Abstract:
A nail protector and method for use includes a cover portion dimensioned to fit over a human nail to form a gap with the human nail, and a ridge formed on an underside of the cover portion and configured to contact skin adjacent to the nail without contact with the nail. A lateral wall is connected to the cover portion to create a partial enclosure for receiving a human digit without passing over the nail. A stabilizer is coupled to the lateral wall and is spaced about from and opposite from the ridge and extends in an opposite longitudinal direction from a distal end of the cover portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This disclosure relates to an apparatus for protecting finger nails and toe nails and more particularly to an apparatus configured to protect nails from contact after a manicure/pedicure or for medical purposes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    After a manicure or pedicure, it is often necessary to wait for a period of time to permit nails to dry. During this time, an individual is virtually incapacitated and unable to perform any manual tasks until their nails have dried. This is extremely inconvenient. In addition, attempting to perform any manual tasks can damage or ruin the nail&#39;s finish or polish, which jeopardizes the appearance and/or work that was needed to obtain the desired polished state of the nails. This could be costly given the expense and time needed for manicures/pedicures. 
         [0005]    To alleviate such problems, nail protectors have been used. These are typically rings that have to be slid over the nail and the finger. While such devices, if properly applied, can protect the nail, such devices jeopardize the nail&#39;s finish, since these devices must be applied over the nail itself. Any contact with the nail will ruin the finish. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A nail protector and method for use includes a cover portion dimensioned to fit over a human nail to form a gap with the human nail, and a ridge formed on an underside of the cover portion and configured to contact skin adjacent to the nail without contact with the nail. A lateral wall is connected to the cover portion to create a partial enclosure for receiving a human digit without passing over the nail. A stabilizer is coupled to the lateral wall and is spaced about from and opposite from the ridge and extends in an opposite longitudinal direction from a distal end of the cover portion. 
         [0007]    A method for protecting nails includes providing a nail protector in accordance with the present principles and applying the nail protector on the human digit without longitudinally passing over the nail. 
         [0008]    These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The disclosure will provide details in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a nail protector in accordance with one illustrative embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the nail protector of  FIG. 1  showing the underside and depicting a ridge in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a finger with a nail protector where the nail protector is shown in cross-section with reaction forces in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a nail protector where a stabilization portion is provided by a coil in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of a nail protector where a biased hinge is employed to maintain a lateral wall in a closed position and permit the nail protector to be applied to a human digit in an open position in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of a nail protector where rotatable clasp is employed to maintain a wall in a closed position and permit the nail protector to be applied to a human digit in an open position in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a nail protector where an insert is connected to a cover portion, the insert providing the functions of the stabilization portion and the lateral walls in accordance with one embodiment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram showing a method for employing a nail protector in accordance with one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The present embodiments are directed to an apparatus and method for protecting nails. In particularly useful embodiments, a nail protector is provided that covers a finger or toe nail and provides a stable cover over the nail to prevent contact with the nail. In one embodiment, the nail is protected from top and lateral contact, which is particularly helpful when the nail has been polished and has not yet dried. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the nail protection apparatus includes a flexible portion, which expands to receive a finger or toe and when restored holds the nail protection apparatus in place. The apparatus includes a cover or shield portion that extends over the nail, and a median ridge or raised area that supports that cover portion. The flexible portion includes a longitudinal extension portion that extends along the finger or toe to prevent the cover portion from rotating onto the nail. 
         [0020]    The present embodiments will illustratively be described in terms of protecting nails after a manicure or pedicure. However, the present invention is much broader and may be applicable as a nail or finger/toe protector for medical applications such as the loss of a nail due to an injury or due to an infection or other condition. 
         [0021]    Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent the same or similar elements and initially to  FIG. 1 , a nail protector  100  is shown in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. Nail protector  100  includes a cover portion  102  which is configured to cover a finger or toe nail of a user without contact to the nail itself. The cover portion  102  is permitted to cover the nail with a gap maintained between the nail and the cover portion  102 . This gap is maintained during use of the nail protector  100  as will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0022]    Nail protector  100  includes two lateral supports  116 , which extend from the cover portion  102 . The lateral supports  116  are connected to the cover at portions  110 . Portions  110  and surrounding areas are flexible to permit a gap  112  to be increased by permitting flexure in the direction of arrow “A”. 
