The present invention relates to an air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet that can cool the body by generating an air flow approximately in parallel with the body or underwear surface and that can circulate the air inside a helmet by sending the air into the helmet when the helmet is worn.
Recently, there has been utilized an air-conditioned clothing which can evaporate the sweat coming out from the body by generating a large flow of outer air that is approximately in parallel with the body or underwear surface. The detail description of the principal and the structure of such air-conditioned clothing are described in the Patent Literature 1, for example. Many of those who wear such air-conditioned clothings also wear helmets. In such case, the humidity in the body area can be resolved by wearing the air-conditioned clothing but the humidity in the head area caused by wearing a helmet cannot be resolved.
Recently, there also has been utilized a device for adding a fanning function to a regular work helmet which fulfills the safety regulation. According to such device, a fan is attached at the outside edge of a helmet so as to send the outer air which is taken in by the fan inside the helmet through an intake pipe.
However, such device for adding the fanning function to a work helmet has serious functional problems as described below. First, since the device is directly attached to a helmet, a large fan, in terms of weight, cannot be used. Therefore, a large amount of air cannot be sent inside the helmet and the humidity in the head area cannot be efficiently resolved. Secondly, since the intake pipe is provided in a space between the helmet and the head, the cross-section area of the intake pipe cannot be large. Therefore, the air flow rate needs to be set to a high rate to send a large amount of air inside the helmet in order to efficiently circulate the air in the helmet. However, since the power consumption is proportional to the square of the air flow rate, if the air flow rate is set to a high rate, the battery will be used up quickly.
The present invention was made in view of the above problems and an object is to provide an air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet which not only resolves the humidity in the body area but also efficiently resolves the humidity in the head area of a user when the helmet is worn.
To solve the object described above, the present invention is An air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet which can be used in both circumstances when the helmet is worn and when the helmet is not worn, including: an clothing main body which at least covers an upper body of a body; one or more fans which are attached to the clothing main body and which form an air flow path between the clothing main body and the body or an underwear by taking in air from outside and forcefully generate an air flow in the air flow path; an air blow-out unit which is formed between back of a neck of a user and a back collar part of the clothing main body and which blows out the air which flows through the air flow path; a guide sheet which is continuously attached to the back collar part of the clothing main body and which guides the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit to the helmet along back of the neck and back of a head of the user; and an attachment unit which is attached to an edge part of the guide sheet and which is used to attach the guide sheet to the helmet, wherein the air is made to flow through the air flow path by the fans and the flowing air evaporates sweat coming out from the body to cool the body with a heat of evaporation and in a case where the helmet is worn, the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit is guided to the helmet by the guide sheet and taken into the helmet from an air intake which is formed between an inner edge of the helmet and the head of the user in order to circulate the air inside the helmet.
In the air-conditioned clothing for use with helmet according to the present invention, the air is made to flow through the air flow path by the fan and the flowing air evaporates the sweat coming out from the body and cools the body of the user due to the heat of evaporation being generated when the sweat evaporates. Further, by including the guide sheet continuously attached to the back collar part of the clothing main body, the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit can be guided to the helmet along back of the neck and back of the head of the user through inner side of the guide sheet when the helmet is worn. Therefore, the air that flows through inner side of the guide sheet can evaporate the sweat coming out from back of the neck and back of the head of the user, and back of the neck and back of the head can be cooled. Further, the air which is guided to the helmet can be efficiently taken into the helmet and the air inside the helmet can be circulated. Therefore, the humidity in the head area of the user can be sufficiently resolved.
According to the air-conditioned clothing for use with helmet of the present invention, when the helmet is worn, the air that flows through inner side of the guide sheet can evaporate the sweat coming out from back of the neck and back of the head of the user, and back of the neck and back of the head can be cooled. Further, the air which is guided to the helmet can be efficiently taken in to the helmet and the air inside the helmet can be circulated. Therefore, the humidity in the head area of the user can be sufficiently resolved.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention according to the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the first embodiment can be used in both situations when a helmet is worn and when a helmet is not worn. As shown in
The clothing main body 10 is made of a sheet material having very little or no breathability and is formed in a shape that can cover the upper body part and the arm parts. The bottom hem part 11 of the clothing main body 10 has an elastic member such as lubber, for example, attached thereto. In such way, the bottom hem part 11 of the cloth main body 10 is made narrow so as to fit along the body or the underwear. Further, the clothing main body 10 is provided with a zip-up fastener (not shown) as an open/close unit on the front side thereof. The zip-up fastener is used to open and close the front part of the clothing main body 10 when wearing the cloth main body 10.
The fans 20 generate an air flow path between the clothing main body 10 and the body or underwear by taking in the air from outside, and forcefully generate an air flow in the air flow path. The two fans 20 and 20 are respectively attached on the left and right sides at the lower part of the clothing main body 10. Here, as for the fans 20, fans using propellers are used.
Further, the clothing main body 10 is provided with an inner pocket (not shown) for carrying a power unit inside thereof. The power unit is for supplying power to the two fans 20 and 20. As for the power unit, a power device in which a battery is embedded is used, for example. The power unit and the two fans 20 and 20 are electrically connected by the power cable.
