Background Art In general, a pillow is an assistant for supporting the user's occipital region to guarantee the user a deep sleep while the user is asleep, and its type in common use is one <BR> in which a pillowcase made of fabric material, etc. , is stuffed with various kinds of pillow stuffing.

Such a pillow may be made of a variety of materials such as fabric material, wooden material, polyurethane material or the like. It also may have diverse forms from a simple planar form or a sack form to an ergonomic form corresponding to the shape of the occipital region. In addition, there have been proposed many types of health pillows for adding health supplementary functionality, which can promote the health of the user during his/her sleep, to a common pillow function of supporting the user's occipital region to guarantee the user a deep sleep.

To be concrete, for example, such a health pillow may

be one of those types in which the pillow is stuffed with pillow stuffing consisting of medicines effective in mental/physical stabilization so as to apply aromatherapy to the user, far-infrared radiation substances for activating human body's cells are contained within pillow stuffing or the pillow's main body itself, and the pillow's main body wholly or partially consists of hard material so as to provide a meridian massage effect to the occipital region as the pillow comes in contact with the occipital region.

However, these types of pillows disregard a surrounding environmental factor essentially required for providing a deep sleep to the user, that is, a factor of clean air.

Therefore, no matter how useful the health supplementary functionality may be, there is a problem in that they cannot guarantee their user a deep sleep when air necessary for life support activities of the human body is impure or polluted.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a deep sleep pillow with air-purifying and oxygen-generating functions, which guarantees its user a deep sleep and promotes the health of the user by supplying purified clean air or oxygen and simultaneously supplying beneficial

ingredients from various healthy effective substances easily accommodated therein or attached thereto while the user is asleep.

To accomplish this object, there is provided a deep sleep pillow in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the pillow comprising: a planar base; a cover panel covering the base such that an inner space is left between the base and the cover panel; side portions having inlet and outlet ports and covering open spaces on both sides of the cover panel; and an air-purifying unit being disposed within the inner space to purify air flowing in through the inlet port and discharge the purified air through the outlet port, wherein the cover panel comprises a first cover sheet having a plurality of vents and forming an outermost cover, a plurality of drawer-type slides being provided underneath the first cover sheet to accommodate healthy functional substances therein, a slide receptacle for supporting and retaining the respective slides, and a carbon sheet-heating element capable of generating heat by means of electrical activation and being disposed underneath the slide receptacle to activate the functional substances within the slides when it generates heat.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deep sleep pillow comprising: a planar base; a cover panel covering the base such that an

inner space is left between the base and the cover panel; side portions having inlet and outlet ports and covering open spaces on both sides of the cover panel; and an external air- purifying unit being provided with an air inlet port to purify air flowing in through the air inlet port and supply the purified air into the inner space through a supplying tube, wherein the cover panel comprises a first cover sheet having a plurality of vents and forming an outermost cover, a plurality of drawer-type slides being provided underneath the first cover sheet to accommodate healthy functional substances therein, a slide receptacle for supporting and retaining the respective slides, and a carbon sheet-heating element capable of generating heat by means of electrical activation and being disposed underneath the slide receptacle to activate the functional substances within the slides when it generates heat.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first cover sheet includes silver material.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slide receptacle consists of silver material and has recesses for receiving the slides and flanges attached to a bottom surface of the first cover sheet.

In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of

the present invention, the deep sleep pillow further comprises a second cover sheet made of silver material and disposed underneath the carbon sheet-heating element and the second cover sheet has a plurality of vents.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the deep sleep pillow further comprises an oxygen-generating unit disposed in parallel to the air-purifying unit to extract oxygen in air and supply the extracted oxygen into the inner space.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air-purifying unit is an anion-generating unit and includes a high-voltage generator circuit, an elongated high-voltage needle member to which a negative voltage is applied from the high-voltage generator circuit, and a copper ring member which is fitted onto the high-voltage needle member with spacing therebetween and to which a positive voltage is applied from the high- voltage generator circuit.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air-purifying unit further includes a silver ring member which is fitted onto the high-voltage needle member with spacing therebetween and to which a positive voltage is applied from the high-voltage generator circuit.

