Patent Application
20150143615
The invention relates generally to management of liquid and, more particularly, to a liquid collector mountable to an object for collecting liquid from the object.
Various situations exist in which it is desirable to remove liquid from an object because of potential negative consequences that could arise if the liquid remained.
For example, a person who is training, playing a sport, working, or performing any other activity which causes him/her to sweat typically desires to avoid sweat running into his/her eyes as this can sting or burn and/or be distracting. While sweatbands have been developed to mitigate this, they suffer from certain drawbacks. For instance, traditional sweatbands are made of absorbent material (e.g., absorbent fabric) which absorbs sweat and, therefore, often present odor and cleanliness problems due to absorbed sweat and have a limited efficiency in shielding eyes from sweat as they become saturated. Nonabsorbent sweatbands have also been envisaged to redirect sweat away from their user's eyes instead of absorbing sweat, but typically present certain deficiencies such as, for instance, an inability to retain sweat, if desired, before evacuating it and/or a poor or suboptimal fit which can create gaps through which sweat can run down into their user's eyes.
As another example, after pouring liquid such as water, wine or oil from a bottle, an individual usually desires to prevent residual liquid remaining on the bottle's external surface from running down the bottle's external surface onto his/her hand and/or onto a table or other support on which the bottle is placed.
Other examples of situations requiring or benefiting from removal of a liquid from an object can be considered.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for improvements directed to facilitating removal of liquid from objects.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a sweat collector for wearing on a head of a user. The sweat collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The sweat collector comprises an inner side for contacting the head of the user. The inner side engages a forehead of the user when the sweat collector is worn on the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises a sweat-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting sweat from the head of the user to prevent the collected sweat from flowing into eyes of the user. The sweat-collecting recess is configured to retain the collected sweat by surface tension and adhesion.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sweat collector for wearing on a head of a user. The sweat collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The sweat collector comprises an inner side for contacting the head of the user. The inner side engages a forehead of the user when the sweat collector is worn on the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises a sweat-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting sweat from the head of the user to prevent the collected sweat from flowing into eyes of the user. The sweat-collecting recess comprises an inner surface and an outer surface spaced apart and facing one another to define a width of the sweat-collecting recess. The width of the sweat-collecting recess is less than 2.6 mm.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sweat collector for wearing on a head of a user. The sweat collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The sweat collector comprises an inner side for contacting the head of the user. The inner side engages a forehead of the user when the sweat collector is worn on the head of the user. The inner side comprises a generally convex portion that is convex along a longitudinal axis of the sweat collector to be in sealing engagement with the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises a sweat-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting sweat from the head of the user to prevent the collected sweat from flowing into eyes of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sweat collector for wearing on a head of a user. The sweat collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The sweat collector comprises an inner side for contacting the head of the user. The inner side engages a forehead of the user when the sweat collector is worn on the head of the use. The sweat collector comprises an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises a sweat-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting sweat from the head of the user to prevent the collected sweat from flowing into eyes of the user. The outer side comprises a sweat drip guide for guiding a flow direction of sweat outside of the sweat-collecting recess such that the sweat outside of the sweat-collecting recess falls away from the eyes of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sweat collector for wearing on a head of a user. The sweat collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The sweat collector comprises an inner side for contacting the head of the user. The inner side engages a forehead of the user when the sweat collector is worn on the head of the user. The inner side comprises a sealing projection projecting inwardly for being in sealing engagement with the forehead of the user. The sweat collector comprises an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the head of the user. The sweat collector comprises a sweat-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting sweat from the head of the user to prevent the collected sweat from flowing into eyes of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sweat collector for wearing on a body part of a user. The sweat collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The sweat collector comprises an inner side for contacting the body part of the user and an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the body part of the user. The sweat collector comprises a sweat-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting sweat from the body part of the user to prevent the collected sweat from running down an external surface of the body part of the user. The sweat-collecting recess is configured to retain the collected sweat by surface tension and adhesion.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid collector for wearing on a head of a user. The liquid collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The liquid collector comprises an inner side for contacting the head of the user. The inner side engages a forehead of the user when the liquid collector is worn on the head of the user. The liquid collector comprises an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the head of the user. The liquid collector comprises a liquid-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting liquid originating from an external source from the head of the user to prevent the collected liquid from flowing into eyes of the user.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid collector for mounting to a container. The liquid collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The liquid collector comprises an inner side for contacting the container and an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the container. The liquid collector comprises a liquid-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting liquid from the container to prevent the collected liquid from running down an external surface of the container. The liquid-collecting recess is configured to retain the collected liquid by surface tension and adhesion.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid collector for mounting to an object. The liquid collector is at least partly made of nonabsorbent material. The liquid collector comprises an inner side for contacting the object and an outer side opposite the inner side for facing away from the object. The liquid collector comprises a liquid-collecting recess between the inner side and the outer side for collecting liquid from the object to prevent the collected liquid from running down an external surface of the object. The liquid-collecting recess is configured to retain the collected liquid by surface tension and adhesion.