         [0023]    To permit flexure of portion  110  and/or of side walls  106 , these portions may be formed from a flexible material. In some embodiments, the materials may include plastics, such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, rubber, etc., metals, such as steel, brass, etc., wood, or combinations thereof. 
         [0024]    The cross-sectional dimensions of side walls  106  may be configured to provide a restoring force to return the original gap size  112 . This assists in maintaining the nail protector  100  on a finger or toe of the user. Side walls  106  may be tapered (either larger or smaller) as the distance from portions  110  increases. Side walls  106  may also be of uniform thickness about the circumference of opening  114 . Side walls  106  may follow any other variations in thickness as well to provide sufficient strength and restoring force to maintain gap  112  and secure the nail protector  100  on the user. 
         [0025]    Nail protector  100  includes a ridge or extension portion  108 . The ridge  108  extends under the cover portion  102  nearer to the insertion point of a finger or toe in opening  114 . Ridge  108  is configured to contact the skin of the finger or toe to provide support for the cover portion  102  and prevent contact of the cover portion  102  with the nail. In addition, nail protector  100  includes longitudinal extensions  104  which are configured to extend along the finger or toe of the user and prevent rotational motion of the cover portion  102  toward the nail. Ridge  108  and longitudinal extensions  104  work together to provide support for the cover portion  102  and prevent rotational motion of the cover portion  102  toward the nail. Lateral portions  116  prevent axial rotation of the cover portion  102  on the finger or toe, and employ a restoring force to prevent the nail protector  100  from slipping forward or backward along the finger or toe once the nail protector is in place. 
         [0026]    An insertion side of the nail protector  100  preferably includes radiused or rounded edges  120  to provide comfort for the wearer and ease application of the protector device. It should be understood that the present principles may be practiced with many different designs and configurations. The presently described embodiments are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , another view of the nail protector  100  of  FIG. 1  is illustratively depicted to show an underside of the nail protector  100 . The ridge  108  is shown extending over a sector of the perimeter of opening  114  below the cover portion  102 . Ridge  108  includes generous transitions  204  to permit the nail protector  100  to be easily applied on a finger or toe, and for comfort. A top portion  206  of ridge  108  makes contact with the skin of a finger or toe. The internal upper portion of ridge  108  features a build up of material allowing for adequate nail clearance. 
         [0028]    Ends  202  of lateral portion  116  are preferably rounded and provide sufficient material to extend below the finger or toe once positioned thereon. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a further explanation of the functionality of the nail protector  100  will now be illustratively described using a cross-sectional view of nail protector  100  depicted on a finger  304 . If for example, a force F 1  is applied to the cover portion  102 , reaction forces F R1  and F R2  will maintain the cover portion  102  in its current position and prevent contact with a nail  302  of finger  304 . Reaction force F R1  results from the longitudinal extensions  104  extending along finger  304  on an opposing side of the pivot point created by ridge  108 . Reaction force F R2  is provided by contact with ridge  108  with finger  304 . 
         [0030]    As described previously, lateral portions  116  extend below finger  304  and provide support to generate reaction forces F R1 . Nail protector  100  is therefore stable on the finger  304 , and prevents contact of the nail protector or other objects with nail  302 . 
         [0031]    The nail protector  100  may include other features to provide similar effects. These features are illustratively described below, but should not be construed as limiting. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a nail protector  400  includes a cover portion  102  and one or two side portions  410  that can extend into a coil  420 . The cover portion includes a ridge  108  as before and employs the coil  420  to generate the reaction force F R1  ( FIG. 3 ). In this way, the nail protector  400  is placed on a side of the finger or toe and the coil  420  is wrapped around the user&#39;s finger to secure the nail protector  400 . The coil  420  is formed from a flexible material and is connected to or formed with the rest of the nail protector  400 . 
