Eye mask

Abstract

This eye mask comprises: a covering part that covers the eyes and / or the peripheries of the eyes and the temples of a wearer when worn; a pair of ear fitting parts that can be fitted to the ears of the wearer; and a heating element that is provided to the covering part. The heating element is disposed in the covering part so as to directly or indirectly face the eyes and / or the peripheries of the eyes of the wearer when worn. The material constituting the covering part and the material constituting the ear fitting parts are each configured to be stretchable in the width direction. The ratio of the 50% elongation load of the material constituting the ear fitting parts to the 50% elongation load of the material constituting the covering part is 0.2-1.2, and the pair of ear fitting parts are formed integrally with the covering part.

Description

eye mask

[0001] This invention relates to an eye mask.

[0002] Eye masks capable of warming the wearer's eyes have been known for some time (for example, Patent Document 1). Conventional eye masks, including the one described in Patent Document 1, can provide comfort to the wearer by warming their eyes.

[0003] International Publication No. 2022 / 259588

[0004] Incidentally, conventional eye masks do not take into consideration whether the main body covers the wearer's temples when worn. However, the inventors have found that if the main body of the eye mask also covers the wearer's temples when worn, the heat generated from the heating element can be conducted to the wearer's temples, providing the wearer with even greater comfort.

[0005] Furthermore, conventional eye masks do not take into consideration the application of pressure to the wearer's temples. In other words, in conventional eye masks, including the eye mask described in Patent Document 1, the main body and ear loops are generally joined using various fusion methods. In a conventional eye mask with a configuration where the main body and ear loops are joined, if one were to try to apply pressure to the wearer's temples, one might consider reducing the elasticity of the ear loops to make the eye mask fit snugly over the wearer's entire face.

[0006] However, reducing the elasticity of the ear loops, while it may be possible to apply pressure to the wearer's temples, also increases the pressure applied to the wearer's ears, which could cause discomfort to the wearer.

[0007] Therefore, the present inventors have found that by forming the covering portion and the ear loop portion of the eye mask as an integral part, and by making the ratio of the elasticity of the covering portion and the ear loop portion close, it becomes possible to make the eye mask fit snugly over the wearer's entire face when worn, and to apply pressure to the wearer's temples (hereinafter referred to as "fit" in this specification), thereby providing the wearer with even greater comfort.

[0008] This invention relates to an eye mask that can improve the fit when worn and further enhance the comfort provided to the wearer.

[0009] The eye mask according to the present invention comprises a covering portion that covers the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn, a pair of ear attachment portions that can be attached to the wearer's ears, and a heating element provided in the covering portion, wherein the heating element is positioned in the covering portion so as to directly or indirectly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes when worn, the material constituting the covering portion and the material constituting the ear attachment portions are each configured to be stretchable in the width direction, the ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portions at 50% stretch to the load of the material constituting the covering portion at 50% stretch is 0.2 or more and 1.2 or less, and the pair of ear attachment portions are formed integrally with the covering portion.

[0010] The eye mask of the present invention makes it possible to improve the fit when worn and further enhance the comfort provided to the wearer.

[0011] This is a plan view showing the eye mask according to this embodiment. This is a plan view showing the extent of the covering. This is an exploded perspective view showing the eye mask according to this embodiment. This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the eye mask according to this embodiment. This is a perspective view showing a human head model. This is a plan view showing the heating element according to this embodiment. This is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line A-A' in Figure 6. This is a schematic diagram showing a measuring device for measuring the amount of water vapor generated. Figure 9(a) is a diagram showing the process of putting on the eye mask according to this embodiment, and Figure 9(b) is a diagram showing the state of wearing the eye mask according to this embodiment. Figure 10A is a diagram showing the placement of the measuring device for measuring contact pressure when the eye mask according to Example 1 is worn. Figure 10B is a diagram showing the placement of the measuring device for measuring contact pressure when the eye mask according to Comparative Example 1 is worn. Figure 10C is a diagram showing the placement of the measuring device for measuring contact pressure when the eye mask according to Comparative Example 2 is worn.

[0012] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as defined in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, in these embodiments, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted.

[0013] [Overall configuration of the eye mask] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment comprises a main body 10 that can be attached to the wearer's face, and a pair of heating elements 40 provided on the main body 10.

[0014] In this specification, in a plan view of the eye mask 1 (see Figure 1), the direction in which the upper edge portion 11, described later, is located is defined as "upward," and the direction in which the lower edge portion 12, described later, is located is defined as "downward." Furthermore, in this specification, in a plan view of the eye mask 1, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, that is, the direction that coincides with the direction in which the heating elements 40 are arranged, is defined as the "width direction."

[0015] In this specification, the area located inside the orbit, such as the eyeball, eyelid, and eyelashes, is collectively defined as "eye." In this specification, the eyebrows, the space between the eyebrows, and the upper edges of the cheeks are collectively defined as "area around the eye." Furthermore, in this specification, the area corresponding to either (1) or (2) below is defined as "temple." (1) The recessed area of ​​the skull located between the outer corner of the eyebrow and the upper end of the base of the ear. (2) As shown in Figure 5, the area within a circle with a radius of 10 mm centered O, 15 mm cephalically from the intersection point P of the first imaginary line VL1, which connects the outer corner of the eye and the upper end of the base of the ear in the human head model HM, and the second imaginary line VL2, which extends vertically through a point 30 mm from the outer corner end of the first imaginary line VL1. Note that the first imaginary line VL1 and the second imaginary line VL2 are imaginary lines that extend along the surface of the human head model HM. Furthermore, for the "Human Head Model HM," a female human head model (width 151.24 mm, depth 206.82 mm, height 233.01 mm) created based on the average human head data for women (2014 version) manufactured by Digital Human Technology Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0016] [Main Body Configuration] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the main body 10 comprises a covering portion 20 that covers the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn, and a pair of ear attachment portions 30 that can be attached to the wearer's ears. Specifically, the main body 10 has the covering portion 20 on the inside in the width direction, and a pair of ear attachment portions 30 at both ends on the outside in the width direction. In this embodiment, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portions 30 are formed as a single unit. More specifically, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portions 30 are continuous from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portions 30 without increasing the bending rigidity; in other words, there is no part in the region from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portions 30 that has higher bending rigidity than the covering portion 20. That is, in this embodiment, in the main body 10, the ear attachment portions 30 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the covering portion 20 without the need for fusion parts or reinforcing parts to connect the ear attachment portions 30 to the covering portion 20. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main body 10 does not have a fold line formed between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 for bending the ear attachment portion 30, and the ear attachment portions 30 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the covering portion 20.

[0017] As described above, the pair of ear attachment parts 30 are integrally formed with the covering part 20, which improves the fit of the covering part 20 when wearing the eye mask 1. Specifically, because the covering part 20 and the ear attachment parts 30 are integrally formed with the main body part 10, no gap is formed between the wearer's temples and the covering part 20, and by applying appropriate pressure to the wearer's temples, the fit of the covering part 20 to the wearer's temples can be improved, as well as the warming effect on the wearer's temples. Furthermore, by improving the fit of the covering part 20 to the wearer's temples, the sense of immersion given to the wearer can be improved.

[0018] Furthermore, in the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30, there are no parts in the region from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portion 30 that have higher bending rigidity than the covering portion 20. In other words, in this embodiment, in the main body portion 10, there are no parts in the region from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portion 30 that have higher bending rigidity than the covering portion 20, and the ear attachment portions 30 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the covering portion 20.

[0019] Thus, because there are no parts in the region from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portion 30 that have higher bending rigidity than the covering portion 20, the fit of the covering portion 20 can be improved when wearing the eye mask 1. In addition, by improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's temples, the sense of immersion given to the wearer can be improved.

[0020] Furthermore, there are no fold lines between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30. In other words, in this embodiment, in the main body portion 10, no fold lines are formed between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 for folding the ear attachment portion 30, and the ear attachment portions 30 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the covering portion 20.

[0021] As described above, the pair of ear attachment portions 30 are integrally formed with the covering portion 20, and there are no fold lines in the region from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portions 30. This improves the fit and adhesion of the covering portion 20 when wearing the eye mask 1, preventing gaps from forming between the wearer's temples and the covering portion 20. This improves the fit and adhesion of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's temples and enhances the warming effect on the wearer's temples. Furthermore, the improved fit and adhesion of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's temples enhances the sense of immersion provided to the wearer.

[0022] Furthermore, in the eye mask 1 of this embodiment, the material constituting the covering portion 20 (described later) and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 (described later) are located on a straight line connecting the wearer's eyebrow tail and the upper end of the base of their ear when worn. Specifically, the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30 are continuous without being recessed in the downward direction, and the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30 form the upper edge portion 11 of the main body portion 10 (described later). With this configuration, when the eye mask 1 of this embodiment is worn, the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 (described later) are located on a straight line connecting the wearer's eyebrow tail and the upper end of the base of their ear (on the first dashed line VL1 in Figure 5). As a result, no gap is formed between the wearer's eyebrow tail and the upper end of the base of their ear and the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30, thereby improving the fit of the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 when worn.

[0023] In this specification, "the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30 are continuous without being recessed in the downward direction" means that, in a plan view of the eye mask 1 (see Figure 1), the boundary portion between the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30 is not recessed downward. Specifically, this means that the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30 are continuous in a straight line or an upwardly curved line. Here, "the boundary portion between the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30" refers to the boundary portion when the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 can be clearly separated, and when it is difficult to clearly separate the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30, it refers to the intersection point between the upper edge of the main body portion 10 and a pair of imaginary lines VL3 (see Figure 1) that extend vertically from the ends on the inside of the pair of ear insertion holes 31 in the width direction, which will be described later.

[0024] In this embodiment, it has been described that the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear-attaching portion 30 are formed continuously without recessing in the downward direction. However, the invention is not limited to this, and a recess (indentation) may be formed between the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear-attaching portion 30. When a recess is formed between the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear-attaching portion 30, it is preferable that the recess has a depth of 20% or less, more preferably 15% or less, even more preferably 10% or less, even more preferably 5% or less, and even more preferably 3% or less of the vertical length L2 of the main body portion 10, which will be described later.

[0025] Furthermore, the main body portion 10 has an elongated upper edge portion 11 that is located on the wearer's forehead side when the eye mask 1 is worn, an elongated lower edge portion 12 that is located on the wearer's cheek side when the eye mask 1 is worn, and a pair of side edges 13 that extend from both ends of the upper edge portion 11 to both ends of the lower edge portion 12, and is formed as a long rectangular shape in the width direction. In this embodiment, the upper edge portion 11 and the lower edge portion 12 are formed by the upper and lower edges of the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30, and the side edges 13 are formed by the side edges of the ear attachment portion 30.

[0026] In this specification, "rectangular" means a quadrilateral shape having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, and specifically refers to a shape that falls under either (1) or (2) below: (1) A shape in which the upper edge 11 and side edges 13 and the lower edge 12 and side edges 13 are perpendicular to each other, and the main body 10 as a whole is a perfect rectangle. (2) A shape in which the main body 10 as a whole is substantially rectangular, for example, when at least one of the upper edge 11, lower edge 12 and side edges 13 is formed in an arc shape, or when at least one of the connection portion between the upper edge 11 and side edges 13 and the connection portion between the lower edge 12 and side edges 13 is formed in an arc shape.

[0027] The upper edge 11 and lower edge 12 are formed in an arc shape that curves slightly upward from the center of the main body 10. The side edge 13 is formed in an arc shape that curves outward in the width direction of the main body 10. Furthermore, the connection portion between the upper edge 11 and the side edge 13 and the connection portion between the lower edge 12 and the side edge 13 are each formed in an arc shape that curves outward from the main body 10. Having such a configuration has the advantage of improving the design of the eye mask 1.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the main body 10 is formed in a long rectangular shape in the width direction, and the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 are integrally formed in the main body 10. As a result, the main body 10 can cover the wearer from the outer corner of the eyebrow to the upper end of the base of the ear without any gaps. This has the advantage of improving the sense of immersion given to the wearer. In other words, in this embodiment, the ear attachment portion 30 is formed in the main body 10 at both ends of the covering portion 20 in the width direction without the use of fused portions or reinforcing portions, and the upper edge of the covering portion 20 and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion 30 are continuous without being recessed in the lower edge direction, and there is no fold line formed between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 for folding the ear attachment portion 30. With this configuration, when worn, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 are located on a straight line connecting the outer corner of the eyebrow and the upper end of the base of the ear (on the first imaginary line VL1 in Figure 5), so the covering area of ​​the main body 10 over the wearer is large. Therefore, the fit of the main body 10 when worn can be further improved.

[0029] The shape of the main body portion 10 is not limited to this, and for example, at least one of the upper edge portion 11 and the lower edge portion 12 may be formed in a straight line extending along the width direction, at least one of the upper edge portion 11 and the lower edge portion 12 may be formed in an arc shape that curves downward toward the center of the main body portion 10, at least one of the upper edge portion 11 and the lower edge portion 12 may locally protrude or curve, the side edge portion 13 may be formed in a straight line extending along the vertical direction, the side edge portion 13 may locally protrude or curve, at least one of the upper edge portion 11 and the side edge portion 13 and the lower edge portion 12 and the side edge portion 13 may be perpendicular, or it may have any other known shape.

[0030] Furthermore, although this embodiment has described the main body 10 as having the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 integrally formed, it is not limited to this, and the ear attachment portion 30 may be a separate component attached to both ends of the covering portion 20 in the width direction.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the widthwise length L1 of the main body 10 is preferably 220 mm or more, more preferably 240 mm or more, and even more preferably 260 mm or more, from the viewpoint of covering the wearer's temples with the covering portion 20 when wearing the eye mask 1. Furthermore, the widthwise length L1 of the main body 10 is preferably 360 mm or less, more preferably 340 mm or less, and even more preferably 320 mm or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing sagging of the main body 10 when wearing the eye mask 1 and improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. In other words, the widthwise length L1 of the main body 10 is preferably 220 mm or more and 360 mm or less, more preferably 240 mm or more and 340 mm or less, and even more preferably 260 mm or more and 320 mm or less.

[0032] In this specification, "length in the width direction of the main body" means the length corresponding to any one of the following (1) to (3): (1) When the side edge portion 13 is formed in an arc shape, as shown in Figure 1, or when the side edge portion 13 is not formed in a straight line extending in the vertical direction, the straight length in the width direction from the tangent line in the vertical direction of one side edge portion 13 to the tangent line in the vertical direction of the other side edge portion 13. (2) When the side edge portion 13 is formed in a straight line extending in the vertical direction, the straight length in the width direction from one side edge portion 13 to the other side edge portion 13. (3) When one of a pair of side edge portions 13 is formed on a straight line extending in the vertical direction, and the other of the pair of side edge portions 13 is not formed on a straight line extending in the vertical direction, the straight length in the width direction from the tangent line in the vertical direction of one side edge portion 13 to the tangent line in the vertical direction of the other side edge portion 13.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the vertical length L2 of the main body 10 is preferably 80 mm or more, more preferably 85 mm or more, and even more preferably 90 mm or more, from the viewpoint of increasing the covering area of ​​the covering portion 20 over the wearer's face and giving the wearer a sense of immersion. Also, the vertical length L2 of the main body 10 is preferably 130 mm or less, more preferably 110 mm or less, and even more preferably 105 mm or less, from the viewpoint of reducing the covering area of ​​the covering portion 20 over the wearer and preventing the wearer from feeling uncomfortable. In other words, the vertical length L2 of the main body 10 is preferably 80 mm or more and 130 mm or less, more preferably 85 mm or more and 110 mm or less, and even more preferably 90 mm or more and 105 mm or less.

[0034] In this specification, "vertical length of the main body" means any length that falls under any one of the following (1) to (3): (1) When the upper edge 11 and lower edge 12 are formed in an arc shape, as shown in Figure 1, or when the upper edge 11 and lower edge 12 are not formed in a straight line extending along the width direction, the straight length in the vertical direction from the tangent line along the width direction of the upper edge 11 to the tangent line along the width direction of the lower edge 12. (2) When the upper edge 11 and lower edge 12 are formed in a straight line extending along the width direction, the straight length in the vertical direction from the upper edge 11 to the lower edge 12. (3) If either the upper edge 11 or the lower edge 12 is formed in a straight line extending along the width direction, and the other of the upper edge 11 or the lower edge 12 is not formed in a straight line extending along the width direction, the length of the straight line along the vertical direction from either the upper edge 11 or the lower edge 12 to the tangent line along the width direction of the other of the upper edge 11 or the lower edge 12.

[0035] [Configuration of the Covering Part] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the covering part 20 is a covering area formed on the inside of the main body part 10 in the width direction. Specifically, when the covering part 20 and the ear attachment part 30 can be clearly separated, the covering part 20 refers to the area of ​​the main body part 10 excluding the ear attachment part 30. On the other hand, when it is difficult to clearly separate the covering part 20 and the ear attachment part 30, the covering part 20 refers to the area defined by the upper edge which constitutes a part of the upper edge 11 of the main body part 10, the lower edge which constitutes a part of the lower edge 12 of the main body part 10, and a pair of imaginary lines VL3 (see Figure 2) extending vertically from the ends on the inside of the pair of ear insertion holes 31 in the width direction, which will be described later.

[0036] In other words, when it is difficult to clearly distinguish between the covering portion 20 and the ear mounting portion 30, a pair of straight lines extending in the vertical direction from the end portions on the inner side in the width direction of the pair of ear insertion holes 31 (that is, the end portions on the central portion 22 side described later) are drawn parallel to the vertical center line 23 described later, and it is preferable that the region located inside the pair of straight lines in the width direction be the covering portion 20. In the embodiment described later, the ear insertion holes 31 provided in the ear mounting portion 30 will be described as being openings formed by cutting out the outer surface sheet 60. However, for example, the ear insertion holes 31 provided in the ear mounting portion 30 may be slits (not shown) formed by notching the outer surface sheet 60. In this way, in the case of a configuration in which the ear mounting portion 30 includes a pair of slits for inserting the wearer's ears, a pair of straight lines extending in the vertical direction from the end portions on the inner side in the width direction of the pair of slits (that is, the end portions on the central portion 22 side described later) are drawn parallel to the vertical center line 23 described later, and it is preferable that the region located inside the pair of straight lines in the width direction be the covering portion 20.

[0037] In this embodiment, it will be described that the region indicated by dots in FIG. 2 is the covering portion 20. Further, the covering portion 20 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction as a whole. However, the shape of the covering portion 20 is not limited to this, and at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge may locally protrude, or at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge may be curved as a whole or locally. Furthermore, the covering portion 20 in this specification will be described as including an inner surface sheet 50 and an outer surface sheet 60 as described later.

