Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Back~round of the Invention
The present invention relates to motor driven
manicuring machines and is concerned, more particularly, with
hand-held, battery-powered abrading and polishing apparatus
for grooming nails at low surface speeds.
Brief descriPtion of the Prior Art
A wide variety of attempts have been made for the
provision of motor-powered abrading and polishing devices
for fingernails and toenails. These have included both
3 manipulable or portable units employing rotary abrading units
and larger, static or table-type units. ~
These latter, table-top units typically are driven ;
electrically and include one or more apertures for providing
access and orientation of a fingernail with regard to the
i abrading surface. Units of this type are effective for the
abrasive filing of fingernails but are generally unsuitable
for use in grooming or trimming toenails.
Furthermore, these static units tend to be rather I -
large and heavy, so that their use is generally limited to a
I specific location at which they consume a considerable
amount of room on table tops or shelving. Accordingly,
although these relatively large units may be constructed
with relatively large drives to move the abrading surface
at desireable speeds, they are quite limited in their
e versatility of use, particularly in terms of location and
~ convenience for grooming different types of nails.
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Prior forms of small, rotary manicuring units have
employed small, high speed motors in order to achieve the
desired compactness. Since motor torque is a function of the
size of the motor and, especially, since the surface speed
of a rotating unit is directlyrelated to the tool diameter,
for a given speed, the tools or abrasive bits of such prior
units typically have been limited in diameter to less than
one-half inch.
These prior units have not been well accepted
by consumers for several reasons. The very high speeds and
the sensible torque reaction have made it quite difficult
for an untrained individual to control such units. The
tendency is for the abrasive bit to recoil or to run itself
away from the nail. This made it almost necessary to
i provide additional guidance for the controlling hand, such as ; -~
by the use of a second hand as an additional guiding means.
While this is feasible when the units are used by a second
person, it is clearly unsuitable when it is desired to
use the unit for self-manicure.
) These high-speed, small-diameter bits also involve ~-
the danger or tendency to groove or to "scallop" the nail
if they are presented against the nail with too much force or
for too long a time. Therefore, any distraction or inattention
frequentlywould result in the formation of a small-diameter
; arc-shaped deformation of the nail, in contrast to the
desired sculpturing being attempted.
Consequently, prior manicuring units have not been
found to be entirely satisfactory.
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Summary of the Invention
The invention, in one aspect, provides a sub-assembly
for portable manicure units comprising a bulkhead adapted to
be mounted transversely of the manicure unit, said bulkhead
having a generally flat face having an aperture therein, a pro-
truding pin positioned to engage a motor having a casing portion
positioned within said aperture, said bulkhead having a second
face including a pair of recesses positioned on opposite sides
of said aperture, a pair of slots in said bulkhead and extended
inwardly from opposite edges thereof toward said pair of recesses,
a yoke having a motor-engaging portion and a pair of legs
positionable along said motor and through said slots to protrude
adjacent said second face, said legs each having a terminal
portion adapted to bear against said second face and engageable
in one of said pair of recesses, said second face having a
protrusion including an axle recess positioned on the center
line of the bulkhead and a lateral gear aperture, a pinion gear
on said motor and positioned adjacent said lateral gear aperture,
a cluster gear rotatably mounted on said second face and having
a major gear in meshing relationship with said pinion gear
through said lateral gear aperture and a minor gear, and an
output gear mounted on an axle in said axle recess and having
internal teeth in meshing engagement with said minor gear of
said cluster gear.
Objects of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a simple and readily controllable power manicuring unit which
avoids disconcerting sensations to the user and the potential for
small-diameter intrusions into the nail.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a battery-powered manicuring unit which is slim and elongated
in shape and which may be held in a variety of positions in-
cluding that of a pencil.
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It is another object of the present invention to
provide a battery-powered manicuring unit which has a slim
and tapered shape and which employs abrading accessories of
diameters approximating the maximum diameter of the unit.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a powered manicuring unit which is unencumbered by
a power cord and which is capable of rotating relatively
large-diameter accessories at relatively low surface speeds
by means of a slim a~d facile casing enclosing the power
LO source and the drive.
