Garment, hat, and liquid exudation mechanism

Abstract

[PROBLEM] With respect to a garment or the like in which is needed a means for causing a liquid to circulate in a garment such as cooling clothing, the present invention addresses the problem of providing, as a means for causing a liquid to circulate, a means that does not use a pump. [SOLUTION] The present invention solves the foregoing problem by providing a garment that comprises: a holding container for holding a liquid; and a water supply tube for supplying the liquid to the garment. A side surface of the water supply tube is provided with a plurality of holes through which the liquid inside the water supply tube exudes. The liquid inside the holding container is supplied to the garment using the principle of siphoning.

Description

Clothing, hats and liquid exudation mechanisms

[0001] This invention relates to clothing, hats, etc. that have tubes for delivering water stretched throughout the clothing, hats, etc., and that cool the wearer's body by running water through the tubes. It also relates to clothing, hats, etc. that have tubes for delivering liquid stretched throughout the clothing, hats, etc., and that allow the wearer to exercise the functions of the liquid by running a liquid with a function through the tubes. It also relates to a liquid exudation mechanism for exuding liquid into textile products.

[0002] Cooling garments are known that cool the wearer's body by running water through tubes strung throughout the garment. It is also known to use hollow fiber membranes as the tubes used in cooling garments. Water seeps out from countless micropores on the walls of the hollow fiber membranes, and the cooling garment absorbs the seeped water. The wearer's body is cooled by the water itself absorbed by the cooling garment. In addition, the wearer's body is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization when the water evaporates. It is also known to use a water storage container and a pump to send water from the container to the tubes to supply water to the tubes of the cooling garment.

[0003] Figure 7 shows the cooling garment described in Patent Document 1. The cooling garment 101 includes a liquid supply pipe 102. The cooling garment 101 uses a water container 104 and a pump 105 to supply liquid to the liquid supply pipe 102. The water container 104 and the pump 105 are stored in a pocket 103 provided in the cooling garment 101.

[0004] Patent Publication No. 2023-90318

[0005] In clothing requiring a means for circulating liquid, such as cooling garments, using a tube and pump is effective. However, when using a pump, the pump must be attached directly to the garment or stored in a pocket. This limits the design of the garment. While both electric and manual pumps can be used, using an electric pump is convenient because the wearer can leave the task of pumping water through the tube to the pump. For this reason, many cooling garments on the market use electric pumps. However, using an electric pump requires an additional battery for power supply, and the weight and cumbersomeness of the pump and battery hinder the wearer's comfort. This invention aims to provide a means for circulating liquid in clothing requiring a means for circulating liquid, such as cooling garments, that does not require a pump. This invention also relates to a liquid exudation mechanism for exuding liquid into a textile product, and to clothing, hats, helmets, bedding, etc., equipped with such a liquid exudation mechanism.

[0006] (1) The problem is solved by clothing comprising a holding container for holding liquid, an exudation tube for exuding the liquid into the clothing, and a liquid feed tube for sending the liquid from the holding container to the exudation tube, the side of the exudation tube having multiple holes through which the liquid inside the exudation tube exudates into the clothing, and the liquid in the holding container is fed to the clothing by the siphon principle. (2) The problem is solved by a hat comprising a holding container for holding liquid, an exudation tube for exuding the liquid into a hat, and a liquid feed tube for sending the liquid from the holding container to the exudation tube, the side of the exudation tube having multiple holes through which the liquid inside the exudation tube exudates into the hat, and the liquid in the holding container is fed to the hat by the siphon principle. (3) The problem is solved by clothing as described in (1), in which the liquid is water and the clothing is a cooling garment. (4) The problem is solved by a hat as described in (2), in which the liquid is water. (5) The problem is solved by the garment described in (1), characterized in that the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by vertically moving the holding container. (6) The problem is solved by the hat described in (2), characterized in that the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by vertically moving the holding container. (7) The problem is solved by the garment described in (1), characterized in that the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by changing the shape of the holding container. (8) The problem is solved by the hat described in (2), characterized in that the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by changing the shape of the holding container. (9) The problem is solved by a liquid exudation mechanism for exuding liquid into a textile product, comprising a holding container for holding the liquid, an exudation tube for exuding the liquid, and a liquid delivery tube for delivering the liquid from the holding container to the exudation tube, the side of the exudation tube having multiple holes through which the liquid inside the exudation tube exudes into the textile product, and the holding container is positioned higher than the exudation tube, so that the liquid in the holding container is delivered to the exudation tube by the siphon principle and exuded from the exudation tube. (10) The problem is solved by the liquid seepage mechanism described in (9), which is characterized by having a mechanism for adjusting the vertical height of the holding container.(11) The problem is solved by the liquid seepage mechanism according to (9) or (10), characterized in that the holding container is configured to be shape-changeable, and by changing the shape of the holding container, the amount of liquid sent from inside the holding container can be adjusted. (12) The problem is solved by clothing, a hat, a helmet, or bedding having the liquid seepage mechanism according to (9). (13) The problem is solved by the liquid seepage mechanism according to (9), characterized in that the liquid is water.

