, an intake port for taking in air is provided at a position that becomes the bottom surface of the case. Therefore, when the air blowing unit is provided on an upper garment, an air flow can be generated from the back, where hot air tends to accumulate, to the waist portion, and even with a relatively small air volume, it is possible to efficiently cool the body. Further, a ventilation flow path having a substantially rectangular cross-section extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis direction of the fan is provided from the intake port, and a partition wall for dividing the substantially rectangular cross-section into two or more in the same direction as the air flow is provided inside the ventilation flow path, thereby making it easy to approximate the aspect ratio of the cross-section of each of the divided ventilation flow paths to 1, rectifying the air flow in the ventilation flow path through which the air blowing unit intakes air, reducing the pressure loss in the ventilation flow path, and realizing a smooth air flow. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently flow air even through a thin ventilation flow path, and as a result, it is possible to complete a thin-type air blowing unit that does not impair the wearing feeling. Further, by providing the partition wall, the rigidity of the case wall surface can be increased, and it is possible to obtain quietness during fan rotation. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] Schematic perspective view of an air blowing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 2] Front view of an air blowing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view taken along the two-dot chain line A-A in FIG. 2 [Figure 4] Side view of an air blowing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention <​​​​Cross-sectional view showing the position of the partition wall of the air blowing unit according to another embodiment of the present invention [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view when no partition wall is provided in the air blowing unit [Figure 8] Schematic perspective view of the air blowing unit in Comparative Example 2 [Figure 9] Schematic perspective view of the air blowing unit in Comparative Example 2

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, desirable embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0016] [Air Blowing Unit] The air blowing unit of the present invention is fixed, for example, around the scapula in the back part inside the clothes by a fixture or the like provided on an air-conditioned garment described later so as not to impair the wearing feeling of the wearer, and is used for generating an air flow between the inside of the clothes and the body. Specifically, for example, when used for an upper garment, the air blowing unit of the present invention has an air intake for taking in the hot air from the back to the waist part and an air outlet for sending the taken-in air into the clothes. Therefore, the air stagnating near the waist is exhausted from the air outlet, and finally discharged outside the clothes from the collar edge and / or around the collar of the clothes. Therefore, it becomes possible to obtain comfort. This will be described in detail below. It is discharged outside the clothes from the side. Therefore, it becomes possible to obtain comfort. This will be described in detail below.

[0017] In order to generate an air flow between the inside of the clothes and the body, the air blowing unit of the present invention needs to include a case and at least one fan housed in the case. Further, in order to be able to operate without supplying power from the outside of the case, it is preferable that a battery for supplying power to the fan is housed together with the above fan. Furthermore, it is more preferable that a control circuit capable of electrically changing the rotation speed of the fan and a temperature and humidity sensor for acquiring temperature and humidity data inside the clothes are also housed in the case.

[0018] The case used in the blower unit of the present invention has an air intake port on its outer wall for taking in air and an air outlet for sending the taken-in air into the clothing. Basically, the air intake port makes it possible to efficiently take in air, and the air outlet makes it possible to send this air to any location outside the blower unit. For this reason, such a case is one of the important components that has the function of defining the direction and position of the airflow generated inside the clothing.

[0019] In the blower unit of the present invention, the number of intake ports and exhaust ports is not limited, and at least one of each is sufficient. However, at least one intake port must open to the bottom of the case when the blower unit is installed between the clothing and the body. For example, if the blower unit is placed on the back of the upper garment, it must be possible to draw in air from the waist area at the back.

[0020] Furthermore, within the case, there is a roughly rectangular air passage extending from the air intake opening on the bottom surface toward the fan, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the fan's rotation axis. This makes it possible to efficiently draw in air that has accumulated from the back to the waist. Note that the term "roughly rectangular cross-section" here includes not only a perfect rectangle, but also shapes such as a rectangle with chamfered or rounded corners. For example, if the edges of the outer wall of the case are chamfered or rounded, it is preferable that the inner wall of the case also deforms according to the shape of the outer wall of the case so that the thickness of the case remains constant, and such configurations are also included. In this way, no unnecessary thickness is created in the case, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the air passage can be made larger and more effectively utilized. In addition, chamfering or rounding may be applied to the inner wall of the air passage to facilitate edge processing during manufacturing, and such configurations are also included.