[0038] Furthermore, the covering portion 20 has a nose passage portion 24 that can pass through the wearer's nose. The nose passage portion 24 is a roughly triangular cutout formed in a tapered shape from the lower edge to the upper edge of the covering portion 20. The nose passage portion 24 is also formed on the central portion 22 of the covering portion 20. Specifically, the central portion 22 of the covering portion 20 has a vertical center line 23 that divides the covering portion 20 in the width direction, and the nose passage portion 24 is formed such that the center of the nose passage portion 24 in the width direction is located on the vertical center line 23. In this way, because the covering portion 20 has a nose passage portion 24, the covering portion 20 is not positioned on the bridge of the wearer's nose, so the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes can be improved. Furthermore, the warming effect of the heating element 40 on the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes can be enhanced. Furthermore, the improved fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes can improve the sense of immersion given to the wearer. The nasal passage portion 24 may also be a slit formed from the lower edge to the upper edge of the covering portion 20.

[0039] In this specification, "central portion 22" refers to a location on the inside in the width direction of the covering portion 20, and more specifically, it refers to the region located between the heating elements 40 provided on the covering portion 20 in a plan view of the eye mask 1 (see Figure 1).

[0040] The length D1 in the width direction of the covering part 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is preferably 150 mm or more, more preferably 185 mm or more, and still more preferably 200 mm or more from the viewpoint of increasing the immersion feeling of the wearer and giving the wearer a greater sense of comfort by increasing the covering area and the contact area of the covering part 20 with the eyes and / or the periphery of the eyes of the wearer and the temples. Also, the length D1 in the width direction of the covering part 20 is preferably 300 mm or less, more preferably 280 mm or less, and still more preferably 255 mm or less from the viewpoint of preventing impairment of the extensibility in the width direction of the covering part 20 described later. That is, the length D1 in the width direction of the covering part 20 is preferably 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less, more preferably 185 mm or more and 280 mm or less, and still more preferably 200 mm or more and 255 mm or less.

[0041] In this specification, the "length in the width direction of the covering part" means the length along the width direction from the end on the longitudinal center line 23 side of the ear insertion hole 31 provided in one ear mounting part 30 to the end on the longitudinal center line 23 side of the ear insertion hole 31 provided in the other ear mounting part 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0042] The area of the covering part 20 is preferably 200% or more and 600% or less, more preferably 250% or more and 550% or less, and still more preferably 300% or more and 500% or less with respect to the total area of the heating elements 40 from the viewpoint of increasing the covering area of the covering part 20 with the eyes and / or the periphery of the eyes of the wearer and the temples when the eye mask 1 is worn, enhancing the immersion feeling of the wearer, and giving the wearer a greater sense of comfort.

[0043] In this specification, the "area of the covering part" is the area of the covering part 20 in a plan view (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Also, in this specification, the "total area of the heating elements" is the total area of the base material layer 43, the water retention layer 44, or the heating layer 45 of the heating elements 40 in a plan view (see FIGS. 1 and 7).

[0044] Specifically, the area of ​​the covering portion 20 is set to 15,000 mm² when the eye mask 1 is worn, in order to increase the area covering the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, thereby enhancing the wearer's sense of immersion and providing the wearer with greater comfort and security. ２ Preferably, it should be 17,000 mm or more. ２ It is more preferable that the amount be greater than or equal to 19,000 mm. ２ It is even more preferable that the above conditions are met.

[0045] The material constituting the covering portion 20 is configured to be stretchable in the width direction. Specifically, the covering portion 20 is formed of a nonwoven fabric with excellent stretchability in the width direction, and is configured to be stretchable in the width direction as a whole. The nonwoven fabric fiber material with excellent stretchability in the width direction can be the nonwoven fabric fiber material that forms the inner sheet 50 and the nonwoven fabric fiber material that forms the outer sheet 60, which will be described later. In this way, because the covering portion 20 is configured to be stretchable in the width direction, when the eye mask 1 is worn, the covering portion 20 stretches in the width direction according to the size of the wearer's face, thereby improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. The stretchability characteristics of the material constituting the covering portion 20 will be described in detail later.

[0046] In this embodiment, the entire covering portion 20 has been described as being configured to be stretchable in the width direction. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and for example, the covering portion 20 may be made stretchable in the width direction by forming only the central portion 22 of the covering portion 20 from a material with excellent stretchability in the width direction.

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the covering portion 20 has an inner sheet 50 that is located on the skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn, and an outer sheet 60 that is located on the non-skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn. In other words, the covering portion 20 as a whole is formed in the shape of a sheet.

[0048] The inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 are joined together with the heating element 40 positioned between them. The heating element 40 may be bonded to the outer sheet 60 with an adhesive, to the inner sheet 50 with an adhesive, to either the outer sheet 60 or the inner sheet 50 with an adhesive, or it may be placed in a bag-like space where the outer sheet 60 and the inner sheet 50 are joined together without the use of an adhesive. A hot-melt adhesive is preferred as the adhesive, but it is not limited to this, and various known fastening methods can be used. For example, adhesives other than hot-melt adhesives, sewing, heat fusion, or embossing are possible, but it is not limited as long as it can be fixed.

[0049] Alternatively, by making the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 locally non-adherent, an opening and storage space for inserting and removing the heating element 40 may be formed between the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60.

[0050] The widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 is shorter than the widthwise length of the outer sheet 60. Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the end 50a of the inner sheet 50 is positioned inward in the widthwise direction compared to the end of the outer sheet 60. In this embodiment, the widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 is shorter than the widthwise length D1 of the covering portion 20 described above. On the other hand, the vertical length of the inner sheet 50 is equal to the vertical length L2 of the main body portion 10. That is, in this embodiment, the peripheral edge of the inner sheet 50 constitutes only a part of the upper edge 11 and a part of the lower edge 12 of the main body portion 10, and does not constitute the remaining part of the upper edge 11, the remaining part of the lower edge 12, or the side edge 13 of the main body portion 10. On the other hand, the peripheral edge of the outer sheet 60 constitutes the upper and lower edges of the covering portion 20 and the upper, lower, and side edges of the ear attachment portion 30. In other words, the outer sheet 60 constitutes the entire upper edge 11, lower edge 12, and side edge 13 of the main body 10. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the nose passage 24 of the covering portion 20 is provided on both the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60.

[0051] In this embodiment, the widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 is shorter than the widthwise length D1 of the covering portion 20, but this is not limited to this. The widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 and the widthwise length D1 of the covering portion 20 may be the same length, or the widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 may be longer than the widthwise length D1 of the covering portion 20. Also, in this embodiment, the widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 is shorter than the widthwise length of the outer sheet 60, but this is not limited to this. The widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 and the widthwise length of the outer sheet 60 may be the same length, or the widthwise length of the inner sheet 50 may be longer than the widthwise length of the outer sheet 60.

[0052] The thickness of the covering portion 20 is preferably 2.0 mm or more, more preferably 2.5 mm or more, and even more preferably 3.5 mm or more, from the viewpoint of improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. By improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, it becomes possible to make the covering portion 20 adhere closely to the wearer's entire face when wearing the eye mask 1, so that the heat generated from the heating element 40 is more easily transmitted to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, and the warming effect on the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples can be enhanced. In addition, the sense of immersion given to the wearer can be improved. Furthermore, the thickness of the covering portion 20 is preferably 30.0 mm or less, more preferably 20.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 15.0 mm or less, from the viewpoint of reducing the load of the covering portion 20 on the wearer's face and giving the wearer comfort. In other words, the thickness of the covering portion 20 is preferably 2.0 mm or more and 30.0 mm or less, more preferably 2.5 mm or more and 20.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 3.5 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less.

[0053] In this specification, "thickness of the covering portion" refers to the thickness of the covering portion 20 only, and does not include the thickness of the heating element 40. Furthermore, as will be described later, if the covering portion 20 is composed of a single sheet, the thickness of that single sheet becomes the thickness of the covering portion 20. On the other hand, if the covering portion 20 is composed of multiple sheets, as in the covering portion 20 according to this embodiment, the total thickness of those multiple sheets becomes the thickness of the covering portion 20.

[0054] The inner sheet 50 is formed to be thicker than the outer sheet 60. In this way, the greater thickness of the inner sheet 50, which is located on the skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn, improves the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. As a result, when the eye mask 1 is worn, the covering portion 20 can be closely fitted to the wearer's entire face, and as a result, the heat generated from the heating element 40 can be more easily transferred to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, thereby enhancing the warming effect on the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. Furthermore, the improved fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples can enhance the sense of immersion given to the wearer.

[0055] Specifically, the thickness of the inner sheet 50 is preferably 1.0 mm or more, more preferably 1.2 mm or more, and even more preferably 2.0 mm or more, from the viewpoint of improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. As described above, by improving the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, it becomes possible to make the covering portion 20 adhere closely to the wearer's entire face when wearing the eye mask 1, so that the heat generated from the heating element 40 is more easily transmitted to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, and the warming effect on the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples can be enhanced. In addition, the sense of immersion given to the wearer can be improved. Furthermore, the thickness of the inner sheet 50 is preferably 20.0 mm or less, more preferably 15.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 12.0 mm or less, from the viewpoint of reducing the load of the covering portion 20 on the wearer's face and giving the wearer comfort. In other words, the thickness of the inner sheet 50 is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 20.0 mm or less, more preferably 1.2 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 2.0 mm or more and 12.0 mm or less.

