Method and apparatus for cleaning and maintaining fingernails and/or toenails   

This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/322,225, filed on Apr. 8, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning cleaning and maintaining fingernails and/or toenails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various known methods and apparatus for cleaning and/or maintaining fingernails and/or toenails.

SUMMARY

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a small portable apparatus containing various tools that can be used to clean and/or maintain person\'s fingernails and/or toenails on the go.

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a nail polish brush assembly, a nail polish remover assembly adapted to be temporarily attached to the nail polish brush assembly, and a file assembly adapted to be temporarily attached to the nail polish remover assembly. The file assembly may include a nail file which may be attached to a pick for cleaning the finger nails or toe nails of a person.

The apparatus may further include a casing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The casing may have an inner chamber in which an item can be stored. The first end of the casing may be adapted to be temporarily attached to the nail polish remover assembly. the second end of the casing may be adapted to be temporarily attached to the file assembly. The nail polish remover assembly may be adapted to be temporarily attached to the nail polish brush assembly through the casing. The inner chamber of the casing may be adapted to store a nail clipper. The apparatus may include the nail clipper.

The apparatus may further include a container adapted for containing nail polish. The nail polish brush assembly may be adapted to be temporarily attached to the container, so that a brush of the nail polish brush assembly lies within a cavity of the container. The apparatus may also include an end cap adapted to be temporarily attached to the file assembly, so that the end cap when attached prevents the nail file of the file assembly from being used.

At least one embodiment of the present invention also includes a method which may include temporarily attaching a nail polish brush assembly to a nail polish remover assembly to form a combination, and temporarily attaching a file assembly to the combination, and wherein the file assembly includes a nail file. The method may further include temporarily attaching a first end of a casing to the nail polish remover assembly, temporarily attaching a second end of the casing to the file assembly, wherein the casing has an inner chamber in which an item can be stored, and wherein the nail polish remover assembly is temporarily attached to the nail polish brush assembly through the casing.

The method may further include storing a nail clipper and/or a container of nail polish remover in the inner chamber of the casing. The method may further include temporarily attaching a container to the nail polish brush assembly so that a brush of the nail polish brush assembly lies within a cavity of the container. The method may include temporarily attaching an end cap to the file assembly, so that the end cap when attached prevents the nail file of the file assembly from being used.

In another embodiment first and second nail brush assemblies may be provided, along with first and second containers. The first container may contain nail polish of a first color, and the second container may contain nail polish of a second color which is different from the first color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailled section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating a typical snap-fit; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus 10. FIG. 3 is a section view of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a detailled section view of the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 illustrating a typical snap-fit. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the apparatus 10 includes a cap 12, nail polish brush assembly 14, polish remover assembly 16, outer casing or shell 18, buffer pad 20, pick/file assembly 22, and end cap 24. The apparatus 10 also may include an optional pen clip attachment 50.

The apparatus 10 may also include a hole 30, hollow areas 32a, and 32b, a lip 34, a brush stem 36, a brush 38, outer casings 40a and 40b, a sponge holder base 42, a sponge for polish remover 44, an indentation for buffer pad 20, locking tabs 48a and 48b for buffer pad 20, a pick or finger nail cleaner point 52, a pick/file stem 54, a rough file surface 56, and an outer shell 58.

The container or cap 12 may be a transparent, see-through plastic container for viewing the color of nail polish contained in the container 12. The cap 12 may have an annular ridge 12a shown in FIG. 3, which snap fits into an annular groove 14a, also shown in FIG. 3, in the outer casing 40a of the nail polish remover brush assembly 14. The assembly 14 may have an annular ridge 14b which snap fits into an annular groove 16a of the outer casing 40b of the assembly 16, as shown in FIG. 3. The assembly 16 may have an annular ridge 16b which snap fits into an annular groove 18a of the casing or shell 18, as shown in FIG. 3. The casing or shell 18 may have an annular groove 18b which snap fits with an annular ridge 22a of the outer shell 58 of the pick/file assembly 22, as shown in FIG. 3. The assembly 22 may have an annular groove 22b into which an annular ridge 24a of the end cap 24 snap fits, as shown in FIG. 3.

The cap 12 has an inner chamber or cavity 12c shown in FIG. 3. A brush 38 sits upright within the cavity 12c. In at least one embodiment, the cavity 12c contains nail polish and the brush 38 sits within the nail polish. In operation, the cap or container 12 is removed from the apparatus 10 in a way so that the nail polish does not spill out of the container 12, and then the brush 38 is dipped into the nail polish in the separate container 12, in order to apply further nail polish onto the brush 38. The brush 38 with the nail polish can then be applied to a person\'s finger nail or toe nail. After the nail polish on the brush 38 has been substantially used, the brush 38 can be again dipped into the nail polish in the separate container 12 and then the brush 38 would be used to apply nail polish to another finger nail or toe nail or apply further nail polish to the same finger nail or toe nail.

The brush 38 passes through the hole 30 in the lip 34 of the container or cap 12. The lip 34 is used to keep the majority of the nail polish in the container 12 after the container 12 is removed from the apparatus 10, i.e. the lip 34 is used to prevent substantial spilling of the nail polish from the container 12. The brush 38 is connected at one end to a central portion 14c of the assembly 14. The sponge 44 for nail polish remover, sits in a chamber or cavity 14d of the assembly 14. The sponge is fixed on a top portion of the assembly 16. The sponge 44, when the assembly 16 is separated from the rest of the apparatus 10, as in FIG. 5, can be used to apply nail polish remover to a person\'s finger nails or toenails. A container or bottle of nail polish remover can be stored in a chamber or cavity 32c of the casing 18 along with a nail clipper. The container or bottle of nail polish removed can be removed from the chamber or cavity 32c and nail polish remover can be applied to the sponge 44. The sponge 44 can then be used to apply the nail polish remover to a person\'s finger or toe nails.