These and other aspects of the invention will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments of the invention and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.
The sweat collector 10 comprises an inner side 30 for contacting the head 12 of the user 14 and an outer side 32 opposite the inner side 30 for facing away from the user's head 12. As shown in
In this embodiment, the sweat collector 10 comprises a front portion 28 for engaging the forehead 22 of the user 14, left and right side portions 291, 292 for engaging the left and right side regions 211, 212 of the user's head 12, and a back portion 31 for engaging the back region 26 of the user's head 12. These portions of the sweat collector 10 are distributed along a longitudinal axis LC of the sweat collector 10. More particularly, in this embodiment, the sweat collector 10 is retained on the user's head 12 by surrounding the head 12 such that it extends along an entirety of a circumference of the head 12. In this example, the sweat collector 10 is elastic and stretchable around the user's head 12 to be retained on the head 12. More specifically, in this example, the sweat collector 10 is a continuous endless elastic headband stretchable around the user's head 12 to be retained on the head 12.
The sweat collector 10 is at least partly (i.e., partly or entirely) made of nonabsorbent material 15 which does not absorb sweat. In this embodiment, at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of the sweat collector 10 is made of the nonabsorbent material 15. More particularly, in this example, the sweat collector 10 is entirely made of the nonabsorbent material 15. In this case, the nonabsorbent material 15 is hydrophobic. In other cases, the nonabsorbent material 15 may be hydrophilic. In addition, in this embodiment, since it is elastic and stretched around the head 12 of the user 14, the nonabsorbent material 15 is elastic material which can stretch when the sweat collector 10 is worn on the user's head 12 and contract back towards its original form when the sweat collector 10 is removed from the user's head 12.
The nonabsorbent material 15 of the sweat collector 10 may also have other desirable characteristics. For example, in this embodiment, the nonabsorbent material 15 is antimicrobial material which destroys or inhibits growth of microorganisms in order to prevent an undesirable odor from the sweat collector 10. The material 15 may be naturally antimicrobial or may have been imparted with an antimicrobial additive (e.g., a coating or integrated particles such as copper or silver particles for instance). As another example, in some embodiments, the nonabsorbent material 15 may be translucent material which allows ultraviolet (UV) rays of sunlight to pass through it to avoid unpleasant skin demarcations (e.g., tan lines) on the user's head 12 that could otherwise develop if the user 14 is wearing the sweat collector 10 in sunlight. For instance, in some embodiments, the material 15 may have a light transmission coefficient, commonly referred to as light transmittance factor (LTF), of at least 50%, in some cases at least 70%, and in some cases at least 90%.
In this embodiment, the nonabsorbent material 15 of the sweat collector 10 is elastomeric nonabsorbent material. More particularly, in this example of implementation, the elastomeric nonabsorbent material 15 is silicone rubber, in this case antimicrobial silicone rubber. The sweat collector 10 may be made of any other suitable material in other embodiments (e.g., polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, etc.).
