Heat dissipation device

Abstract

To provide a heat dissipation applying instrument capable of releasing heat to be applied to a wearer in a stable state even when being repeatedly used in a plurality of times.SOLUTION: An eye mask 1 has, in a body part 2, a storage member for storing a latent heat storage material in an internal space of a storage part, and applies latent heat released from the latent heat storage material to binocular peripheral edge parts HE on which the body part 2 is worn. The latent heat storage material expands along a virtual plane relative to the storage part, and is filled without leak in a state of being thick while including the virtual plane. The body part 2 is worn while directing the virtual plane to the binocular peripheral edge parts HE. In the body part 2, the pair of storage parts are separately arranged, and the internal space of the one storage part and the internal space of the other storage part are communicated in a connection part. A size of the connection part in a Y direction is smaller than that of the storage part. A trigger piece 50 capable of releasing a super cooling phenomenon relative to the melt of the latent heat storage material in a super cooling state is provided in a central part of the connection part, and the trigger piece 50 is arranged in a state of being regulated from moving by a regulation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat radiation applying tool that continuously applies heat released from a latent heat storage material to a site worn on a human body.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the number of people who overuse their eyes at work, represented by office workers who work while looking at personal computer screens and students who study at desks for long hours, has been increasing year by year in recent trends. Such people rest their tired eyes during break times to refresh themselves. An eye mask to be worn on the eye area during such refreshing is well known, and an example thereof is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a warming tool that applies warm heat to the eye area by heat radiation from a latent heat storage material housed in each housing portion, with respect to a pair of main body portions provided facing the left and right eyes respectively. In Patent Document 1, the seed crystal of the latent heat storage material is held in a crystallization initiation portion that is separated from the housing portion via a partition portion inside the main body portion. In this warming tool, when in use, the wearer presses the crystallization initiation portion or the housing portion in the main body portion to peel off the partition portion, thereby allowing the crystallization initiation portion and the housing portion to communicate with each other. Thereby, the seed crystal of the latent heat storage material comes into contact with the supercooled melt of the latent heat storage material in the housing portion within the main body portion, whereby the supercooling phenomenon occurring in the latent heat storage material can be eliminated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, when the heating device is in its pre-use state, the seed crystal of the latent heat storage material is held in the crystallization initiation section, separated from the containment section. However, when the user uses the heating device, they bring the molten latent heat storage material, which is in a supercooled state in the containment section, into contact with the seed crystal of the latent heat storage material within the main body. In doing so, they press the main body to detach the partition and connect the crystallization initiation section. At this time, once the partition is detached, it cannot be restored to its original state, and the state of the seed crystal of the latent heat storage material held in the crystallization initiation section changes from the state before the partition was detached. Therefore, the heating device in Patent Document 1 cannot release heat with stable behavior even after repeated use, and there is also a risk that the seed crystal of the latent heat storage material may flow out from the crystallization initiation section to the containment section due to the pressure applied by the main body.

[0006] Furthermore, when the wearer presses the main body of the heating device during use, if seed crystals of the latent heat storage material flow out, particularly from the crystallization initiation area, the amount of seed crystals of the latent heat storage material at the crystallization initiation area may decrease significantly from the appropriate amount held before the main body was pressed, and may no longer be sufficient. Under these circumstances, when the wearer uses the heating device again, there is a risk that the supercooling phenomenon of the molten latent heat storage material in the containment area will not be resolved because a sufficient amount of seed crystals of the latent heat storage material is not held at the crystallization initiation area. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, if the heating device is to be used repeatedly, it becomes difficult to apply heat to the wearer with stable behavior each time the heating device is used, and the wearer cannot use this heating device with peace of mind, resulting in poor usability of the heating device in Patent Document 1.

[0007] The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a heat dissipation device that can stably release the heat applied to the wearer, even when used repeatedly multiple times. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the heat dissipation device according to the present invention has the following configuration.

[0009] (1) A heat dissipation device having a main body comprising a latent heat storage material that stores or releases heat by utilizing the inflow and outflow of latent heat associated with a phase change, and a housing member having a housing portion formed in the internal space for housing the latent heat storage material, wherein the main body is attached to a specific part of the body to which the latent heat storage material is released, wherein the latent heat storage material is spread along a virtual plane extending in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing portion, and is filled without leakage in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, with the virtual plane included in a thickness, the main body is attached with the virtual plane facing the specific part of the body, and the main body is equipped with a reusable trigger piece that can release the supercooling phenomenon in the molten latent heat storage material which is in a supercooled state, and the trigger piece is disposed in the center of the internal space of the housing member with its movement to the housing portion restricted by a regulating portion. (2) The heat dissipation device described in (1) is characterized in that, in the main body, a pair of housings are arranged in such a manner that they are spaced apart from each other in the direction along the first direction, the internal space of one housing and the internal space of the other housing are in communication through a connecting portion formed along the first direction, the trigger piece is arranged in the central part of the connecting portion, and the size of the connecting portion is smaller than the size of the housing in the direction along the second direction. (3)(2) The heat dissipation device described above is characterized in that, with respect to the direction along the second direction, the size of the connection portion is formed in a ratio of greater than 0% and less than or equal to 50% of the total size of the housing portion. (4) A heat dissipation device described in any one of (1) to (3), characterized in that the latent heat released from the latent heat storage material is thermal heat within a temperature range of 25°C or more and 50°C or less, or cold heat within a temperature range of 5°C or more and less than 25°C. (5) A heat dissipation device described in any one of (1) to (4) is characterized in that the heat dissipation device is an eye mask in which the specific part of the body is the eyes and the main body covers both eyes and the area around them. (6) The heat dissipation device described in any one of (1) to (5) is characterized in that the housing member is made of a flexible resin sheet material. (7) A heat dissipation device as described in any one of (1) to (6), characterized in that it has a cover portion that can accommodate the main body portion and is formed to be detachably attached to a specific part of the body.

[0010] The operation and effects of the heat dissipation device according to the present invention having the above configuration will be explained.

[0011] (1) A heat dissipation device having a main body comprising a latent heat storage material that stores or releases heat by utilizing the inflow and outflow of latent heat associated with a phase change, and a housing member having a housing section formed therein for housing the latent heat storage material in its internal space, wherein the device applies latent heat released from the latent heat storage material to a specific part of the body to which the main body is attached, wherein the latent heat storage material is spread along a virtual plane extending in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing section, and is filled without leakage in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, with the virtual plane included in a thickness, and the main body is attached with the virtual plane facing a specific part of the body, and the main body is equipped with a reusable trigger piece that can release the supercooling phenomenon in the molten latent heat storage material in a supercooled state, and the trigger piece is disposed in the center of the internal space of the housing member with its movement to the housing section restricted by a regulating part.

[0012] Due to this feature, when the supercooling phenomenon of the molten latent heat storage material, which is in a supercooled state within the containment member, is released by the trigger piece, the crystallization of the latent heat storage material gradually spreads from the trigger piece in the center. As a result, the crystals of the latent heat storage material grow toward the entire internal space of the containment member, and as the crystallization area expands, the crystals of the latent heat storage material continue to grow uniformly toward the area around the trigger piece, while the solidification (solid phase state) of the latent heat storage material extends to the entire internal space of the containment member. Consequently, the latent heat storage material undergoes a phase change to a solid phase beneath the trigger piece, which is in a similar state, and begins to release latent heat. Therefore, temperature variations in the latent heat released from the latent heat storage material can be suppressed more effectively around the trigger piece, and variations in the time required for the latent heat storage material to begin releasing heat can also be suppressed more effectively. Thus, the heat dissipation device according to the present invention can provide the wearer with a comfortable fit and a pleasant user experience. Moreover, even if the latent heat storage material undergoes multiple phase changes between liquid and solid phases, the trigger piece can reliably release the supercooling phenomenon of the molten latent heat storage material, which is in a supercooled state, each time it is used.

[0013] Therefore, the heat dissipation device according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to release heat applied to the wearer in a stable manner, even when used repeatedly multiple times.

[0014] (2) The heat dissipation device described in (2) is characterized in that the main body has a pair of housings arranged in a manner that is spaced apart from each other in a direction along the first direction, the internal space of one housing and the internal space of the other housing are in communication through a connecting portion formed along the first direction, the trigger piece is arranged in the center of the connecting portion, and the size of the connecting portion is smaller than the size of the housing in a direction along the second direction. Furthermore, (3) The heat dissipation device described in (3) is characterized in that the size of the connecting portion is formed in a ratio of greater than 0% and 50% or less of the overall size of the housing in a direction along the second direction.

[0015] Due to these characteristics, the connection part, restricting part, and trigger piece act to obstruct the flow of the latent heat storage material within the internal space of the housing member. As a result, during the process from the release of the supercooling phenomenon until the molten latent heat storage material solidifies, the latent heat storage material becomes less likely to flow between the regions of one housing section and the regions of the other housing section. Consequently, the thickness of the latent heat storage material within the main body (see Figure 3) is more easily equalized between the regions of one housing section and the other housing section due to the difficulty of flow in the latent heat storage material. As a result, the latent heat storage material undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat while being dispersed in roughly the same proportion between the regions of one housing section and the other housing section. Therefore, the temperature difference between the latent heat released from the side of one housing section and the latent heat released from the side of the other housing section can be suppressed to a smaller extent, and the time required for the latent heat storage material to start releasing heat can also be suppressed to a smaller difference between the two time regions. Furthermore, the heat dissipation device according to the present invention can provide the wearer with a comfortable fit and a pleasant user experience.

[0016] (4) The heat dissipation device described above is characterized in that the heat released from the latent heat storage material is either thermal heat within a temperature range of 25°C or higher to 50°C or lower, or cold heat within a temperature range of 5°C or higher to less than 25°C.

[0017] Due to this feature, the heat dissipation device according to the present invention can provide effective refreshment to the wearer by stably applying heat or cold within this temperature range to a specific part of the body for, for example, 5 to 10 minutes, for people who strain their eyes and feel fatigued from work.

[0018] (5) The heat dissipation device described herein is characterized in that it is an eye mask that covers both eyes and the area around them with the main body, with the specific body part being the eyes.

[0019] With this feature, for example, office workers who work while looking at a personal computer screen, students who study at a desk for a long time, and other people who feel fatigue due to overusing their eyes in their work, can cover both their eyes and the surrounding areas with the main body unit, thereby allowing the tired eyes to rest and be refreshed.

[0020] The heat radiation applying device according to (6) is characterized in that the housing member is made of a flexible resin sheet material.

[0021] With this feature, when covering a specific part of the body with the main body unit, the housing member can be deformed into a shape that conforms to the surface of the specific part of the body, and the main body unit can be placed at a covering position, or can be brought into closer contact with the specific part of the body that has a surface property of a complex curved surface that is not a uniformly flat surface, which varies depending on individual differences of the wearer.

[0022] The heat radiation applying device according to (7) is characterized in that it is capable of housing the main body unit and includes a cover portion that is formed to be attachable to and detachable from a specific part of the body.

[0023] With this feature, the user of the heat radiation applying device can hold the cover portion housing the main body unit on their own body, so that the main body unit is arranged and covered on a specific part of the body, and the heat radiation applying device according to the present invention can be worn. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the eye mask according to the embodiment is worn on a person. [Figure 2] It is the figure which looked at the eye mask which concerns on embodiment from the front side. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is the figure which looked at the eye mask which concerns on embodiment from the back side. [Figure 5]This diagram shows the main body of the eye mask according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram showing the latent heat storage material coexisting with the trigger piece in a completely liquid phase state. [Figure 6] This table summarizes the conditions and results of the evaluation tests for the eye masks related to Examples 1-4 and their comparative examples. [Figure 7] This graph shows the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of use and the heat dissipation temperature for the main body of the eye mask according to Examples 1 and 2, separately for the left and right storage sections. [Figure 8] This graph shows the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of use and the heat dissipation temperature for the main body of the eye mask according to Examples 3 and 4, separately for the left and right storage compartments. [Figure 9] This diagram shows the main body of the eye mask according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the supercooling phenomenon is resolved in a molten latent heat storage material that is in a supercooled state. [Figure 10] Following Figure 5, this is an explanatory diagram showing the latent heat storage material coexisting with the trigger piece, in a completely solid state. [Figure 11] This graph shows the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of use and the heat dissipation temperature for the main body of the eye mask in the comparative example, separately for the left and right storage compartments. [Figure 12] This diagram shows the main body of an eye mask in a comparative example, illustrating the latent heat storage material coexisting with the trigger piece in a completely liquid phase state. [Figure 13] Following Figure 12, this figure shows the main body of the eye mask according to the comparative example, and is an explanatory diagram showing how the supercooling phenomenon is resolved in the molten latent heat storage material that is in a supercooled state in the main body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] The heat dissipation device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The heat dissipation device according to the present invention is used to apply latent heat released from the latent heat storage material to a specific part of the body to which it is attached, by attaching the main body, which is made of a latent heat storage material that stores or releases heat by utilizing the inflow and outflow of latent heat accompanying phase changes, to a specific part of the body to which it is attached. As an example of the heat dissipation device according to the present invention, in this embodiment, an eye mask used to rest and refresh tired eyes will be given as an example, for example, for office workers who work while looking at a computer screen or students who study at a desk for long periods of time, etc., who strain their eyes while working.