The air outlets 30 are for letting out the air which flows through the space (air flow path) between the clothing main body 10 and the body or underwear. In particular, the sleeve parts and the neck part of the clothing main body 10 function as the air outlets 30.
The air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet of the first embodiment can also be used when the helmet is not worn and not only when the helmet is worn. In the case where the helmet is not worn, if the two fans 20 and 20 are made to operate after a user wears the clothing main body 10 and fastens the zip-up fastener, as shown in
In a case where a user wears the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet and carries out a regular task, the area of the air blow-out unit 60 is set to about 10 cm2 by adjusting the lengths of the adjusting strings 13. Further, the rotation rate of the two fans 20 and 20 is adjusted so as to take in the air inside the clothing main body 10 from outside at the rate about 20 litters/second. In such case, with respect to the air which is taken in through the two fans 20 and 20 at the rate about 20 litters/second, apart thereof is let out from the sleeve parts and the front neck part at the rate about 12 litters/second and the rest thereof is let out from the air blow-out unit 60 at the rate about 8 litters/second.
Many of those who wear such air-conditioned clothings 1 for use with a helmet also wear helmets. Therefore, if the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit 60 of the clothing main body 10 can be effectively taken into the helmet, the person who wears the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet can be relieved from the humidity inside the helmet. Further, since the air which blows out flows along back of the neck, back of the neck and back of the head can also be cooled. Since the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet of the first embodiment includes the guide sheet 70 and the attachment unit 80, the air which blows upward from the air blow-out unit 60 of the clothing main body 10 can be taken in to the helmet along back of the neck. That is, the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet is provided with a function to circulate the air inside the helmet.
Here, with respect to the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet, it is designed so that the air which is taken in to the clothing main body 10 inflates the clothings main body 10, and the air flow path is formed between the clothing main body 10 and the body or underwear due to the inflation of the clothing main body 10. Therefore, especially in the back part of the clothing main body 10, the air also flows through the part far from the body and such air does not contribute to evaporating the sweat coming out from the body. Thus, the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit 60 is not degraded in terms of temperature and humidity and is still sufficiently maintains an effective condition for evaporating the sweat coming out from the body.
The guide sheet 70 is for guiding the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit 60 into the helmet 110 by guiding the air along back of the neck and back of the head. One end of the guide sheet 70 is connected to the back collar part 12 of the clothing main body 10. That is, the clothing main body 10 and the guide sheet 70 are formed as one. Actually, as shown in
On the other hand, the attachment unit 80 is attached to the edge part of the guide sheet 70. The attachment unit 80 is for attaching the guide sheet 70 to the helmet 110. Here, as shown in
By the way, as shown in
As described above, the air blow-out unit 60 is an opening formed between back of the neck of the user and the back collar part 12 of the clothing main body 10, and the air which flows through the air flow path blows out toward the guide sheet 70 via the air blow-out unit 60. In the first embodiment, since the clothing main body 10 and the guide sheet 70 are formed as one, although the position of the air blow-out unit 60 cannot be clearly specified, it can be considered that the air blow-out unit 60 is the part of the clothing main body 10 corresponding to back of the neck of the user in terms of definition.
Further, as shown in
Next, the using method of the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet when the helmet 110 is worn will be described.
The user first wears the clothing main body 10 and then wears the helmet 110. Thereafter, the user lifts up the guide sheet 70 of the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet so as to cover back of the neck and back of the head, and fit the loop belt which is the attachment unit 80 around the edge circumference 112 of the helmet 110. In such way, the user can easily attach the guide sheet 70 to the helmet 110.
If the fans 20 and 20 are made to operate, the outer air is taken into the air flow path of the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet from the fans 20 and 20 and flows toward the sleeve parts (air outlets 30) and the air blow-out unit 60. In the first embodiment, since the clothing main body 10 is provided with the loose section 14 at the upper back part thereof along the section from the fans 20 to the air blow-out unit 60, the loose section 14 inflates when the fans 20 and 20 are made to operate and a large amount of air can be gathered at this loose section 14. That is, as shown in
Here, since the clothing main body 10 is provided with the loose section 14 at the upper back part thereof in the first embodiment, a sufficient area of the air blow-out unit 60 can be assured when the fans 20 and 20 are made to operate. Therefore, the air-conditioned clothing 1 for use with a helmet does not necessarily need to include the adjusting strings 13.
With respect to the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the first embodiment, the air is made to flow through the air flow path by using the fans, the flowing air evaporates the sweat coming out from the body and the body of the user can be cooled due to the heat of evaporation being generated when the sweat evaporates. Further, since the guide sheet is continuously attached to the back collar part of the clothing main body, the air which blows out from the air blow-out unit can be guided to the helmet along back of the neck and back of the head of the user through inner side of the guide sheet. Therefore, the air which flows along inner side of the guide sheet can evaporate the sweat coming out from back of the neck and back of the head of the user, and back of the neck and back of the head can be cooled. Further, since the air guided to the helmet can be efficiently guided into the helmet to circulate the air inside the helmet, the humidity in the head area of the user can be sufficiently resolved.