The sweat collector 10 comprises a sweat-collecting recess 18 located between its inner side 30 and its outer side 32 and configured for collecting sweat from the head 12 of the user 14 and controlling the collected sweat to prevent the collected sweat from running down into the user's eyes 161, 162. The sweat-collecting recess 18 collects sweat that runs down the user's head 12 by gravity. The sweat-collecting recess 18 may control the collected sweat in various ways, such as by retaining (i.e., holding) the collected sweat in the recess 18 and/or redirecting the collected sweat out of the recess 18 in a predetermined direction away from the user's eyes 161, 162, as further discussed below.
The sweat-collecting recess 18 extends along at least part of the front portion 28 of the sweat collector 10 adjacent to the forehead 22 of the user 14. In this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 extends along at least a majority of the front portion 28 of the sweat collector 10. In this example, the sweat-collecting recess 18 extends along an entirety of the front portion 28 and along parts of the left and right portions 291, 292 of the sweat collector 10. More particularly, in this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 is dimensioned such that, when the sweat collector 10 is worn on the user's head 12, the sweat-collecting recess 18 has a transversal extent Lt in the transversal direction of the head 12 that is greater than a span Et of the user's eyes 161, 162 in the transversal direction of the head 12. In this example of implementation, the sweat-collecting recess 18 is dimensioned to extend across the user's forehead 12 to at least reach the user's left and right temples 231, 232 when the sweat collector 10 is worn. The sweat-collecting recess 18 may extend along a longer or shorter part of the sweat collector 10 in other embodiments.
The sweat-collecting recess 18 comprises an open top 38 for receiving sweat drops, an inner surface 40 and an outer surface 42 spaced apart and facing from one another, and a bottom 44 between the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42. The inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 and the bottom 44 of the recess 18 form a void which can be occupied by collected sweat drops. In this embodiment, the void formed by the recess 18 is a channel in which collected sweat may flow when sufficient sweat drops have been collected. Also, in this embodiment, the recess 18 has open longitudinal ends 411, 412 through which collected sweat can be evacuated from the recess 18 away from the user's eyes 161, 162. The recess 18 may have any other suitable shape in other embodiments.
The void formed by the sweat-collecting recess 18 defines a capacity Cr of the recess 18, i.e., a volume of sweat that can be contained in the recess 18. For example, in some embodiments, the capacity Cr of the recess 18 may be at least 0.2 ml, in some cases at least 0.5 ml, in some cases at least 1.0 ml, in some cases at least 1.5 ml, and in some cases even more (e.g., 4.5 ml or more). The capacity Cr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 may take on any other value in other embodiments.
A width Wr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 is defined by a spacing of the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42. In this embodiment, the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 of the recess 18 extend generally parallel to one another such that the width Wr is substantially constant along the recess 18. In other embodiments, the width Wr may vary along the recess 18 in which case the width Wr can be taken as an average width along the recess 18.
A depth Dr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 is defined by a highest point of the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 and a lowest point of the bottom 44 of the recess 18. In this embodiment, the bottom 44 of the recess 18 is generally level along the recess 18 and rounded when viewing a cross-section of the recess 18 such that the depth Dr is substantially constant along the recess 18. In other embodiments, the depth Dr may vary along the recess 18 in which case the depth Dr can be taken as an average depth along the recess 18. The bottom 44 of the recess 18 may have various other shapes in other embodiments (e.g., the bottom 44 may be flat to provide more contact surface to potentially enhance retention).
The sweat-collecting recess 18 is configured to control sweat collected from the user's head 11 and contained therein. More particularly, in this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 is configured to retain (i.e., hold) a volume of sweat in the recess 18. In that sense, in this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 can also be referred to as a sweat-retaining recess. Sweat drops arriving at the sweat collector 10 under gravity are directed into the sweat-collecting recess 18 and become stuck in the recess 18. At that stage, the collected sweat drops are held captive in the sweat-collecting recess 18 and can be managed. For instance, in some examples of implementation, the sweat-collecting recess 18 may accumulate sweat drops retained therein and, when sufficient sweat drops coalesce, the collected sweat in the recess 18 can become more free-flowing and may be directed in the recess 18 so as to be evacuated from the recess 18 away from the user's eyes 161, 162. In other examples of implementation, the sweat-collecting recess 18 may direct collected sweat drops immediately as they enter the recess 18 to evacuate them from the recess 18 away from the user's eyes 161, 162, without substantial accumulation of sweat in the recess 18.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 is configured to control sweat therein based on intermolecular forces, including surface tension and adhesion. As is well known, surface tension, also known as “interfacial tension”, is a phenomenon involving forces acting at a liquid's surface constituting an interface with another medium (i.e., another liquid or a gas or solid) which tend to minimize an area of the liquid's surface. This phenomenon is caused by intermolecular interactions within the liquid and between the liquid and the interfacing medium, including attraction of molecules of the liquid's surface by molecules of a bulk of the liquid. Adhesion refers to adhesive forces between dissimilar molecules, such as between a liquid and a solid with a different molecular composition.
