Abstract:
A compact, portable self-pedicure unit for use in performing self-pedicures. The self-pedicure unit includes an adjustable foot support and at least one product storage compartment. The adjustable foot support provides for positioning of the foot at an angle optimal for comfort, support, and pedicure results. The product storage compartment(s) provide the user of the self-pedicure unit with easy access to and retrieval of pedicure related supplies during performance of a self-pedicure. The product storage compartment(s) further provide for storage of pedicure related products when the unit is not in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pedicure unit, but more specifically to a compact, portable self-pedicure unit. 
     A pedicure is a cosmetic treatment of the foot, such as nail trimming, polishing, etc., typically performed on the foot of a second person by a trained pedicurist. A self-pedicure is a pedicure that one person performs on himself or herself. Pedicures are typically performed on a second person, however, because it is typically extremely awkward for a single person to position and maintain the foot in a comfortable position while performing a self-pedicure treatment. However, having a pedicure performed by a trained pedicurist is typically expensive. Therefore, not everyone who desires a pedicure may be able to afford to receive a pedicure from a trained pedicurist. Conversely, performing a self-pedicure is typically not expensive. 
     Numerous pedicure devices may be observed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,457 (the &#39;457 patent) issued on Feb. 21, 1978 to Williams is representative of a typical present day two-person pedicure unit. FIG. 1 of the &#39;457 patent discloses a large bench treatment unit  10  of a height that enables a seated person  14  to receive a pedicure from a pedicurist or another person. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the treatment unit  10  includes a flat center tray  33 , baths  30 , and storage compartments  26 . The baths  30  are located to the right and left of the center tray  10  and the storage compartments  26  are located at the right and left ends of the bench treatment unit  10 . To receive a pedicure treatment, the seated person may soak the foot  13  in one of the baths  30  and then place the foot on the center tray  10 . The bench treatment unit  10  is designed to allow a second person such as a pedicurist to sit across from and perform a pedicure on the seated person  14 . The bench treatment unit  10  is not designed to allow the seated person  14  to perform a self-pedicure. 
     With regard to self-pedicure units, several systems may be found in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,268 (the &#39;268 patent) issued on Oct. 31, 1981 to Kitrell discloses a self-pedicure unit  10 . FIGS. 1 and 2 of the &#39;268 patent illustrates a self-pedicure unit  10  including supports  12 ,  14  and a foot plate  16 . A support extends from the foot plate  16  downward to the floor. A second support  14  extends from the first support  12  to a toilet bowl  90 . In operation the supports  12 ,  14  support the foot plate  16  such that the person using the self-pedicure unit  10  may sit on the toilet lid  94 , place their foot on the foot plate  16 , and perform a self-pedicure. Although the &#39;268 patent teaches a self-pedicure unit, it suffers from several drawbacks. For example, the self-pedicure unit of the &#39;268 patent allows a foot to slip off of the positioning surface, the operator does not have ready accessibility to all needed pedicure supplies, and the foot surface may be awkward for some users. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,682 (the &#39;682 patent) also illustrates a self-pedicure unit S. The self-pedicure unit S of the &#39;682 patent includes a foot support  10  that incorporates a vibrating means  30 , blower  42 , and a lamp  56 . The vibrating means, blower, and lamp aide in the performing of a pedicure or a self-pedicure. Although the &#39;682 patent teaches a self-pedicure unit, it suffers from several drawbacks. For example, the self-pedicure unit of the &#39;682 patent does not provide the operator with ready accessibility to all needed pedicure supplies and the foot surface may be awkward for some users. 
     Thus a need has long been felt for a self-pedicure unit including the desirable factors of (1) ready accessibility to all needed pedicure supplies, (2) comfortable positioning of the foot, (3) prevention of slipping of the foot during treatment, and (4) ease of performing a self-pedicure treatment. Such a self-pedicure unit is very desirable by persons who desire a pedicure but can not afford a pedicure by a pedicurist. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a self-pedicure unit including an adjustable foot support and internal storage compartments. The adjustable foot support of the self-pedicure unit provides a surface that supports the foot during a self-pedicure treatment. In addition, the angle of the adjustable foot support may be changed such that the foot is supported at an angle comfortable to the person using the unit. The internal storage compartments of the self-pedicure unit provide for of the various pedicure supplies so that the procedure supplies are easily accessible to the person using the unit for performing the self-pedicure. Additionally, the internal storage compartments provide for storage of pedicure supplies within the unit when not being used. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a self-pedicure unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the self-pedicure unit of FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical slice of the base module of FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a self-pedicure unit  100  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The self-pedicure unit  100  includes a base module  102  and a lid module  104 . The lid module  104  is positioned on the base module  102  and connected to the base module  102 . The self-pedicure unit  100  is sized such that the self-pedicure unit  100  is easily portable and is capable of being utilized in almost any setting. Preferably, the self-pedicure unit  100  is approximately 13 inches wide by 13 inches long by 6 inches high. The body module  102  and the lid module  104  are preferably constructed of a rigid material such as a plastic by injection molding. Alternatively, the self-pedicure unit may be constructed by affixing semi-rigid panels over a rigid frame. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the self-pedicure unit  100  of FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 above, the self-pedicure unit  100  includes a base module  102  and a lid module  104 . 
     Base module  102  includes a self-pedicure compartment base  200 , left divider  202 , and right divider  204 . Self-pedicure compartment base  200  includes a bottom  206 , left wall  208 , right wall  210 , front wall  212 , rear wall  214 , left wall hinges  216 , right wall hinges  218 , front wall hinge  220 , front left divider positioning locks  222 , rear left divider positioning locks  224 , front right divider positioning locks  226 , rear right divider positioning locks  228 , and a support arm fixing point  230 . 
     The left divider  202  is connected to the self-pedicure compartment base  200  by the front left divider positioning locks  222  and rear left divider positioning locks  224 . The right divider  204  is connected to self-pedicure compartment base  200  by the front right divider positioning locks  226  and rear right divider positioning locks  228 . 
     The lid module  104  includes a left lid  250 , right lid  252 , center contoured lid  254 , and contoured lid support arm  256 . The left lid  250  includes left lid hinges  258  and left lid hinge pins  260 . The right lid  252  includes right lid hinges  262  and right lid hinge pins  264 . The center contoured lid includes a foot positioning area  266 , heel stop  268 , center contoured lid hinge  270 , center contoured lid hinge pin  272 , and center contoured lid support arm attachment clips  274 . The support arm  256  includes a support arm hinge  276 , support arm hinge pin  278 , and support arm clips  280 . 
     The left lid  250  is connected to the left wall  208  by the left wall hinges  216 , left lid hinges  258 , and left lid hinge pins  260 . The right lid  252  is connected to the right wall by the right wall hinges  218 , right lid hinges  262 , and right lid hinge pins  264 . The center contoured lid  254  is connected to the front wall  212  by the front wall hinge  220 , center contoured lid hinge  270 , and center contoured lid hinge pin  272 . The support arm  256  is connected to the center contoured lid  254  by the center contoured lid support arm attachment clips  274 , support arm hinge  276 , and support arm hinge pin  278 . 
     When assembled the self-pedicure unit of the present invention includes several internal compartments. FIG. 3 illustrates a horizontal slice of the base module  102  of FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention to illustrate the storage compartments of the self-pedicure unit. As shown in FIG. 2 above, the base module  102  includes the left divider  202 , right divider  204 , bottom  206 , left wall  208 , right wall  210 , front wall  212 , and rear wall  214 . A left internal storage compartment  302  is formed by the combination of the left divider  202 , bottom  206 , left wall  208 , front wall  212 , and rear wall  214 . A right internal storage compartment  304  is formed by the combination of the right divider  204 , bottom  206 , right wall  210 , front wall  212 , and rear wall  214 . A center internal storage compartment  306  is formed by the combination of the left divider  202 , right divider  204 , bottom  206 , front wall  212 , and rear wall  214 . The left internal storage compartment  302  is fully enclosed by the addition of the left lid  250 . The right internal storage compartment  304  is fully enclosed by the addition of the right lid  252 . The center internal storage compartment  306  is fully enclosed by the addition of the center contoured lid  254 . 
     In operation, a person desiring to use the self-pedicure unit  100  may raise the center contoured lid  254  and fix the position of the center contoured lid  254  by securing the support arm  256  on the rear wall  214  by attaching the support arm clips  280  onto the support arm fixing point  230 . The person may then place a foot (not shown) on the center contoured lid  254  such that the heel of the foot is against the heel stop  268 . The person then may then retrieve pedicure-related products from one or more of the various storage compartments  302 ,  304 ,  306  and perform a self-pedicure. For example, the person may open left lid  250  to expose the left internal storage compartment  302  and retrieve a pedicure-related product such a pair of scissors or a file. 
     Once the self-pedicure is complete, the self-pedicure unit may be easily configured for storage. That is, when the self-pedicure is complete, the person may return the pedicure related products to the storage compartments  302 ,  304 ,  306 , shut the left lid  302 , shut the right lid  304 , disconnect the support arm clips  280  from the support arm fixing point  230 , fold the support arm  256  under the center contoured lid  254 , and shut the center contoured lid  254 . The self-pedicure unit as configured for storage may be easily and conveniently stored anywhere until needed again. 
     Although FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the self-pedicure unit  100 , several alternate embodiments may also be used. For example, instead of using the hinges  216 ,  218 ,  258 ,  262 , the lids  250 ,  252  may snap onto the walls of self-pedicure compartment base  200 . The hinges  216 ,  218 ,  258 ,  262  may also be replaced by other mechanical fasteners such as flexible plastic joining. Also, in the alternative, the divider positioning locks  222 ,  224 ,  226 ,  228  may be replaced by other mechanical fasteners such as screws or adhesive, for example. Also, the center contoured lid  254  may be constructed as either a flat plate, a flat plate with a non-slip surface, and/or contoured to the shape of a foot. Additionally, the adjustability of the support arm  256  may be increased by including additional positioning slots, located on the interior of the rear wall  214 , or by including a sliding positioner on the bottom side of the center contoured lid  254 . 
     While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teaching. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications and incorporate those features which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.