WO2018007777A1

WO2018007777A1 - Improved toenail treatment kit

Info

Publication number: WO2018007777A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/000100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Brown; Nicola Cardy; John Anthony COCKSEDGE; Michael HARRISON-BLOUNT; Robert Turner; Sian TONG LIM
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (Brands) Limited
Priority date: 2016-07-08
Filing date: 2017-07-06
Publication date: 2018-01-11
Also published as: GB2552459A; GB201611936D0; GB2552459B

Abstract

An ingrowing toenail treatment kit for the treatment and far correction of an ingrowing toenail is described consisting essentially of an aerosol spray, a cap and toenail adhesive, wherein the aerosol spray comprises a relief formulation; and wherein the clip comprises at least two hook-shaped members wherein each hook-shaped member terminates in a substantially flat surface configured, in use, to abut a lower surface off a toenail, and wherein the clip further comprises a bridge member to which the hook members are connected or formed with, the bridge member being provided with a substantially planar underside configured, in use, to abut an uppermost surface of the toenail; and wherein the toenail adhesive comprises application means suitable, in use, for application of the toenail adhesive to the substantially planar underside of the bridge member. A lot is also described containing pre-applied toenail adhesive.

Description

Improved Toenail Treatment Kit

The present invention is directed to an improved treatment of in-growing toe nail. In particular, the present invention is directed to an ingrowing toenail treatment kit consisting essentially of a combination of a clip, toenail adhesive and an aerosol spray for imparting relief to the skin surrounding the toenail.

Ingrown toenails are a very common problem affecting primarily the great toenail. The medical term for ingrown toenail is onychocryptosis. Onychocryptosis is a pathological affliction of the nail unit where the toenail damages the soft tissues of the nail fold to an extent sufficient to pierce the flesh causing paronychia (inflammation) and secondary bacterial infection. When established ingrown toenails are often painful. Leading up to this point when the toenail is ingrowing but has not yet pierced the skin they can be uncomfortable and irritating. The nail folds can have various degrees of redness and swelling. Frequently, when the skin is not pierced ingrown toenails may resolve without medical treatment. Complicated cases may require treatment by a podiatrist.

There are, however, currently limited treatments available for use at home. The device of the present invention is intended for the less severe 'pre' condition of ingrowing toenails, in other words, the 'pre' condition is where the toenail has not yet pierced the skin. In this instance, the sufferer may feel discomfort and pressure where the nail is pressing against the side of the edge of the toe. The sideways growing portion of toenail acts like a foreign body and pokes into or pinches off a small piece of skin at the outer edge of the toe. This may cause a break in the skin, causing inflammation and possibly infection. The inflammation often causes more thickening of the nail skin fold, further exacerbating the problem. The protruding piece of toenail keeps pushing into the skin, causing further injury and pain.

The treatment of the present invention has been developed to treat milder cases of ingrowing toenail for toenails that cause discomfort to the consumer but have not yet breached the skin of the skin surrounding the toenail.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an ingrowing toenail treatment kit for the treatment and/or correction of an ingrowing toenail consisting essentially of: an aerosol spray, a clip and toenail adhesive, wherein the aerosol spray comprises a relief formulation; and wherein the clip comprises at least two hook-shaped members wherein each hook-shaped member terminates in a substantially flat surface configured, in use, to abut a lower surface of a toenail, and wherein the clip further comprises a bridge member to which the hook members are connected or formed with, the bridge member being provided with a substantially planar underside configured, in use, to abut an uppermost surface of the toenail; and

wherein the toenail adhesive comprises application means suitable, in use, for application of the toenail adhesive to the substantially planar underside of the bridge member. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an ingrowing toenail treatment kit for the treatment and/or correction of an ingrowing toenail consisting essentially of: an aerosol spray, a clip and toenail adhesive, wherein the aerosol spray comprises a relief formulation; and

wherein the clip comprises at least two hook-shaped members wherein each hook-shaped member terminates in a substantially flat surface configured, in use, to abut a lower surface of a toenail, and wherein the clip further comprises a bridge member to which the hook members are connected or formed with, the bridge member being provided with a substantially planar underside configured, in use, to abut an uppermost surface of the toenail; and

wherein the toenail adhesive is provided on the substantially planar underside of the bridge member together with a release paper which can be removed, in use, to expose the toenail adhesive.

In the context of the present invention "relief formulation' is understood to mean a fomnulation capable of imparting a cooling effect to the skin surrounding the toenail and/or a relieving effect to the skin surrounding the toenail.

Preferably the relief formulation may also be capable of being absorbed into the surface of the toenail to improve the condition thereof. The aerosol spray comprises a combination of urea and panthenol. The urea and panthenol are present in a ratio of about 1 :1 to about 1.5:1.