[0021] Furthermore, in the blower unit of the present invention, it is important to provide partitions that divide the airflow channel into two or more sections in the same direction as the airflow, so that the aspect ratio of the cross-sectional section of the airflow channel approaches 1. This makes it possible to rectify the airflow within the airflow channel, reduce pressure loss within the airflow channel, and achieve a smooth airflow. As a result, it becomes possible to design the airflow channel and even the blower unit to be thin in order to create the desired airflow, and it can be used without compromising the comfort of wearing it. The aspect ratio (long side / short side) is preferably between 1 and 15.

[0022] The ventilation passage extending from the air intake in a direction perpendicular to the fan's rotation axis preferably has a thickness of 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less in the direction of the fan's rotation axis. This thickness allows for a thinner design of the blower unit, enabling it to be used without compromising the wearing comfort. More preferably, it is 10 mm or less, and even more preferably 5 mm or less.

[0023] The partition walls that divide the aforementioned ventilation passage into two or more sections in the same direction as the airflow are preferably basically linearly extending from the intake port toward the fan. However, it is also preferable that the partition walls bend or curve toward the fan around the fan. Furthermore, the partition walls do not necessarily have to extend all the way to the fan mounting position, but from the viewpoint of straightening the airflow, it is preferable that they extend for 50% or more of the length of the ventilation passage from the intake port toward the fan mounting position.

[0024] In the case used in the blower unit of the present invention, it is preferable that at least one air outlet opens on a surface different from the air intake, and more preferably that it opens on the upper surface when installed inside clothing. This makes it possible to blow air along the skin surface, collar, and the fabric around the collar.

[0025] The air vent can simply be an open shape, but it is preferable to provide fins to allow airflow to flow over a wide area along the skin, such as around the collar. In that case, it is effective to make the opening include the edges between the top surface of the case and the surface in contact with the top surface, and to provide fins or similar. By doing so, the airflow from the air vent unit can be directed directly onto the skin, making it possible to feel cooler.

[0026] The case used in the blower unit of the present invention preferably has a thickness of 5 to 40 mm. This thickness refers to the maximum distance between opposing surfaces that extend parallel to the skin surface when the blower unit is installed inside clothing. By making the case thickness 5 mm or more, the strength of the case can be increased and damage can be prevented more effectively, and it becomes possible to mount a fan with a large airflow. The thickness is more preferably 6 mm or more, and even more preferably 7 mm or more. On the other hand, by making the case thickness 40 mm or less, it is possible to prevent it from getting in the way when sitting, and comfort when wearing it can be further increased. The thickness is more preferably 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 20 mm or less.

[0027] The case used in the blower unit of the present invention preferably has an outer shape that is substantially rectangular. "Substantially rectangular" includes not only a perfect rectangular prism, but also shapes where the corners of the rectangular prism are chamfered or rounded, or shapes with partially gentle curves or irregularities. A substantially rectangular shape makes it easier to attach the case to the garment's storage compartment compared to hemispherical or spherical cases, and prevents misalignment between the blower unit's air intake and outlet and the garment's opening. Furthermore, when the blower unit is positioned on the back of the garment, the outer wall of the case can be positioned substantially parallel to the skin surface, allowing for efficient intake of air that tends to stagnate around the waist, and further enhancing wearing comfort. It is preferable to round the corners of the case's outer shape to prevent the blower unit from catching on clothing or the body.

[0028] The case used in the blower unit of the present invention preferably has a longest side length of 200 mm or less. By making the longest side length preferably 200 mm or less, more preferably 180 mm or less, and even more preferably 150 mm or less, the blower unit itself becomes compact, resulting in superior comfort when worn. There is no particular lower limit to the length of the longest side, but it is about 50 mm.

[0029] The case used in the blower unit of the present invention serves to protect the components housed inside the case from external impacts. The case material may include, but is not limited to, metal materials such as aluminum alloys and stainless steel, resin materials such as polyolefins, polycarbonates, and ABS resin, and FRP materials such as glass fiber reinforced resin and carbon fiber reinforced resin. Among these, the use of lightweight and impact-resistant ABS resin is preferred.

