US20030200978A1

US20030200978A1 - Nail dryer

Info

Publication number: US20030200978A1
Application number: US10/131,899
Authority: US
Inventors: Hou-Chien Hu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-25
Filing date: 2002-04-25
Publication date: 2003-10-30

Abstract

A nail dryer includes a shell, an air stream generation unit received in the shell for generation of air stream and a cover mounted on the shell for covering the air stream generation unit for contacting a user's fingers. The air stream can dry nail polish on the user's nails. The shell defines a plurality of apertures. The cover also defines a plurality of apertures. The nail dryer can be switched between a first mode of operation where air is sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and a second mode of operation where air is sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover. The cover includes recessed areas for receiving a user's fingertips. The apertures are defined in the recessed areas. The cover may include a raised area for close contact with the user's fingers. The air stream generation unit includes a motor and a propeller connected with the motor. The air stream generation unit includes a switch connected with the motor. The switch can be operated so as to switch the nail dryer between the first and second modes of operation. The nail dryer may include an air stream control unit received in the shell for control over the air stream generated by the air stream generation unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention is related to a nail dryer.

2. Related Prior Art

A lot of ladies like to wear nail polish on their nails and more particularly finger nails for aesthetic reasons. However, it takes a long time for the nail polish to dry in the air naturally. Therefore, a lady has to waste a lot of time waiting for the nail polish on her nails to dry off. To avoid such waste of time, some nail dryers have been devised to expedite drying of the nail polish on nails.

Sometimes, ladies dry nail polish on her nails with a hair dryer. Use of the hair dryer to dry the nail polish requires some skills. If the hair dryer is positioned too far from the nail polish, a small portion of hot air sent from the hair dryer can contribute to the drying of the nail polish. If the hair dryer is positioned too close to the nail polish, the nail polish will be wrinkled by strong air sent from the hair dryer.

For example, Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 209346 discloses a conventional nail dryer that includes a handle extending from a shell. A light source that can emit ultra-violet light is installed in the shell. The shell defines a slot through which ultra-violet light emitted from the light source can spray. After wearing nail polish on her finger nails, a lady can hold the handle with her hand so that the ultra-violet light shines on her finger nails in order to cure the nail polish. This conventional nail dryer however may cause a problem on human health, i.e., the ultra-violet light may hurt a user's skin.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a nail dryer that can expedite drying of nail polish on a nail.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a nail dryer that can expedite drying of nail polish on a nail without wrinkling the nail polish.

According to the present invention, a nail dryer includes a shell, an air stream generation unit received in the shell and a cover mounted on the shell. The shell and the cover both define a plurality of apertures.

The nail dryer can be switched between a first mode of operation where air is expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and a second mode of operation where air is expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell.

The cover includes recessed areas for receiving a user's fingertips. The recessed areas each define a lot of apertures. The cover may include a raised area for close contact with the user's fingers.

The air stream generation unit includes a motor and a propeller connected with the motor. The motor is connected with an AC or DC power supply through a circuit. The circuit includes a switch. The switch can be operated so as to switch the nail dryer between the first and second modes of operation.

The shell includes a cylinder formed thereon for receiving the motor. The cylinder defines at least one slit so as to increase flexibility therein.

The nail dryer may include an air stream control unit received in the shell for control over the air stream generated by the air stream generation unit. The air stream control unit is located between the air stream generation unit and the cover. The air stream control unit includes a plate defining a hole and a cylinder projecting from the plate and surrounding the hole.