[0026] First, an overview of the eye mask 1 will be explained. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing how the eye mask according to the embodiment is worn by a person. For the sake of explanation, in Figure 1, the left-right direction is defined as the X direction (first direction), the up-down direction as the Y direction (second direction), and the direction perpendicular to the plane of Figure 1 (left-right direction in Figure 3) as the Z direction (third direction). The same defined directions will be applied to each figure from Figure 2 onward.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the eye mask 1 is broadly divided into a main body 2 and a cover 3, and is used by storing the main body 2 in the cover 3. The eye mask 1 is attached to the wearer HM by securing the attachment band 75 of the cover 3 around the head, with the main body 2 covering both eyes and the area around them and between the eyebrows as the peripheral area HE (specific body part).

[0028] Next, the cover portion 3 will be described. Figure 2 is a view of the eye mask according to the embodiment from the front, and Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow AA in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view of the eye mask according to the embodiment from the rear. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cover portion 3 is capable of housing the main body portion 2 and is formed to be detachably attached to the peripheral portions HE of both eyes. Specifically, the cover portion 3, excluding the attachment band 75, is made of a fabric 71 made of a fiber that exhibits excellent feel and flexibility, such as cloth or resin fiber, and has an internal space 3S formed by overlapping the outer fabric 72 and the inner fabric 73.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outer fabric 72 is divided into an upper outer fabric 72U and a lower outer fabric 72D, and has a removable opening 74 formed by overlapping the lower end of the upper outer fabric 72U and the upper end of the lower outer fabric 72D. In the removable opening 74, by separating the lower end of the upper outer fabric 72U and the upper end of the lower outer fabric 72D from each other, the main body 2 can be accommodated in and removed from the internal space 3S. By bringing the lower end of the upper outer fabric 72U and the upper end of the lower outer fabric 72D close together, the accommodated main body 2 can be held in the internal space 3S.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the outer fabric 72 is the part that directly contacts the peripheral areas HE of both eyes of the wearer HM of the eye mask 1, and the mounting band 75 is connected to the parts located at both ends of the outer fabric 72 in the left-right direction (X direction in Figure 4). The mounting band 75 is divided into a first mounting band 75A with a mooring hole 76A at its end and a second mounting band 75B with a mooring piece 76B at its end. The band length of the second mounting band 75B is adjustable by the circumference adjustment part 77. At the engagement part 76, the first mounting band 75A and the second mounting band 75B are connected by engaging the mooring hole 76A and the mooring piece 76B with each other, and the first mounting band 75A and the second mounting band 75B are released from each other by releasing the engagement between the mooring hole 76A and the mooring piece 76B.

[0031] Next, the main body 2 will be described. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the main body of the eye mask according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram showing the latent heat storage material coexisting with the trigger piece in a completely liquid phase state. As shown in Figure 5, the main body 2 consists of the latent heat storage material 10, the housing member 20, the trigger piece 50, etc. The housing member 20, together with the trigger piece 50, is a member for housing the filled latent heat storage material 10 in the internal space 20S of the main body 2.

[0032] The containment member 20 is made of a flexible resin sheet material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), and in this embodiment, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used, which exhibits a higher texture and has excellent weather resistance to high temperatures and ultraviolet rays, as well as processability by heat fusion. The sheet thickness of the containment member 20 is approximately less than 1 mm, and in this embodiment, it is about 0.3 to 0.5 mm.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5, the housing member 20 has a pair of housing sections 30 (one housing section 31 and the other housing section 32) and a connecting section 40 formed thereon. Specifically, as an example, a single rectangular housing member 20 is folded in half with one pair of sides facing each other in the Y direction overlapped, and then the periphery of these overlapping sides (the periphery of the sides located on the lower side in Figure 5) and the periphery of the other pair of sides facing each other in the X direction (the two sides located on the left and right sides in Figure 5) are fused together to form a fused section 21.

[0034] Furthermore, in the main body 2, one housing section 31 and the other housing section 32 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction along the X direction, and the internal space 31S of the one housing section 31 and the internal space 32S of the other housing section 32 are in communication via a connecting section 40 formed along the X direction. That is, in the shape of each of the pair of housing sections 30, the periphery of the sides facing each other and the periphery of the sides along the X direction that form the connecting section 40 are fused together to form a fused portion 21.

[0035] The trigger piece 50 is a member that is capable of releasing the supercooling phenomenon for the melt of the latent heat storage material 10 in a supercooled state and is reusable. Specifically, the trigger piece 50 is a thin plate-shaped metal piece formed in a substantially circular dish shape with a size of about a 5-yen coin, in which a curved portion that is highest at the center position and bulges in the central axis direction is formed in an elastically deformable state. The trigger piece 50 releases the supercooling phenomenon by pressing the curved portion from the bulging side to the opposite side in the central axis direction to flip it, reversing the peak direction of the curved portion, and applying an impact to the latent heat storage material 10.

[0036] The trigger piece 50 is disposed at the central portion 43 between one accommodating portion 31 and the other accommodating portion 32 in the connecting portion 40, with its movement restricted by the restricting portion 44. In order to prevent the trigger piece 50 from flowing from the central portion 43 into the one communicating portion 41 or the other communicating portion 42, in the one communicating portion 41 and the other communicating portion 42 (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as "communicating portions 41, 42"), the distance along the Y direction is made smaller than the diameter of the trigger piece 50 by the restricting portion 44 provided in the connecting portion 40. The restricting portion 44 is formed in the form of a first fusion-bonded portion 21x in which the dimension in the Y direction at the fusion-bonded portion 21 is larger than the width of the second fusion-bonded portion 21y at the central portion 43.