[0056] Furthermore, the thickness of the portion of the eye mask 1 where the heating element 40 is placed is preferably 2.5 mm or more, more preferably 4.0 mm or more, and even more preferably 5.5 mm or more, from the viewpoint of improving the fit of the eye mask 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. By improving the fit of the eye mask 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, it becomes possible to make the eye mask 1 fit snugly against the wearer's entire face, so that the heat generated from the heating element 40 is more easily transmitted to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, thereby increasing the warming effect on the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. In addition, the sense of immersion given to the wearer can be improved. Furthermore, the thickness of the portion of the eye mask 1 where the heating element 40 is placed on the covering portion 20 is preferably 32.0 mm or less, more preferably 22.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 17.0 mm or less, from the viewpoint of reducing the load of the covering portion 20 on the wearer's face and providing comfort to the wearer. In other words, the thickness of the portion of the eye mask 1 where the heating element 40 is placed on the covering portion 20 is preferably 2.5 mm or more and 32.0 mm or less, more preferably 4.0 mm or more and 22.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 5.5 mm or more and 17.0 mm or less.

[0057] In this specification, "thickness of the portion of the eye mask covering where the heating element is located" refers to the total thickness of the covering portion 20 and the heating element 40. If the thickness of the heating element 40 differs in different parts, the thickness of the thickest portion shall be used.

[0058] In this embodiment, the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 are breathable. The breathability of the inner sheet 50 allows water vapor released from the heating element 40 to be supplied to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes, thus providing the advantage of warming the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes. Furthermore, the breathability of the outer sheet 60 allows for the accurate supply of oxygen to the heating element 40, thus providing the advantage of exhibiting a good thermal effect. Note that one of the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 may be poorly breathable or non-breathable. Alternatively, a part of the inner sheet 50 or the outer sheet 60 may be breathable, poorly breathable, or non-breathable.

[0059] From the viewpoint of efficiently supplying water vapor to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes, the air permeability of the inner sheet 50 is preferably 150,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, more preferably 50,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, even more preferably 30,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, and especially preferably 10,000 seconds / 100 mL or less.

[0060] In this specification, "air permeability" refers to a value measured according to JIS P8117 (2009 revised edition), where 100 mL of air permeability is 6.42 cm³ under constant pressure. ２ Air permeability is defined as the time it takes for air to pass through an area. Therefore, a high value for air permeability means that it takes a long time for air to pass through, i.e., it means that the air permeability is low. Conversely, a low value for air permeability means that the air permeability is high. Thus, there is an inverse relationship between the high value of air permeability and the high or low level of air permeability. Air permeability can be measured with a Wang Ren air permeability meter. In this specification, an air permeability of less than 30,000 seconds / 100 mL is defined as "air permeable," an air permeability of 30,000 seconds / 100 mL or more and less than 80,000 seconds / 100 mL is defined as "poorly air permeable," and an air permeability of 80,000 seconds / 100 mL or more is defined as "non-air permeable."

[0061] The materials for the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 can be materials that have been conventionally used in the field of eye mask technology. For example, nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics and fibrous sheets such as paper, resin foam sheets, metal sheets, or combinations thereof can be used. Among these, nonwoven fabric is preferred from the viewpoint of ease of processing, economic efficiency, and ensuring stretchability in the width direction.

[0062] The nonwoven fabric fiber material is preferably composed of one or more fibers selected from, for example, polyester such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate); polyolefins such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and ethylene propylene copolymer; rayon; cotton; and wood pulp fibers such as lyocell. Furthermore, the nonwoven fabric can be manufactured using one or more of the above-mentioned materials by methods such as the air-through method, spunbond method, needle punch method, meltblown method, carding method, heat fusion method, water entanglement method, and solvent bonding method, and may be single-layer or multi-layer structure. The nonwoven fabric may also be chemically treated depending on the purpose.

[0063] Furthermore, the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 may each be a single-layer structure consisting of only one sheet material, whether single-layer or multi-layer, or a multi-layer structure made by layering two or more types of sheet materials. In addition, the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 may be made of different materials. Specifically, the outer sheet 60, which is located on the non-skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn, may be made of a material suitable for giving the eye mask 1 shape retention, or a material suitable for improving the texture and appearance of the outer surface. More specifically, the outer sheet 60, which is located on the non-skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn, is most preferably made of a nonwoven fabric manufactured by the needle punching method described above, from the viewpoint of ensuring the stretchability of the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 (described later) in the width direction. With such a configuration, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 can be easily stretched in the width direction, and the fit when wearing the eye mask 1 can be improved. On the other hand, the inner sheet 50, which is located on the skin side of the eye mask 1 when worn, may be made of materials chosen for their pleasant feel against the skin. Furthermore, the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 may be colored in any color, and may have any pattern (design) applied by printing or other means. Such a configuration improves the texture and aesthetic appeal, making it possible to create an eye mask 1 that suits the user's preferences.

[0064] In this embodiment, the covering portion 20 is described as having an inner sheet 50 and an outer sheet 60, that is, the materials constituting the covering portion 20 are described as an inner sheet 50 and an outer sheet 60. However, it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be configured to have only one of the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60. In other words, the covering portion 20 may be composed of one sheet or multiple sheets. Furthermore, the covering portion 20 may have other sheets between the inner sheet 50 and the heating element 40, or other sheets between the outer sheet 60 and the heating element 40. If the covering portion 20 is composed of one sheet, the heating element 40 may be bonded to the one sheet or housed in a heating element housing formed on the one sheet.

[0065] The covering portion 20 having the above configuration is configured to conduct heat from the heating element 40 to the wearer's temples and is configured to be stretchable in the width direction. Specifically, the covering portion 20 is configured to conduct heat from the heating element 40 to the wearer's temples by covering the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and the temples when the eye mask 1 is worn. When the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and the temples are covered by the covering portion 20, first, the heat generated from the heating element 40 is conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes. Next, the heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes is conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's temples. Finally, the heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's temples is conducted to the wearer's temples.

[0066] In particular, the covering portion 20 according to this embodiment has at least one of the above-described configurations of the shape of the covering portion 20, the extensibility of the covering portion 20, the thickness of the covering portion 20, and the thickness of the inner sheet 50, which improves the fit of the covering portion 20 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. As a result, the heat generated from the heating element 40 is more easily transmitted to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples, thereby enhancing the warming effect on the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples.

[0067] [Configuration of the ear attachment portion] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the ear attachment portion 30 is an ear hook that can be attached to the wearer's ear. The ear attachment portion 30 is provided at both ends in the width direction of the main body portion 10 and is formed continuously with the upper and lower edges of the covering portion 20.

[0068] In this embodiment, the ear attachment portion 30 does not have any portion with higher bending rigidity than the covering portion 20 in the region from the covering portion 20 to the ear attachment portion 30. Furthermore, the ear attachment portion 30 is continuous with the covering portion 20 without any fold lines being formed between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 for bending the ear attachment portion 30. Moreover, the ear attachment portion 30 is formed integrally with the covering portion 20. That is, the ear attachment portion 30 is an ear hook formed at both ends in the width direction of the outer sheet 60 of the covering portion 20. As a result, in this embodiment, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 are continuous so as to be flush with the outer surface (i.e., the outer sheet 60) that is on the non-skin side of the wearer when worn. If the inner sheet 50 is provided over the entire width of the main body portion 10, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 may be continuous so as to be flush with the inner surface (i.e., the inner sheet 50) that is on the skin side of the wearer when worn.

[0069] The material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 is configured to be stretchable in the width direction. Specifically, the ear attachment portion 30 is formed from the material constituting the outer sheet 60 described above, thereby providing stretchability in the width direction. Thus, in this embodiment, the ear attachment portion 30 is configured to be stretchable in the width direction, and the stretchability of the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 are configured to be close in value, so that the fit to the wearer's face can be further improved when wearing the eye mask 1. The stretchability characteristics of the ear attachment portion 30 will be described in detail later.

[0070] [Stretched Load of Covering Part and Ear Attachment Part] As described above, the materials constituting the covering part 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment part 30 are configured to be stretchable in the width direction. Here, the ratio of the stretched load of the material constituting the ear attachment part 30 to the stretched load of the material constituting the covering part 20 to the stretched load of the material constituting the covering part 20 to the stretched load of the material constituting the ear attachment part 30 is preferably 0.2 or more, more preferably 0.21 or more, even more preferably 0.23 or more, and especially preferably 0.26 or more, from the viewpoint of bringing the elasticity of the covering part 20 and the ear attachment part 30 closer together, thereby applying pressure to the entire face of the wearer when wearing the eye mask 1 and further improving the fit. In other words, the ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment part 30 at 50% elongation to the load of the material constituting the covering part 20 at 50% elongation is preferably 0.2 to 1.2, more preferably 0.21 to 1.15, even more preferably 0.23 to 1.1, and particularly preferably 0.26 to 1. Here, "load at 50% elongation" of the material constituting the covering part 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment part 30 means the load (N) applied to the material constituting the covering part 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment part 30 when they are elongated by 50% from their initial length, and is measured by the following method.

[0071] [Method for Measuring Load at 50% Elongation] In this embodiment, the load (N) at 50% elongation of the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 can be measured, for example, by a method based on ASTM 882. Specifically, first, a sample with vertical dimensions of 25 mm and width dimensions of 150 mm is taken from the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 according to this embodiment. Next, the initial length of the sample is set to 100 mm on the tensile testing machine, and when the testing machine is stretched to 50% of the initial length in the width direction, that is, when the distance between the ends in the width direction of the tensile testing machine becomes 150 mm, the load (N) applied to the sample is measured as the "load at 50% elongation". If it is not possible to take a sample with the above dimensions, a sample should be taken with dimensions as close as possible to the above dimensions. Also, if it is not possible to set the initial length of the sample on the tensile testing machine to the above value, it should be set to a value as close as possible to the above value.