Thus, in this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 is configured such that a combined effect of the surface tension of sweat collected in the recess 18 and the adhesion between the collected sweat and the recess 18 is sufficient to hold the collected sweat in the recess 18. This combined effect can be viewed as a type of capillary action. When sweat drops run down the user's forehead and arrive at the sweat collector 10 under gravity, they are directed into the sweat-collecting recess 18. As the sweat drops enter into the sweat-collecting recess 18, the surface tension and adhesion between the sweat drops and the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 and the bottom 44 of the recess 18 result in the sweat drops becoming stuck in the recess 18. The surface tension at a collected sweat drop's surface constituting an interface with ambient air and an interface with the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 and the bottom 44 of the recess 18 and the adhesion between the sweat drop and the surfaces 40, 42 and bottom 44 of the recess 18 are sufficient to hold the collected sweat drop captive within the recess 18, even against gravity if the open top 38 of the recess 18 is not horizontal. Being retained in the recess 18, the collected sweat drops can be managed.
In this embodiment, the sweat-collecting recess 18 accumulates the collected sweat drops such that it can retain a volume of sweat Vs therein. For instance, depending on a design of the sweat collector 10, in some embodiments, the volume of sweat Vs retainable in the sweat-collecting recess 18 may be at least 0.3 ml, in some cases at least 0.5 ml, in some cases at least 0.7 ml, in some cases at least 1 ml, and in some cases even more (e.g., up to 4.5 ml or more) The volume of sweat Vs retainable in the sweat-collecting recess 18 may take on any other value in other embodiments.
A sweat retention capability of the sweat-collecting recess 18 can be observed in various ways. For example, the sweat-collecting recess 18 is capable of retaining collected sweat therein against gravity, which would normally cause the sweat to flow out of the recess 18. This could occur, for instance, as the user's head 12 is tilted forward or backward resulting in the sweat collector 10 acquiring an orientation in which the open top 38 of the recess 18 is not horizontal such that gravity creates a downward flow path for the collected sweat out of the recess 18, but yet the collected sweat remains held in the recess 18 by surface tension and adhesion effects. Notably, even in that orientation, surface tension and adhesion effects cause the collected sweat to extend from the inner surface 40 to the outer surface 42 of the recess 18 (i.e., bridge the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 of the recess 18). Thus, in some embodiments, the volume of sweat Vs retainable in the recess 18 may be a volume of sweat that can be retained in the recess 18 even against gravity.
A test can be performed to observe the sweat retention capability of the sweat collector 10. For example: the sweat collector 10 is placed on a generally flat horizontal surface of a support (e.g., a table or counter) with the open top 38 of the sweat-collecting recess 18 facing up; a quantity of sweat corresponding to the volume of sweat Vs retainable in the sweat-collecting recess 18 is poured into the recess 18; and the sweat collector 10 is turned over such that the open top 38 of the recess 18 faces down and the volume of sweat Vs remains in the recess 18 (i.e., does not flow out of the recess 18). For instance, in some embodiments: the sweat collector 10 is placed on the support's generally flat horizontal surface with the open top 38 of the recess 18 facing up; at least 0.3 ml of sweat is poured into the recess 18; and the sweat collector 10 is turned over such that the open top 38 of the recess 18 faces down and the at least 0.3 ml of sweat remains in the recess 18.
