GB2270625A

GB2270625A - Ingrown toenail lubricant dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2270625A
Application number: GB9219405A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Victor Rodrigues
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-14
Filing date: 1992-09-14
Publication date: 1994-03-23
Also published as: GB9219405D0

Abstract

A toenail lubricant dispenser for treating in grown toenails, comprising a dispenser containing a lubricant, the dispenser consisting typically of a squeezable plastic bottle 2, or tube, with a pointed or conical shaped nozzle 1, or orifice, as well as a screw-on cap 4. The lubricant 3, comprises a safe non-toxic sterile soft oil or grease, typically a thin Paraffin or Vaseline (R.T.M.) based oil, and additionally medication means including an antiseptic and/or analgesic and/or and antibiotic. <IMAGE>

Description

A Ts LED INGROB TOENtIL LUBRICANT/DISPENSER This invention relates to a Labelled Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser for the safe instant Relief and Treatment of most cases of Ingrown Toenails. Treatment is simple and convenient enough for the patient to carry out, and takes only a few seconds to apply. Not only is there instant relief, but in most cases, after treatment, the patient can immediately indulge in walking, running, jumping, dancing, and any other sport without fear of discomfort or damage from the Ingrown Toenail condition.

PRIOR PRODUCTS Although proprietary products for treating Ingrown Toenails exist and have been available for many years, most of them have not been very effective in treating the problem, and in many cases make it worse. This is because most of them, particularly the liquid treatments, rely upon chemicals such as an acid to dissolve and/or soften the ingrown toenail andlor the hard toe skin which is often ruptured by the nail.

The acid not only burns the nail, but also burns the ruptured skin causing pain and making the patients condition worse, not to speak of the bad smell given off by these chemical products. One such product sold by the well known foot care products Company "Scholl" relies upon a small plastic spade or brush applicator for dipping back and forth from the bottle to the toenail. Such a practice is not only unhygienic, but fraught with the possible hazards of cross infection.

NEW PRINCIPLE The present invention is an entirely new concept and principle based upon a better understanding of the prime cause of Ingrown Toenails. Cutting the nail at angles approaching parallel to the growth aggravates the condition, but the prime cause of discomfort is "FRICTION" - friction between the toenail and the skin. If friction is allowed to continue unabated, the skin will rupture and pain and bleeding will ensue.

SOLUTION The solution to reducing friction is lubrication. If a suitable safe thin lubricant is applied between the nail and the skin, friction can be reduced sufficiently to prevent ruptureing of the skin. If there is no friction or rupturing, no pain will be felt and the nail can continue to grow painlessly and healthily until long enough to cut outside the toe at right angles to the growth, after which the problem should not re-occur. But if it does, further applications of the nail lubricant will suffice.

LBRICANTf3EDICATION The lubricant used must be a soft oil or grease that is nontoxic, sterile, thin and safe. Several oils and greases are suitable for this application including white soft paraffin BP, liquid paraffin BP, wool fat BP, Vaseline based oils and greases and the formulation of typical brand named hair products such as "Cussons Original Brilliantine", and "Vaseline Hair Tonic". Both these products are safe, nontoxic, sterile and not only act as a lubricant, but are extremely soothing to minor cuts and bruises.

As a further enhancement of the present invention and under Doctor's Prescription, the lubricant provided also includes an antiseptic and/or an analgesic or pain killer, and/or an! antibiotic, in order to increase the efficacy and range of treatment to cover more severe medical cases of Ingrown Toenail.

APPLICATION Both for convenience and effectiveness, it is essential that the lubricant be applied using a dispenser or bottle or tube embodied with a pointed or narrow conical shaped orifice.

This ensures that the lubricant gets into the gap between the nail and the skin, and at the same time ensures that excess lubricant is not applied causing undesirable spillage and staining of surfaces on which the foot is placed when applying the lubricant. Ideally, a squeezable oval shaped plastic bottle or tube with a thin conical shaped nozzle works well, and the chances of cross-infection minimised.

Preferably, after application, the nail should be gently pulled back and forth from the toe to ensure that the lubricant gets in between the nail and the skin. It only takes a few seconds to apply and in most cases the user not only gets instant relief, but can walk, run, dance, and/or take part in any sports activity, assured of no more discomfort.

In chronic and persistent cases it may be necessary to reapply the nail lubricant each time it dries'up or is washed away when having a bath, shower or swim.

RIOR ART/NOVELTY The claim to novelty is that never before has the combination of the described Nail Lubricant (with or without medication) been available in these types of Dispensers together with a label advertising its use in treating Ingrown Toenails, which is the essential novelty features of the present invention.

Neither is there any prior art or documentary evidence of a Labelled Nail Lubricant/Dispenser product being available to treat the problem of Ingrown Toenail.