[0072] In this embodiment, as described above, the covering portion 20 has an inner sheet 50 and an outer sheet 60. Therefore, during a tensile test, a sample is taken of the material constituting the inner sheet 50 and the material constituting the outer sheet 60 that are bonded together, and the elongation load is measured. As described above, if the covering portion 20 has only one of the inner sheet 50 or the outer sheet 60, then a sample is taken of either the material constituting the inner sheet 50 or the material constituting the outer sheet 60, and the elongation load is measured. If there is another sheet between the inner sheet 50 and the heating element 40, or between the outer sheet 60 and the heating element 40, then a sample is taken of the material constituting the inner sheet 50, the material constituting the outer sheet 60, and the material constituting the other sheet mentioned above, and the elongation load is measured. Furthermore, as in the covering portion 20 according to this embodiment, if there are multiple regions in the covering portion 20 that have different loads when stretched to 50%, such as (1) areas where the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 overlap and are joined to each other, and (2) areas where the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 overlap but are not joined to each other, it is preferable to take a sample from the area including (1) and measure the load when stretched to 50%.

[0073] On the other hand, in this embodiment, as described above, the ear attachment portion 30 is formed from the material constituting the outer sheet 60. Therefore, during the tensile test, the material constituting the outer sheet 60 is taken as a sample and the elongation load is measured. In this embodiment, the ear attachment portion 30 has an ear insertion hole 31. However, during the tensile test, the portion of the ear attachment portion 30 in which the ear insertion hole 31 is not formed is taken as a sample and the elongation load is measured. In other words, during the tensile test of the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30, the elongation load is measured in a state in which the ear insertion hole 31 is not formed.

[0074] The load of the material constituting the covering portion 20 when stretched to 50% is preferably 0.5 N or more, more preferably 1 N or more, and even more preferably 2 N or more, from the viewpoint of further improving the fit of the eye mask 1 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. Furthermore, the load of the material constituting the covering portion 20 when stretched to 50% is preferably 6 N or less, more preferably 5 N or less, and even more preferably 4 N or less, from the viewpoint of preventing impairing the fit of the eye mask 1 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn. In other words, the load of the material constituting the covering portion 20 when stretched to 50% is preferably 0.5 N or more and 6 N or less, more preferably 1 N or more and 5 N or less, and even more preferably 2 N or more and 4 N or less.

[0075] The load on the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 when stretched to 50% is preferably 0.4 N or more, more preferably 0.6 N or more, and even more preferably 0.8 N or more, from the viewpoint of further improving the fit of the eye mask 1. Also, the load on the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 when stretched to 50% is preferably 5 N or less, more preferably 4 N or less, and even more preferably 3 N or less, from the viewpoint of preventing impairing the fit of the eye mask 1 when worn. In other words, the load on the material constituting the covering portion 20 when stretched to 50% is preferably 0.4 N or more and 5 N or less, more preferably 0.6 N or more and 4 N or less, and even more preferably 0.8 N or more and 3 N or less.

[0076] These loads can be achieved, for example, by the following methods (1) to (3): (1) A method of adjusting the physical properties of the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30. (2) A method of adjustment by mechanical processing of the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30. (3) A method combining (1) and (2) above.

[0077] [(1) Method for adjusting the physical properties of the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30] Examples of methods for adjusting the physical properties of the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30 include, for example, in the case of the covering portion 20, a method for adjusting the physical properties such as the basis weight, length, composition and formation method of the nonwoven fabric used for the inner sheet 50 and outer sheet 60 constituting the covering portion 20, or, as described above, a method for making the load at 50% elongation a desired load by forming the covering portion 20 with only one of the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60. In the case of the ear attachment portion 30, an example of a method for adjusting the physical properties such as the basis weight, length, composition and formation method of the nonwoven fabric used for the outer sheet 60 constituting the ear attachment portion 30.

[0078] [(2) Method of adjustment by mechanical processing of the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30] As an example of the method of adjustment by mechanical processing of the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30 described above, for example, in the covering portion 20, an example is to adjust the amount and area of ​​adhesive applied to bond the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 so that the load of the covering portion 20 when stretched to 50% is set to a desired load. Other examples include a method of applying uneven processing to the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30, or a method of forming multiple fine openings in the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30 so that the load of each when stretched to 50% is set to a desired load.

[0079] [(3) Method combining (1) and (2) above] It is also possible to adjust the load at 50% elongation to a desired load by arbitrarily combining the method of adjusting the physical properties of the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 as described in (1) above, and the method of adjusting the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 as described in (2) above by mechanical processing.

[0080] [Configuration of the heating element] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the heating elements 40 are provided in the width direction with the central part 22 in the width direction of the covering portion 20 as the boundary. Specifically, the heating elements 40 are arranged with a distance D2 between the proximal ends, which will be described later, with the vertical center line 23 of the covering portion 20 as the boundary.

[0081] The heating elements 40 may be provided in pairs in the region of the covering portion 20 with respect to the central portion 22 in the width direction, or one heating element may be provided over the entire covering portion 20. Furthermore, when multiple heating elements 40 are provided on the covering portion 20, the heating characteristics of the multiple heating elements 40, as described later, may be the same or different, but it is more preferable that they be the same.

[0082] In the following explanation, the heating element 40 located to the left of the vertical center line 23 (to the left in Figure 1) will be referred to as "heating element 40A," the heating element 40 located to the right of the vertical center line 23 (to the right in Figure 1) will be referred to as "heating element 40B," and heating elements 40A and 40B will be collectively referred to as "heating element 40."

[0083] In this embodiment, the proximal ends of the heating elements 40 are not fixed to the covering portion 20. In this specification, "proximal ends of the heating elements" refers to the end of heating element 40A on the side of the vertical centerline 23 and the end of heating element 40B on the side of the vertical centerline 23 in a plan view of the covering portion 20 (see Figure 1). In this way, because the proximal ends of the heating elements 40 are not fixed to the covering portion 20, it is possible to widen the spacing between the heating elements 40 provided on the covering portion 20 as the covering portion 20 extends in the width direction. Therefore, the spacing between the heating elements 40 can be widened according to the size of the wearer's face, and regardless of the size of the wearer's face, it is possible to accurately apply a warming effect to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples.

[0084] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the heating element 40 is arranged with a distance D2 between its proximal ends, with the vertical center line 23 of the covering portion 20 as the boundary. Specifically, the distance D2 between the proximal ends of the heating element 40 is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 10 mm or more, even more preferably 15 mm or more, preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 25 mm or less, from the viewpoint of improving the fit to the wearer's nose and accurately applying a warming effect to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples. In other words, the distance D2 between the proximal ends of the heating element 40 is preferably 5 mm or more and 35 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 15 mm or more and 25 mm or less.

[0085] In this specification, "distance between the proximal ends of the heating elements" refers to the distance from the end of one heating element 40 (for example, heating element 40A in Figure 1) on the side of the vertical centerline 23 to the end of the other heating element 40 (for example, heating element 40B in Figure 1) on the side of the vertical centerline 23, in a plan view of the eye mask 1 (as shown in Figure 1).

[0086] The distal end of the heating element 40 is bonded to the covering portion 20. In this specification, "distal end of the heating element" refers to the end of the heating element 40A opposite to the end on the vertical centerline 23 side, and the end of the heating element 40B opposite to the end on the vertical centerline 23 side, in a plan view of the covering portion 20 (see Figure 1). By bonding the distal end of the heating element 40 to the covering portion 20 in this way, it is possible to increase the holding capacity of the heating element 40 in the covering portion 20, and as the covering portion 20 extends in the width direction, the distance D2 between the proximal ends of the heating element 40 can be increased in the width direction. Therefore, regardless of the size of the wearer's face, it is possible to accurately apply the warming effect of the heating element 40 to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples.

[0087] The planar shapes of the heating elements 40A and 40B are not particularly limited, and may have shapes such as circles or polygons. However, from the viewpoint of manufacturing efficiency, ease of handling, and thermal effect, the planar shapes of the heating elements 40A and 40B are preferably rectangular, approximately rectangular, square, or approximately square, and from the viewpoint of ease of handling, square or approximately square is more preferred. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the heating elements 40A and 40B according to this embodiment each have a square shape.

[0088] The heating element 40 having the above configuration is positioned on the covering portion 20 so as to directly or indirectly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes when the eye mask 1 is worn.

[0089] In this specification, examples of configurations that "directly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes" include, for example, a configuration in which the heating element 40 is attached to the inside of the covering portion 20, or a configuration in which an opening is formed in the area of ​​the inner sheet 50 that faces the wearer's eyes, exposing the heating element 40. Furthermore, examples of configurations that "indirectly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes" include a configuration in which the heating element 40 faces the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes via a sheet (such as the inner sheet 50) that constitutes the covering portion 20.

[0090] In this embodiment, the heating element 40 is provided between the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60, and is configured to indirectly face the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes via the inner sheet 50 when the eye mask 1 is worn. That is, the heating element 40 is positioned in the covering portion 20 so as to indirectly face the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes when the eye mask 1 is worn.

[0091] [Heat Generation Characteristics of the Heating Element] The heating element 40 is configured to generate heat by reacting with oxygen in the air. In this embodiment, the heating element 40 is configured to generate heat by reacting with oxygen in the air and to generate water vapor, which can then be supplied to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes. That is, the heating element 40 according to this embodiment is configured to generate warm steam through the oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal.

