Patent Publication Number: US-9901157-B2

Title: Nail care device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of cosmetic devices, and more specifically, to the field of nail care devices, such as nail trimmers and similar devices used to trim, file, smooth, and/or polish, etc. nails, skin, etc. of a user. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment relates to a nail care device, including a housing defining a slot extending through the housing and to a cavity; a drive mechanism disposed within the housing and including a drive member extending into the cavity; and a drum assembly configured to be removably engaged with the drive member, the drum assembly including an abrasive drum configured to be received within the cavity and a hub configured to extend to an exterior of the cavity and the housing. 
     Another embodiment relates to a portable nail care device configured for cordless handheld use, the nail care device including a housing including a housing wall defining an upper cylindrical exterior surface having a slot disposed therein; and an interior, the interior including a lower cavity and an upper cavity; a motor disposed in the lower cavity and coupled to a drive shaft extending into the upper cavity; a drum assembly configured to be removably coupled to the drive shaft in the upper cavity, the drum assembly including a cylindrical drum including an abrasive outer surface and defining a longitudinal axis; wherein the slot extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     Another embodiment relates to a portable nail care device configured for cordless handheld use, the nail care device including a housing including a housing wall defining an upper cylindrical exterior surface having a slot disposed therein; a lower exterior surface configured to held in the hand of a user; and an interior, the interior including a lower cavity and an upper cavity; a motor disposed in the lower cavity and coupled to a drive shaft extending into the upper cavity; a drum assembly configured to be removably coupled to the drive shaft in the upper cavity, the drum assembly including a compressible cylindrical drum including an abrasive outer surface and defining a longitudinal axis; and a hub assembly disposed at a first end of the cylindrical drum and extending beyond the housing wall to accessible by a user to remove the cylindrical drum in a lateral direction along the longitudinal axis; wherein the slot extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and wherein the hub assembly remains fixed relative to the housing when the cylindrical drum is rotated by the drive shaft. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       This application will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a nail care device according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of a drive system for the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a drive system for the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the drive system of  FIG. 10  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a drum assembly usable with the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  a perspective view of a drum assembly removed from the nail care device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a nail care device according to an alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear perspective view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a rear view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a left side view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a right side view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom view of the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  a perspective view of a drum assembly removed from the nail care device of  FIG. 14  according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before turning to the Figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the Figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and illustration only, and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Referring to the Figures generally, various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a nail care device usable to trim, shape, smooth, polish, or otherwise care for nails. It should be noted, however, that in some embodiments the devices disclosed herein may be usable as a skin care device to abrade, smooth, or otherwise care for skin. Generally, a portable, handheld device includes a rotating drum assembly having an abrasive outer surface. Engagement of the rotating outer abrasive surface of the drum assembly with nails, skin, etc. enables a user to remove, smooth, polish, etc. a surface of a nail and/or skin as desired. In some embodiments, the rotating drum assembly includes a compressible drum to provide for enhanced smoothing, shaping, and/or other capabilities. Further, the rotating drum assembly may be configured with differing levels of abrasiveness, compressibility/harness, etc., which may be in turn identified by using different colors or other identifiers. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-13 , a nail care device  10  is shown according to one embodiment. Device  10  may be configured for various cosmetic treatments or procedures involving removal of nail material, including nail trimming, polishing, buffing, shining, smoothing, and the like. In other embodiments, device  10  is usable on the skin of a user. All such applications are within the scope of the present disclosure. As shown in the  FIGS. 1-8 , device  10  is a portable, handheld device that utilizes an electromechanical drive system (e.g., an electric motor in combination with an appropriate gear train, drive shaft, power source or battery, etc.). In various alternative embodiments, device  10  may be configured for corded and/or cordless use. 
     In one embodiment, device  10  includes a housing  12  defining an upper cavity  18  and a lower cavity  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 10 ). Cavities  18 ,  20  form at least a portion of the interior of housing  12  and receive various components of device  10 , such as drum assemblies, drive system components, and the like. A power switch  14  may be disposed on (e.g., slidably coupled to, etc.) an outer surface of housing  12  and be usable to turn device  10  on/off. A release button  16  is provided on a side of housing  12  and is usable to release a drum assembly  22  from within upper cavity  18 , as discussed in greater detail below. Housing  18  may include a battery cover  36  removable to provide access to a battery. Housing  18  may be contoured to comfortably fit in the hand of a user during use and enable easy manipulation of the device. In various alternative embodiments, including the embodiment of  FIGS. 14-22 , the size and shape of housing  12  may be varied to suit a particular application (e.g., different-sized hands, etc.). 
     Housing  12  further includes a drum assembly cover  34  configured to cover one or more portions of drum assembly  22 . In various embodiments, cover  34  includes one or more slots intended to enable a user to care for nails, skin, etc. by utilizing drum assembly  22 . For example, in one embodiment, cover  34  forms one or more generally cylindrically-shaped portions that conform to the shape of drum assembly  22 , and defines one or more slots  44 ,  45 ,  47 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , cover  34  includes a first side  40  (e.g., a front cylindrical portion, etc.) defining slots  44 ,  45  and a second side  42  (e.g., a rear cylindrical portion, etc.) defining slot  47 . Slots  44 ,  45 , and  47  extend from the exterior of the device to upper cavity  18  such that a nail, a portion of skin, etc., can pass through the slots and engage drum assembly  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , slot  44  is a generally elongated, at least partially oval-shaped slot extending longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of drum assembly  22  for a portion of the length of drum assembly  22  (e.g., one-fourth, one-third, one-half, etc. of the length of drum assembly  22 , or drum  52 ). Slot  44  may be configured to receive an end portion of a nail of a user, and trim, file, smooth, polish, etc. the nail, without the surrounding skin being abraded by roller assembly  22 . In one embodiment slot  44  is surrounded by a beveled portion of cover  34  intended to facilitate resting a finger adjacent slot  44  while a corresponding nail engages drum assembly  22 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1 , slot  45  is shown to be substantially wider than slot  44 . In one embodiment, slot  45  extends circumferentially about drum assembly for at least about 90 degrees, at least about 120 degrees, or at least about 150 degrees. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , at least one-fourth (i.e., 90 degrees) of the circumferential area of roller assembly  22  is exposed for the length of slot  45 . Providing slot  45  having a substantially greater width than slot  44  enables, among other things, contouring of nails, shaping of surrounding skin, and a larger surface area of drum assembly  22  with which to work. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , slot  47  is a generally elongated, oval slot extending longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of drum assembly  22  for a portion of the length of drum assembly  22  (e.g., one-fourth, one-third, one-half, etc. of the length of drum assembly  22 , or drum  52 ). Slot  47  may be configured to receive an end portion of a nail of a user, and trim, file, smooth, polish, etc. the nail, without the surrounding skin being abraded by drum assembly  22 . In one embodiment slot  47  is surrounded by a beveled portion of cover  34  intended to facilitate resting a finger adjacent slot  47  while a corresponding nail engages drum assembly  22 . 
     In one embodiment, slot  47  is generally equal in size and shape to slot  44 . In other embodiments, slot  47  differs from slot  44  in size and/or shape (e.g., having a different length and/or width, being rectangular in shape, etc.). In  FIGS. 1-2 , slot  47  is shown as being longer than slot  44 . In some embodiments, slot  47  is positioned longitudinally along cover  34  approximately between slot  44  and slot  45 , such that each slot tends to utilize a different longitudinal portion of drum assembly  22 . In this way, over-use of any portion of the length of drum assembly  22  may be avoided, and the useful life of drum assembly  22  may be maximized. 
     While  FIGS. 1-2  show slots  44 ,  45  provided on first side  40  of cover  34  and slot  47  provided on second side  42  of cover  34 , it should be understood that according to various alternative embodiments, the relative positions of the various slots may be varied, and the size, number, and/or placement of slots may vary relative to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . For example, in some embodiments, each of first side  40  and second side  42  may include one, two, or more slots. Further, while in one embodiment multiple slots are spaced apart longitudinally along cover  34 , in other embodiments, one or more slots may be spaced apart circumferentially about cover  34 . Further yet, one or more slots on one or both sides of cover  34  may be equal in size and/or shape. In yet further embodiments, first side  40  or second side  42  may not have a slot. All such variations are to be understood to be within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 1-2 , in one embodiment, cover  34  may be integrally formed as part of housing  12  (e.g., via a molding, forming, or other process). In other embodiments, cover  34  may be a removable portion of housing  12  such that alternative covers (e.g., having different slot configurations) may be utilized (e.g., via a snap fit or other connection). Further, while  FIGS. 1-2  generally show discreet first and second sides  40 ,  42  (e.g., divided by an intermediate raised portion), in other embodiments, first and second sides  40 ,  42  may connect to form a generally continuous cylindrical surface. All such variations are to be understood to be within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , according to one embodiment, drum assembly  22  includes drum  52  (e.g., a roller, abrasive member, rotating member, etc.) and an end hub  46  coupled to a lateral end of drum  52 . Drum  52  is the rotating element of drum assembly  22  and is rotatably coupled to hub  46 . Drum  52  includes an abrasive outer surface  54  (e.g., an abrasive sheet of material such as sandpaper, an abrasive coating that may be sprayed or brushed, etc., and the like) configured to trim, remove or abrade nail material, skin material, etc. Hub  46  includes an annular groove  48  and a number of projections  50  that extend circumferentially about hub  46 . 
