Abstract:
A fingernail polish removing device including a motor having an upwardly extending drive shaft. A drum is positioned above the motor and having an opening in the bottom thereof for receiving the drive shaft. A carriage is positioned within the drum and is secured to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A sponge is supported for rotation by the carriage. The sponge has a circular band positioned around the drive shaft and a plurality of teeth pointing inwardly from the circular band toward the drive shaft. A handrest is positioned atop the drive shaft for supporting the hand of a user while her fingernails are extended downwardly into the drum and are engaged with the teeth. A wiper is secured to the to the drum and has a wiper bar disposed between the circular band and the drive shaft for sequentially compressing the teeth as the sponge is rotated by the carriage so as to squeeze dirty cleaning solution from the sponge for collection in the bottom of the drum.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to toilet articles and, more particularly, to manicuring implements combined with motors. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It has always been difficult for an individual to remove fingernail polish from her fingernails. It is a time-consuming process requiring the rubbing of cotton balls saturated with cleaning solution against each of the polished fingernails. A mess is often made as the cleaning solution dissolves the fingernail polish and the concentrated pigments in the fingernail polish start to run and drip. These pigments stain skin, clothing, porous countertops, and just about anything else that they contact. If this were not bad enough, the fibers forming the cotton balls tend to separate, stick to the skin of a user, and anchor suspended pigments. For these reasons, many women will travel to a salon and pay a professional a substantial fee to remove fingernail polish. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In light of the problems associated with the known process and apparatus for removing polish from fingernails, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a device that quickly removes polish from fingernails with a minimum of mess. A user need only place the fingers of one hand partially into the device and, within a few seconds, all five fingernails are simultaneously cleaned. The device can accommodate both small and large hands, making it “one size fits all.” 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a fingernail polish removing device of the type described that is substantially self-cleaning such that the device immediately withdraws dirty cleaning solution from contact with the fingers of a user. Thus, the device minimizes the likelihood that the fingers of a user will be stained as fingernail polish is removed. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a fingernail polish removing device of the type described that is battery-powered and is, therefore, portable and can be used practically anywhere including home and salon. 
   It is still another object of the invention to provide a fingernail polish removing device of the type described that can be used with minimal instruction and no additional tools or accessories. Thus, solution-soaked cotton balls are a thing of the past when my device is employed. 
   It is an additional object of the invention to provide a fingernail polish removing device of the type described that also removes artificial fingernails made of acrylic or silk. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved features and arrangements thereof in a fingernail polish removing device for the purposes described that is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use. 
   Briefly, the fingernail polish removing device in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a base having a hollow, upwardly extending spindle. An electric motor is positioned within the base and has a drive shaft extending upwardly through the hollow spindle. A drum is removably positioned upon the base. The drum has an opening in its bottom and a sleeve extending upwardly from the periphery of the opening for receiving the spindle. A carriage is positioned within the drum and is secured to the top of the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A sponge is supported for rotation by the carriage. The sponge has a circular band positioned around the sleeve and a plurality of teeth pointing inwardly from the circular band. A handrest is positioned atop the drive shaft for supporting the hand or a user while her fingernails are extended downwardly into the drum and engaged with the teeth. A wiper is secured to the drum and has a wiper bar for compressing the teeth as the sponge is rotated to squeeze dirty cleaning solution from the sponge for collection in the bottom of the drum. A container for holding fingernail cleaning solution is secured to the base and is positioned adjacent to the drum. An electric pump is connected to the container for drawing fingernail cleaning solution from the container. A spout is connected to the pump and is positioned above the sponge for delivering cleaning solution to the teeth. A battery is selectively connected to the motor and the pump for energizing same. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fingernail polish removing device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the fingernail polish removing device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the fingernail polish removing device. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the drum of the fingernail polish removing device. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the FIGS., a fingernail polish removing device in accordance with the present invention is shown at  10 . Device  10  includes a base  12  having a housing  14  with a hollow spindle  16  that projects upwardly from the center of housing  14  and a fluid reservoir  18  that projects upwardly from one side of housing  14 . A drive shaft  20 , having a polygonal key  22  at its top, extends through spindle  16  and is rotated by an electric motor  24  mounted within housing  14 . Motor  24  is connected by electrical leads  26  to a battery  28  that is also mounted within housing  14 . A push-button switch  30  and a timing circuit  32  are connected to leads  26  such that, when switch  30  is pressed and released by a user of device  10 , motor  24  is energized to rotate drive shaft  20  for a predetermined period of time, say, fifteen seconds. 
