Manicure tool

A manicure tool that includes an elongated housing shaped to be grasped by a user thereof to control the application of a nail polish to a finger nail or toe nail of a client; a brush supported at one end of the housing for controlling the application of the nail polish; a docking pad constructed and arranged to be engaged with the finger or toe at a location that is proximate to the finger nail or toe nail; and a pivot member for coupling the docking pad to the elongated housing at the one end of the elongated housing. The pivot member allows the housing to be pivoted relative to the docking pad and, in turn, controls the brush so as to be swept over the surface of the nail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a manicure tool and pertains, more particularly, to an improved and universal manicure tool that is particularly adapted for providing a French manicure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various devices do exist for assisting in a French manicure. The usual procedure is to use a brush that is hand held. However, one problem with this technique is that because the brush is hand held, a proper French manicure with clean lines is not possible. In the prior art there are provided templates such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,704 to Dombeck.

However, this requires a rather complex set up and still does not provide an effective technique for providing a proper French manicure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved manicure tool and one that is particularly adapted for providing a French manicure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail polish applicator that can be used for a variety of purposes in addition to performing a French manicure.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved manicure tool that is easy to operate and that is relatively simple in construction and that can be manufactured in an economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention there is provided a manicure tool that includes an elongated housing shaped to be grasped by a user thereof to control the application of a nail polish to a finger nail or toe nail of a client; a brush supported at one end of the housing for controlling the application of the nail polish; a docking pad constructed and arranged to be engaged with the finger or toe at a location that is proximate to the finger nail or toe nail; and a pivot member for coupling the docking pad to the elongated housing at the one end of the elongated housing. The pivot member allows the housing to be pivoted relative to the docking pad to, in turn, control the brush so as to be swept over the surface of the nail.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the brush is constructed and arranged to provide a French manicure; the brush preferably has an arcuate tip; the brush is supported at the housing so as to be slideable longitudinally; the brush is slideable between positions more and less remote from said housing including a slide button for controlling the translation of the brush; and preferably a carriage for supporting the brush enabling sliding action thereof. The docking pad is preferably removably attached to the pivot member; and the docking pad may be supported from the pivot member by a detachable magnet means. The docking pad also preferably includes means for securing the docking pad to the finger or toe; wherein the means for securing includes one of a pair of legs and a ring. The tool housing may also include a second brush supported at an opposite end of the housing and a manual button or wheel for adjusting the position of the second brush relative to the housing.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention there is provided a nail polish applicator that includes an elongated housing shaped to be grasped by a user thereof to apply a nail polish to a finger nail or toe nail of a client; a brush supported at one end of the housing for controlling the application of the nail polish; a docking pad constructed and arranged to be engaged with the finger or toe at a location that is proximate to the finger nail or toe nail; and a pivot member for coupling the docking pad to the elongated housing at the one end of the elongated housing. The pivot member allows the housing to be pivoted relative to the docking pad and, in turn, controls the brush so as to be swept over the surface of the nail.

In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the brush may be constructed and arranged to provide a French manicure, and the brush has an arcuate tip; the brush is supported at the housing so as to be slideable longitudinally between positions more and less remote from said housing, and including a slide button for controlling the translation of the brush; the docking pad is removably attached to the pivot member, and includes means for securing the docking pad to the finger or toe; and including a second brush supported at an opposite end of the housing, and including a manual button for adjusting the position of the second brush relative to the housing.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for applying a French Manicure to a toe or finger nail comprising: providing an elongated housing shaped to be grasped by a user thereof to control the application of a nail polish to a finger nail or toe nail of a client by means of a brush supported at one end of the housing for controlling the application of the nail polish; providing a docking pad constructed and arranged to be engaged with the finger or toe at a location that is proximate to the finger nail or toe nail; and pivoting the housing relative to the docking pad to, in turn, control the brush so as to be swept over the surface of the nail. A further step is linearly adjusting the position of the brush between positions more and less remote from the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description there are basically two different procedures that are set forth relating to providing a French manicure. The French manicure usually involves providing a white tip on the nail. As mentioned previously, this is usually done by hand. However, in accordance with the present invention there is now provided a tool that essentially has a docking section that enables the tool to be readily pivoted from the finger, thumb or toe so as to allow a brush, attached thereto, to be swept in a manner to either provide a demarcation line or to remove previously applied polish to provide a smooth curvature.

As illustrated in the drawings herein, the manicure tool is comprised basically of an elongated housing or frame10. As illustrated in the drawings, the housing10is an elongated shape and is basically cylindrical having brushes at opposed ends thereof. The elongated housing10is shaped to be grasped by a user thereof to control the application of a nail polish or nail polish remover to a finger nail, thumb nail or toe nail of a client.

A brush20is supported at one end of the housing10and is adjustable in position. Adjacent to the brush20there is provided a docking pad30that is preferably detachably supported from the housing at the end12. The docking pad30, such as illustrated inFIG. 10is constructed and arranged to be engaged with the finger, thumb or toe at a location that is proximate to the finger, thumb or toe nail40. See the illustration ofFIG. 10wherein the docking pad30is disposed on the finger32close to the nail40.

