Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Manicure or pedicure compositions
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-15
2001-05-01
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Manicure or pedicure compositions
C132S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and device for treating natural or artificial, plastic fingernails or toenails.
The inventive method as well as the corresponding device for treating fingernails and toenails is used primarily in the cosmetic field for manicure as well as pedicure. The conventional treatment of fingernails and toenails is such that they are only cut and, if necessary, filed. It is a disadvantage that the nails are often brittle and rip, resulting in the associated nail problems. The result is that due to the jagged forward nail edge the nails are caught on fabrics and in extreme cases will pull threads. Also, ripped and brittle nails give an ungroomed appearance. In addition to the treatment of natural fingernails (as well as toenails) the inventive method can also be used for treating artificial fingernails which are comprised of plastic. Here, similar problems as with natural fingernails occur. For example, the artificial fingernails easily rip or are damaged otherwise so that they can no longer be usable.
The invention has as an object to provide a method as well as a device for treating natural or artificial, plastic fingernails or toenails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As a technical solution it is inventively suggested that the nail is heated in portions to such a temperature that the nail substance at the desired location will melt to some extent.
Such a heat treatment of a fingernail (natural or artificial) or of a toenail has the advantage that the condition as well as the outer appearance of the nail in comparison to untreated nails can be considerably improved by technically simple means. The inventive idea is that the nail is heated to such a temperature that it partly melts, thus achieving the desired effect. It is not necessary to heat the nail across its entire extension but only in such area or areas in which the melting effect is needed. Which temperature is to be applied depends on the respective application. This holds true especially for artificial fingernails made of plastic. Here, the temperature depends on the nature of the plastic material.
A first field of application of the inventive heat treatment of a nail is to heat the leading edge of the nail. This application is especially suitable for natural fingernails and toenails whereby it is advantageous that the keratin material at the forward nail end is partly melted and fused by heating and thereby sealed. The nail thus can no longer rip and no longer becomes brittle. Melting of the keratin material also results in a smooth surface at the forward nail edge so that no points of attack for catching etc. on a fabric are present. Finally, the forward nail edge is reinforced and stabilized. Of course, it is also possible to heat the forward nail edges of artificial fingernails in order to prevent ripping.
A further application is suggested in that the surface of the nails are polished by heat application. In general, the nail surface is polished by rubbing a respective polishing medium onto the nail surface. With the inventive additional heat application, the surface of the nail can be polished in an improved manner whereby the temperature is approximately between 40° C. and 150° C. The nail surface receives improved shine as well as an improved shape by applying the temperature.
In a further embodiment, an additional polishing medium can be used for polishing in order to improve the polishing effect. As a polishing material a cream or paste can be used. In the alternative, a polishing stone as well as polishing paper or similar material can be attached to the polishing tool.
In a further embodiment it is suggested that during polishing the cuticle is pushed back or removed. The application of heat also has a positive effect in this regard.
As mentioned before, the inventive heat treatment method is not only suitable for natural fingernails and toenails but also for artificial fingernails. A further embodiment of the inventive heat treatment method thus suggests that for artificial fingernails damaged locations are repaired by heating. The sealing and fusing of artificial fingernails prevents further ripping. Also, defective nails can be repaired or mended.
A further embodiment for artificial fingernails suggests to fuse by heating an extension piece thereto. Thus, an artificial nail is extended by fusing onto an already present artificial nail.
A further preferred embodiment suggests that an artificial fingernail is attached by heating onto a natural fingernail. Thus, an artificial nail is no longer attached by adhesives to a natural nail, but the artificial nail is directly melted or fused onto the natural nail by temperature application. The fusing process can be performed by placing the artificial fingernail onto the natural fingernail and heating subsequently the artificial fingernail from above so that the underside will partly melt. In the alternative, it is also possible to heat the underside of the artificial nail directly and to press it onto the natural fingernail subsequently. Finally, it is also possible that fusing of the artificial fingernail is carried out such that the forward nail edge of the natural nail is fused with the artificial nail at this forward nail area whereby especially a plastic material is used as a fusing material which corresponds to the artificial nail material. The artificial fingernail is thus actually fused to the forward nail area of the natural nail in the manner similar to a soldering process.
It is finally suggested with the inventive method to apply an electrical current in addition to, or alternative to, heating. This electrical current generates electrical stimulation.
As a technical solution in regard to the device for performing the method, the invention suggests a heatable device for heating the nails. With such a heatable heating device it is possible in a technically simple manner to perform the desired heat treatment.
In a first alternative it is suggested that the heatable device can be guided along the forward nail edge. The advantage of a treatment device for fingernails and toenails embodied such is that the keratin material at the forward nail end is partly melted and fused by heating and thus sealed. The nail can no longer rip and no longer becomes brittle. By fusing the keratin material, a smooth surface at the forward nail edge results so that no point of attack for catching etc. at fabric is present. While in a first alternative the nail to be treated is introduced into a correspondingly embodied heating device, in a preferred second alternative it is suggested that the heatable device is guidable along the forward nail edge. This has the advantage that the treatment device can follow any desired nail contour.
The heatable device may be rod-shaped, especially cylindrically shaped, and can be guided along the forward nail edge either with its curved mantle surface or with its end face. This provides the technically most simple embodiment for a heatable device which can be guided along the forward edge of a nail. Preferably, the curved mantle surface of the heatable device is employed for being guided along the forward nail edge. Of course, the end face of the cylinder can also be used whereby, of course, it may be profiled. It is feasible to employ, in addition to a planar end face, a convex or concave end face. Also, other curved profiled shapes are possible with which guiding along the forward nail edge is possible.
In general, it is possible that the treatment device is embodied in the form of a file or scissors. A preferred embodiment suggests, however, that the heatable device has a slot-shaped groove for receiving the forward nail edge. This slot-shaped groove for receiving the forward nail edge serves actually as a guide groove which engages the nail partially so that not only the forward end of the nail facing the end face is sealed but also neighboring top side and underside of the nail. Furthermore, the treatment device can be more easily manipulated by having this guide groove.
A further embodim
Gudrun E. Huckett Patent Agent
Howard S.
Page Thurman K.
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