Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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KOD204Z.OOOGEN PATENT
HEALTH JEWELRY UTILIZING SILICONE ELASTOMER AND PROCESS FOR
PRODUCING THE SAME
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a body accessory
containing fine titanium powder which is worn on various parts
of the body to promote health and to a process for manufacturing
the same.
The body accessory of the present invention can be formed
into a ring shape and used as it is, or alternatively, a
multiple number of the body accessories are connected to form a
ring shape when a certain length is required.
Background Technology
[0002] Conventionally, in manufacturing accessories,
metal materials have been used and formed into projected shapes
by means of pressing process, scraping process, grinding process,
and the like. However, the design of accessories has become
diversified and so the shapes of accessories have become more
complicated, which makes it difficult to obtain projected shapes
by conventional means and causes many problems in mass
production. A process for manufacturing a sintered body for
accessories such as watchcases and earrings by a metal powder
injection method has also been known (Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 1997-53159). Also, accessories having
a blood circulation stimulating effect by magnet has been known,
in which fine magnetic powder is blended into a raw material
which is not limited to a metal and can be synthetic resin,
rubber and the like (Registered Japanese Utility Model No.
3068758). Use of rubber and a synthetic resin as a material for
forming ornamental accessories has been known; for example,
accessories obtained by admixing shell powder or calcium
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carbonate into a thermo-plastic synthetic resin material such as
an acrylic resin and subjecting to an injection molding process
has been known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open 1980-7456).
[0003) On the other hand, a molding method using a
silicone rubber material has been known and is relatively new as
compared to molding methods using other rubber materials, which
include a process for manufacturing.a silicone rubber patterned
accessory in which a thin silicone rubber patterned sheet piece
is arranged on a thick uncured silicone rubber sheet (Japanese
Patent Application Laid-open No. 1988-57211); a process for
manufacturing a cloth swimming cap in which liquid silicone
rubber is previously injected into a mold and then a cloth sheet
is placed on the top for integration into a product with an
excellent three-dimensional design (Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open 1990-279312); a method in which silicone rubber is
filled into a first mold and a second mold and integrated with
an interior accessory such as an electronic part in between
(Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1993-261744); a
process for manufacturing a formed product comprising silicone
rubber (millable gum) and a material for dresses and their
ornaments (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1999-
46810); and a process for manufacturing clothes and bags in
which a silicone rubber sheet is cut in line with a mold
(Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-317966).
[0004] Further, methods for manufacturing personal
ornaments using a silicone rubber material have also known,
which include a process for manufacturing a multicolored pressed
product such as a bracelet, an anklet, and a necklace in which
multiple beads with various colors are placed into a silicone
rubber ring in a mold (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2000-340855).
Since abovementioned conventional methods for manufacturing
products with complicated shapes using metal materials are
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complicated and troublesome, technologyfor the production
of
body accessorieswith projected shapes in a simple
manner has
been desired. the present invention, body accessories
In can
easily be manufactured by using a silicone elastomer
material.
[0005] P atent Reference No. Japanese
l: Patent
Application Laid-open No. 1997-053159
Patent ReferenceNo. 2: Registered Japa nese UtilityModel No.
3068758
Patent ReferenceNo. 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
1980-007456
Patent ReferenceNo. 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
1988-057211
Patent ReferenceNo. 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
1990-279312
Patent ReferenceNo. 6: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
1993-261744.
Patent ReferenceNo. 7: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
1999-046810
Patent ReferenceNo. 8: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2000-317966
Patent ReferenceNo. 9: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2000-340855
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention Attempts to Solve
[0006] An objective of the present invention is to
provide body accessories which are ornamental, have soft and
transparent feeling, which have not been obtainable with
conventional body accessories formed using a mixture of plastic
and metal, plastic and plastic, or synthetic leather and rubber
as a raw material, and are more effective in promoting health
than conventional accessories containing a magnet.
Means to Solve the Problems
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[0007] The present invention is basically characterized
by the following structures.
(1) A body accessory which can be formed into a ring shape,
comprising a silicone elastomer accessory body having a silicone
elastomer layer mixed with fine titanium powder on the skin
contacting side and a silicone elastomer decorative continuous
protrusion on the exterior side.
(2) The body accessory described in (1) above, characterized in
that the silicone elastomer layer mixed with fine titanium
powder is formed by using a mold or by coating with a solvent
solution containing silicone elastomer mixed with fine titanium
powder.
(3) The body accessory described in (1) above, characterized in
that it is selected from a necklace, a wristband, and a hair
band.
(4) The body accessory described in (1), (2), or (3) above,
characterized in that a fine titanium powder obtained by burning
a gaseous oxygen-hydrogen mixture in high-pressure water, fusing
metallic titanium using the resultant burning gas and
precipitating the product in water is used at least as a major
component, as the fine titanium powder.
(5) A process for manufacturing a body accessory comprising a
silicone elastomer accessory body having a silicone elastomer
layer mixed with fine titanium powder on the skin contacting
side and a silicone elastomer decorative continuous protrusion
on the exterior side, characterized in that it comprises the
first step of forming a continuous concavity on a silicone
elastomer accessory body; the second step of embedding a
silicone elastomer layer containing fine titanium powder
obtained by burning a gaseous oxygen-hydrogen mixture in high-
pressure water, fusing metallic titanium using the resultant
burning gas and precipitating the product in water at least as a
major component, onto said continuous concavity; the third step
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of separately forming a silicone elastomer decorative continuous
protrusion, and the fourth step of placing the accessory body
obtained in the second step on said decorative continuous
protrusion and curing with heat for integration.
(6) A process for manufacturing a body accessory comprising a
silicone elastomer accessory body having a silicone elastomer
layer mixed with fine titanium powder on the skin contacting
side and a silicone elastomer decorative continuous protrusion
on the exterior side, characterized in that the silicone
elastomer decorative continuous protrusion is first formed, the
accessory body is placed on said decorative continuous
protrusion and cured with heat for integration, and then a
solvent solution containing silicone elastomer mixed with the
abovementioned fine titanium powder is coated onto the product.
Effectiveness of the Invention
[0008] The present invention has established an
inexpensive process for manufacturing a stable product which can
be bent and also be decorative, in which a health-promoting body
accessory is made with silicone elastomer mixed with fine
titanium powder. When worn on the body, this body accessory
stimulates an acupressure point or an affected part thereby
promoting blood circulation, which brings effects such as
healing of shoulder ache or muscle ache.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] [Fig. 1] A perspective view of a silicone
elastomer body accessory manufactured by a production method
according to the present invention.
[Fig. 2] A cross-sectional view taken on line A-A of Fig. 1.
[Fig. 3] A cross-sectional view taken on line B-B of Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4] The first step (step of forming the accessory
body) .
[Fig. 5] A cross-sectional view of the accessory body.
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[Fig. 6] The second step (step of forming a layer
containing titanium powder).
[Fig. 7] A cross-sectional view of the accessory body
containing the layer containing titanium powder.
[Fig. 8] The third step (step of forming a decorative
continuous protrusion).
[Fig. 9] The fourth step (final step of forming the
accessory)
[Fig. 10] An enlarged cross-sectional view of the accessory
body.
Explanation of the Numbers
[0010] 1. Accessory (necklace)
2. Joint for hooking (small hole)
3. Joint for hooking (small ball)
4. Layer containing titanium powder
5. Indicating part
6. Concave part of first lower mold
7. Decorative continuous protrusion
8. Accessory body
9. Lower mold
10. Upper mold
11. Upper mold
12. Lower mold
13. Upper mold
14. Mold: first upper part
15. Mold: second upper part
16. Upper mold upper part
I7. Upper mold upper part
17'. Upper mold upper part
18. Concave part of second lower mold
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0011] In the present invention, a body accessory
comprising a silicone elastomer accessory body having a silicone
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elastomer layer mixed with fine titanium powder on the skin
contacting side and a silicone elastomer decorative continuous
protrusion on the exterior side is manufactured. The silicone
elastomer layer mixed with fine titanium powder, the silicone
elastomer decorative continuous protrusion, and the silicone
elastomer accessory body can be formed using extrusion molding,
injection molding, or compression molding; however, it is
suitable to use a compression molding method using a mold.
Namely, in the present invention, a silicone elastomer
accessory is formed by compression molding, which comprises the
first step of forming a continuous concavity on a silicone
elastomer accessory body; the second step of embedding a
silicone elastomer layer containing fine titanium powder into
said continuous concavity; the third step of separately forming
a silicone elastomer decorative continuous protrusion; and the
fourth step of placing the accessory body obtained in the second
step on said decorative continuous protrusion and curing with
heat for integration.
Further, an alternative method of the present invention can
comprise first the step of forming a silicone elastomer
decorative continuous protrusion, which corresponds to the
abovementioned third step, the step of placing the silicone
elastomer body on the obtained decorative continuous protrusion
for integration, which corresponds to the abovementioned fourth
step, and then the step of coating a part of the silicone
elastomer body with a silicone elastomer solvent solution mixed
with fine titanium powder in a belt-like fashion. However, when
the layer containing fine titanium powder is provided by this
coating method, it is difficult to precisely control the coating
area, and moreover, the coated layer may peel off resulting from
abrasion, which results in poor durability as compared to the
product by the abovementioned method. However, there is no
difference in action and effectiveness of the resulting products
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between the abovementioned compression method and the coating
method.
(0012] A silicone elastomer to be used in the present
invention is not particularly limited and any organic silicon
polymer having a siloxane bond can be used as long as it has
rubber-like properties.
Further, fine powder titanium obtained by burning a gaseous
oxygen-hydrogen mixture in high-pressure water and heating
metallic titanium using the resultant burning gas to reduce it
to powder (Japanese Patent No. 3507063) is appropriately used as
titanium powder to be mixed with a silicone elastomer, at least
as a major component. This is because the fine titanium powder
obtained by this method does not contain products such as
byproducts and impurities and the metal powder thus obtained has
excellent uniformity in its spheroidal shape and high
homogeneity in the size of the powder particles and is
economically produced.
[0013] Other titanium powders to be used mixed with the
abovementioned fine titanium powder can be any powders of
compounds containing titanium atoms. For example, minerals such
as rutile, brookite, and octahedrite can be used. Further, as
titanium alloy powders, powders of alloys of titanium with
metals such as copper, tin, iron, aluminium, chromium, cobalt,
molybdenum, and tungsten can be used. Examples of the powders of
titanium alloys include powders of Ti-A1, Ti-V, Ti-Mo, Ti-Cr,
Ti-Mn, Ti-Fe, Ti-Al-Cr, and Ti-Cr-Fe-O; the composition ratio of
each alloy powder can be appropriately selected.
[0014] Further, powders of titanium compounds can be
used, which include powders of hydrides such as TiHz and TiH4;
oxides such as TiO, Ti203, TiOz, Ti (OH) 2, Ti (OH) 3, and MZTi03 (M
is a metal atom); sulfides such as TiS, Ti2S3, and TiSz; oxyacid
salts such as Tiz (S04) 3, Ti (S04) z, and TiP20~; boron compounds
such as Ti2B, TiB, TiB2, and Ti2B5; titanium carbide composed
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of (TiC) ; silicone compounds such as TiSiz, TiSi, and Ti5Si3;
nitrides such as TiN, Ti3N4, Ti3N6, and Ti5N6; phosphorus
compounds such as TiPn; titanium halides such as TiClz, TiCl3,
TiClQ, TiBr2, TiBr3, TiBr4, TiIz, TiI3, and TiI4; complex salts
such as MZTiFs, M3TiF6, MzTiF6, M2 [TiCls (OH) z] , M2TiCl6,
[Ti (OH) 6] C13, and MZ [TiBr6] ; and titanates such as CaTi03, SrTi03,
BaTi03, CdTi03, and PbTi03. These powders can be used alone or in
combination.
[0015] In the present invention, a body accessory which
is suitable for the characteristics of silicone elastomer can be
formed into various products which include ornamental
accessories such as necklaces, wristbands, and hair bands. In
particular, it is effectively used for wristbands, necklaces,
and bracelets to relax nerves and muscle of athletes.
