Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NAIL POLISH REMOVER, ESPECIALLY FOR TOES
The present invention relates to the field of nail care and, in particular
embodiments, to the field
of toenail polish removal.
Heretofore, nail polish has been removed from toes by such means as scrubbing
with a cotton
ball which is wetted with nail polish remover. Other simple or, alternatively,
mechanical devices
have been proposed. However, removing nail polish from toenails has been
relatively difficult
or inconvenient.
The following patents are considered to be of general relevance to the subject
matter of the
present invention and are not believed to anticipate or render the present
invention obvious,
whether taken alone or in any combination.
United States Patent No. 5,992,422 (Ivory) TOE NAIL POLISH REMOVING DEVICE
describes
a device specifically designed for removing nail polish from toes, whereby a
seated or standing
user places her foot through a vertical opening and into a reservoir
containing a sponge and
nail polish remover solution. The sponge is electronically reciprocated over-
top of the toes to
aid the removal process.
United States Patent No. 4,800,606 (Kolesky) DIGIT NAIL CLEANING DEVICE
teaches an
electric finger- and toe- nail cleaning device comprising individual
compartments for receiving
a single finger or toe. Inside each compartment is provided a rotating
cleaning member such
as a sponge immersed in nail polish remover solution.
The following additional patents relate to the concept of an upstanding
container holding a
cleaning solution which wets a sponge or like material and into which a user
places her finger
for removing nail polish. Scherer indicates that the device may also be used
for toenails.
Montiel's product has additional uses in the nail care area. Ropp et al.
utilize a brush in place
of a sponge. These patents are less relevant to the present invention because
they are not
practical for removing nail polish from toes.
United States Patent No. 4,440,181 (Scherer) NAIL POLISH REMOVER KIT; United
States
Patent No. 4,530,726 (Montiel) FINGERNAIL REFINISHING PRODUCT AND METHOD;
United
States Patent No. 4,964,372 (Zeenni et al.) FINGERNAIL TREATING DEVICE; United
States
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Patent No. 4,282,891 (Duceppe) FINGERNAIL TREATING DEVICE; and Canadian Patent
No.
1,067,655 (Ropp et al.) NAIL POLISH REMOVER
United States Patent No. 5,992,422 (Ivory) is somewhat complex and differs
from the present
invention as will be understood hereinbelow.
United States Patent No. 4,800,606 (Kolesky) does not appear to be welt suited
for cleaning
toenails because of the configuration. A user would have to manipulate her toe
awkwardly in
order to use such a device. Similarly, the remaining patents listed above do
not appear to be
well suited for cleaning toenails, notably because of the disposition of their
openings for
inserting digits.
The present invention seeks to overcome the inconvenience of removing nail
polish from
toenails using conventional devices intended primarily for use with
fingernails. The present
invention provides a means, including a device, which renders more convenient
the process of
removing toenail polish. People with limited mobility may also find this
invention more
convenient since less bending is required. The device may also be used to
remove fingernail
polish, to generally clean nails or for other cleaning uses.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a nail
polish removing device
comprising a container having a transverse or lateral opening for receiving a
toenail, a
scrubbing medium disposed in the container and adapted for scrubbing a
toenail, a reservoir
located in a lower portion of the container, the reservoir being capable of
holding nail polish
removing solution and facilitating contact of nail polish removal solution
with the scrubbing
medium to wet the scrubbing medium to facilitate nail polish removal.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
toenail polish removing
device comprising a sponge having a slot for receiving a toe; a reservoir for
holding nail polish
removing solution positioned below the sponge and serving to wet the sponge;
and a body
holding the sponge and the reservoir and having suction cup feet for
supporting the device in
a position for use. A user may wiggle their toes around as required to aid the
removal process.
When the device is set upstanding, the opening in the sponge may be in the
vertical plane or
otherwise such as slightly off vertical. In different embodiments, the opening
may span various
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widths across the sponge.
The nail polish removing solution may be any commercially available nail
polish remover or
other suitable solution and may be determined by the user.
The body of the device may be made of plastic or other suitable material.
Preferably the
materials) islare in line with the objectives of the invention and therefore
may be leak proof,
relatively durable and non-degrading under the conditions. The sponge may be
of various
types and preferably in line with the objectives of the invention and
therefore may be effective
in the nail polish removing process including effective abrasion, durability
and capable of being
effectively wetted by the solution. More than one type of sponge may be used
to provide
different scrubbing needs in one device. Also, different sponges may be used
with a single
device and therefore the invention may be manufactured, sold etcetera in its
component parts
or combinations thereof.
Instead of having a solution in the bottom of the device which may be
replenished, cartridges
containing solution may be used which are fitted to the device to replenish
the solution.
As seen in the Figures, the device may be at least somewhat kidney shaped with
correspondingly shaped sponge or foam for encapsulation within. In a preferred
embodiment
the device is pearlized bright pink in color.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the
accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 a and 1 b are perspective views of a device and cover therefor of an
embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 3 is a front side view of an embodiment of the present invention
showing exemplary
dimensions.
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Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a nail polish removing device (1 ) is shown in
perspective view and
comprises a scrubbing medium such as a sponge or foam (2) for scrubbing a
nail, the medium
(2) being adapted to hold therein nail polish removing solution, and having at
least one opening
(3) for receiving therein at least one digit or portion thereof. A reservoir
(seen by the dotted line
in Figure 2) is provided for holding nail polish removing solution and
communicating with the
scrubbing medium (2) for wetting thereof. A container (4) holds the scrubbing
medium (2), and
has means (5) for allowing useful positioning of the device, such as suction
cup feet (5). The
suction cups may be affixed to a floor or other surface and the user may sit
in a comfortable
position so as to allow convenient use of the device. A user may elect
alternative
arrangements, such as standing or lying down with the device placed
appropriately. In any
case, the friction between a nail and sponge having nail polish removing
solution therein
facilitating the removal of the nail polish. A ledge (6) is disposed in front
of the opening (3) for
resting one's foot (or hand) thereon while one's digits) is within the sponge
(2).
In Figure 1 b, a cover (7) is shown for placement on the open front face of
the device (1 ). The
cover (7) serves to hide the front face and to prevent leakage while the
device is not in use.
Embossment (8) is an example of how the lid may be secured to the body, where
the lid (and
an embossment or valley) is forced over the embossment (8) into a secure fit.
Several
embossment may be used or a continuous embossment surrounding the device.
Various other
securing means may be used involving a snap, friction or other means. To wet
the sponge (2),
the fid may be secured to the body and the device shaken and/or tilted.
Figure 2 shows the closed back of the device and Figure 3 shows the device in
plan view from
the front. An example of suitable dimension are shown, wherein the length of
the width of the
device is 6 inches and the height 3 inches. The dimensions may vary greatly
and may be such
as to accommodate any number of digits, such as from one to 10. A profiled
outline of a foot
or like indication may be present on the device.
It can be seen from the illustrations and descriptions heretofore that the
devices as taught
herein, and purposed to facilitate the cleaning of and particularly the
removal of nail polish,
particularly from toes, provide an advance in the art. The advantages realized
by this invention
which have been discussed herein are in no way intended to provide an
exhaustive list thereof
and therefore other features and advantages may exist and/or be discovered by
working of, or
experimenting with, the present invention.
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'd-he foregoing are exemplary embodiments of the present invention and a
person skilled in the
art would appreciate that modifications to these embodiments may be made
without departing
from the scope of the invention.
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