U.S. patent application number 10/369345 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for nail machine.
Invention is credited to Daoting, Bie.
Application Number | 20040094176 10/369345 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29427450 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094176 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daoting, Bie |
May 20, 2004 |
Nail machine
Abstract
A nail machine having a base and a cover. A vertical plate is
pivotally mounted in the base. A mechanism, connected to the plate,
is driven by a motor to cause the plate to execute oscillations in
a vertical plane. A polygonal member, having a plurality of
abrasive surfaces, is resiliently carried by the mounting member. A
supporting member holds a finger nail beneath and in proximity to
the polygonal member so that it can be urged upwardly against the
resiliently mounted polygonal member and brought into contact with
an abrasive surface thereon under pressure while the plate executes
oscillations to effect a treatment of the finger nail. Rotatably
mounted spools are provided for treating the nail edges.
Inventors: |
Daoting, Bie; (Road
Guangzhou, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLEIT KAIN GIBBONS GUTMAN & BONGINI
COURVOISIER CENTRE II, SUITE 404
601 BRICKELL KEY DRIVE
MIAMI
FL
33131
US
|
Family ID: |
29427450 |
Appl. No.: |
10/369345 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/73.6 ;
132/76.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 29/06 20130101;
A45D 29/14 20130101; A45D 29/05 20130101; A45D 29/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/073.6 ;
132/076.4 |
International
Class: |
A45D 029/05 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2002 |
CN |
02 2 49534.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A nail machine comprising a base, a vertical plate pivotally
mounted in the base, a mechanism connecting to the plate to enable
the plate to execute oscillations in a vertical plane, a member
having a plurality of abrasive surfaces resiliently mounted to the
vertical plate, and a supporting member for holding a finger nail
beneath and in proximity to the member so that it can be urged
upwardly against the resiliently mounted member and brought into
contact with an abrasive surface thereon under pressure while the
plate executes oscillations to effect a treatment of the finger
nail.
2. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein a motor is provided
for actuating the mechanism.
3. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the member is
carried in a yolk that is pivotally mounted to the plate.
4. A nail machine according to claim 3 wherein a spring is provided
to urge the yolk downwardly.
5. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism
includes an eccentrically driven pin coacting with a slot formed in
the plate.
6. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism
includes a cam abutting one edge of the plate and a resilient
element urges the plate to a repose position.
7. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism
includes crank interconnected to the plate via a link pivotally
connected to the crank and plate.
8. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein at least one spool
having a concave outer surface is mounted for rotation on said
base.
9. A nail machine according to claim 8 wherein a motor is mounted
on said base for selectively driving said spool and said
mechanism.
10. A nail machine according to claim 8 wherein two spools
coaxially mounted for rotation are provided each having a concave
surface.
11. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the base defines a
slot and the plate is mounted within the base and extends out
through the slot and above the base.
12. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein a hood is provided
surrounding in part the portion of the plate that extends above the
base.
13. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the supporting
member includes a frame fixed to the base and a finger receiving
part that is slidably received on the frame for horizontal
movement.
14. A nail machine according to claim 13 wherein the finger
receiving part is resiliently biased.
15. A nail machine according to claim 13 wherein the finger
receiving part includes a concave upper surface for receiving and
holding a finger.
16. A nail machine according to claim 13 wherein the finger
receiving part has mounted on its forward end an adjustable nail
resting plate
17. A nail machine according to claim 1 wherein the supporting
member has a switch that is actuatable by pressure of a finger
resting on the supporting member.
18. A nail machine according to claim 13 wherein the finger
receiving part has a slot at its rear end, and a switch is fixed in
the frame but movable vertically to be actuatable by pressure of a
finger resting on the supporting member.
19. A nail machine comprising a base, a vertical plate pivotally
mounted in the base, an oscillation mechanism coacting with the
plate to enable the plate to execute oscillations in a vertical
plane, a member having at least one abrasive surface resiliently
mounted to the vertical plate, and a supporting member for holding
a finger nail beneath and in proximity to the member so that it can
be urged upwardly against the resiliently mounted member and
brought into contact with said at least one abrasive surface
thereon under pressure while the plate executes oscillations to
effect a treatment of the finger nail, a spool having an abrasive
surface rotatably mounted on said base, a motor and a controllable
gear mechanism for selectively coupling the motor to drive the
oscillation mechanism and said spool.