DESCRIPION Referring to figures 1, 2 & 3 there is provided a Labelled Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser for treating ingrown òenails, comprising a dispenser 1 & 2, containing a toenail lubricant 3, the said dispenser 1 & 2, consisting typically of a glass or preferably plastic bottle 2, or tube (not shown) embodied with a pointed or conical shaped nozzle or orifice 1, as well as a cap, preferably a screw-on cap 4. The lubricant 3, comprises a safe non-toxic sterile soft oil or grease, typically a thin Paraffin or Vaseline based oil or grease, including preferably a hair oil typically the brand named products "Cussons Original Brilliantine" and/or "Vaseline Hair Tonic, and additionally also containing medication means.The said bottle 2, is provided with at least one label 5, with descriptive advertising wording to the effect that it is for the "Treatment of Ingrown Toenails", and/or "Nail Lubricant.

Preferably the nozzle 1, is narrow enough to insert between the gap between a toenail and toe.

Preferably the nozzle 1, is embodied as an integral part of the moulding of the plastic bottle 2, or tube (not shown), or alternatively, the nozzle 1, is a separate component 6, for fitting into the neck 7, of the bottle 2, or tube, after filling with the said lubricant 3.

Preferably the plastic bottle 2, or tube, is of the squeezable type.

Preferably the capacity of the bottle 2, is small, typically 20 millilitres or 40 millilitres, and is oval shaped 8.

Preferably, the lubricant also contains a non-toxic sterile mild perfume.

Additionally, the said medication means included in the said lubricant includes an antiseptic and/or pain killer or analgesic and or and ant Siotic, the said antiseptic includes typically TCPR or Savlon, the said painkiller or analgesic includes typically Cinchocaine Hydrochloride BP 0.5%, and the said antibiotic includes typically Penicillin or Aureomycin or Chlortetracycline Hydrochloride and Chlorocresol.

The said lubricant also includes sterile white soft paraffin BP, and/or liquid paraffin BP, and/or wool fat BP.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser for treating ingrown toenails, comprising a dispenser means and a lubricant, the said dispenser consisting typically of a nontoxic bottle or tube, embodied with a pointed or conical shaped nozzle or orifice, as well as a cap, preferably a screw-on cap, the said lubricant comprising a safe non-toxic sterile soft oil or grease, including a thin soft Paraffin or Vaseline based oil, including a hair oil, typically the brand named products "Cussons Original Brilliantine" and/or "Vaseline Hair Tonic", and additionally including medication means, and the said bottle or tube being provided with at least one label with descriptive advertising wording to the effect that it is for the "Treatment of Ingrown Toenails!!, and/or "Nail Lubricant/Dispenser.

2. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in claim 1, characterised in that the said nozzle is narrow enough to insert between the gap between a toenail and toe.

3. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in claims 1 & 2, characterised in that the said nozzle is embodied as an integral part of the moulding of the said bottle or tube, or alternatively, the said nozzle is a separate component for fitting into the neck of the bottle or tube after filling with the said lubricant.

4. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in claims 1, 2 & 3, characterised in that the said bottle or tube is of the plastic squeezable type which is also oil resistant.

5. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in claims 1, 2, 3 & 4, characterised in that the capacity of the said bottle or tube is small, typically 20 millilitres or 40 millilitres, and/or that the said bottles are Oval shaped.

6. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in any one or more of the above claims characterised in that the said lubricant also contains a non-toxic - sterile mild perfume.

7. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser in any one or more of the above claims characterised in that the said medication means included in the said lubricant includes an antiseptic and/or pain killer or analgesic and/or an antibiotic.

8. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in claim 7, characterised in that the said antiseptic includes typically TCP or Savlon, the said painkiller or analgesic includes typically Cinchocaine Hydrochloride BP 0.5%, and the said antibiotic includes typically Penicillin or Aureomycin or Chlortetracycline Hydrochloride and Chlorocresol.

9. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in any one or more of the above claims characterised in that the said lubricant also includes sterile white soft paraffin BP, and/or liquid paraffin BP, and/or wool fat BP.

10. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 6. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in any one or more of the above claims characterised in that the said lubricant also contains a non-toxic sterile mild perfume.

7. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser in any one or more of the above claims characterised in that the said medication means included in the said lubricant includes an antiseptic and/or analgesic and/or an antibiotic/s.

8. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in claim 7, characterised in that the said antiseptic includes typically TCP or Savlon, the said analgesic includes typically Cinchocaine Hydrochloride BP 0.5F, and/or alternatively Hydrocortisone BP 18 w/w per gram and the said antibiotic/s includes typically Penicillin or Neomycin Sulphate BP 3,400 units per gram, and/or Bacitracin Zinc BP 250 units per gram, and/or Nystatin (Dermatological) BP 100,000 units per gram.

9. A Labelled Ingrown Toenail Lubricant/Dispenser as in any one or more of the above claims, characterised in that the said lubricant also includes sterile white soft paraffin BP, and/or liquid paraffin BP, and/or wool fat BP.