Fingernail and hand cleaning appliance

• US 4,020,856 A
• Filed: 06/28/1976
• Issued: 05/03/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert C. Masterson
• Original Assignee: Albert C. Masterson
• Inventors: Masterson, Albert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNeil, G.E.
• Application Number:
  US05/700,091
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 132/74.5, 132/9, 128/65
• US Class Current: 132/74.5
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/17 Nail cleaners, e.g. scrapers

Abstract

A fingernail and hand cleaning apparatus applies pulsating jets of liquid to the ends of the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand while the hand is positioned in a grooved hand rest within the apparatus. Additional pulsating jets of liquid are applied to other areas of the user'"'"'s hand to provide cleansing and massaging action.

Claims

1. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance comprising:

a housing including a port through which the user'"'"'s hand may be inserted;

a hand rest mounted within the housing, said hand rest including a plurality of finger receptacles for receiving the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand;

fingernail nozzle means positioned within each one of said plurality of finger receptacles for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward each of the fingernails of the user'"'"'s hand;

a reservoir for storing a supply of liquid; and

pump means including an intake port coupled to said reservoir and a discharge port coupled to said fingernail nozzle means, said pump means being operative for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir and for discharing the liquid in pulsating jets for delivery to said fingernail nozzle means.

2. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 1 further comprising:

a palm nozzle positioned within said hand rest and coupled to the discharge ports of said pump means for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward the palm area of the user'"'"'s hand; and

one or more upper hand nozzles positioned within said housing and coupled to the discharge port of said pump means for directing one or more pulsating liquid jets toward the top surface of the user'"'"'s hand.

3. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 1 wherein:

said housing comprises a generally hemispherical transparent bonnet having a gasketed port through which the user'"'"'s hand may be inserted;

said hand rest is generally hemispherical in shape; and

said finger receptacles comprise grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface of the hand rest for receiving each of the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand.

4. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 2 wherein:

said housing comprises a generally hemispherical transparent bonnet having a gasketed port through which the user'"'"'s hand may be inserted;

said hand rest is generally hemispherical in shape; and

said finger receptacles comprise grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface of the hand rest for receiving each of the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand.

5. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance comprising:

a generally cylindrically shaped lower housing having a closed bottom end and an open top end;

a generally hemispherically shaped transparent upper housing hingedly positioned over the open end of said lower housing, said upper housing including a port through which the user'"'"'s hand may be inserted;

a generally hemispherically shaped palm ball mounted within said upper housing for receiving the user'"'"'s hand, said palm ball including a plurality of finger grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface thereof for receiving each of the fingers of the user'"'"'s hand;

fingernail nozzle means positioned within each of said plurality of finger grooves for directing a liquid jet toward each of the fingernails of the user'"'"'s hand;

a reservoir within said lower housing for storing a supply of liquid; and

pump means mounted within said lower housing, said pump means including an intake port coupled to said reservoir and a discharge port coupled to said fingernail nozzle means, said pump means being operative for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir and for discharging the liquid in pulsating jets for delivery to said fingernail nozzle means.

6. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 5 further comprising palm nozzle means positioned within said palm ball and coupled to the discharge port of said pump means for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward the palm area of the user'"'"'s hand.

7. A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 6 further comprising a semicircular nozzle strip mounted within said upper housing, said nozzle strip including one or more nozzles coupled to the discharge port of said pump means and arranged for directing one or more pulsating liquid jets toward the top surface of the user'"'"'s hand.