[0092] Examples of the form of such a heating element 40 include a mixture of powders (see, for example, the description in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-16753 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-180501), etc.), a sheet-like form such as a paper-making sheet (see, for example, the description in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-058744 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-31360), etc.), or a coated sheet in which a dispersion liquid or the like is applied to a base material (see, for example, the description in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-146555 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-279804), etc.). Furthermore, it is preferable that the heating element 40 contains an oxidizable metal, a carbon component, and water.

[0093] The oxidizable metal is a metal that generates heat during oxidation reactions, and examples include one or more powders or fibers selected from iron, aluminum, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and calcium. Among these, iron is preferred in terms of handling, safety, manufacturing cost, shelf life, and stability, and iron powder is particularly preferred. Examples of iron powder include reduced iron powder and atomized iron powder. The particle size of the oxidizable metal can be, for example, 0.1 μm to 300 μm.

[0094] The carbon component has at least one function of water retention, oxygen supply, and catalytic activity, and it is preferable that it possesses all three of these functions. As the carbon component, one or more selected from activated carbon, carbon black, and graphite can be used. Among these, activated carbon is more preferably used because it readily adsorbs oxygen when wet and maintains a constant moisture level in the heating element 40.

[0095] The heating element 40 further contains a water-retaining material. While there are no particular restrictions on the type of water-retaining material as long as it is capable of retaining water, it is preferable that it has excellent vapor release properties. Examples of water-retaining materials include one or more selected from water-absorbing powders such as carbon components, fibrous materials, superabsorbent polymers (SAP), starch, zeolite, perlite, calcium silicate, and vermiculite. The water-absorbing agent used is appropriate depending on the form of the heating element 40.

[0096] Here, the detailed structure of the heating element 40 will be explained using Figures 6 and 7. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the heating element 40 has a first sheet 41 located on the skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn, a second sheet 42 located on the non-skin side of the wearer when the eye mask 1 is worn, a base layer 43 provided between the first sheet 41 and the second sheet 42, a water-retaining layer 44 provided between the first sheet 41 and the base layer 43, and a heating layer 45 provided between the base layer 43 and the water-retaining layer 44, and is formed as a sheet with an overall laminated structure.

[0097] With the heating element 40 installed on the covering portion 20, the first sheet 41 is configured to face the inner surface sheet 50 of the covering portion 20, and the second sheet 42 is configured to face the outer surface sheet 60 of the covering portion 20. The peripheral edges of the first sheet 41 and the second sheet 42 are joined to each other, forming a bag-like structure with an internal space. In other words, in this embodiment, the base material layer 43, the water-retaining layer 44, and the heating layer 45 are housed in the internal space formed between the first sheet 41 and the second sheet 42. This configuration, in which the first sheet 41 and the second sheet 42 are formed in a bag-like structure with an internal space, has the advantage of allowing for appropriate adjustment of the amount of heat and water vapor.

[0098] The first sheet 41 is breathable. The breathability of the first sheet 41 allows water vapor released from the water-retaining layer 44 to be supplied to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around their eyes, thus providing the advantage of warming the wearer's eyes and / or the area around their eyes. On the other hand, the second sheet 42 is poorly breathable or non-breathable. The poorly breathable or non-breathable nature of the second sheet 42 allows water vapor released from the water-retaining layer 44 to be supplied efficiently to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around their eyes. Note that the first sheet 41 may be poorly breathable or non-breathable, and the second sheet 42 may be breathable. Furthermore, a portion of the first sheet 41 or the second sheet 42 may be breathable, poorly breathable, or non-breathable.

[0099] The maximum temperature of the heating element 40 is preferably 54°C or higher, more preferably 58°C or higher, and even more preferably 62°C or higher, from the viewpoint of providing comfort to the wearer. Furthermore, the maximum temperature of the heating element 40 is preferably 72°C or lower, more preferably 70°C or lower, and even more preferably 68°C or lower, from the viewpoint of preventing the wearer from experiencing discomfort. In other words, the maximum temperature of the heating element 40 is preferably 54°C or higher and 72°C or lower, more preferably 58°C or higher and 70°C or lower, and even more preferably 62°C or higher and 68°C or lower. The maximum temperature of the heating element 40 can be measured, for example, using a measuring instrument conforming to JIS S4100. Specifically, the measuring surface of a measuring instrument conforming to JIS S4100 can be attached to the area of ​​the outer sheet 60 where the heating element 40 is located, the heating element 40 can be started to generate heat in the presence of oxygen, and the highest temperature reached thereafter (°C) can be measured as the maximum temperature of the heating element 40.

[0100] The heating element 40 preferably has a heating time of 15 minutes or more, more preferably 20 minutes or more, and even more preferably 25 minutes or more, while maintaining a temperature of 45°C or higher, from the viewpoint of providing comfort to the wearer. Similarly, the heating time of 45°C or higher can also be measured using a measuring instrument conforming to JIS S4100, for example. Specifically, the measuring surface of a measuring instrument conforming to JIS S4100 is attached to the area of ​​the outer sheet 60 where the heating element 40 is located, the heating element 40 is started to heat up in the presence of oxygen, and the duration from when the temperature reaches 45°C or higher until it drops below 45°C can be measured as the heating time of 45°C or higher.

[0101] From the viewpoint of supplying sufficient water vapor to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around their eyes, the total cumulative amount of water vapor released from the heating element 40 during the first 10 minutes from the start of water vapor generation is preferably 140 mg or more, more preferably 300 mg or more, even more preferably 1000 mg or more, and even more preferably 1600 mg or more. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of maintaining a comfortable temperature, the total cumulative amount of water vapor released from the heating element 40 during the first 10 minutes from the start of water vapor generation is preferably 2400 mg or less, more preferably 2200 mg or less, even more preferably 2000 mg or less, and even more preferably 1800 mg or less. Note that "cumulative amount of water vapor released during the first 10 minutes from the start of water vapor generation" refers to the total amount (sum) of all heating elements 40 provided in the covering portion 20.

[0102] In other words, in this embodiment, the cumulative amount of water vapor released from the heating elements 40A and 40B in the first 10 minutes after the start of water vapor generation is preferably 70 mg or more, more preferably 150 mg or more, more preferably 500 mg or more, and even more preferably 800 mg or more per cell. Furthermore, the cumulative amount of water vapor released from the heating elements 40A and 40B in the first 10 minutes after the start of water vapor generation is preferably 1200 mg or less, more preferably 1100 mg or less, even more preferably 1000 mg or less, and even more preferably 900 mg or less per cell. Having such a configuration has the advantage that the amount of water vapor released from the heating elements 40A and 40B can be adjusted, and the water vapor released from the heating elements 40A and 40B does not become too hot, providing comfort to the wearer.

[0103] [Method for Measuring Water Vapor Generation] In this specification, "water vapor generation" means that the total amount of water vapor generated in 10 minutes from one cell of the heating element 40 (in this embodiment, heating element 40A or heating element 40B), measured by the following method, is 10 mg / 10 min or more. This amount of water vapor generation can be easily achieved by using, for example, a paste containing an oxidizable metal, a carbon material, and water as the heating element 40. Here, the cumulative amount of water vapor released from the heating element 40 in the 10 minutes from the start of water vapor generation is a value measured as follows using the measuring device 70 shown in Figure 8. In the following description, the subject is an unheated heating element 40 that is sealed in an oxygen-blocking bag or the like, and the time required from the start of opening the oxygen-blocking bag or the like, exposing the heating element 40 to an oxygen-containing atmosphere such as air, and from the start of opening until it is placed in the measuring device 70 shown in Figure 8, that is, 5 seconds after the start of opening, is defined as the "start of heating." The measuring device 70 shown in Figure 8 comprises an aluminum measuring chamber (volume 4.2 L) 71, an inlet passage 72 for introducing dehumidified air (humidity less than 2%, flow rate 2.1 L / min) into the lower part of the measuring chamber 71, an outlet passage 73 for releasing air from the upper part of the measuring chamber 71, an inlet temperature and humidity meter 74 and an inlet flow meter 75 provided in the inlet passage 72, an outlet temperature and humidity meter 76 and an outlet flow meter 77 provided in the outlet passage 73, and a thermometer (thermistor) 78 provided inside the measuring chamber 71. The thermometer 78 used has a temperature resolution of approximately 0.01°C. In this specification, the amount of steam generated refers to the total amount measured from the "start of heat generation" of the heating element 40 up to 10 minutes later.

[0104] Furthermore, the heating element 40 may also contain, for example, fragrance components described in "Synthetic Fragrance Chemistry and Product Knowledge" (by Motoichi Indo, published by Chemical Daily Co., Ltd.), to the extent that it does not interfere with the effects of the present invention.

[0105] [How to use the eye mask] Next, the method of using the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Before use, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment is stored sealed in an oxygen-barrier bag (not shown).

[0106] When using eye mask 1, the wearer first opens the oxygen-blocking bag and removes eye mask 1. This causes the heating element 40 to come into contact with the air, and the heating element 40 begins to generate heat due to the oxidation reaction of the oxidizable metal contained in the heating element 40.

[0107] After removing the eye mask 1 from the oxygen-blocking bag, the wearer grasps, for example, one of the side edges 13 (the side edge located on the left in Figure 1) in a plan view of the eye mask 1 (the state in Figure 1), and inserts their right ear through the ear hole 31 of one of the ear attachment parts 30 (the ear attachment part located on the left in Figure 1). Then, with the right ear inserted through the ear hole 31 of one of the ear attachment parts 30, the wearer grasps the vicinity of the other side edge 13 (the side edge located on the right in Figure 1) of the eye mask 1 (see Figure 9(a)), and inserts their left ear through the ear hole 31 of the other ear attachment part 30 (the ear attachment part located on the right in Figure 1). This ensures that the wearer's eyes, the area around their eyes, and their temples are covered by the covering part 20 (see Figure 9(b)).

