U.S. patent application number 15/014354 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-04 for nail polish bottle cap with integral gel curing light.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michael Nghiem Le, Lijuan Zhen. Invention is credited to Michael Nghiem Le, Lijuan Zhen.
Application Number | 20160220006 15/014354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56553643 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160220006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Le; Michael Nghiem ; et
al. |
August 4, 2016 |
Nail polish bottle cap with integral gel curing light
Abstract
A nail polish bottle cap of a gel nail polish bottle includes a
first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the cap is
arranged to screw on to the top of a nail polish bottle and carries
a brush suitable for applying nail polish. The second portion of
the cap presents a UV LED light which is suitable for illuminating
a fingernail or a toenail which has been freshly coated with gel
nail polish for the purpose of curing the gel nail polish. A user
may apply gel polish from the bottle to a fingernail or toenail and
then activate the UV LED light of the second portion, position the
UV LED light to illuminate the surface of the nail which has been
coated with fresh uncured gel nail polish in order to cure the gel
nail polish.
Inventors: |
Le; Michael Nghiem;
(Wichita, KS) ; Zhen; Lijuan; (Leung King Estate,
HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Le; Michael Nghiem
Zhen; Lijuan |
Wichita
Leung King Estate |
KS |
US
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
56553643 |
Appl. No.: |
15/014354 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62152376 |
Apr 24, 2015 |
|
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62111400 |
Feb 3, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/205 20130101;
A45D 29/18 20130101; A45D 34/045 20130101; A45D 29/00 20130101;
A45D 2200/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/18 20060101
A45D029/18; A45D 34/04 20060101 A45D034/04 |
Claims
1. A nail polish bottle cap, comprising: (a) a first portion which
presents a nail polish brush suitable for applying nail polish to
fingernails and toenails, the first portion presenting a set of
female threads suitable for engaging the male threads of a nail
polish bottle, (b) a second portion which is selectively removable
from the first portion, the second portion including at least one
UV LED light which is suitable for emitting UV light for curing gel
nail polish, the UV LED light being in communication with a source
of electricity within a circuit including a switch for selectively
activating the UV LED light, whereby a user may remove the second
portion of the cap from the first portion of the cap and activate
the UV LED light of the second portion to illuminate a fingernail
or toenail which is coated with uncured gel nail polish for the
purpose of curing the gel nail polish.
2. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 1, wherein: the at least one
UV LED light is mounted in the interior of the second portion and
the interior of the second portion and the at least one UV LED
light are arranged such that the interior of the second portion is
able to receive a fingertip so that the nail of the fingertip is in
proximity to the at least one UV LED light and the fingernail is
able to be illuminated by the UV LED light.
3. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 1, wherein: the second
portion presents a cavity suitable for receiving a fingertip or the
end of a toe, the cavity having an inside wall and the at least one
UV LED light is mounted on the inside wall of the cavity, the UV
LED light being arranged so that the UV LED light is able to
illuminate the fingernail or toenail of a fingertip or toe when the
fingertip or toe is inserted into the cavity.
4. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 2, wherein: the upper end of
the second portion includes a battery compartment for receiving a
battery.
5. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 4, further comprising: a
battery compartment and a battery compartment cover, the battery
compartment cover being able to move between a first position and a
second position, the battery compartment cover arranged with the
circuit such that when the battery compartment cover is in a first
position, the circuit is open thereby preventing the passage of
electrical current to the at least one UV LED light and when the
battery compartment cover is in a second position, the circuit is
closed thereby allowing the passage of electrical current to the at
least one UV LED light.
6. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 5, wherein; the battery
compartment and the battery compartment cover have corresponding
threads for rotating movement of the battery compartment cover with
respect to the battery compartment between the first and second
positions and for removing the battery compartment cover from the
battery compartment to facilitate the removal or replacement of at
least one battery in the battery compartment.