A further object of the present invention is the
provision of a battery-powered manicuring unit which mounts
a battery source, drive and output shaft on different axes in
a slim casing which is convenient for single-handed use.
.5 A further object of the present invention is the
provision of a battery-powered manicuring unit which mounts
a battery source and the output shaft coaxially with the
axis of a slim, rounded housing and which mounts a tor and
an operating switch diametrically opposite each other with the
O shaft of the tor being radially offset from the axis of the
housing and the remainder of the components coaxial therewith.
A further object of the present invention is the
provision of an unencumbered manicuring unit which is slim
in contour and which drives a large diameter accessory at
S low surface speed and which is capable of use with one hand
: ~ ¦¦ for gr ming toenails.
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A particular object of the present invention is
the provision of a compact, battery-driven manicuring unit
which employs multiple batteries in tandem relationship
coaxially with the output shaft and with the housing and
which includes a high-speed motor radially offset therefrom
with a gear-reduction train in engagement between the motor
and the output shaft.
A further particular object of the present invention
is the provision of a facile, unencumbered manicuring unit
0 which is economical and which is versatile in the use of
quickly-changeable accessories.
It is a further particular object of the present
invention to provide a fully portable manicuring unit which
provides for low-speed rotation of relatively large-diameter
accessories in a slim and convenient housing and with a
minimum of complexity of the structure to permit the use of
small battery cells and a small diameter motor with a compact
gear-reduction train to make possible the use of a slim,
tapered casing of a diameter approximating the diameter of
0 the accessory and capable of convenient control with one hand
either for grooming fingernails or for grooming toenails
, with the grooming-control arm fully extended to reach the
- foot.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s
These and other objects of the invention and a better
understanding thereof may be derived from the following descriptiol L
and accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the preferred form
of manicuring unit according to the invention;
Figure la is a view similar to Figure 1 and showing the
manicuring unit in operating configuration;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines
.0 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the gear reduction train;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the motor and gear
train and viewed from a perspective point to the left of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the motor and its
mounting and viewed from a perspective point rearward from that
S of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the struc
ture of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the switch contacts
in relation to their mounting projections;
. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the assembled switch; ¦ :
Figure 8 is a sectional vi~w taken along the lines 8-8 ¦
of Figure 7; and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of contacts for engaging
¦the batt ies and the wall upon which the contacts are mounted.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
As shown in the drawings, the preferred form of mani-
curing unit of the present invention comprises a casing 1 of
generally cylindrical cross-section throughout its length and
including a handle portion 2 engaging a housing portion 3 by
means of a threaded joint 4. The end of the housing re te from
the handle 2 is closed by an end member 5 secured therein by a
threaded joint 6 and having an axial aperture and a dust seal 7
therein.
O The handle 2, housing 3, end member 5 and other expose
portions of the unit preferably are formed of a polyester or
another material which is resistant to the solvents normally
occurring in manicuring materials, such as nail polish remover.
The handle has a dual taper on its exterior surface,
for ease and security of manipulation, and includes an axial bore
8 which is closed at the smaller end of the handle by an end cap .
The end cap 9 is suitable secured in the handle, such ~ :~
as by ultrasonic welding, and includes an annular projection 10
which extends into the bore 8 and which includes a chamfer 11 to
receive and align the closed end of a battery tube 12 within
axial bore 13 of the projection 10. An annular abutment 14 is
provided in the bore 13 ~o engage and establish the longitudinal
position of the battery tube 12.
The threaded portion 15 of the housing 3 which forms
the threaded joint 4 within the bore of the handle 2 is provided
with a cylindrical recess 16 which surrounds the open end 17 of
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he battery tube L2 when in the assembled positlon. The housLng
3 includes a rectangular boss 18 which is positioned along the
common, central axis of the handle 2, housing 3 and battery tube
12 and within the cylindrical recess adjacent the rim 17 of the
battery tube 12.
The rectangular boss 18 has an aperture 19 which
receives and mounts a contact member 20 therein in a position to
; engage the positive terminal 21 of the second of two batteries
22. The batteries are biased towards engagement with the contact
0 by means of a conventional spring 23 within the closed end of the
tube 12.
