Abrasive head attachment for nail polish removal tool

Abstract

A hand held nail polish removal tool includes a housing having a main body connected by an elongated neck to a head. An abrasive member is removably attached to the head and the tool contains a motor or transducer for causing the abrasive member to move so that when the abrasive member is positioned against a finger or toe nail, the abrasive member will abrade away any polish on the nail. The polish removal process may be accelerated by applying a solvent to the head attachment or member. This may be done by dipping that member in a solvent or by including a solvent in the member or by incorporating a solvent dispensing system in the housing which allows a solvent to be delivered via the head to the member's abrasive surface. Various different abrasive members for attachment to the head are disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 11/219,210, filed Sep. 2, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/243,877, filed Sep. 13, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,984.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a grooming device. It relates more particularly to an abrasive head attachment for a hand held tool that removes nail polish from finger and toe nails.

The removal of nail polish is a tedious task. The process usually involves wetting a pad or cotton swab with a volatile solvent and rubbing the coating repeatedly with the pad or swab until the polish is removed. The procedure is also fairly messy because the nail polish becomes soft and finds it way into crevices in the cuticle. Very often the solvent must be reapplied to the pad or swab and more than one swab must be used in order to remove the polish completely from the nail. This may take a good hour to completely clean a set of nails manually during which time one is exposed to the toxic fumes and annoying smell of the solvent.

There have been attempts to make the nail cleaning process more efficient. For example, there are devices that enable one to bathe all of the nails in a polish removing solution in order to facilitate the rubbing away of the polish. We are also aware of devices that brush the nails while they are immersed in a solvent in order to remove the polish. However, these devices take up space, they are prone to spilling, they require the use of an excessive amount of solvent and they are somewhat hazardous to use in confined spaces because of the toxic fumes given off by the solvent.

Also, when such devices are used to remove of polish from toe nails, some people find it difficult to bend down and scrub the softened polish from the toe nails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a finger and toe nail-cleaning device in the nature of an electrical tool which relies on a moving pad with or without a solvent to remove the polish.

Another object of the invention is to provide an abrasive head attachment for a nail polish removal tool which is easy to install the on tool and to use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a tool which attachment retains its utility even after prolonged storage or shelf time.

Yet another object is to provide a tool head attachment of this type which is disposable yet can be reused a plurality of times.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Briefly, my attachment constitutes an abrasive member for a use on a nail polish removal tool having a main body leading to a narrow neck terminated by a small head having a working surface which may be rapidly moved by an electrically driven prime mover inside the body. The attachment or abrasive member is removably secured to the head so as to cover the working surface. When the tool is in use, the abrasive member or attachment is placed against the surface of a finger or toe nail with the result that the rubbing action of the abrasive member abrades away any polish or other covering on the nail. The surface of the abrasive member is such that the elements of that moving surface are able to penetrate into cracks and crevices enabling the tool to clean even around the cuticle.

Preferably, the tool is used with a polish removing agent or solvent. As we shall see, the solvent may be applied externally to the abrasive attachment or member or incorporated into the member itself. In an especially preferred embodiment, the tool may contain a supply of solvent which is delivered under operator control to the abrasive member via the tool head. The combination of the moving abrasive member and solvent is particularly effective in removing multiple coatings of polish from finger and toe nails.

As will become apparent, the tool described herein is easy to use and is configured so that it extends the user's reach so that it makes the removal of polish from toe nails much easier for those who have difficulty bending over. The tool is easily adaptable for occasional home use or for intensive use in a salon, clinic, hospital or the like where time is of the essence. Indeed, the tool should greatly reduce the overall time and effort spent on removing polish and other coverings from finger and toe nails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away showing a hand held nail polish removal tool incorporating the invention and used in conjunction with a first type of head attachment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the tool equipped with a second type of head attachment;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of a third type of head attachment which may be used with the FIG. 1 tool;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a second tool embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of yet another tool embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view with parts broken away showing in greater detail the head attachment of the FIG. 5 tool;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of still another tool embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the genesis of the head attachment of the FIG. 7 tool;

