U.S. patent application number 12/403042 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for shaping tool.
Invention is credited to Gert Busch.
Application Number | 20100132728 12/403042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40459420 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100132728 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Busch; Gert |
June 3, 2010 |
Shaping tool
Abstract
The present invention relates to a rotating shaping tool (1)
designed to treat a surface of body extremities of mammals, in
particular the nails or the skin of humans, which tool comprises an
elongated shaft (2), one end (3) of which shaft can be clamped and
the other end of which shaft has an operative section (4) with a
rotationally symmetrical operative zone (5) which shapes the
surface while abrasively removing parts of the surface and which
projects beyond a shaft diameter, with the operative zone (5) on
the end opposite to the shaft end (3) that is to be clamped being
bounded by a rounded part (6) having a domelike structure (7)
without the surface-shaping function that is inherent in the
operative zone (5).
Inventors: |
Busch; Gert; (Engelskirchen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, SPRINKLE,ANDERSON & CITKOWSKI, P.C
PO BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Family ID: |
40459420 |
Appl. No.: |
12/403042 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/75.8 ;
132/76.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D 71/005 20130101;
A61B 2017/00473 20130101; A61B 17/54 20130101; A61B 2017/00929
20130101; B23C 2210/326 20130101; A45D 29/05 20130101; B24D 7/18
20130101; A61B 2090/08021 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/75.8 ;
132/76.4 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/06 20060101
A45D029/06; A45D 29/14 20060101 A45D029/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 1, 2008 |
DE |
202008015821.4 |
Claims
1. A rotating shaping tool designed to treat a surface of body
extremities of mammals, in particular the nails or the skin of
humans, which tool comprises an elongated shaft, one end of which
can be clamped and the other end of which shaft has an operative
section with a rotationally symmetrical operative zone which shapes
the surface while abrasively removing parts of the surface and
which projects beyond a shaft diameter, characterized in that the
operative zone on the end opposite to the shaft end that is to be
clamped is bounded by a rounded part having a domelike structure
without the surface-shaping function that is inherent in the
operative zone.
2. The shaping tool as in claim 1, wherein the domelike structure
is smooth, preferably polished.
3. The shaping tool as in claim 1, wherein the domelike structure
is a fusion-bonded component of the operative section, with the
operative section being made at least substantially completely of a
hard metal.
4. The shaping tool as in claim 1, wherein the domelike structure
is rotationally symmetrical.
5. The shaping tool as in claim 1, wherein a surface of the
domelike structure transitions steplessly into a surface of the
operative zone.
6. The shaping tool as in claim 1, wherein the operative zone
comprises at least one cutting section.
7. The shaping tool as in claim 1 wherein the operative section is
made of steel and that the operative zone (5) is formed by a
coating containing an abrasive material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of German Patent
Application 202008015821.4 filed on Dec. 1, 2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a shaping tool for use in
the treatment of a surface of body extremities of mammals, in
particular the nails or the skin of humans. To this end, a rotating
shaping tool is used, which tool has an elongated shaft, one end of
which shaft can be clamped and the other end of which shaft holds
an operative section with a rotationally symmetrical operative
zone, which operative section shapes the surface while abrasively
removing parts of the surface and which projects beyond a diameter
of the shaft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] During the shaping of skin, natural nails and artificial
nails, for example, in a foot care clinic or a nail care salon,
generally shaping tools are used that are adapted to the morphology
of the body extremity, i.e., the foot, and of the nails as well as
of the occasionally occurring deformities. This type of
single-piece rotating shaping tool, in particular one that can be
cooled, is known, for example, from DE 229 008 683 U1. The shaping
tool described in this document is especially suitable for use in
foot care. The rotating shaping tool has an abrasive material
bonded to it, and the remainder is made of metal. The outer surface
is shaped like a cap, and the abrasive material bonded to it is
diamond grit.
[0004] When working on the foot or the hand, in particular the
nails and the skin, the use of the shaping tool, in particular when
known cutting or abrasive tools are used carelessly, entails the
risk of injury to the extremity due to the surface-effective, in
particular abrasive, i.e., material removing and/or abrading zone
of the shaping tool. Thus, it is possible for areas on the surface
of the extremity to become involved where this is not desirable,
for example, on the nail bed. This carries risks especially for
diabetics and for other categories of individuals who are suffering
from certain disorders.
[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make
available a shaping tool which greatly minimizes the risk involved
when shaping extremities and surfaces thereof, in particular in
foot care clinics and nail care salons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This problem is solved with a shaping tool with the features
of Claim 1. Other useful embodiments and improvements follow from
the dependent claims.
[0007] To treat a surface of body extremities of mammals, in
particular the nails or the skin of humans, it is proposed that a
rotating shaping tool especially designed for this purpose be used,
which tool has an elongated shaft, one end of which shaft can be
clamped and the other end of which shaft comprises an operative
section with a rotationally symmetrical operative zone which shapes
the surface while abrasively removing parts of the surface, which
operative zone projects beyond a shaft diameter, with the operative
zone, on the end opposite to the shaft end that is to be clamped,
being bounded by a rounded part having a domelike structure without
the surface-shaping function that is inherent in the operative
zone.
[0008] It has been shown to be useful if, on the one hand, the
domelike region has a rounded-off part. This makes it possible to
avoid the risk of injury which is inherent in the prior-art shaping
tools especially due to the edged design. Since, in addition, it
was found to be especially useful to dispense with a
surface-shaping function that is inherent in the operative zone,
i.e., to omit this region of the domelike structure completely, the
shaping tool can be placed on the surface of the extremities
without, however, itself abrasively shaping the surface. As already
mentioned above, "abrasive" in the context of the proposed
technical teaching of the present invention is meant to indicate
that, because of the surface shaping function inherent in the
operative zone, material can be removed from the surface. This can
be done, for example, by means of an abrasive method, a cutting
method or by means of some other method. Preferably, the domelike
structure is smooth, and if a metal is used, it is polished. Thus,
for example, when the shaping tool is used, it is possible to first
place it on the surface and subsequently cautiously approach the
area on which a surface of the body extremity is to be actually
shaped. Only by tilting the shaping tool and/or by moving the
shaping tool down to a deeper level is it possible for the
operative zone to come into contact with the surface and for
abrasive removal of material from the surface to take place.
[0009] According to one embodiment, the domelike structure, at
least on the surface, can be made of a material different from that
of the operative section. For example, the domelike structure can
be coated with a coating. However, the domelike structure can also
be a separate element that contributes to the shape of the
operative section. To this end, for example, the domelike structure
can be attached, for example, by means of a joining method, an
adhesive method or a similar method. According to another
embodiment, the domelike structure is a fusion-bonded component of
the operative section. In this case, the domelike structure is
preferably produced from a preliminary product if the operative
section is made from the preliminary product. For example, if the
shaping tool is produced by means of a machining method, for
example, a turning procedure, a turning tool used in this procedure
can produce the domelike structure in such a manner that at the
same time the surface in this area is smooth and thus, in
particular, an additional polishing step can be dispensed with. If
the shaping tool is produced, for example, by means of a
high-quality casting method, the cast product can have such a
surface quality that, again, a separate step of finishing the
domelike structure can preferably be dispensed with.
[0010] Furthermore, the domelike structure can be coated with a
coating. In yet another embodiment, the operative zone can also be
coated with a coating. In another embodiment, the operative zone
and the domelike structure are coated with a coating. These
coatings, for example, differ from each other in that they are made
of different materials and/or have different properties. According
to one embodiment, only the operative section is coated with a
coating. According to one embodiment, the operative zone is
preferably coated with a coating made of a material or a
combination of materials different from the coating or the material
of the domelike structure. The coating of the domelike structure,
the operative zone and/or the operative section, for example, can
have a certain property, for example, it may be electrically
non-conducting, it may be electrically conducting, elastic, have a
higher surface smoothness than another material of the operative
section, or the like. Furthermore, the coating can have a higher
hardness than a substrate material or the core material, in
particular, of the operative section. The coating is preferably
temperature-resistant and able to withstand temperatures of at
least 134.degree. C. and more without damage to it. Furthermore,
the separate element which, in the form of a domelike structure,
contributes to the shape of the operative section can also have
this same material property. For example, if a coating in the form
a cover layer is used, the cover layer itself can provide a surface
smoothness which otherwise could be achieved only by polishing the
operative section, for example, in the area of the domelike
structure. Another possibility is for the coating to be present
already on a preliminary product. According to one embodiment, for
example, a preliminary product for use in the production of the
operative section of the shaping tool already has a coating on the
domelike structure, which coating prevents that, in the step of
bonding a material-removing substance or another abrasive material
to the operative zone, the abrasive material is not applied to the
domelike structure. If, for example, the abrasive material is
applied to the future operative zone of the operative section by
means of a special coating method, a protective coating can be used
to prevent that the abrasive material adheres to the region of the
domelike structure. Thus, the surface in tis region does not have
the surface shaping function of the operative zone. According to
another embodiment, a protective coating that prevents a bonding of
an abrasive material to it can be designed so as to be removable.
This can be achieved, for example, with the use of chemical
procedures. For example, a galvanic coating method can be used to
apply the abrasive material. By means of the protective coating,
however, electrical conduction can be prevented so that no abrasive
material can bond to the area of the protective coating. A number
of different materials for use in the production of the shaping
tool as well as different abrasive materials and different
deposition techniques and properties relative to the sterilization
and disinfection follow, for example, from DE 20 2007 017 619 U1,
incorporated by reference into the present disclosure. This patent
mentioned also discusses the use of matrix materials for the
operative zone, to which reference will also be made in the present
disclosure.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the operative section, the
domelike structure and/or the operative zone are coated with a
coating having a specific thickness, preferably a ceramic coating.
Preferably, at least the operative zone and/or the operative
section are coated with a thin layer, in particular, a coating with
a thickness lower than 20 micrometers, preferably lower than 1
micrometer, more preferably in a range from approximately 1
micrometer to approximately 40 micrometers, and most preferably
from approximately 1 micrometer to approximately 20 micrometers.
According to another embodiment, the operative section is coated
with a coating having a thickness greater than 20 micrometers,
preferably from approximately 20 micrometers to approximately 40
micrometers. It is also possible, for example, for sections to have
coatings of varying thicknesses. Preferably, the area that is
coated with the coating has been mechanically and/or chemically
pretreated, preferably sanded, prior to application of the coating.
For example, the coating can be produced by means of so-called
physical vapor deposition, abbreviated as PVD, chemical vapor
deposition, abbreviated as CVD, galvanic methods or sol/gel
processes and deposited on the operative section or a precursor
product thereof. One embodiment provides that the coating be
deposited by means of a thermal spraying technique, preferably
plasma spraying.
[0012] According to another embodiment, the coating contains
carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, oxides or a combination of the
above. In particular, the coating contains at least one material
from the group of carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides,
oxycarbonitrides, oxides and/or borides, at least one of the
elements of the IVa to VIa group of the periodic system of elements
and/or a ceramic material, in particular titanium nitride (TiN),
titanium carbide (TiC), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), aluminum
oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN),
chromium nitride (CrN), chromium vanadium nitride (CrVN), chromium
aluminum nitride (CrAlN), titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide,
chromium oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide and/or diamond.
In another embodiment, the coating, for example, at least in a
region of the operative section, the domelike structure and/or the
operative zone is a multi-layer coating. At least one individual
layer preferably contains a material from a group of carbides,
nitrides, carbonitrides, oxycarbonitrides, oxides and/or borides,
at least one of the elements of the IVa to VIa group of the
periodic system of elements and/or a ceramic material in particular
titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbide (TiC), titanium
carbonitride (TiNC), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), titanium
aluminum nitride (TiAlN), chromium nitride (CrN), chromium vanadium
nitride (CrVN), chromium aluminum nitride (CrAlN), titanium
dioxide, zirconium oxide, chromium oxide, diamond and/or a
combination of the aforementioned materials. According to an
improved embodiment, a first region, for example, is coated with
one coating layer and a second region is coated with two or more
coating layers. The first and second region can be located in the
operative section, the operative zone and/or along the domelike
structure.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, a thin layer, i.e., a coating
with a thickness lower than 20 micrometers, preferably lower than
10 micrometers, most preferably lower than 1 micrometer, is applied
to at least one region of the operative section or a preliminary
product thereof. For example, titanium nitride is deposited by way
of tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium (TDMAT), using a chemical vapor
deposition technique. In another embodiment, at least one coating
material is applied by means of thermal vapor deposition, electron
beam physical vapor deposition, laser chemical vapor deposition,
arc ion plating, molecular beam epitaxy, sputter deposition, ion
beam-assisted deposition and/or ion plating.
[0014] The domelike structure preferably has a rotationally
symmetrical design. On the one hand, this type of design simplifies
production. On the other hand, it ensures that whenever the
domelike structure first approaches a surface of the body
extremity, the shaping tool at all times has the same contact
surface, especially when the domelike structure is a full dome
which has a shape which neither by way of concavities, indentations
nor the like deviates from the prespecified domelike structure but
still allows the domelike structure to be recognizable as the
dominant geometry. In another embodiment, however, such can be
present. This can be implemented, for example, in that, starting
along the operative zone, the domelike structure begins to take on
a hemispherical shape, with the surface, when viewed along the
circumference, having concavities, such as are similarly known, for
example, from a citrus press. Thus, when the shaping tool
approaches the surface, this shape immediately informs the user
that contact between the surface to be shaped and the shaping tool
has been made. For example, mild unease on the part of the user,
which is signaled by the irregular shape of the domelike structure,
immediately alerts the user that contact has been made and thus it
is ensured that at the same time, a difference is noted when the
operative zone comes into contact with the surface to be shaped or
when only the domelike structure makes contact with the surface to
be shaped. For example, the operative zone can also have elevations
or grooves which, on contact with the surface to be shaped, also
alert the user, thereby again providing him/her with information
that the operative zone is touching the surface.
[0015] According to another embodiment, at least parts of the
operative section are exchangeable. To this end, for example, the
entire operative section can be detached from the shaft. However,
it is also possible to provide, for example, that the domelike
structure of the operative section can be detached from the
remainder of the shaping tool or that the operative zone can be
exchanged. To this end, the operative zone can be disposed on the
operative section in such a manner that the operative zone is
detachable. This, for example, can be implemented without the use
of force, for example, by removing an adhesive material, thereby,
for example, detaching an abrasive material from the operative
section. Other chemical methods, thermal methods or other
mechanical methods for separating the operative zone, in particular
the abrasive material, from the shaping tool, can be used.
[0016] According to another embodiment, a surface of the domelike
structures transitions steplessly into a surface of the operative
zone. Because of the stepless transition, the risk of injury during
use of the shaping tool is prevented since there are no sharp
edges, such as the ones present in other prior-art shaping tools.
This also allows the shaping surface of the operative zone to
steplessly transition into the domelike structure. In this manner,
it is again possible to avoid a stepped edge which could carry the
risk of injury when the shaping tool is used. Preferably, the
operative zone is disposed in a recess in the operative section in
the longitudinal direction of the shaping tool. In this manner, the
recess can be filled, for example, with an abrasive material, and
thus the shaping surface of the operative zone can be made to
conform uniformly to a surface of the domelike structure. In
addition, the possibility of disposing a recess in the operative
section, it is also possible to prevent unintended contact between
the operative zone and the surfaces of the extremities to be
shaped. To this end, but also independently thereof, one embodiment
provides that the domelike structure project beyond the operative
zone, thereby also offering a certain protection. Thus, for
example, the diameter of the domelike structure can be dimensioned
in such a manner that at least in one section, it is larger than a
diameter of the operative zone.
[0017] In at least one of its sections, the operative zone can have
a cutting section. To this end, identical or different cutting
geometries can be used to produce such a cutting section. The
cutting blades can run parallel to the axis of the shaft or they
can be tilted with respect to the axis of the shaft. For example,
the cutting edges can extend in a straight line but they can also
curve at least across one section of the cutting section.
[0018] According to another embodiment, the operative zone has at
least one abrasive zone.
[0019] It is also possible to design the operative zone in such a
manner that it has only one cutting zone or only one abrasive zone.
