Tube

Abstract

[Problem] The present invention addresses the problems of obtaining a water-feed hose which functions as a water-feed hose in a cooling garment, and in which the clogging of micropores in the hose wall does not occur. Furthermore, the present invention addresses the problem of obtaining a water-feed hose able to conform to the expansion and contraction of the cooling garment. [Solution] The problems are solved by a tube of the present invention which is disposed along the surface of a function-utilizing object that utilizes a function for providing a liquid. The liquid exudes, through pores piercing the lateral surface of the tube, out to the function-utilizing object. The tube has the same stretchability as the function-utilizing object. The tube, by having the same stretchability as the function-utilizing object, can self-restore from a state in which the micropores in the wall of the tube are clogged. The tube, by having the same stretchability as the function-utilizing object, can be utilized as a water-feed hose that conforms to the expansion and contraction of the cooling garment.

Description

tube

[0001] This invention relates to a pipe in which a liquid seeps out from small holes in the pipe toward a target for functional utilization, thereby utilizing the function of the liquid. It also relates to a pipe in which water seeps out from small holes in the pipe toward clothing, thereby utilizing the function of cooling the surrounding area achieved by the seepage of water.

[0002] Cooling garments are known that cool the wearer's body by running water through water hoses attached to the garment. It is also known that the water hoses in cooling garments use hollow fiber membranes with numerous micropores on their walls. In such cooling garments, water seeps into the garment through the micropores on the walls of the hollow fiber membranes. The wearer's body is cooled not only by the water seeping into the garment itself, but also by the heat of vaporization generated when the water evaporates.

[0003] Furthermore, it is also known to provide a cooling garment with a fan that blows air into the garment, thereby replacing the air inside the garment and continuously cooling the wearer's body.

[0004] As described in Patent Document 1, for example, synthetic resins have been used for hollow fiber membranes used in water supply hoses. This is because the hollow fiber membranes that are currently readily available are materials used to make filters. Specific synthetic resins used for hollow fiber membranes include nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride (fluororesin).

[0005] Patent Publication No. 2020-169419

[0006] The hollow fiber membranes used in the water supply hoses of cooling garments have traditionally been made of synthetic resins such as nylon. However, because synthetic resin hollow fiber membranes are less stretchy than the fabric that makes up the garment, the hollow fiber membranes woven throughout the garment do not follow the garment's expansion and contraction. As a result, as cooling garments are used more frequently, the hollow fiber membranes tend to break or slip out of the fabric. Furthermore, when clothing is folded for storage, conventional hollow fiber membranes do not follow the folds of the garment and can break and tear at the folded position. Furthermore, cooling garments require washing just like regular clothing. Because the fabric that makes up the garment repeatedly expands and contracts during washing, the hollow fiber membranes' inability to follow the fabric's expansion and contraction becomes more pronounced, resulting in breakage of the hollow fiber membranes as the number of washes increases.

[0007] Therefore, there has been a demand for a water supply hose that can follow the expansion and contraction of the cooling garment.

[0008] Furthermore, hollow fiber membranes made of synthetic fibers have the problem of clogging of the micropores in the wall, and many technological developments have been made to solve this problem. Therefore, there has been a demand for a water supply hose that functions as a water supply hose for cooling clothing and does not clog the micropores in the wall.

[0009] (1) The problem is solved by a tube that exudes a liquid passing through it, the tube being placed along the surface of a functional application object that utilizes the function of the liquid, the liquid exuding into the functional application object through small holes drilled in the side of the tube, and having the same flexibility as the functional application object. (2) The problem is solved by a tube that exudes water passing through it, the tube being placed along the surface of a functional application object that utilizes the function of cooling the surroundings exerted by the exudation of water, the water exuding into the functional application object through small holes drilled in the side of the tube, the tube being made of silicone rubber with a hardness of 45 to 55 degrees. (3) The problem is solved by the tube described in (2), in which the functional application object is clothing. (4) The problem is solved by the tube described in any of (1) to (3), in which the inner diameter of the tube is 1 mm to 2 mm and the outer diameter of the tube is 2 mm to 4 mm. (5) The problem is solved by the tube according to any one of (1) to (3), characterized in that there are many small holes and the diameter of the small holes is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. (6) The problem is solved by the tube according to any one of (1) to (3), characterized in that in the tube that is placed in a curve on the surface of the functionally utilized object or clothing, the number of small holes on the outside of the curve is fewer than the number of small holes on the inside of the curve. (7) The problem is solved by the tube according to any one of (1) to (3), characterized in that in the tube that is placed in a curve on the surface of the functionally utilized object or clothing, the small holes on the outside of the curve are smaller than the small holes on the inside of the curve. (8) The problem is solved by the tube according to any one of (1) to (3), characterized in that a thread passes through the small holes and the thread extends through both the tube and the functionally utilized object.