[0030] The fan used in the blowing unit of the present invention is preferably a centrifugal fan or a transverse flow fan that has a device for obtaining rotational energy, such as a motor, and blows air in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fan axis. By using a centrifugal fan or a transverse flow fan, it becomes easy to blow air with directionality substantially parallel to the body, enabling localized cooling. Furthermore, by blowing air substantially parallel to the body, the clothing is less likely to inflate compared to when air is blown substantially perpendicular to the body, making it possible to provide air-conditioned clothing with superior design.

[0031] The fan used in the blower unit of the present invention preferably has a diameter of 10 to 60 mm. By setting the diameter to preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more, and even more preferably 20 mm or more, a sufficient airflow can be obtained to send outside air into the clothing. Furthermore, by setting the diameter to preferably 60 mm or less, more preferably 55 mm or less, and even more preferably 50 mm or less, the noise during fan operation is reduced, and the blower unit body can be made smaller, resulting in a blower unit that is less uncomfortable when worn.

[0032] The fan used in the blower unit of the present invention preferably has a thickness of 3 to 18 mm in the direction of the fan axis. By making the thickness in the direction of the fan axis preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 4 mm or more, and even more preferably 5 mm or more, a sufficient amount of airflow can be obtained to send outside air into the clothing. Furthermore, by making the thickness in the direction of the fan axis preferably 18 mm or less, more preferably 16 mm or less, and even more preferably 14 mm or less, the blower unit body can be made thinner, resulting in a blower unit that causes less discomfort when worn.

[0033] The fan used in the blower unit of the present invention may be one or multiple. When multiple fans are used, for example, a dual counter-rotating fan may be used, which consists of fans with different rotation directions stacked on top of each other, or a combination of a centrifugal fan and an axial fan may be used.

[0034] The motor used in the fan of the present invention is preferably a DC motor. By using a DC motor, stable operation is possible even at low voltages.

[0035] The blower unit of the present invention preferably has a battery for supplying power to the fan. By integrating the battery into the blower unit, the power cable connecting the blower unit and the battery is not exposed, resulting in a blower unit that offers superior comfort when worn.

[0036] The battery used in the blower unit of the present invention is preferably a rechargeable battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Examples of such batteries include, but are not limited to, lead-acid batteries, alkaline batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries are preferred because they can be miniaturized and have a large capacity.

[0037] The blower unit of the present invention preferably has a charging terminal for charging a battery, and the power cable connection portion of the charging terminal is located on the exterior of the case. By equipping the blower unit with a charging terminal, charging becomes possible without removing the battery from the blower unit, thus greatly improving the practicality of the blower unit.

[0038] The blower unit of the present invention preferably has a power switch for operating and stopping the blower unit, and the operating part of the power switch is preferably located on the exterior of the case. By equipping the blower unit with a power switch, the blower unit can be operated or stopped at any time. In addition, the power may be turned on and off during normal use by a switch other than the power switch, for example, by a wireless signal from an external device.

[0039] The blower unit of the present invention preferably includes a variable device for changing the fan speed in stages. While this can be achieved by changing the voltage supplied to the fan using a DC / DC converter with a changeover switch or by voltage division using resistors, it is preferable to incorporate a processor or IC to allow for continuous changes in fan strength or easy modification via wireless signals, enabling speed control using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). It is preferable to do so.

[0040] In the present invention, it is preferable that the components of the blower unit, such as the fan, motor, battery, charging terminals, and power switch, are housed in a single case. Housed in a single case not only makes it easy to attach and detach the unit from clothing, but also prevents wiring cables from being exposed outside the case during use, thus providing air-conditioned clothing with superior comfort when worn.

[0041] [Air-conditioned clothing] The air-conditioned garment of the present invention preferably has one or more attachments for fixing the above-mentioned air blowing unit. The attachments may be safety pins, sewn on, hooks, buttons, or hook-and-loop fasteners, and the garment may be made air-conditioned by being attached to the garment when used by the wearer.

[0042] The air-conditioned garment of the present invention preferably has a storage compartment for a blower unit, and preferably at least a portion of the material constituting the storage compartment is made of an elastic material. Examples of elastic materials include, but are not limited to, woven or knitted fabrics made of spandex or crimped fibers, and rubber materials. Among these, woven fabrics made of spandex or crimped fibers are preferred because they have excellent durability and retention.