     In one embodiment, drum  52  is compressible such that drum  52  is configured to deform (e.g., compress, deform, etc.) as a result of pressure applied to outer surface  54  (e.g., via a nail, skin, etc.). For example, should a user press a portion of a nail against outer surface  54 , drum  52  may deform based on the amount of pressure applied. In some embodiments, a compressible drum provides enhanced control for trimming, shaping, and otherwise caring for nails, skin, etc. In alternative embodiments, drum  52  may be provided as a relatively hard, non-compressible drum. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , in one embodiment drum  52  includes a compressible core portion  53  provided beneath outer surface  54 . In one embodiment, surface  54  may be a sheet of material adhered or otherwise secured to core portion  53 . In other embodiments, outer surface  54  may be sprayed, brushed, or otherwise applied to core portion  53 . In one embodiment, different portions of drum  52  may provide different levels of abrasiveness and/or hardness (e.g., along the length of drum  52 ). For example, a first longitudinal portion  55  of drum  52  may provide a first abrasiveness and/or harness, and a second longitudinal portion  57  of drum  52  may provide a second, different, abrasiveness and/or hardness. In some embodiments, the portions of differing harness and/or abrasiveness are generally aligned with one or more slots such as slots  44 ,  45 , and  47 . For example, with respect to slots  44  and  45 , a first portion of drum  52  extending along slot  44  may provide a first hardness and/or abrasiveness, and a second portion of drum  52  extending along slot  45  may provide a second, different hardness and/or abrasiveness. 
     In one embodiment, drum assembly  22  further includes a drive recess  56  located on a lateral end of drum assembly  22  opposite from end hub  46 . As discussed in further detail below, drive recess  56  is configured to engage a drive shaft  24  of device  10  to provide rotation of drum assembly  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10-11 , device  10  includes drive shaft  24  configured to receive drum assembly  22  such that rotation of drive shaft  24  causes a corresponding rotation of drum assembly  22 . Drive shaft  24  is in one embodiment driven by an electric motor  30 , and is operatively coupled to motor  30  by a gear train  26  including one or more gears  28 . In other embodiments, other drive systems may be used, including belt-driven systems, and the like. As shown in  FIG. 8 , motor  30  receives power from power source  32 . Power source  32  may be or include a removable and/or rechargeable battery, a power outlet configured to transfer power from an external power source, a non-removable, rechargeable battery, and the like. In one embodiment, drive shaft  24  extends into upper cavity  18 , and all or portions of gear train  26 , motor  30 , and/or power source  32  are provided in lower cavity  20 . 
     Drum assembly  22  may be inserted into and/or removed from upper cavity  18  via a lateral side of housing  12 . As such, should drum assembly  22  become worn or unusable, or alternatively, should a user wish to utilize a drum assembly having different abrasiveness and/or hardness, the user may simply remove drum assembly  22  and replace it with a different drum assembly. Upon removal of drum assembly  22 , drive shaft  24  remains within upper cavity  18  of device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , hub  46  of drum assembly  22  includes projections  50  which engage housing  12  to maintain hub  46  rotationally fixed relative to housing  12 . Support bracket  38  (e.g., a U-shaped support bracket) is received within annular groove  48  of hub  46  to fix the longitudinal position of drum assembly  22  within housing  12 . To remove drum assembly  22 , a user depresses release button  16  (e.g., in a downward direction), which moves support bracket  38  out from within annular groove  48 , thereby allowing drum assembly  22  to be removed in a lateral direction. In some embodiments, drive recess  56  and drive shaft  24  engage in a spring-loaded fashion so that when release button  16  is depressed, drum assembly  22  tends to move laterally out of top cavity  18  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14-22 , a nail care device  110  is shown according to one embodiment. Nail care device  110  operates in a manner similar to that of device  10  and includes similar components and features, with the exception that the shape of housing  112  differs from the shape of housing  12 , and projections  150  of drum assembly  122  may be of a different configuration than projections  50  of device  10 . More specifically, housing  112  provides a more compact device and a slightly different configuration for slots  144 ,  145 ,  147 . Furthermore, the interface between the drum assembly and the housing may vary due to the differences of projections  50 ,  150 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14-15 , cover  134  of housing  112  defines a plurality of slots  144 ,  145 ,  147 . A first side  140  of cover  134  includes a single slot  144 , and a second side  142  of cover  134  includes slots  145  and  147 . Power button or switch  114  and release button  116  may be of similar construction and/or function as power button  14  and release switch  16  shown with respect to device  10 . 
     In one embodiment, slots  145 ,  147  are longitudinally spaced apart from each other on second side  142 , and slot  144  is positioned approximately longitudinally between slots  145  and  147  on first side  140 . As shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , in one embodiment, slots  144 ,  145 , and  147  may be of similar size and shape. In other embodiments, the size, shape, number, and position of any of slots may be varied. 
     In other respects, device  110  is substantially similar to device  10 . For example, the devices may use a similar drive mechanism and use interchangeable rollers. Further, devices  10 ,  110  may be made out of similar materials and/or using similar processes. Device  110  provides a slightly smaller form factor, which may be beneficial in the case of persons with smaller hands, portability, etc. 
     Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.