The contact member 20 is formed of flat spring stock with
four legs 24, 24', 25 and 25' folded back from the central portion
28 with two opposite legs 24 and 24'having angular flanges 29,29'
perforated therein. In position, the ~ngular flanges 29,29' abut
against a recessed f~ce 30 of the housing and serve as retainers
for the contact 20. The remaining two legs 25 and25' nf the con-
tact initially extend at right angles to the legs carrying the
angular flanges, thereby engaging the surface or face 31 of the
Q boss to retain the contact ~n position against the bias of the
battery spring.
The two legs 25 and 25'of contact bearing against the
face 31 of the boss portion are ben~ into a U-shaped relation-
ship and extend through apertures 32,32' in the housing wall to a
position emergent from the wall adjacent the angular flanges 29
and 29'. One of these emergent contact legs subsequently has a
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lead wir 6 secured thereto by suitable means such a~ soldering
and which carries a terminal clip 27 for engagement with a motor
terminal. The central portion 28 of the contact is ruptured by
means of a star-shaped punching 34 to provide four sharp points 35
of contact directed against the battery terminal 21.
Within the recess portion 16, the housing carries a
negative contact member 36 which engages the rim 17 of the con-
ductive battery tube 12 and is therefore in electrical communica-
tion with the negative terminal of the batteries via the spring 23
The negative contact 36 is formed of flat spri~g stock with Q re~- -
tangular aperture 37 positioned centrally therein for receiving th~
generally rectangular boss 18 in the recess 16. The negative con-
tact has opposed legs 38 and 39 which are bent into U form and
which extend through apertures 40 and 41 in the housing wall and
L5 l carry angular flanges 42 punched therein for engaging and locking
against the housing wall 30 to retain the contact in position. Th
negative contact 36 also includes a pair of L-shaped extensions
43 and 44 on opposite sides of the aperture and which have their
terminal portions 45 and 46 extending in opposite directions and ~ ~-
'0 bent outward away from the central portion and the bottom wall of ~-
thè recess, so that they are self-biased into engagement with the
rim 17 of the battery tube. A negative lead wire is subsequently
secured to one of the legs 38 or 39 of the negative contact, such
'~` ~as by sol ring, and i9 provided with a terminal clip 47.
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Adjacent its end remote from the handle 2, the hous-
ing 3 carries a transverse bulkhead 48 which is retained against
and between a plurality of abutments 49 within the hollow portion
of the housing and a shoulder 50 on the threaded end member 5,
Preferably, the abutments 49 are formed by a plurality of arcuate
ribs which are directed inwardly from the interior wall of the
hollow portion of the housing. The bulkhead includes opposed
notches 51 and 52 in its periphery and which receive projections
53 and 54, respectively, extended inwardly from the inner wall -
3 of the housing to lock the bulkhead against rotation.
The bulkhead has a projection 55 extending rearwardly
in the direction of the handle and including a pair of fingers
56,56' at an upper level and spaced from each other on opposite
sides of a lower level, single projection 57. The lower single
projection 57 receives and mounts a flatspring stock, static switcl
contact 58. The static switch contact 58 is a flat, elongated
strip carrying a pair of lateral projections 59,S9' which are
bent downwardly for a distance and then again bent inwardly toward
each other and again upwardly toward the main portion of the strip
D for their ends 60 and 60' to receive and resiliently engage the
lower projection. At its end ad~acent the end wall, the static
switch contact is be~t downwardly and is dimensioned to receive
and eDgage the terminal clip 47. At its opposite end, the
static switch contact is bent upwardly and terminates in a plane
; which is parallel to its orignal plane and spaced upwardly from
the main portion of the rearward pro~ection of the bulkhead.
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The paired fingers 56,56' of the rearward projection
of the bulkhead carry a flexible, relatively moveable switch
contact 61 which is formed of flatspring stock and which includes
a generally elongate main portion 62 having a pair of lateral
extensions 63,63' which are bent downwardly a distance and then
toward each other and again upwardly toward the main body portion
to span and for their ends 64,64' to resiliently engage and
lock the contact on the spaced fingers 56 and 56'. The opposite
ends of the longitudinal main portion of the flexing switch
contact 61 are bent upwardly away from the main portion and -
terminate in short, reversely-bent ends 65 and 65'.