[0010] The liquid passing through the tube can be, for example, water or a chemical. Water can be room temperature water, as well as cold or hot water. In the case of water, the functional utilization target can utilize functions such as cooling the surroundings. Chemicals include, for example, antibacterial agents, deodorants, warming / cooling agents, decomposing agents, water absorption / diffusion agents, and water repellents, and the functional utilization target can utilize the functions of each chemical. It is also possible to utilize the effects obtained when the chemical vaporizes.

[0011] In this application, "liquid" includes liquid nitrogen. The functional utilization target can utilize the rapid cooling function of liquid nitrogen. The liquid passing through the pipe can also be mixed with particulate solids that have various functions. The liquid seeps out from small holes on the side of the water pipe or from the opening at the end of the water pipe. To cause the liquid to seep out of the water pipe, the liquid is injected into the water pipe using a pump or the like.

[0012] Functions include functions that are provided to the human body, functions that are provided to food and beverages, and functions that are provided to other products. Objects that utilize functions provided to the human body include, for example, clothing, hats, bags, towels, scarves, masks, supports, shoes, chair covers, car seats, etc. This applies to both items that come into contact with the human body to utilize their functions, and items that are placed in close proximity to humans to utilize their functions. Objects that utilize functions include vegetables, fish, meat, beverages, etc. for functions provided to food and beverages. They can be used to cool or warm food and beverages, or to impart medicinal effects.

[0013] The phrase "a tube is arranged along the surface of an object of functional application" means that the tube is in close contact with the surface of the object to some extent, and the surface of the object of functional application can come into direct or indirect contact with the liquid seeping out from the small holes on the side of the tube. For example, the tube can be attached to the object of functional application directly or indirectly by sewing it to the object of functional application, attaching it by embroidering, or wrapping the object around the tube.

[0014] To make small holes in the side of a pipe, a hole punch may be used when doing it manually. When using a hole punch, a hole of the desired diameter can be made in the pipe. Other methods include laser processing, melting with chemicals, and using corona discharge.

[0015] By using a tube with the same flexibility as the functional application object, the tube can follow the expansion and contraction of the functional application object. Because the tube is placed along the surface of the functional application object, it is necessary for the tube to follow the expansion and contraction of the functional application object. By allowing the tube to follow the expansion and contraction of the functional application object, damage to the tube can be avoided.

[0016] By using hollow fibers having the same flexibility as the functionally utilized object as the water supply hose, rather than a hollow fiber membrane made of synthetic resin, the water supply hose can follow the expansion and contraction of the functionally utilized object.

[0017] Furthermore, by using silicone rubber for the water supply hose, it is possible to follow the expansion and contraction of the object to be functionally utilized.

[0018] When used in cooling clothing, silicone rubber with a hardness of 45 to 55 degrees is suitable. The stretchability and elasticity of silicone rubber with a hardness of 45 to 55 degrees allows for a water supply hose that can follow the expansion and contraction of the cooling clothing.

[0019] For example, when small holes are made with a No. 9 to No. 11 sewing needle, the elasticity of the silicone rubber causes the small holes on the side of the tube to appear closed unless a significant amount of pressure is applied from inside the tube. When water pressure is applied by a pump, the small holes open, allowing water to seep out. Furthermore, when small holes of approximately 0.2 mm are made with a hole punch, the small holes remain open without closing. When the pump is positioned above the small holes, water seeps through the opening, and when the pump is positioned below the small holes, water does not seep through the opening. Therefore, the method of making the small holes, the diameter of the small holes, the position of the small holes on the garment, and the position of the small holes relative to the pump can be adjusted depending on the location and amount of water to be exuded.

[0020] If the small hole becomes clogged, the elasticity of the silicone rubber will cause it to widen, allowing foreign matter to pass through. As a result, the foreign matter that was about to clog the small hole will be expelled from the tube to the outside.

[0021] The hardness of the silicone rubber, the inner and outer diameters of the tube, and the diameter of the small holes drilled in the tube are adjusted so that the amount of water seeping out is appropriate depending on the viscosity of the liquid flowing through and the temperature of the environment in which the function is obtained.

[0022] By using a highly hygroscopic, fast-drying material as the target for water exudation, the exuded water dries in a short time, allowing water to continue to exude and keep the wearer cool.

[0023] Among the small holes in the tubes that are arranged along the surface of the functional application object or clothing, if the tube is arranged in a curve, the flow of liquid inside the tube is relatively fast on the outside of the curve, so the diameter of the small holes becomes larger and the amount of water that seeps out tends to be large. For this reason, it is desirable to make the number of small holes on the outside of the tube fewer than the number of small holes on the inside of the curve. It is also desirable to make the small holes on the outside of the curve smaller than the small holes on the inside of the curve.