[0037] In the eye mask 1 according to the present embodiment, with respect to the direction along the Y direction, the size of the connecting portion 40 is smaller than the size of the accommodating portion 30, and is formed in a range of greater than 0% and 50% or less in ratio to the size of the entire accommodating portion 30. Specifically, the communicating portion width k, which is the distance along the Y direction in the one communicating portion 41 and the other communicating portion 42, is smaller than the accommodating portion longitudinal width n (0<k<n), which is the distance along the Y direction in the accommodating portion 30 (the one accommodating portion 31 and the other accommodating portion 32), and the communicating portion occupancy δ (%) = k / n × 100 of the communicating portion width k in the accommodating portion longitudinal width n is 50% or less.

[0038] On the other hand, when the communication portion occupancy rate δ exceeds 50%, the latent heat storage material 10 can flow more freely between the left eye side region covering the area around the left eye and the right eye side region covering the area around the right eye, as shown in the main body of the comparative example described later. Therefore, compared to when the communication portion occupancy rate δ is 50% or less, as described in paragraph

[0068] , the temperature difference between the latent heat released from the left eye side region covering the area around the left eye and the latent heat released from the right eye side region covering the area around the right eye tends to diverge significantly, and the time difference between the two regions, including the time required until heat dissipation begins in the latent heat storage material 10, also tends to diverge significantly, which is undesirable.

[0039] The latent heat storage material 10 is filled into the internal space 20S of the housing member 20 of the main body 2. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the latent heat storage material, including within the connecting portion 40, is spread along a virtual plane VP that extends in the X and Y directions perpendicular to each other relative to the housing portion 30, and is filled without leakage in the Z direction, which is perpendicular to the X and Y directions, with a thickness t including the virtual plane VP. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the main body 2 is positioned with the virtual plane VP facing the peripheral area HE of both eyes.

[0040] As described above, the latent heat storage material 10 stores or releases heat by utilizing the inflow and outflow of latent heat associated with phase changes. The latent heat storage material 10 is a substance that can be repeatedly used multiple times by undergoing phase changes between molten (liquid phase state) and solidified (solid phase state). The latent heat storage material 10 is mainly composed of sodium acetate trihydrate (CH3COONa·3H2O), with glycerin (C3H5(OH)3) added as an additive, which is a melting point adjuster and a softening agent.

[0041] Sodium acetate trihydrate, in its elemental form, has a hydration number of 3, a molecular weight [g / mol] of 136.08, a melting point of 58°C, and a heat storage capacity of approximately 276 kJ / kg (400 kJ / L). Below its melting point, it exists as a readily soluble solid in water and exhibits properties that make it highly susceptible to supercooling. Glycerin has a molecular weight [g / mol] of 92.09382, a melting point of 17.8°C, and a density of 1.261 g / cm³. 3It is odorless, readily soluble in water, a colorless and transparent liquid at temperatures above its melting point, a substance safe for the human body, and possesses properties that make it highly susceptible to supercooling. Because the latent heat storage material 10 contains glycerin, even when it becomes a solid, it exhibits a certain degree of flexibility and is easily deformable.

[0042] The latent heat emitted from the latent heat storage material 10 is either warmth within a temperature range of 25°C to 50°C, or coldness within a temperature range of 5°C to less than 25°C. In this embodiment, the eye mask 1 is attached to the peripheral areas HE of both eyes with the main body 2 housed within the cover 3, and the warmth emitted from the main body 2 is applied to the peripheral areas HE of both eyes via the cover 3. The upper limit temperature of the warmth is preferably around 40 to 45°C from the viewpoint of preventing low-temperature burns to the wearer HM (person) due to heat radiation from the latent heat storage material 10. In other words, the melting temperature (melting point) of the latent heat storage material 10 is set to a temperature that takes into account heat transfer loss by the interposed cover 3 (for example, around 40°C) so that the warmth reaches an upper limit temperature of around 40 to 45°C, and latent heat slightly higher than body temperature is emitted from the solid-state latent heat storage material 10. As an example, the mixing ratio of sodium acetate trihydrate and glycerin in the latent heat storage material 10 is within the range of 75-25 wt% sodium acetate trihydrate and 85-15 wt% glycerin.

[0043] Furthermore, the melting temperature (melting point) of the set latent heat storage material 10 is not limited to the example temperature of 40-something degrees Celsius, and the mixing ratio of sodium acetate trihydrate and glycerin can be appropriately adjusted according to the desired heat dissipation temperature of the latent heat storage material 10. In addition, although glycerin was used as the melting point adjuster and softener contained in the latent heat storage material 10, various other substances can be used as the melting point adjuster for the main material, such as sodium acetate trihydrate (CH3COONa·3H2O). In addition, in this embodiment, the latent heat storage material 10 is a mixture of sodium acetate trihydrate, which is the main component, with glycerin added, but a coloring agent such as food coloring or pigment may also be incorporated into the latent heat storage material along with glycerin.

[0044] In the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, when storing latent heat in the latent heat storage material 10, the main body 2 is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the latent heat storage material 10 by a predetermined heating device, thereby storing latent heat in the latent heat storage material 10.

[0045] Next, the evaluation test of the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In order to verify the significance of the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, the applicant conducted an evaluation test to confirm the behavior of the trigger piece 50 to release the supercooling phenomenon of the molten latent heat storage material 10, which is in a supercooled state, in both the left and right housing sections 30 (31, 32).

[0046] <Experiment details> The evaluation test involves using multiple types of housing members 20, etc., for each main body 2, etc., with variations in the presence or absence of a connecting portion 40 and the width k of the connecting portions 41 and 42 at the connecting portion 40. The experiment confirms the maximum temperature radiated from the latent heat storage material 10 and the time required until heat dissipation begins in both the left and right housing portions 30, etc., for each main body 2, etc. The evaluation test is conducted using a total of five types of main body 2, etc., for each of the five types of main body 2, etc., and the form of the housing members 20, etc., differs for each of the five types of main body 2, etc.

[0047] Figure 9 is a diagram showing the main body of the eye mask according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the supercooling phenomenon is resolved in the molten latent heat storage material that is in a supercooled state. Figure 12 is a diagram showing the main body of the eye mask according to a comparative example, and is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the latent heat storage material coexists with the trigger piece and is in a completely liquid phase state.

[0048] <Experimental Method> In the evaluation tests, as a pretreatment, for Examples 1 to 4, a sample of the main body 2 was prepared using the containment member 20 shown in Figure 5 (external dimensions: a rectangle of 65 mm in length and 185 mm in width, including a 10 mm width of fused portion 21 in both length and width), with a total weight of 100 g of latent heat storage material 10 loaded into its internal space 20S.