20. A nail machine according to claim 19 wherein the controllable
gear mechanism includes a pair of clutches controlled by a switch
device for engaging the clutches selectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a nail machine for treating
fingernails and the like, and more particularly relates to a nail
machine that treats fingernails by nail edging, nail smoothing and
buffing and nail surface renewing and buffing.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] At the present, treatment of fingernails, either to smooth
or buff the nails or as a preparation for the application of nail
polish, is effected by an individual on him/herself or by a
manicurist using nail files or emery boards and working the nails
manually, or by having a manicurist use a polishing wheel driven by
a machine in the nature of a dentist drill. Self application of a
polishing wheel driven by a machine in the nature of a dentist
drill is not practicable. In the case of manual working, the task
is time consuming and requires the use of a series of nail files or
emery boards having different degrees of fineness or coarseness. On
the other hand, for a manicurist to use a dentist drill on one's
fingernails is dangerous and could easily result in the nail bed
becoming too thinned producing nail splitting or even loss of the
nail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The principal object of the invention is to provide a nail
machine that is capable of treating one's fingernails by nail
edging, nail smoothing, nail surface renewing and buffing. The
machine is powered, but under the control of the person using the
machine to treat his/her own nails, so the sensitivity necessary to
prevent misuse is always present.
[0006] Detailed functions are provided by different part of the
novel powered machine include long nail edging, long nail edge
polishing, ridge removing and buffing; all functions are carried
out by different arcuate wheels and an oscillating flat surface.
Short nail edging and short nail edge polishing are done by the
flatter or less curved portions of concave spools or wheels.
General nail surface renewing, fine nail surface renewing and
buffing is done by a polygonal or flat plate member having a
plurality of surfaces, each characterized by a grinding or abrasive
surface composed of a grit or emery or other abrasive compound of a
predetermined fineness or coarseness. The plate member is mounted
for oscillating motion and is also turnable (rotatable) relative to
its supporting frame, so the individual using the machine can
select the particular surface that is desired to be applied to
his/her nails at that particular moment. By positioning the plate
member, one may easily choose the kind of treatment one desires
whether it be general renewing, fine renewing, buffing or whatever.
The plate member is pivotally mounted to swing in an arc and is
biased by a spring to provide a force to cause the plate member to
press down on nail being treated to form a close touch under
appropriate pressure on the nail during swinging or oscillation so
that the particular treatment is effectively performed.
[0007] Other and further objects and advantages of the present
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the
appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is perspective view showing the novel nail machine of
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the mounting and driving
of the oscillating plate member.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a top view showing schematically the driving
layout for the novel machine.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view of the novel machine (cover removed) as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the novel machine (cover shown in
phantom) looking from the right as shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an end view of the novel machine (cover removed)
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the finger holder shown in
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a medial longitudinal section of the finger holder
shown in FIG. 7.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a first alternative
mounting and driving of the oscillating plate member.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a second alternative
mounting and driving of the oscillating plate member
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The present invention consists of a novel machine including
a novel mechanism to form a generally arcuate (oscillatory)
movement and a good movement that will effectively touch and apply
the appropriate abrasive, grinding or polishing pressure on
different shapes of finger nails. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, the
machine consists of a base 10 holding the operational parts of the
machine and a cover 12 that is provided with a unique simulation
design to give an exceptionally esthetic appearance. With the cover
in place, the machine is completely enclosed and presents a compact
pleasing appearance. Mounted on the base 10 are two concave arced
spools or wheels 14 and 16. Each wheel 14, 16 is fixed on a shaft
18 that is bearing mounted to the base 10. The concave curved
surfaces of the two wheels 14 and 16 are provided as grinding
surfaces and contain a grit or emery with the two wheels being of
different composition and fineness and coarseness to perform
different grinding or smoothing functions. A pie-shaped swing plate
20 is pivotally mounted to the bottom of the base 10 by means of a
pivot pin 22 held in the base 10 supported in bearing or pillow
blocks 69. Plate 20 extends in a vertically upward direction
passing through a slot 24 in the top surface of base 10. The
exposed free upper end 26 of plate 20 has fixed and mounted thereon
a U-shaped bracket 28 with the legs 30 of bracket 28 extending in a
generally horizontal direction parallel to the base 10. A
bifurcated yolk 32 has one end of each bifurcation or leg 34
connected to a leg 30 in a freely pivotal fashion by pins 36. The
other ends of legs 34 have mounted therebetween a polygonal plate
member 38 by means of pins 40 so that the plate member may be
rotated to position it with an appropriate surface facing
downwardly. A rod 42 fixed to each leg 34 intermediate its ends
provides structural integrity for the yolk 32, and provides a means
to connect one end of a pair of springs 44, the other ends of which
are fixed to the crossbar 46 of bracket 28. Springs 44 exert a bias
on the yolk 32 forcing it to pivot downward as shown by arrow A.