[0108] Then, with the wearer's eyes, the area around their eyes, and their temples covered by the covering portion 20, the heating layer 45 of the heating element 40 generates heat, causing the water in the water-retaining layer 44 of the heating element 40 to evaporate and become steam (warm steam) at a predetermined temperature, which is supplied to the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes via the first sheet 41 and the inner sheet 50. In addition, the heat generated from the heating element 40 is conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes, and the heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes is then conducted to the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes. As a result, the wearer's eyes and the area around their eyes are warmed, providing comfort to the wearer regardless of face size.

[0109] Furthermore, since the covering portion 20 according to this embodiment covers the wearer's temples, heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and the area around the eyes is conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's temples, and heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's temples is conducted to the wearer's temples. As a result, the wearer's temples can be warmed, improving the comfort provided to the wearer.

[0110] [Advantages of the eye mask according to this embodiment] As described above, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment comprises a covering portion 20 that covers the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn, a pair of ear attachment portions 30 that can be attached to the wearer's ears, and a heating element 40 provided on the covering portion 20. The heating element 40 is positioned on the covering portion 20 so as to directly or indirectly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes when worn. The materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portions 30 are each configured to be stretchable in the width direction. The ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portions 30 when stretched by 50% to the load of the material constituting the covering portion 20 when stretched by 50% is 0.2 or more and 1.2 or less. The pair of ear attachment portions 30 are formed integrally with the covering portion 20.

[0111] With the eye mask 1 having this configuration, the heat generated from the heating element 40 is conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes, and the heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes is then conducted to the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes. As a result, the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes can be warmed, providing comfort to the wearer. Furthermore, the heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes is then conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's temples, and the heat conducted to the area of ​​the covering portion 20 facing the wearer's temples is then conducted to the wearer's temples. As a result, the wearer's temples can be warmed, improving the comfort provided to the wearer.

[0112] Furthermore, because the covering portion 20 covers the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn, the covering area of ​​the covering portion 20 on the wearer's face is increased, which can give the wearer a sense of immersion. In this way, the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment can improve the comfort given to the wearer while also giving the wearer a sense of immersion, so the wearer can obtain a high level of relaxation.

[0113] Furthermore, the materials constituting the covering portion 20 and the materials constituting the ear attachment portion 30 are each configured to be stretchable in the width direction, and the ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 when stretched by 50% to the load of the material constituting the covering portion 20 when stretched by 50% is 0.2 or more and 1.2 or less, so that the pressure on the wearer's face is similar for the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30. In addition, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, the pair of ear attachment portions 30 are formed integrally with the covering portion 20.

[0114] With the eye mask 1 having such a configuration, no gap is formed between the wearer's temples and the covering portion 20 when the eye mask 1 is worn. This makes it possible to make the covering portion 20 fit snugly over the wearer's entire face when the eye mask 1 is worn, improving the fit when worn, enhancing the comfort given to the wearer, and giving the wearer a greater sense of immersion.

[0115] Furthermore, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, there is no fold line between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 for bending the ear attachment portion 30. Also, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, there is no portion between the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 that has higher bending rigidity than the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30. With an eye mask 1 having such a configuration, when the eye mask 1 is worn, the covering portion 20 and the ear attachment portion 30 can be closely fitted to the shape of the wearer's face, thereby further improving the fit when the eye mask 1 is worn.

[0116] Furthermore, in the eye mask 1 according to this embodiment, the material constituting the covering portion 20 and the material constituting the ear attachment portion 30 are located on a straight line connecting the outer corner of the wearer's eyebrow and the upper end of the base of the ear when worn. With an eye mask 1 having such a configuration, no gap is formed between the outer corner of the wearer's eyebrow and the top of the ear when the eye mask 1 is worn, thus further improving the fit when the eye mask 1 is worn.

[0117] [Modifications] The eye mask according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.

[0118] For example, in the embodiment described above, it was explained that the entire eye mask 1 is sealed in an oxygen-blocking bag (not shown) before use. However, the invention is not limited to this, and if the heating element 40 is not integrated with the covering part 20 (i.e., it can be attached to the covering part 20 afterwards), only the heating element 40 may be sealed in the oxygen-blocking bag, and the heating element 40 may be attached to the covering part 20 when using the eye mask 1.

[0119] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained assuming that the covering portion 20 has a nasal passage portion 24, the invention is not limited to this, and a configuration without a nasal passage portion 24 is also possible.

[0120] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained assuming that the heating element 40 has a water-retaining layer 44, it is not limited to this, and a configuration without a water-retaining layer 44 is also possible, for example, as in a powder-type heating element (hand warmer).

[0121] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment explained that the heating element 40 generates hot steam through the oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal, it is not limited to this, and various arbitrary configurations can be adopted, such as a configuration in which a filter that retains moisture can be humidified by heating in a microwave oven or the like before use.

[0122] It is clear from the claims that the above-mentioned modifications are included within the scope of the present invention.

[0123] With regard to the embodiments described above, the present invention further discloses the following eye mask.

[0124] <1> An eye mask comprising: a covering portion that covers the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn; a pair of ear attachment portions that can be attached to the wearer's ears; and a heating element provided in the covering portion, wherein the heating element is positioned in the covering portion so as to directly or indirectly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes when worn; the material constituting the covering portion and the material constituting the ear attachment portions are each configured to be stretchable in the width direction; and the ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portions when stretched by 50% to the load of the material constituting the covering portion when stretched by 50% is 0.2 or more and 1.2 or less.

[0125] <2> The eye mask according to <1>, wherein the pair of ear attachment portions are formed integrally with the covering portion. <3> The eye mask according to <2>, wherein there is no fold line between the covering portion and the ear attachment portion for folding the ear attachment portion. <4> The eye mask according to <2> or <3>, wherein there is no portion in the region from the covering portion to the ear attachment portion that has higher bending rigidity than the covering portion.

[0126] <5> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <4> above, wherein the load of the material constituting the covering portion when stretched by 50% is 1 N or more and 6 N or less. <6> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <5> above, wherein the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portion when stretched by 50% is 0.4 N or more and 4 N or less.

[0127] <7> An eye mask according to any one of the above <1> to <6>, wherein the material constituting the covering portion and the material constituting the ear attachment portion are located on a straight line connecting the outer corner of the wearer's eyebrow and the upper end of the base of the ear when worn. <8> An eye mask according to the above <7>, wherein the upper edge of the covering portion and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion are continuous without being recessed in the direction of the lower edge.

[0128] <9> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <8>, wherein the covering portion is formed in a rectangular shape that is elongated in the width direction. <10> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein the covering portion has a nose passage portion that allows the wearer's nose to pass through. <11> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <10>, wherein the length of the covering portion in the width direction is preferably 150 mm or more and 300 mm or less, more preferably 185 mm or more and 280 mm or less, and even more preferably 200 mm or more and 255 mm or less. <12> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <11>, wherein the area of ​​the covering portion is preferably 200% or more and 600% or less, more preferably 250% or more and 550% or less, and even more preferably 300% or more and 500% or less, relative to the total area of ​​the heating element. <13> The area of ​​the covering portion is 15,000 mm ２ Preferably, it should be 17,000 mm or more. ２ It is more preferable that the amount be greater than or equal to 19,000 mm. ２ An eye mask according to any one of the above <1> to <12>, wherein the thickness of the covering portion is preferably 2.0 mm or more and 30.0 mm or less, more preferably 2.5 mm or more and 20.0 mm or less, and even more preferably 3.5 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less, according to any one of the above <1> to <13>, according to the eye mask.

[0129] <16> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <15>, wherein the pair of ear attachments are formed in continuous with the upper and lower edges of the covering portion. <17> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <16>, wherein the covering portion and the pair of ear attachments are continuous and flush with the outer surface on the non-skin side of the wearer when worn.

[0130] <18> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <17>, wherein the planar shape of the heating element is a rectangle. <19> The eye mask according to any one of <1> to <18>, wherein the covering portion has a vertical center line in the center in the width direction, and the heating elements are provided in the covering portion in a pair of regions separated by the vertical center line. <20> The eye mask according to <19>, wherein the proximal ends of the pair of heating elements provided in the covering portion are not fixed to the covering portion. <21> The eye mask according to <19> or <20>, wherein the distance between the proximal ends of the pair of heating elements provided in the covering portion is preferably 5 mm or more and 35 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 15 mm or more and 25 mm or less. <22> The eye mask according to any one of <19> to <21>, wherein the distal ends of the pair of heating elements provided in the covering portion are both bonded to the covering portion. <23> The covering portion of the eye mask according to any one of <1> to <22>, having an inner sheet that is located on the skin side of the wearer when worn and an outer sheet that is located on the non-skin side of the wearer.

[0131] <24> The eye mask according to <23>, wherein the length in the width direction of the inner sheet is shorter than the length of the outer sheet. <25> The eye mask according to <23> or <24>, wherein the thickness of the inner sheet is greater than the thickness of the outer sheet. <26> The eye mask according to any one of <23> to <25>, wherein the thickness of the inner sheet is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 20.0 mm or less, more preferably 1.2 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less. <27> The eye mask according to any one of <23> to <26>, wherein at least one of the inner sheet and the outer sheet is breathable. <28> The inner sheet is breathable, and the air permeability of the inner sheet is preferably 150,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, more preferably 50,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, more preferably 30,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, and even more preferably 10,000 seconds / 100 mL or less, as described in any one of <23> to <26> above. <29> The inner sheet and the outer sheet are made of nonwoven fabric, as described in any one of <23> to <28> above. <30> The nonwoven fabric forming the outer sheet is manufactured by a needle punching method, as described in <29> above.

