Abstract:
A method and apparatus for tooling and locking a handle to a pedicure blade is disclosed. The method and apparatus member presents an entire surface of the pedicure member to be available for use, the curving of the surface allows easy access to calluses in hard to reach areas, the blade thus may be sanitized in a disinfectant and the size of the blade is more convenient for storage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cosmetology devices. More specifically, it relates to a pedicure file. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pedicure devices are used to beautify and cleanse feet. One such device is a pedicure file. Pedicure files have abrasive surfaces of various levels of roughness, much like various grades of sandpaper. A measure of roughness of the abrasive surface of a pedicure file is called grit. Grit of common pedicure file surfaces typically run from 60 to 400. The abrasive particles of pedicure files are roughest with a grit of 60 and finest with a grit of 400. 
     Pedicure abrasive surfaces are typically placed on some backing material to form a pedicure file. The backing material provides the pedicure file with structural rigidity. Pedicure files are typically used to gently abrade the surface of the foot, removing dead skin particles and reducing the size of calluses. In the case of removing calluses, several different pedicure files with different grits will be used. Work on the callus will begin with a pedicure file having a smaller grit and therefore a rougher surface, gradually moving on up through the grit sizes, reducing the roughness of the abrasive surface on the pedicure file as the callus is removed. 
     The difficulty with typical pedicure files is that the area of the pedicure file covered by the hands of the pedicure technician is not available to use in an abrasive manner against the skin, and thus part of the surface area of the abrasive material is unavailable for use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus including a pedicure blade, insert and handle. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the pedicure blade of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of the blade of FIG. 2 rotated 90°. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a pedicure blade handle of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the pedicure blade handle insert of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of flexed handle just prior to insertion into the cavity defined by an end surface of the blade. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the unflexed handle as it engages the cavity defined by an end surface of the blade. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the unflexed handle with the insert locking the handle inside the cavity defined by an end surface of the blade. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to drawings wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. In order to show the structures of the claims most clearly, the drawings included herein are diagrammatic representations of indicated structures. Thus, the actual appearance of the fabricated structures, for example in a photograph, may appear different while still incorporating essential structures of the claims. Moreover, the drawings show only the structures necessary to understand the claims. Additional structures known in the art have not been included to maintain the clarity of the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a cosmetic apparatus, such as a pedicure file, with a detachable handle. In the illustration pedicure file  5  includes four components: blade  10 , handle  30  pedicure member  40  and insert  50 . To assemble the components, handle  30  is placed in a cavity in blade  10 . Insert  50  is placed within arm portions of handle  30  such that it can be moved towards blade  10  along the inside arm portion lengths of handle  30  and firmly wedge handle  30  into place, locking handle  30  to blade  10 . Pedicure member  40  may be adhered to a surface of blade  10 . 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of blade  10  of the pedicure file of FIG.  1 . Blade  10  has first side  14  and a second side  15  that are each capable of containing a pedicure member. According to one embodiment each side  14  and  15  of blade  10  has an area (length X width) on the order of five inches (about 12.5 centimeters) by two inches (about 5 centimeters). 
     Pedicure member  40  is similar to a piece of sandpaper. Pedicure surface  41  on a second side of pedicure member  40  contains an abrasive surface of various textures. One measure of texture is grit. On one extreme, a grit of 60 has a rough texture, and on the other extreme, a grit of 400 has the fine texture. First side  42  of pedicure member  40  comprises a surface suitable for adhering pedicure member  40  to first side  14  or second side  15  of pedicure blade  10  with an adhesive. Adhesives include a relatively permanent adhesive such as an adhesive substance (e.g. glue) and a non-permanent adhesive such as a hook and loop fastening system. 
