Abstract:
A single serving paraffin treatment system and method of application is disclosed which includes the steps of heating a small quantity of paraffin above its melting temperature, applying the paraffin to the hand or foot with a brush. The paraffin is contained in individualized disposable containers which are receivable in a heating unit. The heating unit preferably has at least two temperature settings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Provisional Application Serial No. 60/164,185 filed Nov. 9, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates generally to paraffin treatments as used in the beauty industry, and in particular to a new method and apparatus for application of a single serving of paraffin in manicure and pedicure treatments. 
     2. Background Information 
     Paraffin application to the skin is well known as a therapeutic treatment with results including moisturizing, smoothing, hydrating, and lightening. It is also well known to treat hands and feet by dipping them in a bath of melted paraffin. 
     Prior paraffin treatment systems were designed for multiple salon use. Most salons use a unit that has, a large enough container to hold six pounds of paraffin, and a heating unit for melting the paraffin. The units are large because the container must be large enough to accommodate a person with large hands, or feet, and must include allowance for displacement of the paraffin by the person&#39;s extremity, without overflowing the container. To start these units, they must be turned on and placed at a melt setting. Paraffin generally melts between approximately 52° and 63° Centigrade (126° and 145° Fahrenheit). Purified topical paraffin mixtures typically melt between approximately 48° and 51° Centigrade (118° and 123° Fahrenheit). Topical paraffin products may contain other components such as mineral oil, coconut oil, lanolin, clay, coloring, and other ingredients. The presence of various ingredients in various ratios will affect the melting temperature of the product. At the melt setting, the blocks of paraffin will commonly take four to five hours to melt to a usable state. The slow melt is a result of the large quantity of paraffin used, the large container volume, the need to avoid vaporization and burning of the paraffin, and safety considerations that prohibit high temperature melting that could burn a consumer. The paraffin must be completely melted. At the melt temperature setting, the paraffin is too hot to use, so the unit is then set at an operational setting which allows the paraffin to cool to a useable temperature that is still in the liquid state. The long start up time requires the unit to be left on continuously, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in a commercial use setting. Once in use, the same paraffin supply will be used to treat the hands of numerous clients. The paraffin for use in hand and foot treatments is typically shipped in a six-pound block or in six one-pound blocks. The blocks or bags of paraffin are subjected to high temperatures inside common carrier vehicles, which can cause the paraffin to melt. Truck containers can reach summer time temperatures in excess of 120° Fahrenheit. To prevent the paraffin from leaching or running outside of their shipping containers, paraffin products are normally packaged in barrier bags. Barrier bags are, made of a thick and durable plastic. The bags are flexible and typically heat-sealed. 
     Non-paraffin manicure warmers are well known. These units are smaller, and are designed to warm manicure lotions for dipping the ends of the fingers in. One such product is the Model 8574 Professional Manicure Warmer distributed by Belson Products, located in Miami Lakes, Fla. These products may include the use of disposable lotion cups. 
     One disadvantage of the prior art is that the units used are too large to be practical for small salon, kidsk, booth, or home use. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the units used are too expensive to be practical for small salon, kiosk, booth, or home use. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that the units require a long start-up time to melt the paraffin. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the units must be left on at all times for commercially practical use. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that they require the use of a large quantity of paraffin, regardless of how many hand treatments are desired. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that multiple users are exposed to residual skin debris and body fluids of the previous users. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that it wastes paraffin and electricity. Another disadvantage to the prior art is that they are difficult to clean. 
     Thus, it is seen that there is a need for an improved system for paraffin treatments as applied to the hands and feet that addresses the issues identified above. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary advantage of the present invention is that it incorporates the use of a compact heating unit that is small enough to be practical for small salon, kiosk, booth, or home use. Another advantage of the present invention is that it incorporates the use of inexpensive heating units and smaller material quantities such that the economics of operation are practical for small salon, kiosk, booth, or home use. Another advantage of the present invention is that the heating units and material quantities require a dramatically reduced start-up time to melt the paraffin. Another advantage of the present invention is that the heating units can be shut off, even under conditions of commercial use. Another advantage of the present invention is that it uses a smaller quantity of paraffin, and a smaller quantity of paraffin for each application, and only enough for the number of applications required. Another advantage of the present invention is that multiple users are not exposed to residual skin debris and body fluids of previous users. Another advantage of the present invention is that it conserves raw materials (paraffin) and electricity. Another advantage of the present invention is that the system is easy to clean. Another advantage of the present invention is that a paraffin mass sufficient for a treatment can be shipped in the container for which it will actually be used, making up a single-serving “paraffin charge.” 
     Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a single-serving paraffin treatment method is disclosed comprising the steps of: 
     1. melting the paraffin in a container; 
     2. inserting a brush into the melted paraffin; 
     3. brushing the paraffin onto a person&#39;s hands or feet. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a single-serving paraffin treatment system is disclosed, having a heating unit with a reservoir, a container insertable into the reservoir, a paraffin mass located in the container, and a brush for application of the paraffin. In another embodiment, the brush is made of goat hair. In another embodiment, the brush is made of pony hair. In another embodiment, the container has an upper edge extending above the reservoir of the heating unit to facilitate handling. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a single-serving paraffin charge is disclosed for use in a single-serving paraffin treatment system having a heating unit with a reservoir. The single-serving paraffin charge has a disposable container insertable into the reservoir, a paraffin mass located in the container, and a sealed, removable lid. In another embodiment, the container has a double-wall construction. In another embodiment, the lid is threadedly connected to the container, forming a pressure-sensitive seal between the lid and the container. In another embodiment, a heat-sensitive adhesive seals the lid to the container. In another embodiment, the paraffin mass weighs less than approximately six ounces. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. A reference to and brief description of each figure in the drawing(s) as set forth in 37 CFR 1.74. 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the application of the single-serving treatment method of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the single-serving treatment system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the paraffin charge assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a double-walled paraffin charge assembly of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
     The steps disclosed for use in a single-serving paraffin treatment method are as follows: 
     1. melting paraffin in a container; 
     2. inserting a brush into the melted paraffin; 
     3. brushing the paraffin onto a person&#39;s hands or feet. 