In accordance with still yet another preferred

embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen-generating unit includes a primary carbon filter for removing impure ingredients from inflow air, an electromotive air pump for supplying compressed air, an adsorbing section filled with zeolite for adsorbing a nitrogen component in air, a silver high-pressure tank for storing oxygen extracted from the adsorbing section at a high pressure and adsorbing impure ingredients in the high pressure oxygen to increase purity of the oxygen, and a secondary carbon filter for secondarily filtering the extracted oxygen.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, inner walls of the base and the cover panel forming the inner space are coated with insulating material.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the deep sleep pillow further comprises a thermal insulating material between the first cover sheet and the drawer-type slides.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the deep sleep pillow further comprises a cushion sheet with a plurality of vents on the first cover sheet.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the deep sleep pillow further comprises an electrical connector for establishing

electrical connection to the carbon sheet-heating element, the air-purifying unit and the oxygen-generating unit, and a controller for the connection, distribution and control of an external power supply, which is connected to the electrical connector.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller includes at least one of an overload protector, a thermostat and a timer.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inlet and outlet port are filled with filter materials, respectively and the filter materials include an activated carbon fiber filter.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filter materials further include silver sheet filters with a plurality of vents on front and back surfaces of the activated carbon fiber filter.

In accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the functional substances comprise vegetable substances including a chrysanthemum, seeds, herbs and Chinese vegetable medicines, and far-infrared bio-ceramics including charcoal, yellow earth, jade and germanium.

In accordance with still yet another preferred

embodiment of the present invention, the silver material takes a form of a silver plate, colloid silver ultrafine particles and woven silver yarns.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of a deep sleep pillow according to the present invention, which also illustrates a drawer-type slide and a slide receptacle of a cover panel in an enlarged scale; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a partial construction of a cover panel of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGs. 4 and 5 are schematic constructional views of an air-purifying and oxygen-generating system of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a filter

material disposed in inlet and outlet ports of a pillow main body; FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom view of a base of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a circuit configuration of an air-purifying unit of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention ; and FIGs. 9 and 10 are schematic perspective views of a deep sleep pillow with an external air-purifying unit and/or an external oxygen-generating unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that these embodiments are given for illustrative purpose only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The deep sleep pillow shown in FIG. 1 includes a planar base 100B,. a cover panel 100T which covers the base such that

an inner space is left between the base and the cover panel, and side portions 100S which have inlet ports 13a, 13b and outlet ports 15a, 15b and cover open spaces on both sides of the cover panel.

The cover panel 100T may be formed in the shape of a curved surface, for example, a wave-shaped surface. Also, the cover panel 100T includes a first cover sheet 10 which has a plurality of vents 11 and forms an outermost cover, a plurality of drawer-type slides 20 which are provided underneath the first cover sheet to accommodate healthy functional substances therein, a slide receptacle 30 for supporting and retaining the respective slides, and a carbon sheet-heating element 40 which can generate heat by means of electrical activation and is disposed underneath the slide receptacle to activate the functional substances within the slides when it generates heat.

The first cover sheet 10 may be made of elastomers such as polyurethane foam, fabric materials or functional materials.

Preferably, silver (Ag) material may be used as the functional material. Such silver material can takes a form of a pure silver plate having a purity of 99 %, a colloid silver ultrafine particle aggregate, colloid silver ultrafine particles deposited or coated on the elastomer, the fabric material or other functional material, or silver-yarn

filaments added to the elastomer, the fabric material or other functional material.

A purpose of using the silver material is to provide various advantageous effects of the silver material, such as germicidal power, balance maintenance of a human body's hormone system, electromagnetic wave blocking, water vein wave blocking, far-infrared emission, anion emission, antiviral/antifungal activity and mental/physical stabilization, to a sleeping user. The fact that silver itself possess these effects became known to the public through traditional folk remedies and has been scientifically proved in these days.

If the functional material such as the silver plate is used as the first cover sheet 10, a cushion sheet such as elastomer or fabric material is further provided on the first cover sheet 10.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a part of a deep sleep pillow according to the present invention, in which a drawer-type slide and a slide receptacle of a cover panel are also illustrated in an enlarged scale.

