Abstract:
A nail file assembly includes a file sub-assembly that secures preferably to an index of a human hand. The sub-assembly has a flexible sheet having an outer surface that carries an abrasive layer and an opposite inner surface that preferably carries at least in-part a fastener for securing the sheet to the index. With the sub-assembly secured to the index, the remaining indexes of the hand are free to manipulate and support the indexes of an uncooperative fauna that carry respective nails to be filed. When filing, the index of the assembly and which carryies the sub-assembly is free to pivot back and forth across the nail of the fauna.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a nail file and more particularly to a nail file assembly for use on an uncooperative fauna and method of utilizing the same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Nail files are used to round, shorten and define nails most commonly on the feet and hands of  homosapiens.  Known nail files typically have an abrasive layer or coating mounted on opposite sides of a rigid and elongated member. Often, the member is made of an inexpensive material such as plastic and the abrasive layer has a limited useful life generally making the nail file disposable. Slightly more expensive nail files utilize an abrasive pad, as oppose to a coating. This pad has a cushioning effect for improved filing in some applications. Other nail files have a member made of metal with an abrasive surface integrated into opposite side of the metallic member itself. The abrasive surface may even be impregnated with diamond particulate to enhance filing efficiency. The metallic nail files often have a handle at one end with the abrasive surfaces on the other end, and are typically more expensive than the disposable nail files but have a longer useful life. 
         [0003]    Known nail files are typically used on oneself. For instance, when filing the fingernails of one&#39;s left hand, the thumb and at least one finger of the right hand must grasp the nail file. In other situations, most common in nail salons, a cooperative client of the salon will hold his/her hand and/or foot out for a nail technician to work on the nails. In these situations, for instance, the nail technician will grasp the nail file with the thumb and at least one finger of the right hand, brace the hand or foot of the client with the left hand of the technician and pursue filing of the client&#39;s nails. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, when the nail filer or technician is filing the nails of another, one hand of the nail filer is dedicated to grasping the nail file. The other hand is generally dedicated to bracing of the indexes of the hand or foot of the person having the nails to be filed. When a person or fauna, in general, is uncooperative, the nail filer is limited in ability to further control or brace the subject. Moreover, although disposable nail files are inexpensive with respect to more durable files, it would still be desirable to reduce manufacturing costs further while improving upon the cushioning effect of some known files. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A nail file assembly includes a file sub-assembly that secures preferably to an index of a human hand. The sub-assembly has a flexible sheet having an outer surface that carries an abrasive layer and an opposite inner surface that preferably carries at least in-part a fastener for securing the sheet to the index. With the sub-assembly secured to an index, the remaining indexes of the hand are free to manipulate and support the index of an uncooperative fauna that carries a nail to be filed. When filing, the index carrying the sub-assembly is free to pivot back and forth across the nail of the fauna. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the fastener is an adhesive layer that covers an inner surface of the sheet. When in a stored state, the adhesive layer is protected by a removable release film. With the release film removed, the flexible sheet may be wrapped about any one of the indexes of the hand so that the adhesive layer is adhered directly to the selected index. 
         [0007]    Objects, features and advantages of the present invention include the ability to file the nails of an uncooperative fauna with one hand that both supports and manipulates the nails to be filed and performs the actual filing. Other advantages include the ability to cradle an infant with one arm which performing the filing method with the hand of the other arm. Moreover, the design is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a nail file assembly of the present invention in an applied state and in one of it&#39;s intended environments; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the nail file assembly in the applied state; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a second enlarged perspective view of the nail file assembly in the applied state; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a nail file sub-assembly of the nail file assembly in a stored state; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross section of the nail file sub-assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the nail file sub-assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a second embodiment of the nail file sub-assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a third embodiment of the nail file sub-assembly; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the nail file sub-assembly of the third embodiment; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a fourth embodiment of a nail file sub-assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a nail file assembly  20  of the present invention is illustrated having a nail file sub-assembly  22  and preferably a human hand  24  of a nail filer  26  having a plurality of indexes  28  that preferably has a thumb  30  and four fingers  32 . The assembly  20  is utilized to file nails  34  of a generally uncooperative fauna  36  such as a human infant or baby. As illustrated, the filer  26  may be a mother holding her baby being the fauna  36 . The thumb  30  of the right hand  24  of the mother  26  preferably carries the file sub-assembly  22  leaving the fingers  32  of the right hand  24  free to manipulate, grasp and/or brace the index(s) of the baby  36  that has the nail  34  to be filed. With the right hand  24  performing both filing and bracing functions, a left arm  38  of the mother  26  is free to cradle and support the baby  36 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the sub-assembly  22  is illustrated in a stored state  40 . A sheet  42  of the sub-assembly  22  is generally located between a fastener  44  that is preferably an adhesive layer, and an abrasive layer  46 . The sheet  42  is preferably elongated and resiliently flexible and stretchable for efficient gripping and forming to the selected contours of the human hand  24 . With respect to the sub-assembly  22  being in an applied state  48 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the abrasive layer  46  is secured to an outer surface  50  of the sheet  42 , and the adhesive layer  44  is disposed on an opposite internal surface  52 . When in the stored state, the adhesive layer  44  is located between the sheet  42  and a removable release film  54  for protecting and generally preserving the adhesive layer  44 . Preferably, the sheet  42 , the release film  54  and the adhesive layer  44  are made of materials known in the art of adhesive bandages commonly used to protect minor wounds. 