FIG. 9A is a plan view of yet another head attachment, and

FIG. 9B is a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment in FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a battery operated nail polish removal tool shown generally at 10 is shown partially seated in a recharging stand 12 having a vertical shaft or receptacle 14 for receiving the lower end of tool 10. A pair of contacts 16a and 16b at the bottom of receptacle 14 are connected by wires 18a and 18b extending along a passage 22 in stand 12. Wires 18a and 18b are connected to a standard AC/DC converter 24 which, when plugged into a standard AC outlet, delivers DC power, e.g. 12 volts, to contacts 16a and 16b. When tool 10 is fully seated in receptacle 14, battery recharging power may be delivered to the tool.

Still referring to FIG. 1, tool 10 comprises a hollow housing 26 made of a suitable impact-resistant, electrically insulating plastic material such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene or the like. Housing 26 has a generally cylindrically main body 26a which transitions at a shoulder portion 26b to an elongated smaller diameter tubular neck portion 26c. A generally discoid hollow head 28 having a circumfrential groove 28a is mounted on its axis to the free end of neck portion 26c. Preferably neck portion 26c is curved and head 28 is angled relative to housing 26 such that when one holds the tool 10 at housing body 26a, the working face or surface 28b of head 28 may be placed flush against the surface of a finger or toe nail. While the head surface 28b is shown as being flat, it may be curved to conform more to the contour of a nail. For the same reason, surface 28b may be elliptical instead of round as shown. In any event, the illustrated head 28 on tool 10 is hollow and its surface 28b is provided with a multiplicity of tiny through holes 32 which are distributed over that surface.

Still referring to FIG. 1, tool 10 includes a relatively large container 34 which is situated in housing body 26a. Container 34 may be filled with a conventional nail polish solvent via a fill inlet 34a extending through the side wall of housing body 26a. Inlet 34a may be closed by a cap 36. Alternatively, container 34 may be in the form of a replaceable vented cartridge or flexible pouch which may be installed via a suitable door (not shown) in the wall of housing portion 26a.

Container 34 includes an integral piston pump 38 at the top of the container which pump may be of a conventional design. The illustrated pump includes a spring-loaded piston 38a which when retracted draws solvent from container 34 via a first check valve 39 into piston chamber 38b. When the piston 38a is extended, the fluid in the chamber 38b is delivered via a second check valve 40 to a tube 41 which leads from pump 38 to the interior of head 28. Piston 38a is moved to its extended position in opposition to the spring bias by a user pressing on a button 42 in the side of housing body 26a. Once the head 28 is primed with solvent, each additional push of button 42 results in solvent exiting the head 28 via holes 32. Preferably, the holes of 32 are small enough and their number is small enough so that the head will remain primed with solvent for a relatively long time between uses and solvent will not leak from head 28 when the tool is laid down on its side.

When tool 10 is being used in a salon or the like, the cap 36 may be removed and the inlet 34a connected to a flexible conduit 43 shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and extending to a large volume solvent source (not shown). If container is a cartridge as described above, it may be charged with a gas to expel the solvent through the tube 41 when a valve button is depressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, tool 10 also includes a prime mover, namely an electric motor-driven vibrator 44 which is situated in the housing body 26a above pump 38. The vibrator 44 may be of the type used in conventional electric toothbrushes and arranged so that it vibrates the neck portion 26c and/or the head 28 in the same manner as the necks and heads of standard electric toothbrushes. Vibrator 44 receives its power from a rechargeable battery 46 located in housing body 26a below container 34. Battery 46 has a contact 46a connected by a wire 48a to vibrator 44. A second battery contact 46b is connected to the vibrator by a wire 48b which is diverted on its way to vibrator 44 to a switch 52 mounted in the wall of housing body 26a adjacent to button 42. The switch has an actuator 52a which projects through the wall of housing body 26. When depressed, actuator 52a closes the switch so the power from battery 46 is delivered to vibrator 44 with the result that head 28 vibrates rapidly more or less in the plane of its surface 28b.

