Abstract:
A nail machine having a base and a cover. A vertical plate is pivotally mounted in the base. A mechanism, connected to the plate, is driven by a motor to cause the plate to execute oscillations in a vertical plane. A polygonal member, having a plurality of abrasive surfaces, is resiliently carried by the mounting member. A supporting member holds a finger nail beneath and in proximity to the polygonal member so that it can be urged upwardly against the resiliently mounted polygonal member and brought into contact with an abrasive surface thereon under pressure while the plate executes oscillations to effect a treatment of the finger nail. Rotatably mounted spools are provided for treating the nail edges.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a nail machine for treating fingernails and the like, and more particularly relates to a nail machine that treats fingernails by nail edging, nail smoothing and buffing and nail surface renewing and buffing.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    At the present, treatment of fingernails, either to smooth or buff the nails or as a preparation for the application of nail polish, is effected by an individual on him/herself or by a manicurist using nail files or emery boards and working the nails manually, or by having a manicurist use a polishing wheel driven by a machine in the nature of a dentist drill. Self application of a polishing wheel driven by a machine in the nature of a dentist drill is not practicable. In the case of manual working, the task is time consuming and requires the use of a series of nail files or emery boards having different degrees of fineness or coarseness. On the other hand, for a manicurist to use a dentist drill on one&#39;s fingernails is dangerous and could easily result in the nail bed becoming too thinned producing nail splitting or even loss of the nail.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The principal object of the invention is to provide a nail machine that is capable of treating one&#39;s fingernails by nail edging, nail smoothing, nail surface renewing and buffing. The machine is powered, but under the control of the person using the machine to treat his/her own nails, so the sensitivity necessary to prevent misuse is always present.  
           [0006]    Detailed functions are provided by different part of the novel powered machine include long nail edging, long nail edge polishing, ridge removing and buffing; all functions are carried out by different arcuate wheels and an oscillating flat surface. Short nail edging and short nail edge polishing are done by the flatter or less curved portions of concave spools or wheels. General nail surface renewing, fine nail surface renewing and buffing is done by a polygonal or flat plate member having a plurality of surfaces, each characterized by a grinding or abrasive surface composed of a grit or emery or other abrasive compound of a predetermined fineness or coarseness. The plate member is mounted for oscillating motion and is also turnable (rotatable) relative to its supporting frame, so the individual using the machine can select the particular surface that is desired to be applied to his/her nails at that particular moment. By positioning the plate member, one may easily choose the kind of treatment one desires whether it be general renewing, fine renewing, buffing or whatever. The plate member is pivotally mounted to swing in an arc and is biased by a spring to provide a force to cause the plate member to press down on nail being treated to form a close touch under appropriate pressure on the nail during swinging or oscillation so that the particular treatment is effectively performed. 
       
    
    
       [0007]    Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is perspective view showing the novel nail machine of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the mounting and driving of the oscillating plate member.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a top view showing schematically the driving layout for the novel machine.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of the novel machine (cover removed) as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of the novel machine (cover shown in phantom) looking from the right as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is an end view of the novel machine (cover removed) as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the finger holder shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a medial longitudinal section of the finger holder shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a first alternative mounting and driving of the oscillating plate member.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a second alternative mounting and driving of the oscillating plate member 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The present invention consists of a novel machine including a novel mechanism to form a generally arcuate (oscillatory) movement and a good movement that will effectively touch and apply the appropriate abrasive, grinding or polishing pressure on different shapes of finger nails. Referring to FIGS.  1  to  8 , the machine consists of a base  10  holding the operational parts of the machine and a cover  12  that is provided with a unique simulation design to give an exceptionally esthetic appearance. With the cover in place, the machine is completely enclosed and presents a compact pleasing appearance. Mounted on the base  10  are two concave arced spools or wheels  14  and  16 . Each wheel  14 ,  16  is fixed on a shaft  18  that is bearing mounted to the base  10 . The concave curved surfaces of the two wheels  14  and  16  are provided as grinding surfaces and contain a grit or emery with the two wheels being of