Apparel – Body garments
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-30
2003-12-23
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
C002S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06665877
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to undergarments (underwear) at least partially worn on the body torso area in a first location next to the skin of the wearer. More particularly the invention relates to such items as panties (drawers), slips, and pantyhose similar to those typically worn by females, and underpants (drawers) and undershirts similar to those typically worn by males, which have been provided with structures that minimize the detrimental influence of electrostatic fields.
II. Description of the Prior Art
The body torso area of both adults and children is susceptible to several cancers of unknown origin. For example, rates of breast and ovarian cancers in females, and lung and prostrate cancers in males, are very high in the United States. Also, testicular cancers in male children have increased significantly over the past twenty years. The United States declared “war on cancer” approximately twenty-five years ago, and tremendous increases in research have occurred. Also, beneficial diet and lifestyle changes are becoming popular. Despite this, there has been a huge and unexplained increase in cancer incidence in general in the United States over the same period. Also, the rate of incidence of some cancers continues to increase. The cause for this increase has not been understood, but the rate of increased cancer incidence in general is so large, and so localized to the United States, that the Department of Health and Human Services has speculated that “U.S. citizens face a growing cancer risk from some as yet unidentified environmental factors”.
The inventor has discovered, and conducted numerous rodent studies to confirm, that exposure to environmental electrostatic fields can directly promote cancer growth. Electric fields also can enhance the detrimental effects of chemicals on living tissue. This may be a large factor in the increased cancer incidence rates the U.S. is experiencing. Modern synthetic materials commonly used in clothing and other articles in the U.S., for example nylon panties rubbing against a polyester skirt, or polyester underpants rubbing against wool pants, can easily generate thousands of volts of electrostatic charge that produces strong electrostatic fields. In addition, our torso area is often exposed to strong electrostatic fields from electrostatic charges on surfaces other than our undergarments. For example, rubbing whatever we are wearing against synthetic upholstery, for example on a chair or car seat, can generate thousands of volts of electrostatic charge. Then, in the above examples, because of our extensive use of air-conditioning that keeps humidity levels low, electrostatic fields from these charges connect with the body tissue for hours at a time. Methods of protecting torso area and adjacent tissue from detrimental affect caused by exposure to electrostatic fields forms the basis of the present invention.
It is known that magnetic fields, and the magnetic portion of electromagnetic fields, can easily penetrate living tissue. This has been of concern over the past twenty years, with many studies conducted to evaluate the possibility of a causal link between electromagnetic fields and cancer. Yet, despite these years of research, very little affect from exposure to electromagnetic fields has been confirmed. Recent large animal studies in this area have again found no risk from exposure to these fields at the levels we commonly encounter them (Panel Finds EMF's Pose No Threat, Science 274:910, 1996, and Magnetic Field-Cancer Link: Will It Rest In Peace? Science 277:29, 1997).
On the other hand, relatively little consideration has been given to the possibility of electrostatic fields (which are different from electromagnetic fields) exerting influence inside a living body. The electrostatic charges that produce these fields commonly occur when two materials rub together, for example when our clothing rubs together or against another surface, or when two materials are placed together then separated, for example when we get up from a chair. All common garment and upholstery materials create electrostatic charges and fields under these conditions, but the charges created by natural materials are usually smaller than that from synthetic materials. As a result, humans are almost constantly exposed to electrostatic fields in our normal environment. Also, the field influence is typically very strong because of the close proximity of the charges to the body. For example, under conditions of low ambient humidity, rubbing panties or pantyhose against a skirt, or underpants against pants, can easily generate over 10,000 volts of electrostatic charge. Lower electrostatic potentials are almost always present around a person, even with moderate to high humidity.
However, unlike electromagnetic fields, electrostatic fields do not have a magnetic component and do not oscillate, so they have been assumed incapable of having influence inside living tissue. Quite to the contrary, the inventor has conducted numerous studies, using live animals, which leave no doubt that electrostatic fields can exert strong, and detrimental, influence inside living tissue.
As a result of the assumption that electrostatic fields do not have biological effects inside living organisms, there has been little research in the field. Several non-biological effects are known, however, and they have led to techniques for reducing electrostatic charges in certain situations.
One example of an undesirable non-biological effect of electrostatic fields is a tendency for a person who walks across a carpet when the humidity is low to generate and store electrostatic charges on the body. These charges can then be discharged into a computer or other piece of equipment that is touched, resulting in damage to the equipment. It is known that this problem can be reduced by coating the carpet fibers with an anti-static compound or by incorporating conductive materials within the carpet in order to allow charges to quickly flow back together, or to ground, as the carpet is walked upon. U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,433 illustrates structure that is an example of this technology.
Another undesirable non-biological effect is that the field from an electrostatic discharge may ruin modern electronic components during equipment manufacture. Some semiconductor devices can be damaged by an electrostatic discharge as low as thirty volts. As a result, the electronics industry is a leader in the use of a broad range of electrostatic charge prevention methods. The Electrostatic Discharge Association, 200 Liberty Plaza, Rhome, N.Y. 13440, an electronics industry association “dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of electrostatic discharge avoidance”, has many publications available relating to electrostatic charge generation and elimination, and to test standards for the electronics industry. One known technique for reducing damage from electrostatic discharge is for assembly workers and others who handle sensitive components to wear conductive work garments (such as lab coats or jump suits) with grounding leads to drain off electrostatic charges. Similarly, conductive lab coats, etc., are used to prevent electrostatic sparks in areas where explosive gases are present. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,422,483 and 4,590,623 show examples of this technology.
Another technique for reducing damage from electrostatic discharge relates to ion generators that can cancel electrostatic charges on surfaces. Generators of this type typically use high-voltage corona discharge, or nuclear (alpha particle) energy, to ionize air molecules. These systems produce and blow negative and positive ions into the air, where they are attracted to combine with and cancel electrostatic charges in the vicinity. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,008,594 and 5,017,876 show examples of this technology.
Attempts to protect the body from electric fields in general are also shown in the prior art. The methods generally involve covering the body area desired to be protected with a shielding
Carver Stephen D.
Hale Gloria M.
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