As another example, sweat accumulating in the sweat-collecting recess 18 can fill the recess 18 and reach a level Hs (measured from the bottom 44 of the recess 18) which can be quite substantial. For instance, the level Hs of collected sweat in the recess 18 may reach at least 30% of the depth Dr of the recess 18, in some cases at least 50% of the depth Dr of the recess 18, in some cases at least 70% of the depth Dr of the recess 18, and in some cases even more (e.g., up to 100% of the depth Dr of the recess 18). The level Hs of collected sweat may be kept when the sweat collector 10 is turned over such that the open top 38 of the recess 18 faces down.
The sweat retention capability of the sweat-collecting recess 18 based on surface tension and adhesion effects depends on various factors, including dimensions of the recess 18 and material making up the recess 18.
For example, in this embodiment, the width Wr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 is sufficiently small to retain sweat drops in the recess 18. For instance, in some embodiments, the width Wr of the recess 18 may be less than 2.6 mm, in some cases no more than 2.4 mm, in some cases no more than 2.2 mm, in some cases no more than 2 mm, in some cases no more than 1.8 mm, in some cases no more than 1.6 mm, in some cases no more than 1.4 mm, and in some cases even less (e.g., down to 0.8 mm or less). In some situations, the width Wr of the recess 18 may be smaller than an average diameter of a sweat drop from the user's head 12 to facilitate retention of sweat drops in the recess 18. In this example of implementation, the width Wr of the recess 18 is about 0.070 inches (1.8 mm). The width Wr of the recess 18 may have any other suitable value in other embodiments.
The depth Dr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 may be sufficient to provide the capacity Cr of the recess 18, and may also help in sweat retention. For example, in some embodiments, the depth Dr of the recess 18 may be at least 1.5 mm, in some cases at least 2 mm, in some cases at least 2.5 mm, in some cases at least 3 mm, in some cases at least 3.5 mm, and in some cases even more (e.g., up to 25 mm or more). In this example of implementation, the depth Dr of the recess 18 is about 3.25 mm. The depth Dr of the recess 18 may have any other suitable value in other embodiments.
A shape of the sweat-collecting recess 18 may also enhance its sweat retention capability. For example, in this embodiment, top edge portions 83, 85 which delimit the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 of the sweat-collecting recess 18 are angular to help retain collected sweat within the recess 18. That is, the top edge portions 83, 85 are generally “sharp” and are not rounded since this could make it easier for sweat to escape the recess 18 when the user's head 12 is tilted.
When sufficient sweat drops (e.g., three or more sweat drops) have been accumulated and coalesced together in the sweat-collecting recess 18, the collected sweat in the recess 18 can become more free-flowing within the recess 18. The recess 18 may then direct the collected sweat to evacuate it from the recess 18 away from the user's eyes 161, 162. For example, in this embodiment, when the user 14 tilts his/her head 12, the recess 18 directs the collected sweat to flow out of it through one or both of its open longitudinal ends 411, 412 such that the sweat falls generally on the left and right side regions 211, 212 of the user's head 12 away from the user's eyes 161, 162.
In this embodiment, the sweat collector 10 comprises a sweat drip guide 50 on its outer side 32 to guide a flow direction FD of sweat that is outside of the sweat-collecting recess 18 such that the sweat falls away from the user's eyes 161, 162. For instance, the sweat that is outside of the sweat-collecting recess 18 may be caused by a movement of the user's head 12 causing sweat to evacuate through the open top 38 of the recess 18 or by an overflow of sweat when too much sweat has accumulated within the recess 18. The flow direction FD imparted by the sweat drip guide 50 is oriented away from the user's eyes 161, 162 such that, as the sweat drips, it does not fall into the user's eyes 161, 162.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the sweat drip guide 50 comprises a guiding projection 52 projecting outwardly away from the user's face 17 when the sweat collector 10 is worn. In this example of implementation, the guiding projection 52 comprises an elongated lip extending along the sweat collector 10 to follow the sweat-collecting recess 18 (i.e., extending along that part of the sweat collector 10 over which extends the sweat-collecting recess 18). The guiding projection 52 has a lower surface 54 which defines an oblique angle β relative to the vertical axis CC of the user's head 12 when the sweat collector 10 is worn. For example, in some embodiments, the oblique angle β may be at least 45°, in some cases at least 50°, in some cases at least 55°, in some cases at least 60° and in some cases even more. The oblique angle β may have any other suitable value in other embodiments. The guiding projection 52 may have various other shapes in other examples of implementation (e.g., it may be shorter and/or have a different cross-sectional shape).
The inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 is in contact with the head 12 of the user 14 to be in sealing engagement with at least part of the user's head 12, including the user's forehead 22. In this embodiment, the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 is designed to more optimally fit on and engage the user's head 12 to enhance this sealing engagement.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 comprises a main head-engaging surface 74 and a plurality of sealing projections 681, 682 projecting inwardly from the main head-engaging surface 74 for being in sealing engagement with the user's head 12, including the user's forehead 22. In this example of implementation, the sealing projections 681, 682 are upper and lower sealing projections located at upper and lower edges of the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10. In this case, the sealing projection 681 has a greater sealing function since it is located higher and prevents sweat from passing it and moving further down the user's face 17. The lower projection 682 equilibrates the shape of the sweat collector 10 to make it more stable on the user's head 12.
In this example of implementation, each of the sealing projections 681, 682 is shaped as an elongated lip extending along that part of the sweat collector 10 over which extends the sweat-collecting recess 18. Each of the sealing projections 681, 682 tapers towards its tip and has a flexibility which provides a better engagement when the user's head 12. Each sealing projection 68; has a head-engaging surface 63 which defines an oblique angle α relative to the main head-engaging surface 74 of the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10. For example, in some embodiments, the oblique angle α may be at least 90°, in some cases at least 120°, in some cases at least 150°, and in some cases in even more (e.g., up to 170°) The oblique angle α may have any other suitable value in other embodiments. The sealing projections 681, 682 may have various other shapes in other examples of implementation (e.g., it may be shorter and/or have a different cross-sectional shape). Also, there may any other number of sealing projections such as the sealing projections 681, 682 in other embodiments (e.g., a single sealing projection, or three, four or more sealing projections).
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 comprises a plurality of generally convex portions 551-553 that are convex along the longitudinal axis LC of the sweat collector 10 and are disposed to contact respective parts of the user's head 12. This curvature results in proper contact and pressure being applied by the convex portions 551-553 of the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 on these parts of the user's head 12 which creates a seal to protect against (i.e., reduce or eliminate a potential for) sweat running down into the user's eyes 161, 162 by passing between these convex portions 551-553 and these parts of the user's head 12. This may be particularly useful in cases where the parts of the user's head 12 that are contacted by the convex portions 551-553 are concave or otherwise recessed.
In this example of implementation, the convex portion 551 of the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 is a generally convex glabellar portion for contacting a glabella 33 of the user 14 (i.e., a space between the user's eyebrows and above his/her nose). The contact and pressure applied by the convex glabellar portion 20 of the sweat collector 10 on the user's glabella 31 protects against sweat dripping down into the user's eyes 161, 162 by passing between the convex glabellar portion 20 of the sweat collector 10 and the user's glabella 31.
Also, in this example of implementation, the convex portions 552, 553 of the inner side 30 of the sweat collector 10 are generally convex temple portions for contacting the user's left and right temples 231, 232. The contact and pressure applied by the convex temple portions 552, 553 of the sweat collector 10 on the user's temples 231, 232 protects against sweat dripping down into the user's eyes 161, 162 by passing between the convex temple portions 552, 553 of the sweat collector 10 and the user's temples 231, 232.
By collecting and controlling sweat from the head 12 of the user 14, the sweat collector 10 efficiently protects the user 14 against sweat running into his/her eyes 161, 162.
Although the sweat collector 10 is constructed in a particular way in embodiments discussed above, the sweat collector 10 may be constructed in various other ways in other embodiments.