[0132] The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples, but these examples are not intended to limit the object of the present invention.

[0133] [Examples] Eye masks according to Examples 1 and 2 were manufactured according to the following procedure.

[0134] [Production of Heating Element] First, iron powder (reduced iron powder: manufactured by DOWA IP Creation Co., Ltd.) as the oxidizable metal was added to an aqueous solution prepared by dissolving a salt as the electrolyte and a thickener (Labole Gum GS-C: manufactured by DSP Gohood & Chemical Co., Ltd.) in water (tap water), and the mixture was stirred. Further, activated carbon (Carbolaffin: manufactured by Osaka Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a reaction accelerator was added and stirred thoroughly until it was uniformly dispersed to obtain a paste-like heating composition. As the salt, sodium chloride (Japanese Pharmacopoeia sodium chloride: manufactured by Tomita Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), tripotassium phosphate (food additive tripotassium phosphate: manufactured by Yoneyama Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), and potassium hydroxide (liquid caustic potash (48%): manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) were used. The blending ratios were 55.2% of iron powder, 34.2% of water, 4.4% of activated carbon, 0.1% of thickener (xanthan gum), 1.0% of tripotassium phosphate, 0.1% of potassium hydroxide, and 5.0% of sodium chloride.

[0135] Then, the above-mentioned paste-like heating composition was applied to a thin paper laminated with polyethylene at a basis weight of 745 g / m ２ . Next, a paper made of wood pulp (basis weight 20 g / m ２ , manufactured by Ino Paper Co., Ltd.), a water-absorbing polymer (spherical, average particle diameter 300 μm, Aquaric CA, manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., basis weight 70 g / m ２ ), and a paper made of wood pulp (basis weight 30 g / m ２ , manufactured by Ino Paper Co., Ltd.) were laminated and integrated to form a polymer sheet (air permeability in a state of absorbing 10 - 45% by mass of water with the maximum water absorption being 2 seconds / 100 mL), and a laminate of a base material layer 43, a heating layer 45, and a water retention layer 44 was obtained. This laminate (base material layer 43, heating layer 45, and water retention layer 44) was cut into a size of 49 mm × 49 mm. Next, the laminate (base material layer 43, heating layer 45, and water retention layer 44) was sandwiched between a breathable first sheet 41 cut into 63 mm × 63 mm and a non-breathable second sheet 42, and the four sides of these sheets were heat-sealed to obtain a heating element 40 in which the base material layer 43, the heating layer 45, and the water retention layer 44 were housed in a bag body composed of the first sheet 41 and the second sheet 42.

[0136] [Preparation of the eye mask] First, an inner sheet 50 and an outer sheet 60 were prepared in the shapes shown in Figures 1 to 4. For Example 1, the inner sheet 50 was made of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyethylene nonwoven fabric (air-through method, basis weight 60 g / m²). ２ The outer sheet 60 is made of polyethylene terephthalate nonwoven fabric (needle punch method, basis weight 90 g / m²). ２ ) was used. For Example 2, polyethylene terephthalate nonwoven fabric (needle punch method, basis weight 90 g / m²) was used for both the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60. ２ ) was used. In Example 2, the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 were manufactured to have the same shape. The inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 in Examples 1 and 2 were manufactured under an oxygen atmosphere.

[0137] Next, with the heating element 40 prepared as described above sandwiched between the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60, the peripheral edges and the vicinity of the vertical center line 23 of the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60 were joined to produce the eye masks according to Examples 1 and 2. The covering portion 20 formed by joining the inner sheet 50 and the outer sheet 60, which are made of the above-described material, had a shape that covered the wearer's eyes, the area around the eyes, and the temples when the eye mask was worn. The load (N) of the covering portion 20 when stretched to 50% in Examples 1 and 2, the load (N) of the pair of ear attachment portions 30 when stretched to 50% in

[0138] [Comparative Example] The inner sheet in Comparative Example 1 is the same as in Example 1, and the outer sheet is made of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene nonwoven fabric (air-through method, basis weight 30 g / m²). ２) was used. Furthermore, in order to prevent the eye mask from being in close contact with the wearer's entire face when worn (i.e., to create a gap between the wearer's temples and the eye mask when worn, as shown in Figure 4 of Patent Document 1), the covering part and the ear attachment part were formed separately and then bonded together to produce the eye mask of Comparative Example 1. The ear attachment part, which was formed separately, was made of polyethylene nonwoven fabric (spunbond method, basis weight 37 g / m²). ２ ) was used. In addition, in the case of the eye mask of Comparative Example 2, after the eye mask of Example 1 was made, the portion of the covering portion that would come into contact with the wearer's temples was removed so that when the eye mask is worn, the covering portion would only cover the wearer's eyes and the area around the eyes. The load (N) of the covering portion when stretched to 50% in Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, the load (N) of the ear attachment portion when stretched to 50% in Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, and the ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portion when stretched to 50% to the load of the material constituting the covering portion when stretched to 50% are shown in Table 1.

[0139] [Test 1] Test 1 was conducted to evaluate the amount of pressure applied to a specific part of the wearer's face while wearing the eye masks according to Examples 1-2 and Comparative Examples 1-2.

[0140] First, the eye mask according to Example 1 was attached to a female head model (width 151.24 mm, depth 206.82 mm, height 233.01 mm) fabricated based on the average female head data (2014 edition) manufactured by Digital Human Technology Co., Ltd. Next, the contact pressure on the human head model HM with the eye mask according to Example 1 attached was measured one minute after attachment. The measurement results are shown in Table 1. Similarly, the eye masks according to Example 2 and Comparative Examples were attached to the human head model HM, and the contact pressure on the human head model HM with the eye masks according to Example 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 attached was measured. The measurement results are shown in Table 1. An air pack type contact pressure measuring instrument (manufactured by AMI Techno Co., Ltd.) was used to measure the contact pressure in this example and comparative examples. In Figures 10A to 10C, the areas enclosed by dashed lines indicate the positions of the eyes, temples, and above the ears on the human head model HM, respectively.

[0141]

[0142] [Evaluation of Test 1] As shown in Table 1, when wearing the eye masks of Examples 1 and 2, which are equipped with a covering portion 20 that covers the wearer's eyes, the area around the eyes, and the temples when the eye mask is worn, and in which the ratio of the load of the ear attachment portion 30 when it is stretched to 50% of the load of the covering portion 20 when it is stretched to 50% is within the numerical range limited in this specification, it was found that appropriate pressure could be applied to the three areas of the wearer's eyes, temples, and above the ears. Therefore, it was found that the eye masks of Examples 1 and 2 can apply pressure to the wearer's entire face, improving the fit when worn and improving the comfort provided to the wearer. On the other hand, as shown in Table 1, when wearing the comparative eye mask, which is equipped with a covering portion 20 that covers only the wearer's eyes and the area around the eyes when the eye mask is worn, or in which the ratio of the load of the ear attachment portion 30 when it is stretched to 50% is outside the numerical range limited in this specification, it was found that although pressure could be applied to the wearer's eyes, appropriate pressure could not be applied to the area around the eyebrows and above the ears.

[0143] 1: Eye mask 10: Main body 11: Upper edge 12: Lower edge 13: Side edge 20: Covering part 21: Side edge 22: Center part 23: Vertical center line 24: Nose passage part 30: Ear attachment part 31: Ear insertion hole 40: Heating element 41: First sheet 42: Second sheet 43: Base material layer 44: Water retention layer 45: Heating layer 50: Inner sheet 60: Outer sheet 70: Measuring device 71: Measuring chamber 72: Inlet passage 73: Outlet passage 74: Inlet temperature and humidity meter 75: Inlet flow meter 76: Outlet temperature and humidity meter 77: Outlet flow meter 78: Thermometer HM: Human head model

Claims

1. An eye mask comprising: a covering portion that covers the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes and temples when worn; a pair of ear attachment portions that can be attached to the wearer's ears; and a heating element provided in the covering portion, wherein the heating element is positioned in the covering portion so as to directly or indirectly face the wearer's eyes and / or the area around the eyes when worn; the materials constituting the covering portion and the materials constituting the ear attachment portions are each configured to be stretchable in the width direction; the ratio of the load of the material constituting the ear attachment portions at 50% stretch to the load of the material constituting the covering portion at 50% stretch is 0.2 or more and 1.2 or less; and the pair of ear attachment portions are integrally formed with the covering portion.

2. The eye mask according to claim 1, wherein there is no fold line between the covering portion and the ear attachment portion for folding the ear attachment portion.

3. The eye mask according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the load on the material constituting the covering portion when stretched to 50% is 0.5 N or more and 6 N or less.

4. The eye mask according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the load on the material constituting the ear attachment portion when stretched to 50% is 0.4 N or more and 5 N or less.

5. The eye mask according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the material constituting the covering portion and the material constituting the ear attachment portion are located on a straight line connecting the outer corner of the wearer's eyebrow and the upper end of the base of the ear when worn.

6. The eye mask according to claim 5, wherein the upper edge of the covering portion and the upper edge of the ear attachment portion are continuous without being recessed in the direction of the lower edge.

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