Nail polish remover container

A manicuring device adapted for removing fingernail polish comprising a cylindrical receptacle defining an interior chamber with a plurality of integral bristle members spaced in rows and projecting inward to define a finger insertion area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The prior art contains many patents directed to nail polish removal 
receptacles which support or suspend an insert structure to aid in the 
removal of hardened nail polish from fingernails after the finger has been 
immersed into nail polish remover contained within the receptacle. U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 4,474,195; 4,440,181 and 4,282,891 disclose nail polish remover 
devices in which a receptacle is provided with a sponge or sponge-like 
absorbent member insert. The sponge member insert is provided with an 
aperture forming a finger hole into which the finger is placed. The 
absorbent sponge absorbs nail polish remover and upon insertion of finger 
into the sponge aperture, the polished fingernail comes into contact with 
the sponge and nail polish remover solution to remove the polish from the 
nail. The solution and polish fragments are wiped from the inserted 
fingernail by the sponge as the fingernail is removed from the jar. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,324 discloses a nail polish receptacle which is 
provided with a brush member. The brush member is disposed in the 
receptacle by wire legs which support the brush element in the approximate 
determinus of a circular finger opening. U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,931 discloses 
a nail polish remover receptacle containing a plurality of downwardly 
spaced apart free floating legs with an inwardly curved end portion. The 
legs have bristles or brush like elements secured thereto which extend 
inward. When a person inserts a finger into the device, the finger will 
contact the bristles and push the legs outward in such a manner that the 
nail polish remover liquid on the bristles will remove the nail polish 
from the fingernails. After a number of uses, the legs tend to spread 
apart so that a person can get a fingernail caught on the end of the leg, 
breaking the nail or a portion of the nail during the brushing motion. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,922 discloses a nail polish remover device in which a 
circular brush with a circular open center is mounted on a group of 
abutments extending inwardly from an insert surface. The brush member is 
positioned on the abutments and the brush stem is moved against the 
abutments to snap into an inclined position. 
The above cited patents have been specifically directed towards suspending 
the brush element within a receptacle. Thus the brush element when 
suspended within the receptacle does not provide the most efficient way of 
removing the nail polish from the fingernail, as well as being comprised 
of multiple pieces of separate construction and assembly which add to the 
cost of the unit and make the unit more difficult to assemble. 
Furthermore, there are reservations about the use of a sponge or 
sponge-like product in beauty salons because of the occurrence of 
bacterial collection and growth in the sponge. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides for a unique single piece injected molded 
unit which provides for better fingernail cleaning and conditioning 
through the use of molded brush bristles. The nail polish remover 
container has integral flexible bristles positioned in a spaced 
relationship for maximum interaction with a fingernail. 
Thus the bristles are positioned in a fixed relationship to eliminate 
catching of the bristles on the fingernail when the finger is inserted 
into the brush member. Each bristle member is spaced in bristle rows which 
are separated to allow a constant flow of nail polish remover or 
conditioner into the brushing area during the brushing period and 
continuous circulation of the liquid throughout the container. The 
container can be easily cleaned or sterilized to remove any bacterial or 
viral growths as well as any cuticle material that has been torn or pulled 
off by the brush. This is of particular importance where the cuticle area 
may be open and/or bleeding due to job related tearing of the cuticles or 
simply fingernail biting or picking. Such open wound areas could provide 
transmission of dangerous virus such as AIDS. Thus, the present invention 
provides a simple integrally molded container. 
These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present 
invention become apparent when considered with the teachings contained in 
the detailed disclosure along with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 
through 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the container is generally designated as 10 
and comprises a cylindrical plastic receptacle 12 having a circular 
opening 14 with a stepped threaded neck portion 16. The neck portion 16 
defines a continuous thread 17 which receives a grooved or channeled cap 
18 to provide a closed container. The cap 18 is formed with an inner 
annular rib 20 which extends down into the circular opening 14 and chamber 
22 of the receptacle adjacent the stepped neck portion 16. This rib 
provides additional support for the cap and keeps the stepped neck portion 
16 from bowing inward so that the cap fits flush on the receptacle. 
The thread 17 is formed on the neck portion outside surface opposite the 
cap threading groove or channel 19. The receptacle body has formed on its 
inner bottom surface 22 a circular stop 24. The body of the receptacle 
defines a plurality of spaced rows of bristles 26 which extend inward into 
the receptacle chamber 32 to define a finger insertion area 28. Each row 
26 preferably consists of twenty-four triangular shaped bristle members 30 
which are individually spaced apart. However, the bristle members can 
range in number from 20 to 40 depending on the finger engagement desired. 
There are twelve rows of bristles 26 equally spaced around the 
circumference of the interior of the cylindrical receptacle; however, the 
number of rows can range from ten to twenty. The spaces between the 
bristles 30 and the rows of bristles 26 allow nail polish remover or 
conditioner placed within the receptacle to freely flow into the brush 
area. The brush thus has a full 360.degree. radius and has no metal parts 
or sponge-like foam. 
The entire construction of the container and integral brush structure is 
preferably polyethylene and permits a finger to be inserted and withdrawn 
from the interior of the brush member. The composition of the brush 
structure and receptacle is such that it is virtually impervious to the 
deleterious effects of nail polish remover in both liquid and vapor phase. 
When nail polish remover solvent or conditioner is added to or contained 
within the receptacle, a finger is placed down into the brush member so 
that the brush bristles engage the hardened polish on the fingernail to 
abrade or fracture the surface of the polish. This fracturing in 
connection with additional bristles engaging the polish and the action of 
the polish remover solvent removes the polish from the nail surface. Upon 
removal of the finger from the receptacle, the bristles revert back to 
their previous memory position. 
If desired, the solvent material can be emptied from the receptacle and the 
receptacle washed out as desired and reused in any manner desired to 
provide optimum cleanliness and hygiene. 
In the foregoing description, the invention has been described with 
reference to a particular preferred embodiment, although it is to be 
understood that specific details shown are merely illustrative, and the 
invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the true 
spirit and scope of the following claims: