WO2009075439A1

WO2009075439A1 - Hot pack case, manufacturing method for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009075439A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003608
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung Ja Kim; Kwang Chae Ko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-13
Filing date: 2008-06-24
Publication date: 2009-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-13
Also published as: KR100962367B1; KR20080093852A

Abstract

Provided is a hot-pack case based on tourmaline and zeolite in addition to nylon. Having electric properties, tourmaline emits far-infrared light anions when heated by the body. Zeolites store water within numerous nanopores thereof and generate water vapor by the body temperature, emitting a large amount of anions and supplying oxygen to the skin. When formulated in combination, tourmaline and zeolite show a synergistic effect of allowing far- infrared light to penetrate deep into the skin. When applied to the body, therefore, the hot-pack case prepared from a formulation comprising 90% by weight of nylon, 8 % by weight of tourmaline and 2% of zeolite promotes metabolism, with the fast degradation of body wastes. Also, the hot-pack case is provided with protrusions suitable for stimulating acupunctures.

Description

HOT PACK CASE, MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR THE

SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a streamline hot-pack case with an ergonomic fit to the body. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a hot-pack case supplemented with tourmaline and zeolite to emit far-infrared lights and generate anions, thereby expanding blood vessels and promoting blood circulation with the rapid degradation of body wastes. The present invention is also concerned with a method for manufacturing the hot-pack case. Background Art

[2] In general, stuping or applying a poultice is effected with the fundamental aim of promoting blood circulation. Applicationof hot heat to the body causes vasodilatation and thus promotes blood circulation, leading to various effects. For example, as a larger amount of blood is circulating, a larger amount of nutrients is supplied, with the rapid degradationof body wastes. Also, when undergoing stuping, tensed muscles are quickly relaxed, with the alleviation of muscle pain.

[3] Most of thepacks used for stuping or poultice are hot packs, and cold packs are used in some rare cases. Hot packs are designed to sufficiently achieve the stuping or poultice goals. For instance, hot packs aid to effectively deliver heat to the affected sites of the body suffering from, e.g., bone diseases or muscle disorders to alleviate the pain or to make tensed muscles relax. In addition, hot packs are designed to control moisture as well as heat. For example, they can modulate moistureconditions on treatment sites upon wet or dry cataplasm.

[4] A hot pack is made of one or more components. Atypical hot pack comprises a chemical material with larger thermal capacity or a stony material such as elvan in a sealed plastic pack or film, and functions as the chemical or stony material is heated or cooled.

[5] In most cases, hot packs are designed to have electric wires on covers such as synthetic resin sheets or films, or therein,and to heat the chemical or stony materials by applying electricity to the electric wires. Thus, the heat stored in the chemical or stony materials is used for stuping or poultice.

[6] However, such a hot pack is disadvantageous in that harmful electromagnetic waves may be transferred directly to the body, and that stony materials may be readily overheated when applying electricity for a long period of time, which may cause a burn to the user, and are likely to be broken when is missed. [7] Sometimes, tourmaline is used for the formation of hot packs. However, tourmaline is used indiscreetly in conventional hot packs. Although tourmaline can emit far infrared light, conventional hot packs are not provided with the function of allowing the far infrared light to penetrate deep to the skin. Furthermore, tourmaline alone cannot make an effective contribution to oxygen supply and body metabolism. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic hot-pack case which is strong enoughto remain unbroken even when it is dropped on a floor and which can be easily cast and a method for manufacturing the same.

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hot-pack case which emits far- infrared lights and anions into deep skin cells and a method for manufacturing the same. Technical Solution

[10] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a hot-pack case for promoting blood circulation and metabolism in a body, comprising an upper half and a lower half, both being structured to have such a streamline figure as to closely fit to the body and being prepared from a formulation of nylon and tourmaline, the upper half being provided with a plurality of protrusions suitable for stimulating acupuncture points.

[11] In a modification of this aspect, the formulation further comprises zeolite in order to activate skin cells to allow far-infrared light to deeply penetrate the skin.

