Instrument for pedicure

• US 8,066,013 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malen Chea, Sentrakal Tes
• Original Assignee: Malen Chea, Sentrakal Tes
• Inventors: Tes, Sentrakal, Chea, Malen
• Primary Examiner(s): STEITZ, RACHEL RUNNING
• Application Number:
  US12/133,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20090301507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 132/73, 132/73.5, 132/73.6, 132/75.3, 132/75.6, 132/75.8, 132/76.4, 451/356, 451/359, 451/910
• US Class Current: 132/73.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320008 Scrapers

Abstract

A hand-held electronic pedicure instrument includes a housing having an outside portion and an inside portion. The inside portion includes a battery electrically coupled to a motor which can be activated by a switch on the outside portion of the housing. The outside portion of the housing also has a handle. The motor provides rotational output to a shaft extending from the inside portion of the housing, through an opening in the housing and beyond the outside portion of the housing, the shaft having a distal end. The instrument further has a wheel having proximal and distal surfaces. The distal end of the shaft secures to the proximal surface of the wheel. An attachment has a proximal portion that is removably secured to the distal surface of the wheel. The attachment has a distal portion having an abrasive material.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic pedicure instrument comprising:

a. a watertight instrument housing having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion including a motor and a battery which is rechargeable and is charged by contactless inductive coupling from a recharging base, the battery being electrically coupled to the motor which can be activated by a switch located on the outside portion of the instrument housing, the outside portion of the instrument housing having a handle;

b. the motor providing rotational output to an output shaft extending proximally from the inside portion of the instrument housing, distally through an opening in the instrument housing and beyond the outside portion of the instrument housing, the output shaft having an outer surface and a distal end, wherein the motor produces a rotational output range of 4000 to 8000 revolutions per minute;

c. a wheel having a proximal surface, a distal surface and a central axis, the distal end of the output shaft being secured to the proximal surface of the wheel along the central axis of the wheel;

d. an attachment having a distal portion having an abrasive material comprising pumice sponge or pumice stone and a proximal portion being removably secured to the distal surface of the wheel; and

e. a depressible pin system to prevent rotation of the output shaft, the output shaft having a notch in its outer surface within the inside portion of the instrument housing, the instrument housing having a small hole substantially lined up with the notch, the depressible pin system comprising a head with a shank extending therefrom, the shank having a bottom end located opposite the head, a flange rigidly secured around the shank at a point between the head and the bottom end, wherein the shank fits through the small hole such that the flange is located within the inside portion of the instrument housing and is unable to fit though the small hole so as to effectively prevent the shank from being completely removed from the instrument housing, the bottom end of the shank being adapted to securely fit within the notch such that, when pressure is applied to the head towards the instrument housing, the bottom end of the shank fits within the notch thereby preventing the output shaft from being able to rotate, the depressible pin system further comprising a compression spring fitted around the shank between the head and the outside portion of the instrument housing.

2. A hand-held electronic pedicure instrument comprising:

a. a watertight instrument housing having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion including a motor and a battery which is rechargeable and is charged by contactless inductive coupling from a recharging base, the battery being electrically coupled to the motor which can be activated by a switch located on the outside portion of the instrument housing, the outside portion of the instrument housing having a handle;

b. the motor providing rotational output to an output shaft extending proximally from the inside portion of the instrument housing, distally through an opening in the instrument housing and beyond the outside portion of the instrument housing, the output shaft having an outer surface and a distal end, wherein the motor produces a rotational output range of 4000 to 8000 revolutions per minute;

c. a wheel having a proximal surface, a distal surface and a central axis, the distal end of the output shaft being secured to the proximal surface of the wheel along the central axis of the wheel; and

d. an attachment having a distal portion having an abrasive material comprising pumice sponge or pumice stone and a proximal portion being removably secured to the distal surface of the wheel, wherein the wheel comprises at least two slots and the attachment comprises at least two protrusions insertable into and securable within the slots, the attachment being securable to the wheel by pressing the attachment against the wheel such that the protrusions are inserted into the slots, and then, while the wheel is stationary, rotating the attachment relative to the wheel in a direction opposite the direction of rotational output of the output shaft, thereby securing the protrusions within the slots and the attachment to the wheel, the attachment being removable from the wheel by, while the wheel is stationary, rotating the attachment relative to the wheel in the same direction as the direction of rotational output of the output shaft, and then pulling the attachment away from the wheel thereby removing the attachment from the wheel.

3. A hand-held electronic pedicure instrument comprising:

a. a watertight instrument housing having an outside portion and an inside portion, the inside portion including a motor and a battery which is rechargeable and is charged by contactless inductive coupling from a recharging base, the battery being electrically coupled to the motor which can be activated by a switch located on the outside portion of the instrument housing, the outside portion of the instrument housing having a handle;

b. the motor providing rotational output to an output shaft extending proximally from the inside portion of the instrument housing, distally through an opening in the instrument housing and beyond the outside portion of the instrument housing, the output shaft having an outer surface and a distal end, wherein the motor produces a rotational output range of 4000 to 8000 revolutions per minute;

c. a wheel having a proximal surface, a distal surface and a central axis, the distal end of the output shaft being secured to the proximal surface of the wheel along the central axis of the wheel; and

d. an attachment having a distal portion having an abrasive material comprising pumice sponge or pumice stone and a proximal portion being removably secured to the distal surface of the wheel, the attachment further comprising a proximal portion, the proximal portion of the attachment and distal surface of the wheel being magnetized at opposite charges such that when pressed together, magnetic forces resist separation of the attachment from the wheel, the proximal portion of the attachment and distal surface of the wheel further comprising complementary mating geometries which prevent rotational movement between the attachment and the wheel when the geometries are mated with one another.