[0024] When silicone rubber hollow fibers are used in cooling garments, they can be mass-produced to a certain extent by pre-punching holes according to the pattern of the garment. For small quantities, after attaching the silicone rubber hollow fibers to the garment, small holes can be made only in the required places using a sewing machine or the like.

[0025] Example 1 is shown. Example 1 is shown. Example 3 is shown. Example 3 is shown. Example 3 is shown. Example 4 is shown.

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Example 1 is an example in which silicone rubber hollow fibers are attached to a ribbon-shaped fabric, and small holes are punched with a sewing needle at required locations on the side of the hollow fibers. Example 2 is an example in which small holes are punched with a threaded sewing needle at required locations on the side of the hollow fibers. Example 3 is another example in which small holes are punched on the side of silicone rubber hollow fibers. Example 4 is an example in which silicone rubber hollow fibers are attached to clothing.

[0027] In cooling garments, which have water supply hoses strung throughout the garment and cool the wearer's body by running water through the hoses, hollow fibers made of silicone rubber are used as the water supply hoses. The hollow fibers are prepared without small holes on the sides, and the small holes on the sides are drilled later. The small holes on the sides are drilled by taking into account the position of the hollow fibers on the garment to which they will be attached, whether they will be curved or straight, and by taking into consideration that the amount of water that will seep out will be appropriate. The small holes can be drilled before or after the garment is attached.

[0028] When placing hollow fibers in clothing, in areas where it is known that the fibers will be placed in a curve, it is considered to reduce the number of holes drilled on the outside of the curve because there is a possibility that the holes will open up too large, and to increase the number of small holes drilled on the inside of the curve because there is a possibility that the holes will collapse.

[0029] Example 1 is an example in which the holes are drilled evenly in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber 1. This is suitable for cases in which the hollow fiber 1 is attached to the garment in a straight line without being curved, or for cases in which the difference in the amount of water seeping out is not a problem.

[0030] Example 1 is an example suitable for cases where the silicone rubber constituting the hollow fiber 1 does not have a smooth surface. The problem of the smooth surface of the silicone rubber is solved by wrapping the hollow fiber in cloth before making holes with a sewing needle.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, a hollow fiber 1 made of silicone rubber is wrapped in a ribbon-like cloth 10 and sewn together with a sewing machine, without making holes in the silicone rubber.

[0032] Next, as shown in Figure 2, holes are made in the hollow fibers from the outside of the wrapped cloth with a sewing needle. A sewing needle of size 9 to 11 is used. The holes made in the silicone rubber with the sewing needle will close up and look like small scratches due to the silicone rubber's ability to return to its original shape. When the water pressure inside the tube is low, the holes will remain closed, but when the water pressure is high, the closed holes will open up. The ribbon-shaped cloth should be made of a material that is highly absorbent and quick-drying.

[0033] The thickness and hardness of the silicone rubber are determined based on the ease of drilling small holes in the sides, ease of handling when manufacturing the cooling garment, and cooling effect. The silicone rubber used in Example 1 has an inner diameter of 2 mm and an outer diameter of 4 mm. The silicone rubber used in Example 1 also has a hardness of 50±5 degrees, a pressure resistance of 0.1 MPa, an elongation of 360%, and a heat resistance temperature of -40°C to 200°C.

[0034] In Example 2 (not shown), small holes are made in the hollow fiber with a sewing needle threaded with a thread, and the thread is held in place. Because the thread is held in place, the small holes do not close and the shape of the small holes is maintained.

[0035] In Example 2, the liquid inside the hollow fiber flows through the threads through the small holes, and is transported along the threads to the area where the threads reach.

[0036] Example 3 is shown in Figures 3 to 5. A hollow fiber made of silicone rubber is sandwiched between forward feed rollers (20a, 20b) and rear feed rollers (20c, 20d). By sandwiching the silicone rubber between the forward feed rollers (20a, 20b) and rear feed rollers (20c, 20d), the tension applied to the silicone rubber between them can be maintained at a desired constant level. This allows for the desired uniformity of holes to be punched. Perforation rollers (21a, 21b) are installed at the position where these two feed rollers sandwich the silicone rubber. Perforation roller 21a is equipped with a blade 25 for punching holes in the silicone rubber.

[0037] When holes are drilled with a drilling roller, depending on the shape and size of the blade, it is possible to drill a single hole in the diametrical direction of the tube, for example, in the upper wall, rather than drilling two holes in total, one on each of the upper and lower walls in the diametrical direction of the tube, in a tubular hollow fiber.

