Abstract:
A personal grooming device for caring for finger nails, toe nails, skin and hair. The personal grooming device includes a handle enclosing a motor and a power supply. The handle connects to an orbital vibrating mechanism powered by the motor. The orbital vibrating mechanism includes a mounting plate for attaching a various tools including a nail file, an exfoliator, a callous remover, a massager, and/or a brush. The various tools can be attached to and removed from the mounting plate repeatedly allowing for the personal grooming device to accommodate a variety of personal grooming needs.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/045,378, filed on 3 Sep. 2014. The Provisional U.S. patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is directed to a personal grooming device and more particularly to an electrically powered device with changeable tools for caring for finger nails, toe nails, skin, and hair. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    General personal care requires multiple tools to file nails, buff nails, remove polish, and exfoliate skin. In general, the tools used for such skin and nail care are single-purpose mechanical tools. In addition to being single-purpose tools, these mechanical tools require time and only provide merely satisfactory results. 
         [0004]    As such, there is a need for an improved personal grooming device that can be used for multiple purposes and provides rapid and superior results to traditional tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention is directed to a grooming device for caring for finger nails, toe nails, skin, and hair. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment of this invention, the grooming tool comprises an electric nail buffer/file intended to replace existing traditional nail files. The subject invention is practical and much faster than a traditional nail file and provides better results. Additionally, other attachments may be connected to the grooming tool for other personal needs including exfoliating skin, removing callouses and/or to care for hair. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, the grooming device includes an elongated handle, housing a motor and power supply, and a swing head with a mounting plate connectable to the motor to provide orbital motion to a tool. The swing head is preferably connectable to a variety of tools to care for finger nails, toe nails, skin and hair. For example, the tools may include a filing tool, a buffing tool, an exfoliating tool, a callous removal tool, a massage head, and a brush. 
         [0008]    In a preferred embodiment, the handle and the swing head are manufactured with plastic and/or metal materials. However, any light-weight and durable material may be used. The handle can have any desirable form, shape, size and/or color. Preferably, the handle comprises an ergonomic shape that allows a user to comfortably use the grooming device. The handle may further include rubber grips or inserts to comfortably handle the grooming device. 
         [0009]    The handle preferably includes a hollow interior to accommodate a power supply and a motor capable of providing orbital or other vibratory movement to the tool. The motor preferably comprises an electrical motor with a small drive shaft extending from the motor and connectable to an orbital vibrating mechanism in the swing head. Alternatively, the grooming device may include a mechanical vibrator, such a spring-driven vibratory mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the power supply comprises rechargeable batteries. However, other power supplies may be used including a corded power supply connectable to an electrical outlet. 
         [0010]    The grooming device may further include an on/off switch, a function switch and/or an indicator light to indicate, for example, an operating mode, a recharging mode and/or another function. The light can be of any form, size, color, material, and can be located anywhere on the handle. 
         [0011]    According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the swing head is removably connectable to the handle with the shaft of the motor operatively connectable to a gear shaft within the swing head. The gear shaft connects to the mounting plate with an eccentric gear providing orbital motion to the mounting plate and, in turn, to a tool attachable to the mounting plate. 
         [0012]    In a preferred embodiment, a variety of tools are attachable to the mounting plate. For example, but not limited to filing tools, emery boards, nail polish removers, callous removers, buffing tools, exfoliators, massage heads, and brushes. In embodiments of the invention, the grooming device may include various grit to allow for shaping, filing, and buffing of finger and toe nails. The removable tools preferably attach to the mounting plate through a hook and loop mechanism. Alternatively, the grooming device may use alternative connectors for attaching the removable tools to the mounting plate. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of this invention, the removable tools are adjustable, preferably pitch adjustable, providing different angles for operating on the nails. 
         [0014]    Components of the removable tools, including pads, brushes and/or replaceable heads, are all washable as is the device itself which is preferably sealed for such purpose. 
         [0015]    In operation, the motor, connector shafts and the eccentric gear preferably impart an orbital motion on the mounting plate and the removable tool. Alternatively, the grooming device may provide a linear motion and/or a pulsating motion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a grooming device according to one embodiment of this invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the grooming device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of the grooming device according to another embodiment of this invention with a portion of a swing head shell of a swing head removed to show internal components. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a partial exploded view of the swing head shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows is a perspective view of a grooming device  10  according to one embodiment of this invention, comprising a handle  12 , a swing head  14 , an orbital vibrating mechanism  16  for imparting an orbital motion on a tool  18 . In this embodiment, the tool  18  comprises a brush  20  however, the tool may comprise any type of tool including, but not limited to, a nail file, a buffing tool, a callous remover and an exfoliator. The tool  18  is preferably attachable to and detachable from the grooming device  10  to allow a variety of tools  18  to be used with the handle  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the tool  18  connects to a mounting plate  22  with a hook and loop fastener  60 . However, it should be understood that other types of releasable connectors may be used. 
         [0021]    As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the handle  12  comprises an elongated body enclosing an electrical motor (not shown) and a portion of a drive mechanism  26  for the tool  18 . The handle  12  preferably comprises a hollow plastic body with an ergonomic shape. The handle  12  may be manufactured using techniques known to those of skill in the art, such as plastic injection molding, to have any desirable form, shape, size, and/or color. However, it should be understood that the handle may be manufactured from any material including light metals and other durable materials. The handle  12  may further include a texturized and/or non-slip surface for improved grip. 