In the region overlying the switch contacts, as viewed
in Figure 1, the housing 3 has an oval button-aperature 68 which
is internally surrounded by a generally flattened portion 69 of
the inner wall. A button member 70 having a generally oval body
71 surrounded by a flat flange 72 and wh~ch tapers inward at its
forward and rearward ends is engageable against the flat inner
portion of the housing when the button is fully inserted radially
outwardly in the oval aperture from.within the housing.
In its end adjacent the bulkhead, the button has a
not¢h 73 therein which is sized to receive the adjacent angular
portion of the veable switch contact 61 adjacent the re~ersely- ~:
bent end 65 when the button is depressed and moved forward and
away from the handle to the "on" position, as best shown in .
Figure la. The bulkhead carries a generally rectangular recess
74 therethrough for receiving the forward edge of the button ~..... -
when t button is thus ved to the forward position.
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Diametrically opposite the rectangular aperture 74 and,
therefore, the switch assembly, the bulkhead has a cylindrical
aperture 76 which is radially offset from the common center line
of the housing and the remainder of the unit. Flanking the aper-
S ture 76, the bulkhead has a pair of slots 77 and 77' extending
chordally from its edge inwardly and aligned with the center line
of the offset aperture 76.
The aperture 76 receives the bearing housing 78 of a
low-voltage, high rpm motor 79 in a press-fit relationship. The
D opposite bearing housing 80 of the motor is engaged by a U-shaped
portion 81 of a motor-mounting yoke 82 formed of a spring-grade
wire and having opposed legs 83, 83' extending forwardly on oppos-
ite sides of the motor and through the opposed slots 77, 77' in
the bulkhead. The lateral legs 83, 83' each have transverse bends
i 84, 84' extended toward each other and terminating in rearwardly
extending pin-ends 85, 85' which are receivable in a pair of aper-
tures 86 and 86' adjacent the slots 77 and 77'. The motor casing
is locked against rotation by a bulkhead pin 66 engaging an aper-
ture 67 in the casing. The motor is, therefore, positioned and
supported by both the fit in the aperture 76 and the tension of
the yoke. Preferably, the slots 77 and 77' are tapered downwardly,
as at 87, away from the center line of the bulkhead to permit the
yoke to swing downwardly for insertion of the motor.
On its side opposite from the motor 79, the bulkhead
d carries a forward extension 88 which includes a generally cylindri
cal ge cham~er 89, or~d as a~ extension of the aperture 76, and
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an axle extension 90 which is coaxial with the housing and the
remainder of the assembly. As best shown in Figure 3, the forward
extension 88 is partially cut away along the cylindrical gear
chamber 89 to provide access to a pinion gear 91 mounted on the
motor shaft 92 therein. A cluster gear 93 is unted on a pin
94 pressed in a recess 95 in the bulkhead and located to provide
engagement of the larger of the cluster gears ~ith teeth of the
pinion gear 91. The smaller of the cluster gears is thus position d
to engage the internal teeth 96 of an integral output gear 97 and
3 output drive shaft 98 which is journalled on a pin 99 pressed
into a recess 100 in the axle extension 90 and coaxial with the
remainder of the unit. The pinionf91, cluster 93 and internally-
toothed ring gear 97, therefore, form a gear reduction train
which reduces the speed of the output shaft by a ratio of 17 to 1
from the relatively high speed low torque output of the motor,
and therefore, provide a shaft output speed in the range suitable
for manicuring service, as discussed more fully hereinafter.
The output shaft 98 has an annular shoulder 101 which
i~ positioned to engage a ring 102 on the end wall 5, to limit
D outward travel of the gear and shaft unit. In service, the pin
99 acts as a thrust bearing when pressure is applied along the
output shaft.
- The output shaft 98 is hexagonal in cross-section
~ and has flats 103 to provide driving abutment with abrading
Z snd pol hing accessories, each ;f the ~l~t~ 103 having a
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detent 104 for receiving the locking leg 105 of a generally
V-shaped retainer-spring 106 within an accessory adapter 107
which is thereby removeably positioned on the output shaft. The
accessory adapter 107 includes a hexagonal bore 108 for receiv-
ing and engaging with the flats 103 of the output shaft
and includes a forwardly extending cylindrical portion 109 for
receiving an abrading or polishing unit 110. A button seal 111
having a flange 112 bearing against the forward surface of the
ab~ading unit 110 secures the unit 110 against a forward-facing
L0 shoulder 113 on the accessory adapter 107 and is secured to the
cylindrical portion 109, such as by ultrasonic welding.
The preferred form of abrading accessory shown in
Figure 1 includes a substantially flat, radial forward face 114
and a generally conical rear face 115 which converge toward a
L5 thin, generally cylindrical, peripheral surface 116, all of
which may be used in the grooming procedure`, as desired.
A generally cylindrical cover 117 is provided to
enclose the final drive and accessory during periods of non-
use and engages an annular shoulder 118 on the housing end wall
5 by means of a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, inwardly-
extended raised portions 119.
Assembly of the Preferred Embodiment
In assembly of the unit, the positive and negative
contacts 20 and 36 are positioned upon the housing and are locked
ZS 11 in thei ppropriate positions ;y the an~uLar flan~es 29 and 42.
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With the yoke positioned on the bulkhead and lowered
against the tapers 87 of the slots 77, the cluster gear is then
positioned on its mount on the bulkhead and the motor, with :-
the pinion gear mounted on its shaft, is subsequently pressed
into the aperture, with the cluster gear being rotated as required
to provide proper meshirg with the pinion gear. The U-shaped
portion of the yoke is then snapped onto the closed bearing of
the tor.
The static switch contact 58 is then locked upon the
0 lower, single-extension 57 of the bulkhead projection and the -
moveable switch contact 61 is locked on the spaced fingers
56,56'. The negative motor terminal is then secured to the
moveable switch contact 61 by means of a suitable wire. --
Upon completion of the bulkhead assembly with its
motor, drive and switch mechanism, the resultant bulkhead sub-
assembly is associated with the housing; the positive motor
terminal is connected to the central contact terminal clip 27,
and the negative t:erminal clip 47 is connected to the static
switch contact 58. The switch button is then inserted in the ~ -
housing in a position in which it is fully extended through its
aperture, and the bulkhesd and its assembly are then inserted
in the housing, with the moveable spring contact thereafter
engaging with and maintaining the proper positions of the
switch button.~ The end wall 5 is then threaded into the
housing and completes the housing assembly.
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The handle portion of the casing is then assembled
with its end cap and receives the battery tube unted in
the recess in the end cap. After insertion of the batteries,
the handle assembly is threaded upon the threaded portion of
the housing.
Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
With the unit thus assembled with its batteries, an
accessory is selected and installed on the output drive shaft
by a simple sliding action therealong until the locking leg of
L0 the detent spring 10~ engages a notch 104 on one of the flat9
103 of the output shaft.
Upon depression of the button 70, the moveable spring
contact 61 then is flexed into engagement with the stationary
contact 58 and closes the circuit to drive the motor. The
L5 depressed button is thereafter moved forward to a position in
which its recess 73 engages the angular portion of the flexed
spring and its forward edge is received within the recess 74 of
the bulkhead. During the sliding tion, the angular portion
of the flexing contact 61 is flexed open against the stationary
contact 58, until it is received within the button notch 73, at
which point it then springs back to its original shape, with
the consequent relative motion between the moveable and stationary
contacts thus providing a wiping action which serves to maintain
¦¦ e cleen ntsct area between the tw~ contacts.
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With the switch locked in the on position and the
button flange secured in the recess of the bulkhead, the mani-
curing unit may then be held or supported from any portion of its
casing, without concern for the position of the button and without
the need for any continued finger pressure upon the switch
button. Thus, the unit may be oriented in any desired angle with
regard to the nails to be groomed. This capability is of special
advantage in cases in which the unit is to be used by an individual
on the individual's own body, which is expected to be a major
t~ area of service of the new manicuring unit.
The grooming of the nails may progress through a
series of successive operations such as coarse filing, fine
filing and buffing, with a simple interchange of the accessories,
while the switch is off, in between the successive grooming
i stages. It is to be understood that a variety of accessories
may be associated with the manicuring unit including coarse
abrading heads, fine abrading heads, buffing surfaces, or the
like and in a wide variety of shapes and diameters.
