Nail Polish Holder and Method for Retaining a Nail Polish Bottle

Abstract

A nail polish holder retains a bottle of nail polish in an accessible position at the lower calf region, enabling a user to access and apply the nail polish and tilt the bottle to a desired orientation. The nail polish holder comprises a receptor well for retaining a nail polish bottle in a generally upright position. The receptor well fixedly attaches to a non-continuous band that detachably attaches to the lower calf region. The non-continuous band encircles the lower region of the calf. The band generates an inward tension to secure the band to the lower calf region. An outward force can be applies to increase the size of gap. The gap enables easy slip on and off. A nail polish bottle placed in the cavity of the receptor well, opened, and available without further handling, for the repeated dipping of an applicator into the bottle for polishing the nails.

Description

BACKGROUND

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

The present invention is directed to a nail polish holder and method for retaining a nail polish bottle that enables secure retention of a bottle of nail polish in an upright, accessible position at the lower extremities, so as to enable a user to access and apply the nail polish. The nail polish holder also enables a user to tilt the bottle to a desired angle for facilitating access to the nail polish in the bottle.

The inventor was aware that nail polish is a commonly used lacquer that was applied to the human fingernails or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formulation of nail polish enhances its decorative effects and suppresses cracking or flaking. Nail polish is generally sold in a small glass bottle with a detachable cap/applicator brush.

However, the inventor recognized a problem that when the applicator brush was placed in the bottle of nail polish; and especially when the bottle was upright; it was difficult to extract the necessary amount of nail polish from the bottle if the bottle was less than half full. However, if the bottle is tipped, it was much easier to extract the liquid. As the contents of the bottle reduce, the bottle must be tipped at slightly greater angles. The inventor also realized that nail polish was susceptible to spillage from the bottle, since the bottle is generally small and the base can easily be tipped over.

The inventor recognized that users of cosmetics often have a number of bottles of various sizes and shapes containing cosmetic nail polish. When the nail polish bottle was in use, bottle retaining containers used for holding and storing nail polish were often placed on a support surface while the nail polish bottle remained open.

Through research, the inventor learned that nail polish bottles are equipped with a lid or cap that incorporates a brush or applicator. As a result, the bottle remains open while the brush or applicator is being used to apply the nail polish. If the bottle is accidentally knocked over, the nail polish will spill out, resulting in a mess that is often hard to clean.

The inventor realized the spillage was because, as the act of painting one's finger nails or toe nails requires frequent re-application of nail polish, the repeated insertion and removal of the applicator or brush itself often causes the bottle to be knocked over. Consequently frequent spills occur.

Through additional research, the inventor learned that painting the toe nails was more efficiently performed by positioning the nail polish bottle near the feet. To create this desired proximity to the feet, the inventor developed a receptor well that was sized and dimensioned to securely hold the nail polish bottle. The receptor well had a wider base than the nail polish bottle, so as to help prevent spillage.

However, the inventor still wanted to attach the nail polish bottle directly to the lower extremities of the user to further facilitate application of the nail polish to the toenails. The inventor designed a non-continuous band that was sized and dimensioned to fit around the lower region of the calf, which the inventor figured was sufficiently close to the toenails. The band had a gap to facilitate attachment and removal around the lower region of the calf.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a nail polish holder and method for retaining a nail polish bottle that enables secure retention of a bottle of nail polish in an upright, accessible position at the lower extremities, to enable a user to access and apply the nail polish.

SUMMARY

The present invention describes a nail polish holder and method for retaining a nail polish bottle. The nail polish holder securely retains a bottle of nail polish in an upright, accessible position at the lower calf region, to enable a user to access and apply the nail polish to the toenails. The nail polish holder also enables a user to tilt the nail polish bottle to a desired orientation for facilitated access to the nail polish in the bottle and for preventing spillage of the nail polish.

In some embodiments, the nail polish holder may include a receptor well for retaining a nail polish bottle in a generally upright position. The receptor well fixedly attaches to a non-continuous band that detachably attaches to the lower calf region. In this manner, nail polish may be placed in the receptor well, opened, and available without further handling, for the repeated dipping of an applicator into the bottle as necessary for polishing the nails.

In one exemplary embodiment, the receptor well that is defined by a sidewall, a base, and an opening. The opening is sized and dimensioned to receive the nail polish bottle in the cavity. The sidewall of the receptor well may have a generally cylindrical shape configured to snugly retain the bottle of nail polish.

In one embodiment, the non-continuous band is generally circular in shape and configured to at least partially encircle a lower calf region of the leg; and specifically in the region above the Achilles tendon, below the main calf muscle, and above the ankle. The non-continuous band is configured to produce an inward tension that enables a secure encirclement of the lower calf region of the leg.