Battery contacts 46a and 46b are also connected to external contacts 56a and 56b, respectively, mounted in a removable bottom wall 26d of housing 26. When the tool 10 is fully seated in the receptacle 14 of recharge stand 12, the two contacts 56a and 56b connect to the stand contacts, 16a, 16b respectively so that DC power from the converter 24 will be delivered to battery 46.

When tool 10 is in use, its head surface 28b is usually covered by an abrasive head attachment or member shown generally at 58 in FIG. 1. Member 58 may be shaped to conform to the shape of head 28 as shown. It includes a generally flat porous rubbing surface 58a which is preferably of a woven or loosely woven (a.k.a. unwoven) nylon material similar to a conventional scouring pad. Member 58 also includes a skirt 58b which extends from the edge of surface 58a and is adapted to engage around head 28. Skirt 58b is provided with an internal rib 58c which can engage in groove 28a of head 28 to secure the cover member to the head so that surface 58a overlies the openings 32 in the head. Alternatively, an elastic may be hemmed into the edge of skirt 58b and adapted to engage around the head 28.

Prior to using tool 10, the head 28 is primed with solvent by repeatedly depressing button 42 until solvent issues from holes 32 and penetrates the surface 58a of cover member 58. To help maintain the surface 58a in a wetted condition, a thin layer of open cell foam material may be provided on the inside of surface 58a as is shown at 58d in FIG. 1. Once the head 28 is primed with solvent, the tool 10 may be manipulated to position the cover member 58 against the nail to be cleaned. Subsequent depression of switch actuator 52a energizes vibrator 44 causing head 28 and the abrasive member or attachment 58 thereon to vibrate rapidly. This rapid vibration works the solvent present at the member surface 58a into the nail polish layer thereby softening that layer and allowing it to be abraded away by surface 58a, elements of which are able to penetrate into depressions and crevices at the nail cuticle. Resultantly, tool 10 allows the nail to be cleaned thoroughly in a minimum amount of time.

FIG. 2 shows generally at 62 a somewhat different abrasive member which may be used with a tool such as tool 10. Like attachment or member 58, member 62 has a perforated scouring or abrasive surface 62a and a skirt 62b arranged to engage around a grooved tool head 28′. In addition, however, the member 62 contains a supply of solvent gel 64 backing up the surface 62a. When the member is fitted on head 28′, the gel layer 64 is engaged by the working surface of head 28′. The abrasive member may be held in place on head 28′ by an O-ring 66 which presses the skirt 62b into the circumferential groove in the head 28′. Of course, in lieu of O-ring 66, the cover member 62 may be provided with an internal rib similar to rib 58c in FIG. 1.

When using my tool with the abrasive member 62, the pressure of the tool head 28′ against the nail forces the solvent gel 64 through tiny holes 68 in the abrasive member surface 62a so that that surface and the nail which it contacts are wetted with solvent. Resultantly when head 28′ is vibrated, nail polish is removed in the same efficient manner described above in connection with FIG. 1. Also, since the tool itself is not delivering solvent, head 28′ may be solid and the solvent delivery system in the tool, i.e. container 34, pump 38 and tube 41 may be eliminated, thereby reducing the cost of the tool.

Once the polish is removed from the nails using tool 10, those nails may be buffed by substituting for the attachment or member 58 or 62 a similarly shaped head attachment having a smooth surface and the tool used without the application of solvent.

FIG. 3 illustrates generally at 72 still another type of head attachment which may be used with the FIG. 1 tool 10 when the tool is not supplying solvent. In this case, the attachment 72 is a segment of woven or loosely woven nylon scouring or abrasive material separated at a parting line 73 from a segmented strip or roll 72′ of such material. The attachment or member 72 from strip 72′ may be gathered around head 28′ (or 28) and held in place by an O-ring 66 as shown in FIG. 3.

Refer now to FIG. 4 which shows generally at 76 a hand held nail polish removal tool that cleans ultrasonically. Tool 76 includes a hollow housing 78 which supports a hollow head 82 containing an ultrasonic transducer 84 as the prime mover. Transducer 84 is connected electrically by wires 85 to a conventional signal generator 86 including a driver in housing 78, the generator being powered by a rechargeable battery 88 in the housing. Once a switch button 92 in the side of housing 78 is depressed, unit 86 delivers a high frequency, e.g. greater than 17 kHz, driving signal to transducer 84 so that the working surface or head 84a of transducer 84 vibrates ultrasonically.

The ultrasonic tool 76 is used in conjunction with a head attachment shown generally at 92. For this, the head 82 has a bottom opening 94 and an end slot 96 which leads to a pair of laterally spaced apart parallel rails 98, 98 adjacent bottom opening 94, these slotted rails forming a keyway in head 82.

The abrasive attachment or member 92 is shaped and arranged to slide into slot 96 and key into head 82. More particularly, member 92 comprises an abrasive scrubbing strip 104 which is supported by a support 106 in the form of a key enabling member 92 to be slid endwise into the end of housing 82 through slot 96 so that the upper is surface of support 106 is engaged by the transducer head 84a and the abrasive strip 104 hugs the underside of housing 52 as shown in FIG. 4. In accordance with the invention, the attachment or member 92, and particularly its support 106, is rigid so that when transducer 84 is operative, the vibrations produced thereby are coupled via support 106 to strip 104 and thence to the nail contacted by that strip.

When using tool 76 to clean finger and toe nails, if it is desired to apply solvent to the nails, that may be done by momentarily dipping the cleaning member 92 in solvent or by modifying the tool 76 to include the solvent dispensing system illustrated in FIG. 1.

In some tool models it may be desirable to make the head or neck separable from the main body of the tool to facilitate replacement of the head and/or repair of the tool. In this event, a suitable connection or joint may be provided in housings 26 and 78 between the neck portion and the housing main body, e.g. a bayonet or pin-in-slot connection.

Refer now to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show another tool embodiment 120 comprising a housing 122 having a main body 122a and a smaller diameter elongated neck 122b leading to a head 122c. Like the tool depicted in FIG. 4, the head 122c is caused to vibrate. However, instead of placing the transducer or vibrator in the head as in FIG. 4, a known transducer 124 is located in the housing body 122a and extends into neck 122b so that when activated, the transducer causes the neck 122b as well as head 122c to vibrate. The transducer 124 is powered by a rechargeable battery 126 in main body 122a which is connected to the transducer by way of a finger-activated switch 128 mounted in the wall of housing 122.

Also, unlike the tool 76 in FIG. 4, the tool 120 is able to deliver a solvent to the working surface 130 of head 122c as the head is vibrated. More particularly, both neck 122b and head 122c are hollow. A tube 132 leads from the interior of the neck by way of a finger-operated valve 134 mounted to the wall of housing 122 to a female fitting 136 centered in a partition 138 in main body 122a. The partition 138 forms one wall of a compartment 142 that is adapted to contain a collapsible bag or pouch 144. Pouch 144 includes a male outlet 144a which is shaped and arranged to plug into fitting 136 to form fluid-tight connection between the pouch and the rear end of tube 132.

After pouch 144 is inserted into compartment 142, the right-hand end of that compartment may be closed by an internally threaded cap 146 which is screwed onto the right-hand end of housing 122. As shown in FIG. 5, a shoe 148 is mounted to the inside of cap 146 by way of a spring 152 so that when the cap is screwed onto the threaded end of the housing, the shoe exerts pressure on, and tends to collapse, the pouch 144. The valve 134 is normally closed. However, when opened by finger pressure, the solvent in pouch 144 is free to flow via tube 132 and neck 122b to the tool head 122c.