7. A nail polish bottle cap, comprising: (a) a first portion which
presents a nail polish brush suitable for applying nail polish to
fingernails and toenails, the first portion presenting a set of
female threads suitable for engaging the male threads of a nail
polish bottle, the first portion also presenting a brush suitable
for applying nail polish to human fingernails or toenails, (b) a
second portion which is selectively removable from the first
portion, the second portion including presenting a cavity which is
suitable for receiving the tip of a a human finger, the cavity
having an inside wall, (c) at least one UV LED light mounted to the
inside wall of the cavity of the second portion, the at least one
UV LED light being suitable for emitting UV light for curing gel
nail polish, the at least one UV LED light being arranged such that
it is possible to insert a fingertip into the cavity of the second
portion such that the nail of the fingertip is position such that
the at least one UV LED light is able to illuminate the fingernail
of the fingertip, the UV LED light being in communication with a
source of electricity within a circuit including a switch for
selectively activating the UV LED light, whereby a user may remove
the second portion of the cap from the first portion of the cap,
insert a fingertip with a fingernail bearing a fresh coat of gel
nail polish into the cavity of the second portion and activate the
UV LED light of the second portion to illuminate the fingernail
with UV light for the purpose of curing the gel nail polish.
8. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 7, wherein: the upper end of
the second portion includes a battery compartment for receiving a
battery.
9. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 7, further comprising: a
battery compartment and a battery compartment cover, the battery
compartment cover being able to move between a first position and a
second position, the battery compartment cover arranged with the
circuit such that when the battery compartment cover is in a first
position, the circuit is open thereby preventing the passage of
electrical current to the at least one UV LED light and when the
battery compartment cover is in a second position, the circuit is
closed thereby allowing the passage of electrical current to the at
least one UV LED light.
10. The nail polish bottle cap of claim 7, wherein; the battery
compartment and the battery compartment cover have corresponding
threads for rotating movement of the battery compartment cover with
respect to the battery compartment between the first and second
positions and for removing the battery compartment cover from the
battery compartment to facilitate the removal or replacement of at
least one battery in the battery compartment.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/111,400 filed on Feb. 3, 2015 and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/152,376 filed on Apr. 24,
2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a nail polish bottle cap which
includes at least one integral ultra-violet (UV) light emitting
diode (LED) light which is suitable for illuminating a human
fingernail or toenail which has been freshly coated with gel nail
polish for the purpose of curing the gel nail polish.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Gel nail polish is known for its durability. Typically,
because the process for applying and curing of gel polish is
relatively technical, most gel nail polish is applied and cured by
professionals in nail salons. As is the case with conventional nail
polish, gel nail polish is typically brushed on as a thick, viscous
liquid. However, unlike conventional nail polish, gel polish will
not cure merely because it is exposed to air. To cure, gel polish
must be exposed to ultra-violet (UV) light. Because UV light occurs
naturally in sunlight, the inside surfaces of a gel nail polish
bottle are usually coated with a light blocking black coating in
order to prevent the gel polish within the bottle from slowly
curing. Accordingly, once gel polish is applied to a fingernail or
toenail, the customer typically places the fingernail or toenail
under an UV light emitting gel curing lamp for a pre-determined
period of time in order to cure the gel polish. Once cured, gel
polish provides a durable attractive, decorative coating.
[0004] Gel curing lamps are typically arranged for table-top use
and are usually about as large as a shoe box. Gel curing lamps
usually cost hundreds of US dollars and are usually purchased and
used by professional nail salon operators. Therefore, the times and
places in which gel polish can be applied and cured is generally
limited to the times and places when and where gel curing lamps are
available. Accordingly, a need exists for an extremely compact and
inexpensive gel curing device that may be used by individuals to
cure gel polish when a gel curing lamp is not available.
