Method and device for filing nails

Disclosed is a method of filing a synthetic nail comprising rubbing the nail with a unique device that captures dust produced by filing. The device includes an elongated, rigid, support member having a generally flat, planar support surface. A foam strip is attached to the planar surface of the rigid support member and it has a generally flat, planar, tacky support surface. An abrasive member is bonded to the planar support surface of the foam strip comprising a crisscrossed arrangement of spaced apart, thread-like filaments having gritty abrasive material embedded therein. The crisscross arrangement of filaments forms a plurality of cavities open at the surface of the abrasive member to collect and hold therein nail dust produced upon rubbing the abrasive member against a nail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a method and device for filing human finger and 
toenails, and particularly, for filing synthetic nails bonded to human 
finger and toenails. 
2. Background Discussion 
Synthetic nails are frequently used to improve the strength and appearance 
of human nails. Such synthetic nails, usually made of an acrylic polymeric 
material, are bonded to the surface of human nails and then shaped by 
filing. One type of nail file commonly used comprises a support member 
having a foam material bonded to the support member and a sandpaper glued 
to the surface of the foam. There is a problem encounter when filing 
synthetic nails with such a conventional nail file. A dust is produced 
which, in many instances, irritates the eyes, nose and skin of persons in 
the vicinity. This dust may poses a heath hazard to some sensitive 
individuals. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the objective of this invention to provide a nail filing device which 
captures a substantial amount of the dust produced during nail filing. 
Broadly, the nail filing device of this invention comprises an elongated, 
rigid, support member having support surface, and an abrasive member 
bonded to the support surface having a plurality of cavities therein open 
at the surface of the abrasive member and having an internal tacky surface 
to which nail dust adheres when produced upon rubbing the abrasive member 
against a nail. This invention also includes a method of filing a 
synthetic nail by rubbing the nail with the device of this invention. This 
method is especially useful in filing an acrylic nail. In this method, the 
device is periodically cleaned to remove captured nail dust by rinsing 
with water. 
A foam strip is attached to the support surface of the rigid support member 
and this foam strip has a generally flat, planar, tacky support surface. 
An open screen-like abrasive member is bonded to the planar support 
surface of the foam strip. This abrasive member comprises a crisscrossed 
arrangement of spaced apart, thread-like filaments having gritty abrasive 
material embedded in the filaments. The crisscrossed arrangement of 
filaments forms the open top cavities which have a tacky floor formed by 
the tacky adhesive surface of the foam strip. The dust adheres to this 
floor. These cavities thus collect and hold the nail dust produced upon 
rubbing the abrasive member against a nail. 
The filaments typically have an average diameter from 1/64 to 1/8 inch. The 
abrasive member has a mesh from 1/64 to 1/16 inch, and a grit from 80 to 
1200. The cavities typically have a depth ranging between 1/64 and 1/8 
inch, and a volume ranging from 0.0002 to 0.02 cubic inch. The support 
member, foam strip, and abrasive member are made of water resistance 
materials. Preferably, both sides of the support member are covered by 
foam strips with the tacky surfaces of the strips having the open 
screen-like abrasive member bonded to them. 
The device and method of this invention have several features, no single 
one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without 
limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims which 
follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed in the section 
of this application entitled, "DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 
EMBODIMENT." After considering this preferred embodiment of the invention, 
one will understand how its features provide its advantages, which include 
simplicity of use and substantial reduction of airborne nail dust.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the nail filing device 10 of this 
invention includes an elongated support member 12, preferably made from a 
polymeric material such as a strip of polystyrene. Both the topside and 
underside of the support member 12 are generally flat, smooth, planar 
surfaces 18 and 20, respectively. Adhering to and covering these surfaces 
18 and 20 are, respectively, foam sheets 22 and 24, each having a 
thickness of from 1/64 to 1/2 inch. Suitable foam sheets 22 may be 
obtained from the Avery Corporation sold under the trademark VOLERA. This 
foam material has a long-lasting, tacky adhesive on both sides of a closed 
cell polyurethane foam strip. Thus, when pressed firmly against the 
support member 12, the foam sheets 22 and 24 bond, respectively, to the 
flat, smooth surfaces 18 and 20. 
Each of the foam sheets 22 and 24 present flat, smooth, and tacky support 
surfaces 26 and 28, respectively. Bonded to these surfaces 26 and 28 are 
abrasive members 30 and 32, respectively. Suitable abrasive members may be 
obtained from Norton Consumer Products of Worchester, Massachusetts. These 
members 30 and 32 are essentially screen clothes coated with sharp, 
silicon carbide abrasive on both sides of the clothes. Each of these 
abrasive members 30 and 32 comprise a number of filaments 34, which have 
tiny, gritty, silicon carbide particulates 34a (FIG. 3) embedded in the 
filaments. These filaments are arranged in a crisscrossed configuration, 
generally at right angles to form, when carried on the support surfaces 26 
and 28, cavities 38. These cavities 38 each have an open top at the 
surface of the abrasive members 30 and 32 through which dust particles 
enter the cavities. The floors of the cavities 38 are the tacky surfaces 
26 and 28, respectively, of the foam sheets 22 and 24. Dust particles 
stick to these surfaces 26 and 28. 
To use the device 10, one simply rubs the filaments 34 against a finger 
nail, unavoidably producing nail dust. Most of this nail dust is captured 
in the cavities 38, sticking to the floors of the cavities, the surfaces 
26 and 28. Experimental data indicates that as much as 70% of the nail 
dust produced is captured. One periodically cleans the device 10 by simply 
rinsing in water. Since all the materials are water resistant, the device 
10 may be rinsed repeatedly and reused. 
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying 
out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and 
using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any 
person skilled int he art to which it pertains to make and use this 
invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and 
alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully 
equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention 
to the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is 
to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the 
spirit and scope of the intentions generally expressed by the following 
claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject 
matter of the invention;