The clip is configured to exert a force on the toenail ,in use, such that the nail is leveraged away from the toe by the substantially flat terminating ends of each hook-shaped member exerting an upward force on the toenail, preferably at or adjacent the comers of the toenail. Preferably the at least two hook-shaped members are spaced-apart with respect to each other on the bridge member to be suitable, in use, to exert an upward force at or adjacent to the comers of a toenail. Most preferably the clip is sized to be most suitable for engagement with a big toenail on the first toe, also known as the hallux toe and/or the big toe. The clip can be provided with at least three hook-shaped members wherein the third of said members is located toward the middle of the bridge member and may be suitable to act, in use, as a counter to said at least two hook-shaped members located toward the comers of the toenail.

The clip is configured to be adhered to the toenail and lift the edge of the toenail away from the surrounding skin. By adhering the clip to the toenail, the clip can remain attached to the toenail whilst the toenail grows with the aim of eventually permitting the toenail to grow in a direction which will not prompt the toenail to pierce or be likely to pierce the surrounding skin. Once the clip is attached to the toenail, the substantially flat terminus ends of the hook-shaped members engage with the underside of the toenail whist the curved parts of the hook-shaped members impinge on the skin of the toe adjacent and/or beneath the toenail to permit a pivoting motion to leverage the toenail away from the surrounding skin.

The clip is preferably made of a rigid or a resilient material, and more preferably of a rigid or resilient plastics material and most preferably is made from an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene co-polymer.

The adhesive according to the first aspect of the present invention may be provided in liquid or gel format. The adhesive may be provided in a container with the application means being integral or connected thereto, said application means may be provided in the form of a rollerball, a teat, a brush or the like.

Alternatively the adhesive according to the first aspect of the present invention may be provided as a semi-solid adhesive layer or the like on a tape wherein the adhesive is covered on both sides by a removable release layer such that, in use, the adhesive layer and one of the release layers are both removed from the other release layer, followed by the exposed adhesive layer being brought into contact with the planar underside of the bridge member to which the adhesive layer has a greater adherence than the remaining release layer which can be removed to leave a one side of the adhesive layer adhered to the planar underside of the bridge member and the other side of the adhesive layer exposed for bringing into contact with the upper surface of the toenail.

The adhesive according to the second aspect of the present invention may be provided as a semisolid adhesive layer or the like attached on one side to the planar underside of the bridge member and covered on the other side of the adhesive layer with a removable release layer wherein, in use, the adhesive layer has a greater adherence to the bridge member than the release layer which can be removed to leave a one side of the adhesive layer adhered to the planar underside of the bridge member and the other side of the adhesive layer exposed for bringing into contact with the upper surface of the toenail.

Preferably the adhesive is provided in the form of a cosmetic-grade cyno-acrylate or the like to provide secure attachment until such time as the user would wish to remove the clip using an organic removal fluid, such as nail varnish remover or the like.

Preferably a kit according to the first aspect of the present invention consists of said aerosol spray, said clip and said toenail adhesive.

Preferably a kit according to the second aspect of the present invention consists of said aerosol spray, said clip and said toenail adhesive.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig.1 illustrates a perspective view of a clip; Fig.2 illustrates a side view of the clip;

Fig.3 illustrates an aerosol spray comprises a relief formulation;

Fig.4 illustrates a container of toenail adhesive; and

Fig.5 illustrates the clip attached to a toenail of a user.

Figs. 1 &2 show a clip 1 from the ingrowing toenail treatment kit of the present invention. The clip 1 is formed from a bridge member 2 from which at least two hook members 3 which, in this embodiment, are integrally formed with the bridge member 2, although they could be formed as separate pieces which are attached to the bridge member 2. The bridge member is provided with a substantially planar underside 5 which, in use, will abut the uppermost surface of the toenail. The hook members 3 are spaced apart on the bridge member 2 such that, in use, they would be at or adjacent the corners of a user's big toenail. The hook members 3 are provided at their terminus with a substantially flat surface 4 which, in use, will abut the underside of the toenail. The clip 1 is made from a resilient plastics material. Fig. 3 illustrates an aerosol spray 6 comprising a relief formulation which is used herein to mean a formulation capable of imparting a cooling effect to the skin surrounding the toenail and/or a pain relieving effect to the skin surrounding the toenail. The aerosol spray 6 is manually operated by a user depressing the actuator 7 which is located on a canister 8 which houses the relief formulation. The aerosol spray 6 is depicted in Fig.3 as possessing a pressurised canister 8 and, as such the canister may also house propellant which may be in the formulation or, in a bag on valve arrangement (not shown), may surround the bag holding the formulation. Alternatively the aerosol spray 6 may be a manually-operated pump spray such that no propellant is required.

The relief formulation of the aerosol spray is given in the table below:

Material Function % w w

Water Carrier 10.00

Urea 1.32

Dexpanthenol 1.00

Ethanol Solvent 40.00

Dimethyl Ether (DME) Propellant 47.68

100.00

The action of the propellant in the spray provides cooling properties to the affected area; this cooling action gives immediate relief.

