ARTICLE COMPRISING A MATERIAL WITH A COOLING FUNCTION

Abstract

Disclosed is an article consisting of at least two sheets stacked and welded to define a paving including at least three tiles, each having at least three sides and vertices, arranged to define a plane, the tiles being adjacent and connected to each other by at least one of the sides, the tiles including at least one compartment including at least a material absorbent to an aqueous medium or a filler material, the tiles being closed and connected to each other by at least one weld. The weld includes a frangible line with a series of weakening welds and junction points or a pre-cut bordered to either side with a mix weld, the mix weld being broadened close to the vertex of each tile so the corner of the tiles is reinforced by an enlarged weld surface area. Also disclosed are a production method and a device.

Claims

1. Article (1) consisting of at least two sheets (4) stacked and welded to define a paving comprising at least three tiles (2), each tile (2) comprising at least three sides and three vertices, said tiles (2) being deployed in at least two spatial directions defining a plane, said tiles (2) being adjacent and connected to each other by at least one of the sides of same, said tiles (2) comprising at least one compartment (3) including at least one material absorbent to an aqueous medium or a filler material, said tiles (2) being closed and connected to each other by at least one weld, said weld being produced by ultrasound, heat or any other type of weld known to those skilled in the art, wherein the weld consists of a frangible line (8) constituted by a series of weakening welds (6) and junction points (7) or a pre-cut bordered on either side with a mix weld (5), said mix weld (5) being broadened in the vicinity of each tile (2) such that the corner of the tiles (2) is reinforced by an enlarged weld surface area.

2. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sheets (4) is formed from a stacking of several thicknesses of material.

3. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein the weakening weld (6) between two tiles (2) is continuous at the vertex of each tile (2).

4. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein the weakening weld (6) between two tiles (2) is discontinuous at at least two points per centimetre, in such a way as to generate at least two junction points (7) of mix weld (5).

5. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the compartment (3) occupies 10 to 99% of the surface of the tile (2).

6. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein the material absorbent to an aqueous medium is the polyacrylate type.

7. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer faces of the sheets (4) is coated, entirely or partially, with an adhesive.

8. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sheets (4) is permeable to an activation liquid, and wherein the material contained in the compartment is a material absorbent to an aqueous medium.

9. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein said article is in a packaging that comprises at least one microporous or microperforated film permeable to water but a barrier to microbes, bacteria and/or viruses.

10. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein said article is in a packaging, said packaging comprising: a first pocket comprising said article (1), a second pocket, independent of the first pocket and sealed with respect to the first pocket, comprising or able to receive an aqueous medium, the two pockets being integral via one of the sides of same, and the two pockets comprising a means of putting into fluid communication from the second pocket to the first pocket.

11. Cooling thermal compress comprising at least one article (1) which, if the material that it contains is a material absorbent to an aqueous medium, was activated by putting into contact with an aqueous medium, and which was cooled, frozen or deep frozen.

12. Roller comprising at least one article (1) according to claim 1 wound on itself.

13. Hat, preferably chemotherapy hat to combat hair loss linked to a chemotherapy treatment, comprising a hairnet, preferably disposable, and at least one article (1) according to claim 1.

14. Method for the continuous manufacture of an article (1) according to claim 1 comprising a continuous flow of at least two non-welded sheets (4) in front of two welding stations: one longitudinal, another transversal; the longitudinal welding station comprising at least three welding zones namely a weakening weld zone (6) bordered on two mix weld zones (5); the transversal welding station comprising at least three welding zones, namely a weakening weld zone (6) bordered on two mix weld zones (5).

15. Device for implementing the method according to claim 14 comprising: a longitudinal welding station comprising at least one means of welding, each means comprising two mix weld washers (5) surrounding a weakening weld washer (6) that can have notches, in such a way as to create a discontinuous weakening weld (6), or without a notch, in such a way as to create a continuous weakening weld (6); and a transversal welding station comprising at least one means of welding, each means comprising two mix weld washers (5) surrounding a weakening weld washer (6) that can have notches, in such a way as to create a discontinuous weakening weld (6), or without a notch, in such a way as to create a continuous weakening weld (6).

16. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein each one of the two sheets (4) is formed from a stacking of several thicknesses of material.

17. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the compartment (3) occupies 50 to 95% of the surface of the tile (2).

18. Article (1) according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the compartment (3) occupies 70 to 90% of the surface of the tile (2).

19. The article of claim 8, wherein the activation liquid is water or an aqueous medium.

20. A chemotherapy hat to combat hair loss linked to a chemotherapy treatment, comprising a disposable hairnet and at least one article (1) according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0082] FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A are front views showing several embodiments of a tile according to the invention.