         [0021]    The elongated sheet  42  has a mid portion  56  that extends longitudinally between a first end portion  58  and an opposite second end portion  60  of the sheet  42 . The abrasive layer  46  generally covers all of the outer surface  50  at the mid portion  56 . The outer surface  50  at the end portions  58 ,  60  are preferably not covered by the abrasive layer  46  for improved attachment of the sub-assembly  22  to any one of the indexes  28  of the hand  24  of the filer  26 . That is, for instances where the indexes  28  of the hand  24  of the filer  26  may be damp or generally dirty, adhesion of the sheet  42  generally to the skin of any one of the indexes  28  may be limited. However, because the sheet  42  is wrapped longitudinally about the selected index  28 , the adhesive layer  44  at one of the end portions  58 ,  60  will adhere to the outer surface  50  at the other of the end portions  60 ,  58  when the elongated sheet  42  is wrapped completely around the index  28  and overlaps itself. Moreover, the end portions  58 ,  60  are preferably resiliently elastic contributing toward gripping the selected index. 
         [0022]    During application of the sub-assembly  22 , the release film  54  is first removed from the sheet  42 , thus exposing the adhesive layer  44 . The sheet  42  is then wrapped preferably about the thumb  30  of the hand  24  of the filer  26  with the adhesive layer  44  facing toward and adhering to the skin and potentially the nail of the thumb. Preferably, the sheet is orientated so that the mid portion  56  of the sheet  42  is generally against the cushioning pad  62  of the thumb  30 . This provides a cushioning effect when filing. One skilled in the art however would now know that the flexible sheet  42  with the adhesive layer  44  can be adhered in any variety of locations including the palm  64  of the hand  24 . 
         [0023]    With the sub-assembly  22  secured preferably to the thumb  30  of the hand  24 , the infant  36  can be cradled in the arm  38  having the other hand. The fingers  32  of the hand  24  are then free to control and support the indexes carrying the nails  34  of the infant  36 . With the nails  34  held steady by the fingers  32 , the thumb  30  carrying the sub-assembly  22  may then be moved back and forth against the nail  34  to be filed. One skilled in the art, however, would now know that the fauna  36  can be any variety of subjects other than an infant. For instance, the fauna  36  could be a challenged adult or a pet animal that is not likely to cooperate with the filing procedure. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second embodiment of a sub-assembly  22 ′ is illustrated wherein like elements to the first embodiment have like identifying numerals except with the addition of a prime symbol. Sub-assembly  22 ′ has an abrasive layer  46 ′ that covers the top surface  50  of an elongated sheet  42 ′ at both the mid portion  56 ′ and the end portion  60 ′. End portion  58 ′, however, is not covered by the abrasive layer  46 ′, hence, an adhesive layer retains the ability to adhere to the outer surface  50 ′ at the end portion  58 ′. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a third embodiment of a sub-assembly  22 ″ is illustrated wherein like elements to the first and second embodiment have like identifying numerals except with the addition of a double prime symbol. Sub-assembly  22 ″ does not have an adhesive layer as a fastener, and instead utilizes a hook-and-loop fastener  44 ″ having a hook component  66  secured to an outer surface  50 ″ of an elongated sheet  42 ″ at an end portion  58 ″, and a loop component  68  secured to an opposite inner surface  52 ″ at an opposite second end portion  60 ″. Although the engagement ability of the hook-and-loop fastener  44 ″ may not be as efficient as the previously described adhesive layer  44 , the fastener  44 ″ enables the sub-assembly  22 ″ to be reused. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a fourth embodiment of a sub-assembly  22 ′″ is illustrated wherein like elements have like identifying numerals except with the addition of a triple prime symbol. Generally, the sub-assembly  22 ′″ has no fastener because the sheet  42 ′″ is a discontinuous ring preferably made of resiliently flexible plastic. The ring  42 ′″ is sized to fit snugly about an index having a wide range of diameters. In order to achieve a snug fit, the ring is resiliently flexible. An abrasive layer  46 ′″ that may include an integral cushioning pad (not shown) is secured to an outer surface  50 ′″ of the ring  42 ′″. 
         [0027]    While the forms of the invention herein disclosed constitute presently preferred embodiments, many others are possible. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible equivalent forms or ramification of the invention. It is understood that terms used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.