different composition and fineness and coarseness to perform different grinding or smoothing functions. A pie-shaped swing plate  20  is pivotally mounted to the bottom of the base  10  by means of a pivot pin  22  held in the base  10  supported in bearing or pillow blocks  69 . Plate  20  extends in a vertically upward direction passing through a slot  24  in the top surface of base  10 . The exposed free upper end  26  of plate  20  has fixed and mounted thereon a U-shaped bracket  28  with the legs  30  of bracket  28  extending in a generally horizontal direction parallel to the base  10 . A bifurcated yolk  32  has one end of each bifurcation or leg  34  connected to a leg  30  in a freely pivotal fashion by pins  36 . The other ends of legs  34  have mounted therebetween a polygonal plate member  38  by means of pins  40  so that the plate member may be rotated to position it with an appropriate surface facing downwardly. A rod  42  fixed to each leg  34  intermediate its ends provides structural integrity for the yolk  32 , and provides a means to connect one end of a pair of springs  44 , the other ends of which are fixed to the crossbar  46  of bracket  28 . Springs  44  exert a bias on the yolk  32  forcing it to pivot downward as shown by arrow A. The plate member  38  has a plurality of flat or slightly arcuate surfaces  48  to enable different degrees of grinding or smoothing or buffing to be applied to a fingernail. Each surface is provided with a grit or emery as desired to accomplish the stated purpose. As shown in FIG. 2, a finger is positioned just below the plate member  38 , and pushes upwardly, as shown by arrow B, against the one of the surfaces  48  that is facing downwardly. Contained within the base  10  and suitably mounted therein and thereon is an electric motor  60  (either ac or dc, with the power supply to the motor omitted as this aspect is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art), which can be supplied with power either from a mains connection or by a battery. The motor  50  drives via a shaft  52  on which is fixed a spur gear  54  that meshes with a spur gear  56  of greater diameter to obtain a suitable power translation. Gear  55  is fixed on gear  56  and both are bearing mounted by block  60  suitably mounted on base  10 . Gear  55  meshes with gear  57  fixed on shaft  59 , which is bearing mounted in pillow or bearing blocks  60 ,  61  fixed to base  10 . Wheel  63  is keyed to shaft  59  via one or more splines so that it rotates with, but is slidable on, the shaft  59 . Wheel  63  has a pair of axially spaced flanges  49 . Each axial end of wheel  63  is provided with an integral toothed element  51  for engagement with a similar opposed toothed element  159 ,  159 ′. As shown in FIG. 3, the toothed element  159  is formed at one end of a sleeve  160  and a gear  162  is fixed to the other end of sleeve  160 . Sleeve  160  is mounted freely rotatable on shaft  59 . Similarly, the element  159 ′ is formed on one end of sleeve  164  that is freely rotatably mounted on shaft  59  with a gear  166  fixed to the other end of sleeve  164 . Gear  166  meshes with gear  65  that is fixed on shaft  18  that is coupled to drive the wheel  14 ,  16 . Gear  162  meshes with gear  67  fixed to shaft  58  bearing mounted by bearing blocks  60 ,  61 . A triangular support frame  170  is mounted to the base  10  via screws or bolts  172 , out of the plane of shaft  18 . Frame  170  provides a pivot axis  174  for a lever  176  that has one end  178  that terminates in the space between the flanges  49  of wheel  63 . The set of elements  51  and  159 , and set of elements  51  and  159 ′ each constitutes a pair of clutches so that the wheel  63 , positioned by the interaction of the lever  176  and the flanges  49 , can be shifted by the lever  176  between a first position where elements  51  and  159  are engaged so that gear  162  drives gear  67 , and a second position where elements  51  and  159 ′ are engaged so that gear  166  drives gear  65 . While one set of gears is being driven via its associated engaged clutch, the other set of gears is not being driven, as the set of elements constituting its associated clutch are disengaged. Also, there is an intermediate (neutral) position between the first position and the second position where both sets of elements constituting the clutches are both disengaged. The other end of the lever  176  is connected to a switch plate  110  that is held in a slot in base  10  and is shiftable left and right between the first, second and neutral positions, as described. As shown in FIG. 3, when switch  110  is left, swing plate  20  is connected for being oscillated. When switch  110  is right, the wheels or concave spools  14 , 16  are connected for being rotated. When switch  110  is in the middle between left and right, it is in the neutral position and neither plate  20  nor spools  14 ,  16  are connected for being driven.  
         [0019]    A bevel gear  62  is fixed to shaft  58  and meshes with a bevel gear  64  on shaft  66 , also bearing mounted on base  10  in bearing blocks, as indicated by reference numeral  68 . At the end of shaft  66  is a roughly elliptical shaped plate  70  provided with a pin  72  that is eccentrically positioned relative to shaft  66 , Pin  72  is received in a vertical slot  74  cut through swing plate  20 . The arrangement is such that when the motor  50  drives, the pin  72  coacts with the slot  74  to cause the swing plate  20  to perform an oscillating motion about its pivot axis defined by pivot pin as indicated by the arrows C and D, causing in turn the plate member  38  to oscillate and perform a grinding or polishing or buffing on a nail depending on the surface  48  being applied to the nail at the moment.  
