Toilet – Nail device – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-03
2001-05-22
Philogene, Pedro (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Nail device
Combined
C132S073500, C132S073600, C132S075000, C015S097100, C015S021100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234180
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/668,408 filed Jun. 21, 1996 and entitled AUTOMATED NAIL POLISH REMOVER.
The present invention relates to nail polish removing devices, and more particularly, to a device for use by manicurists or their customers for automatically applying a nail polish removing fluid to the user's fingernails in a controlled manner, while at the same time subjecting the nails to a scrubbing action. The present invention includes features which facilitate clean-up of the nail polish remover and which increase the ease of use of the device as compared to prior art nail polish removers.
One method in widespread use of removing fingernail polish from fingernails involves a person wetting a piece of cotton with fingernail polish removing fluid and then rubbing the fingernails with the wetted cotton until the fingernail polish has been removed. In addition to being overly time consuming, this commonly used method presents the high probability that fingernail polish removing fluid will be inadvertently dripped or spilled onto clothing, carpets or furniture. Further, this method typically requires that fingernail polish be removed from only one fingernail at a time, further lengthening the process.
A number of automatic fingernail polish removing devices are known in the art. These devices typically have a rotating scrubbing member, such as a brush, which sits partially immersed in a reservoir of fingernail polish removing fluid. One or more of the fingernails of the user's hand are placed in contact with the rotating scrubbing member in order to remove the fingernail polish from the fingernails with the help of a fingernail polish removing fluid. One disadvantage of these prior art fingernail polish removing devices is that a large amount of the fingernail polish remover, in which the scrubbing member is partially immersed, is wasted. Another disadvantage is that the rotating scrubbing member is difficult to clean or replace. Yet another disadvantage is that disposal of used fingernail polish removing fluid is frequently a cumbersome and messy task.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved fingernail polish removing device which can be used to remove fingernail polish from the fingernails of a user's hand in a safe, clean and efficient manner without wasting fingernail polish removing fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device is disclosed for removing fingernail polish simultaneously from a plurality of fingernails of a hand. The device includes a base having a first area adapted for simultaneously receiving a plurality of fingers of the hand. A rotatable sponge is coupled to the base such that the plurality of fingernails of the hand are positionable in contact with the rotatable sponge when the plurality of fingers are positioned in the first area. A motor positioned in the base and coupled to the rotatable sponge controllably rotates the sponge. A palm activated switch on the base actuates the motor when the plurality of fingers of the hand are positioned in the first area of the base to thereby rotate the sponge and remove the fingernail polish from the plurality of fingernails. A hand activated pump controllably supplies fingernail polish removing fluid to the sponge to aid in removal of the fingernail polish.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the hand activated pump supplies fingernail polish removing fluid to the sponge from a reservoir which can be removed from the base for refilling or to facilitate ease of storage of the device. In some preferred embodiments of the fingernail polish removing device of the present invention, the hand activated pump includes a downwardly extending nozzle which moves toward the rotatable sponge during engagement of the hand activated pump such that fingernail polish removing fluid is delivered in close proximity to the sponge.
In some preferred embodiments, the fingernail polish removing device includes a removable drain pan below the first area for collecting fingernail polish removing fluid runoff from the rotatable sponge. The removable drain pan can be conveniently removed for disposal of the collected fingernail polish removing fluid. In some preferred embodiments, the device of the present invention includes a cleaning member which is movably coupled to the base and selectively moveable into contact with the rotatable sponge while the rotatable sponge rotates, in order to clean the rotatable sponge after use.
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Davis Aaron L.
Davis Mary B.
Hunton & Williams
Philogene Pedro
Sofspin LLC
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