Furthermore, the non-continuous band comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. The receptor well fixedly attaches to the outer surface of the non-continuous band. Thus, the nail polish bottle contained in the receptor well can be tipped to a desired angle for accessing the nail polish and preventing spillage.

The inner surface engages the lower calf region. In other embodiments, the non-continuous band has a pair of termini that are separated by a gap. The non-continuous band is configured to produce an inward tension that biases the pair of termini inwardly. The gap enables passage of the lower calf region to encircle the lower calf region.

In some embodiments, an outward force may be applied outwardly against the inward tension of the non-continuous band to increase the size of the gap. By increasing the size of the gap, encirclement or removal of the non-continuous band from the lower calf region is facilitated. In this manner, the gap allows facilitated slipping on and off the non-continuous band.

One objective of the present invention is to provide an accessible container that holds a bottle of nail polish at the lower extremities.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a support for a nail polish bottle while polishing the nails.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a nail polish holder for enabling a person to polish her nails on-the-go.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to snugly retain the nail polish holder in the receptor well.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to enable tilting the bottle with a small motion of the calf, so as to maintain the bottle in an upright position and to make the nail polish more accessible.

Yet another objective is to enable facilitated slip on and off for the non-continuous band.

Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary nail polish holder attaches to a lower calf region and a nail polish bottle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an exemplary receptor well and a non-continuous band, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary receptor well and a non-continuous band, showing an inward tension on the non-continuous band and an outward force applied to the non-continuous band, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for retaining a nail polish bottle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention, referenced in FIGS. 1-4, is directed to a nail polish holder 100 and method 400 for retaining a nail polish bottle 200. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the nail polish holder 100, hereafter “holder 100”, is configured to securely retain a bottle 200 of nail polish in an upright, accessible position at the lower calf region 300. This positioning, proximal to the feet, enables a user to access and apply the nail polish to the toenails. Once attached to the lower calf region, the holder 100 is easily tilted to orient the bottle 200 at a desired angle for facilitating access to the nail polish in the bottle 200 and preventing spillage of nail polish.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that after an applicator brush is placed in a bottle 200 of nail polish when the bottle 200 is upright it is problematic to extract the necessary amount of nail polish from the bottle if the bottle 200 is less than half full. However, if the nail polish bottle 200 is tipped, it is much easier to extract the nail polish contained therein. Further, it is known that as the nail polish in the bottle 200 reduces, the bottle 200 must be tipped at slightly greater angles. Thus, by attaching the holder 100 to the lower region of the calf, a user may easily tilt the nail polish bottle 200 to a desired orientation that facilities access to nail polish in the bottle 200, and prevents spillage thereof.

In some embodiments, the nail polish holder 100 may include a receptor well 102 for retaining a nail polish bottle 200 in a generally upright position. The receptor well 102 fixedly attaches to a non-continuous band 112 that detachably attaches to the lower calf region 300. In this manner, nail polish may be placed in the receptor well 102, opened, and available without further handling, for the repeated dipping of an applicator into the bottle 200 as necessary for polishing the nails.

Looking now at FIG. 2, the nail polish holder 100 comprises a receptor well 102 that is defined by a sidewall 104, a base 106, and an opening 108. The opening 108 is sized and dimensioned to receive the nail polish bottle 200 in the cavity 110. In one embodiment, the opening in the receptor well 102 has a diameter between 1″ to 2″. The sidewall 104 of the receptor well 102 may have a generally cylindrical shape configured to snugly retain the bottle 200 of nail polish. Though in other embodiments, the sidewall 104 may follow other shapes to accommodate variously shaped and dimensioned nail polish bottles. The sidewall may be padded to more snugly secure the nail polish bottle 200.

In one embodiment, the non-continuous band 112 is generally circular in shape and configured to at least partially encircle a lower calf region 300 of the leg. Specifically, the non-continuous band 112 encircles the region above the Achilles tendon, below the main calf muscle, and above the ankle.

The non-continuous band 112 is configured to produce an inward tension 124 that enables a secure encirclement of the lower calf region 300 of the leg. This is caused by the semi-rigid material fabrication, and the radius of the non-continuous band 112. The non-continuous band 112 may follow a generally oval shape, though the non-continuous band 112 may be adapted to fit variously sized lower calf regions for different users. In some embodiments, the non-continuous band 112 may be fabricated from metal, stainless steel, brass, copper, polymers, wood, and a nonwoven material.

Furthermore, the non-continuous band 112 comprises an outer surface 116 and an inner surface 118. The inner surface 118 of the non-continuous band 112 engages the lower calf region 300. In one embodiment, the inner surface 118 is padded. In another embodiment, the inner surface 118 is coated with an anti-bacterial composition. A pair of edges extending along the length of the non-continuous band 112 are curved to enhance comfort.

