GB2499642B

GB2499642B - Curing lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2499642B
Application number: GB1203228.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cooke Hugh
Original assignee: Chemence Ltd
Current assignee: Chemence Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-24
Filing date: 2012-02-24
Publication date: 2019-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-24
Also published as: GB2499642A; GB201203228D0

Description

Curing Lamp [0001] This invention relates to a lamp for curing radiation-curable nail polish.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to cure some types of commercially available nail polishes, it is necessaryto expose it to radiation after the nail polish has been painted onto the nail. For example, itmight be necessary to expose the nail polish to UV radiation in order to cure it.

[0003] There are devices available which can perform this function. However,conventional nail curing lamps typically have an opening which is able to receive an entirehand and are therefore very bulky devices. These conventional nail curing lamps aregenerally used professionally in nail salons. There are also available less bulky, ‘portable’devices that are smaller than the above-mentioned devices. These smaller devices havean opening sized to fit only the finger tips inside. However, these devices are still fairlybulky and therefore take up an unnecessary amount of space.

[0004] There is therefore a need to provide a more compact device that can be used tocure nail polishes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0005] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a lamp for curingradiation-curable nail polish, the lamp comprising: a housing having an opening; anelectrical radiation source located within the housing such that radiation from the radiationsource can radiate from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing through theopening; and a pair of panels pivotably connected to the housing, wherein each panel canbe pivoted between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed positiona face of the panel is substantially parallel with the opening and wherein in the openposition a face of the panel forms an obtuse angle with the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a photograph of the lamp of the invention in use (i.e. both panels are inthe open position and the lamp is standing on a table top);

Figure 2 is a photograph of the lamp of the invention in which both panels are in theclosed position;

Figure 3 is a photograph of the lamp of the invention in which one panel is in theclosed position and the other panel is in the open position;

Figure 4 is a photograph of the lamp of the invention in which both panels are in theopen position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] It will be recalled from above, that the present invention provides a lamp for curingradiation-curable nail polish, the lamp comprising: a housing having an opening; anelectrical radiation source located within the housing such that radiation from the radiationsource can radiate from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing through theopening; and a pair of panels pivotably connected to the housing, wherein each panel canbe pivoted between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed positiona face of the panel is substantially parallel with the opening and wherein in the openposition a face of the panel forms an obtuse angle with the opening.

[0008] The housing can be manufactured from any suitable metal or plastics material. Inan embodiment, the housing of the lamp is manufactured from a plastics material selectedfrom the group consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyethylene (PE); high-density polyethylene (HDPE); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); low-density polyethylene (LDPE);polypropylene (PP); polystyrene (PS); high impact polystyrene (HIPS); polyamides (PA);acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polycarbonate (PC); and polycarbonate/acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (PC/ABS). In an embodiment, the housing of the lamp is manufacturedfrom a plastics material selected from the group consisting of: acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS); polycarbonate (PC); and polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(PC/ABS).

[0009] In an embodiment, the housing is substantially cuboid or is cuboid, e.g. thehousing is substantially rectangular cuboid or is rectangular cuboid. A rectangular cuboidhas three opposing pairs of rectangular faces.

[0010] In an embodiment, the housing has a length of from about 5 cm to about 20 cm.In an embodiment, the housing has a length of from about 8 cm to about 15 cm. In anembodiment, the housing has a length of from about 10 cm to about 15 cm.

[0011] In an embodiment, the housing has a width of from about 3 cm to about 10 cm. Inan embodiment, the housing has a width of from about 5 cm to about 10 cm. In anembodiment, the housing has a width of from about 5 cm to about 8 cm.

[0012] In an embodiment, the housing has a depth of from about 0.5 cm to about 4 cm.In an embodiment, the housing has a depth of from about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm. In anembodiment, the housing has a depth of from about 1 cm to about 3 cm.

[0013] In an embodiment, the opening in the housing is formed on a single face of thehousing. In an embodiment, the housing is substantially cuboid or is cuboid and thehousing is formed on the largest face of the housing. In an embodiment, the housing issubstantially rectangular cuboid or is rectangular cuboid and the housing is formed on thelargest face of the housing.

