U.S. patent application number 11/199343 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for nail care device.
Invention is credited to Gregory A. Kriser.
Application Number | 20070028936 11/199343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716530 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070028936 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kriser; Gregory A. |
February 8, 2007 |
Nail care device
Abstract
A personal nail care device comprises an elongate housing, a
disk having a surface adapted to contact a nail of a user of the
device, the disk made to rotate when the device is in an on
condition and a catcher having a cavity extending therein for
receipt within the cavity of nail dust and/or clippings created
during the contact of the nail and the disk during the on
condition, the catcher being selectively, removably attached to the
housing for emptying the catcher of the dust and/or clippings. The
catcher is removable from the housing using any known construction,
including but not limited to rails and channel guides and/or
protrusions and openings. The device also has a hood to
substantially cover the top and sides of the disk to help prevent
spraying of the dust and/or clippings during use of the device. The
hood may consist of just a top and/or a top and sides and may be
pivotally openable and/or fully removable from the housing.
Inventors: |
Kriser; Gregory A.; (Upper
Saddle River, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KAPLAN GILMAN GIBSON & DERNIER L.L.P.
900 ROUTE 9 NORTH
WOODBRIDGE
NJ
07095
US
|
Family ID: |
37716530 |
Appl. No.: |
11/199343 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/76.4 ;
132/75.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 29/023 20130101;
A45D 29/05 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/076.4 ;
132/075.8 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/18 20060101
A45D029/18 |
Claims
1. A personal nail care device, comprising: an elongate housing; a
disk having a surface adapted to contact a nail of a user of said
device, said disk made to rotate when said device is in an on
condition; and a catcher having a cavity extending therein for
receipt within said cavity of nail dust and/or clippings created
during said contact of said nail and said disk during said on
condition, said catcher being selectively, removably attached to
said housing for emptying said catcher of said dust and/or
clippings.
2. The device according to claim 1, said catcher further having
rails extending from a bottom surface thereof for sliding receipt
within channel guides extending along a top surface of said housing
to allow said catcher to be selectively, removably attached to said
housing.
3. The device according to claim 1, said catcher further having
protrusions extending from a bottom surface thereof for receipt
within openings extending into a top surface of said housing to
allow said catcher to be selectively, removably attached to said
housing.
4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a hood
selectively, removably attached to said housing for preventing said
nail dust and/or clippings from spaying out from said device during
its operation, said hood located in such a way as to substantially
cover a top and sides of said disk.
5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a hood
selectively, removably attached to said housing for preventing said
nail dust and/or clippings from spaying out from said device during
its operation, said hood located in such a way as to substantially
cover a top of said disk.
6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a hood
pivotally attached to said housing for preventing said nail dust
and/or clippings from spaying out from said device during its
operation, said hood located in such a way as to substantially
cover a top and sides of said disk.
7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a hood
pivotally attached to said housing for preventing said nail dust
and/or clippings from spaying out from said device during its
operation, said hood located in such a way as to substantially
cover a top of said disk.
8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide
and/or support positioned proximate and below said disk for receipt
of a front portion of said guide and/or support between said nail
and a tip of said user's finger and/or toe.
9. The device according to claim 8, said guide and/or support
comprising a rubber edge along said front portion for protecting
the skin of said user's finger and/or toe.
10. The device according to claim 8, said front portion of said
guide and/or support being concave in shape to conform to a shape
of said tip of said user's finger and/or toe.
11. The device according to claim 8, said guide and/or support is
set to project from said housing at an adjustable distance by
sliding it into a number of different positions along a length of
said device.
12. The device according to claim 1, said housing containing a
motor having a first shaft coupled to a first gear, said motor
connected to a power source for supplying power to said motor and
said disk being removably attached to a second shaft that is
coupled to a second gear cooperating with said first gear to enable
said disk to rotate when the power is supplied to said motor.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said power source
comprises at least one rechargeable battery.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Ser. No. 29/227,462 and
Ser. No. 29/227,463, both filed Apr. 12, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a personal nail care device
and, preferably, to a cordless, battery-operated personal nail care
device for sanding or filing a person's nail, and forming or
contouring it to a desired length and/or shape.