As shown in the drawing, pluralities of drawer-type slides 20 are dispose underneath of the first cover sheet 10 and store a variety of functional substances beneficial to the human body in a replaceable manner, and the slide receptacle 30 for supporting and retaining the slides has

recesses 30a and flanges 30b. The respective slides 20 storing the functional substances are arranged side by side with and parallel to each other in the recesses 30a of the receptacle 30, and the flange portions 30b of the receptacle 30 are attached to a bottom surface of the first cover sheet 10 by means of a predetermined method including welding.

The functional substances employ those substances that have been used in Chinese medicine or folk remedies and have been proved in efficacy by modern science. For example, the functional substances include vegetable substances such as a chrysanthemum, seeds, herbs and Chinese vegetable medicines, and far-infrared bio-ceramics such as charcoal, yellow earth, jade and germanium, which are effective in mental/physical stabilization, head/eye clearing, headache/stress relief, skin care, endotoxin detoxification, antibiosis/air purification, in vivo cell activation or the like.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view showing a partial construction of the cover panel of a deep sleep pillow in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawing, a heating element 40 made of carbon material such as activated carbon is provided underneath the slides 20 in order to maximize the effects of the functional substances stored in within the slides.

The carbon sheet-heating element 40 is electrically

activated by a power supply and a controller 19 connected thereto, and promotes the maximization of the functional substances'effects by thermally activating the functional substances stored within the slides 20 when it is electrically activated to generate heat.

To prevent the carbon sheet-heating element from overheating and maintain the heating element at appropriate temperature, the controller 19 may includes at least one of an overload protector, a thermostat and a timer.

In a deep sleep pillow 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover panel 100T may further include a second cover sheet 50 which is made of silver material and is disposed underneath the carbon sheet- heating element 40. Similar to the first cover sheet 10 of silver material, the second cover sheet 50 has a plurality of vents.

Such a construction is intended to double the effect of silver by thermally activating the second silver cover sheet adjacent to the carbon sheet-heating element 40 when the heating element generates heat.

The deep sleep pillow according to the present invention also includes an air-purifying unit and/or an oxygen-generating unit, such as an anion generator, for purifying ambient air contaminated with various odors, dusts or the like and supplying high-purity oxygen.

These air-purifying unit and oxygen-generating unit are constructed as shown in FIGs. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, the deep sleep pillow 100 according to the present invention includes an air-purifying unit 70 and/or an oxygen-generating unit 90 within an inner space of a pillow main body.

Air is introduced from the inlet ports 13a, 13b disposed in the side portions of the pillow main body into inlet ducts 70in and is supplied to the air-purifying unit 70. A part of the inflow air is further supplied to the oxygen-generating unit 90 through other inlet ducts 90in. Air purified by the air-purifying unit 70 passes through outlet ducts 70out and is then discharged to the exterior through the outlet ports 15a, 15b disposed in the side portions or is discharged directly to the exterior through the vents of the cover panel 100T, so clean air can be provided to the user who is asleep.

Also, the oxygen-generating unit 90 extracts, only an oxygen component in air supplied thereto, and the extracted oxygen passes through outlet ducts 90out and is then discharged to the exterior through the outlet ports 15a, 15b or is discharged directly to the exterior through the vents of the cover panel 100T, so clean oxygen can be provided to the user who is asleep.

With respect to this, the inlet port 13a, 13b and the

outlet port 15a, 15b can be filled with filter materials for additionally filtering impurities which may be contained in air or oxygen flowing in and out the ports or purified air and/or extracted oxygen discharged from the air-purifying unit 70 and/or the oxygen-generating unit 90.

An example of the filter material is illustrated in FIG. 6. Referring to the drawing, the filter material basically includes an activated carbon fiber filter 14 and may further include silver sheet filters 12,16 with a plurality of vents on front and back faces of the activated carbon fiber filter 14.

Therefore, ambient air around the pillow is primarily purified during the passage through the inlet ports 13a, 13b, is secondarily purified during the passage through the air- purifying unit 70 and/or the oxygen-generating unit 90 and is purified at third time during the passage through the outlet ports 15a, 15b.

The air-purifying unit 70 and the oxygen-generating unit 90 may be provided on the base 100B in the inner space of the pillow main body, and the base may be detachably provided in the pillow main body. A construction of such a base 100B is shown in FIG. 7.