Further, in the first embodiment, the clothing main body is provided with the loose section which is formed so as to make this part of the clothing main body loose at the upper back part thereof along the section from the fans to the air blow-out unit. Therefore, when the air is made to flow through the air flow path by the fans being operated, the loose section inflates and a large amount of air can be gathered at the loose section. Thus, the large amount of air gathered here can be guided to the air blow-out unit from the loose section, and the amount of air guided to the helmet can be increased.
Further, in the first embodiment, the rate of the outer surface of the helmet that is covered by the attachment unit when the attachment unit is attached to the helmet is 20% of the entire surface of the helmet at the most. Therefore, the written information such as the name, the company name and the like of the person who wears the helmet that is shown on the outer surface of the helmet can be avoided from being completely covered by the attachment unit and being unrecognizable by other workers.
In the first embodiment, a case where an elastic loop belt is used as the attachment unit is described. However, the attachment unit is not limited to the above described configuration and may have any other configuration as long as the attachment unit is attached around the edge circumference of the helmet and can be tightened around the edge circumference.
Further, as for the attachment unit, a unit which includes elastic strings attached to the edge part of the guide sheet and two hooks (engaging units which engage with each other) which are attached to the tips of the strings can also be used. In such case, by wrapping the strings around the edge circumference of the helmet and engaging the two hooks with each other, the guide sheet can be attached to the helmet. Further, as for the attachment unit, an elastic loop string which is attached to the edge part of the guide sheet can also be used.
Further, with respect to the modified example of the attachment unit shown in
Next, the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in
The first aspect of the air-conditioned clothing 1a for use with a helmet of the second embodiment which differs from that of the first embodiment is that the cover unit having an approximately half sphere shape which is continuously attached to the edge part of the guide sheet 70 and which covers approximately the entire helmet when the helmet is worn is used as the attachment unit 80a. Therefore, the attachment unit 80a and the guide sheet 70 as a whole form a hood.
As shown in
The second aspect of the air-conditioned clothing 1a for use with a helmet of the second embodiment which differs from that of the first embodiment is that the loose section 14a is formed by sewing an approximately rectangle shaped cloth 142 for making this section loose to the clothing main body 10, the vertical length of the rectangle shaped cloth 142 being approximately the same as the vertical length of the loose section 14a. Here, as for the material of the cloth 142 for making the section loose, a coarse mesh material is used. By forming the loose section 14a with the approximately rectangle shaped cloth 142 for making this section loose, the loose section 14a be in a continuously inflated state and the air flow path of the air-conditioned clothing 1a for use with a helmet will have a better appearance when seen from outside.
The air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the second embodiment has the same effects and advantages as those of the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the first embodiment.
The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments and various modifications can be carried out within the scope of the invention.
For example, in the above described embodiments, cases where the clothing main body is provided with two fans are described. However, the clothing main body may be provided with three or more fans in order to increase the amount of air which is to be taken into the helmet. Further, the clothing main body may also be provided with only one fan.
In the above described embodiments, cases where the clothing main body is formed in a shape which covers the upper body are described. However, the clothing main body can be formed in a shape that covers the upper body and the lower body, for example. Under normal circumstances, the clothing main body can be formed in any shape as long as it at least covers the upper body.
In the above described embodiments, cases where the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet is used when a helmet is worn are mainly described. However, it is needless to say that the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the present invention can be used even when a helmet is not worn. In such case, the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet can be worn in a state where its guide sheet and attachment unit are hung down from the back collar part.
As described above, according to the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the present invention, the air which flows through inner side of the guide sheet can evaporate the sweat coming out from back of the neck and back of the head of the user when a helmet is worn, and back of the neck and back of the head can be cooled. Further, since the air which is guided to the helmet can be efficiently taken into the helmet and the air inside the helmet can be circulated, the humidity in the head area of the user can be sufficiently resolved. Therefore, the air-conditioned clothing for use with a helmet of the present invention can be preferably used in the case especially where the user works at a work site or the like with a helmet on.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2014/070215 | 7/31/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2016/016996 | 2/4/2016 | WO | A |
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3468299 | Amato | Sep 1969 | A |
20070050878 | Ichigaya | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070271939 | Ichigaya | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20120137411 | Majoros | Jun 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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704407.0 | Mar 1941 | DE |
04159119 | Jun 1992 | JP |
10280211 | Oct 1998 | JP |
2005054299 | Mar 2005 | JP |
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Entry |
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International Search Report (ISR) and Written Opinion dated Oct. 14, 2014 issued in International Application No. PCT/JP2014/070215. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability (IPRP) (and English translation thereof) dated Jan. 31, 2017 issued in counterpart International Application No. PCT/JP2014/070215. |
Extended European Search Report (EESR) dated Mar. 2, 2018 issued in counterpart European Application No. 14898751.4. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170231293 A1 | Aug 2017 | US |