[0003] Nail clippers or metal files have been generally used to
clip or trim a person's nails. Such manual devices, however,
require an additional effort and time that are sorely lacking in
today's hectic and busy schedule of many people. Furthermore, these
devices can cut one's skin and possibly cause infection if used in
a rush carelessly. Still further, the nail clippers or metal files
can be confiscated at airports if inadvertently taken onto a plane
in a pocketbook or travel case.
[0004] Alternatively and in response to the above need, there are
several AC or battery-powered manicure systems or manicure/pedicure
sets currently available on the market. These models include, in
general, a filing or sanding element for filing person's nails and
a motor for providing power to the filing element. These so-called
motorized devices provide quality that almost matches that of a
professional salon.
[0005] When filing or shaping one's nails with such motorized
devices, nail cuttings or dust debris result from such activity. It
is particularly unseemly if a person uses the device in public, and
the nail dust remains uncollected and simply falls on the ground,
clothes, etc.
[0006] A need arises for a cordless battery-operated nail care
device that addresses the above issues, the device comprising,
among other things, a dust and clippings catcher for collecting
nail dust and clippings resulting from filing, sanding, contouring
or shaping one's nails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The above need is met by a personal nail care device of the
subject application. In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, a personal nail care device comprises an elongate
housing, a disk having a surface adapted to contact a nail of a
user of the device, the disk made to rotate when the device is in
an on condition and a catcher having a cavity extending therein for
receipt within the cavity of nail dust and/or clippings created
during the contact of the nail and the disk during the on
condition, the catcher being selectively, removably attached to the
housing for emptying the catcher of the dust and/or clippings. The
catcher is removable from the housing using any known construction,
including but not limited to rails and channel guides and/or
protrusions and openings and/or Velcro or other known manners of
connecting such structures together. The device also has a hood to
substantially cover the top and sides of the disk to help prevent
spraying of the dust and/or clippings during use of the device. The
hood may consist of just a top and/or a top and sides and may be
pivotally openable and/or fully removable from the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is illustrated in the figures of the
accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not
limiting, and in which like reference characters are intended to
refer to like or corresponding parts:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal nail care device
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, with a
hood in a raised position;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, with
the hood in an alternate, removed condition, and a catcher in a
removed condition;
[0013] FIG. 4A is a bottom plan view of the catcher showing
rails;
[0014] FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the catcher showing
protrusions;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for supplying
power to the disk; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a disk, drive shaft, motor,
power source and on/off switch assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a nail care device 10 is illustrated
therein in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, device 10 is preferably cordless and
battery operated. Device 10 is adapted to accept either
rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries. It is substantially
cylindrical in shape and tapered at both ends. Device 10 is
measured approximately 5.5 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter,
although other shapes and dimensions are anticipated and these
shapes and dimensions are not meant to be limiting.
[0018] With further reference to FIG. 1, device 10 preferably
includes an elongated housing 12, preferably and ornamentally
rounded on its sides, for storing, among other things, a motor,
drive train, and batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the power is
provided by a rechargeable battery such as NiHM, for example. In
addition, housing 12 holds a disk 14 that can perform many
functions, such as filing, sanding, contouring, shaping and/or
buffing one's nails. Housing 12 is preferably made of plastic, as
for example, by an injection-mold process, although other materials
and manners of making same are anticipated herein.
[0019] Continuing with FIG. 1, element 18 is a guide and/or support
for protecting the skin at the tip of the finger and/or toe, just
below the nail, to prevent any skin abrasion when a nail is being
tended to by device 10. In a preferred embodiment, guide/support 18
is positioned at the front of device 10 and projects slightly
beyond housing 12. Guide/support 18 preferably, but not
mandatorily, has a rubber edge 20 and is preferably concave in
shape in order to substantially conform to the rounded shape of the
tip of one's finger and/or toe. Guide/support 18 can also be
flexible in structure so as to assist a user when moving device 10
from one end or side of the nail to the other side. In operation it
is preferred that a user position guide/support 18 between the
bottom of the user's nail and the top of the user's finger/toe so
that guide/support 18 separates the two, shielding the user's
finger/toe from the spinning disk 14. Guide/support 18 is
sufficiently long in length and movable in a direction along the
length of device 10, to allow the distance a user's nail is from
disk 14 to be adjustable, thereby further assisting in the
manicuring operation of device 10. Guide/support 18 helps make the
process of trimming or contouring more effective, efficient and
comfortable by helping to ensure that the user's nail is trimmed
evenly all around and further by helping to prevent injury to the
user's finger/toe.
