NL8602070A - CURVED NAIL FILE, LUBRICANT, AND FILE METHOD. - Google Patents

Description

Λ ·

Curved nail file, lubricant, and method of filing.

The present invention generally relates to a nail file, a lubricant, and a method of filing using a lubricant, and in particular to a curved nail file, and a lubricant, and a method of filing which provides smoother and more effective filing of fingernails in a shorter time.

Known nail files and smear gel plates generally comprise a flat sanding surface for filing purposes, although it is precisely the fingernails and nail edges where they will be used that are curved. Such smear gel nail files and platelets generally include sandpaper, layered on a flat substrate, made of wood, pressed paper, plastic, foam or the like. Also available in the prior art is a flat metal nail file that includes a ribbed or notched surface that defines the sanding surface. Such metal nail files do not wear out as quickly as paper nail files. The flat known nail files tend to have a number of surfaces on the nails, which require additional rounding and smoothing steps.

A further disadvantage of using nail files is that it is difficult to obtain smooth nails by dry filing. In addition, the roughness of the file causes dust collection.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved nail file that is curved to define a concave surface that approximates the contour of curved nail surfaces and further provides a method of using the file in combination with a nail lubricant to provide smoother, more efficient and less expensive filing.

Generally, in accordance with the invention, a curved nail file is provided. The nail file comprises an elongated bottom layer, of which at least one surface is curved

Si02070 - 2 - along its length in a width direction to define a concave surface. An abrasive material is adhered to the concave surface and conformed to it to allow filing of the nails.

In a preferred embodiment, the concave surface defined by the underlayer approximates the contour of fingernails. The two ends of the bottom layer can also be rounded. The bottom layer is preferably formed from a rigid material, such as aluminum or plastic. Both a fine abrasive material and a coarse abrasive material can be attached to different areas of the concave surface for effective filing of nails.

In another exemplary embodiment, a foam layer is applied between the concave surface of the backsheet and the abrasive material to improve matching of the contour of the abrasive material to that of the fingernails. An additional sanding material can be applied to the opposite side of the substrate, which can be used to file the bottom surface of the nail.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, a lubricant is used for filing to achieve smoother, more efficient and cleaner filing of nails.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a curved nail file.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved nail file comprising a concave surface.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a curved nail file that allows better filing of nails 30 with better results. A further object of the present invention is to provide a curved nail file that reduces the length of time required to achieve sufficient filing of the nails.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of using 8602075 Λ * - 3 - a lubricant to obtain smoother, cleaner and more efficient nail files.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved nail file comprising a concave surface 5 with abrasive material, which has a shape that approximates the contour of fingernails.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be partly clear and partly apparent from the description.

Accordingly, the invention includes an argument about manufacturing regarding the features, properties, and relationship between the elements, which will be explained in the argument below, and a method comprising various steps and the relationship of one or more such steps with each of the others thereof, which will be explained in the method set forth hereinafter, and the scope of the invention will be set out in the claims.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a curved nail file constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the nail file shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section along line III-III

1 shown against a nail; FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1, placed against a nail; FIG. 5 is an enlarged section similar to that in FIG. 4, showing another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a nail and the end portion of a curved nail file constructed in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6; 3602078 a ** '- 4 - Fig. 8 is a top view of a curved nail file, constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, * Fig. 9 is a side view of the nail file cut in Fig. 8 ; FIG. 10 is an enlarged section taken along line X-X of FIG. 8; and FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of exploded parts of another nail file of the type healed in FIG. 8.

Reference is first made to Figures 1-4, which depict a curved nail file generally indicated by 10, constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Nail file 10 includes an elongated bottom layer 12 with a first end 14 and a second end 16.

As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom layer 12 is curved along its length in the width direction to define - in cross section a concave surface 18 and a convex surface 20. The shape of the concave surface 18 is such as to be substantially similar to the convex surface of a nail 25.

An abrasive material, generally designated 30, suitable for filing fingernails, is adhered to the concave surface 18 of the underlayer 12. In a preferred embodiment, the underlayer 12 includes a first portion 12a 25 with end 14, and a second portion 12b with second end 16 of the underlayer 12. The abrasive material 30 comprises a fine abrasive material 32 attached to the first portion 12a of the underlayer 12, and a coarse abrasive material 34 attached to the second portion 12b of the underlayer 12 to various file operations 30.

The abrasive materials 32 and 34 are preferably attached to the concave surface 18 of the underlayer 20 by means of an adhesive substance 40. It is noted that the abrasive materials 32 and 34 will assume the curved shape of the concave surface 18 of the underlayer 12 when they attached to it by 8602070 <b * - 5 - by means of. the glue substance 40.

