Abstract:
A slightly bendable nail file which reveals indicia in the form of a pictorial image. The file comprises a flexible foamed synthetic resin core sandwiched by paperboard panels. Each paperboard panel has a layer of transparent grit bonded thereto. At least one paperboard panel has a photograph formed thereon, the photograph being outwardly visible through the transparent grit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to flat, hand held files of the type generally employed for abrading finger nails and the like. More particularly, the invention comprises a file having indicia disposed thereon, with transparent grit or abrasive disposed over the indicia. The indicia is revealed through the transparent grit. The file may be employed in conventional fashion while displaying the indicia without obstruction from the grit both in its original condition and after it has been employed for abrading. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Finger nail files are generally purely utilitarian devices intended for abrading finger nails. They generally comprise planar members having a rough surface suitable for abrading finger nails. Finger nail files are generally fabricated in one of two ways. The file may be formed from a stratum of metal, such as steel, which is scored or otherwise treated to have a roughened or abrasive surface. 
     While steel files are durable, they lack flexibility. Flexibility imparts an ability to conform to a body surface. Conformity enables a more even polishing to be achieved. Flexible finger nail files have been provided in the prior art by forming the file from parallel strata including a flexible core stratum and surrounding strata fabricated from materials suitable for carrying abrasive in the form of grit of predetermined fineness. 
     Flexible nail files or similar implements are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,459,987 and 4,534,138, issued to William E. Pangburn respectively on Jul. 17, 1984, and Aug. 13, 1985, U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,483, issued to David Bray on May 22, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,981, issued to Dallas H. Stephens on Sep. 16, 1997, as well as in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,561, issued Aug. 6, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,637, issued May 5, 1992. U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,520, issued to Edwin F. Neckermann on Oct. 22, 1996, describes translucent or transparent grit. However, none of these patents shows or suggests use of indicia on a nail file, much less indicia revealed behind transparent or translucent grit, these being characteristics of the present invention. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a file displaying indicia on at least one broad face. In a preferred embodiment, the face displaying indicia also bears abrasive grit. The grit is transparent or translucent, so as to reveal the indicia below. The face of the file therefore performs two functions, those of displaying indicia and also bearing a roughened surface for abrading. 
     Indicia may take any form, such as a pictorial image or imprinted data. The data may convey messages relating to advertising, instructions, identity of the manufacturer, purpose, or characteristics of the file. A pictorial image, if provided, may convey a theme establishing a marketing identity, illustrating method of use, or merely suggesting a self-image appropriate for persuading consumers to purchase or use the file. 
     The file is preferably of the flexible type, so that it may conform to a finger nail or to a curved surface of any object being polished or abraded. The file is formed from a flexible synthetic resin core sandwiched by two paper or similar outer strata. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an abrasive file which displays indicia. 
     A further object of the invention is to display indicia from a surface bearing abrasive material. 
     It is another object of the invention that the file be flexible. 
     It is a further object of the invention to convey data or information on the abrasive face of a file. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide transparent or translucent abrasive material on the file. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, file 10 is seen to comprise a generally planar body 12 having a front face 14, a rear face 16, and lateral edges 18 disposed between and spacing apart front and rear faces 14, 16. The thickness of body 12, which correlates to width of edges 18, is only nominal, in that the thickness is sufficient to impart a measure of rigidity to body 12 depending upon characteristics of the constituency of body 12. 
     Body 12 is partially flexible. This signifies that body 12 is sufficiently rigid to allow manual pressure to be imposed on file 10 without causing file 10 to bend to the point that it is not usable as an abrading or polishing implement. At the same time, the outer surface of body 12 can flex to a limited degree, so that faces 14, 16 are no longer planar. Rather, they become slightly curved to conform to a small extent to the surface being abraded or polished. This characteristic is useful when filing finger nails and similar curved surfaces, since it assures that contact is made on a broad area rather than at the point of tangential contact which would occur if file 10 were absolutely rigid. 
     Indicia 17 is disposed upon front face 16. Indicia 17 may be a pictorial image, such as a photograph, or may be printed matter. The precise nature of indicia 17 is not important, although it is preferred that indicia 17 convey information. A photograph conveys a theme which the manufacturer, seller, or user of file 10 may wish to have a consumer associate with file 10. Illustratively, when indicia 17 depicts a comely human model, a client of a beauty salon may come to associate that salon or a vendor of file 10 with a self-image promoting use of file 10 or patronizing the salon furnishing or employing file 10. Of course, indicia 17 may contain subject matter of another type, such as instructions for use, names identifying the manufacturer or distributor of file 10, or still other information. 
     Indicia 17 is disposed on body 12 beneath a transparent or translucent abrasive surface. The abrasive surface is formed in any suitable way such that it both functions as an abrasive and also reveals indicia 17. 
     Clearly shown in FIG. 2, body 12 comprises a core 20 of flexible foamed synthetic resin, a first stratum 22 of bendable solid material disposed between core 20 and front face 14, and a second stratum 24 of bendable solid material disposed between core 20 and rear face 16. Constituent material of strata 22, 24 may be paper or a like material which accepts printing inks, and to which a bonding agent will bond. Indicia 17 is formed as a layer 26 of ink or inks deposited on stratum 22 of bendable material. 
     Abrasive surfaces 28, 30 which coats front and rear faces 14, 16 and is the outermost component of file 10 is preferably small or finely ground grit particles embedded in a matrix including a bonding agent. It is important that the grit and bonding agent both be selected from those which are transparent or translucent, so that they enable indicia 17 to be visible or revealed through abrasive surface 28. Stratum 30 forms a second abrasive surface which may or may not cover additional indicia (not shown). 
     File 10 is usable in the manner of conventional finger nail files, but adds a dimension of performance by virtue of conveying the message of indicia 17 to the user. Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. For example, the flexible, hand-held file, described above may be embodied as a layered covering of a rigid surface. Thus a counter top or a sanding block, covered as described, may be considered a file in the sense of the following claims.