U.S. patent application number 11/577840 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for curved manicure or pedicure device.
Invention is credited to Thomas Pellereau.
Application Number | 20090126750 11/577840 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33515772 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090126750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pellereau; Thomas |
May 21, 2009 |
CURVED MANICURE OR PEDICURE DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved manicure or
pedicure device with one or more longitudinal curves. Said curves
are designed to aid users produce a curved nail whilst reducing the
skill, time, concentration, dexterity and rotation of the device
and or nail required to perform the action. Further more the
aesthetics and ergonomics of the manicure or pedicure device are
also improved.
Inventors: |
Pellereau; Thomas;
(Hampshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C.
1000 TOWN CENTER, TWENTY-SECOND FLOOR
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48075
US
|
Family ID: |
33515772 |
Appl. No.: |
11/577840 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 21, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB05/04058 |
371 Date: |
April 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/76.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 29/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/76.4 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/04 20060101
A45D029/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 29, 2004 |
GB |
0424038.8 |
Claims
1-33. (canceled)
34. A manicure or pedicure device having a longitudinally curved
abrasive nail treatment surface.
35. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein there is
at least one region of twist about a longitudinal axis.
36. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
device comprises an elongated form having a first abrasive nail
treatment surface on a first side and a second abrasive nail
treatment surface on a second side.
37. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein at least
one longitudinally curved surface possesses a radius of curvature
greater than 0 mm and less than 1000 mm.
38. A manicure or pedicure device as claim 34, wherein the radius
of curvature of a least one curved region differ at different
positions along the longitudinal axis.
39. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
different radii of curvature allow regions along the length that
are substantially straight.
40. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
varying radii of curvature allow regions curved in opposing
directions, which may produce an asymmetric design.
41. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein an
abrasive paper is used, said abrasive paper may be reinforced.
42. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
overall construction of the device is produced by laminating at
least two layers together.
43. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, comprising a
rigid support piece or support layer, one or more layers of
flexible or compressible material and one or more layers of
abrasive.
44. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the
flexibility of the flexible layer may vary along the length of the
device, further more areas of the flexible layer may be removed to
allow different levels of flexibility or contortion.
45. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the
flexible layer is provided by shaped foam with cushioning
properties.
46. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the
cushioning of the layer may vary along the length of the
device.
47. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 43, wherein the
support piece or support layer and flexible layer or layers, are
provided by one piece of material.
48. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
material or coarseness of the upper or lower layer may vary
longitudinally or transversally across the device.
49. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
longevity of the device is indicated by a colour change and or an
agent which comes off during utilisation, this may then form a
picture imprinted on the device.
50. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
device may change colour if the user provides too much pressure
during application.
51. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
device may provide a mirror.
52. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
device contains a microchip, capable of presenting varied audible
messages.
53. A manicure or pedicure device as in claim 34, wherein the
device contains a light emitting diode; a memory chip; one or more
fibre optic threads and a single or multi-lens image projector
separately or together.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] The present invention is generally directed to manicure or
pedicure.
[0002] Manicuring implements including conventional fingernail
files and emery boards generally include a flat abrasive surface
for filing purposes. Such nail files and emery boards generally
include an abrasive paper laminated to a flat substrate made of
wood, compressed paper, plastic, foam or the like. Also available
in the prior art are flat metal nail files which include a knurled
or scored surface which defines the abrasive surface.
[0003] When using nail files users predominantly try to produce a
curved nail shape due to the natural shape of the finger or toe.
Present this requires them to move and or rotate either the nail or
the file as they file. Said actions require a high level of skill,
increase the amount of time required to file a nail, require a high
level of concentration and may result in repetitive strain injury
(RSI) in professional manicurists. Further more as most users tend
to be one hand dominant the nail shape may vary from one hand to
another.
[0004] Prior art has proposes a number of different solutions to
this problem including completely round files U.S. Pat. No.
2,225,567, flexible files with large amounts of foam and files
having longitudinal cross sectional curves GB 778517. These however
have either damaging effects on the users nail as they do not
conform to the shape of the nail during file due to a lack of
flexibility, have storage and aesthetic disadvantages or more
specifically only permit use of one side of the file as in GB
778517.
[0005] Accordingly there is a need for a manicure device which
removes the aforementioned disadvantages. Therefore these and other
objectives are provided for by an improved manicure device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention outlines a variety of different embodiments of
a laminate manicure or pedicure device, with one or more
longitudinal curves as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Said curves are designed
to aid users produce a curved nail shape without the problems
mentioned above. The curved design also utilises the length of the
file and allows directional filing of the nail, a method proven to
reduce nail damage. Said laminate may include 1 or more layers of
abrasive or buffer, on either the upper or under side; one of more
flexible layers and or a support layer made from a variety of
different materials.