Another possibility is for the operative zone to have a cutting
section and an abrasive zone. Yet another possibility is for the
abrasive zone to have different grit sizes, so that the abrasive
zone preferably has a number of different sections with different
grit sizes. Thus, according to one embodiment, the grit size closer
to the domelike structure of the operative section is finer than
the coarser grit size. According to one embodiment, the operative
zone can gradually change from a finer to a coarser grit size, with
each section having a grit size with, on the average, an identical
diameter. According to another embodiment, the average grit
diameter continuously changes across the length of the operative
zone along the axis of the shaft. Yet another embodiment has an
operative zone which comprises one or more different sections with
a different average grit size and one section with a continuously
changing grit diameter.
[0020] Additional useful embodiments and improvements follow from
the figures below. The details obtainable from the figures,
however, are not limited to the individual embodiment. Instead, one
or more of these features can be combined with other features from
the figures and from the description above to arrive at
improvements which are here not described in detail but which still
are part of the disclosure of the technical teaching.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shaping tool,
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a shaping tool, and
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a shaping tool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shaping tool 1. Using
this shaping tool 1, it is possible to treat a surface of a body
extremity. To this end, the shaping tool 1 comprises a shaft 2
which can be continuous or stepped. One shaft end 3 can be clamped.
To this end, the shaft end 3 of the shaft 2 can have grooves or
other recesses in the shaft which make it possible to transmit a
rotational force. Another possibility is that instead of the
recesses, the shaft end 3 has elevations. In addition, however, the
shaft end 3 can also be exclusively cylindrical as shown in the
figure, in which case a torque transmission takes place by clamping
the shaft end 3 into an appropriately designed holder. At the end
opposite to the shaft end 3, an operative section 4 is disposed.
The operative section 4 comprises an operative zone 5. This
operative zone can be formed, for example, by cutting blades and/or
an abrasive material. In addition, on the end opposite to the shaft
end 3, the operative section 4 has a rounded area 6 in the shape of
a domelike structure 7. The domelike structure 7 is preferably
smooth, as shown, and a surface 8 of the domelike structure
transitions steplessly into a surface 9 of the operative zone 5.
This type of transitional zone 10 ensures that the shaping tool,
when using it to work down to a deeper level and subsequently
withdrawing it, cannot accidentally tilt and thereby get stuck.
According to this first embodiment, the overall contour of the
operative section 4 is not only rotationally symmetrical but
extends with a steadily increasing diameter from one end to the
other. According to this embodiment, the operative section 4 has a
substantially conical shape.
[0025] In the following description, identical elements will be
identified by the same reference numerals, without thereby
restricting the scope of the protection, however.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the shaping tool 1.
Again, an operative zone 5 is disposed on the operative section 4.
The domelike structure 7 again transitions smoothly into the
operative zone 5. According to another embodiment which is
indicated only by the broken line, a different type of transition
from the domelike structure 7 into the operative zone 5 can be
provided. According to the second embodiment of the shaping tool 1,
the operative zone 5 has a cylindrical shape. Again, for example, a
cutting blade or an abrasive material can be disposed so as to
extend beyond the actual operative zone 5 into a tapered region 1.
The tapered region 11 is preferably chamfered, rounded off or at
least deburred so that the risk of injury on potential contact
between the tapered region 11 and the surface to be shaped is
avoided. In addition, in the second practical example of the
shaping tool 1, a dash-dotted line indicates a potential recess 12
in the operative section 5. This recess can be filled, for example,
with an abrasive material or another material having a surface
shaping function.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the shaping tool 1. The
third shaping tool 1, for example, is integrally formed in one
piece from a steel material. To this end, the entire shaping tool 1
is preferably turned, with the possibility, for example, that the
domelike structure 7 of this type of preliminary product is coated
with a coating 13. This coating 13 can prevent, for example, that
an abrasive material is also applied to this area. The coating can
also serve additional purposes, for example, it can be used to
label the tool. If the coatings 13 have different colors, each
color can designate a particular grit size of the abrasive material
used. In this manner, it can be ensured that the user, when
choosing between different shaping tools which are lined up in
appropriate holders, need not look for information concerning the
grit size which may be printed, for example, on the shaft.
[0028] The proposed shaping tool is specifically intended for use
in foot care and nail care salons.
* * * * *