The shell includes blocks formed thereon. The cover includes blocks corresponding to the blocks formed on the shell. The plate is clamped between the blocks formed on the shell and the blocks formed on the cover.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings wherein: [0018]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nail dryer using an AC power supply according to the present invention; [0019]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the nail dryer shown in FIG. 1; [0020]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the nail dryer shown in FIG. 1 with a shell cut so as to show elements contained in the shell; [0021]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the nail dryer shown in FIG. 1 in a first mode of operation; [0022]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the nail dryer shown in FIG. 1 in a second mode of operation; and [0023]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a nail dryer using a DC power supply according to the present invention.[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. [0025] 1˜3 show a nail dryer using an AC power supply according to the present invention.
The nail dryer includes a [0026] shell 10, an air stream generation unit 25 received in the shell 10 for generation of air stream, an air stream control unit 30 received in the shell 10 for control over the air stream generated by the air stream generation unit 25 and a cover 40 mounted on the shell 10 for covering the air stream generation unit 25 and the air stream control unit 30 and for contacting a user' fingers (only one of is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The air stream can dry nail polish on the user's nails.
The [0027] shell 10 defines a cavity 11 for receiving the air stream generation unit 25 and the air stream control unit 30. The shell 10 includes a base (not numbered) and a wall (not numbered) projecting from the base. A short cylinder 12 projects from the base of the shell 10. Four longitudinal slits are defined in the cylinder 12 so as to increase flexibility in the cylinder 12. A cutout 13 is defined in the wall of the shell 10. A hole 17 is defined in the wall of the shell 10. A number of apertures 14 are defined in the wall of the shell 10. Two blocks 15 and two blocks 16 are formed in the shell 10. Each of the blocks 15 and 16 assumes the form of a dado, i.e., it is formed on the bottom of the shell 10 and against the wall of the shell 10.
The air [0028] stream generation unit 25 includes a motor 20 received in the cylinder 12 and a propeller 21 connected with the motor 20. The motor 20 can drive the propeller 21 to generate the air stream. The motor 20 is connected with a wire 23 that leads to a plug 24 for engagement with a socket (not numbered) as shown in FIG. 3. A switch 22 is used at a point in the wire 23. The wire 23 is inserted through the cutout 13. The switch 22 is installed in the shell 10 so that it can be accessed to through the hole 17.
The air [0029] stream control unit 30 includes a plate 31 corresponding to the base of the shell 10 and a short cylinder 32 projecting from the plate 31. The plate 31 defines a hole 33 that is surrounded by the cylinder 32. The plate 31 is received in the shell 10 so that it is mounted on the blocks 15 and 16.
The [0030] cover 40 is shaped corresponding to the shell 10. The cover 40 includes a top (not numbered) and a wall (not numbered) projecting from the top. The top of the cover 40 includes a raised area 41 and recessed areas 45 and 46 are located around the raised portion 41. The recessed areas 45 and 46 all define a lot of apertures 42. The cover 40 includes two blocks 43 corresponding to the blocks 15 and two blocks 16 corresponding to the blocks 16 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cover 40 is mounted on the shell 10. The plate 31 is clamped between the blocks 43 and 15 and between the blocks 16 and 44.
Referring to FIG. 4, the user's fingers can be put on the [0031] cover 40 so that they are in close contact with the raised area 41 and that the fingertips are received in the recessed areas 45 and 46. The nail dryer is switched to a first mode of operation via the switch 22. In the first mode of operation, the motor 20 drives the propeller 21 in a direction so as to suck air into a space defined by the cover 40 and the air stream control unit 30 through the apertures 42. The air flows through the hole 33 into a space defined by the air stream control unit 30 and the shell 10. Finally, the air apertures from the space defined by the air stream control unit 30 and the shell 10 through the apertures 14. The air stream is strong enough to expedite the drying of the nail polish and is soft enough not to wrinkle the nail polish.
Referring to FIG. 5, the nail dryer is switched to a second mode of operation via the [0032] switch 22. In the second mode of operation, the motor 20 drives the propeller in an opposite direction so as to suck air into the space defined by the shell 10 and the air stream control unit 30 through the apertures 14. The air flows through the hole 33 into the space defined by the air stream control unit 30 and the cover 40. Finally, the air apertures from the space defined by the air stream control unit 30 and the cover 40 through the apertures 42. The air stream is strong enough to expedite the drying of the nail polish and is soft enough not to wrinkle the nail polish.
FIG. 6 shows a nail dryer using a DC power supply. The DC power supply includes two batteries [0033] 60 received in the shell 11.
The nail dryer shown in FIG. 6 includes a [0034] shell 10′ identical to the shell 10 of the nail dryer shown in FIGS. 1˜5 except for including a partition 18 formed on the bottom of the shell 10′. The batteries 60 are received in a space that is defined by a portion of the wall of the shell 10′ and the partition 18 and can be covered by means of a cover 19.
The nail dryer shown in FIG. 6 includes an air [0035] stream generator unit 25′ identical to the air stream generator 25 of the nail dryer shown in FIGS. 1˜5 except for not using the plug 24 due to connection with the DC power supply.
The nail dryer shown in FIG. 6 includes an air [0036] stream control unit 30′ identical to the air stream control unit 30 of the nail dryer shown in FIGS. 1˜5 except for defining a cutout 34 corresponding to the partition 18.
The present invention has been described through detailed illustration of some embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive many variations from these embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention that can only be defined by the attached claims. [0037]

Claims

1. A nail dryer including a shell (10) that defines a plurality of apertures (14), an air stream generation unit (25) received in the shell (10) and a cover (40) that defines a plurality of apertures (42) and is mounted on the shell (10).

2. The nail dryer according to claim 1 wherein it can be switched between a first mode of operation where air is expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and a second mode of operation where air is expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell.

3. The nail dryer according to claim 1 wherein the cover includes recessed areas (45, 46) for receiving a user's fingertips and each defining a plurality of apertures.

4. The nail dryer according to claim 1 wherein the cover includes a raised area (41) for close contact with the user's fingers.

5. The nail dryer according to claim 1 wherein the air stream generation unit includes a motor (20) and a propeller (21) connected with the motor.

6. The nail dryer according to claim 5 wherein the air stream generation unit includes a power supply for powering the motor.

7. The nail dryer according to claim 6 including a circuit for connecting the motor with the power supply.

8. The nail dryer according to claim 7 wherein the circuit includes a switch (22) connected with the motor.

9. The nail dryer according to claim 6 wherein the power supply is an AC power supply.

10. The nail dryer according to claim 6 wherein the power supply is a DC power supply (60).

11. The nail dryer according to claim 5 wherein the shell includes a cylinder (12) formed thereon for receiving the motor.

12. The nail dryer according to claim 11 wherein the cylinder defines at least one slit so as to increase flexibility therein.

13. The nail dryer according to claim 1 including an air stream control unit (30) received in the shell for control over the air stream.

14. The nail dryer according to claim 13 wherein the air stream control unit is located between the air stream generation unit and the cover.

15. The nail dryer according to claim 14 wherein the air stream control unit includes a plate (31) defining a hole (33) through which air can flow.

16. The nail dryer according to claim 15 wherein the air stream control unit includes a cylinder (32) projecting from the plate and surrounding the hole.

17. The nail dryer according to claim 16 wherein the shell (10) includes blocks (15, 16) formed thereon, wherein the cover (40) includes blocks (43; 44) formed thereon, wherein the plate is clamped between the blocks formed on the shell and the blocks formed on the cover.