[0020] Further shown in FIG. 1 is a hood 22. Hood 22 is preferably
located over disk 14, preferably covering its top and sides, for
preventing nail dust from spreading in all directions while
trimming the nail. In a preferred embodiment, hood 22 is openly
pivotable and/or removably attached to device 10 so that disk 14
may be cleaned and/or replaced, when necessary, and/or so that hood
22 may be cleaned (see, FIGS. 3 and 4). FIG. 3 shows hood 22 in its
openly pivotable condition, while FIG. 4 shows a removable hood 22.
It is also anticipated herein that hood 22 may both pivot and be
removed. It is also anticipated, although not shown herein, that
only the top of hood 22 may be pivotally openable and/or removable,
leaving its sides in place on device 10. Other constructions may of
course also be available and as such the nature and manner of how
hood 22 is shown to be pivoted and/or removed is not meant to be
read herein in a limiting manner.
[0021] The figures also show a dust and clippings catcher 24. As
illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4, catcher 24 is preferably an
elongate container having a cavity 25 extending longitudinally
therein, whose elongate shape is meant to extend along the
longitudinal length of device 10. In one ornamental embodiment of
device 10 shown in the figures, a top of catcher 24 is rounded or
semi-circular in shape. Of course, however, other shapes are
anticipated so that any ornamental configuration is achievable.
[0022] Catcher 24 is removably attached to housing 12 of device 10
by, for example, sliding rails 27 (FIG. 4A) which extend from a
bottom surface 21 of catcher 24 along the length of device 10
within channel guides 50 (FIG. 4) located on a top surface 52 of
housing 12, until catcher 24 is firmly in place. Catcher 24 may
also be removably attached to housing 12 by any other known
construction, including but not limited to, removably securing
protrusions 29 (FIG. 4B) extending downward from catcher 24's
bottom surface 21 into receiving openings (not shown) located on
surface 52 of housing 12. Nail dust and/or clippings from a
person's use of device 10 are substantially caught in the cavity of
catcher 24. Catcher 24 can be emptied when removed from device 10
as mentioned above. Catcher 24 is removably secured to housing 12
by other known constructions, including but not limited to, Velcro
or other known manners of connecting such structures together and
nothing herein is meant to be read in a limiting sense.
[0023] Additionally illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 is a switch 26 for
completing the circuit between one or more batteries or power
source 28 and motor 30. The schematic diagram of the circuit is
shown in FIG. 5. Variable resistor 32 adjusts the speed of disk 14
in accordance with one feature of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a preferred schematic diagram
showing the interconnection of the internal components of device
10. It should be understood herein that other configurations and
arrangements and use of other components is also anticipated by the
invention. Power source 28, representatively shown as 2
rechargeable NiMH batteries preferably having at least 1100 mAh
each, is connected at its positive and negative terminals to wires
34. One of the wires is connected to motor 30 and the other wire is
connected to switch 26 for activating device 10. Further, motor 30
includes a drive shaft 36 attached to a drive gear 38. Situated at
approximately a 90-degree angle to drive shaft 36 and drive gear 38
is an action gear 40 attached to a disk shaft 42. Disk 14 is
attached to disk shaft 42 in a removable manner but secured in
order to prevent it from disengaging during operation of device 10.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a
magnet can hold disk 14 in place through a coupling force with a
ferromagnetic material of disk shaft 42. This is in addition to
disk 14 being snapped into place for operating device 10.
[0025] In operation, the appropriate disk is selected by a user for
the desired operation. The user then attaches disk 14 onto shaft 42
and activates the device by turning on switch 26. Switch 26
completes the electric circuit from power source 28 to motor 30,
thereby starting the motor which, in turn, causes drive shaft 36 to
rotate, further causing gear 38 to cause gear 40 to rotate, thereby
causing disk 14 to spin. The user brings a nail into contact with
the rotating disk for filing, sanding or buffing his/her nail.
Device 10 may be easily maneuvered to be oriented in various
positions and at various angles with respect to the nail to achieve
a nearly professional performance.
[0026] Although the invention herein has been described with
reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that
these embodiments are merely illustrative of the constructions,
principles and applications of the present invention. It is
therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made
to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be
devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *