Patent Publication Number: US-2023134504-A1

Title: Electronic nail file

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to apparatuses and systems for electric file (e-file) personal care devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to apparatuses and systems for e-file personal care devices for use in fingernail, toe nail, and/or related cosmetology. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Nail salons and/or nail technicians can use a variety of devices during a personal care treatment, including an electric file device for use during a manicure or pedicure. These e-files can be cordless/wireless, and have an adjustable rotations per minute (rpm) speed depending on the user preference, customer preference, application, and/or treatment. However, the user must constantly adjust the rpm speed between ranges through steps within a particular treatment, which can be time consuming. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features of the disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative examples, in which the principles of the disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a front left isometric view of an electric nail file system, according to at least one instance of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is front right isometric view of an electric nail file system, according to at least one example of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  3    is a top planar view of an electric drill dock system, according to at least one example of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples and various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of known starting materials and processes can be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the disclosure in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating the preferred examples, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. 
     As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, process, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). 
     The term substantially, as used herein, is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. 
     Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular example and as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompass other examples as well as implementations and adaptations thereof which can or cannot be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such examples are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such non-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “In some examples,” and the like. 
     An electric nail file system comprising: a power pack having one or more battery cells disposed therein, a tool coupled with the power pack, the tool having a motor disposed therein; a power cable operably coupling the power pack with the tool and operable to transfer electrical power from the power pack to the motor; a first set of controls operable to determine a motor speed of the motor, wherein the first set of controls includes a plurality of predetermined motor speed settings associated with the motor, wherein each of the plurality of predetermined motor speed settings correspond to a unique motor speed of the motor. 
     The motor can include a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, wherein the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction are opposite relative to the other. The plurality of predetermined motor speed of the first set of controls can include an associated rotational direction. 
     The electric nail file system can further include one or more displays displaying the motor speed of the motor. The displayed motor speed is the motor speed setting. The displayed motor speed is a real-time motor speed. 
     The electric nail file system can further include a battery indicator light operable to provide a visual display of a charge state of the one or more battery cells disposed within the power pack. The battery indicator light can be operable to change color based on the battery charge state. The battery indicator light can display a first color when the battery charge state is between 25% and 100% of a predetermined capacity, a second color when the battery charge state is less than 25% of the predetermined capacity, and/or a third color when the battery charge state is less than 10% of the predetermined capacity. The battery indicator light can oscillate between a fourth color and one of the first color, second color, and third color based on the battery charge state when the power pack is in a charging state. 
     The present disclosure is drawn to an electronic file (e-file) for use in personal care and/or cosmetic applications. The e-file can include a power pack and a tool with the power pack communicatively coupled with the tool and operable to transfer power therebetween. The power pack can be operable transfer electric power (e.g. current) to the tool, mechanical power (e.g. revolutions per minute (RPM)), and/or combinations thereof. The power pack can include one or more battery cells, processors, memory, and/or one or more controls. 
     The one or more controls can be operable to adjust the tool via adjusting current, RPM, and/or combinations thereof. The one or more controls can be operably coupled with the processors and/or memory to allow one or more predetermined power settings associated with the tool. The one or more predetermined power settings can determine the amount of electrical and/or mechanical power is distributed from the power pack to the tool. The one or more predetermined power settings can be user determined based on preference, appointment, treatment, and/or the like. 
       FIGS.  1  and  2    illustrates a front left diagrammatic view and a front right diagrammatic view of an electronic nail file (e-file) according to at least one instance of the present disclosure. The e-file nail system  100  can include a power pack  102  and a tool  104 . The power pack  102  can be communicatively coupled with the tool  104  and be operable to transfer power from the power pack  102  to the tool  104 . In at least one instance, the power pack  102  is operable to transfer electric power (e.g. current) to the tool  104 . In other instances, the power pack  102  can be operably arranged to transfer mechanical power (e.g. revolutions per minute (RPM)) to the tool  104 . 
     A power cable  106  can communicatively couple the power pack  102  with the tool  104 . The power cable  106  can have a predetermined length, thereby allowing the tool  104  to have a useful range away from the power pack  102 . The power cable  106  can be operably arranged to communicatively couple electric and/or mechanical power from the power pack  102  to the tool  104 . In at least one instance, the power cable  106  can be one or more electrical cables operably arranged to transfer electrical power from the power pack  102  to the tool  104 . In other instances, the power cable  106  can have a rotational element disposed therein along the predetermined length transferring rotational mechanical power generated at the power pack  102  to the tool  104 . In yet other instances, the power cable  106  can be operably arranged to transfer a combination of mechanical and/or electrical power from the power pack  102  to the tool  104 . 
     The power pack  102  can include one or more rechargeable battery cells  108  operable to store electrical energy. The power pack  102  can be a single large battery cell  108  and/or an array of smaller battery cells  108  operably coupled together to act as a larger battery. The one or more rechargeable battery cells  108  can be Nickel metal hydride (NiMH), Nickel-cadmium (NiCad), Lithium-ion (Li-ion), and/or any other battery chemistry desirable for implementation in a high power, long battery life applications. 