[0007] The liquid is not limited to water, but also includes alcohol and liquefied gas. It also applies to liquids such as water that contain functional ingredients such as antibacterial agents, insect repellents, and fragrances.

[0008] Clothing includes not only outerwear and underwear, but also shoes, hats, and other items that cover the body in general, and in this invention, the concept can include not only so-called clothing items, but also helmets, supports, protective gear, and other protective equipment.

[0009] A tank, for example, is used as a holding container for holding water. In order to transfer the water in the tank using the siphon principle, the water transfer destination must be located at a lower position than the tank. Also, at the start, the water transfer pipe must be filled with water. To fill the water transfer pipe with water at the start, for example, the tank must be gripped with the hand or fingers to transfer the water in the tank to the water transfer pipe. For this reason, it is preferable that the tank be flexible.

[0010] The side of the seepage pipe has micropores, but the water supply pipe does not. Therefore, the liquid inside the water supply pipe does not seep out. The water sent to the seepage pipe is discharged from the micropores on the side of the seepage pipe toward the clothing and evaporates. As a result, the water is absorbed at the destination and the water is sent from the tank.

[0011] The evaporation rate can be increased by using a fan or other air blower to evaporate the water. The evaporation rate can also be adjusted by turning the fan on or off. Because water evaporates relatively slowly, a small amount of water is sufficient, and a small tank is sufficient. As a result, a small, soft tank can be tucked horizontally along the seam at the collar attachment point of a polo shirt, or attached to a hood or hat. This allows the tank to be attached without affecting the fashion sense.

[0012] As a means for vertically shifting the position of the holding container in the clothing, for example, there is a means for providing a pocket for storing the tank in the clothing and for the pocket to be attached and detached from the clothing so that the position of the pocket can be shifted. There is also a means for providing multiple pockets at different vertical heights in the clothing in advance and for the tank to be moved to the pocket at the height where it should be placed. There is also a means for attaching the tank directly to the clothing using a fastener or other attachment means without providing a pocket in the clothing.

[0013] As a means for changing the shape of the holding container, for example, when the water level in the tank decreases, there is a means for bending the tank vertically to lower the tank height and raise the water level. There is also a means for applying external pressure to the bottom of the tank to crush the bottom of the tank and prevent water from entering the bottom of the tank. By using a means for changing the shape of the tank instead of replacing the tank as a means for raising the water level in the tank, the work of the wearer can be simplified.

[0014] The object from which the liquid is exuded can be a hat. The hat can have protective functions like a helmet, or it can be purely a helmet. If the liquid is water, the object from which the water is exuded can cool a person's head by using a hat or helmet. Because hats and helmets are only large enough to cover a person's head and are placed in a location that is easily visible (on the person's head), using a pump to deliver liquid to the hat or helmet is undesirable from the standpoints of usability and appearance. By using the siphon principle instead of a pump to deliver the exuding liquid to the hat or helmet, the object from which the liquid is exuded can be a hat or helmet.

[0015] In order to use the siphon principle to pump water, hats and helmets, like clothing, must be placed at a lower position than the water container (e.g., tank) that holds the water. The water pipe must be filled with water before the water supply starts. As described below, the cohesive force of water allows water to move over a relatively short distance, even if the container is lower than the water destination.