[0043] The fiber materials used in the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention include, but are not limited to, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, polyacrylic fibers, rayon fibers, acetate fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyurethane fibers, cotton, linen, silk, and wool. Among these, polyester fibers and polyamide fibers are preferred due to their excellent mechanical properties and durability.

[0044] The fibers used in the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention preferably have a difference in moisture absorption rate (△MR) of 2.0 to 10.0%. △MR is the difference between the moisture absorption rate at a temperature of 30°C and a humidity of 90%RH, which is assumed to be the temperature and humidity inside the clothing after light exercise, and the moisture absorption rate at an outside temperature of 20°C and a humidity of 65%RH. In other words, △MR is an indicator of moisture absorption, and the higher the value of △MR, the less stuffiness and stickiness there is when sweating, and the more comfortable the clothing is to wear. By setting the △MR of the fibers to preferably 2.0% or more, more preferably 3.0% or more, and even more preferably 4.0% or more, the stuffiness and stickiness inside the clothing when sweating are reduced, and the comfort when wearing the clothing is improved. Furthermore, by setting the △MR of the fibers to preferably 10.0% or less, more preferably 9.0% or less, and even more preferably 8.0% or less, the fabric and clothing have good processability and handling during manufacturing, and the air-conditioned clothing has excellent durability when worn.

[0045] The fibers used in the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention are not particularly limited in form and may be monofilaments, multifilaments, staples, spun yarns, etc., and may be subjected to processing such as false twisting or twisting.

[0046] The total fineness of the fibers used in the air-conditioned garment of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected according to the application and required characteristics, but it is preferably 10 to 500 dtex. By setting the total fineness to preferably 10 dtex or more, more preferably 30 dtex or more, and even more preferably 50 dtex or more, the garment will have less yarn breakage, good process passability, less fuzzing during use, and excellent durability. Furthermore, by setting the total fineness to preferably 500 dtex or less, more preferably 400 dtex or less, and even more preferably 300 dtex or less, the flexibility of the garment will be increased, resulting in an air-conditioned garment with excellent comfort when worn.

[0047] The fibers used in the air-conditioned garment of the present invention are not particularly limited in terms of single fiber fineness and can be appropriately selected according to the application and required characteristics, but are preferably 0.5 to 4.0 dtex. In the present invention, single fiber fineness refers to the value obtained by dividing the total fineness by the number of single fibers. By setting the single fiber fineness to preferably 0.5 dtex or more, more preferably 0.6 dtex or more, and even more preferably 0.8 dtex or more, the garment will have less yarn breakage, good process passability, less fuzzing during use, and excellent durability. Furthermore, by setting the single fiber fineness to preferably 4.0 dtex or less, more preferably 2.0 dtex or less, and even more preferably 1.5 dtex or less, the flexibility of the garment will be increased, resulting in an air-conditioned garment with excellent comfort when worn.

[0048] The fibers used in the air-conditioned garment of the present invention are not particularly limited in terms of their breaking strength and can be appropriately selected according to the application and required characteristics, but from the viewpoint of mechanical properties, a breaking strength of 2.0 to 5.0 cN / dtex is preferred. By setting the breaking strength to preferably 2.0 cN / dtex or higher, and more preferably 3.0 cN / dtex or higher, the air-conditioned garment will have less lint generation during use and excellent durability. Furthermore, by setting the breaking strength to preferably 5.0 cN / dtex or lower, the flexibility of the garment will be increased, resulting in an air-conditioned garment with excellent comfort when worn.

[0049] The fibers used in the air-conditioning fan garment of the present invention are not particularly limited in terms of their elongation at break and can be appropriately selected according to the application and required characteristics, but from the viewpoint of durability, it is preferably 10 to 60%. By setting the elongation at break to preferably 10% or more, more preferably 15% or more, and even more preferably 20% or more, the abrasion resistance of the garment is improved, resulting in less pilling during use and a highly durable air-conditioning garment. Furthermore, by setting the elongation at break to preferably 60% or less, more preferably 55% or less, and even more preferably 50% or less, the dimensional stability of the garment is improved, resulting in a highly durable air-conditioning garment.

[0050] The fibers used in the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention are not particularly limited in terms of their cross-sectional shape and can be appropriately selected according to the application and required characteristics. They may have a perfectly circular cross-section or a non-circular cross-section. Specific examples of non-circular cross-sections include, but are not limited to, multi-lobed, polygonal, flattened, and elliptical shapes.