Reference toFIG. 1illustrates one of the brushes20attached with the housing10and a supplemental brush20A that is smaller and narrower than the wider brush20. Each of these brushes is supported by an angled support leg22. The narrower brush20A is used in one of the procedures described herein for providing a thin demarcation line of a nail polish or nail enamel.

As depicted inFIGS. 1-7, each of the brushes is supported by an angled leg22. The leg22is meant to engage with the housing10adjacent to an adjustment wheel24. The leg of the brush may be frictionally engaged between the wheel24and a wall of the housing. As depicted inFIG. 7, by rotation of the wheel24in the direction of arrow25, the position of the brush may be adjusted between a position shown in solid outline and an extended position shown in dotted outline inFIG. 7.

Reference is now made toFIGS. 1-6for an illustration of a second brush50that is supported at the opposite end17of the housing10. The brush50is also adjustable in a longitudinal direction of arrow51, as depicted inFIG. 6.FIG. 5actually illustrates the brush50in an extended position whileFIG. 6illustrates the brush50in a stowed position. These two positions are controlled by means of a slide button54that is mounted in the housing10. The button54can slide within the slot55in the housing to the different positions as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. The button54attaches to a shaft56that supports the brush50. The brush50provides an additional means for the application of a nail polish or a nail polish remover.

The docking pad30preferably has a concave shape so that it matches the contour of the finger32, as depicted inFIG. 10.FIG. 11shows the docking pad30being held in place by means of the thumb35. The docking pad30is preferably constructed of a relatively rigid material and may be constructed, for example, of plastic or thin metal.

The manicure tool of the present invention is also provided with a pivot member for coupling the docking pad to the elongated housing at the end12of the elongated housing. In this regard, reference may be made toFIGS. 1,7and8. This pivot member is preferably of a type that will enable the docking pad30to be removed from the elongated housing10. One embodiment is illustrated herein inFIGS. 7 and 8in the form of a ball and socket60. The ball and socket60includes a socket member62and an engaging ball63. This ball and socket arrangement may be constructed so that it is joined by a magnet. The magnet can be formed as part of either the ball or socket and the other portion would then be a metal such as steel. As depicted inFIG. 8, the socket62is connected by arm64to the docking pad30and ball63is coupled to the housing by means of arm65. The pivot member allows the housing to be rotated allowing a pivoting of the brush. The docking pad remains stationary during this procedure. Refer toFIG. 11for an illustration of the pivoting at the ball and socket60shown by means of the arrow67. Refer also to the same pivoting action illustrated inFIG. 14in connection with the brush20A.

It is noted that both the brush20and the brush50preferably have an arcuate tip at the ends of the bristles.

As indicated previously in, for example,FIG. 11, the docking pad30can be held in place by the thumb35. Alternatively, the docking pad30may be provided with either a pair of side legs or a ring. This is illustratively depicted inFIG. 13at39. If opposed legs are used then the pad can simply be urged over the finger and held in place by the legs. Alternatively, if a ring is used then the pad can be slid on the finger and thus held in place. This may be advantageous in that one may not need then to hold the pad in place. Reference is now made toFIGS. 1-12for a first technique used in forming a French manicure using the manicure tool of the present invention. This preferably uses the wider brush20which may be adjusted as depicted inFIG. 7between different positions closer to or remote from the housing10. This adjustment would depend upon the placement of the docking pad30as well as the length of the particular nail being worked upon.FIG. 9depicts the application of a nail polish from a separate brush70, as from a nail polish bottle72. As noted inFIG. 9, the polish is administered at40A but in a somewhat uneven manner.FIGS. 10-12illustrate a next step in which the brush20A is used to create a smooth demarcation line. For this purpose a nail polish remover may be applied to the brush20and this is where the tool is used to rotate the brush20in the direction of arrow67to remove part of the nail polish and provide a clean edge between the nail polish and the edge. Do to the arcuate nature of the tip of the brush, this will provide an arcuate surface as indicated at75inFIGS. 11 and 12. As indicated previously, this sweeping motion occurs by means of rotation of the housing10about longitudinal axis10A (seeFIG. 3).

Reference is now made toFIGS. 13-16for an alternate technique in forming a French manicure. For this technique, the narrow brush20A is employed.FIG. 13shows the manner in which the docking pad30is held in place either by the legs or ring39or by the finger as indicated inFIG. 14. The brush20A has a nail polish applied thereto and this, being a narrow brush, when swept in the direction of arrow67as depicted inFIG. 14, causes a narrow nail polish demarcation line indicated at69inFIG. 14. Once this step has occurred, then further nail polish may be applied by the brush50as depicted inFIG. 15to essentially fill in the area49with more nail polish. Because there is presently a narrow band69of nail polish previously applied by the brush20A, one can then easily fill in the area49and provide a finished nail as illustrated inFIG. 16.

Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.