The bottom layer 12 is preferably made of lightweight metal material, such as aluminum. When the present invention is used in a powered filing machine 5, heat generation can be a problem causing inconvenience to the user. The aluminum underlayer 12 will act as a heat sink, extracting heat from the portion of the file to be used for filing purposes. It is noted that the bottom layer 12 can also be formed from other materials, such as a thermoplastic material, which is either cast or thermoformed.

The ends 14 and 16 of the backsheet 12 and also the corresponding ends of the abrasive material 30 are rounded, such as in an elliptical shape, to further improve the filing of the nails. The end 16 of the underlayer 12 may be wider than the end 14 of the underlayer 12 to give a wedge shape to provide two different contours at the respective ends of the underlayer 12 to accommodate each nail size and the corresponding shapes .

It is preferred that the concave surface 18 approach the contour of both the top surface of the nail as well as the shape in which the ends of the nails are filed. By applying a curved nail file to a curved nail, considerably more sanding surface contacts the nail 25 than is possible with known flat files. This application of a curved surface to a curved nail results in smoother filing because a flat file produces a number of surfaces on the nail that must be carefully smoothed and smoothed into one another. The present invention, on the other hand, provides smooth blending without the need for further filing.

In addition, because the curved surface brings more abrasive material into contact with the nails, quite a bit of time can be saved when filing nails. Also, the top surface of the nails can be easily filed because the contour of the present nail file is substantially similar to it.

8802070 - - - - ......

- 6 - I 4 j i

Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which depicts another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Like reference numbers in Figures 1-4 correspond to like parts in Figures.

5. In Fig. 5, a foam layer 60 is inserted between the bottom layer 12 and the abrasive material 30. The foam material 60 is attached to the concave surface 18 of the bottom layer 12 by line 40, which in turn is attached to the abrasive material 30 by additional application of glue 40. Preferably, the foam has a thickness of about 0.1 mm and a low hardness.

The application of foam 40 as a layer between the abrasive material 30 and the bottom layer 12 allows a greater adaptation of the abrasive shape to that of the nails, thus giving an even smoother contour transition when the nails are filed.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, it can be seen that the convex side 20 of the underlayer 12 at end 14 thereof may include a subsequent sanding portion 70 which may be used to file the lower surface 25a of a nail 25. While the bottom layer 12 is aluminum, the convex abrasive surface 70 can be made of a ribbed or notched surface thereon. Alternatively, while the bottom layer 12 is aluminum or plastic, an additional piece of abrasive material, similar to the abrasive material 30, can be attached to the convex side 20 of the end 14. The convex abrasive portion 70 can be used on the underside of the nail to form such a surface or to remove imperfections or other rough edges which may result from filing the edge of the nail. Such convex sanding surfaces are particularly useful at nail tips or artificial nails to remove imperfections therefrom when the edges thereof are filed.

Referring now to Figures 8-10, a curved nail file, generally designated 100 and constructed in accordance with a subsequent embodiment of the invention, is shown. The nail file 100 includes a first end 104 and a second end 106.

As best illustrated in Figure 10, the bottom length 60 layer 102 has a substantially uniform cross section along its entire length.

A surface of the bottom layer 102 is curved along its length in a width direction to define a concave surface 108. The bottom layer 102 is further defined by an opposite flat surface 110 along its entire length. As described above, the cona surface 108 is substantially uniform to the convex surface of a nail. The asymmetric cross-section of the bottom layer 102 is best obtained by molding or thermoforming a thermoplastic resin to give a plastic material which is preferably semi-rigid.

An abrasive material, generally designated 112, suitable for filing nails, is adhered to the concave surface 108 using an adhesive layer 114. Generally, the abrasive material 116 can be formed from abrasive grains, solid to paper or mylar. A second abrasive material 116 is affixed to the flat surface 110 by adhesive 118. The abrasive materials 112 and 116 will contour the surfaces 108 and 110, respectively, when they are affixed thereto by an adhesive substance. Alternatively, the abrasive layers 20 112 and 116 can be adhered to the thermoplastic backing 102 during casting. The abrasive materials 112 and 116 can be the same or different materials.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a foam layer 126 is applied between the abrasive materials 112 and 116 and the plastic material 102, respectively. The foam layer 126 adjoins the concave surface 108, which is substantially similar to the shape of a nail and which also provides the file easy to hold and use. A second foam layer 126 is conformed to the flat surface 110. The foam layers 126 are uniform in thickness and conformed to the shape of the thermoplastic bottom layer 102 as described. In a special exemplary embodiment, the foam layer is approximately 0.1 cm thick.