     Typically, a single pedicure blade such as blade  10  may have pedicure members of differing grit. For example, in one embodiment, the pedicure member on first side  14  of blade  10  could have a grit of 80 while the pedicure member on second side  15  of blade  10  could have a finer grit of  120 . There can be other combinations for other embodiments of the blade handle. One purpose of having two sides to a single blade is so there are two levels of grit in a single tool. Having two levels of grit in a single tool allows the rougher grit to do the initial work of removing calluses and surface skin and the relatively finer grit to do the clean-up work. 
     Both first side  14  and second side  15  of pedicure blade  10  in FIG. 2 have a perimeter guard  16 . Perimeter guard  16  extends around first side  14  and second side  15 . The perimeter guard provides protection against contact with the edge of the pedicure member. The edge of the pedicure member is typically a very tough and jagged material similar to the backing paper of sandpaper. 
     Blade  10  includes first end surface  12 , and second end surface  13  opposite to first end surface  12 . End surfaces  12  and  13  each define a cavity within them that allows handle  30  to be inserted and engage the cavity. Blade  10  can be attached to handle  30  on either end surface  12  or  13  by means of the cavity defined in the end surface. First end surface  12  is illustrated in FIG. 2 as is second end surface  13  at a distal end of the blade from first end surface  12 . One advantage to this pedicure blade is that the entirety of the pedicure member placed in either first side  14  or second side  15  is available for pedicure filing. In this regard, entirety includes the entire surface of a pedicure member exclusive of the edge of the pedicure member which is surrounded by perimeter guard  16 . By removing the necessity to place the hand over a portion of the pedicure member, the fraction of that pedicure member available for filing has been increased. In one embodiment, the entirety of the pedicure member is available for use, because, for example, handle  30  can be removed from the cavity defined by first end surface  12 , blade  10  may be rotated 180 degrees and handle  30  may be inserted in the cavity defined by second end surface  13  of blade  10 . 
     An advantage of one embodiment of the blade having circular or oval first end surface  12  and second end surface  13  is a conformal shape to the outer surface of the pedicure member given by the circular or oval shapes of the first and second end surfaces. This conformal shape allows better access to contours in the outer surface of the skin of a foot. A contoured pedicure member will be better able to access these contours in the skin of a foot than a flat pedicure file. 
     An advantage of one embodiment of this detachable pedicure blade  10  is smaller storage area required to store blade  10 . With blade  10  removed from pedicure handle  30 , blade  10  can be stored in approximately half of the space required by a full blade with handle  5 . This reduction in the storage required per blade  10  is especially valuable in a commercial setting where there may be multiple customers to a single pedicure technician. The pedicure technician may, in one embodiment, keep the handle with themselves, while storing the blade in a reduced storage area dedicated to a particular client. 
     An advantage of one embodiment of having a removable pedicure blade  10  is that each blade  10  can be individually sanitized. Sanitizing blade  10  may reduce the transmission of any contamination from starting with one customer and transferring to another customer. The sanitation process can be accomplished by submerging the blade in a disinfectant solution for approximately 10 to 11 minutes. One such disinfectant solution is “Swiss Guard”™ distributed by OPI Incorporated of North Hollywood, Calif. This solution is a combination of disinfectants and cleaners specifically designed for use with pedicure blades. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates pedicure handle  30 . Pedicure handle  30  has two handle arms  38  that are at one end connected together by base  39  and while largely parallel, are free at the opposite end from base  39  to flex. In one example, flexing handle arms  38  would allow the ends of handle arms  38  that are free to move to be able to fit into a space or cavity smaller than they would be able to fit into otherwise, in an unflexed state. Adjacent the free ends of handle arms  38  are guiding edges  32  (e.g. inwardly tapered or angled edges) on either handle arm that allow for smoother insertion of handle arms  38  into a cavity of blade  10  defined by either first end surface  12  or second end surface  13 . Handle arms  38  each have a locking notch  34  formed therein approximately at an end position. Locking notch  34  allows handle arms  38  on relaxation of flexure to engage the cavity through which guiding edges  32  are inserted (e.g. a cavity of blade  10  defined by end surfaces  12  and  13 ). 