The plate member 38 has a plurality of flat or slightly arcuate
surfaces 48 to enable different degrees of grinding or smoothing or
buffing to be applied to a fingernail. Each surface is provided
with a grit or emery as desired to accomplish the stated purpose.
As shown in FIG. 2, a finger is positioned just below the plate
member 38, and pushes upwardly, as shown by arrow B, against the
one of the surfaces 48 that is facing downwardly. Contained within
the base 10 and suitably mounted therein and thereon is an electric
motor 60 (either ac or dc, with the power supply to the motor
omitted as this aspect is well known to those of ordinary skill in
the art), which can be supplied with power either from a mains
connection or by a battery. The motor 50 drives via a shaft 52 on
which is fixed a spur gear 54 that meshes with a spur gear 56 of
greater diameter to obtain a suitable power translation. Gear 55 is
fixed on gear 56 and both are bearing mounted by block 60 suitably
mounted on base 10. Gear 55 meshes with gear 57 fixed on shaft 59,
which is bearing mounted in pillow or bearing blocks 60, 61 fixed
to base 10. Wheel 63 is keyed to shaft 59 via one or more splines
so that it rotates with, but is slidable on, the shaft 59. Wheel 63
has a pair of axially spaced flanges 49. Each axial end of wheel 63
is provided with an integral toothed element 51 for engagement with
a similar opposed toothed element 159, 159'. As shown in FIG. 3,
the toothed element 159 is formed at one end of a sleeve 160 and a
gear 162 is fixed to the other end of sleeve 160. Sleeve 160 is
mounted freely rotatable on shaft 59. Similarly, the element 159'
is formed on one end of sleeve 164 that is freely rotatably mounted
on shaft 59 with a gear 166 fixed to the other end of sleeve 164.
Gear 166 meshes with gear 65 that is fixed on shaft 18 that is
coupled to drive the wheel 14, 16. Gear 162 meshes with gear 67
fixed to shaft 58 bearing mounted by bearing blocks 60, 61. A
triangular support frame 170 is mounted to the base 10 via screws
or bolts 172, out of the plane of shaft 18. Frame 170 provides a
pivot axis 174 for a lever 176 that has one end 178 that terminates
in the space between the flanges 49 of wheel 63. The set of
elements 51 and 159, and set of elements 51 and 159' each
constitutes a pair of clutches so that the wheel 63, positioned by
the interaction of the lever 176 and the flanges 49, can be shifted
by the lever 176 between a first position where elements 51 and 159
are engaged so that gear 162 drives gear 67, and a second position
where elements 51 and 159' are engaged so that gear 166 drives gear
65. While one set of gears is being driven via its associated
engaged clutch, the other set of gears is not being driven, as the
set of elements constituting its associated clutch are disengaged.
Also, there is an intermediate (neutral) position between the first
position and the second position where both sets of elements
constituting the clutches are both disengaged. The other end of the
lever 176 is connected to a switch plate 110 that is held in a slot
in base 10 and is shiftable left and right between the first,
second and neutral positions, as described. As shown in FIG. 3,
when switch 110 is left, swing plate 20 is connected for being
oscillated. When switch 110 is right, the wheels or concave spools
14,16 are connected for being rotated. When switch 110 is in the
middle between left and right, it is in the neutral position and
neither plate 20 nor spools 14, 16 are connected for being
driven.
[0019] A bevel gear 62 is fixed to shaft 58 and meshes with a bevel
gear 64 on shaft 66, also bearing mounted on base 10 in bearing
blocks, as indicated by reference numeral 68. At the end of shaft
66 is a roughly elliptical shaped plate 70 provided with a pin 72
that is eccentrically positioned relative to shaft 66, Pin 72 is
received in a vertical slot 74 cut through swing plate 20. The
arrangement is such that when the motor 50 drives, the pin 72
coacts with the slot 74 to cause the swing plate 20 to perform an
oscillating motion about its pivot axis defined by pivot pin as
indicated by the arrows C and D, causing in turn the plate member
38 to oscillate and perform a grinding or polishing or buffing on a
nail depending on the surface 48 being applied to the nail at the
moment.
[0020] Mounted on the base 10 between and raised above the wheels
14 and 16 is a finger holding member 80 consisting of a
parallelpiped body 82 having a depression or recess 84 in its top
suitable to receiving a finger. At the rear end of body 82 a slot
86 is defined that extends to the rear edge of the body 82. Body 82
is received on a frame 88 that is fixed to the base 10. Body 82 and
frame 88 are in sliding relationship. A post 90 is fixed in the
frame 88 so that it cannot move forward or backward when the body
82 moves relative to frame 88, however, post 90 is free to move
downward against spring contact 92 fixed in frame 88. Also, the
body 82 includes an integrally formed rod 94 that projects through
a hole in frame 88 and extends horizontally to the rear. A spring
96 is freely mounted on rod and retained thereon by a screw and
washer 98. A second washer 100 is freely mounted on rod 94 and
bears against the frame 88 adjacent the hole to coact with the
spring 96 to provide a restoring force for the body 82 whenever it
is moved horizontally forward. At the forward end of the body 82 is
mounted a resting plate 102 by means of a knurled set screw 104.