[0016] A body accessory of the present invention will be
explained by referring to drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a body
accessory 1 of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view
taken on line A-A of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional
view taken on line B-B of Fig. 1.
The body accessory of the present invention comprises an
accessory body 8, a joint for hooking (small hole) 2, a joint
for hooking (small ball) 3, and an indicating part 5. On the
accessory body 8, a decorative continuous protrusion 7 is formed
on the surface side and a layer containing titanium powder is
formed on the back side.
Use of silicone elastomer as a forming material provides
decorativeness and soft feeling to the body and use of the
abovementioned fine titanium powder as a major component
provides physiological actions such as blood circulation
promotion and an electromagnetic action by metallic titanium,
which make it possible to obtain a body accessory providing
improved health promoting functions more stably for a longer
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period of time as compared to conventional body accessories. The
product of the present invention provides greater functions as
compared to conventional body accessories making the best use of
the characteristics of metallic titanium such as physiological
actions, for example blood circulation promotion and an
electromagnetic action. These actions of titanium are effective
without direct contact of titanium with the skin and generated
relatively fast and the effectiveness lasts for a long period of
time to provide marked health promoting effects.
[0017] The process of the production according to the
present invention will be explained based on an example. However,
the scope of the present invention is not limited to this
example.
Example 1
[0018] As mentioned above, the body accessory of the
present invention can be manufactured by extrusion molding,
injection molding, and compression molding. As one example of
the molding methods, a process of manufacturing using
compression molding is explained in detail referring to Fig. 4
to Fig. 9.
First, in the first step as shown in Fig. 4, a silicone
elastomer material to form the accessory body of the present
invention is placed in the concave part of the lower mold 9 and
the upper mold 10 having the first upper part 14 and the second
upper part 15 is pressed down onto the first lower mold, cure
molding is carried out by pressing with heat to form the
accessory body 8 as shown in Fig. 5. In this way, the concave
part 6 of the accessory body 8 is formed by the second upper
part 15 of the upper mold. Next, in the second step as shown in
Figure 6, a silicone elastomer material containing titanium
powder is embedded into the concave part 6 of the accessory body
8 placed in the same first lower mold and pressed with heat.
After pressing with heat, as shown in Fig. 7, the accessory body
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8 in which a silicone elastomer material layer containing
titanium powder is formed in the concave part 6 is obtained. The
silicone elastomer material layer containing titanium powder can
be either continuous or discontinuous lengthwise as shown in Fig.
1. Further, in the third step as shown in Fig. 8, the concave
part 18 corresponding to the decorative continuous protrusion 7
of the accessory is provided in the second lower mold and the
uncured silicone elastomer is embedded here, after which the
second upper mold 13 with the upper convex part 17 formed is
pressed down onto the second lower mold 12 to form the
decorative continuous protrusion 7. In such a state, as shown in
Fig. 9, the accessory body in which the silicone elastomer layer
containing titanium powder is embedded into the concave part
obtained by the second step is placed and the second upper mold
13 having the upper convex part 17 is pressed down onto the
second lower mold 12 to form the projected accessory of the
present invention. Favorably, the color of the decorative
continuous protrusion 7 is different from that of the accessory
body 8 for improved decorativeness. For example, if the
accessory body 8 is black, the color of the decorative
continuous protrusion 7 can be yellow or red to increase the
distinguishability of the product.
[0019) As shown in Fig. 10, the accessory thus obtained
has the layer containing titanium 4 on one side (the side in
contact with the skin) and the decorative continuous protrusion
7 on the other side (the exterior side?. The silicone elastomer
layer containing titanium powder 4 can be either discontinuous
as shown in Fig. 1 or continuous.
Further, as mentioned above, the alternative method can
comprise the step of first forming a silicone elastomer
decorative continuous protrusion, which corresponds to the
abovementioned third step; the step of placing the silicone
elastomer body on the obtained decorative continuous protrusion
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for integration, which corresponds to the abovementioned fourth
step; and then the step of coating a part of the silicone
elastomer body with a silicone elastomer solvent solution mixed
with fine titanium powder in a belt-like fashion. However, the
process of this method is complicated and the resulting product
is not satisfactorily durable.