As shown in FIG. 5, small perforations 154 are provided in the wall of head 122c at working surface 130 so that solvent can flow from the interior of the head to that working surface. As with the other tool embodiments described herein, the tool 120 includes an abrasive attachment or member that covers the working surface 130 of the tool head. While that abrasive member may be permanently adhered to surface 130, more preferably it is releaseably attached to the tool head so as to cover the working surface 130. Thus in the case of tool 120, the abrasive member is in the form of a disposable swab shown generally 156 which can be packaged and marketed separately from the tool ala razor blades. Swab 156 includes an abrasive layer 158, e.g. of woven or loosely woven nylon, with a backing layer or pad 162 made of a porous, resilient or compliant material such as open cell foam. Preferably, a thin, non-stretchable, perforated or porous plastic strip 164 is sandwiched between layers 158 and 162 to add lateral stability to the swab. Adhered to the top surface of pad 162 is a slider 165 whose opposite side walls are turned inwardly to form keys 165a that are adapted to be slidably received in slots or keyways 166 formed in the opposite sides of the tool head 122c. Preferably, the keys 165a are angled slightly with respect to the plane of the slider 165 so that when the slider is slid onto head 122c as shown in FIG. 6, the keys 165a resiliently engage the walls of the keyways 166. Thus, the swab 156 remains secured to the tool head even when that head is vibrated.

When valve 134 is activated, solvent flows into head 122c and through holes or perforations 154 down into the various layers of swab 156. Thus when the transducer 124 is turned on by closing switch 128, the tool 120 can clean a finger or toe nail placed in contact with layer 158 by a combination of vibration and solvent action.

Other known means may be provided to releasably secure abrasive layer 158 to working surface 130. For example, the slider 165 may be replaced by a clip member which clips to a mating clip member on working surface 130. Alternatively, a layer of loop material may be present at the upper surface of pad 162 in lieu of slider 164, that loop material being adhered to a layer of hook material on surface 130, i.e. a Velcro fastener connection.

A version of tool 120 may be provided which does not include a solvent supply. In that event, the tool neck 122b and head 122c may be solid and the solvent provided as a liquid or gel within the swab pad 162 or by dipping the swab in solvent as described above in connection with the FIGS. 2 and 3 tool embodiments.

Also, when the tool head and neck are solid, the head and swab may be formed as a disposable unit which may be releasably connected to the end of the neck 122b. For example, as shown in phanton in FIG. 5, the solid neck may be terminated by a tongue 166 with the head being formed with a slot 168 for slidably receiving the tongue, i.e. like a shoe. Promontories and dimples (not shown) on opposing surfaces of the tongue and slot may be provided to maintain the connection as the head vibrates.

Refer now to FIG. 7 which illustrates a tool embodiment 170 whose head 172 has a working surface 174 which rotates instead of vibrates. Tool 170 has a main body 176a and a neck 176b leading to head 172. Body 176a contains an electric motor 178 as the prime mover powered by a rechargeable battery 179 and controlled by a switch 180 mounted in the wall of main body 176a and electrically connected between the two. The armature 178a of motor 178 is coupled to one end of a shaft 182 rotatably mounted in neck 176b. The opposite end of shaft 182 is located in head 172 and carries a bevel gear 184 which meshes with a second, orthogonal bevel gear 186 connected to a stub shaft 188 rotatably mounted in a bottom wall 172a of head 172. The stub shaft 188 extends through bottom wall 172a and connects to working surface 174 which is part of a relatively stiff, rotatable, perforated pad 175.

Tool 170 is used in conjunction with an abrasive member in the form of a swab shown generally at 192 in FIG. 7. As before, swab includes an abrasive layer 194, a resilient or compliant pad 196, and a stabilizing perforated or porous strip or layer 198 sandwiched between the abrasive layer and pad. Also as before, means are provided for releasably securing the swab to the working surface 174. In the case of the FIG. 7 tool, those means constitute hook and loop fasteners 200a and 200b on the opposing surfaces of pads 175 and 196.

