Device for cleaning dirty nails

• US 5,755,240 A
• Filed: 10/24/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schonborn
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schonborn
• Inventors: Schonborn, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US08/736,581
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 132/73, 132/73.5, 132/74.5, 132/285, 601/166, 604/292, 604/293, 604/316, 134/198, 134/200
• US Class Current: 132/74.5
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/17 Nail cleaners, e.g. scrapers

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for cleaning dirty nails (2), especially fingernails, which has housing (3) with a cleaning space (4), at least one opening (7) through which at least one nail (2) to be cleaned or a body part (8) which has a nail (2) to be cleaned, especially a finger, can be inserted into the cleaning space (4), and a nozzle body (10, 21) which has at least one nozzle opening (11) from which cleaning liquid from nozzle body (10, 21) flows against at least one nail (2) in the cleaning space (4). To attain a defined and good cleaning result, according to the invention, an extended supporting area (16) with a stop for the tip (17) of the body part (8) is provide on the nozzle body (10, 21), and the nozzle opening(s) is positioned so that, when the tip (17) rests on the supporting area (16) the nozzle opening(s) (11) is unobstructed, a gap (18) between tip (16) and nail (2) being opened when the tip (17) resting on the supporting area (16) is pressed in a direction toward the supporting area (16), is moved at the same time in a direction toward the nozzle opening(s) and the nozzle opening (11) being aligned in a direction toward the gap (18) thus opened.

Claims

1. Device for cleaning dirty nails of body parts comprising a housing having a cleaning space and at least one opening through which at least one body part which has a nail to be cleaned is insertable into the cleaning space, at least one nozzle body which has at least one nozzle opening for directing a flow of cleaning liquid against at least one nail in the cleaning space, and means for supplying cleaning liquid to the at least one nozzle opening of the at least one nozzle body;

wherein there is an extended supporting area for the at least one body part on the at least one nozzle body and a stop for a tip of the at least one body part;

wherein said at least one nozzle opening is located below said stop in the at least one nozzle body and outside the supporting area and is positioned relative to said supporting area when said tip rests on the supporting area said at least one nozzle opening is unobstructed by said tip, and the at least one nozzle opening is aligned toward a gap between the tip and nail which is opened when force is applied to the tip resting on the supporting area in a direction toward the supporting area and the body part is moved simultaneously in a direction toward the at least one nozzle opening.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said stop is formed by an edge surface of the at least one nozzle body in the area of an upper end thereof.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of the at least one nozzle body terminates in an acute angle.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein a wall of the at least one nozzle body on which the at least one nozzle opening is located falls steeply from said at least one nozzle opening.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle body has an upwardly open insertion gap which tapers downward and which is defined on one side by a first wall which slopes downward and contains said supporting area thereon;

and wherein said at least one nozzle opening is provided in a lower area of the insertion gap.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein a second side of the insertion gap which is opposite the first wall is essentially vertical and acts as said stop;

and wherein a lower area of the insertion gap is too narrow for insertion of said tip therein.

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein the insertion gap has an opening for drainage of the cleaning liquid.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the opening for drainage of the cleaning liquid is at a bottom area of the insertion gap.

9. Device according to claim 7, wherein the opening for drainage of the cleaning liquid is at a side area of the insertion gap.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting area has a grip-enhancing surface.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein said grip-enhancing surface is provided by said surface being formed of a nonslip plastic material.

12. Device according to claim 10, wherein said grip-enhancing surface is provided by said surface being formed with a surface texturing.

13. Device according to claim 1, wherein a switch for turning on and off of a pump of said means for supplying cleaning liquid interacts with said at least one nozzle body in a manner causing the pump to be in an operating state only as long as a force is exerted via said tip on said supporting area.

14. Device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is detachably mounted to said housing so as to be replaceable.