Fingernail cleaning apparatus and method

• US 9,314,083 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shaul Shaul
• Original Assignee: Shaul Shaul
• Inventors: Shaul, Shaul
• Primary Examiner(s): STEITZ, RACHEL RUNNING
• Application Number:
  US14/488,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20150114417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/007 Nail polish removing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/14 motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/17 Nail cleaners, e.g. scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/22 Finger-supports
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball

Abstract

A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10), comprising: a chamber (60) into which fingernails (44) of a user are placed; a compressor (22), for generating a jet (42) of abrasive powder (40); and a first nozzle (30), for directing the abrasive powder jet (42) onto a front side of the fingernails (44) when placed in the chamber (60); thereby allowing cleaning the front side of the fingernails (44) and/or roughening the front side of the fingernails (44) by the abrasive powder (40) as a preceding step for applying nail polish.

Claims

1. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10), comprising:

a chamber (60) into which fingernails (44) of a user are placed;

a compressor (22), for generating a jet (42) of abrasive powder (40); and

a first nozzle (30), for directing said abrasive powder jet (42) onto a front side of the fingernails (44) when placed in said chamber (60); and

means for protecting tissues of the user being adjacent to the fingernails (44) from said jet (42) of abrasive powder (40)

a liquid dispenser (50), for dispensing liquid (52), through said first nozzle (30) or through a second nozzle (54),

thereby allowing cleaning the front side of the fingernails (44) and/or roughening the front side of the fingernails (44) by the abrasive powder (40) as a preceding step for applying nail polish, and

thereby dispensing the liquid (52) on the fingernails (44).

2. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein said means for protecting the tissues of the user comprises:

a guiding structure (18, 38), for guiding said first nozzle (30), for performing said directing of said abrasive powder jet (42) onto the fingernails (44),

thereby blowing the abrasive powder (42) onto the fingernails (44) only.

3. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein said guiding structure (18, 38) comprises:

a track (18) for guiding said first nozzle (30) therealong.

4. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 2, wherein said guiding structure (18, 38) comprises:

a rigid stationary template (38) of a hand (26), for determining a location of each fingernail (44).

5. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 3, wherein said guiding structure (18, 38) further comprises:

a rigid stationary template (38) of a hand (26), for determining a location of each fingernail (44), wherein said rigid template (38) physically corresponds to said track (18).

6. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 5, wherein said physical correspondence of said rigid template (38) to said track (18) comprises physical subsidiary tracks (18A, 18E) of said track (18), each being disposed above one subsidiary template (38A, 38E) of said template (38).

7. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein said means for protecting the tissues of the user comprises:

a glove (38), for exposing the fingernails (44) only,

thereby protecting the user from the abrasive powder (42).

8. A fingernail cleaning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a closed course for the abrasive powder (42),

thereby allowing re-using the abrasive powder (42).

9. A fingernail cleaning method, comprising the steps of:

generating a jet (42) of abrasive powder (40); and

guiding (18, 38) a first nozzle (30), for directing the abrasive powder jet (42) from said first nozzle (30) onto a front side of fingernails (44) while protecting tissues adjacent to said front side of fingernails (44),

guiding a second nozzle (30, 54) to the front side of the fingernails of the user; and

dispensing liquid (52) from said second nozzle (54) onto said front side of the fingernails, for polishing thereof,

thereby blowing the abrasive powder (42) onto the front side of the fingernails (44).