NAIL DUST COVER

Abstract

The present invention provides a transparent safety guard for manicurist comprising an elongate, concave transparent shield having a first end of diminished size and a second flared, enlarged end and securing means for securing the first end to a finger of the manicurist, said shield being self-supporting and being without a supporting base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a safety guard that temporarily attaches to a manicurist's finger for use in protecting the customer and the manicurist in a manicure procedure, e.g., trapping nail dust from a sanding of a fingernail or a toenail.

Manicurists and customers are routinely threatened by airborne nail dusts which are propelled in all directions as fingernails and toenails are sanded.

In recent years that problem has increased with the widespread use of augmented fingernails with added plastic and other overlays. This has made fingernails thicker, requiring more sanding, and, thus, more nail dust is generated in a routine sanding procedure.

It would be desirable to diminish the possibility of injury to manicurists and customers, and the development of the present invention accomplishes that goal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a transparent safety guard for a manicurist comprising an elongate, concave, transparent shield having a first end of diminished size and a second flared, enlarged end, and securing means for securing the first end to a finger of the manicurist, said shield being self-supporting and being without a supporting base.

In some embodiments, the securing means comprises a ring secured with said first end and which is adapted to removably embrace the finger of the manicurist to temporarily secure said shield to the finger against removal. In some embodiments, the transparent shield is formed into a concave configuration, which flaringly enlarges in size both in bottom view and in side view from said first end to said second end and which, when the safety guard is secured to the finger of the manicurist, is sized to overlie at least a fingernail or toenail portion of a manicuring client.

In some embodiments, the shield has side portions which are adapted to engage and to support the shield on a table surface while providing a front access zone for the manicuring client, whereby as the manicurist sands the nail of the manicuring client, airborne dust from the sanding procedure is contained within the shield instead of being propelled upward or sideways at the manicurist. In some embodiments, the shield is preformed in a concave configuration. In some embodiments, the shield flares gradually and continuously from adjacent said first end to said second end.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent, as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the safety guard.

FIG. 2 shows the safety guard from its first end.

FIG. 3 shows the safety guard from its second end.

FIG. 4 shows the safety guard from its side.

FIG. 5 shows the safety guard from its bottom.

FIG. 6 shows the safety guard removably attached to the manicurist's middle finger.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the inventive transparent safety guard for manicurist. In some embodiments, the safety guard comprises an elongate, concave transparent shield 110 having a first end 110A of diminished size and a second flared, enlarged end 110B, and securing means 120 for securing the first end to a finger of the manicurist, said shield being self-supporting and being without a supporting base.

In some embodiments, the securing means 120 comprises a ring secured with said first end 110A and which is adapted to removably embrace the finger of the manicurist to temporarily secure said shield 110 to the finger against removal. In some embodiments, the transparent shield 110 is formed into a concave configuration (see FIGS. 2 and 3), which flaringly enlarges in size both in bottom view and in side view from said first end 110A to said second end 110B and which, when the safety guard 100 is secured to the finger of the manicurist, is sized to overlie at least a fingernail or toenail portion of a manicuring client.

In some embodiments, the shield 110 has side portions which are adapted to engage and to support the shield on a table surface while providing a front access zone for the manicuring client. When the manicurist sands the nail of the manicuring client, airborne dust from the sanding procedure is contained/trapped within the shield instead of being propelled upward or sideward at the manicurist.

In some embodiments, the shield is preformed in a concave configuration. In some embodiments, the shield flares gradually and continuously from adjacent said first end to said second end.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shield 110 terminates at a first end 110A adjacent the finger wrist of a user (e.g., a manicurist, i.e., the worker conducting the manicuring procedure). The first end 110A curves into a concave configuration of a first diminished size proportioned to comfortably receive the finger (for example, the index finger or thumb) of an average user/manicurist and to at least partially encircle the finger (see FIG. 6). The shield 110 then flaringly enlarges in size in side view and bottom view from the first end 110A towards a second flared enlarged end 110B.

In some embodiments, the side view of the intermediate portions of the shield 110 is narrower than the second end 110B and wider than the first end 10A. The flare may be progressive from the first end to the second end. In some embodiments, the first end might be more cylindrical or cuff-like, and the flare may therefore commence intermediately between the ends and need not, for that matter, be of uniform progression from its zone of commencement adjacent the first end 110A.

As shown by the drawings, the shield 110 flaringly enlarges between its ends and also concaves in configuration, thereby to provide a top portion which is a transparent surface which protects the manicurist and the manicuring customer, and which also makes it possible for the manicurist to see the customer's hand clearly. The sides or side portions also serve a protective function.

Thus, the shield is of a concave configuration which is sufficient to accommodate the width of the finger of the manicuring customer. The shield is also of a length sufficient to overlie both (1) the finger of the manicurist and (2) the fingernail of the manicuring customer, such that nail dust propelled upward or outward toward the manicurist may not fly outward at an angle which will strike the manicurist in the face.

The shield may be constructed from any rigid transparent material. In some embodiments, the shield 110 may be constructed from glass or rigid plastic. In some embodiments, the shield is constructed from a lightweight rigid transparent material.

The securing means 120 may be of a variety of forms. The main purpose of the securing means is to secure the first end of the shield to a finger of the manicurist. In some embodiments, the securing means comprises a ring. In some embodiments, the securing means comprises a Velcro® fabric bracelet secured, as by adhesive, to the first end 110A with free ends, one of conventional loops and one of conventional hooks for engagement to provide an encircling bracelet of a size to accommodate the finger of the manicurist. Ties, conformable bracelets, and other securing means may be used as well, and the securing means and rigidity or flexibility of movement of the first end 110A relative to the manicurist may vary, especially where the shield is one which is intended for interchangeable use for foot and hand manicures.

It is possible to provide safety shields 110 in several sizes to accommodate to different hand and finger sizes. Thus, for manicurists with small hands, it may be desirable to provide a shield 110 of a lesser length in side view for convenience of the manicurist use. For manicurists with longer hands, a shield 110 of a greater length in side view may be used to secure the benefits of the invention.

In some embodiments, the safety guard 100 is worn by the manicurist on his/her index finger, as shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the safety guard 100 is worn by the manicurist on the finger that, together with the thumb, clamps the sanding pen, e.g., middle finger.

Variations in dimensions, concavity, flare, and the like may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited, except insofar as may be dictated by the claims.

Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Claims

1. A transparent safety guard for manicurist comprising,

an elongate, concave transparent shield having a first end of diminished size and a second flared, enlarged end and securing means for securing the first end to a finger of the manicurist, said shield being self-supporting and being without a supporting base,

said securing means comprising a ring secured with said first end and which is adapted to removably embrace the finger of the manicurist to temporarily secure said shield to the finger against removal,

said transparent shield being formed into a concave configuration which flaringly enlarges in size both in bottom view and in side view from said first end to said second end and which, when the safety guard is secured to the finger of the manicurist, is sized to overlie at least a fingernail or toenail portion of a manicuring client, said shield having side portions which are adapted to engage and to support the shield on a table surface while providing a front access zone for the manicuring client,

whereby as the manicurist sands the nail of the manicuring client, airborne dust from the sanding procedure is contained within the shield instead of being propelled upward or sideward at the manicurist.

2. The transparent safety guard of claim 1, and wherein said shield is preformed in a concave configuration.

3. The transparent safety guard of claim 1, and wherein said shield flares gradually and continuously from adjacent said first end to said second end.