Patent Number: 
Section: description

The instant invention is a device 10 that may be used to cure gel nail extensions and overlays. A housing 11 may hold the UV light sources needed to cure the gel preparations. Referring to FIG. 1, the housing 11 may have a front wall 12, two side walls 13, a rear wall 14, a top 15 and a bottom 16. There may be three horizontal openings in the front wall 12. The uppermost opening 17 which may be substantially the width of the front wall 12, the middle opening 18 which may be somewhat narrower, but centered, and the lowermost opening 19 which may also be substantially the width of the front wall 12 and may be adjacent to the bottom edge 21 of the front wall 12. There may also be a control panel 20 in the front wall 12. The housing 11 may be divided into three interior compartments as may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. The first compartment 22 may be accessed through the uppermost opening 17 and may contain a first UV lamp 25 affixed near the ceiling of the compartment so that the radiation may be directed at the floor 48 of the first compartment 22. The second compartment 23 may be accessed through the middle opening 18 and may contain a second UV lamp 26 affixed near the floor of the second compartment 23 so the radiation may be directed upward toward the ceiling 49 of the second compartment 23. The third compartment 24 may be accessed through the lowermost opening 19 and may have a third UV lamp 27 affixed near the ceiling of the third compartment 24 so the radiation may be directed at the floor 50 of the third compartment 24. Again referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, a first partition 28 may define the first compartment 22, a second partition 29 may define the second compartment 23, and a third partition 47 may define the third compartment 24. The partitions may be specifically shaped to accommodate the body parts to be placed into each compartment and to insure that the compartments are large enough to accommodate those body parts yet small enough so that the partitions which constitute the walls of each compartment are not too distant from the body parts and specifically from the nails to be treated. The inner surface of the partition defining each compartment may be coated with a reflective material to reflect and enhance the UV radiation from the lamps. If the compartments are too large and the walls too distant from the nails, a reflective surface would have little benefit since the intensity of the radiation varies inversely as the square of the distance. Therefore, the compartments may be large enough to comfortably accommodate hands and feet of various sizes yet small enough for the UV radiation to be usefully reflected from the walls with no chance of contact by the nails with the walls of each compartment. The partitions may be uniquely shaped to suit the individual needs of each compartment. The specific curves of the surfaces of each partition, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, may best concentrate the UV radiation toward the nails to be treated. The gel preparation may be applied to the nails of both hands. No curing may take place until the preparations are exposed to the UV radiation. It is for this reason that all nails should face the light source, for maximum exposure and an even cure. In use, a person having her fingernails treated may place her hand 32 (or hands) into the two upper compartments in such a manner that nails may be all horizontal, flat, and may receive the maximum radiation, all at the same time. The index finger 31 and other three fingers may be inserted into the first compartment 22 through the uppermost opening 17 so that the fingers lie flat against the floor 48 of the first compartment 22. At the same time the thumb 30 may be inserted into the second compartment 23 through the middle opening 18 so that the thumb 30 may rest flat against the ceiling 49 of the middle compartment 23. (FIGS. 4 and 5) Though the thumbs may be upside down, the gel material may begin to cure as soon as the UV lights are turned on. Therefore, there is minimal, if any, pooling or flow of the gel material. Any slight pooling that may occur may be in the center of the thumbnail and may easily be filed away when the nails are smoothed after the curing step. The vertical extend of the middle opening 18 may be greater than that of the uppermost opening 17 to better accommodate the thumb 30 at the proper orientation. This may be seen in FIG. 2. A rounded member may extend outwardly from the front wall 12 of the housing 11 between the uppermost opening 17 and middle opening 18 and may provide a hand rest 33 for the comfort of the user. The hand rest 33 may extend horizontally at least the length of the middle opening 18 or it may extend across the entire width of the front wall 12 of the housing 11. The dimensions of the device 10 may be such that the fingers of one or both hands may easily be accommodated within the first compartment 22 and second compartment 23. When gel applications to toenails are to be cured the device 10 may be placed on the floor or on a foot rest. The gel preparation may be applied to the nails of one foot 34 or both feet. One or both feet may be inserted through the lowermost opening 19 into the third compartment 24 and may rest on the floor 50 of that compartment as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. By affixing the third UV lamp 27 near the ceiling of the third compartment, the radiation may be directed toward the toes 35. The vertical extent of the lowermost opening 19 may be substantially greater than that of the uppermost opening 17 to better accept the feet. This may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7. The control system for the unit may take more than one form. A control panel 20 in the front wall 12 of the housing 11 may enable the operator to control which UV lamps are to be used and how long the nails are to be irradiated. There may be a timer 58 which may have an LED window 36 to indicate the number of minutes and seconds that are to be preset. Once the timer 58 is activated the changing LED readout may indicated the time passing and minutes and seconds remaining. The number of minutes may be set using a minute dial 37 and the number of seconds with a second dial 38. Alternatively, one dial may set both minutes and seconds. A start button 41 may be used to activate the system. There may also be lamp selection buttons, a first or hand button 39 which when pressed or turned may activate the first 25 and second 26 UV lamps for treatment of the fingernails, and a second or foot button 40 which when pressed or turned may activate the third UV lamp 27 for treatment of the toenails. In the alternative, the first button 39 and second button 40 may make the selection of lamp and activate the lamps without the need for a separate start button 41. The first button 39 and second button 40 may also have built in lights, 52 and 53 respectively, which may be turned on when the buttons are activated. Other function means known in the art may be utilized. See FIGS. 2 and 8. The electricity needed for the UV lamps may be provided by either line current delivered through an electric cord 51 or by a battery 42 located within the housing 11 and accessible through a panel 43 in the rear wall 14 of the housing 11. Ideally, the device may contain both power sources. The electrical circuit may be such that the device operates on 12 volt direct current. The line current may be directed through a step-down transformer 55 and a rectifier 56 in the same circuit as the battery 42 which may be constantly charging when the device is connected to a wall outlet. When the cord is removed from the outlet the device may then run by battery power. Other electrical arrangements may be used. There may also be a retractable cord mechanism 45 situated behind a second panel 46 in the rear wall 14 of the housing 11 which may be used when the device is operated by the battery so that a hanging electric cord 51 does not present a problem. (See FIG. 3) By having these alternate sources of power the device may be placed at any desired location and may not have to be placed adjacent to a wall outlet. Additionally, the presence of water may not create any hazard to the users when the device 10 is operated on battery power. Fuses 54 and a grounding strip 57 may also be included in the circuitry (FIG. 8 ). The housing 10 may be constructed of a polymeric material or other plastic material that is resistant to UV light. The housing may be made by injection molding or may be otherwise formed. It may also be made of wood or other rigid material. The completed device 10 may be lightweight and compact so that it may easily be transported and placed where the salon or spa client is situated. The UV lamps may preferably be tubular in shape to best provide the radiation over the defined surface areas. Since the device of the present invention may be powered by a battery, the device may be used while a person is in a hot tub, getting a massage or under a hair drier. It may also be used out of doors, in hospitals, convalescent homes, retirement residences, private residences and any other locations whether no not a wall outlet is accessible. This device enables the application of gel nail preparations to people who would otherwise not be able to receive them. While one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto and may be otherwise practiced within the scope of the following claims.