         [0033]    As before, the open ended ring permits the nail protector  400  (or  100 ) to clamp onto the finger or toe to avoid passing over a painted nail. Edges  412  of nail protector  400  are preferably bull-nosed and flared to serve as a necessary guide for placement on the finger. 
         [0034]    Nail protectors  100  and  400  provide a rear stabilizer using longitudinal extensions  104  or using coil  420  ( FIG. 1 ) for preventing the nail cover portion from making contact with the nail. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a nail protector  500  is conceptually depicted showing a biased hinge  510  to permit opening and closing of a lateral side  512  of nail protector  500 . Hinge  510  may include a spring  514  as a biasing means to bias the lateral side  512  in a closed position (shown). When the nail protector is to be placed on a finger the lateral side is opened in the direction of arrow “B”, the finger is then placed inside the nail protector  500  and the lateral side  512  is closed. An optical latch  516  may be employed to lock the lateral side  512  in place to secure the nail protector  500  to the finger of the wearer.  FIG. 5  has omitted features for simplicity of explanation, e.g., the cover portion, the ridge and rear stabilization portions are not shown. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a nail protector  600  may include a clasp  610  that rotates about a finger in the direction of arrow “C”. The clasp  610  is opened to permit a finger to be placed inside the nail protector  600  and then the clasp  610  is closed to secure the nail protector  600  to the finger of the wearer. The clasp  610  may be stowed on the side of a base portion  612  in the open position.  FIG. 6  has omitted features, e.g., the cover portion, the ridge and rear stabilization portions, for simplicity. The clasp  610  may employ any known mechanical slides, concentric walls or other known elements for providing the mechanical features for sliding the clasp  610  into or out of a closed position. 
         [0037]    Nail protectors  100 ,  400 ,  500  and  600 , in accordance with the present principles, may include additional features and modifications. In one embodiment, the cover portion  102  is formed from a clear resilient plastic material (e.g., polycarbonate) so that the polished nail is visible. The construction material may include polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, etc. 
         [0038]    The nail protectors  100 ,  400 ,  500  and  600  may be fabricated to be disposable or reusable. Reusable embodiments may include the use of washable or sterilizable materials. In either case, the nail protector is preferably ergonomic, light weight and recyclable. In addition, construction materials for the nail protector may be colored, textured or otherwise decorated to suit personal preferences. Nail protectors  100 ,  400 ,  500  and  600  may include a plurality of sizes to permit proper fitting for a plurality of different sized fingers and toes. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an insert  650  may be employed which detachably snaps into the cover portion  102  to provide the functions the stabilizer and of the lateral walls to hold the nail protector fast on the finger or toe. Inserts  650  may provide the proper fit one the finger and lock into the cover portion  102 . The insert  650  as with the other nail protectors are made in accordance with standard finger/toe size dimensions. This is particularly useful for reusable nail protectors. The inserts  650  may be u-shaped and fit over the finger without going over the nail. Then, the cover portion  102  may be attached over the insert  650 . The insert  650  may have a locking feature, such as a detent, snap, clasp, etc. to provide attachment to the nail protector  655  to complete a ring formed using both the insert  650  and the nail protector  655 . The inserts may be formed from plastics, metals, foams, etc. and may be utilized to accommodate various finger sizing. 
         [0040]    Nail protectors in accordance with the present invention may be integrally formed as a single piece or may include a removable/detachable cover portion  102  to permit for interchangeable styles of the cover portion  102 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a flow diagram shows a method for employing a nail protector in accordance with the present invention. After a manicure/pedicure or a need for protecting nails arises, proper sized nail protectors (or inserts) are identified in block  702 . In block  704 , the nail protectors are applied to the fingers or toe from a lateral direction over a finger or toe without passing over the nail in a longitudinal direction. This includes spreading flexible parts, opening a hinge or clasp or otherwise attaching the nail protector to a finger/toe (e.g., using inserts and protector to connect and form a ring). In block  706 , the finger/toe is permitted to heal or the nail permitted to dry. In block  708 , the nail protector is removed and disposed of, cleaned/sterilized or recycled. 
         [0042]    Having described preferred embodiments of a nail protector and method (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. Having thus described aspects of the invention, with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.