[0083] FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B are front views showing several embodiments of the article according to the invention.

[0084] FIG. 6 is a cross-section of an embodiment of the article according to the invention.

[0085] FIG. 7A is a front view of a thermoformed article according to the invention.

[0086] FIG. 7B is a side view of a thermoformed article according to the invention.

[0087] FIG. 8 shows an article according to the invention included in a multiple-pocket packaging.

[0088] FIG. 9A and 9B show an article according to the invention included in a single-pocket packaging.

[0089] FIG. 10 shows the use of an article according to the invention, for cutaneous application on a knee.

[0090] FIG. 11 shows a device for manufacturing of an embodiment of the article according to the invention.

REFERENCES

[0091] 1Article,

[0092] 2Tile,

[0093] 3Compartment,

[0094] 4Sheet,

[0095] 4AOuter face of the sheet,

[0096] 4BInner face of the sheet,

[0097] 5Mix weld,

[0098] 6Weakening weld,

[0099] 7Junction point,

[0100] 8Frangible line,

[0101] 9Device for manufacturing,

[0102] 91Mechanical parts for guiding and stacking sheets,

[0103] 92Vertical fastening module,

[0104] 93Horizontal fastening module,

[0105] 921, 931Ultrasound unit,

[0106] 922, 932Fastening drum,

[0107] 94Conveyor belt,

[0108] 941Conveyor belt,

[0109] 942Motor,

[0110] 95Distribution unit,

[0111] 951Bag,

[0112] 952Transfer cam,

[0113] 953Intermediate reservoir,

[0114] 954Mechanical batcher,

[0115] 955Mechanical corridor,

[0116] 10Multi-pocket packaging,

[0117] 101First pocket,

[0118] 102Second pocket,

[0119] 11Single-pocket packaging,

[0120] 12Means for putting into fluid communication,

[0121] 13Weld that can be peeled or torn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0122] This invention shall be understood better when reading the description of the figures which show the invention in a non-limiting way.

[0123] FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A show various embodiments of a tile 2 according to the invention as a front view. Each tile 2 comprises a compartment 3.

[0124] In particular FIG. 1A shows a tile 2 of square shape comprising a compartment 3 of square shape; the tile 2 is of dimensions that are slightly greater than those of the compartment 3.

[0125] FIG. 2A shows a tile 2 of triangular shape comprising a compartment 3 of triangular shape; the tile 2 is of dimensions that are slightly greater than those of the compartment 3.

[0126] FIG. 3A shows a tile 2 of hexagonal shape comprising a compartment 3 of hexagonal shape; the tile 2 is of dimensions that are slightly greater than those of the compartment 3.

[0127] FIG. 4A shows a tile 2 of square shape comprising a compartment 3 of circular shape; the tile 2 is of dimensions that are slightly greater than those of the compartment 3.

[0128] FIG. 5A shows a tile 2 of square shape comprising four compartments 3 of square shape; the tile 2 is of dimensions that are slightly greater than those of the four compartments 3.

[0129] FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B show various embodiments of an article 1 view from the front comprising a plurality of tiles 2 such as shown respectively in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A.

[0130] The article 1 comprises at least three tiles 2. This property provides it with the functionality, sought by the invention, of being flexible in all directions.

[0131] The article 1 comprises two sheets 4 which each have an outer face 4A and an inner face 4B.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 6, each tile 2 comprises at least one compartment 3, delimited by two mix welds (5) that bordure a weakening weld (6). These welds fasten the inner faces 4B of the sheets. The tiles 2 are connected to each other via a weakening weld along the perimeter of same; this weakening weld makes the tiles 2 able to be separated with bare hands, without requiring any tool.

[0133] FIGS. 7A and 7B have for object to show respectively a front view and a side view of a particular embodiment of the invention, wherein at least one of the two sheets 4 is thermoformed in order to form, with the other stacked sheet 4, compartments 3 in three dimensions, in particular parallelepiped, polyhedral, spherical or hemispheric. In particular, in FIG. 7B, the upper sheet 4 is thermoformed and the lower sheet 4 is not thermoformed.

[0134] FIG. 8 shows an article 1 according to the invention, which is included in a multiple-pocket packaging 10. Advantageously, the multiple-pocket packaging 10 comprises: [0135] a first pocket 101 comprising an article 1 according to the invention, [0136] a second pocket 102, comprising (or able to comprise) an activation liquid that is sterile or not, of the material with a thermal function, [0137] the two pockets 101, 102 are juxtaposed via one of the sides of same and are preferably integral, on said side; the pocket 101 has a weld that can be peeled or torn 13 making it possible to extract the article; in an embodiment, the pocket 101 comprises at least two adjacent welds 13 that can be peeled, [0138] the two pockets comprising a means for putting into fluid communication 12, which is preferably a weld that can be peeled, between the second pocket 102 and the first pocket 101.