[0014] In an embodiment, the opening in the housing includes a transparent windowthrough which the radiation from the radiation source can radiate. In an embodiment, thewindow is formed from glass or a transparent plastics material.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the opening in the housing a through hole and doesnot include a transparent window.

[0016] A commercially available radiation source or lamp will be suitable for the lamps ofthe present invention. In an embodiment, the electrical radiation source is an LED array.

[0017] In an embodiment, the radiation source emits radiation which comprises or is UVradiation. In an embodiment, the radiation source emits radiation having a wavelength offrom about 200 nm to about 450 nm. In an embodiment, the radiation source emitsradiation having a wavelength of from about 310 nm to about 425 nm, e.g. about 315 toabout 380 nm. In an embodiment, the radiation source emits radiation having awavelength of from about 400 nm to about 450 nm.

[0018] The intensity of the radiation is normally measured at a particular wavelength.

For example, the conventional wavelength at which the intensity of light is measured is 365nm. In an embodiment, the intensity of the radiation emitted from the radiation source hasan intensity of from about 0.5 to about 2 mW/cm2 at about 365 nm. This intensity range isgenerally regarded in the art as being “low intensity”. In an embodiment, the intensity isfrom about 0.7 to about 1.2 mW/cm2 at 365 nm. For example the intensity is may be about0.9 mW/cm2 at 365 nm or 1.5 mW/cm2 at 365 nm.

[0019] In an embodiment, the intensity of the radiation emitted from the radiation sourceis measured across all wavelengths. For example, a device such as a UV Power Puck canbe used. This kind of device is an electro-optic radiometer that measures and displays thetotal UV energy and UV intensity. The UV Power Puck measures four different ranges ofultraviolet wavelengths at the same time (i.e. UVA (320-390nm), UVB (280-320nm), UVC(250-260nm) and UVV (395-445nm). In an embodiment, the total intensity of the radiationis from about 5 to about 50 mW/cm2.

[0020] In an embodiment, the electrical radiation source is powered by a battery or anumber of batteries. In an embodiment, the electrical radiation source is powered bymains power.

[0021] In an embodiment, the pair of panels pivotably connected to the housing are eachconnected to the housing by hinging means or by a notch and slot arrangement. The term“notch and slot arrangement” means that one of the components includes a notch ornodule which can be received into a slot or opening on the other component. Forexample, the panel may include a notch and the housing may include a slot into which thenotch is received. Together, the notch and slot arrangement allow pivoting of the panel.

[0022] In an embodiment, the panels are manufactured from any suitable metal orplastics material. In an embodiment, the panels are each manufactured from a plasticsmaterial selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate (PET);polyethylene (PE); high-density polyethylene (HDPE); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); low-densitypolyethylene (LDPE); polypropylene (PP); polystyrene (PS); high impact polystyrene(HIPS); polyamides (PA); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polycarbonate (PC); andpolycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS). In an embodiment, the panels areeach manufactured from a plastics material selected from the group consisting of:acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polycarbonate (PC); and polycarbonate/acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (PC/ABS). In an embodiment, the material of the panels is the samematerial as that of the housing.

[0023] As mentioned above, each panel can be pivoted between a closed position andan open position. When both of the panels are in the closed position the opening will becovered or at least partially covered by the pair of panels. When both of the panels are inthe open position the opening will be uncovered by the panels. This is illustrated inFigures 2 to 4.

[0024] In an embodiment, the panels may be the same size. In an embodiment, thepanels are sized such that when each panel is in the closed position the opening iscompletely covered. In an embodiment, the panels are sized such that when each panel isin the closed position the distal ends of each panel (i.e. the end opposite the end pivotablyconnected to the housing) abut each other (i.e. are in contact or in close contact with eachother). In an embodiment, the panels are sized such that when each panel is in the closedposition the distal ends of each panel (i.e. the end opposite the end pivotably connected tothe housing) overlap with one another.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the panels are sized such that when each panel isin the closed position the opening is partially covered and the distal ends of each panel (i.e. the end opposite the end pivotably connected to the housing) do not abut each otheror overlap with each other.

