US20060137703A1

US20060137703A1 - Portable manicure device

Info

Publication number: US20060137703A1
Application number: US11/022,096
Authority: US
Inventors: Ana Kling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-23
Filing date: 2004-12-23
Publication date: 2006-06-29
Also published as: WO2006071647A1

Abstract

A portable manicure device comprises a casing containing a motor at one end of the casing, adapted to receive one or more batteries and at the opposite end of the casing a rotating top that holds several abrasive attachments and contains several openings through which the abrasive attachments can protrude. The motor is connected to a switch which can disconnect it or connect it directly or via a resistor to the battery or batteries to provide fast and slow speeds. An axial motor shaft extends through the casing and mounts on to one of several differently shaped abrasive attachments to be used to shape an individual's nails.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable manicure devices.
2. Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided a portable battery operated manicure device comprising a casing having a space therein for at least one electric battery, a motor arranged within the casing, and means including connection means, a resistor, and an electrical switch for making electrical connections between the at least one battery and the motor selectively directly or via the resistor for switching on fast speed, on slow speed, or off, the motor including a shaft which extends axially of the motor through the casing, at least two differently shaped abrasive attachments which can be mounted by friction on one end of the motor shaft internally of the casing but that can be elevated to protrude externally of the casing.
Advantageously, the differently shaped abrasive attachments are mounted on a cylindrical disc which is affixed to the interior of the top portion of the casing. Located internally along the edges of the top portion of the casing are threading, grooves, slots or other means which allow the top portion of the casing to rotate perpendicularly relative to the shaft of the motor and the remaining portion of the casing which is located posterior to the top portion. The rotating disc has at least two holders, such as clamps or clips, which extend axially of the rotating disc to hold the differently shaped attachments. The rotating disc contains at least two openings through which the motor shaft can pass through the disc and mount the differently shaped abrasive attachments. The abrasive attachments may be a sapphire round file, sapphire fine grain disc, sapphire rough grain cone, sapphire fine grain cone, or a felt cone. The top side of the top portion of the casing has at least two openings through which the differently shaped abrasive attachments may protrude through the casing after having been mounted to the motor shaft and pushed axially through an opening in the top portion of the casing.
An objective of this invention is to allow the user to be able to choose differently shaped abrasive attachments without needing to remove the attachment from the device.
Preferably each abrasive disc is replaceable. Also, it is preferred that the casing contains grooves along the outer surface of the casing allowing the user to better handle the device.
Preferably, the invention should be no greater than 7 inches in length and 4 inches in diameter to allow it to allow the user to be able carry and store the invention with ease.
In another embodiment of the invention, the casing is enclosed concentrically within a larger outer casing that opens outwardly towards the user. The larger outer casing contains holding means on the interior sides of the larger outer casing, such as brackets, pockets, tabs or slots to hold various nail treatment tools such as a nail file, cuticle pusher or cutter, clippers, nail polish containers and/or applicators or nail polish remover containers and/or applicators. Posterior to and parallel to the larger outer casing, there may be a storage unit that attaches to the bottom of the larger outer casing to hold various attachments such as differently shaped abrasive attachments, nail file, cuticle pusher or cutter, clippers, nail polish containers and/or applicators or nail polish remover containers and/or applicators. Preferably, the outer larger casing and storage unit may be removed to allow the casing to be a stand alone unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable manicure device designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device where the sides 3 are opened towards the user to expose the interior of the larger outer casing 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device showing the rear of the device where the sides 3 are opened towards the user to expose the interior of the larger outer casing 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable manicure device with designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a portable manicure device (shown generally at 11 in the Figures) where the larger outer casing 1 and the sides 3 of the larger outer casing 1 are closed, the storage unit 5 of the device 11 is attached to the larger outer casing 1, the shaft of the motor 7 extends axially of the casing and an abrasive attachment 9 is attached to the shaft of the motor 7. The larger outer casing 1 also has an opening 13 through which a closing and opening means 15 passes. The opening and closing means can be a sliding button, switch, tab or latch.
FIG. 2 illustrates the portable manicure device 11 where the sides 3 of the larger outer casing 5 have been opened. Located concentrically within the larger outer casing 5 is a casing 17 having a space therein for three electric batteries 21; a motor 19 arranged within the casing 17; means including an electrical switch (not shown), a resistor (not shown), an upper group of three contacts (not shown), and a lower group of three contacts (not shown) for making electrical connections between the three batteries 21 (in series) and the motor 19 and for switching the motor on and off and, in the on position, for selecting the motor speed as fast or slow. The motor 19 includes a shaft 7 which extends axially of the motor 19 through the casing 17.
Along the interior of the sides 3 of the larger outer casing 1 are holding means 23, such as brackets, pockets or slots to hold various nail treatment tools such as a nail file, cuticle pusher or cutter, clippers, nail polish containers and/or applicators or nail polish remover containers and/or applicators.
Posterior to and parallel to the larger outer casing 1, a storage unit 5 attaches to the bottom of the larger outer casing 25 through connection means such as matching threads or through friction. The storage unit 5 has a space therein to hold various attachments 27 such as differently shaped abrasive attachments, nail file, cuticle pusher or cutter, clippers, nail polish containers and/or applicators or nail polish remover containers and/or applicators.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the device 11 where the sides 3 of the larger outer casing 1 have been opened. Located along the spine of the larger outer casing 1 is a center strip 31 through which sides 3 of the larger outer casing 1 attach and are able to open. The sides of the outer casing 3 attach to the center strip 31 through hinges 29 located along the edges of the center strip 31. The hinges 29 allow the user to open the sides of the larger outer casing 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the portable manicure device 11 which is comprised of a top portion 33 of the casing to which is affixed internally a rotating disk 35. The top portion of the casing is connected to the remaining portion of the casing 37 having a space therein for three electric batteries 21; a motor 19 arranged within the remaining portion of the casing 37; means including an electrical switch (not shown), a resistor (not shown), an upper group of three contacts (not shown), and a lower group of three contacts (not shown) for making electrical connections between the three batteries 21 (in series) and the motor 19 and for switching the motor on and off and, in the on position, for selecting the motor speed as fast or slow. The motor 19 includes a shaft 7 which extends axially of the motor 19 through the remaining portion of the casing 37 and passes through one of several openings 39 in the rotating disk 35 to mount one of several differently shaped abrasive attachments 9. As the desired attachment is mounted to the motor shaft, the attachment can be pushed through one of several openings 39 in the top side 41 of the top portion of the casing 33. Also illustrated are grooves 43 on the exterior of the casing that allow the user to get a better grip on the device.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A portable manicure device comprising a casing adapted to receive at least one electric battery, a motor mounted in said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft extending axially of said motor, said shaft extending through said casing, electrical connection means including switch means mounted on said casing and operatively connecting said motor to a battery received within said casing, at least two abrasive attachments that may be frictionally mounted on said one end of said drive shaft and that may be extended externally of said casing, a rotating disc containing at least two openings through which one end of said drive shaft may pass through to mount the at least two abrasive attachments.