     In FIG. 1, the third step of the single-serving paraffin treatment method is shown. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram of a single-serving paraffin treatment system  10  of the present invention, shown generally. Treatment system  10  includes a small heating unit  12 , as is known to the industry for use in heating lotions for manicures. Heating unit  12  has a body  14  with a reservoir  16 . A power cord  18  is adaptable to the available power source of the region in which the device is being used. An on-off power switch  20  transmits power from power cord  18  to heating unit  12 . In a preferred embodiment, a temperature control switch  22  selects between a lower temperature setting  24  and a higher temperature setting  26 . A container  30  is removably insertable into reservoir  16 . Container  30  contains a paraffin mass  32 . In a preferred embodiment, paraffin mass  32  weighs between approximately 3 ounces and 6 ounces. In another embodiment, an upper edge  34  of container  30  extends above reservoir  16  to facilitate handling of container  30 . In another embodiment, container  30  is disposable. A brush  36  is provided for application of paraffin  32  when melted. In one embodiment,. brush  36  is made of goat hair. In another embodiment, brush  36  is made of pony hair. 
     FIG. 3 discloses a single-serving paraffin charge  40  generally, for use in single-serving paraffin treatment system  10  having a heating unit  12  with a reservoir  16  as shown generally in FIG. 2. A disposable container  30  is removably insertable into reservoir  16 . Container  30  contains a paraffin mass  32 . In a preferred embodiment, paraffin mass  32  weighs between approximately 3 ounces and 6 ounces. In another embodiment, an upper edge  42  of container  30  extends above reservoir  16  to facilitate handling of container  30 . A lid  44  removably seals against upper edge  42  of container  30 . In this embodiment, paraffin mass  32  is sealing contained with container  30 , and is thus suitable for both shipping and end use by removal of lid  44 . In another embodiment, container  30  is made of a polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) material. In another embodiment, container  30  is made of a polypropylene material. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a double-walled paraffin charge assembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, container  30  has a doubled wall structure, including a first wall  46  and a second wall  48 . First wall  46  is circumferentially attached to second wall  48  at first interface  50 . In another embodiment, first wall,  46  is also circumferentially attached to second wall  48  at second interface  52 . In one embodiment, container  30  may be removably attached to lid  44  by a threaded connection. In this embodiment, lid  44  is sealed to container  30  by pressure. In another embodiment, an adhesive  54  is located between lid  44  and upper edge  42  of container  30 . In a more preferred embodiment, adhesive  54  is a pressure sensitive adhesive. In another preferred embodiment, lid  44  is coated with a varnish-type coating  56  that when heated becomes sticky and seals against upper edge  42  of container  30 . 
     OPERATION OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, paraffin  32  is melted in container  30  by a heating unit  12 . When paraffin  32  is melted, brush  36  is inserted into paraffin  32  in container  30 . With paraffin  32  on brush  36 , brush  36  is used to apply paraffin  32  to the hands or feet of the treatment recipient. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, container  30  having paraffin  32  is placed in reservoir  16  of heating unit  12 . Power switch  20  is turned on. In a preferred embodiment, temperature control switch  22  is selected to higher temperature setting  26  until paraffin  32  melts. When paraffin  32  is melted, lower temperature setting  24  may optionally be selected. With paraffin  32  melted, brush  36  is used to apply paraffin  32  to the hands or feet of the person receiving the paraffin treatment. In one embodiment, brush  36  is made of pony hair. In another embodiment, brush  36  is made of goat hair. Tests performed by the inventors have determined that these brush types worked very well in application of melted topical paraffin to skin. It is common practice in paraffin treatments to enclose the hands or feet of the recipient in plastic for the duration of the treatment. When paraffin  32  has solidified, and the selected duration of treatment has passed, paraffin  32  is then removed from the hands or feet of the treatment recipient, and remains in the plastic bag for disposal. At the end of the treatment, container  30  may be removed from reservoir  16  by grasping upper edge  34  of container  30 . In a preferred embodiment, container  30  is disposable and may then be discarded. 
     In another embodiment, (a single-serving paraffin charge  40  is used in a single-serving paraffin treatment system  10  having a heating unit  12  with a reservoir  16  as shown generally in FIG.  2 . Disposable container  30  contains a paraffin mass  32 . In a preferred embodiment, paraffin mass  32  weighs between approximately 3 ounces and 6 ounces. In another embodiment, an upper edge  42  of container  30  extends above reservoir  16  to facilitate insertion and removal of container  30  in reservoir  16 . A lid  44  removably seals against upper edge  42  of container  30 . In this embodiment, paraffin mass  32  is sealing contained with container  30 , and is thus suitable for both shipping and end use by removal of lid  44 . For example, a heat-sensitive adhesive  54  may be applied between lid  44  and upper edge  42  of container  30 . Alternatively, lid  44  is coated with a varnish-type coating  56  that when heated becomes sticky and seals against upper edge  42  of container  30 . 
     The inventors have tested various container configurations and materials to determine melt times and container strength. These tests have had the results shown in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Container 
                 Paraffin 
                 Melt Time 
                 Soak Temperature 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Double wall 
                 4 ounces 
                 2 hours, 50 minutes 
                 152° F. 
               
               
                 Single wall 
                 4 ounces 
                 1 hour 45 minutes 
                 163° F. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     While this invention has. been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.