[0051] The fabric used in the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention has an air permeability of 50 to 500 cm. 3 / cm 2 It is preferable that the fabric has a breathability of 50 cm. 3 / cm 2 • s or more, more preferably 70cm 3 / cm 2 • s or more, more preferably 90cm 3 / cm 2By setting it to ·s or more, it has excellent sweating evaporation properties, so even as air-conditioned clothing, it can reduce the stuffy feeling, sticky feeling, and heat feeling during sweating. Also, the air permeability of the fabric is preferably 500 cm 3 / cm 2 ·s or less, more preferably 400 cm 3 / cm 2 ·s or less, even more preferably 350 cm 3 / cm 2 By setting it to ·s or less, the mechanical properties of the fabric become good, so not only the process passing property and handling property during the manufacture of the fabric and clothing are improved, but also the air-conditioned clothing has excellent durability during use. Also, the fabric does not become too thin and can be worn without discomfort.

[0052] The fabric used for the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention has no particular limitation regarding the raw fabric form and can be made into a woven fabric, knitted fabric, pile fabric, non-woven fabric, etc. according to known methods. Also, such a fabric may have any weaving or knitting structure, and plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, double weave or their modified weaves, warp knitting, weft knitting, circular knitting, lace knitting or their modified knits, etc. can be preferably adopted.

[0053] The fabric used for the air-conditioned clothing of the present invention may be dyed if necessary. The dyeing method has no particular limitation, and a cheese dyeing machine, a liquid flow dyeing machine, a drum dyeing machine, a beam dyeing machine, a jig, a high-pressure jig, etc. can be preferably adopted according to known methods. Also, in the present invention, there is no particular limitation regarding the dye concentration and dyeing temperature, and known methods can be preferably adopted.

[0054] The form of the air-conditioned garment of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be either a top or bottom garment. However, a top garment is preferable in order to generate airflow from the back to the waist, where heat tends to accumulate, and to efficiently cool the body with a relatively small amount of airflow. In the present invention, the top garment may be long-sleeved, short-sleeved, or sleeveless, and the bottom garment may be long-hemmed or short-hemmed. In the present invention, the top garment refers to clothing worn on the upper body, and the bottom garment refers to clothing worn on the lower body. Specific examples of top garments include, but are not limited to, underwear such as inner shirts, tank tops, and camisoles, general clothing such as T-shirts, polo shirts, cut-and-sew tops, pajamas, blouses, blousons, and work clothes, and sportswear such as sports inner shirts and sports shirts. Specific examples of bottom garments include, but are not limited to, underwear such as inner pants, general clothing such as slacks, pants, skirts, pajamas, and work clothes, and sportswear such as sports pants. Furthermore, in the case of both upper and lower garments, they may be worn for the purpose of attaching a ventilation unit, such as a holster. [Examples]

[0055] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples.

[0056] <Example 1> A blower unit with the configuration shown in Figures 1 to 5 was manufactured. Specifically, first, a case (2) was made using a 3D printer. The case was designed as a roughly rectangular parallelepiped measuring 15 mm × 75 mm × 130 mm. An opening communicating with the inside of the case was made on one side of the 75 mm side that was in contact with the 15 mm × 75 mm side, and two vanes (22) inclined at approximately 45° were attached to this opening to form an air outlet (21). An air intake (31) measuring 3 mm × 60 mm was made on the 15 mm × 75 mm side opposite the side with the air outlet (21), and a rectangular air passage (33) with a thickness of 3 mm was made to communicate from the air intake (31) to the mounting position of the fan. Furthermore, within the ventilation channel (33), a 1 mm thick partition wall (32) is provided, dividing the ventilation channel (33) into five sections in the same direction as the flowing air, so that the aspect ratio of the cross-section of each divided channel is 3.73. At this time, the end face of the partition wall (32) opposite to the intake port is designed to bend and converge at the fan mounting position (50), as shown in Figure 5. Next, a small blower fan (51) is installed so that the fan outlet is connected to the air outlet (21) and the fan inlet is connected to the ventilation channel (33), and a control board (52) for controlling the fan has built-in Wi-Fi, and can be controlled by a smartphone or These operations involve a circuit board equipped with a microprocessor (manufactured by Espressif Systems) programmed to rotate the fan at a 100% duty cycle, and further, the fan and control board... A battery (53) for supplying power was installed inside the case. Additionally, a power switch (41) was installed with its control unit exposed from the case, and wiring was provided.