[0049] In the comparative example, a main body 102 was fabricated as a sample using the housing member 120 shown in Figure 12 (external dimensions: a rectangle of 65 mm in length and 185 mm in width, including the 10 mm width of the fused portion 21 in both length and width), with a total weight of 100 g of latent heat storage material 10 loaded into its internal space 120S. The housing member 120 in the main body 102, as shown in Figure 12, consists of a single housing section that houses the latent heat storage material 10 in its internal space 120S, and unlike Examples 1 to 4, it does not have a connecting portion 40, a connecting portion 41, 42, a central portion 43, and a restricting portion 44. Therefore, in the main body 102, the trigger piece 50 is housed in the internal space 120S of the housing member 120 without being restricted in its movement.

[0050] Next, the main body 2,102 containing the latent heat storage material 10 was immersed in a water bath equipped with a function to control and manage a set temperature, and the latent heat storage material 10 was heated to 70°C for 2 hours, thereby completely melting the latent heat storage material 10 inside the main body 2,102. After confirming that the latent heat storage material 10 was in a completely molten state, the main body 2,102 was left standing on a table in a room adjusted to a room temperature of 22°C by an air conditioning system, and the latent heat storage material 10 was cooled to 22°C by air cooling.

[0051] After confirming that the temperature of the main body 2,102 had dropped to 22°C, and that even at this temperature, the latent heat storage material 10 was in a supercooled molten state due to the supercooling phenomenon that had already occurred, the temperature of the latent heat storage material 10 was measured in the main body 2 using thermocouples attached to the outer surface of the housing member 20 at measurement point P located in the housing section 31(30) on the left eye side and measurement point Q located in the housing section 32(30) on the right eye side, as shown in Figure 10. In addition, in the main body 102, as shown in Figure 12, thermocouples were attached to the outer surface of the housing member 120 at positions corresponding to the measurement points P and Q of the main body 2, specifically at measurement point P located in the left eye side region covering the area around the left eye and at measurement point Q located in the right eye side region covering the area around the right eye.

[0052] Next, for all five types of samples (four main body parts 2 relating to Examples 1-4 and one main body part 102 relating to the comparative example), the direction of the curved portion was simultaneously reversed from the outer surface side of the housing members 20,120 using the trigger piece 50 of each sample, thereby releasing the supercooling phenomenon occurring in the molten latent heat storage material 10. Then, all samples were placed on a table so that the experimenter's hands would not touch the latent heat storage material 10 of the samples. Under these stationary conditions, the time required from the release of the supercooling phenomenon until heat dissipation from the latent heat storage material 10 began was measured, and the temperature of the latent heat released from the latent heat storage material 10 was detected and measured using a thermocouple. The applicant repeated these evaluation tests three times in the same manner for each test and collected experimental data for each test.

[0053] <Common conditions for Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples> • Latent heat storage material 10: A mixture of sodium acetate trihydrate and glycerin, with a uniform ratio of both materials. • Means for releasing the overcooling of the latent heat storage material 10; trigger piece 50 • External dimensions of storage members 20 and 120: Height (Y direction) 65 mm, Width (X direction) 185 mm • Width of one side of the fused portion 21 in the housing members 20 and 120: 10 mm (excluding the first fused portion 21x) <Common conditions for Examples 1-4> • Sample; Main body 2 • Accommodation means; accommodation member 20 having a connecting portion 40 and a restricting portion 44 • Internal dimensions of the storage component 20: Height (Y direction) 55 mm, Width (X direction) 165 mm • Width of the connection part j at the housing member 20: 35 mm • Width of the storage section in storage member 20: 65 mm • Vertical width of the storage section in the storage member 20: n; 55 mm

[0054] <Example 1> • Width of the connecting section k / occupancy rate of the connecting section δ in the housing member 20: 5 mm / 9.1% <Example 2> • Width of the connecting section k / occupancy rate of the connecting section δ in the housing member 20: 10 mm / 18.2% <Example 3> • Width of the connecting section k / occupancy rate of the connecting section δ in the housing member 20: 15 mm / 27.3% <Example 4> • Width of the connecting section k / occupancy rate of the connecting section δ in the housing member 20: 20 mm / 36.4% <Comparative Example> • Storage member 120; Storage member unit without connection part and restriction part corresponding to the connection part 40 and restriction part 44 of storage member 20

[0055] <Experimental Results> Figure 6 is a table summarizing the conditions and results of the evaluation tests of the eye masks for Examples 1-4 and their comparative examples. The experimental results shown in Figure 6 are the average values ​​of three evaluation tests for each of Examples 1-4 and the comparative example. They represent the average of the highest heat dissipation temperatures detected at measurement point P in the left eye housing 31, etc., and measurement point Q in the right eye housing 32, etc., as well as the average time required for heat dissipation to begin in the latent heat storage material 10. Note that in the table shown in Figure 6, the presence or absence of connection parts and restricting parts is indicated as "with / without partition".

[0056] Figure 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of use and the heat dissipation temperature for the main body of the eye mask according to Examples 1 and 2, separated into the left and right storage sections. Figure 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of use and the heat dissipation temperature for the main body of the eye mask according to Examples 3 and 4, separated into the left and right storage sections. Figure 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of use and the heat dissipation temperature for the main body of the eye mask according to the comparative example, separated into the left and right storage sections.

[0057] The results of the evaluation tests are shown in Figures 6 to 8 and Figure 11. In Example 1, the temperature of the left eye housing 31 was 37.98°C, and the temperature of the right eye housing 32 was 37.25°C, with a temperature difference of 0.63°C between the left and right sides. The time required in the left eye housing 31 was 6.69 min, and the time required in the right eye housing 32 was 6.81 min, with a time difference of 0.11 min between the left and right sides. In Example 2, the temperature of the left eye housing 31 was 40.12°C, and the temperature of the right eye housing 32 was 39.29°C, with a temperature difference of 0.83°C between the left and right sides. The time required in the left eye housing 31 was 4.25 min, and the time required in the right eye housing 32 was 4.25 min, with a time difference of 0 min between the left and right sides.

