Background Art Generally, more than 50 % of adults have foul breath, which affects their social activities. Furthermore, most of children suffer from decayed teeth, and most adults go to see their dentist because of their decayed teeth.

Various kinds of products using oxygen were proposed long ago due to the fact that oxygen has strong sterilizing, bleaching, and other useful functions. For example, oxygen-generating air conditioners, water purifiers capable of supplying water having increased amount of dissolved oxygen therein, oxygen generators, and portable oxygen breathing devices are widely distributed. However, those products are related to respiration. Accordingly, it is required to provide a new product using gaseous oxygen to prevent teeth decay and foul breath. A market for oxygen products is now developing slowly, and thus its possibility for growth is unlimited.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user, which is capable of preventing decay of teeth of the user and reducing the number of anaerobic bacteria while it is disposed in the oral cavity of the user, to prevent occurrence of decayed teeth and foul breath.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user, which is capable of keeping teeth clean and eliminating foul breath, by which the user may feel uncomfortable and

his/her their social activity may be affected.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user, comprising: a main body comprising a chamber for storing oxygen, the chamber being disposed in the oral cavity of the user for discharging a small amount of the oxygen over several hours; an oxygen-injecting unit communicating with the chamber for supplying the oxygen into the chamber; and an oxygen-discharging unit for discharging the oxygen from the chamber into the oral cavity of the user; a casing for enclosing the main body; and a connection strip for connecting a pair of the casings, each of the casings being interposed between the teeth and a cheek of the user.

Techniques for discharging oxygen little by little every 2 or 3 seconds to supply the oxygen for more than 10 hours and for coating products with non-toxic materials have been already developed.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view, in cross section, of a small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view of a small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user according to the present invention showing a connection strip connected to the small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of the user; Fig. 3 is a view of a silicon cover of a small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user according to the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a view of a pair of small-sized devices for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user according to the present invention showing the pair of the small-sized devices for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of the user, which are connected to each other by means of a connection strip, disposed in the oral cavity of the user.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 1 is a front view, in cross section, of a small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of a user according to the present invention.

Reference numeral la indicates a cover for preventing saliva from entering an oxygen injection unit. The cover la is made of silicon containing silver nano-particles, which are non-toxic to a user. The cover is rotatably attached to a main body of the small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of the user by means of a hinge 3c (Refer to Fig. 3). The cover is detached from the main body of the device so that oxygen is filled up in the main body of the oxygen-supplying device. Average sleeping hours of a person is approximately 8 hours. Accordingly, the small-sized device for supplying oxygen in the oral cavity of the user according to the present invention preferably discharges the oxygen little by little for approximately 10 hours. The discharged oxygen is not inhaled but stays in the oral cavity so that it kills bacteria and dissolves in saliva of the user. Therefore, it is unnecessary to discharge a large amount of oxygen. A sufficient sterilizing effect may be provided even with a small amount of oxygen, especially because 100 % pure medical oxygen is supplied.

Reference numeral lb indicates an oxygen-injection unit. Oxygen is injected into an oxygen tank, which is formed in the same shape as a gas tank for a gas lighter, through the oxygen-injection unit lb.

Reference numeral Ic indicates an oxygen-introducing unit. The oxygen injected through the oxygen injection unit lb is introduced into the oxygen tank by means of the oxygen-introducing unit 1 c.

Reference numeral Id indicates a connecting unit for air-tightly connecting two injection-molded members made of non-toxic materials, which together constitute the main body of the oxygen-supplying device. The two injection-molded members are securely connected to each other by means of the connecting unit ld using French jointing, not a harmful adhesive. Consequently, the connection between the two injection-molded members is strong and secure.

Reference numeral le indicates a non-toxic silicon seal formed in the shape of a ring for preventing the oxygen from leaking out of the oxygen- supplying device. The silicon seal le is made of silicon containing silver nano- particles therein.

Reference numeral If indicates an oxygen-discharging unit, which can be rotated to control a discharge rate of the oxygen. The oxygen discharging unit If

has a filter mounted therein so that the discharge rate of the oxygen can be minutely controlled. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen-discharging unit is adapted so that the oxygen-supplying unit of the present invention supplies the oxygen for approximately 10 hours.

Reference numeral Ig indicates an oxygen-distributing unit for distributing the oxygen discharged from the oxygen discharging unit If between teeth in the oral cavity. The oxygen-distributing unit Ig has a plurality of minute holes. Saliva of a user using the oxygen-supplying device of the present invention does not flow into the holes since the air pressure in the device is higher than that in the oral cavity.

Reference numeral I h indicates an oxygen tank for storing oxygen.

Reference numeral li indicates an insertion hole, in which a connection strip for connecting the main bodies of a pair of the oxygen-supplying devices to each other is inserted. The connection strip is inserted in the insertion hole li, and then a connection strip fixing member 2b (Refer to Fig. 2) is inserted in the insertion hole li. The connection strip is not separated from the insertion hole li by means of the connection strip fixing member 2b.

Reference numeral Ij indicates a connection strip for connecting the main bodies of a pair of the oxygen-supplying devices of the present invention. The connection strip Ij is made of very thin cloth, and coated with soft silicon containing silver nano-particles therein so that it is comfortably disposed between the lower lip and the lower teeth of a user using the oxygen-supplying device of the present invention. Furthermore, the connection strip Ij does not cause irritation to a user since it is non-toxic and soft.

Industrial Applicability As the oxygen-supplying device of the present invention is continuously used for a long time, for example, for more than one month, the number of anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity of a user of the oxygen-supplying device is remarkably reduced, thereby preventing decay of teeth and eliminating foul breath. Enamel of teeth is removed by acid produced when the anaerobic bacteria decompose dregs of the food lodged between the teeth. As a result, the decay of teeth occurs.

Similarly, foul breath is generated due to metabolic products of the anaerobic bacteria. In cases where 100 % pure medical oxygen from which harmful oxygen

radicals are removed is provided, the anaerobic bacteria are killed or inhibited.

Therefore, if oxygen is supplied into the oral cavity of a user in his/her sleep when anaerobic bacteria are mainly active, occurrence of decayed teeth is prevented and foul breath is eliminated, with the result that the user may feel refreshed, not unpleasant in the mouth. Nevertheless, 100 % sterilization of bacteria in the oral cavity is not desirable since the bacteria also perform advantageous functions. For example, the bacteria in the oral cavity serve to destroy harmful viruses. On this account, the number of the bacteria in the oral cavity should be maintained to some extent. In the daytime, the bacteria in the oral cavity do not live in well-ventilated portions of the mouth but in wrinkled portions at the rear part of the tongue in which air ventilation is limited since the bacteria in the oral cavity are anaerobic. In a user's sleep at night, the mouth of the user is closed so that ventilation is restricted.

Consequently, the bacteria come out of the wrinkled portions at the rear part of the tongue of the user and decompose dregs of the food in the mouth. The present invention cannot eradicate the anaerobic bacteria in the wrinkled portions at the rear part of the tongue. In other words, the present invention reduces the number of the anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity and prevents the anaerobic bacteria from working in the mouth, thereby preventing occurrence of decayed teeth and eliminating foul breath.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have 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.