[0038] Figure 4 shows a hollow fiber 1 in which five small holes 2 have been drilled lengthwise using a circular blade. The small holes are open to only one of the two walls that are diametrically opposed to each other in the tube.

[0039] In FIG. 4, the axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber 1 is designated as the X-axis, the axis extending in the diameter direction of the hollow fiber 1 in the direction in which the small holes are opened is designated as the Z-axis, and the axis perpendicular to the Z-axis and the X-axis is designated as the Y-axis.

[0040] Figure 5 shows the changes in the shape and size of the five small holes 2 (A, B, C, D, E) when the hollow fiber 1 is curved in various directions as defined in Figure 4. (a) shows the hollow fiber 1 in an uncurved state. (b) shows the hollow fiber 1 curved by moving the small hole C in the positive direction on the Y axis on the X-Y plane. As shown in Figure 5, the small holes are compressed laterally, narrowing the opening. (c) shows the hollow fiber 1 curved by moving the small hole C in the negative direction on the Z axis on the X-Z plane. As shown in Figure 5, the small holes are compressed laterally, narrowing the opening. (d) shows the hollow fiber 1 curved by moving the small hole C in the positive direction on the Z axis on the X-Z plane. As shown in Figure 5, the small holes are expanded laterally, widening the opening.

[0041] As described above, the openings of the small holes are either crushed and narrowed or widened and expanded depending on the direction of the curve of the hollow fiber 1. When the openings are narrowed, the amount of liquid seeping out is adjusted by increasing the number of holes. When the openings are widened, the amount of liquid seeping out is adjusted by decreasing the number of holes.

[0042] In the fourth embodiment, hollow fibers made of silicone rubber attached to a ribbon-shaped cloth 10 are used in a cooling garment 50 .

[0043] The ribbon-shaped cloth 10 is wrapped around hollow fibers made of silicone rubber, for example, by the method shown in Example 1, and small holes have already been drilled into the sides of the hollow fibers made of silicone rubber. This ribbon-shaped cloth 10 is attached to a water-absorbing and diffusing layer 30 with high water absorption and diffusing properties. A suitable material for the water-absorbing and diffusing layer 30 is polyester, for example. The reason for attaching the ribbon-shaped cloth 10 to the water-absorbing and diffusing layer 30 is to spread water that seeps from the hollow fibers into the ribbon-shaped cloth over a wider area. The water-absorbing and diffusing layer 30 absorbs and diffuses the water that seeps out of the ribbon-shaped cloth 10, spreading it over a wider area, thereby efficiently cooling the wearer.

[0044] A connector 45 for connecting to a pump (not shown) is provided around the center of the front body of the cooling garment. The pump is connected to a collecting pipe 40 via the connector 45. The collecting pipe 40 is divided into two parts (not shown), each of which is connected to a hollow fiber. The hollow fibers are sewn to the ribbon-shaped cloth 10 as described above. The ribbon-shaped cloth 10 with the hollow fibers sewn to it is sewn from above the back bodice to a position located below the sleeve, and its end 15 is sewn in place above the front body. The moisture-absorbing and diffusing layer 30 with the ribbon-shaped cloth sewn to it in this way is used closer to the skin than the cooling garment 50.

[0045] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 hollow fiber 2 small hole 10 ribbon-shaped cloth 15 end 20a, 20b forward feed roller 20c, 20d rearward feed roller 21a, 21b perforation roller 25 blade 30 water-absorbing / diffusing layer 35 end 40 collecting pipe 45 connector 50 cooling garment

Claims

1. A tube made of silicone rubber through which a liquid passes, The tube is disposed along a surface of a function utilizing object that utilizes a function provided by the liquid, The liquid seeps into the functional target through a small hole drilled in the side of the tube. A tube made of silicone rubber with the same elasticity as the functional target.

2. A pipe through which water passes and exudes, The pipe is arranged along the surface of a functional object that utilizes the function of cooling the surroundings exerted by the seepage of water, Water seeps into the functional target through small holes drilled in the side of the tube. A tube made of silicone rubber with a hardness of 45 to 55 degrees.

3. The tube according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the functional application target is clothing.

4. 3. The tube of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inner diameter of the tube is between 1 mm and 2 mm and the outer diameter of the tube is between 2 mm and 4 mm.

5. 3. A tube according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that there are a large number of small holes, each of which has a diameter of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

6. A tube that is curved and placed on the surface of a functional object or garment, 3. A pipe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the number of perforations on the outside of the curve is less than the number of perforations on the inside of the curve.

7. A tube that is curved and placed on the surface of a functional object or garment, 3. A tube according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the perforations on the outside of the curve are smaller than the perforations on the inside of the curve.

8. 3. The tube according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a thread passes through the small hole, the thread extending through both the tube and the functional target.