Toilet – Nail device – Abrader – file or buffer
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-09-18
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Nail device
Abrader, file or buffer
C132S075600, C132S073500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289901
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to manicure devices and, more particularly, is concerned with a nail instrument, for use on fingers and toes and in other applications, having emery cone and blade implements at opposite ends of the instrument.
2. Description of the Prior Art
People who have artificial nails on fingers and toes often end up with substances, such as glue and the like, which are used therewith on the undersides of the artificial nails. These substances trap dirt and other foreign material and often cannot be removed by washing or by use of a nail brush alone. Any buildup of such substances should be removed for both cosmetic and hygienic reasons. Care must be taken in the removal of the substances because the natural nails of the fingers and toes are exposed under the artificial nails.
Current methods for cleaning the undersides of and smoothing nails include the use of a drill or a tool for scraping the undersides. Problems exist, however, with these methods. The drill is noisy, cumbersome, creates an uncomfortable feeling and an odd smell, may be ineffective and may cause damage to the natural nails. Other scraping tools may have similar problems associated with them.
A variety of manicure devices which employ scraping actions and the like have been developed over the years. Representative examples of these manicure devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,040,446 to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 1,629,967 to Rex, U.S. Pat. No. 1,837,849 to Bruninghaus, U.S. Pat. No. 1,956,627 to Roth, U.S. Pat. No. 2,035,323 to Langdon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,957 to Hokama, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,013 to Hoover, Canadian Pat. No. 475,452 to Miller, French Pat. No. 52,887 to Walter-Martin and French Pat. No. 620,936 to Beck. These prior art manicure devices generally disclose an elongated handle and implements which are adapted to fit at one or both opposite ends of the handle. While these prior art devices appear to provide satisfactory solutions for the specific needs for which they are designed, none of them seem to provide an optimum solution for cleaning the undersides of and smoothing nails.
Consequently, a need still exists for a nail instrument which includes specific implements that provide a more effective solution for the aforementioned problem in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a nail instrument designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The nail instrument of the present invention includes an elongated handle and a pair of implements which are adapted to fit at opposite ends of the handle. The handle of the nail instrument can be manipulated such that the implements thereon provide a filing action, a prying action and a scraping action. The implements of the nail instrument provide an optimum solution for cleaning the undersides of and smoothing nails. The implements of the nail instrument are also useful in other applications, such as in medical, arts and crafts, and automotive fields.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a nail instrument which comprises: (a) an elongated handle having opposite end portions; and (b) an implement having a connecting portion and a working portion, the connecting portion being removably mounted to one of the opposite end portions of the elongated handle, the working portion being in the form of a conical structure substantially comprised of emery material for providing a filing action.
More particularly, the elongated handle has a generally cylindrical configuration. The one opposite end portion of the elongated handle is internally threaded and the connecting portion of the implement is externally threaded and threadably interfittable with the internally threaded one opposite end portion of the elongated handle for securing the implement to the one opposite end portion of the elongated handle. As an alternative, the one opposite end portion of the elongated handle can be externally threaded and the connecting portion of the implement internally threaded to threadably interfit with the externally threaded one opposite end portion of the elongated handle and thereby secure the implement to the one opposite end portion of the elongated handle. The elongated handle has an external surface with a gripping means defined thereon and disposed adjacent to the one opposite end portion of the elongated handle. The working portion of the implement is removably mounted on the connecting portion of the implement such that the working portion of the implement is disposable and replaceable.
The present invention is also directed to a nail instrument which comprises: (a) an elongated handle having opposite end portions; and (b) an implement having a connecting portion and a working portion, the connecting portion being removably mounted to one of the opposite end portions of the elongated handle, the working portion being in the form of a sleeve merging into a flattened blade for providing a prying action and a scraping action.
The present invention is also directed to a nail instrument which comprises: (a) an elongated handle having opposite end portions; (b) a first implement having a connecting portion and a working portion, the connecting portion of the first implement being removably mounted to one of the opposite end portions of the elongated handle, the working portion of the first implement being in the form of a conical structure substantially comprised of emery material for providing a filing action; and (c) a second implement having a connecting portion and a working portion, the connecting portion of the second implement being removably mounted to the other of the opposite end portions of the elongated handle, the working portion of the second implement being in the form of a sleeve merging into a flattened blade for providing a prying action and a scraping action.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 116216 (1939-08-01), Brekke
patent: D. 141265 (1945-05-01), Miller
patent: D. 148487 (1948-01-01), Scoulous
patent: 448409 (1891-03-01), Cassidy
patent: 1040466 (1912-10-01), Smith
patent: 1629967 (1927-05-01), Rex
patent: 1837849 (1931-12-01), Bruninghaus
patent: 1956627 (1934-05-01), Roth
patent: 2035323 (1936-03-01), Langdon
patent: 2472667 (1949-06-01), Lessard
patent: 4559957 (1985-12-01), Hokama
patent: 5195278 (1993-03-01), Grove
patent: 5439013 (1995-08-01), Hoover
patent: 5996590 (1999-12-01), Steege
patent: 6102048 (2000-08-01), Baker
patent: 475452 (1951-07-01), None
patent: 620936 (1937-05-01), None
patent: 52887 (1945-06-01), None
Singer Richard A.
Singer Ronda Anderson
Doan Robyn Kieu
Flanagan John K.
Flanagan John R.
Flanagan & Flanagan
Wilson John J.
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