[0016] When worn on the body, a hat or helmet is positioned higher in the direction of gravity than other clothing such as a shirt or pants, so the container (e.g., a tank) used for the hat or helmet can also be used as a container for storing water to be sent to clothing such as a shirt or pants. This is particularly effective because the neck area of ​​clothing is located at the top of the clothing, making it difficult to position a container to cool the neck area. In this case, it goes without saying that the water supply pipe extending from the liquid container installed in the hat or helmet should be extended so that it reaches the clothing.

[0017] The object onto which the liquid is exuded can also be bedding, such as a mattress, futon, blanket, or sleeping bag, which has a textile product at least in the portion that comes into contact with the person. If the liquid is water, the object onto which the water is exuded can cool almost the entire body. Since bedding is used for long periods of time while sleeping, using a pump is not desirable from the perspective of power consumption, etc. However, by using the siphon principle instead of a pump as a means of sending the exuding liquid to the bedding, the object onto which the liquid is exuded can be bedding.

[0018] By utilizing the siphon principle to deliver water from a liquid container to clothing, etc., there is no need to use a pump, for example, in cooling clothing. As a result, there is greater freedom in terms of design, which is an important element for clothing, etc. Furthermore, since there is no need to equip a pump or battery, the inconvenience of weight and bulk can be eliminated, for example, in cooling clothing. For items that are used for long periods of time, such as bedding, it is possible to significantly reduce energy consumption caused by using a pump for long periods of time.

[0019] 1 shows clothing according to Examples 1 to 4. 2 shows clothing and tanks according to Examples 1 to 4. 3 shows Example 1. 4 shows Example 2. 5 shows Example 3. 6 shows Example 4. 7 shows a conventional example.

[0020] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail based on examples. Examples 1 to 4 are all examples of means for exuding water as a liquid into a cooling garment, which is an example of clothing, that is, means for changing the position of a tank in the cooling garment while the cooling garment is being worn in order to distribute water throughout the cooling garment.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a garment 1 according to Examples 1 to 4. The garment 1 includes tube units (10, 20, 30). The tube unit 10 is placed around the neck of the garment. The tube units 20 and 30 are placed on the right and left sides of the torso of the garment. Each of the tube units 10, 20, and 30 includes a ribbon-like cloth band (11, 21, 31) and an exudation tube (13, 23, 33) attached to the band so as to fit along the band. The band is made of a material with excellent water absorption and diffusion properties. The exudation tube is wavy to increase the contact area with the band and is attached to the band by sewing or the like so as to fit along the band. The wall of the exudation tube is provided with numerous micropores, and water in the exudation tube seeps through the micropores and is absorbed by the band. The tube unit 10 has one exudation tube extending in the length direction, while the tube unit 20 and the tube unit 30 have two exudation tubes extending in the length direction.

[0022] Figure 2 shows the garment 1 according to Examples 1 to 4. Water from the tank 40 reaches the exudation pipe 23 on the tube unit 20 via the water supply pipe 26 and the joint 22. It also reaches the exudation pipe 33 on the tube unit 30 via the water supply pipe 27 and the joint 32. The water level in the tank 40 shown in Figure 2 is somewhat lower than the tube unit 10. This makes it difficult to send the water from the tank 40 to the exudation pipe 13 on the tube unit 10. For this reason, a separate tank (not shown) is used to supply water to the tube unit 10, attached to the edge of the neck or to a hat. Water 41 is stored in the tank 40. The tank 40 is attached to the garment by the means shown in Examples 1 to 4.

[0023] The tank is made of a flexible material. At the start of use, the tank 40 is first grasped and pressed with the hand or fingers to send water 41 from the tank to the water supply pipes 26 and 27. The water then fills the seepage pipes (23, 33) through the joints (22, 32). This causes the water to flow to a position lower than the water level of the water 41 in the tank due to the siphon principle. Even if the water is slightly higher than the water level of the water 41 in the tank, it will still flow slightly due to the cohesive force of the water. To enhance the siphon effect, especially at the start of use, it may be possible to provide check valves or one-way valves in some of the water supply pipes 26 and 27.