The pick or finger nail cleaner point 52 is fixed to the pick/file stem 54, which is fixed to the rough file surface 56. The components 52, 54, and 56 lie within a cavity 24b, shown in FIG. 3, of the end cap 24. The rough file surface 56 is fixed to or is part of the pick/file assembly 22, as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown by FIG. 5, the container 12, the assembly 14, the assembly 16, the casing 18, the assembly 22, and the cap 24 can be taken apart, and as shown by FIG. 3 these components can be snap fit together. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the pad 20 may be separated from the casing 18 or may be snapped back into casing 18 by use of locking tabs 48a and 48b. The attachment 50 may also be separated from the casing 18 as shown by FIG. 5.

The assembly 16, the casing 18, and the assembly 22 when assembled together as shown in FIG. 3 form a combination chamber or cavity comprised of cavities or chambers 32b, 32c, and 32d shown in FIG. 3. A nail clipper may be stored and/or reside within this combination chamber or cavity comprising chambers 32b, 32c, and 32d. In operation, the apparatus 10 may be taken apart as shown in FIG. 5, and a nail clipper may be inserted into an opening 18c of the casing 18 and thus into the chamber 32c of the casing 18. After the nail clipper has been inserted into the chamber 32c, the assembly 16 can be attached to one end of the casing 18 and the assembly 22 can be attached to the opposite end of the casing 18 as shown in FIG. 3 After the assemblies 16 and 22 have been attached to the casing 18 as in FIG. 3, the combination chamber comprised of chambers 32b, 32c, and 32d may be completely sealed, as shown in FIG. 3 by the combination of casing 18, and the assemblies 16 and 22.

In operation, an individual, person, or human being, can use one or more of the pick or finger nail cleaner point 52, or the rough file surface 56 by removing the cap 24 from the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3. The cleaner point 52 can be used to clean finger nails or toe nails. The rough file surface 56 can be used to file down finger nails or toe nails.

In operation, an individual, person, or human being, can use the brush 38 to apply nail polish by removing the cap 12 from the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3.

The container 12 may be a clear plastic container having a tapered shape. The container 12 may be transparent or clear so that the color a nail polish within the container 12 can be seen. The container 12 may connect to the nail polish assembly 14 with a snap on effect, by annular ridge 12a, snapping into annular groove 14a, as shown by FIG. 3, similar to pens or marker lids. The snap fit of 12a and 14a should form a seal so that polish within cavity 12c of container 12 cannot leak out of cavity 12c unless the container is separated from the nail polish assembly 14.

The container 12 has an end or surface 12d shown in FIG. 3, which should be flat to allow the container 12 to stand upright without falling when end or surface 12d lies on a flat surface such as a table surface, so that the flat surface 12d is parallel and resting on the flat table surface. The surface 12d is flat so that the container 12 will remain upright, with surface 12d resting and parallel to the support surface (such as a table surface), and the nail polish in cavity 12c will not spill.

The annular ridge 14b of the nail polish assembly 14 should snap fit with the annular groove 16a of the remover assembly 16 so that a seal is provided so that no nail polish remover spills out from sponge 44.

The casing 18 or main body of the apparatus 10, may have polish setups on both sides if the consumer wishes to do so. The exterior of the casing 18 typically will bear a logo of a company that licenses the apparatus 10. The chamber 32c within the casing 18 can store a small nail clipper for cutting finger nails or toe nails, a small container of nail polish remover, and also can store a cleaning napkin or cloth for cleaning finger or toe nails.

The pick or point 52 can be used to clean under a person\'s finger or toe nails.

In at least one embodiment, the container 12, the assembly 14 (typically with the exception of the brush 38, stem 36, and component 34), the assembly 16 (with the exception of sponge 44), the casing 18, the assembly 22, and the cap 24 can be made of flexible plastic material, which will ensure that different components can snap on and off and not break.

The apparatus 10 form a pen shaped item in at least one embodiment that will fit into a small bag or a pocket.

The apparatus 10 can be used as an organizer for finger or toe nail products. A consumer can remove container 12 and add nail polish to cavity 12c of container 12. A consumer can use apparatus 10 to add nail polish to finger and toe nails, remove old nail polish from finger or toe nails, clip finger nails, clean under their nails, and buff/smooth finger or toe nails.

The apparatus 10 can be made using blow molded or injection molding. The casing 18 may include a rubber shell to provide a grip.

In at least one embodiment, the pick/file assembly 22 can be replaced with a second nail polish assembly, which may be identical to the nail polish assembly 14, but may be provided at the opposite end of the casing 18. In that case, the end cap 24 may be used as a second nail polish container or may be replaced by a second nail polish container similar to or identical to container 12. In this manner a second nail polish color can be provided.

A consumer can use nail polish remover which may be stored in a container in cavity 32c of the casing 18 and a napkin or clothe which may also be stored in cavity 32c, to remove residue or polish on their finger or toe nails.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention\'s contribution to the art.