[0057] In the fan unit constructed in this manner, the fan was operated by a power switch and a signal from a smartphone, and the airflow velocity of the air flowing through the intake port (31) was measured using a flow meter (Kanomax Model 6501 Climomaster anemometer). The evaluation results obtained are shown in Table 1.

[0058] <Example 2> Except for the partition wall (32) having the shape shown in Figure 6, the air blower unit was manufactured and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. In this embodiment, each partition wall does not extend to the fan inlet (i.e., each partition wall extends from the air intake towards the fan mounting position (50), but does not bend and converge near the fan mounting position), and is designed so that the air flowing through each divided flow path merges once before being taken into the fan.

[0059] <Comparative Example 1> As shown in Figure 7, the air blowing unit was manufactured and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a partition wall (32) dividing the airflow path was not provided.

[0060] <Comparative Example 2> As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a blower unit was manufactured and evaluated in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, except that a blower port partition (34) was provided on the vane (22) inside the blower port (21) to straighten the air exhausted from the blower port. The blower port partition (34) divided the flow path in the same direction as the airflow and had a thickness of 1 mm.

[0061] [Table 1]

[0062] In Comparative Example 1, the airflow in the ventilation channel of the blower unit becomes turbulent, causing pressure loss. In contrast, the blower units obtained in Examples 1 and 2 can rectify the airflow in the ventilation channel, creating a smoother flow. As a result, it is possible to flow more air compared to Comparative Example 1, which has the same thickness as the ventilation channel. This allows the thickness of the blower unit to be reduced by providing partitions in the ventilation channel, making it possible to achieve comfort without compromising the wearing experience.

[0063] Furthermore, in Comparative Example 2, although the blower unit had partitions between the case wall inside the air outlet and the blades, and between the two blades, to straighten the air exhausted from the air outlet, the airflow velocity of the air flowing into the intake port was the same as in Comparative Example 1, and no effect was obtained by straightening the air exhausted from the blower unit. On the other hand, the blower units of Examples 1 and 2, which had partitions in the ventilation passage between the intake port and the fan, were able to flow more air than Comparative Example 2, even though the thickness of the ventilation passage was the same as in Comparative Example 2. This proves the effect of straightening the airflow by providing partitions in the ventilation passage on the intake port side of the fan. [Industrial applicability]

[0064] The blower unit of the present invention makes it possible to efficiently circulate air even in a thin airflow channel. As a result, it is possible to complete a thin blower unit that does not impair wearing comfort. In addition, by providing a partition wall, the rigidity of the case wall surface can be increased, making it possible to achieve quiet operation when the fan is rotating. This makes it suitable for use in wearing scenarios such as offices and homes. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0065] 1: Blower unit 2: Case 21: Air outlet 22: Feather panel 31: Air intake 32: Bulkhead 33: Ventilation channel 34:Air vent bulkhead 41: Power switch 50: Fan mounting position 51: Fan 52: Control board 53: Battery

Claims

1. A ventilation unit for air-conditioned clothing, which is placed between clothing and the body and generates an airflow between the clothing and the body, comprising a case and a fan installed in the case, wherein the case has at least one intake port for taking in air and at least one outlet for sending the taken-in air into the clothing, and at least one of the intake ports is located at the bottom surface of the case when the ventilation unit is placed between clothing and the body, and the case has a substantially rectangular cross-section ventilation passage extending from the intake port located at the bottom surface of the case in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the fan, the aspect ratio (long side / short side) of the cross-sectional area of ​​the ventilation passage is 1 to 15, and the ventilation passage has a partition wall that divides the substantially rectangular cross-section into two or more parts in the same direction as the airflow, and the partition wall extends for 50% or more of the length of the ventilation passage from the intake port to the fan mounting position.

2. The air blowing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the air passage has a thickness of 1 mm or more and 20 mm or less in the direction of the rotation axis of the fan.

3. An air-conditioned garment characterized by comprising the air blowing unit described in claim 1 or 2.

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