Patent Application
20060191553
The invention is in the field of files for use in manicuring and pedicuring.
There are a wide variety of files available for use in grooming nails and skin. The typical file is flat and planar, and tends to be elongated with rounded ends. Either one or both sides of the planar surface are abrasive, permitting both sides of the file to be used in grooming the nails or skin. Sometimes the abrasive surfaces on each side of the file differ in texture and grain, with one side of the file having a rougher gauge abrasive for more serious abrading, and the other side of the file a smoother abrasive surface for finer, more precision filing. One common problem when using such files is that the file must be held with the fingers, and the skin on the fingers themselves sometimes becomes abraded when holding on to the file. Also, it is sometimes difficult to hold the file itself when there are no areas that facilitate gripping.
Accordingly, there is a need for a file for use in manicure and pedicure processes that facilitates easy gripping, reduces the possibility of incidential abrasion of superficial skin on the fingers, which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble and ship.
It is an object of the invention to provide a file for manicure and pedicure applications, which is in the form of an arc having at least one attachment that facilitates gripping and use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a file for manicure and pedicure applications that is in the form of an arc having a degree of bend that facilitates gripping and use.
The file 1 of the invention is an-elongated planar surface 2 in the shape of an arc 20A having generally rounded ends 3. The file 1 is bent very slightly to form an arc 20A, having one long side edge that is concave 20 with the opposite long side edge being convex 21 with side edges joined by generally rounded ends 3. The degree of bend in the arc may range from about 1 to 30 degrees, more preferably from about 1 to 20 degrees, most preferably about 1 to 15 degrees with the degree of bend being determined by drawing a straight line 16 tangent to mid section 16A, as depicted in
The file 1 has a top surface 4 and a bottom surface 5. Either one or both of the top surface 4 and bottom surface 5 may have an abrasive surface layered on. The abrasive surface may be made by gluing abrasive grains such as sand, silicon dioxide, diamond grains onto the surfaces 4, 5, or by overlayering and gluing an abrasive fabric onto the surfaces 4, 5. The top surface 4 and the bottom surface 5 may have the same grain abrasive on the surfaces or, different grades of abrasive depending on the applications. Generally, one embodiment is where top surface 4 has a rough grain abrasive surface that makes it suitable for use in situations where heavy duty abrading is desired; and bottom surface 5 has a finer grain abrasive surface that makes it useful in doing fine abrasive work, such as finishing work in filing the nails. Another embodiment is where both top surface 4 and bottom surface 5 have the same grain abrasive surface. The term “grain” refers to the particle size of the abrasive that forms the abrasive surface. The term “fine grain” means that the particle sizes are generally very small (for example submicron sizes such as 0.0001 micron to 200 microns), and “medium grain” means that the particle sizes of the abrasive range from 201 microns to 800 microns; and “rough grain” means that the particle sizes of the abrasive range from 801 microns to 1200+ microns.
Preferably the file 1 has a width 6 ranging from about 0.001 to 0.5 inch, more preferably from about 0.001 to 0.25 inch.
The file 1 has an ergonomic attachment 7 that may be removably slipped onto the file 1, or is, more preferably, permanently affixed thereto in the mid-section 8. Ergonomic attachment 7 preferably has a rounded top surface 9 having a generally oval circumference 10, and which may be generally convex 10A. Preferably half of the top surface 9 is striated 11 or distressed, which in turn better facilitates gripping of the file on ergonomic attachment 7 when the user 12 is using file 1 to file nails 13 of the toes 14 or fingers 15. Ergonomic attachment 7 may be striated 11 on only one side or on both sides. Preferably ergonomic attachment 7 is striated 11 only on one side and the striations are about one half of the upper convex 10A surface.
File 1 may be used to file nails on fingers or toes as depicted in
The invention is also directed to a method for grooming the nails of fingers or toes by treating with a file 1 in the form of an arc 20A having at least one ergonomic attachment 7 that facilitates use and grip.
The file may be used to file the finger- or toenails, or it may be used to gently abrade skin on fingers or toes.
While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