[0058] In Example 3, the temperature of the left eye housing 31 was 39.72°C, and the temperature of the right eye housing 32 was 39.22°C, with a temperature difference of 0.5°C between the left and right sides. The time required in the left eye housing 31 was 4.02 min, and the time required in the right eye housing 32 was 4.32 min, with a time difference of 0.3 min between the left and right sides. In Example 4, the temperature of the left eye housing 31 was 39.57°C, and the temperature of the right eye housing 32 was 38.75°C, with a temperature difference of 0.82°C between the left and right sides. The time required in the left eye housing 31 was 3.41 min, and the time required in the right eye housing 32 was 3.09 min, with a time difference of 0.32 min between the left and right sides. In the comparative example, the temperature of the left eye housing 31 was 38.72°C, and the temperature of the right eye housing 32 was 40.04°C, with a temperature difference of 1.29°C between the left and right sides. The time required in the left eye housing 31 was 3.17 min, and the time required in the right eye housing 32 was 4.49 min, with a time difference of 1.32 min between the left and right sides.

[0059] <Consideration> Figure 10, following Figure 5, is an explanatory diagram showing the latent heat storage material coexisting with the trigger piece in a completely solid state. Figure 13, following Figure 12, is a diagram showing the main body of the eye mask according to the comparative example, and is an explanatory diagram showing how the supercooling phenomenon is resolved in the molten latent heat storage material that is in a supercooled state in the main body.

[0060] The experimental results showed that in all of the main body sections 2 according to Examples 1 to 4, the temperature difference between the left and right housing sections 30 (the housing section 31 on the left eye side and the housing section 32 on the right eye side) was reduced to within 1°C compared to the main body section 102 according to the comparative example. In particular, in Example 3, where the communication section width k was 15 mm, the temperature difference was as low as 0.79°C. Furthermore, the difference in the time required for heat dissipation to begin in the latent heat storage material 10 was reduced to within 1 minute. In particular, in Examples 1 and 2, where the communication section width k was 5 mm and 10 mm, the difference in the required time was reduced even further.

[0061] Thus, it is presumed that the following two factors are involved in the difference in heat dissipation temperature and the time required for heat dissipation to begin in the latent heat storage material 10 between the left eye side housing 31 and the right eye side housing 32. The first factor is the difference in whether or not the crystallization of the latent heat storage material 10, starting from the trigger piece 50, is uniform on the left and right sides of the main body 2 after the supercooling phenomenon is released by the trigger piece 50.

[0062] In other words, in the main body 2 according to Examples 1 to 4, the trigger piece 50 is positioned between the left eye side housing 31 and the right eye side housing 32, with its movement to the left eye side housing 31 and the right eye side housing 32 restricted by the restricting portion 44 located within the connecting portion 40. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, when the supercooling phenomenon is released by the trigger piece 50 for the molten latent heat storage material 10 in a supercooled state within the housing member 20, as shown in Figure 9, the crystallization of the latent heat storage material 10 gradually spreads from the trigger piece 50, and the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change from molten (liquid phase) 10L to solidified (solid phase) 10S.

[0063] At this time, the crystals of the latent heat storage material 10 grow toward the entire internal space 20S of the housing member 20. As the crystallization expands, the crystals of the latent heat storage material 10 continue to grow fairly evenly on both the left-eye housing section 31 and the right-eye housing section 32, with the trigger piece 50 in between. As shown in Figure 10, the solidification (solid phase state) 10S of the latent heat storage material 10 extends to the entire internal space 20S of the housing member 20. As a result, the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat under similar conditions on both the left-eye housing section 31 and the right-eye housing section 32. Therefore, the temperature difference between the latent heat released from the left-eye housing section 31 and the latent heat released from the right-eye housing section 32 is suppressed to be smaller, and the time difference between the two is also suppressed to be smaller in the time required for the latent heat storage material 10 to start releasing heat.

[0064] In contrast, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the main body 102 of the comparative example does not have a restricting part on the housing member 120 to limit the movement of the trigger piece 50. As a result, the unrestrained trigger piece 50 can freely flow to an unspecified location within the molten latent heat storage material 10L filled in the internal space 120S of the housing member 120. Consequently, the trigger piece 50 may end up in a location biased towards either the left eye side region covering the area around the left eye or the right eye side region covering the area around the right eye (Figures 12 and 13 show the area closer to the left eye side).

[0065] In such a location, when the supercooling phenomenon is released by the trigger piece 50 on the molten latent heat storage material 10L which is in a supercooled state, as shown in Figure 13, the crystallization of the latent heat storage material 10 gradually begins to spread from the trigger piece 50, and the region covering the left eye and the region covering the right eye become non-uniform in the main body 102. As a result, the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat in the main body 102, under the non-uniform condition in the region covering the left eye and the region covering the right eye. Therefore, compared to Examples 1-4, the latent heat released from the left eye side portion covering the area around the left eye and the latent heat released from the right eye side portion covering the area around the right eye differed significantly in temperature, and the time required for the latent heat storage material 10 to begin releasing heat also differed significantly between the two.

[0066] Furthermore, the second factor is the difference in whether the filled latent heat storage material 10 is housed in the housing member 20 in a state where it is divided into the area of ​​the housing section 31 on the left eye side and the area of ​​the housing section 32 on the right eye side via the connecting section 40, the restricting section 44, and the trigger piece 50. That is, in the main body 2 according to Examples 1 to 4, as shown in Figure 5, the filled latent heat storage material 10 is housed in a state where it is divided into the area of ​​the housing section 31 on the left eye side (internal space 31S) and the area of ​​the housing section 32 on the right eye side (internal space 32S) via the connecting section 40, the restricting section 44, and the trigger piece 50.

[0067] As a result, the connecting portion 40, the restricting portion 44, and the trigger piece 50 play a role in obstructing the flow of the latent heat storage material 10 in the internal space 20S of the housing member 20. Therefore, during the process from the release of the supercooling phenomenon until the molten latent heat storage material 10 solidifies 10S, the latent heat storage material 10 has difficulty flowing between the area of ​​the housing portion 31 on the left eye side and the area of ​​the housing portion 32 on the right eye side. After the release of the supercooling phenomenon, the main body 2 is left to stand on the table to allow the latent heat storage material 10 to solidify 10S. As a result, the thickness t (see Figure 3) of the latent heat storage material 10 inside the main body 2 is easily equalized between the area of ​​the housing portion 31 on the left eye side and the area of ​​the housing portion 32 on the right eye side due to the difficulty of flow in the latent heat storage material 10. As a result, in the main body 2 of Examples 1 to 4, the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat while the left eye side housing 31 and the right eye side housing 32 are dispersed in similar proportions. Therefore, it is thought that the temperature difference between the latent heat released from the left eye side housing 31 and the latent heat released from the right eye side housing 32 is suppressed to be smaller, and the time difference between the two in the time required for the latent heat storage material 10 to start releasing heat is also suppressed to be smaller.