[12] In another modification, the tourmaline is used in an amount of from 6 to 10 % by weight based on the total weight of the formulation comprised of nylon, tourmaline and zeolite.

[13] In a further modification, the zeolite is used in an amount of from 1 to 3 % by weight based on the total weight of the formulation composed of nylon, tourmaline and zeolite.

[14] In a further modification, the formulation comprises nylon in an amount of 90 % by weight, tourmaline in an amount of 8 % by weight and zeolite in an amount of 2 % by weight based on the total weight thereof.

[15] In accordance with another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a hot-pack case, comprising: pulverizing tourmaline stones and zeolite stones into microparticles blending nylon resin powder with the microparticles of tourmaline and processing the powder blend into briquettes having a size suitable for injection molding drying the briquettes melting the briquettes and injection molding the melted material into the case using a mold module.

[16] In a modification of this aspect, the melting is carried out by heating at 12O⁰C and the method further comprises boiling the case at 100⁰C in water for 50 ~ 120 min.

Advantageous Effects

[17] As described above, the hot-pack case according to the present invention shows the following effects. [18] First, being designed to have an ergonomic fit to the body, the hot-pack case is effective for recovery from fatigue and alleviating pains. Protrusions provided on the case are useful in massaging female genitals and male prostates. [19] In addition, the far- infrared energy emitted from tourmaline which can penetrate deeply into the skin thanks to the synergistic effects of zeolite, whichis effective in preventing skin inflammation and rejuvenating injured skin.

Brief Description of Drawings [20] FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview showing a structure of a hot-pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention; [21] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of the hot-pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention; [22] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing mold modules for the hot-pack case of the present invention; [23] FIGS 4 and 5 are views showing a process of blending materials for the hot-pack case of the present invention; [24] FIG. 6 is a view showing a process of preparing the materials of the hot-pack case into briquettes. [25] FIG. 7 is a schematic prospective view showing a dryer for drying the materials of the hot-pack case.

[26] FIG. 8 is a view showing an injector for injecting the materials of the hot-pack case.

[27] FIG. 9 is a view showing a process of molding the materials of the hot-pack case.

[28] **Descriptions for Main Reference Numerals of Drawings**

[29] 100: Case 110: Upper case

[30] 112: Protrusions 120: Lower case

[31] 210: Module 220: Module

[32] 310: Blender 312: Rotating Blade

[33] 330: Dryer 340: Injector

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [34] Reference should now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail. [35] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hot-pack case 100 comprising a functional material in accordance with the present invention is formed of a nylon resin in combination with predetermined amounts of tourmaline and zeolite.

[36] Tourmaline stones are quite unique in that they have both positive and negative electrodes with constant release of a weak electric current of 0.06 mA therefrom. Thus, they show anionic surfactant effects, which become twice as potent upon temperature increase by 1O⁰C. Even when tourmaline stones are of fine powder, their nature remains unchanged. Rather, each powder particle exerts the electric properties, emitting far infrared light and anions when heated by the body temperature. Particularly, these effects are optimal when tourmaline is in contact with moisture, whether in liquid or vapor form. For instance, the electrons accumulated in the negative electrodes of tourmaline are released at the instance of contact with moisture, electrolyzing the water molecules into hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions. Then, the hydrogen ions are associated with the electrons released from the tourmaline to form hydrogen atoms. On the other hand, the hydroxyl ions react with water molecules to generate surface active materials, that is, anionic surfactant.

[37] Zeolites are aluminosilicate minerals with numerous nanopores. The water absorbed inside the zeolite's pores was driven off by heating, thus generating water vapor. Particularly, the pore structure imparts zeolites with excellent absorbency and cation exchange functions. Thanks to these functions, zeolites can absorb and store 20-fold excesses of gas therein and release it over a long period of time. Accordingly, zeolites can generate and emit a large amount of anions while supplying oxygen to the skin.