         [0022]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle includes a switch  24  accessible along an outer surface of the handle  12 . The switch  24  comprises an electronic switching circuit for activating the electrical motor contained within the handle  12 . The circuit may provide for additional controls of the electrical motor including, but not limited to speed control, automatic shut-off, and changing rotation direction. Alternatively, the handle may include additional switches or controls for controlling various features of the grooming device  10 . 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the handle  12  provides a water-resistant, sealed enclosure for the motor, power supply and the drive mechanism, allowing the grooming tool  10  to be washed without damaging the motor and other internal components. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the drive mechanism  26  provides rotation motion from the electric motor while preventing water from entering the handle and possibly damaging the electric motor and power supply. In this embodiment, the swing head  14  is preferably manufactured from materials that are not damaged when exposed to or submerged in water to allow for easy cleaning. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the motor and drive mechanism provide a rotational motion to the swing head  14 . Alternatively, the motor and drive mechanism may be designed to provide a transverse, oscillating, pulsating, or another type of motion. As discussed above, the handle  12  houses the electric motor and power supply. The handle  12  may further enclose a drive circuit, a central processing unit, and a memory for performing various functions of the grooming device  10 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the handle  12  includes an access door  46  to provide access the power supply and/or the motor. In a preferred embodiment, the power supply is a rechargeable battery. Alternatively, the power supply may comprise disposable batteries or a cord for connection to an electrical outlet. The handle  12  preferably further includes an output unit  62  for indication operation and various functions of the grooming device  10 . The output unit  62  may comprise a light (such as a light emitting diode), a speaker, a buzzer and/or a display (such as an LED or LCD display). In another embodiment, the grooming device  10  may further include a grooming light to illuminate an area being worked on, for example fingernails. In a preferred embodiment, the grooming light projects from a body of the handle  12  or swing head  14  to shine a light in proximity to an end of a tool attached to the mounting plate  22 . 
         [0025]    As discussed above, the grooming device of this invention can be connected to various tools. For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates an assembly view of the swing head  14  of the grooming tool  10  of this invention with a brush head  20 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a portion of the grooming device with a portion of the swing head removed to show internal components and with an emery board  48  attached to the mounting plate  22 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an assembly view of the swing head without a tool attached to the mounting plate  22  showing the fastener  60 . 
         [0026]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the swing head  14  is connectable to the handle  12  with a circular slot  50  and tab  52  connector providing a releasable connection. However, it should be understood that the swing head  14  may be connected to the handle  12  with other types of releasable connectors. Alternatively, the swing head  14  and handle  12  may be formed as a unitary component. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the swing head  14  includes a swing head shell  28 , an under fixing part  30 , an upper fixing part  32 , a lower bearing  34 , an upper bearing  36 , a gear shaft  38  with an eccentric gear  40  and an orbital shaft  42 , and a plurality of o-rings  44 . However, it should be understood that in other embodiments the swing head  14  may not comprise all these components and some components may be combined into a single component. 
         [0028]    The swing head shell  28  preferably comprises an open-top housing to protect the other components of swing head  14 . The swing head is preferably manufactured of plastic but may be manufactured from any other durable material including metal. The swing head  28  includes an opening  54  to allow the gear shaft  38  of the orbital vibrating mechanism  16  to connect to the drive mechanism  26  of the motor. The under fixing part  30  of the vibrating mechanism  16  is preferably connected to the swing head shell  28  with a pair of screws, however other connectors such as adhesive may be used. Alternatively, the swing head shell  28  and the under fixing part  30  may be molded as a single component. 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment of this invention the orbital vibrating mechanism  16  comprises the under fixing part  30 , the upper fixing part  32 , the lower bearing  34 , the upper bearing  36 , the gear shaft  38 , the eccentric gear  40 , the orbital shaft  42 , and the o-rings  44 . IN an alternative embodiment, the orbital vibrating mechanism  16  may comprise another type of mechanism for imparting vibration including, but not limited to, motors with an off-center weight and spring-driven vibrators. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the gear shaft  38 , the eccentric gear  40 , and the orbital shaft  42  are positioned between the under fixing part  30  and the upper fixing part  32 . The gear shaft  38  is surrounded by the lower bearing  34  and passes through the opening  54  in the under fixing part  30  and connects to the drive shaft  26  of the motor with a cusp gear  56  that inserts into the drive shaft  26 . The eccentric gear  40  connects the gear shaft  38  to the orbital shaft  42 , with an axis of the orbital shaft  42  offset from a rotation axis of the gear shaft  38 . The amount of the offset can be selected to impart a desired movement or rotation of the mounting plate  22 . The orbital shaft  42  is preferably surrounded by the upper bearing  36  and connected to a receiver in a bottom surface of the upper fixing part  32 . As best shown in the partial section view of  FIG. 3 , the pair of o-rings  44  connect to hangers  58  on the under fixing part  30  and the upper fixing part  32  and serve to control the movement of the upper fixing part  32  relative to the under fixing part  30 . In an alternative embodiment, the vibratory mechanism may include other gearing to provide alternative planar movement and/or vertical movement to the mounting plate  22  and tool  18 . 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the mounting plate  22  includes a releaseable connector  60  for attaching the tool  18 . The releaseable connector  60  allows the grooming device  10  to utilize multiple tools  18  including, but not limited to, a nail file tool, emery boards, a buffing tool, a brush, a callous remover, a massage head and an exfoliator. In an embodiment, the tool  18  is connected to the mounting plate  22  with a hook and loop fastener. However, it should be understood that other types of releasable connectors may be used including, but not limited to, slot and tab connectors, screws, snap connectors, and clips. In an alternative embodiment, the removable tools may be adjustable, preferably pitch adjustable, providing different angles for operating on the nails. In a preferred embodiment, the grooming device  10  may utilize multiple emery boards with varying grit. For example, a rough grit may be used to shape a nail, a medium grit can be used to smooth ridges and surface irregularities, a fine-grained grit to buff and smooth the nail to a matte surface, and finally a finest finishing grit to give the nails a glossy shine for a professional look. 
         [0032]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are presently preferred. Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.