Fig. 4 illustrates a container of toenail adhesive 9 in liquid or gel form. The container 9 is provided in a resilient material so that a user can squeeze the slides thereof to cause adhesive to exit the container 9 via nozzle 10 with the aim of applying the adhesive to the planar underside 5 of the bridge member 2, as discussed in more detail below. Referring now to Figs. 1 , 2&5 the use of the clip 1 and mode of action and positioning on the toenail 11 will now be described. The clip 1 is configured to be adhered to the toenail 11 and lift the edge 12 of the toenail 11 away from the surrounding skin 13. By adhering the clip 1 to the toenail 11 the clip 1 can remain attached to the toenail 11 whilst the toenail 11 grows with the aim of eventually permitting the toenail 11 to grow in a direction which will not prompt the toenail 11 to pierce or be likely to pierce the surrounding skin 13.

The mode of operation is the user first removes the clip 1 , the spray 6 and the container 9 from the kit. The user then sprays the skin 13 and toenail 11 with relief formulation from the aerosol spray 6. Once the formulation has dried the user will then squeeze a small amount of adhesive from the adhesive container 9 through the nozzle 10 on to the planar underside 5 of the bridge member 2 of the clip 1. The user will then orientate the clip 1 such that the substantially flat terminus ends 4 of the hook- shaped members 3 engage with the underside of the toenail whist the curved parts of the hook- shaped members 3 impinge on the skin 13 adjacent and/or beneath the toenail 11 to permit a pivoting motion to leverage the toenail 11 away from the surrounding skin 13 whilst simultaneously holding the bridge member 2 of the clip 1 against the upper surface of the toenail 11 until the adhesive sets and holds the clip 1 in place on the toenail 11. The clip 1 can be used on any of the toenails, but the embodiment shown in Figure 5 shows its use on a user's toenail 11 on the big toe.

The spray 9 can be used as and when required, the clip 1 should be applied along with the adhesive and left in place for one week. Preferably, a new clip 1 should be applied every week for up to 6 weeks or until the edge 12 of the toenail 11 no longer impinges on the surrounding skin 13.

Further modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. An ingrowing toenail treatment kit for the treatment and/or correction of an ingrowing toenail consisting essentially of: an aerosol spray, a clip and toenail adhesive, wherein the aerosol spray comprises a relief formulation; and

wherein the toenail adhesive comprises application means suitable, in use, for application of the toenail adhesive to the substantially planar underside of the bridge member.

2. An ingrowing toenail treatment kit for the treatment and/or correction of an ingrowing toenail consisting essentially of: an aerosol spray, a clip and toenail adhesive, wherein the aerosol spray comprises a relief formulation; and

3. A kit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the relief formulation is capable of imparting a cooling effect to the skin surrounding the toenail and/or imparting a pain relieving effect to the skin surrounding the toenail.

4. A kit according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the relief formulation is capable of being absorbed into the surface of the toenail to improve the condition thereof.

5. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the aerosol spray comprises a combination of urea and panthenol.

6. A kit according to claim 5, wherein the urea and panthenol are present in a ratio of about 1 :1 to about 1.5:1.

7. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the clip is configured to exert a force on the toenail, in use, such that the nail is leveraged away from the toe by the substantially flat terminating ends of each hook-shaped member exerting an upward force on the toenail.

5 8. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least two hook-shaped members are spaced-apart with respect to each other on the bridge member to be suitable, in use, to exert an upward force at or adjacent to the comers of a toenail.

9. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the clip is sized to be most suitable for o engagement with a big toenail on the first toe.

10. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the clip is provided with at least three hook- shaped members wherein the third of said members is located toward the middle of the bridge member and is suitable to act, in use, as a counter to said at least two hook-shaped members located

5 toward the corners of the toenail.

11. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the clip is made of a rigid or a resilient material, and more preferably of a rigid or resilient plastics material and most preferably is made from an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene co-polymer.

12. A kit according to claim 1 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the adhesive is provided in liquid or gel format.

13. A kit according to claim 12, wherein the adhesive is provided in a container with the

!5 application means being integral or connected thereto.

14. A kit according to claim 1 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the adhesive is provided as a semi-solid adhesive layer or the like on a tape wherein the adhesive is covered on both sides by a removable release layer such that, in use, the adhesive layer and one of the release layers are both to removed from the other release layer, followed by the exposed adhesive layer being brought into contact with the planar underside of the bridge member to which the adhesive layer has a greater adherence than the remaining release layer which can be removed to leave a one side of the adhesive layer adhered to the planar underside of the bridge member and the other side of the adhesive layer exposed for bringing into contact with the upper surface of the toenail.

(5

15. A kit according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the adhesive is provided as a semi-solid adhesive layer or the like attached on one side to the planar underside of the bridge member and covered on the other side of the adhesive layer with a removable release layer wherein, in use, the adhesive layer has a greater adherence to the bridge member than the release layer which to can be removed to leave a one side of the adhesive layer adhered to the planar underside of the bridge member and the other side of the adhesive layer exposed for bringing into contact with the upper surface of the toenail.

16. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the kit consists of said aerosol spray, said clip and said toenail adhesive.

17. A kit according to claim 2, wherein the kit consists of said aerosol spray, said clip and said toenail adhesive.