   Reservoir  18  has a rectangular container  34  sized to hold at least two fluid ounces of cleaning solution  36 ; enough to remove the fingernail polish from ten fingernails of a single user. As shown, container  34  is integrally formed with the top of housing  14 . Container  34  has an open top, into which cleaning solution  36  can be poured, that is closed by a removable lid  38 . Affixed to lid  38  is a spout  45  that extends forwardly from container  34  toward spindle  16 . 
   Reservoir  18  is provided with a liquid pump  40  that is located at the bottom of container  34 . Pump  40  has an open inlet  42  for receiving cleaning solution  36  poured into container  34 . Pump  40  has an outlet  44  that is connected by means of a flexible hose  46  to spout  45 . When switch  30  is pressed and released by a user so as to energize motor  24 , pump  40  is also energized through timing circuit  32  for about five seconds to cause a predetermined quantity of cleaning solution  36 , perhaps one fluid ounce, in container  34  to flow from spout  45 . If desired, a manually adjustable valve (not shown) can be associated with spout  45  or hose  46  that finely adjusts the flow of cleaning solution  36  from spout  45 . 
   A drum  48  is removably positioned upon base  12 . Drum  48  has a circular bottom wall  50  from the periphery of which a cylindrical side wall  52  extends upwardly. A central opening  54  is provided in bottom wall  50  for loosely receiving spindle  16 . A tubular sleeve  56  surrounds opening  54  and spindle  16  and extends upwardly toward the open top of drum  48 . When base  12  and drum  48  are properly engaged, the polygonal key  22  atop of drive shaft  20  extends upwardly from both spindle  16  and sleeve  56 . 
   A pair of L-shaped rails  58  is integrally formed with side wall  52 . Rails  58  extend from the bottom to the top of side wall  52  and are disposed between side wall  52  and sleeve  56 . The free ends of rails  58  project inwardly toward one another so as to define a pair of opposed slots  60 . The tops of slots  60  are capped or blocked by integral bumpers  62 . 
   A wiper  64  is movably connected to drum  48 . Wiper  64  has a plunge bar  66  and a wiper bar  68  that are connected at their respective tops by a crosspiece  70 . Bars  66  and  68  have lengths substantially equal to the height of a sponge  72  positioned in drum  48  and described more fully hereinbelow. A pair of retaining pins  74  extends outwardly from the bottom of plunge bar  66  that are configured to slide up and down and pivot within slots  60  yet are prevented from withdrawal from slots  60  by bumpers  62 . Crosspiece  70 , however, has a length sufficient to suspend wiper bar  68  approximately midway between side wall  52  and sleeve  56 . The back of wiper bar  68  tapers in width toward plunge bar  66  for smooth engagement with sponge  72 . 
   A sealing ring  76  prevents the splashing of cleaning solution  36  into the top of spindle  16 . As shown, ring  76  is snugly fitted upon polygonal key  22  so as to rotate with drive shaft  20 . Ring  76  has an outer diameter sufficient to cover the top of spindle  16  yet not engage sleeve  56  of drum  48 . 
   A carriage  78  rests upon sealing ring  76 . Carriage  78  includes a hub  80  having a central opening  82  of polygonal outline that is sized to snugly, yet releasably, receive key  22 . Radiating outwardly from hub  80  at ninety degree intervals are four carriage arms  84 . Each of arms  84  has four segments  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  92  with: the first segment  86  extending outwardly from hub  80 , the second segment  88  extending vertically downward from the outer end of first segment  86 , the third segment  90  extending horizontally from the outer/bottom end of second segment  88 , and the fourth segment  92  extending vertically upward from the outer end of third segment  90 . Segments  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  92  are sized such that, when carriage  78  is positioned on drive shaft  20 , segments  88  are located closely adjacent sleeve  56  to minimize the likelihood of contact with the fingernails  94  of a user&#39;s hand  96  and segments  90  are located near the bottom wall  50  of drum  48 . 
   Sponge  72  is fitted atop carriage  78  and is rotated thereby. Sponge  72  has a thick circular band  98  that is supported from below by the third segments  90  of carriage arms  84 . Four bores  100 , positioned at ninety degree intervals about the circumference of band  98 , receive the fourth segments  92  of carriage arms  84 . Radiating inwardly from band  98  is a plurality of teeth  102  for scrubbing a user&#39;s fingernails  94 . Teeth  102  are dimensioned such that, as they are rotated past the tapered back of wiper bar  68 , they are compressed to squeeze dirty cleaning solution  36  therefrom. This dirty cleaning solution  36  runs down the exterior of wiper bar  68  and collects in the bottom of drum  48  beneath carriage  78  for disposal after device  10  is used. 
   A handrest  104  caps drive shaft  20  to support hand  96  during the use of device  10 . Handrest  104  includes a bottom part  106  and a top part  108  that are rotatably connected together. Bottom part  106  that rests upon hub  80  of carriage  78  and snugly receives the top of polygonal key  22 . Bearings  110  support top part  108  atop bottom part  106  and ensure that, when drive shaft  20  rotates bottom part  106  during normal use of device  10 , the orientation of top part  108  remains constant to support hand  96  without twisting. 
   With device  10  in a disassembled and drained state, a user first lifts lid  38  from container  34  and fills reservoir  18  with cleaning solution  36 . Then, drum  48  is set upon base  12  with spindle  16  extending upwardly through sleeve  56 . Now, ring  76  is set atop drive shaft  20 . Next, sponge  72  is positioned on carriage  78  with arm segments  92  being inserted into bores  100 . Afterward, hub  80  of carriage  78  is set upon key  22 . Wiper  64  is subsequently pivoted and pressed downwardly such that wiper blade  68  engages adjacent sponge teeth  102 . Finally, lid  38  is replaced atop container  34  and handrest  104  is set into place on key  22 . Device  10  is now ready to remove polish from the fingernails of fingers  94 . 
   Removing fingernail polish from fingernails is simple. First, a user places the palm of her hand  96  atop handrest  104  and pushes her fingers  94  between sponge teeth  102  and sleeve  56 . Next, switch  30  is momentarily pressed thereby energizing pump  40  and motor  24 . Pump  40  causes cleaning solution  36  is to be squirted from spout  45  for a few seconds and motor  24  causes sponge  72  to be rotated for a time. As sponge  72  rotates with carriage  78 , teeth  102  sweep fingernails with cleaning solution  36  so as to dissolve fingernail polish on the fingernails. After making three to ten revolutions, teeth  102  of sponge  72  typically remove all of the fingernail polish. 
   After teeth  102  sweep over all five fingernails, teeth  102  squeeze past wiper bar  68  for automatic cleaning. Wiper bar  68  compresses teeth  102  to squeeze the polish-laden cleaning solution  36  therefrom. This dirty solution  36  runs from sponge  72  and collects at the bottom of drum  48 . Drum  48  is removed periodically from base  12  and drained. 
   The just-squeezed teeth  102  rotate past spout  45  that, depending upon settings made in timing circuit  32 , deposits fresh cleaning solution  36  on teeth  102 . Cleaning solution  36  is driven through spout  45  by pump  40 . Spout  45  releases cleaning solution  36  only after the dirty solution  36  has been squeezed from teeth  102 . Thus, fingernail cleaning proceeds with maximum speed and with minimal fouling of sponge  72  and the fingers  94  of a user. 
   To remove artificial fingernails formed of acrylic or silk, a user need only pour enough cleaning solution  36  into reservoir  18  to drench her fingernails. As sponge  72  rotates, it deposits cleaning solution  36  on the artificial fingernails and dissolves them. Sponge  72  continues to rotate until all of artificial fingernails have been removed from fingers  94  of a user. 
   Device  10  is easily cleaned up after use. First, drum  48  is lifted from base  12  and wiper  64  is pivoted to the side to free sponge  72 . Then, sponge  72  is pulled from carriage  78  and washed in soap and water or discarded if considered to be disposable by a particular user. Next, drum  48  is drained of any dirty cleaning solution  36  and washed along with carriage  78  and handrest  104 . Base  12  is wiped down, if necessary. After subsequent reassembly, device  10  is available for immediate, hygienic reuse. 
   Since device  10  is powered by low-voltage storage batteries as at  28 , it can be used practically anywhere. Its small size lends itself for storage in suitcases; so, it can be easily transported for use during out-of-town trips. Once back home, device  10  can be easily stored in a drawer for convenient access. Professional salons, however, may choose to leave devices  10  on countertops for quick access and to show clients that the most up-to-date equipment is available to satisfy client needs. Since access to electrical outlets is not required to use device  10 , tripping over extension cords is never a problem. 
   While device  10  has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to it. Therefore, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited merely to device  10  described above, but encompasses any and all similar devices within the scope of the following claims.