SUMMARY
[0005] The above described need is addressed by a nail polish
bottle cap which includes a first portion and a second portion. The
first portion is arranged to screw on to the top of a nail polish
bottle and carries a brush suitable for applying nail polish. The
second portion of the bottle cap presents a UV LED light which is
suitable for illuminating a fingernail or a toenail which has been
freshly coated with gel nail polish for the purpose of curing the
gel nail polish. The second portion of the bottle cap also includes
a battery and a switched circuit which includes the battery and the
UV LED light. The circuit is able to be switched between an open
state wherein the UV LED light is not activated and a closed state
wherein the UV LED light is activated. A user may apply gel polish
from the bottle to a fingernail or toenail and then activate the UV
LED light of the second portion, position the UV LED light to
illuminate the surface of the nail which has been coated with fresh
uncured gel polish in order to cure the gel nail polish.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a nail polish bottle which
includes one embodiment of the gel curing nail polish bottle
cap.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective of a nail polish bottle which
includes one embodiment of the gel curing nail polish bottle cap
shown with a second portion of the nail polish cap separated from a
first portion of the nail polish bottle cap.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the one embodiment of
the gel curing nail polish bottle cap second portion.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective of a nail polish bottle which
includes one embodiment of the gel curing nail polish bottle cap
shown with part of the nail polish bottle cap second portion cut
away in order to show the interior of the nail polish bottle cap
second portion as well as the bottle cap first portion.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottle cap second
portion showing a battery compartment cover in a first
position.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottle cap second
portion showing the battery compartment cover between the first
position and a second position.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottle cap second
portion showing the battery compartment cover between the second
position.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bottle cap second
portion showing the battery compartment cover after the battery
compartment cover has been rotated to a third position and removed
to expose the battery compartment.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side perspective of a nail polish bottle which
includes one embodiment of the gel curing nail polish bottle cap
shown with part of the nail polish bottle cap second portion cut
away in order to show the interior of the nail polish bottle cap
second portion.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a side perspective cut away view of the second
portion of the nail polish bottle cap.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a side perspective cut away side view of the nail
polish bottle and the first and second portions of the nail polish
bottle cap.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a finger with a
fingernail receiving a coating of gel nail polish and the second
portion of the nail polish bottle cap.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a finger with a
fingernail having received a fresh coating of gel nail polish and
the second portion of the nail polish bottle cap.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a finger with a
fingernail having received a fresh coating of gel nail polish and
the second portion of the nail polish bottle cap with the tip of
the finger inserted into the second portion of the nail polish
bottle cap proximate to the UV LED light.
[0020] FIG. 15 is a cut away side view showing a finger with a
fingernail having received a fresh coating of gel nail polish and
the second portion of the nail polish bottle cap with the tip of
the finger inserted into the second portion of the nail polish
bottle cap proximate to the UV LED light.
[0021] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit for
powering the UV LED light.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment
of the gel curing fingernail polish bottle cap 10 shown screwed
onto a nail polish bottle 2 which is of a type well known to those
skilled in the art. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, bottle cap 10
includes a first portion 12 and a second portion 20. Preferably,
the lower end of first portion 12 presents female threads (not
shown) suitable for engaging corresponding male threads (not shown)
which are presented around the upper opening of bottle 2. As is
typical for nail polish bottle caps known in the art, a brush stem
14 is fixed to and extends from first portion 12. As is also well
known in the art, the distal end of brush stem 14 presents a polish
brush or applicator 14B.
[0023] Second portion 20 of bottle cap 10 may be best understood by
referring to FIGS. 3-15. Second portion 20 is arranged to
selectively connect and disconnect from first portion 12. In FIGS.
3 and 4, one embodiment is shown wherein first portion 12 includes
a cap portion 12C. As is shown in FIG. 4, in this example, the side
surface 12S of cap portion 12C is in the shape of a frustum of a
cone and therefore may be described as a frusto-conical surface. In
this example, cap portion also has a flat top surface 12T. As is
shown in FIG. 3, second portion 20 presents internal inwardly
extending radial ribs 22 which present side surfaces 22S and top
edge surfaces 22T which fit against side and top surfaces 12S and
12T respectively of cap portion 12C. (Radial ribs 22 are omitted in
FIG. 4 for clarity.) Preferably, in this example, the fit between
surfaces 22S and 22T and surfaces 12S and 12T has a slight degree
of interference so that some pressure is needed to remove second
portion 20 from first cap portion 12C. However, as the skilled
reader would appreciate, any one of a number arrangements may be
employed for selectively attaching second portion 20 to cap portion
12C. Most of first and second portions 12 and 20 are preferably
fashioned from injection molded plastic or a similar material with
the exception of components such as UV LED lights 26 and metallic
components associated with UV LED lights 26, switches, batteries
and the like as will be described below.
[0024] As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9-15, second portion 20
presents a cavity 24. As can be seen in FIGS. 12-15, cavity 24 of
second portion 20 is suitable for receiving the distal end of a
finger F. As can be best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 11-15 in this one
embodiment, two side by side UV LED lights 26 are mounted to the
inside wall 20W of second portion 20. UV LED light 26 is connected
by leads 26L in a switchable circuit to a set of three batteries
28B. In this example, batteries 28B are received in a battery
compartment 28C near the upper end of second portion 20.