The receptor well 102 fixedly attaches to the outer surface 116 of the non-continuous band 112. Thus, the nail polish bottle 200 contained in the receptor well 102 can be tipped to a desired angle for accessing the nail polish and preventing spillage.

In one embodiment, a fastener 120 may be used to fasten the sidewall 104 of the receptor well 102 to the outer surface 116 of the non-continuous band 112. The fastener 120 may include, without limitation, an adhesive, a screw, a bolt, a magnet, and a hook and loop fastener 120.

In other embodiments, the non-continuous band 112 has a pair of termini 122a, 122b that are separated by a gap 114. The gap 114 enables passage of the lower calf region 300 for the non-continuous band 112 to encircle the lower calf region 300. The non-continuous band 112 is configured to produce an inward tension 124 that biases the pair of termini 122a, 122b inwardly and towards each other.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the non-continuous band 112, showing an inward tension 124 inherently part of the non-continuous band, and an outward force 126 applied to counter the inward tension 124, and thereby increase the size of the gap 114 in the non-continuous band. In this manner, the gap 114 allows facilitated slipping on and off the non-continuous band 112. In some embodiments, the gap 114 may be less than 6″.

In some embodiments, an outward force 126 may be applied outwardly against the inward tension 124 of the non-continuous band 112 to increase the size of the gap 114. By increasing the size of the gap 114, encirclement or removal of the non-continuous band 112 from the lower calf region 300 is facilitated. In this manner, the gap 114 allows facilitated slipping on and off the non-continuous band 112.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method 400 for retaining a nail polish bottle 200. An initial Step 402 comprises providing a nail polish bottle 200. A Step 404 may include providing a nail polish holder 100, the nail polish holder 100 comprising a non-continuous band 112 having a gap 114 and a receptor well 102 having a cavity 110. A Step 406 includes attaching the non-continuous band 112 around the lower calf region 300 by applying an outward force 126 to increase the size of the gap 114.

The method 400 includes a further Step 408 of placing the nail polish bottle 200 inside the cavity 110 of the receptor well 102. A Step 410 includes repeatedly dipping of an applicator into the nail polish bottle 200 as necessary for polishing the nails. A Step 412 comprises tilting the nail polish bottle 200 to an upright position in the receptor well 102 while applying nail polish.

While the inventor's above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the receptor well can have a rectangular shape to accommodate a rectangular nail polish bottle. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A nail polish holder, the holder comprising:

a non-continuous band defined by an inner surface and an outer surface, the non-continuous band comprising a pair of termini separated by a gap, the non-continuous band configured to produce an inward tension that biases the pair of termini inwardly, whereby an outward force applied against the inward tension of the non-continuous band increases the size of the gap; and

a receptor well defined by a sidewall, a base, an opening, and a cavity, the sidewall of the receptor well configured to join with the outer surface of the non-continuous band.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the non-continuous band is metal.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein the non-continuous band is configured to enable encirclement of a lower region of the calf.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein the non-continuous band comprises an ornamental continuous depression extending along the length of the outer surface.

5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the non-continuous band is anti-bacterial.

6. The holder of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the non-continuous band is padded.

7. The holder of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the receptor well is generally cylindrical in shape.

8. The holder of claim 1, wherein the receptor well has a diameter between about 1 to 2 inches.

9. The holder of claim 1, wherein the receptor well is configured to enable retaining a nail polish bottle.

10. The holder of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the receptor well is rigid.

11. The holder of claim 1, wherein the opening of the receptor well is generally circular.

12. The holder of claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the receptor well is decorated with a color, pattern, or texture.

13. The holder of claim 1, further including a fastener configured to fasten the sidewall of the receptor well to the outer surface of the non-continuous band.

14. The holder of claim 13, wherein the fastener includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of: an adhesive, a screw, a bolt, a magnet, and a hook and loop fastener.

15. A method for retaining a nail polish bottle, the method comprising:

providing a nail polish bottle;

providing a nail polish holder, the nail polish holder comprising a non-continuous band having a gap and a receptor well having a cavity;

attaching the non-continuous band around the lower calf region by applying an outward force to increase the size of the gap;

placing the nail polish bottle inside the cavity of the receptor well;

repeatedly dipping of an applicator into the nail polish bottle as necessary for polishing the nails; and

supporting the nail polish bottle in an upright positon in the receptor well while applying nail polish.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the non-continuous band comprises an ornamental continuous depression extending along the length of the outer surface.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the inner surface of the non-continuous band is anti-bacterial.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the sidewall of the receptor well is generally cylindrical in shape.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the opening of the receptor well has a diameter between about 1 to 2 inches.

20. The method of claim 15, further including a fastener configured to fasten the receptor well to the non-continuous band.