[0007] The figures also show how the longitudinal curves may vary
along the length of the file. Thus providing further benefits to
the user including; different curves each specific for a particular
nail, areas specifically designed for filing, buffing, polishing
and shaping; a more aesthetic or individual shape; and an improved
ergonomic shape to aid holding, reduce strain on users and allow
improved access to specific parts of the nail. The latter can be
challenging for fingers and toes due to either the shape and
location of the nails, a lack of user dexterity or other
extremities being in the way. This can be especially true for
elderly users attempting to file their toe nails, which tend to be
bunched close together and located in difficult positions to
reach.
[0008] These and other features of the invention are further
outlined in the following detailed description and accompanying
illustrations.
FIGURES
[0009] FIG. 1 show various constructions of the improved manicure
or pedicure device according to the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 show a variety of longitudinal sections of the
improved device.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a construction of the improved manicure device
with dimensional labels.
[0012] FIGS. 1-3 show a variety of possible longitudinal sectional
shapes that the device may include. These illustrations do not
include all possible forms and it should be noted that the device
could have number of different curves, radii R or straight sections
S. Said radii R may vary between 0 and 1000 mm and each straight
section between 0.1 mm and 300 mm.
[0013] In a further embodiment the device may also be twisted along
it length. Said twists may further improve the functioning of the
device, specifically improving the ergonomics, aesthetics and
functionality.
[0014] All the above designs may include 1 or more layers of
flexible or compressible material to reduce damage to the nail
during filing. This layer may be made from plastic or natural foam,
card, wood or any other material with flexible characterises. The
flexibility of the layer may alter along the length of the file;
alternatively areas of the layer may have been removed to allow
different levels of flexibility or greater contortion of the
abrasive layer.
[0015] The upper and lower layer as outlined by the illustrations
may be an abrasive of any level of coarseness, a buffer and or a
polisher. The material and or coarseness of said upper and or lower
layer might also vary longitudinally or transversally. For example
the coarseness or material may vary along the length of the
device.
[0016] The different shapes proposed above may be enabled by either
a specifically shaped semi rigid support piece made from either
plastic, card, sealant wood board or recycled material and or a
layer of shaped foam made from either plastic, card, wood board or
recycled material. Further more the support and flexibility could
be provided by 1 piece of material. Said support and or flexible
layer may be manufactured by a variety of methods none exclusively
including extrusion, press moulding, hot press mounding or
injection moulding.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment abrasive paper is bent to allow
the creation of the longitudinal curves outlined above. In these
instances a high stress is put on the abrasive paper. The abrasive
may therefore be reinforced in some way, one such method may
include reinforced tape being applied to the under surface of the
abrasive paper in areas most likely to break.
[0018] As well as combining the aforementioned core inventions the
invention may also include, but not exclusively, these further
objectives:
[0019] A further object of the invention is to provide a mirror as
part the manicure implement. A further object of the invention is
to improve the filing by altering the level of coarseness of the
grit on the manicuring tool, with the added possibility of making
these levels variable on the same tool. The implement may have both
smooth and coarse portions.
[0020] It is another object of the invention to have any degree of
flexibility or 1 or more hinges. It is a further object of the
invention to show its longevity using a colour change and/or an
agent which comes off during the utilisation, such as, but not
limited to particles which form a picture imprinted on the manicure
tool.
[0021] Yet another object of the invention is that the implement
could include an amount of a rheochromic material capable of
changing colour if the user applies too much pressure during
application of the implement, so to prevent damage to the nail and
or cuticle. Still another object of the invention is to be able to
produce the manicuring tool to any specific size or shape, such as
but not limited to an asymmetrical design.
[0022] To minimise the effect of the device on the environment any
part of the device may be made from recycled material. Yet another
object of the invention is to incorporate a variety of novel
features such as, but not limited to a sound chip embedded into the
manicuring tool capable of presenting varied audible messages, a
light emitting diode with memory chip, a light emitting diode which
illuminates one or more fibre optic thread; or a single or
multi-lens image projector capable of projecting a moving or
holographic image.
[0023] The above description is intended to provide a
representative example of the device defined in the claims. Changes
may be made in the apparatus disclosed above without departing from
the scope of the invention recited in the claims. All the
description contained above and shown in the drawings shall be
interpreted in an illustrative not limiting sense. For example,
many different embodiments have been detailed; it will be
appreciated that any of the embodiments of the invention may be
applied in any combination with each other. Further more, while the
device has been specific to nail filling, it will be appreciated
that the invention may also be used for nail buffing, shaping and
or polishing.
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