     In one embodiment, handle arms  38  each have groove  36  on an inner portion thereof. Grooves  36  provide a track for an object such as insert  50  described below, to move within. Grooves  36  run the length of handle arm  38 . In one embodiment, grooves  36  may have a stop to prevent insert  50  from being completely separated from handle  30 . One such stop is a cap at the free ends of each handle arm  38  over groove  36 . 
     Handle arms  38  are designed and sized for the comfort of and solid grip by the pedicure technician as required when performing a pedicure. Handle  30  may be fabricated from, but is not limited to, polypropylene or other plastically deformable structural materials. In one embodiment, handle  30  including guiding edges  32 , locking notches  34 , grooves for insert  36  handle arms  38  and base  39  may be formed in a single mold. In FIG. 3, handle arms  38  are formed with indentations corresponding to fingers of an adult human hand. 
     Guiding edge  32 , when handle arms  38  are flexed towards each other in one embodiment, better enable the handle to enter the cavity defined by first end surface  12  or second end surface  13  in FIG.  2 . When the flexure of handle arms  38  is released, locking notches  34  are able to engage the sides of the cavity defined by first end surface  12  or second end surface  13  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an insert that can be placed in handle  30 . Insert  50  has a handle groove tongue  52  on either side that fits into the groove for insert  36  of FIG.  3 . Handle groove tongue  52  allows insert  50  to slide up and down the interior of handle  30 . Finger grips  56  give the person assembling the pedicure blade somewhere to grab so that insert  50  can be moved up and down in grooves  36  of handle  30  in FIG.  3 . Contact wedges  54  on either side of insert  50  fill the remainder of the cavity defined by first end surface  12  or second end surface  13  left by the locking end of handle arms  38  of handle  30 . By pushing insert  50  up into contact with blade  10 , blade  10  locks on handle  30 ; and squeezing handle  30  will not be possible. Sliding insert  50  into that portion of the cavity defined by first end surface  12  or second end surface  13  remaining open by the blade after the flexing of the blade is released, allows avoiding the accidental release of the blade as a pedicure is being performed. To release blade  10 , insert  50  needs to be moved towards the base  39  of handle  30 . In this way the handle, when squeezed, can be removed from the blade. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of flexed handle  30  just prior to insertion into the cavity defined by an end surface  13  of the blade  10 . In one embodiment, the free ends of handle arms  38  are flexed together to allow them to enter the cavity defined by end surface  13  of blade  10 . Insert  50  is positioned at the far end of handle arms  38  from notches  34 . This positioning of insert  50  allows maximum flexing of free end of handle arms  38 . Handle  30  is introduced into the cavity defined by end surface  13  of blade  10  while in flexed position. Guiding edges  32  on the free ends of handle arms  38  help introduce the free ends of handle arms  38  into the cavity defined by end surface  13 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of the unflexed handle  30  as it engages the cavity defined by end surface  13  of blade  10 . In the unflexed or relaxed state handle arms  38  resume their relaxed distance from one another, allowing notches  34  to engage the edge of the cavity defined by end surface  13 . In the relaxed state, handle arms  38  are again substantially parallel, allowing insert  50  to move the entire length of the handle  30 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic side view of relaxed handle  30  with insert  50  locking handle  30  inside the cavity defined by end surface  13  of blade  10 . In one embodiment, insert  50  is moved through the interior of handle  30 , between handle arms  38 , to it is in contact with both handle arms  38  of handle  30 , and end surface  13  of blade  10 . Insert  50  fills the remainder of the cavity defined by end surface  13  that is left unfilled by relaxed handle arms  38 . Contacting end surface  13  of blade  10  allows insert  50  to force handle arms  38  to remain in the unflexed state. Remaining in the unflexed state, locks handle  30  to blade  10 . 
     In the preceding detailed description, the invention is described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.