[38]

[39] <EXAMPLE>

[40] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hot-pack case is prepared from a composition comprising nylon in an amount of from 88 to 92% by weight, tourmaline in an amount of from 6 to 10% by weight and zeolite in an amount of from 1 to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

[41] For example, when tourmaline is used in an amount greater than 10 % by weight, its reactivity to the body increases, incurring negative therapeutic responses. If the amount of tourmaline amount is over 20 % by weight, too excessive therapeutic responses including erythema and itchiness are caused. On the other hand, when tourmaline is used in an amount less than 6 % by weight, its effects are too small to introduce useful responses into the body.

[42] When zeolite is used in an amount larger than 3 % by weight, it incites tourmaline to bring about a Queen Bee effect. Particularly, an amount of zeolite exceeding 5 % by weight causes anexcessive Queen Bee effect from the tourmaline. On the other hand, when used in an amount less than 1 % by weight, zeolite is too insufficient to incite tourmaline.

[43] It should be appreciated that unless specifically mentioned, the contents of nylon, tourmaline and zeolite are expressed as % by weight based on the total weight of the composition and are determined to be optimal for the goals of the present invention, as a result of repeated experiments conducted by the present inventor, with no specific limitations imparted to the upper and lower limits.

[44]

[45] EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES>

[46] Tourmaline particles, capable of emitting far-infrared light and anions, are pulverized to a size of from 30 to 60 μm (or from 300 to 600 meshes).

[47] Constantly releasing a weak current, tourmaline crystals react with air moisture to electrolyze water molecules into cations (hydrogen ions, H⁺) and anions (hydroxy ions, OH ). This experiment is set forth to examine the ability of tourmaline to emit anions and far-infrared light according to contents. It was analyzed for emissivity of far- infrared light in a wavelength band of from 5 to 20 μm at a temperature less than the body temperature, e.g., room temperature. Measurements of anions released from tourmaline are anion numbers per unit volume.

[48] Far-infraredemissivity and radiation energy are rapidly increased with increasing of the content of tourmaline to 8 %. When the content of tourmaline exceeds 8 %, the increment of emissivity and radiation energy becomes smaller while the radiation temperature rapidly increases, incurring an excessive therapeutic response from the body. In addition, the number of anions released from tourmalineis observed to start to increase at a tourmaline content of 6 % and its increment rate peaks at a content of 8 %. In consideration of the fact that an anion density of a forest, in which humans feel refreshed, ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 ions per cc of air, the number of anions released from the tourmaline is said to have significant effects.

[49] Thanks to the cation exchange ability thereof, zeolites can perform sterilization, de- odorization and antibacterial action on the skin. The cation exchange capacity increases with increasing of the content of zeolite, but decreases in increment per content when the amount of zeolites over 4 to 5 % by weight. In addition, a composition contains greater than 4 -5% by weight of zeolites is difficult to form into a case and shows the side effect of inhibiting the anion generation of tourmaline.

[50] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hot-pack case 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As seen, the hot-pack case 100 comprises an upper half 110 and a lower half 120 and has a streamlined figure so that it can be used to effectively massage the body with an ergonomic fit to the body. A plurality of protrusions is provided on the upper half 110 and can be applied to acupuncture points. In this embodiment of the present invention, the protrusions 112 are arrayed in a symmetric pattern on the upper half and are useful in massaging the female genitalia and the male prostate.

[51] Arnold for casting the case 100, as seen in FIG. 3, has an upper moiety and a lower moiety and is composed of a pair of modules 210 and 220. The modules 210 and 220 are designed to cast the upper case and the lower case in an integrate body. One module 210 has a convex case mold (no reference numeral) while the other module has a concave case mold (not shown). Guide pins (no reference numerals) and guide holes (not shown) are provided at the corners of the pair of modules 210 and 220 to align the convex mold with the concave mold.

[52]

[53] Below, a description is given of a method of manufacturing the hot-pack case of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[54] Tourmaline stones with a purity of 99% or higher and zeolite stones with capacity of releasing 2000 or more anions per cc are pulverized to microparticles.