[0024] In Example 1, the position of the pocket that houses the tank is changed so that water can be distributed throughout the cooling garment while it is being worn. Example 1 is shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the tube unit and pipes are not shown.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3(a), the tank 40 is housed in a pocket 50. The pocket opening is located at the top of the pocket. The pocket is attached to the outside of the cooling garment by means of Velcro, buttons (or buttonholes), or hooks. Attaching the tank to the outside of the cooling garment makes it easy to grasp and push the tank with the hand or fingers.

[0026] The pocket 50 can be attached to any suitable position on the cooling garment using Velcro, buttons, hooks, etc. The pocket 50 shown in Figure 3(b) is suitable for storing a tank when distributing water to a tube unit located high on the garment, such as around the neck. When a silicone tube with an inner diameter of 2 mm was used, water easily circulated up to 70 mm above the water surface in the tank. When the tank was moved further upward, water circulation was insufficient at 100 mm above the water surface, and no water circulated at all above 140 mm.

[0027] In Example 2, the tank is bent to change its shape so that water can be distributed throughout the cooling garment while it is being worn. Example 2 is shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the tube unit and pipes are not shown.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4( a), the tank 45 is housed in a pocket 50. The pocket opening is located at the top of the pocket. As shown in FIG. 4( b), the tank 45 used in Example 2 can be folded along fold line 46, which reduces the height of the tank 45 by approximately half. When the amount of water in the tank decreases, the water level in the tank drops, preventing the water from reaching the clothing sufficiently. However, by folding the tank to reduce its height by half when the water level drops, and then attaching the container at a relatively high position as described below, the water level in the tank can be maintained at the same level as before the water level dropped. Because the position of the pocket that houses the tank is selected depending on the height of the water destination, it is important to maintain the water level in the tank at the same level as before the water level dropped.

[0029] Figures 4(c-1) to (c-6) show examples of attaching a tank to clothing using a hook-and-loop fastener installed inside a pocket. As shown in (c-1), a hook-and-loop fastener 53 is installed inside the pocket 50. The hook-and-loop fastener 53 extends vertically. For ease of explanation, the hook-and-loop fastener inside the pocket is shown with a solid line in the figure. A hook-and-loop fastener is also installed on the back of the tank 45. As shown in (c-2), the tank 45 containing water 41 is attached to the clothing inside the pocket with the hook-and-loop fastener 53. As the water in the tank is pumped to various parts of the clothing through the tube, it decreases, causing the water level to drop as shown in (c-3). The tank 45 is bent to reduce its height by approximately half, and then moved slightly upward as shown in (c-4). As a result, the water level in the tank becomes approximately the same as the original level shown in (c-2). The water in the tank is then further pumped to various parts of the clothing through the tube, causing the water level to drop as shown in (c-5). As shown in (c-6), by moving the tank position further upward, the water level in the tank again becomes the same as the initial level shown in (c-2).

[0030] Figures 4(d-1) to (d-6) show examples of attaching a tank to clothing using hooks inside a pocket. As shown in (d-1), a hook 53 is provided inside the pocket 50. Three hooks 53 are arranged vertically. For ease of explanation, the hooks inside the pocket are shown with solid lines in the figure. A hook is also attached to the back of the tank 45. As shown in (d-2), the tank 45, which contains water 41, is attached to the clothing inside the pocket with the hook 53. The water in the tank decreases as it is sent to various parts of the clothing via tubes, causing the water level to drop as shown in (d-3). The tank 45 is folded to reduce its height by approximately half, and then the tank's position is moved upward by one hook as shown in (d-4). As a result, the water level inside the tank becomes approximately the same as the initial level shown in (d-2). The water in the tank is then sent further through the tubes to various parts of the garment, causing the water level to drop as shown in (d-5). By moving the tank up another hook as shown in (d-6), the water level in the tank once again becomes the same as the original level shown in (d-2).