For example, in some embodiments, the sweat-collecting recess 18 may extend along at least a majority of a length of the sweat collector 10. For example,
As another example, in some embodiments, as shown in
As another example, in some embodiments, as shown in
More particularly, in this embodiment, the hair-engaging sweat catcher 64 comprise a plurality of sweat-catching members 731-73H disposed adjacent to one another along the longitudinal axis LC of the sweat collector 10. Each sweat-catching member 73i comprises a tip 65 which contacts the head 12 of the user 14 and a base 67 in proximity to the open top 38 of the sweat-collecting recess 18. The sweat-catching members 731-73H are spaced apart at their tip 65. The tip 65 of each sweat-catching member 73i constitutes a sweat inlet while the base 67 of the sweat-catching member 73i constitutes a sweat outlet for directing sweat into the sweat-collecting recess 18. In this example, the sweat-catching member 73i widens in a direction from its tip 65 towards its base 67. As sweat from the head 12 of the user 14 drips towards the tip 65 of the sweat-drawing member 73i, the sweat will have a tendency to be drawn in towards the sweat-collecting recess 18. More specifically, once a sweat drop comes into contact with the tip 65 of the sweat-catching member 73i, surface tension and adhesion effects will induce movement of the sweat drop along the sweat-drawing member 73i towards the base 67 of the sweat-catching member 73i. In this case, the widening shape of the sweat-catching member 73i towards the base 67 promotes the flow of the sweat drop towards the base 67 where it is released into the sweat-collecting recess 18. The sweat-catching members 731-73H may have various other shapes in other embodiments. Also, the hair-engaging sweat catcher 64 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments (e.g., it may comprise a single continuous sweat catching member).
In some embodiments, the sweat collector 10 may not surround the head 12 of the user 14, but may rather extend along less than all of a circumference of the head 12. For example, in some embodiments, the sweat collector 10 may have a U-shape or C-shape such that it can extend along less than all of the user's head 12. For instance, in some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the sweat collector 10 may be long enough to contour the head 12 of the user 14 but may not be manufactured as a closed endless loop. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, a hydrophilic agent may be provided (e.g., coated) on surfaces which receive the sweat, such as a top surface 66 leading into the sweat-collecting recess 18 and/or one or more of the inner and outer surfaces 40, 42 of the sweat-collecting recess 18, in order to enhance capture of the sweat at the top surface 66 and into the sweat-collecting recess 18.
In some embodiments, less than all of the sweat collector 10 may be made of the nonabsorbent material 15. For example, an external surface of the sweat collector 10 may be made of nonabsorbent material 15 while a core of the sweat collector 10 beneath its external surface may be made of absorbent material. As another example, one or more portions of the sweat collector 10 may be absorbent such that, as sweat is collected, some sweat is absorbed by these one or more absorbent portions. For instance, in some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
Although in embodiments considered above the sweat collector 10 is wearable on the head 12 of the user 14, in other embodiments, the sweat collector 10 may be wearable on another body part of the user 14 to collect sweat from that body part to prevent the collected sweat from running down an external surface of that body part. For instance, in other embodiments, the sweat collector 10 may be wearable on a forearm of the user 14 to collect sweat from the forearm and prevent the collected sweat from running down into the user's hand and reducing the user's grip.
In other embodiments the liquid collector 10 may be mounted to the head 12 or another body part of the user 14 to collect a liquid, other than sweat, that originates from an external source (i.e., a source external to the user 14) and contacts the user's head or other body part.
For example, in some embodiments, the liquid collector 10 may be mounted to the user's head 12 to collect water that originates from an external source and contacts the user's head 12. For instance, in some cases, the external source may be a bath, the water may be bathwater (possibly including a washing agent such as soap or shampoo), and the user 14 may be a child or other individual taking his/her bath, such that the liquid collector 10 may be used to collect the bathwater from the user's head 12 and prevent it from running into the user's eyes 161, 162. In other cases, the external source may be a pool, the water may be pool water, and the user 14 may be swimming, playing water polo, or engaged in another sport or another activity in the pool, such that that the liquid collector 10 may be used to collect the pool water from the user's head 12 and prevent it from running into the user's eyes 161, 162. In yet other cases, the external source may be a shower, a spa, a body of water (e.g., a lake, sea or river), or any other source of water to which the user 14 may be exposed.