[55] As seen in FIG. 4, nylon resin powder is blended with the tourmaline power and the zeolite powder in a blender 310. The blender 310 has blades 312 which rotate to blend the powders as shown in FIG. 5.

[56] FIG. 6 shows the processing of the blended powder into briquettes which have sizes and thicknesses suitable for injection molding.

[57] Subsequently, the blended raw material in briquette forms is sufficiently dried in a drier 330, as shown in FIG. 7.

[58] The dried brickettes are stored in a hopper formed on an injection machine and supplied in a necessary amount to an injector 340 in which the material is melted at an elevated temperature, e.g., 12O⁰C.

[59] Afterwards, the melted material is injected to the modules 210 and 220, followed by molding into a case 100. The melted material is placed between the concave and the convex and compressed into a desired product.

[60] Finally, the molded case 100 is immersed in boiling water at over 100⁰C.

[61] The reason of boiling the case 100 at over 100⁰C in water is that the nylon texture becomes entangled, like arrowroot vines, in boiling water so that its durability is enhanced with an increase in elasticity, hardness and strength. Unless the case is boiled in water, the nylon texture is entangled to too small an extent to bring about an increase in durability. That is, unboiled cases are likely to be broken when they are dropped on a floor.

[62] Preferably, the boiling time period in water ranges from 50 to 120 min. For instance, when the case is not boiled for a time less then 40 min, its durability is not increased to a desired degree. On the other hand, a boiling time period longer than 150 min causes the case to release the used tourmaline and zeolite to the water. Particularly because zeolites strongly tend to release to boiling water, caution must be taken not to boil the case for a time period longer than the upper limit.

[63] Alternatively, the case may be steamed on a support in order to entangle the nylon texture, but the steaming process is unsuitable for mass production because it requires a lot of time and thus increases in cost.

[64] As described hitherto, the hot-pack case of the present invention prepared from a formulation comprising tourmalineand zeolite in addition to nylon ensures blood circulation not only because tourmaline can emit far-infrared light and anions when heated by the body temperature but also because zeolite generates water vapor and anions from the water molecules stored in the micropores thereof to expand the skin and supply fresh oxygen to skin cells, resulting in introducing the far-infrared light of tourmaline into deep skin. Although the preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention have(has)been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[65]

Claims

[1] A hot-pack case for promoting blood circulation and metabolism in a body, comprising an upper half and a lower half, both being structured to have such a streamline figure as to closely fit to the body and being prepared from a formulation of nylon and tourmaline, the upper half being provided with a plurality of protrusions suitable for stimulating acupuncture points. [2] The hot-pack case according to claim 1, wherein the formulation further comprises zeolite in order to activate skin cells to allow far-infrared light to deeply penetrate the skin. [3] The hot-pack case according to claim 2,wherein the tourmaline is used in an amount of from 6 to 10 % by weight based on the total weight of the formulation comprised of nylon, tourmaline and zeolite. [4] The hot-pack case according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the zeolite is used in an amount of from 1 to 3 % by weight based on the total weight of the formulation composed of nylon, tourmaline and zeolite. [5] The hot-pack case according to claim 4,wherein the formulation comprises nylon in an amount of 90 % by weight, tourmaline in an amount of 8 % by weight and zeolite in an amount of 2 % by weight based on the total weight thereof. [6] A method for manufacturing a hot-pack case, comprising: pulverizing tourmaline stones and zeolite stones into microparticles; blending nylon resin powder with the microparticles of tourmaline; processing the powder blend into briquettes having a size suitable for injection molding; drying the briquettes; melting the briquettes; injection molding the melted material into the case using a mold module. [7] The method according to claim 6, wherein the melting is carried out by heating at

12O⁰C. [8] The method according to claim 6, further comprising: boiling the case at over 100⁰C in water for 50 ~ 120 min. [9] Ahot-pack case, manufactured by the method of one of claims 6 to 8.