[0026] In an embodiment, the panel has thickness of from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. Inan embodiment, the panel has thickness of from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. In anembodiment, the panel has thickness of from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.

[0027] As mentioned above, in the closed position a face of each of the panels issubstantially parallel with the opening. Thus, in the closed position each panel is in-linewith and lies flat against the opening in the housing. The benefit of the lamp having a pairof panels as described herein is that less space is required to store the lamp when thelamp is not in use. Thus, because each of the panels is in-line with the housing and liesflat against the housing, the lamp as a whole is smaller when the panels are in the closedposition. This is illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.

[0028] As mentioned above, in the open position a face of each of the panels forms anobtuse angle with the opening. Thus, the angle measured between the face of the housinghaving the opening and the face of the panel which is in the open position is greater than90°, but less than 180°. The benefit of the lamp having a pair of panels as describedherein is that when both panels are in the open position the lamp is self-supporting on atable top or other flat surface. In other words, the user does not need to hold the lamp andno other structure is required to hold the lamp.

[0029] Each panel is pivotably connected to the housing such that when it is folded intothe open position it cannot be fully folded back on itself (i.e. such that a face of the panelforms an angle of 180° or more with the opening) and instead can only be folded back sothat a face of the panel forms an obtuse angle with the opening. This can beaccomplished by locating the hinge or notch and slot arrangement such that the pivot ispositioned inside the housing (i.e. at a position other than on the outside surface of thehousing).

[0030] Thus, in order to use the lamp of the present invention a user folds each of thepanels to their open position, places the lamp onto a table or flat surface and places theirhand underneath the lamp (to allow newly applied nail polish to cure). The obtuse angleformed by each panel with the opening means that the lamp is self-supporting and theirother hand is free as it is not required to hold the lamp. When the user wishes to store thelamp the panels can be folded flat. The folded flat lamp can then be stored moreconveniently in a drawer or cupboard than conventional bulkier lamps.

Claims

1. A lamp for curing radiation-curable nail polish, the lamp comprising: a housing having an opening; an electrical radiation source located within the housing such that radiation from theradiation source can radiate from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housingthrough the opening; and a pair of panels pivotably connected to the housing; wherein each panel can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position,wherein in the closed position a face of the panel is substantially parallel with the openingand wherein in the open position a face of the panel forms an obtuse angle with theopening.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the opening in the housing is formed on a single faceof the housing.

3. The lamp of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing is substantially cuboid or iscuboid and the housing is formed on the largest face of the housing.

4. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the opening in the housing includes atransparent window through which the radiation from the radiation source can radiate.

5. The lamp of claim 4, wherein window is formed from glass or a transparent plasticsmaterial.

6. The lamp of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opening in the housing a through holeand does not include a transparent window.

7. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical radiation source is an LEDarray.

8. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical radiation source emitsradiation which comprises or is UV radiation.

9. The lamp of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the radiation source emits radiationhaving a wavelength of from 200 nm to 450 nm.

10. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the total intensity of the radiation is from5 to 50 mW/cm2.

11. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical radiation source is poweredby a battery or a number of batteries.

12. The lamp of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the electrical radiation source ispowered by mains power.

13. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the pair of panels pivotably connected tothe housing are each connected to the housing by hinging means or by a notch and slotarrangement.

14. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein when both of the panels are in theclosed position the opening will be covered or at least partially covered by the pair ofpanels.

15. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein when both of the panels are in the openposition the opening will be uncovered by the panels.

16. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the panels are sized such that wheneach panel is in the closed position the opening is completely covered.

17. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein the panels are sized such that wheneach panel is in the closed position the distal ends of each panel abut each other.

18. The lamp of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the panels are sized such that wheneach panel is in the closed position the distal ends of each panel overlap with one another.

19. The lamp of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the panels are sized such that wheneach panel is in the closed position the opening is partially covered and the distal ends ofeach panel do not abut each other or overlap with each other.

20. The lamp of any preceding claim, wherein each panel is pivotably connected to thehousing such that when it is folded into the open position it cannot be fully folded back onitself and instead can only be folded back so that a face of the panel forms an obtuseangle with the opening.