Plate 102 is provided with four arcuate outer edges 106 of
differing curvatures to accommodate different curvatures of finger
nails. By loosening the set screw 104, the plate can be rotated by
90.degree. increments to position the appropriate curved edge 106
to match the finger nail then being treated. The three position
switch 110 is located at the right side of the machine, as shown in
FIG. 5. The positions for the switch are predeterminable. As shown,
the three positions are CENTER is off, RIGHT is to couple the motor
to the wheels 14 and 16, and LEFT is to couple the motor to
oscillating plate 20. The controls for these functions and their
implementation will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the
art from the foregoing and subsequent description. Shown in FIGS. 5
and 6 is a shielding and protective hood 120 that is fixed to the
base 10 and surround the oscillating plate 20 and partially
surrounds the plate member 38 and its mounting structure.
[0021] Whereas the oscillations of the plate 20 have been generated
according to the mechanism described, alternatives are possible.
Two such alternatives are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9 the
oscillations are produced via a cam 130 mounted on the end of the
shaft 66. Cam bears against the edge or side of plate 20, and due
to its geometrical configuration drives the plate to the left as
shown in FIG. 9. A restoring force is provided by a spring 132 that
is hooked or fixed to plate 20 at one end and anchored at its other
end to base 10 as indicated by reference numeral 134. The second
alternative is shown in FIG. 10 uses a mechanism is generally known
as a crank and Pitman and consists of disc 140 mounted and fixed to
the end of shaft 66. An eccentrically mounted pin 142, fixed to
disc 140, is connected pivotally to one end of a link 144, the
other end of which is pivotally fixed to the plate 20. The
arrangement will produce the desired oscillations.
[0022] As described above, the invention utilizes a swing frame to
connect the active plate and its holder by a transit part-turning
bar sway around an axis. The way which movement force applies to
the swing bar is not limited, as is evident from the above
description. Such swing frame can form a basic arc movement, but
still needs the structure described above in order that the
requirement of good touch on different shapes of nails is met. As
described, a turning bar 38 is connected to swing frame 20 by an
axis and one or more springs. This enables the turning bar to turn
and to be given the necessary desirable down-direction force. The
flat or slightly arcuate surface 48 will give a good touch or
contact and a greater area will be worked on for a variety of
different shapes of nails, as possible when a nail is forced
against plate 38 and the swing frame 20. The plate 38 provides a
minimum of two, and preferably three, surfaces 48. The purpose is
for the user to be able to turn plate 38 and to choose an
appropriate surface, for example, general renewing, fine renewing
and buffing. The mechanism of finger and nail support and
convenience to turn plate holder is an advantage of the present
invention. The inside (concave) arc shape for finger rest, such the
finger rest can slide forward and backward easily is also an
advantage. The spring mechanism is to make finger rest go back to
its initial position, push finger rest to move forward and release
finger rest let finger rest go back, is also an advantage. Such
sliding finger rest makes it possible for different areas of a long
nail to face against plate surface 48. On the forward end of the
finger rest, there is a long-nail support which can be positioned
for a long nail or be turned to a minimum position, essentially put
down, when the user just has short nails.
[0023] There is a touch switch serially connected in the power
circuit to the motor 50 that is provided by post 90 on the back of
finger rest. The switch will be "ON" with a finger pressing post 90
down and will be "Off" when the finger releases the pressure and
allows the post 90 to lift up to its repose position. This provides
a safety and convenience for a user to provide on-off control of
motor 50 and to stop the oscillations of plate 20 in order to turn
the plate holder 38 to choose the appropriate surface 48 to perform
the general renewing, fine renewing and buffing procedures in one
step for one nail. When motor 50 is stopped, all motion stops,
including the plate 20 and the wheels 14 and 16. As noted
previously, switch 110 enables the plate 20, on the one hand, and
the wheels 14 and 16, on the other hand, to be selectively coupled
to be driven by motor 50, when the touch switch, controlled by post
90, is actuated as described. Although the present invention has
been described in terms of preferred embodiments, nevertheless,
changes and modifications are possible that do not depart from the
spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as disclosed and
taught herein. Such changes and modifications are deemed to fall
within the purview of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *