Patent Publication Number: US-6901935-B2

Title: Device for removing artificial fingernails and fingernail polish

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to fingernail cleaning devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus for removing artificial nails and/or fingernail polish from the natural fingernails. 
   Fingernail polish and artificial nails have been used for many years to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the fingers. Some individuals choose to use artificial nails because their own nails are too weak to grow to a desirable length without breaking. Others select artificial nails because they are considerably stronger and more durable than natural nails, and because nail polish adheres better to the artificial nail surface. Some individuals are unhappy with the shape and contour of their natural nail and prefer using an artificial nail to improve the appearance of their nails. 
   It has been known in the art of adorning the hands to provide ornamental fingernail accessories made from thin, molded plastic members manufactured generally in the shape of a fingernail. Indeed, numerous artificial fingernail manufacturers have provided a variety of combinations of materials, arrangements, and colors in fingernail accessories. With the advent of such artificial fingernail accessories, the wearer could now have intricately pre-designed fingernails that are simply attached to the natural fingernail and then later removed. Artificial nails are affixed to the natural nails by various techniques, virtually all of which require at least one layer, and typically multiple layers, of a glue, especially a permanent cyanoacrylate glue. Each application of permanent glue may also be accompanied by the application of powder and gel compounds for cosmetic purposes. 
   The result, especially when one considers that an artificial nail is often painstakingly administered to, strengthened and re-strengthened periodically, for example, at weekly appointments at a nail salon, is an artificial nail whose attachment to the natural nail is so secure that it is not uncommon for one desiring to remove the artificial nails to have to soak the nails in a solvent for time periods on the order of one hour. Even then, the wraps, the glue and the other remnants of the artificial nail and its attachment typically have to be physically peeled or scraped off the natural nail, thereby making the entire procedure laborious, time-consuming and uncomfortable. 
   Acetone is generally used as the solvent for dissolving artificial fingernails and fingernail polish. Some acetone formulations also contain materials intended to protect and condition the skin of the wearer&#39;s fingers. However, acetone is a volatile material and evaporates quickly, producing gaseous compounds that may irritate the throat, lungs and eyes of exposed individuals. Furthermore, the acetone may damage adjacent furniture, carpet and other objects if it is spilled or splashed onto these surfaces. 
   Various solvent containing devices have been developed in the prior art to facilitate the removal of fingernail polish and artificial fingernails, and especially to reduce the hazards associated with the use of strong solvents to remove the fingernail polish and artificial fingernails. Exemplary of such devices are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,248, 5,855,212, 5,823,203, 5,810,021, 5,806,536, 5,609,166, 5,379,474, 5,048,547, 4,819,672, 4,180,884, 2,580,981, 2,245,929 and 1,374,851. Many of these prior art devices utilize covers or slitted diaphragms, etc., to minimize spillage and evaporation of the solvent and to minimize exposure of the manicurist or wearer to the solvent. Other devices include sponges, brushes or other scuffing materials to hasten softening and removal of the fingernail polish and/or artificial fingernails. As the fingernail comes into contact with the sponge or brush, the cleaning solvent, such as acetone, will dissolve the nail polish or artificial nail adhesive and the friction between the sponge or brush and the fingernail during the insertion, withdrawal, or other movement of the finger will remove at least a predominant part of the nail polish or artificial nail. 
   Most prior art devices enable only one finger at a time to be treated for removing the fingernail polish and/or artificial fingernails, whereby the process of removing fingernail polish and artificial fingernails from all ten fingers is very time consuming. Some devices, however, include multiple apertures so that more than one finger can be treated simultaneously. Many of these devices, and especially those which permit simultaneous treatment of multiple fingers, are relatively complex and expensive in construction, and/or have fixed positions for inserting the fingers so that they are not always suitable or comfortable for use by all persons. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and system for removing fingernail polish and artificial fingernails simultaneously or individually from the fingers, which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, and which may be easily and comfortably used to remove fingernail polish and artificial fingernails from a wide range of different size hands. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an artificial nail and polish remover including a container having a bottom, a continuous side wall and a top. The container defines a semi-circular receptacle opening at the top and a circular receptacle opening at the top. The semi-circular receptacle is sized and shaped for simultaneous insertion therein of the fore-fingers of a hand and the circular receptacle is positioned adjacent the semi-circular receptacle whereby the thumb of a user of the remover can be inserted simultaneously with the fore-fingers. Preferably, the semi-circular receptacle is in fluid communication with the circular receptacle. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the side wall of the container includes two depressions formed therein, whereby a secure grip can be made of the container by the non-inserted hand of the user. The depressions preferably extend inwardly into the container, thereby partially defining the semi-circular receptacle and the circular receptacle. 
   Preferably, the artificial nail and polish remover of the present invention further includes a strip brush member having a plurality of bristles and a tubular brush having a plurality of bristles. The strip brush member is fixed around an inside perimeter wall of the semi-circular receptacle, whereby the bristles project inwardly into the semi-circular receptacle for scuffing the nails of the fore-fingers. The tubular brush is fixed within the circular receptacle, whereby the bristles project inwardly into the circular receptacle for scuffing the thumbnail. The strip brush member preferably includes a front face and a back face. The bristles project from the front face and the back face has at least one groove formed thereon. The groove engages with a projection formed on the inside perimeter wall of the semi-circular receptacle, whereby the strip brush member is fixed against movement during scuffing. The tubular brush is preferably a cylinder having a wall with a plurality of slits formed therethrough. Thus, solvent flows into and out of the interior of the tubular brush. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the artificial nail and polish remover further includes an insert fitted into the container. The insert has a tubular portion, a finger support portion and a shoulder portion. The tubular portion includes a cylindrical bore defining the circular receptacle and the finger support portion, along with the continuous side wall of the container, defines the semi-circular receptacle. The finger support portion is preferably separated from the tubular portion by two insert depressions, which correspond in shape to the depressions formed in the container. The shoulder portion connects the tubular portion and the finger support portion and rests on the container depressions. 
   In the preferred embodiment including the insert, the tubular brush is fixed within the cylindrical bore of the insert. The back face of the strip brush member then preferably includes at least one notch and/or at least one projection formed thereon. The notch and/or projection engages a respective projection and/or groove formed on the finger support portion of the insert for fixing the strip brush member in the semi-circular receptacle during scuffing. Preferably, the strip brush member includes two sets of bristles projecting the front face and a central portion separating the two sets of bristles. The back face of the strip brush member adjacent the central portion is positioned against the finger support portion of the insert. The bristles extend in substantially parallel rows from the central portion outwardly to opposite ends of the strip brush member. At least the first row of bristles adjacent the central portion is shorter in length than the remaining rows of bristles. 
   Thus, the advantage of the present invention is an artificial nail and polish remover that is comfortably and securely handled and which permits simultaneous scuffing of all the fingernails or individual scuffing of just one fingernail. The device is simple and inexpensive in design, yet reliably constructed. The arrangement of bristles is securely maintained within the device to provide simultaneous uniform scuffing action to all the fingernails. Furthermore, the present invention provides ample finger support so that the device may be easily and comfortably used to remove fingernail polish and artificial fingernails from a wide range of different size hands. 
   Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the artificial nail and polish remover formed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the artificial nail and polish remover shown in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the container of the artificial nail and polish remover shown in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the finger support side of the container insert shown in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the strip brush member shown in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of an uncoiled strip brush member. 
       FIG. 7  is a back plan view of an uncoiled strip brush member. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the tubular brush shown in FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the tubular brush shown in FIG.  8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the tubular brush shown in  FIG. 9  taken along the line  10 — 10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the artificial nail and polish remover  10  of the present invention generally includes a container  12 , a strip brush  14  and a tubular brush  16 . Referring additionally to  FIG. 3 , the container  12  is generally circular and includes an open top  18  for introducing and holding a liquid solvent, such as acetone, for dissolving artificial fingernails and/or fingernail polish. 
   The container  12 , which can be molded from a durable shatter-resistant plastic material chemically resistant to liquid solvent, is configured to define a semi-circular receptacle  20  for insertion of the fore-fingers and a circular receptacle  22  for insertion of the thumb through the top of the container. Preferably, the semi-circular receptacle  20  is in fluid communication with the circular receptacle  22  so that the liquid solvent can flow between the receptacles. The container  12  is designed for either simultaneous insertion of all of the fingers of a hand or individual insertion of a finger into the circular receptacle  22 . More particularly, the semi-circular receptacle  20  is sized and shaped for simultaneous insertion therein of the fore-fingers of a hand and the circular receptacle  22  is positioned adjacent the semi-circular receptacle whereby the thumb of a user of the remover can be inserted simultaneously with the fore-fingers. 
   Formed on the interior of the outer wall  23  of the semi-circular receptacle  20  are four elongate projections  24  which, as will be discussed in further detail below, engage correspondingly sized shallow grooves  64  formed in the strip brush member  14  to secure the strip brush member in the container  12 . Additionally, the opening  18  of the container  12  can be provided with external threads  25  which engage internal threads of a container cap (not shown) for securing the cap to the container when not in use. 
   The container  12  can be further provided with two depressions or indents  26  formed in the outer circumferential wall  28  of the container around the circular receptacle  22  between the top  18  and the bottom  30  of the container. The depressions  26  extend inwardly into the interior of the container  12  thereby partially defining the semi-circular receptacle  20  and the circular receptacle  22 . The depressions  26  further provide a secure finger grip to the container  12  for the opposite hand of the user not inserted into the container. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , in a preferred embodiment, the container  12  includes an insert  32  having a tubular portion  34 , a finger support portion  36  and a shoulder portion  38 . The insert  32  can be molded from a similar solvent resistant material as that of the container  12 . The tubular portion  34  of the insert  32  is separated from the finger support portion  36  by insert depressions or indents  40  that correspond in size and shape to the depressions  26  formed in the container  12 . The tubular portion  34  has an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the circular receptacle  22  so that the tubular portion slides snugly into the circular receptacle. The tubular portion further includes an inner cylindrical bore  42  sized to snugly receive the tubular brush  16 . When the insert  32  is seated in the container  12 , the finger support portion  36  extends into the semi-circular receptacle  20  and the shoulder portion  38  rests on the depressions  26  formed in the container. Thus, with the insert  32  seated in the container  12 , the inner cylindrical bore  42  of the insert  32  defines the circular receptacle  22  of the device  10  and the finger support portion  36 , along with the continuous side wall  23  of the container, defines the semi-circular receptacle  20 . 
   Additionally, formed near the bottom edge of the finger support portion  36  are four ribs or projections  44  and a shallow groove  46  which, as will be discussed in further detail below, engage correspondingly sized notches  60  and a rib projection  62  formed in the strip brush member  14  to secure the strip brush member in the semi-circular receptacle  20  of the container  12  during scuffing. Furthermore, the overall length of the insert  32 , from the top of the shoulder portion  38  to the bottom of the finger support portion  36 , is preferably less than the depth of the container  12  so that the semi-circular receptacle  20  remains in fluid communication with the circular receptacle  22  defined by the inner cylindrical bore  42  of the insert. In other words, when seated in the container  12 , the insert  32  does not extend to the bottom  30  of the container, thereby leaving a fluid path for solvent to flow between the receptacles  20  and  22 . 
   Disposed around the perimeter walls of the semi-circular receptacle  20  is the strip brush member  14  and disposed within the circular receptacle  22  is the tubular brush  16 . As described above, in the preferred embodiment, the semi-circular receptacle  20  is defined by the container wall  23  and the finger support portion  36  of the insert  32  while the circular receptacle  22  is defined by the cylindrical bore  42  of the insert. Thus, the strip brush member  14  would be circularly disposed between the container wall  23  and the finger support portion  36  of the insert  32  while the tubular brush  16  would be disposed within the cylindrical bore  42  of the insert. Alternatively, the container  12  can be formed to integrally define the semi-circular receptacle  20  and the circular receptacle  22  without the use of the insert  32 . In this alternative embodiment, the strip brush member  14  would be circularly disposed within the semi-circular receptacle  20 , defined by the container  12  itself, while the tubular brush  16  would be disposed within the circular receptacle  20  defined by the container. 
   The strip brush member  14  and the tubular brush  16  are preferably molded from a durable yet flexible plastic material that is chemically resistant to liquid solvent. The strip brush member  14  engages the fingernails of the fore-fingers inserted in the semi-circular receptacle  20  and the tubular brush  16  engages the fingernail of the thumb, or an individual fore-finger, inserted into the circular receptacle  22 . The brushes  14  and  16  are utilized for scuffing the fingernails to loosen and remove artificial fingernails and/or polish. 
   Referring additionally to  FIGS. 5-7 , the strip brush member  14  includes a flat backing member  48  which is coiled around the entire perimeter of the semi-circular receptacle  20 . The strip backing member  48  includes two sets of integrally formed bristles  49  and  50  projecting from an inside face  52  thereof and a central portion  54  separating the two sets of bristles. The bristles  49  and  50  in each set are positioned in parallel rows from the central portion  54  outwardly to the opposite ends  56  of the strip  48 . In a preferred embodiment, at least the first row of bristles  49  and  50  adjacent the central portion  54  is shorter in length than the remaining rows. More preferably, the first few rows of bristles  49   a  and  50   a  increase in height from the central portion  54  outwardly to a maximum height of about 7 mm. The remaining rows of bristles  49  and  50  are a uniform height of about 9 mm. The reason for the shorter lengths of the first several rows of bristles  49   a  and  50   a  is to maintain substantially constant clearance for the fingernails in the reduced-clearance corners  58  of the semi-circular receptacle  20  where the curvature of the outer wall  23  meets the indents  26  of the container  12 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The shorter length bristles  49   a  and  50   a  are positioned in these corners  58 . Thus, uniform scuffing can be achieved throughout the entire semi-circular receptacle  20 . 
   The strip backing member  48  is coiled around the perimeter of the semi-circular receptacle  20  so that the ends  56  of the strip meet at the top of the receptacle wall  23  and the bristles  49  and  50  are positioned opposite the central portion  54 . The strip  48  further includes four notches  60  formed on a bottom edge  61  of the central portion  54 , a narrow rib projection  62  projecting from an outside face  63  of the central portion and two shallow grooves  64  formed on the outside face of the strip opposite each set of bristles  49  and  50 . As mentioned above, the notches  60  and the rib  62  respectively engage the projections  44  and the shallow groove  46  formed on the finger support portion  36  of the insert  32  and the strip grooves  64  engage the elongate projections  24  formed on the outer wall  23  of the semi-circular receptacle  20  to prevent movement of the brush while the fingernails are being scuffed thereagainst. 
   Referring additionally now to  FIGS. 8-10 , the circular receptacle  22  contains the tubular brush  16  therein. The tubular brush  16  is a contiguous cylinder  66  having integrally formed and substantially uniform length bristles  68  projecting inwardly from the inner radial surface  70  thereof. Preferably, the diameter of the cylinder  66  is chosen so that the tubular brush  16  is fixed within the circular receptacle  22  of the container  12  by friction. In this manner there is no structure required in the circular receptacle  22  for retaining the tubular brush  16 . The cylinder  66  is also preferably tapered, i.e., the diameter of one end  72  of the tube is less than the diameter of the opposite end  74 , to improve the friction fit within the circular receptacle  22 . In other words, the taper of the cylinder  66  provides a biasing force to the brush  16  that ensures a secure fit of the brush within the circular receptacle. 
   Because the cylinder  66  is preferably slightly tapered, the bristles  68  slightly increase in height from the narrower end  72  of the cylinder to the wider end  74  so that the inner diameter  76  between opposite bristles remains constant. The cylinder  66  further preferably includes a plurality of slits  78  formed therethrough which allow the solvent to flow into and out of the interior of the brush  16 . 
   In use, a person wishing to remove nail polish, or one or more artificial nails, from the natural fingernails, first removes the container cap and then inserts an individual finger in the circular receptacle  22  and/or several fore-fingers in the semi-circular receptacle  20 . With a firm grip of the opposite hand on the depressions  26  of the container  12 , the container and/or the fingers in the container are rotated with respect to the brush bristles  49 ,  50  and/or  68  to scuff the fingernails. The combination of the scuffing action and the dissolving reaction of the solvent in the container  12  will cause the polish and/or the artificial nails to be easily removed from the natural nails. The remnant polish and/or artificial nails will fall to the bottom of the container  12  and the device  10  can be reused multiple times until the solvent is no longer effective or the bristles  49 ,  50  and  68  become worn. Because of its simple construction, it is anticipated that the cost to the consumer to replace the device will be relatively small. 
   As a result of the present invention, an artificial nail and polish remover is provided which permits simultaneous scuffing of all the fingernails or individual scuffing of just one fingernail. The device is simple in design and inexpensive to construct. Furthermore, the present invention is easily and comfortably used to remove fingernail polish and artificial fingernails from a wide range of different size hands. 
   While there has been described what is presently believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.