[0139] FIGS. 9A and 9B show an article 1 according to the invention, which is included in a single-pocket packaging 11. FIG. 9A shows an article 1 maintained sterile in the packaging 11. In this embodiment, the packaging 11 is closed by any means, in particular via thermowelding of the perimeter of same, which isolates the article 1 from the outside environment in order to retain the sterility of same. In an embodiment, the weld 13 can be peeled. In an embodiment, the packaging 11 comprises at least two adjacent welds that can be peeled. In an embodiment, the activation liquid of the article 1 is a sterile aqueous medium, which is added by means of a prefilled syringe or a prefilled pocket by the intermediary of a means for putting into fluid communication 12; thus, all of the contents of the single-pocket packaging can be retained in conditions of sterility. In the embodiment of FIG. 9B, the packaging comprises a microporous or microperforated sheet (microporosity or microperforation not shown), and all of the perimeter welds 13 of same can be peeled. According to a second embodiment, implemented in a non-sterile framework, the article 1 is removed from the single-pocket packaging 11 so as to allow for the immersion of the article 1 in an activation liquid.

[0140] According to a third embodiment, the single-pocket packaging 11 comprises at least one microporous or microperforated portion, in such a way as to be permeable to an aqueous solution in order to allow for the absorption of the activation liquid. In this latter embodiment, the packaging 11 can be plunged directly into an activation liquid, and the article 1 removed from the packaging 11 only after having undergone the thermal transformation of same.

[0141] FIG. 10 shows the use of an article 1 according to the invention, for cutaneous application on a knee. Thanks to the flexibility of the article 1, the article covers the knee and provides cold over all of the targeted portions. The article 1 shown in the embodiment of this Figure was partially separated in the length of same on the frangible line or the precut. This separation makes it possible to optimise the covered surface by preventing the formation of a fold and to increase the cold over a portion of the body over which the separated portion of the article is stacked on another portion of this same article.

[0142] FIG. 11 shows a device for manufacturing 9 an embodiment of the article 1 according to the invention. This device comprises: [0143] two modules for pre-unwinding (not shown) of the sheets 4, woven or non-woven, to supply the sheets 4 without tension, [0144] two units of mechanical parts 91 for guiding and stacking sheets 4, during the fastening operations, [0145] a vertical fastening module 92, making it possible to create several compartments, comprising: [0146] an ultrasound unit 921 comprising an adjusting unit on rails and pads controlled by a reduction gear, a steel fastening sonotrode, a convertor unit and a 20 KHz ultrasound booster, and [0147] a fastening drum 922 provided with mechanical parts, fastening thumbwheels for the closing of the pocket and cutting/fastening thumbwheels for the creating of the frangible line or the precut, these thumbwheels can be assembled and can be positioned according to the format of the article to be created and an asynchronous reduction gear, [0148] a horizontal fastening module 93, making it possible to carry out the closing of the pockets comprising the article, comprising: [0149] an ultrasound unit 931 comprising an adjusting unit on rails and pads controlled by a reduction gear, a steel fastening sonotrode, a convertor unit and a 20 KHz ultrasound booster, and [0150] a fastening drum 932 provided with mechanical parts, longitudinal fastening bars, and cutting/fastening bars for the creating of the frangible line or of the precut of the pocket in the longitudinal direction and an asynchronous reduction gear, [0151] a vacuum conveyor belt 94 allowing for the motorisation and the transfer of the article produced comprising: [0152] a set of mechanical parts provided with a perforated sole, [0153] a perforated conveyor belt 941 allowing for the adherence via vacuum, and [0154] an asynchronous reduction gear 942, [0155] a unit for distributing 95 the polyacrylate powder comprising: [0156] a pneumatic unit for the distribution of the powder from the bag 951 to the intermediate reservoir 953 comprised of a pneumatic unit and a transfer cam 952, [0157] an intermediate reservoir 953 for the storage of the powder waiting for distribution, [0158] five mechanical batchers 954 that can be selected allowing for the volumetric metering of the powder to be distributed. Each hatcher is comprised of a set of mechancical parts and of a pneumatic cylinder for the operation of the selection drawer. Each hatcher can be selected in relation with the format of the article to be manufactured, and [0159] a set of five mechanical corridors 955 that provide the transfer of the powder into the preselected and defined pocket.