[0025] As can be seen in FIGS. 5-8, second portion 20 also includes
a battery compartment cover 30 which rotatably engages the upper
end of second portion 20. Compartment cover 30 is able to rotate
about an axis A (indicated in FIG. 5) between the positions
described below because battery compartment 28B presents a set of
male threads 28BT (which can be best seen in FIG. 8) and battery
compartment cover 30 engages battery compartment 28B with a
corresponding set of female threads 30T (which can be best seen in
cross section in FIG. 10) thus making it possible to rotate battery
compartment cover 30 and even remove battery compartment 30 as
described below.
[0026] In this example, when battery compartment cover 30 is not
rotated and left in its initial first position as shown in FIG. 5,
the circuit including UV LED lights 26, leads (not shown) and
batteries 28B is open so that UV LED lights 26 are off. In FIG. 5,
axis of rotation A is indicated and a point P is arbitrarily
selected and indicated to indicate the relative position of battery
compartment cover 30 and the remainder of second portion 22 in each
of FIGS. 5-8. In FIG. 6, the position of point P indicates that
battery compartment cover has been rotated about 45 degrees
clockwise from the first position shown in FIG. 5 or, in other
words, about half way between the first position shown in FIG. 5
and the second position shown in FIG. 7. When battery compartment
cover 30 has been rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise (when
viewed from the top) to the second position shown in FIG. 7, the
circuit including UV LED lights 26 and batteries 28B is closed
causing lights 26 to be turned on. A schematic diagram of the UV
LED light circuit is given in FIG. 16. As can be seen in FIG. 16,
UV LED light 26 is connected by conducting line 26A to battery 26B
in a circuit which is interrupted by a switch 30S. Switch 30S is
closed when a first contact 26AC associated with conducting line
26A is in contact with a second contact 30C which moves with
battery compartment cover 30. When battery compartment cover 30 is
aligned as shown in FIGS. 7 and 16, the circuit is closed and the
power is conducted from battery 28B to light 26. When battery
compartment cover 30 is not aligned as shown in FIGS. 7 and 16 and
is unaligned as, for example, is shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the
circuit is open and no power is provided to light 26. Although not
shown in FIGS. 5-8, indicia may be added to battery compartment
cover 30 and second portion 20 to indicate when battery compartment
cover 30 is in an "on position" or an "off position".
[0027] As is shown in FIG. 8, when battery compartment cover 30 is
rotated approximately 180 degrees clockwise to a third position,
battery compartment cover 30 is able to be removed thereby exposing
battery compartment 28BC and batteries 28B. The movements of
battery compartment cover 30 described above may be reversed by
replacing and re-threading battery compartment 30 to restore it to
the second position shown in FIG. 7 and by further rotating battery
compartment cover 30 counter-clockwise to restore it to the first
position shown in FIG. 5 with the circuit open and the LED lights
26 off.
[0028] The placement of UV LED lights 26 may vary in some
embodiments for the upper sidewall location shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and
12-15. Moreover, UV LED lights 26 may be replaced by a single UV
LED light. UV LED lights should be selected so that, when
illuminated, and when in close proximity to a fingernail FN with a
fresh coat of gel polish as shown in FIG. 15, the gel cures in a
time period on the order of one or two minutes.
[0029] A method for using gel curing fingernail polish bottle cap
10 is illustrated in FIGS. 12-15 with further reference to FIGS.
5-7. In FIGS. 5-7 and 12-15, second portion 20 of bottle cap 10 is
removed from first portion 12. This opens cavity 24 and exposes UV
LED lights 26. As can be seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, liquid, uncured
gel polish G is applied to a fingernail FN of a finger F. After
application of gel polish G, finger F is inserted into cavity 24 so
that fingernail FN is in close proximity to UV LED lights 26 as
shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Also after the application of gel polish
G, battery compartment cover 30 is rotated from the first position
shown in FIGS. 5 and 13 to the second position as shown in FIGS. 7
and 14. This causes the above described circuit to close and UV LED
lights 26 to be activated to generate UV light L as indicated in
FIGS. 14 and 15. Preferably, fingernail FN is held in close
proximity to lights 26 as shown in FIG. 15 for approximately one
minute or until gel polish G is sufficiently cured.
[0030] The above described UV LED gel curing nail polish bottle cap
provides a simple and convenient device for curing gel nail polish
as described above. This makes it possible for anyone at any time
in any location to apply and cure durable gel polish. With this
device, it is no longer necessary to resort to a salon or to
purchase a traditional gel curing lamp for curing gel polish.
[0031] It is to be understood that while certain forms of this
invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited
thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the
following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.
* * * * *