[0031] As shown in (c-1) and (d-1) of Figure 4, hook-and-loop fasteners and hooks are provided inside the pocket, not outside. This is because providing them on the outside of the pocket imposes design restrictions. Furthermore, particularly in the case of hook-and-loop fasteners, providing them on the outside of the pocket can cause problems such as the hook-and-loop fastener sticking to the surrounding area while the garment is being worn. While it is conceivable to maintain the water level in the tank by raising the tank's position without bending it, keeping it at its original size, if the tank's size were to remain unchanged, the tank would protrude from the pocket. Therefore, it is meaningful to lower the tank's height and raise its position.

[0032] In Example 3, pockets are provided at different heights in the vertical direction on the cooling garment to allow water to circulate throughout the garment while it is being worn, and the pocket openings are on the sides. Example 3 is shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, the tube units and pipes are not shown.

[0033] In Example 3, pockets 51 are arranged in a vertical row on each of the left and right sides of the cooling garment 1. Pocket openings 55 are provided on the sides of the pockets 51. The bottom of each pocket is partially closed by sewing or other means to prevent a tank or other item from falling out of the pocket.

[0034] In Example 4, a zipper is attached to the side opening of the pocket, and the tube is deformed by opening and closing the zipper to distribute water throughout the cooling garment while the cooling garment is being worn. Example 4 is shown in Figure 6. In Figure 6, the tube unit and pipes are not shown.

[0035] Pocket 57 has the same size and shape as the tank's outer shape, so that there is no gap between pocket 57 and tank 50 when it is inserted. Pocket opening 58 on the side of pocket 57 is equipped with a zipper 59. When the zipper is closed from below, the pocket narrows as the zipper closes, causing the tank 50 inside the pocket to be crushed and deformed by the pocket from below. As a result, the water level inside the tank rises.

[0036] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Clothing 10 Tube unit 11 Belt 12 Joint 13 Exudation pipe 20 Tube unit 21 Belt 22 Joint 23 Exudation pipe 25, 26, 27 Water supply pipe 30 Tube unit 31 Belt 32 Joint 33 Exudation pipe 40 Tank 41 Water 45 Tank 46 Folding line 50, 51 Pocket 53 Hook and loop fastener 54 Hook and eye 55 Pocket opening 58 Pocket opening 59 Zipper 101 Cooling garment 102 Liquid supply pipe 103 Pocket 104 Water container 105 Pump

Claims

1. A garment comprising a holding container for holding liquid, an exudation tube for exuding the liquid into the garment, and a liquid delivery tube for sending the liquid from the holding container to the exudation tube, the side of which has a plurality of holes that allow the liquid inside the exudation tube to exudate into the garment, and the liquid in the holding container is delivered to the garment using the siphon principle.

2. A cap comprising a holding container for holding liquid, an exudation pipe for exuding the liquid into the cap, and a liquid delivery pipe for sending the liquid from the holding container to the exudation pipe, the side of the exudation pipe having a plurality of holes that allow the liquid inside the exudation pipe to exudate into the cap, and the liquid in the holding container being sent to the cap using the siphon principle.

3. The clothing according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is water and the clothing is a cooling garment.

4. The hat according to claim 2, wherein the liquid is water.

5. The garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by vertically moving the holding container.

6. The hat according to claim 2, wherein the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by vertically moving the arrangement of the holding container.

7. The garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by changing the shape of the holding container.

8. The hat according to claim 2, wherein the amount of liquid delivered is adjusted by changing the shape of the holding container.

9. A liquid seepage mechanism for exuding liquid into a textile product, comprising: a holding container for holding the liquid; an exudation pipe for exuding the liquid; and a liquid delivery pipe for delivering the liquid from the holding container to the exudation pipe, the side of the exudation pipe being provided with a plurality of holes through which the liquid inside the exudation pipe can be exuded into the textile product; and the holding container is positioned higher than the exudation pipe, so that the liquid in the holding container is delivered to the exudation pipe by the siphon principle and exudes from the exudation pipe.

10. The liquid seeping mechanism of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism for adjusting the vertical height of the holding vessel.

11. A liquid seepage mechanism as described in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the holding container is configured to be shape-changeable, and by changing the shape of the holding container, the amount of liquid delivered from within the holding container can be adjusted.

12. Clothing, hats, helmets, or bedding having the liquid exuding mechanism of claim 9.

13. The liquid seepage mechanism of claim 9, wherein the liquid is water.

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