The foam layers 126 are adhered to each side of the bottom layer 102 using adhesive substances 130, 132, 134 and 136, which may in any case be the same or different. The adhesive 8602070-8 can be adhesive, double-sided tape, or the like, and is preferably pressure sensitive. Accordingly, the curved nail file is composed of abrasive material 112, adhesive substance 130, foam layer 126, adhesive substance 132, underlayer 102, adhesive substance 134, foam layer 126, adhesive substance 136 and abrasive material 116. Alternatively, a foam layer can be used on only one side of the bottom layer 102.

The ends 104 and 106 of the bottom layer 112 and also the corresponding ends of the abrasive materials 112 and 118 are rounded to facilitate filing of the nails.

The nail file 100 works substantially as described above.

In operation, each of the nail files of the invention is preferably used with a lubricant to achieve "wet filing", "wet filing" has a great effect on the sanding duration and smoothness of the filed nails. In particular, the use of a lubricant protects the nail file, reduces the scratching of the nail when the surface is filed prior to the application of an artificial nail, and eliminates the build-up of stress points on the nail. The nail files according to the present invention are particularly suitable for use in a wet filing method due to the concave surface.

A lubricant that can be used for "post-filing" is preferably a mixture of deionized water, glycerine and a germicidal agent. The glycerine is a wetting agent and helps 25 'the water to act as a lubricant. A color can be added for the view. The active ingredients of the lubricant are the glycerine and the germicidal agent, and they are used in a total amount of between about 2 and 10% by weight of the lubricant, more particularly between about 4 and 8%. In a particular preferred embodiment, the lubricant comprises about 96% water, 3.8% glycerine, 0.18% Germeven II (an anti-fungal) and optionally 0.02% FEC # 2 red paint.

An advantage of using a lubricant is the removal of filing dusts from the immediate vicinity of the manicure star and the patient. In addition to being clean and convenient, it is also healthier.

Furthermore, by using a lubricant and then filing using a concave surface, a smoother surface is obtained in less time. Since the abrasion of the nails is minimized, the nail tension is reduced accordingly. In addition, the lubricant prevents the sanding surface of the nail file from being overloaded with filing dust and therefore prematurely ineffective.

The present invention provides an improved nail file and a lubricant, which achieves each of the above-mentioned advantages. The file is easy and cheap to manufacture and is quickly available. Nail filing is facilitated by the present invention with improved results and shortening the time required for filing nails.

It is therefore seen that the above-mentioned objectives, among those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently achieved, and, because certain changes can be made to the above argument without the essence of the invention. It is intended that anything included in the description above and shown in the accompanying drawings will be explained by way of illustration and not in a limiting sense.

It will also be appreciated that the following claims are intended to include all the generic and specific features of the invention described herein, and any statements concerning the scope of the invention which can be linguistically said to be included therein.

8602070

---- -I- I I I

Claims (10)

A nail file, characterized by an elongated bottom layer having at least one surface curved along its length in a width direction to define a concave surface, and with abrasive means fixed on the concave surface to allow filing of nails. Nail file according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the concave surface approximates the curvature of a nail. Nail file according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom layer is rigid. Nail file according to claim 1, characterized in that supporting members are arranged between the bottom layer and the abrasive members for supporting the abrasive members. Nail file according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom layer defines a flat surface on its side opposite the concave surface and in that an abrasive material is fixed. is made on the flat surface. 6. Nail file characterized by an elongated bottom layer with first and second round ends, the bottom layer being curved in cross section, defining a concave surface approximating the contour of a nail, and with a layer of abrasive material and adhesives for fastening of the layer of abrasive material on the concave surface. Nail file according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottom layer defines a flat surface on its side opposite the concave surface, and in that an abrasive material is attached to the flat surface. 8. Lubricant for use with a nail file for wet, filing of nails, characterized by water between about 30% and 10% by weight, and glycerine and a germicidal agent between about 90% and 98% by weight. Lubricant according to claim 8, characterized in that the lubricant comprises: about 96% by weight of water, about 3.8% by weight of glycerine, and about 0.2% by weight of an anti-fungal agent. 8202070 - h - 10. Method for wet filing of nails using curved nail file and a lubricant, market using a lubricant containing water between about 2 and 10 wt% and glycerin and a germicidal agent between about 90 and 98 wt. %, and filing a nail with a curved nail file. 860? <? "J