In this respect, it should be noted that the provision
of the gear reduction train, between the high rpm battery-mctor
and the ultimate accessory surface, provides the desired
peripheral speed of the working surface of the accessory, thereby
limiting the rate of abrasion or buffing to a comfortable level
at which unskilled individuals may readily employ the manicur-
i ing unit without the assistance of other persons and without
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the probability of damage as a result of their initial lack ofskills in its use. It has been found that the working-surface speed
of the abrading or polishing surface is to be limited to a
i maximum of about 30 inches per second for acceptable control by
the average human. The preferred range of surface speeds, in
terms of facility of use and control, has been found to be that
of from minimal speed to an initial maximum of 20 to 25 inches
per second in the absence of a load. Under working load, of
course, a reduction of this initial maximum speed will occur
and will provide a working speed of about 15 to 20 inches per
second, depending upon the pressure with which the surface is
applied against a nail.
The low rpm output, of about 360 rpm, which is
achieved with the manicuring unit of the present invention, in
conjunction with the preferred, relatively large-diameter
accessories, in the range of 0.75 to 1.5 inches diameter, thus
provide the desired surface speeds of the working surface.
It will be apparent that the surface speed of the ~ -
conical rear face 115 and the radial forward face 114 of the
preferred accessory shown in Figure 1 will vary from the
periphery toward the center, so that a range of abrading speeds
will be available to the user.
~owever, with the preferred outer diameter of about
1.20 inches and the speed of 360 rpm, the no-load surface speed I -
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of the outer edge 116 is about 23.5 inches per second, which
has been found to be an especially effective surface speed
and an excellent combination of rotational speed and tool
diameter.
It is to be understood that the accessories m2y have
a ful~ forward working face, unobscured by a button 109, which
will provide a range of surface speeds from the desired maximum
down to a very low minimum immediately adjacent the center of
the face. This structure is considered ~o be of especial value
for polishing.
However, for "filing" purposes, the thin-periphery
abrading wheel shown in Figure 1 is considered to be of special
advantage, since it provides for use of the wheel beneath the
edge of the nails for perfection of the manicure by removal
of any burrs or undesireable edge forms which may be encountered.
The thin peripheral edge 116 intermediate the radial and conical
faces thus provides an abrasion-filing tool which may be
used with great visibility on the several areas and surfaces
of the nail without the need for frequent exchange of tools
between ~he surfaces.
Furthermore, the facility of use of the new mani-
curing unit and the nature of the preferred abrading accessory
make it possible to apply any of the w~rking surfaces to the nail
without changing the direction of filing and the attendant risk
of provaking splitting of the nail, Accordingly, any of the
three ~ rking surfsces may be oriented to engage the nail in
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the desired direction, whether by inversion or reversing of
the unit or by re-orientation of the nail itself with regard
to the position in which the tool is held.
It is to be understood that the present invention
is not to be construed as being limited in all its aspects to
any specific shape of accessory. However, it is important to
the present invention that the accessories have an outer diameter
of the wor~ing surface which is at least 0.75 inches and not
substantially exceeding 1.5 inches, while a working surface
0 diameter of about 1.20 inches is preferred.
Accordingly, it is apparent that the present
invention provides for self-manicll~ ng with rotating accessories
which are of sufficient diameter to avoid the undesirable con-
sequences of prior units, such as grooving or scalloping of
the nails, and at working-surface speeds which are both
comfortable and easily controlled by the user.
The coaxial relationship of the casing and working
accessory further provides an e~tremely facile unit which is
so easily grasped and controlled that it is quite suitable for
self-manicure of toenails without requiring contortion of the
individual's body.
Therefore, the present invention provides an
especially advantageous manicuring unit and system which avoids
the disadvantages of the prior art units and which affords easy
and accurate, one-handed control which has been unattainable
heretofore.
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It is to be understood that the term "manicuring",
as used herein and in the appended claims, is applicable to the
nails of both the hand and the feet and that the te,rm has been
so employed to avoid unnecessary repetition and profusion.
Various changes may be made in the details of the
invention, as disclosed, without sacrificing the advantages
thereof or departing from the scope of the appended claims.
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