[0068] In contrast, the main body 102 of the comparative example, as shown in Figure 12, is divided in its internal space 120S into a left-eye side region covering the area around the left eye and a right-eye side region covering the area around the right eye, and the latent heat storage material 10 is housed in a housing member 120 that does not serve to obstruct the flow of the latent heat storage material 10 in the internal space 120S. Therefore, during the process from the release of the supercooling phenomenon until the molten latent heat storage material 10 solidifies 10S, the latent heat storage material 10 can easily flow freely between the left-eye side region covering the area around the left eye and the right-eye side region covering the area around the right eye. After the supercooling phenomenon is resolved, the main body 102 is left to stand on a table to allow the latent heat storage material 10 to solidify 10S. As a result, the thickness of the latent heat storage material 10 inside the main body 102 tends to be uneven due to the ease with which the latent heat storage material 10 flows between the left eye area covering the left eye and the right eye area covering the right eye. Consequently, in the main body 102 of the comparative example, the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat while being dispersed in an uneven proportion between the left eye area covering the left eye and the right eye area covering the right eye. Therefore, the latent heat released from the left eye side covering the area around the left eye and the latent heat released from the right eye side covering the area around the right eye tend to have a larger temperature difference, and it is thought that the time required for the latent heat storage material 10 to begin releasing heat also differs more significantly between the two.

[0069] Next, the operation and effects of the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0070] The eye mask 1 according to this embodiment has a main body 2 comprising a latent heat storage material 10 that stores or releases heat by utilizing the inflow and outflow of latent heat associated with phase change, and a housing member 20 having housing parts 31, 32(30) that house the latent heat storage material 10 in internal spaces 31S, 32S, and a heat dissipation device that applies latent heat released from the latent heat storage material 10 to the peripheral areas HE of both eyes to which the main body 2 is attached, wherein the latent heat storage material 10 extends along a virtual plane VP that extends in the X and Y directions perpendicular to each other with respect to the housing part 30, and in the X direction and The material is filled without leakage in the Z direction perpendicular to the Y direction, including a virtual plane VP and having a thickness t, and the main body 2 is mounted with the virtual plane VP facing the peripheral HE of both eyes, and the main body 2 is equipped with a reusable trigger piece 50 that can release the supercooling phenomenon in the molten latent heat storage material 10 which is in a supercooled state, and the trigger piece 50 is disposed in the central part 43 of the internal space 20S of the housing member 20 with its movement to the housing parts 31,32(30) restricted by a restricting part 44.

[0071] Due to this feature, when the supercooling phenomenon is released by the trigger piece 50 on the molten latent heat storage material 10 in a supercooled state within the housing member 20, the crystallization of the latent heat storage material 10 gradually spreads from the trigger piece 50 located in the central part 43. As a result, the crystals of the latent heat storage material 10 grow towards the entire internal space 20S of the housing member 20, and as the crystallization area expands, the crystals of the latent heat storage material 10 continue to grow roughly equally on both the left-eye housing section 31 and the right-eye housing section 32, with the trigger piece 50 in between, while the solidification (solid phase state) 10S of the latent heat storage material 10 extends throughout the entire internal space 20S of the housing member 20. Consequently, the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat, with both the left-eye housing section 31 and the right-eye housing section 32 in similar states. Therefore, the temperature difference between the latent heat released from the left eye housing 31 and the latent heat released from the right eye housing 32 can be suppressed to a smaller extent, and the time required for the latent heat storage material 10 to begin releasing heat can also be suppressed to a smaller difference between the two. As a result, the eye mask 1 can provide the wearer HM with a comfortable fit and a pleasant user experience.

[0072] Moreover, even if the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes multiple phase changes between a molten state (liquid phase) 10L and a solidified state (solid phase) 10S, the trigger piece 50 is able to reliably release the supercooling phenomenon of the molten latent heat storage material 10, which is in a supercooled state, each time.

[0073] Therefore, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment has the excellent effect of being able to release the heat applied to the wearer HM in a stable manner, even when used repeatedly multiple times.

[0074] Furthermore, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, the main body 2 is characterized in that a pair of housing sections 31, 32(30) are arranged in a manner that is spaced apart from each other in the direction along the X direction, the internal space 31S of one housing section 31(30) and the internal space 32S of the other housing section 32(30) are in communication through a connecting section 40 formed along the X direction, the trigger piece 50 is arranged in the central part 43 within the connecting section 40, and the size of the connecting section 40 is smaller than the size of the housing sections 31, 32(30) in the direction along the Y direction. Furthermore, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, the size k of the connecting section 40 is characterized in that, in the direction along the Y direction, the ratio to the overall size m of the housing sections 30(31,32) is greater than 0% and less than or equal to 50%.

[0075] Due to this feature, the connecting portion 40, the restricting portion 44, and the trigger piece 50 play a role in preventing the flow of the latent heat storage material 10 in the internal space 20S of the housing member 20. As a result, during the process from the release of the supercooling phenomenon until the molten latent heat storage material 10 solidifies 10S, the latent heat storage material 10 becomes less likely to flow between the area of ​​the housing portion 31 on the left eye side and the area of ​​the housing portion 32 on the right eye side. Consequently, the thickness t (see Figure 3) of the latent heat storage material 10 inside the main body 2 is more easily equalized in the area of ​​the housing portion 31 on the left eye side and the area of ​​the housing portion 32 on the right eye side due to the difficulty of flow in the latent heat storage material 10. As a result, the latent heat storage material 10 undergoes a phase change to a solid phase and releases latent heat while being dispersed in a similar proportion on the left eye side housing portion 31 and the right eye side housing portion 32. Therefore, the temperature difference between the latent heat released from the left eye housing 31 and the latent heat released from the right eye housing 32 can be suppressed to a smaller extent, and the time required for the latent heat storage material 10 to begin releasing heat can also be suppressed to a smaller difference between the two. Consequently, the eye mask 1 can provide the wearer HM with a comfortable fit and a pleasant user experience.

[0076] Furthermore, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the latent heat released from the latent heat storage material 10 is within a temperature range of 25°C to 50°C.

[0077] This feature allows the eye mask 1 to provide effective refreshment to the wearer HM by continuously applying stable heat (for example, around 40-45°C) to the peripheral area HE of both eyes for a period of 5-10 minutes, for example, when the wearer's eyes are strained and fatigued from work.