As shown in FIG. 8, the swabs 192 may be manufactured with strip 198 being part of a long continuous carrier strip 198a with each swab being separable from the others along transverse tear lines 202 formed in carrier strip 198a.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the abrasive layer 194 may be wetted by providing the solvent in the swab pad 196 as described above in connection with the other abrasive attachment or member embodiments or by dipping the swab in a solvent. More preferably, however, the tool 170 includes a solvent supply in the tool itself. For this, the main body 176a has a compartment 206 between motor 178 and battery 179. That compartment includes a collapsible container 208 having a male outlet 208a which plugs into a female fitting 210 in a wall 211 and which is connected to one end of a tube 212 which extends along neck 176b into tool head 172. The other end of the tube leads to a hole 214 in the bottom wall 172a. When container 208 is compressed, the solvent is pumped along tube 212 and out through hole 214 whereupon the solvent drops onto the surface of the perforated pad 175 and flows into swab 192 even when the swab is rotating.

Container 208 may be collapsed by any suitable means such as the roller mechanism 220 illustrated generally in FIG. 7. As shown, the mechanism 220 comprises a pair of rollers 222a and 222b mounted to a carriage 224 whose upper and lower ends slide along slides 226a and 226b, respectively, present in compartment 206. The upper end of carriage 224 includes a horizontal rack 228 which is engaged by a toothed thumb wheel 230 rotatably mounted in the wall of main body 176a and accessible from the outside. When the wheel 230 is rotated clockwise, the rack is moved in a direction causing rollers to 222a and 222b to squeeze the container 208 thereby pumping solvent to swab 192.

Refer now to FIGS. 9A and 9B which show yet another abrasive head attachment or member indicated generally at 150. That member comprises a shell 152 preferably of an inexpensive plastic material. Shell 152 has a bottom wall 152a and a side wall 152b extending up from the perimeter of the bottom wall. Member 150 is shaped and dimensioned so that it has more or less the same shape and dimensions as the tool head to which it is intended to be attached. Member 150 happens to be elongated and relatively narrow with a pointed end so that it can be releasably attached to a similarly shaped tool head. Preferably, the side wall 152b of shell 152 is somewhat flexible and resilient so that it can be frictionally engaged around the perimeter of the tool head. Obviously, if the member 150 were intended to be used the tools shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7, the member 150 would be round with the shell wall 152b adapted to frictionally engage around the circular heads.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the bottom wall 152a of shell 152 is provided with a multiplicity of through holes 154. Also, a backing layer 156 of absorbent sponge material is adhered to the surface of bottom wall 152a facing away from side wall 152b. The layer 156 is porous as indicated by the holes 158 therein. The holes 158 could be perforations in the layer as illustrated or the holes 158 could be present in the material that forms layer 156. In other words the layer 156 could be of an open cell foam material.

Secured to the exposed face of layer 156 is a second layer 160 of a mildly abrasive material, e.g. woven or loosely woven plastic fiber, e.g. nylon. Layer 160 is also porous or perforated as indicated by the holes 162 therein.

The attachment or member 150 is provided with its own supply of cleaning solvent 164. In the illustrated member 150, the solvent is present as a body of gel in shell 152 that substantially covers the shell bottom wall 152a. Preferably, prior to use, the solvent 164 is protectively enclosed by a foil sealing strip 166 releaseably secured to the edge of side wall 52b as shown in FIG. 9A. When using the attachment 150, the sealing strip 166 is stripped away to expose the solvent. Of course, the attachment could also be sold empty of solvent which may be added later by the user.

In either event, when the attachment 150 is being secured to the tool head, the working surface of the head pushes the solvent through the holes 154 into the porous layer 156 and thence through the holes 162 in the abrasive layer 160.

Of course the solvent 164 can also be provided as a liquid that fills the pores of backing layer 156.

To minimize evaporation of the solvent after the member is attached to the tool head, the member 150 is preferably provided with a cover 168 as indicated in Phantom FIG. 9B. Preferably, cover 168 has a side wall 168a adapted to frictionally engage around the shell side wall 152b as shown. Side wall 168a could also have more or less the same dimensions as shell side wall 152b so that its lower edge may be releaseably attached to the upper edge of the shell side wall 152b. That type of cover may be separated from the shell by pulling away a parting strip connecting those two members in the same way as the plastic cap on a milk bottle is opened.

