Multi-Functional Particle Collection System

Abstract

A manicure device may include a suction source, a flexible hose connected to the suction source, a suction member adapted to be connected to a manicure device or brush. The suction source may be adapted to be operated by a foot of the user, and the suction member may be detachably connected to the manicure device. The suction member may be detachably connected to the brush, and the suction source may include a top housing. The suction source may include a handle, and the suction source may include a inner holder. The suction source may include a bottom housing, and the suction source may include a power switch which is operable by a foot of the user. The suction source may include a motor, and the suction source may include a bottom cover. The suction source may include a bumper, and the manicure device may include a suction nozzle with the curved end.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to manicuring machines for filing and buffing natural and artificial fingernails and toenails, and more particularly to a manicuring machine which can be used a great number of circumstances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional artificial fingernails are made of an opaque hard, flexible plastic. They are applied over natural nails with an adhesive and then covered with nail polish. These nails look like natural nails only when covered with polish, because the artificial nails completely obscure the natural nail bed underneath.

Because of the opacity of the artificial nails, a french-style manicure is impossible. A french manicure is one in which only the nail tip is colored, (usually white) and the nail bed is left a natural color or tinted only slightly pink.

Motor driven fingernail filing devices can be useful for filing natural fingernails, but are especially advantageously employed for filing artificial fingernails to remove excess material from the artificial fingernails and to provide a smooth transition between the natural and artificial fingernail. Artificial fingernails can be applied by cementing a preformed plastic (e.g., acrylic) fingernail over a natural fingernail. An alternative method of applying artificial fingernails is to temporarily attach to the end of a finger an open mould which generally overlies the natural fingernail, apply a liquid thermosetting resin over the natural fingernail on to the open mould, and allow it to cure or harden into a solid. In either case, it is generally necessary to do a substantial amount of filing to conform the artificial fingernail to a desired shape and appearance, and to obtain smooth edges and smooth exposed surfaces. It is extremely fatiguing and time consuming to manually file artificial fingernails to the desired shape and smoothness, especially when this process is repeated a plurality of times. Accordingly, professional manicurists find it extremely beneficial to employ motor driven devices for filing and buffing fingernails in order to eliminate physical fatigue, save time, and reduce the risk of injury such as to the carpus of the manicurist on account of repeated manual filing.

Commercially available motor driven manicure devices have been generally limited to rigid wheels or burrs mounted on a rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the output shaft of a motor. These devices offer some time saving benefits and reduce physical fatigue for the user.

A manicure machine which employs a flexible, textured belt as a file element is shown and described by Watkins in U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,556. Watkins discloses that the machine includes flexible nail filing means which naturally yield to the arcuate shape of a fingernail impressed thereon. It is possible to press the edges of a fingernail through one of the narrow slots and against the textured belt causing it to yield and conform with the convex shape of the edge of the fingernail. However, because the textured belt is disposed beneath narrow slots in an upper housing wall or roof, it is impossible, or at least extremely difficult, to press the top of a fingernail against the textured belt to cause it to conform with the convex surface thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,304 to Chang discloses an artificial fingernail, fingernail kit and a method of applying the artificial fingernails to natural nails. The artificial fingernail comprises a nail body made from transparent plastic and having a nail bed portion and a nail tip portion. The nail bed portion corresponds in size and shape to the nail bed of a natural fingernail and is applied over a natural fingernail. The nail tip portion contains opaque decorations that obscure a natural nail tip when the artificial fingernail is applied over a natural fingernail. The artificial fingernail is applied to the natural nail with a translucent pink adhesive. This way, the artificial fingernail has the color and appearance of a natural fingernail. This is especially important when doing a french manicure.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,062 to Joseph discloses a manicure device which is well suited for filing or buffing the convex top surfaces and the outer convex edges of fingernails and toenails includes a flexible, textured belt disposed in a cartridge which is detachably secured to a housing containing a high speed electric motor. The casing includes bearings over which the belt passes when the device is being used, and a belt opening which exposes a portion of the textured surface of the belt so that a fingernail can be pressed thereto. The machine allows the belt to be pressed against a convex surface or edge of a fingernail or toenail, so that the belt will conform to the convex shape thereof and provide uniformly smooth filing or buffing. The cartridges are relatively inexpensive and easily replaced, which facilitates and promotes replacement of the cartridge whenever the machine is being used to file or buff the fingernails or toenails of a different person, whereby better hygiene is achieved.

SUMMARY

A manicure device may include a suction source, a flexible hose connected to the suction source, a suction member adapted to be connected to a manicure device or brush.

The suction source may be adapted to be operated by a foot of the user, and the suction member may be detachably connected to the manicure device.

