Abstract:
A nail cleaning brush is designed to easily clean under a person&#39;s fingernail with or without an anti-bacterial solution. The shape of the brush and the handle are designed to facilitate ease-of-use and effectiveness. The handle can include a hollow portion to hold a fluid that can be dispensed through the tip of the brush. The solution can be detergent, soap, anti-bacterial solution and the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a personal hygiene device and, more particularly, to a fingernail cleaning brush. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A person&#39;s hands are an area of the body that can easily come into contact with dirt and bacteria. Accordingly, fingers and especially fingernails sometimes harbor unwanted dirt and germs. There are a number of techniques and tools presently designed for cleaning underneath fingernail. Many of them are large complicated devices intended to be used at a professional salon or on a tabletop at home. Other hand-held tools for this purpose typically include a hard, blade-like tip designed to scrape under a fingernail. 
         [0003]    There remains the need, however, for a fingernail cleaning brush that is small, portable, easy-to-use, discrete, and provide some germ-killing properties. Regardless of the merits of presently configured fingernail cleaning devices, none provide the features and functions as the embodiments of the invention described herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a nail cleaning brush that is designed to easily clean under a person&#39;s fingernail with or without an anti-bacterial solution. The shape of the brush and the handle are designed to facilitate ease-of-use and effectiveness. The handle can include a hollow portion to hold a fluid that can be dispensed through the tip of the brush. The solution can be detergent, soap, anti-bacterial solution and the like. 
         [0005]    It is understood that other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described only various embodiments of the invention by way of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the present invention having a substantially cylindrical handle. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the present invention having a curved handle. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a separate container that can be used with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of a brush in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the invention. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of a fingernail cleaning brush in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In general, the fingernail brush of  FIG. 1  includes a pen-like handle  104  that has a brush  100  connected at one end. The size of the overall assembly is intended to be small enough to fit discretely in a purse or personal grooming kit. Thus, a handle  104  about the size of a pen or toothbrush is an exemplary size that would provide the mobility, compactness and discreteness desirable for the brush. For example, a handle having a length between about 3 to 5 inches would be beneficial. One of ordinary skill will recognize, however, that other sizes may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0012]    For example, the circumference of the handle  104  can be increased to allow gripping by people with arthritis or weak grips. Similarly, the length may be shortened to provide even more compactness. 
         [0013]    The brush  100  can be of various designs and is illustrated as having a slanted cut amongst the bristles. The slanted cut is not necessary but does beneficially allow the brush to conform to the typical shape of a person&#39;s fingernail, especially long or artificial nails that may be present. As an example, a slant of about 35 to 45 degrees provides one beneficial embodiment. The size of the bristles is such that it is desirable to have a brush that is not so large as to be difficult to use but not so small as to require multiple passes to clean under an average fingernail. Thus, a convenient size for the longest bristles of the brush  100  is approximately between ¼ inch to ½ inch as this would allow a tip design that fits entirely underneath an average-sized human fingernail. 
         [0014]    As for bristle density and materials, a wide variety of various designs are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. With stiffer bristles, a lower density of bristles can be used while with softer bristles a higher density of bristles can be used. For example, latex, nylon, and other similar materials may be employed with a bristle density of about 200 to 300 per square inch. One exemplary brush that has the desirable characteristics is that of a typical brush used to clean teeth with a rotary toothbrush used by a dentist. As shown in  FIG. 4 , such a brush may have a circular shape when viewed from the tip end. One of ordinary skill will recognize that instead of bristles, the brush  100  can be a sponge or similar material, as well, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0015]    The handle  104  may beneficially, but not necessarily, include a hollow region  106  for holding a cleaning solution. For example, the cleaning solution may be poured into the region  106  and then an end cap  108  is then clipped or screwed on to secure the solution. Alternatively, the solution may be packaged in ampoules or other similar containers that are replaceable. Such a cartridge would fit in the region  106  and be used until becoming empty at which time it would be easily replaced. Additionally, the brush assembly may be manufactured with a predetermined amount of solution within the sealed handle  104  and the assembly is discarded when the solution is exhausted. 
         [0016]    The brush  100  is attached to the handle  104  with a portion  102 . The portion  102  is preferably designed to permit replacement of the brush  100 . Alternatively, as mentioned above, the entire brush assembly may be produced so as to be discarded after a certain amount of use. In this second instance, the brush  100  would not be replaceable. In the embodiments in which a solution  106  is included within the handle  104 , the portion  102  provides fluid communication between the region  106  housing the solution and the brush  100 . Accordingly, solution is passed from the region  106 , through a fluid pathway  110  within the portion  102  and ultimately to the brush  100 . From the brush  100 , the solution is applied under a person&#39;s fingernails to provide cleaning or disinfecting. 
         [0017]    One of ordinary skill will recognize that connecting the portion  102  to the solution region  106  can be accomplished in a variety of functionally equivalent ways. For example, if a replaceable cartridge of solution is used, then the portion  102  would pierce the end of the cartridge closest to the brush when the cartridge is inserted. If the region  106  is simply filled with free-flowing solution, then no such piercing of a cartridge is needed. Furthermore, the handle  104  may be deformable so that squeezing the handle causes the solution to exit from the portion  102  onto the brush  100 . Alternatively, the portion  102  may be biased away from the handle  104  (for example by a spring-type member) and then pushing on the brush  100  would overcome the bias and force the portion  102  up into the solution region  106  and thereby start fluid flow to the brush through the passageway  110 . Such fluid flow would stop as pressure on the brush  100  stopped and the bias forced the portion  102  away from the region  106 . 
         [0018]    The brush assembly of  FIG. 2  differs from that of  FIG. 1  in that a curved handle  202  is contemplated. This handle may even include ridges  204  to help with gripping the brush assembly. As before, in some embodiments, the brush may be in fluid communication with solution or fluid inside the handle through a connecting portion  206 .  FIG. 2  also depicts an optional cap that can be used to prevent accidental drips or leakage from the brush assembly. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  depicts a container of material that can be used with embodiments of the present invention. The container  302  houses cleaning solution  304  or similar material and is protected with a cover  306 . A person using a brush assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention would dip the brush tip into the solution  304  and then apply it underneath a fingernail. In this example and the previous ones, various cleaning solutions can be used. Preferably, the solution can have a disinfectant or anti-bacterial effect but not be so harsh as to overly dry or damage tissue near the fingernail or require rinsing with water. Alcohol can also be one ingredient in the solution to aid with drying of the solution once applied. Additionally, the solution  304 , for example, may include pumice or other abrasive materials to add a scraping effect when using the brush. 
         [0020]    The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with each claim&#39;s language, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”