         [0020]    Mounted on the base  10  between and raised above the wheels  14  and  16  is a finger holding member  80  consisting of a parallelpiped body  82  having a depression or recess  84  in its top suitable to receiving a finger. At the rear end of body  82  a slot  86  is defined that extends to the rear edge of the body  82 . Body  82  is received on a frame  88  that is fixed to the base  10 . Body  82  and frame  88  are in sliding relationship. A post  90  is fixed in the frame  88  so that it cannot move forward or backward when the body  82  moves relative to frame  88 , however, post  90  is free to move downward against spring contact  92  fixed in frame  88 . Also, the body  82  includes an integrally formed rod  94  that projects through a hole in frame  88  and extends horizontally to the rear. A spring  96  is freely mounted on rod and retained thereon by a screw and washer  98 . A second washer  100  is freely mounted on rod  94  and bears against the frame  88  adjacent the hole to coact with the spring  96  to provide a restoring force for the body  82  whenever it is moved horizontally forward. At the forward end of the body  82  is mounted a resting plate  102  by means of a knurled set screw  104 . Plate  102  is provided with four arcuate outer edges  106  of differing curvatures to accommodate different curvatures of finger nails. By loosening the set screw  104 , the plate can be rotated by 90° increments to position the appropriate curved edge  106  to match the finger nail then being treated. The three position switch  110  is located at the right side of the machine, as shown in FIG. 5. The positions for the switch are predeterminable. As shown, the three positions are CENTER is off, RIGHT is to couple the motor to the wheels  14  and  16 , and LEFT is to couple the motor to oscillating plate  20 . The controls for these functions and their implementation will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing and subsequent description. Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a shielding and protective hood  120  that is fixed to the base  10  and surround the oscillating plate  20  and partially surrounds the plate member  38  and its mounting structure.  
         [0021]    Whereas the oscillations of the plate  20  have been generated according to the mechanism described, alternatives are possible. Two such alternatives are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 9 the oscillations are produced via a cam  130  mounted on the end of the shaft  66 . Cam bears against the edge or side of plate  20 , and due to its geometrical configuration drives the plate to the left as shown in FIG. 9. A restoring force is provided by a spring  132  that is hooked or fixed to plate  20  at one end and anchored at its other end to base  10  as indicated by reference numeral  134 . The second alternative is shown in FIG. 10 uses a mechanism is generally known as a crank and Pitman and consists of disc  140  mounted and fixed to the end of shaft  66 . An eccentrically mounted pin  142 , fixed to disc  140 , is connected pivotally to one end of a link  144 , the other end of which is pivotally fixed to the plate  20 . The arrangement will produce the desired oscillations.  
         [0022]    As described above, the invention utilizes a swing frame to connect the active plate and its holder by a transit part-turning bar sway around an axis. The way which movement force applies to the swing bar is not limited, as is evident from the above description. Such swing frame can form a basic arc movement, but still needs the structure described above in order that the requirement of good touch on different shapes of nails is met. As described, a turning bar  38  is connected to swing frame  20  by an axis and one or more springs. This enables the turning bar to turn and to be given the necessary desirable down-direction force. The flat or slightly arcuate surface  48  will give a good touch or contact and a greater area will be worked on for a variety of different shapes of nails, as possible when a nail is forced against plate  38  and the swing frame  20 . The plate  38  provides a minimum of two, and preferably three, surfaces  48 . The purpose is for the user to be able to turn plate  38  and to choose an appropriate surface, for example, general renewing, fine renewing and buffing. The mechanism of finger and nail support and convenience to turn plate holder is an advantage of the present invention. The inside (concave) arc shape for finger rest, such the finger rest can slide forward and backward easily is also an advantage. The spring mechanism is to make finger rest go back to its initial position, push finger rest to move forward and release finger rest let finger rest go back, is also an advantage. Such sliding finger rest makes it possible for different areas of a long nail to face against plate surface  48 . On the forward end of the finger rest, there is a long-nail support which can be positioned for a long nail or be turned to a minimum position, essentially put down, when the user just has short nails.  
         [0023]    There is a touch switch serially connected in the power circuit to the motor  50  that is provided by post  90  on the back of finger rest. The switch will be “ON” with a finger pressing post  90  down and will be “Off” when the finger releases the pressure and allows the post  90  to lift up to its repose position. This provides a safety and convenience for a user to provide on-off control of motor  50  and to stop the oscillations of plate  20  in order to turn the plate holder  38  to choose the appropriate surface  48  to perform the general renewing, fine renewing and buffing procedures in one step for one nail. When motor  50  is stopped, all motion stops, including the plate  20  and the wheels  14  and  16 . As noted previously, switch  110  enables the plate  20 , on the one hand, and the wheels  14  and  16 , on the other hand, to be selectively coupled to be driven by motor  50 , when the touch switch, controlled by post  90 , is actuated as described. Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, nevertheless, changes and modifications are possible that do not depart from the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as disclosed and taught herein. Such changes and modifications are deemed to fall within the purview of the invention as claimed.