The liquid-collecting recess 18 may control the collected water in various ways, such as by retaining (i.e., holding) the collected water in the recess 18 and/or redirecting the collected water out of the recess 18 in a predetermined direction away from the user's eyes 161, 162, as discussed above. For example, in some embodiments, the liquid-collecting recess 18 may direct collected water immediately as it enters the recess 18 to evacuate it from the recess 18 at its open longitudinal ends 411, 412 away from the user's eyes 161, 162, without substantial accumulation of water in the recess 18. This may be beneficial given a flow rate of the water arriving at the liquid-collecting recess 18. To that end, in some embodiments, the liquid-collecting recess 18 may be configured to facilitate such immediate evacuation of the collected water based on the flow rate of the water arriving at the recess 18. For example, in some embodiments, the width Wr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 may be sufficiently large to induce immediate evacuation of the collected water. For instance, in some embodiments, the width Wr of the sweat-collecting recess 18 may be at least 4.5 mm (e.g., 3/16 inch), in some cases at least 6 mm (e.g., ¼ inch), in some cases at least 8 mm (e.g., ⅓ inch), in some cases at least 9.5 mm (e.g., ⅜ inch), and in some cases even greater (e.g., at least 12.7 mm such as ½ inch).
While in embodiments considered above the object 12 to which the liquid collector 10 is mounted is a body part of a user such that the liquid collector 10 is a sweat or other liquid collector for collecting sweat from the user's body part, in other embodiments, the object 12 to which the liquid collector 10 is mounted may be any other object such that the liquid collector 10 is another type of liquid collector for collecting another type of liquid.
For instance,
The liquid collector 10 comprises an inner side 84 for contacting the external surface 71 of the liquid container and an outer side 86 opposite the inner side 84 for facing away from the bottle 12. In this embodiment, the liquid collector 10 is elastic and stretchable such that it may be expanded for mounting onto the bottle 12. More specifically, in this embodiment, the liquid collector 10 is made of antimicrobial silicon rubber.
As the liquid originally contained in the bottle 12 runs down the external surface 71 of the bottle 12 by gravity, the liquid is collected in the liquid-collecting recess 18 of the liquid collector 10. In this case, the recess 18 extends along the entire length of the liquid collector 10. More specifically, in this case, the liquid-collecting recess 18 comprises an open top 88 for receiving liquid drops, an inner surface 90 and an outer surface 92 spaced apart and facing from one another, and a bottom 94 between the inner and outer surfaces 90, 92. The inner and outer surfaces 90, 92 and the bottom 94 of the recess 18 form a void which can be occupied by collected liquid drops.
In this embodiment, the liquid collector 10 comprises a sealing projection 96 projecting towards the external surface 71 of the bottle 12 for being in sealing engagement with the bottle 12. The sealing projection 96 has a line of contact 76 with the bottle 12 such that liquid dripping from the bottle 12 would be guided by the sealing projection 96 towards the liquid-collecting recess 18 and prevented from dripping between the external surface 71 of the bottle and the inner side 84 of the liquid collector 10.
In addition, in this embodiment, the liquid collector 10 comprises a retaining projection 98 projecting towards the external surface 71 of the bottle 12 to prevent liquid drops collected within the liquid-collecting recess 18 from falling out of the liquid collector 10 when the bottle 12 is tilted to pour out liquid contained in the bottle 12. More specifically, in addition to being retained within the recess 18 via surface tension and adhesion effects, the liquid drops in the recess 18 will further be retained within the liquid collector 10 by the retaining projection 98 should they happen to flow in a direction outward of the recess 18.
In some embodiments, the liquid collector 10 may comprise a plurality of partitions similar to the partitions 581-58P of the sweat collector 10. Thus, the recess 18 of the liquid collector 10 may present different chambers similar to the chambers 601-60C of the sweat collector 10 such that the chambers may receive and house respective amounts of the collected liquid in the recess 18.
The liquid collector 10 may be configured in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, depending on the capacity Cr and visual appearance desired, the liquid collector 10, may be taller or shorter. For instance,
Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be combined with any feature of any other embodiment discussed herein in some examples of implementation.
Although various embodiments and examples have been presented, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications and enhancements will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and are within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/636,894 filed on Apr. 23, 2012 and hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CA2013/000401 | 4/23/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61636894 | Apr 2012 | US |