     The tool  106  can include a proximal end  110  and a distal end  112  and have a predetermined length  150  therebetween. The predetermined length  150  can be operably arranged to comfortably fit within a user&#39;s hand without being too large to manipulate and/or too small to grasp. The proximal end  110  can be operable to receive communicative coupling with the power pack  102  via the power cable  108 . The distal end  112  can have a contact tip  114  operable to engage with a customer&#39;s hand and/or nail. the contact tip  114  can be interchangeable depending on the desired procedure, process, step, and/or user or customer preference. The contact tip  114  can be operable to file, shape, and/or otherwise engage with the customer&#39;s fingernail and/or toenail. 
     The e-file nail system  100  can further include at least one motor  116  communicatively coupled with the one or more battery cells  108  and the contact tip  114  at the distal end  112  of the tool  106 . In at least one instance, the at least one motor  116  is arranged within the tool  106  and operable to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells  108  within the power pack  102  via the power cable  106 . In other instances, the at least one motor  116  is arranged within the power pack  102  and operable to transfer mechanical power to the tool  106  via the power cable  106 . 
     The at least one motor  112  can be operable to produce rotational and/or vibratory motion at the contact tip  114  to allow a user to file, grind, shape and/or otherwise engage with a customer&#39;s fingernail and/or toenail. 
     The power pack  102  can include one or more controls  118  arranged on one or more surfaces of the power pack  102 . The power pack  102  can have one or more controls  118  disposed on a top surface  120 , and/or one or more side  122 ,  124 , respectively. The one or more controls  118  can determine the on/off state of the e-file nail system  100 , the motor direction (e.g. forward/reverse), motor speed, and/or one or more predetermined motor speeds. The one or more controls  118  can be depressible buttons, touch-sensitive buttons, slidable switches, and/or combinations thereof. 
     As can be appreciated in  FIG.  1   , the one or more controls  118  can include a first set of controls  118   a  arranged on side  122 , a second set of controls  118   b  on side  124 , and a third set of controls  118   c  on top surface  120 . The first set of controls  118   a  can be operable to control one or more predetermined motor speeds. The one or more predetermined motor speeds can be user programmable and/or adjustable depending on the user&#39;s preference, the application, the treatment, and/or the customer&#39;s preference. In at least one instance, the one or more predetermined motor speeds can also include a motor direction, thus selection of one of the one or more predetermined motor speed can also select a motor direction. The second set of controls  118   b  can include an on/off state of the e-file nail system  100  and a motor direction. In at least one instance, the motor direction can be automatically adjusted based on the selection of the one or more predetermined speeds. In other instances, the motor direction can be independent of the one or more predetermined speeds. The third set of controls  118   c  can be disposed on the top surface  120 , which can be operable to adjust the motor speed. In at least one instance, the third set of controls  118   c  can include a rotable wheel in which rotation of the wheel in one direction (e.g. clockwise) can increase the motor speed, while rotation of the wheel in an opposite direction (e.g. counter-clockwise) can decrease the motor speed. In other instances, the third set of controls  118   c  can include one or more buttons and/or switches operable to increase and/or decrease the motor speed. 
     The top surface  120  can also include one or more displays  126  indicating current motor speed, motor direction, and/or if the current motor speeds corresponds to one of the one or more predetermined speeds. In at least one instance, the one or more displays  126  includes a digital read out of the current motor speed in RPM and one or more indicator lights operable to indicate one or more of motor direction and/or if the current motor speed corresponds to one of the predetermined motor speeds. The current motor speed in RPM can be an indication of a “set” speed and/or speed at which the motor should be operating at. In other instances, the current motor speed can be a real-time read out of the RPM of the motor, and thus may include some fluctuations. 
     The top surface  120  and/or the one or more displays  126  can also include a battery indicator light  128  operable indicate a provide a user feedback on the current charge state of the one or more battery cells  108  within the power pack  102 . As can be appreciated in  FIG.  1   , the battery indicator light can be arranged around the periphery of the one or more displays  128  to provide a halo illuminator effect. In at least one instance, the battery indicator light  128  can be a peripheral edge of the one or more displays  126 . In other instances, the battery indicator light  128  can be an independent lighting element arrange around and tangential to the one or more displays  126 . 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a detailed view of a power pack according to at least one instance of the present disclosure. As can be appreciated in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  3   , the battery indicator light  128  can be a light emitting diode (LED) operable to change color based on current battery charge state. In at least one instance, the LED battery indicator light  128  can display a first color (e.g. blue) if the current battery charge state is between 25% and 100% of capacity, a second color (e.g. yellow) if the current battery charge state is less than 25% of capacity, and/or a third color if the current battery charge state is less than 10% of capacity. In at least one instance of the present disclosure, the battery indicator light can oscillate between one of the first color, the second color, or the third color and a fourth color (e.g. white) in a charging state. This can provide a user an positive indication that the power pack is in a charging state, while simultaneously providing an indication of the current charge state of the power pack. 
     While  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  3    illustrate the indicator light  128  being disposed substantially around the one or more displays, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the indicator light  128  can be arranged adjacent to and/or as a portion of the top surface  120  and/or the one or more displays  126 . Further while  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  3   , illustrate the indicator light  128  as color change indication, it is further within the scope of the present disclosure that the indicator light  128  can provide an indication of the charge state of the power pack  102  via light brightness, light display pattern (e.g. around a portion of the one or more displays  126 ), and/or the like.