2. A portable manicure device according to claim 1, wherein said casing has a circular cross-section.

3. A portable manicure device according to claim 1, wherein said casing has a rectilinear cross-section.

4. A portable manicure device according to claim 1, wherein said casing is aluminum.

5. A portable manicure device according to claim 1, wherein said casing is a rigid plastic.

6. A portable manicure device according to claim 1, wherein said casing has grooves on the exterior of the casing that allow the user to get a better grip on the device.

7. A portable manicure device according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive attachments are allowed to rotate relative to said drive shaft and extend through the casing to allow the user to select a differently shaped abrasive attachment.

8. A portable manicure device comprising a casing adapted to receive at least one electric battery, a larger outer casing containing an interior space therein to store manicuring attachments and casing, wherein said larger casing contains at least one hinged side wall that opens to reveal said interior space and casing, a storage unit attached to said larger outer casing containing an interior space therein to store manicuring attachments, a motor mounted in said casing and having a rotatable drive shaft extending axially of said motor, said shaft extending through said casing, electrical connection means including switch means mounted on said casing and operatively connecting said motor to a battery received within said casing, an abrasive attachment that is frictionally mounted on said one end of said drive shaft externally of said casing.

9. A portable manicure device according to claim 8, wherein said casing and said larger outer casing have circular cross-sections.

10. A portable manicure device according to claim 8, wherein said casing and said larger outer casing have rectilinear cross-sections.

11. A portable manicure device according to claim 8, wherein said larger outer casing is aluminum.

12. A portable manicure device according to claim 8, wherein said casing is aluminum.

13. A portable manicure device according to claim 8, wherein said larger outer casing and said storage unit are detachable from said casing allowing the casing to be a stand alone unit.

14. A portable manicure device according to claim 8, wherein said larger outer casing has grooves on its exterior that allow the user to get a better grip on the device.