Also, a construction of the air-purifying unit 70 is shown in FIG. 8 by way of example. Referring to the drawing, the air-purifying unit is a kind of an anion generator and

includes a high-voltage generator circuit 71, an elongated high-voltage needle member 73 to which a cathode voltage is applied from the high-voltage generator circuit 71, and a silver ring member 75a and a copper ring member 75b which are fitted onto the high-voltage needle member 73 with spacing therebetween and to which an anode voltage is applied from the high-voltage generator circuit 71.

Thus, if voltage is applied to the air-purifying unit, anions are generated between the anode and the cathode. In particular, silver ions beneficial to the human body are emitted from the silver ring electrode to provide additional effects, such as germicidal power, balance maintenance of a human body's hormone system, electromagnetic wave blocking, water vein wave blocking, far-infrared emission, anion emission, antiviral/antifungal activity and mental/physical stabilization, along with the air-purifying effect.

Of course, there is no difference in the anion- generating effect even if only one of the silver ring member 75a and the copper ring member 75b is used as the anode.

A carbon brush or carbon fiber 73a is attached to a distal end of the cathode high-voltage needle member 73 to doubly generate anions and the carbon brush or carbon fiber's own electrons by collision with electrons emitted from the distal end of the high-voltage needle member and thus to maximize the anion-generating efficiency.

The oxygen-generating unit includes a primary filter for removing impure ingredients in air, an air pump for supplying compressed air, an adsorbing section filled with zeolite for adsorbing a nitrogen component in air, a silver high-pressure tank for storing oxygen extracted from the adsorbing section at a high pressure to increase purity of the oxygen, and a secondary filter for secondarily filtering the extracted oxygen, but this is not shown in the drawings.

The silver high-pressure tank serves to increase purity of oxygen by reacting the stored high-pressure oxygen to silver material and adsorbing impurities in the oxygen to the silver material.

Since the air-purifying unit and/or the oxygen- generating unit require a high voltage for their operations, inner walls of the base 100B and the sliver cover sheet 50 defining the inner space of the pillow main body are coated with insulating material so as to prevent the influence of electromagnetic waves due to the high voltage.

Also, in order to prevent overloads applied to the air- purifying unit and the oxygen-generating unit as well as the carbon sheet-heating element, the air-purifying unit and the oxygen-generating unit include a controller which is connected to the power supply to distribute and adjust power supplied from the power supply. The controller has at least one of an overload protector, a thermostat and a timer.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air-purifying unit and the oxygen- generating unit may be constructed as external units so as to completely exclude the influence of microvibration or electromagnetic waves which may be generated during the operations of those units. A deep sleep pillow of such an embodiment is shown in FIGs. 9 and 10.

The deep sleep pillow of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment employing the internal air-purifying unit and/or the internal oxygen-generating unit, except for constructional changes according to the installation locations.

The external air-purifying unit 70 and/or the external oxygen-generating unit perform purification treatment and/or extraction treatment of air and/or oxygen flowing in through an inlet port 13a'and supply the purified air and/or the extracted oxygen into the inner space of the pillow main body through a supplying tube 12 and an outlet port 13b'which is disposed in the side portion of the pillow main body. The purified air and/or the extracted oxygen supplied into the inner space are discharged to the exterior through the side portions of the pillow main body and the vents of the cover panel to be conveyed directly to the sleeping user.

Industrial Applicability As can be seen from the foregoing, the deep sleep pillow in accordance with the present invention can guarantee the sleeping user a sound sleep by providing a double purification effect owing to the inlet and outlet ports filled with filter materials, an air-purifying effect according to the anion generation, an oxygen-generating effect according to the oxygen extraction, beneficial effects owing to the silver material of the pillow main body (such as germicidal power, balance maintenance of a human body's hormone system, electromagnetic wave blocking, water vein wave blocking, far-infrared emission, anion emission, antiviral/antifungal activity and mental/physical stabilization), and beneficial effects owing to the various functional substances (e. g. , mental/physical stabilization, head/eye clearing, headache/stress relief, skin care, endotoxin detoxification, antibiosis/air purification, in vivo cell activation or the like owing to vegetable substances including a chrysanthemum, seeds, herbs and Chinese vegetable medicines, and far-infrared bio-ceramics including charcoal, yellow earth, jade and germanium).

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and the drawings, but it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.