[0078] Furthermore, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the eye mask 1 covers both eyes, which are a specific part of the body, with the main body 2 covering both eyes and the peripheral areas HE around them.

[0079] This feature allows people who strain their eyes and experience fatigue from work, such as office workers who perform tasks while looking at a computer screen or students who study at a desk for long periods, to rest and refresh their tired eyes by covering the peripheral HE of both eyes with the main unit 2, as shown in Figure 1.

[0080] Furthermore, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, the housing member 20 is characterized by being made of a flexible resin sheet material.

[0081] This feature allows the housing member 20 to deform to conform to the surface of the eye periphery HE when covering the main body 2 with the eye periphery HE. This allows the main body 2 to cover the eye periphery HE (a specific part of the body), which has a complex curved surface rather than a uniformly flat surface, depending on the covering position and individual differences of the wearer, in a more tightly fitted manner. In particular, in this embodiment, the latent heat storage material 10 contains glycerin and exhibits a certain degree of flexibility even in a solid state. Therefore, when the latent heat storage material 10 releases heat, the main body 2 covering the eye periphery HE, along with the housing member 20 which deforms to reduce the gap with the eye periphery HE, also changes shape according to the deformation of the housing member 20. As a result, the eye mask 1 can transfer the latent heat released from the latent heat storage material 10 towards the wearer HM with reduced heat loss.

[0082] Furthermore, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment is characterized by having a cover portion 3 that can accommodate the main body portion 2 and is detachably formed on the peripheral portions HE of both eyes.

[0083] This feature allows the wearer HM to attach the eye mask 1 by holding the attachment band 75 of the cover part 3, which houses the main body part 2, to their head, thereby positioning and covering the periphery HE of both eyes.

[0084] Although the present invention has been described above in reference to Examples 1 to 4 of the embodiments and comparative examples, the present invention is not limited to Examples 1 to 4 of the embodiments, and can be applied with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0085] For example, in this embodiment, the restricting portion 44 is formed by a first fused portion 21x, the size of which in the Y direction of the fused portion 21 is larger than the width of the second fused portion 21y in the central portion 43. However, the form of the restricting portion is not limited to this embodiment and can be changed in various ways. As one example, the restricting portion is a mesh bag made of fibers with a diameter of several tens to several hundreds of micrometers, with an opening of several millimeters that does not hinder contact with the molten latent heat storage material but prevents the passage of the trigger piece. In the main body, the trigger piece is housed in this bag, and the open end of the restricting portion containing the trigger piece is sandwiched between the periphery of the overlapping edges of a resin sheet that forms the housing member, which is folded in half. As in the embodiment, by fusing the resin sheets together with the end of the restricting portion sandwiched between the two layers of resin sheets, the restricting portion containing the trigger piece is fixed within the connection portion of the housing member. In this case, the trigger piece remains housed in the bag that is the restricting portion, and its movement to the housing portion can be restricted.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main component of the latent heat storage material 10 is sodium acetate trihydrate, but the main component of the latent heat storage material is not limited to this embodiment, and may be, for example, an inorganic salt hydrate other than sodium acetate trihydrate, and can be changed in various ways.

[0087] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the latent heat storage material 10 is a mixture of sodium acetate trihydrate, which is the main component, with glycerin added as an additive, which acts as a melting point adjuster and a softener. However, the additives added to the main component of the latent heat storage material are not limited to melting point adjusters and softeners, but can be changed as appropriate, for example, to thickeners or other substances that play a role required for the latent heat storage material. This is because thickeners play a role in increasing the viscosity of the molten latent heat storage material, which can maintain a uniform mixture of the components of the latent heat storage material and prevent phase separation, separation due to differences in density, etc. in the latent heat storage material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1. Eye mask (heat dissipation device) 2 Main body 3. Cover section 10 Latent heat storage material 20 Containing member 30 Pair of storage compartments 31. First containment section 31S Internal space of the first storage compartment 32 Other containment units 32S Internal space of other storage compartments 40 Connection part 43. Central section (central section of the housing member, central section of the connection part) 44 Regulatory Department 50 trigger pieces VP virtual plane HE (Peripheral area of ​​both eyes) (Specific body parts, both eyes and the area around them) XX direction (first direction) YY direction (second direction) ZZ direction (3rd direction) t thickness δ Communication width ratio

Claims

1. A heat dissipation device having a main body comprising a latent heat storage material that stores or releases heat by utilizing the inflow and outflow of latent heat associated with phase change, and a housing member having a housing section formed therein for housing the latent heat storage material in an internal space, and applying the latent heat released from the latent heat storage material to a specific part of the body to which the main body is attached, The latent heat storage material extends along a virtual plane that is perpendicular to the housing portion and extends in a first and second direction, and is filled without leakage in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, with a thickness that includes the virtual plane, and the main body portion is attached with the virtual plane facing a specific part of the body. The main body is equipped with a reusable trigger piece that can release the supercooling phenomenon in the molten latent heat storage material which is in a supercooled state, and the trigger piece is disposed in the center of the internal space of the housing member, with its movement to the housing restricted by a regulating part. The receiving portion of the receiving member is formed such that the flow path for the molten latent heat storage material is narrowed to a size that prevents the passage of the trigger piece by the restricting portions formed on both sides of the central portion. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

2. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 1, In the main body, a pair of the housing sections are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in the direction along the first direction, and the internal space of one housing section and the internal space of the other housing section are in communication through a connecting section formed along the first direction. The trigger piece is disposed in the central part of the connection portion, and the size of the connection portion is smaller than the size of the housing portion in the direction along the second direction. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

3. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 2, With respect to the direction along the second direction, the size of the connecting portion is formed within a range of greater than 0% and 50% or less in ratio to the overall size of the housing portion. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

4. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 1 or claim 2, The latent heat released from the latent heat storage material is either thermal heat within a temperature range of 25°C to 50°C, or cold heat within a temperature range of 5°C to less than 25°C. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

5. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 4, The heat dissipation device is an eye mask that covers both eyes and the area around them with the main body, with the specific body part being the eyes. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

6. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 1 or claim 2, The aforementioned housing member is made of a flexible resin sheet material. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

7. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 1 or claim 2, The main body portion is capable of housing the main body portion, and the cover portion is formed to be detachably attached to a specific part of the body. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

8. In the heat dissipation device described in claim 5, The main body portion is capable of housing the main body portion, and the cover portion is formed to be detachably attached to a specific part of the body. A heat dissipation device characterized by the following.

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