In either event, once the cover is removed from the top of the abrasive member 150, it may be turned upside down and engaged around the shell from below so as to protectively enclose layers 156 and 160 and thereby minimize evaporation of the solvent 164 through those layers.

It will be seen from the forgoing that my various tool head attachment embodiments provide a very efficient means for removing nail polish from finger and toe nails and for generally cleaning and buffing such nails. The tools and their head attachments are easy to use even by aged and infirm individuals and, since the solvent is confined to the tool head and its head attachment, the toxic and noxious effects of the solvent are kept away from the user. Therefore, the tools and their head attachments should prove to be very marketable toiletry items.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. Also, certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the AC/DC converter could be incorporated into tool itself. Also, the solvent container may be of the aerosol type activated by pushing against the end of the container in the manner of an inhaler. In addition, the head of the housing may be connected to the main body thereof by a long flexible cable capable of conveying rotary or vibrational motion as well as solvent to the working surface of the head, i.e., the housing may be split into two sections. In this way, the motor, battery, solvent container and other heavier components of the tool may be in a housing main body resting on a table so that the user only has to support and manipulate the relatively lightweight head. Therefore, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. An attachment for a nail polish removal tool comprising a solvent-carrying member, and a securement for removably securing the member to a movable working surface of the tool so that a substantial percentage of the working surface movement transmits to said member.

2. The tool defined in claim 1 wherein said member comprises plastic fibers.

3. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein said member comprises absorbent foam.

4. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein said member comprises an abrasive textile material.

5. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein said member comprises a swab having a porous layer that provides said solvent-carrying member, a plastic fiber layer that provides an abrasive surface and a flexible non-stretchable stabilizing layer sandwiched between said porous and said plastic fiber layers.

6. The tool defined in claim 5 wherein said securement includes a fastening device on said stabilizing layer.

7. The attachment defined in claim 5 and further including a body of solvent in said solvent-carrying member.

8. The tool defined in claim 7 wherein the solvent is contained in the porous layer.

9. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the solvent-carrying member comprises abrasive plastic fiber having a compliant backing layer.

10. The attachment defined in claim 9 and further including a solvent contained in the backing layer.

11. The attachment defined in claim 9 and further including a solvent absorbed in the backing layer.

12. The attachment defined in claim 9 wherein the solvent-carrying member includes a flexible porous layer sandwiched between the abrasive plastic fiber and the backing layer.

13. The attachment defined in claim 1 and further including an abrasive solvent absorbed in the solvent-carrying member.

14. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the securement includes cooperating retainers on the working surface and the solvent-carrying member.

15. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the securement comprises a fastening device defining a key or keyway that interfits with the tool.

16. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the securement comprises a field of hook or loop fasteners.

17. The attachment defined in claim 1 wherein the securement comprises a shell attached to the solvent-carrying member, said shell having a perforated bottom wall flush with said member and a flexible resilient side wall extending from the bottom wall in the direction facing away from the solvent-carrying member and defining an open top, said side wall being adapted to releasably engage the tool.

18. The attachment defined in claim 17 and further including a solvent material in the shell.

19. The attachment defined in claim 18 and further including a sealing strip releasably engaged to said side wall and covering the open top.

20. The attachment defined in claim 18 and further including a cover releasably engaged to the shell over the open top thereof.

21. The attachment defined in claim 1 and further including a body of solvent on or in the solvent-carrying member.

22. The attachment defined in claim 21 wherein the body of solvent is a nail polish removal solvent.

23. The attachment defined in claim 21 and further including sealing means for sealing the body of solvent from the atmosphere.

24. The attachment defined in claim 7 and further including sealing means for sealing said body of solvent from the atmosphere.

25. The attachment defined in claim 1 and further including sealing means releasably secured to the solvent-carrying member for isolating any solvent therein from the atmosphere.