The suction member may be detachably connected to the brush, and the suction source may include a top housing.

The suction source may include a handle, and the suction source may include a inner holder.

The suction source may include a bottom housing, and the suction source may include a power switch which is operable by a foot of the user.

The suction source may include a motor, and the suction source may include a bottom cover.

The suction source may include a bumper, and the manicure device may include a suction nozzle with the curved end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle and manicure device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the suction nozzle and manicure device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the suction source of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the suction nozzle, manicure device and the suction source of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a workstation of the present invention with a suction hose and suction member which are mounted on the surface of the workstation;

FIG. 6 illustrates the workstation which includes a suction source within the workstation;

FIG. 7 illustrates the workstation in which the suction source is outside of the workstation;

FIG. 8 illustrates the suction member is detachably connected to a suction brush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The multi-functional particle collection system can be used as a stand-alone system or can be integrated into a FIG. 1 illustrates a combined suction nozzle 100 and manicure device 104 of the present invention. The suction device can be foot operated so that the user does not have to bend over to turn one and turn off the suction device win the suction device is located on the floor or in a cabinet. The suction nozzle can be detached from a stand. A brush can be plugged into and detach from nozzle to clean workstation. A separate nozzle can be attached to the manicure device in order to directly vacuum the dust.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the suction nozzle 100 includes a curved end 102 to cooperate with the manicure device 104. The suction nozzle 100 additionally includes a suction nozzle end 106 adapted to be connected to a flexible hose (not shown) which is connected to a suction source 300. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the suction nozzle 100 and the manicure device 104. FIG. 2 illustrates the curved end 102 and the suction nozzle end 106.

FIG. 3 illustrates the suction source 300 of the present invention. The suction source 300 includes a top housing 1, a bottom housing 6 and a bottom cover 10 to house the suction source 300. The top housing 1 is detachedly connected from the bottom housing 6 to allow for easy dust removal. The suction source 300 includes a handle 2 for the user to carry the suction source 300. The suction source includes an air filter 3 to filter the air and which is substantially cone shaped. The air filter 3 is connected to an inner holder 5 by screws 4 which connect the inner holder 5 to the bottom housing 6. The bottom housing 6 includes a power switch 7 which may be operated by a foot or a hand of the user to turn off or turn on the power to the suction source 300. A bottom cover 10 covers the motor 9 to generate the suction for the suction source 300. Furthermore, screws 11 attach bumper 12 and the bottom cover 10 to the suction source 300.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the suction nozzle 100 and the manicure device 104 and the suction source 300 which illustrates the power switch 7 and the handle 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a workstation 500 for a manicurist which includes the suction source 300 which has been placed out of view. The suction source 300 is connected to a suction hose 502 which is connected to a suction member 504. The suction source 300 can be installed in the workstation 500. The suction member 504 is mounted on a suction stand 505. The suction stand 505 is movable so that the suction stand 505 can be used at various locations and the suction stand 505 is height adjustable so that the suction member 504 can be used at various heights as required by the user. The suction member 504 is detachably connected to the suction stand 505 so that the suction member 504 can be removed from the suction stand 505 to provide localized cleaning and replaced on the suction stand 505.

FIG. 6 illustrates the workstation 500 with a door open showing the suction source 300 internal to the workstation 500 and illustrates the suction hose 502 connected to the suction member 504 which is mounted on a stand 506.

FIG. 7 illustrates that the suction source 300 can operate outside of the workstation 500.

FIG. 8 illustrates the suction hose 502 connected to the suction member 504 which is connected to the suction brush 802 which is detachably connected to the suction member 504. Furthermore, the suction member 504 is detachably connected to the manicure device 104 to provide a versatile tool which can be switch between the manicure device 104 and the suction brush 802.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1) A manicure device, comprising:

a suction source;

a flexible hose connected to the suction source;

a suction member adapted to be connected to a manicure device or brush.

2) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source is adapted to be operated by a foot of the user.

3) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction member is detachably connected to the manicure device.

4) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction member is detachably connected to the brush.

5) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a top housing.

6) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a handle.

7) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a inner holder.

8) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a bottom housing.

10) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a power switch which is operable by a foot of the user.

11) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a motor.

12) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a bottom cover.

13) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a bumper.

14) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the manicure device includes a suction nozzle with the curved end.

15) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the manicure device includes a suction stand to hold the suction nozzle.

16) A manicure device as in claim 15, wherein the suction stand is adapted to be height adjustable.

17) A manicure device as in claim 15, wherein the suction stand is detachedly connected to the suction nozzle.

18) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source can be mounted into a workstation.

19) A manicure device as in claim 1, wherein the suction source includes a top housing which is detachably connected from a bottom housing.