Manicure Travel Kit

Abstract

A manicure travel kit having a nail polish remover towelette, an emery board, a cuticle stick, and a transparent nail polish container with applicator, all packaged within a skin wrap of Surlyn film clamshell or blister package, all placed into a carrier sleeve such that the nail polish color is revealed through a semi-circular cutout in the carrier sleeve.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Claim of Priority Based on Copending Application

claims benefit of provisional application No. 61/179,103

The present application is related to the co-pending provisional patent application No. 61/179,103, filed 18 May 2009, entitled “Manicure Travel Kit”, and based on which priority is herewith claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully rewritten herein.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The present invention relates generally to manicure kits and specifically to compact kits that are suitable for travel. In one embodiment, the kit is made up of nail polish remover towelettes, an emery board, a cuticle stick, and nail polish with applicator. These four elements are the best choice to get a salon style manicure. They are packaged with a skin wrap or other suitable skin package material or input into a clamshell or blister package and placed into a carrier sleeve (a.k.a. carrier box). Each component of such a kit can support the others in the completion of a manicure.

DuPont (trademark) Surlyn (trademark), SUR-FLEX (trademark) IONOMER, blister packaging, or other similar products or packaging resins can be used to seal the contents. Packaging resins are typically used as a food contact or seal layer in flexible packaging. They are optimized for efficient blown film and extrusion coating and come in a wide variety of proven grades, to meet specific packaging needs. In one embodiment of the invention, DuPont (trademark) Surlyn (trademark), is used.

In one embodiment, the kit includes an individual size portion of pre-packaged nail polish remover solution on a felt, paper, cotton, or similar material pad. This solution-saturated towelette allows for the removal of polish from fingernails and toenails. The emery board is an abrasive material used to shape and smooth nails natural or artificial. This kit also includes a cuticle stick made of wood, plastic (recycled or otherwise), or other suitable material used to push the cuticle back in preparation for polish. The single use or individual portion size container of nail polish can be made of plastic or other suitable material and may include an integrated or independent applicator brush.

Variations of the foregoing are possible. For instance, partial kits or individual components can be used. Additionally, a variety of items may also be added or made available individually such as hand cream, cuticle cream, top or base coat, a buffer, nail brush, tweezers, and/or nail repair items. A Mini-Pedicure kit incorporating disclosed features is also possible and may include toe separators, foot cream, and a pumice stone for smoothing rough spots.

The disclosed components may also be made available in single unit sizes or multi-pack units containing all or parts of the various components.

Several travel manicure kits exist on the market today. However, the present invention is advantageous in terms of convenience, size, quantity, packaging, and combination of components. The present invention provides a convenient means to achieve a complete manicure anywhere. It can easily be carried in the purse or wallet. Portion sizes make it permissible in the secured areas of airports. The convenient size of the container makes it easy to transport in a small purse or carry-on luggage. The size, configuration and quantity of the components that make up the invention make it ideal for sale at convenience stores, convenience machines and at the check out lanes at the supermarket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of unassembled carrier sleeve 50

FIG. 2 depicts a plan view of package 60

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A manicure travel kit comprises a nail polish remover towelette 10, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, transparent nail polish container 40 with applicator 41, skin wrap of Surlyn film clamshell or blister package 60, and carrier sleeve 50 having a semi-circular cutout 51.

Nail polish remover towelette 10 (e.g. Anti-bacterial, nail polish remover pads, non-acetone) includes a sealed package. Nail polish remover towelette 10, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, and transparent nail polish container 40 with applicator 41 are all arranged on base 61 which is sealed by a skin wrap, Surlyn film, clamshell, or blister package; the combination forming package 60. In one embodiment, package 60 comprises the components placed on base 61 (e.g. a piece of paperboard). A sheet of Surlyn (trademark) is placed over the components and paperboard. The paperboard has a heat seal coating. The Surlyn is heated and draped over the components on the board and Vacuum sealed. The Surlyn bonds to the heat seal coating on the paperboard to complete the seal.

It is to be understood that the arrangement of nail polish remover towelette 10, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, and transparent nail polish container 40 with applicator 41 may be arranged in various ways within package 60 in addition to the arrangement depicted in FIG. 2. For instance, emery board 20, cuticle stick 30, and transparent nail polish container 40 with applicator 41 can be placed on top of towelette 10.

Carrier sleeve 50 is depicted in FIG. 1 unassembled. When assembled, tab 52 is adhered to edge 53 such that surfaces 54 & 55 are parallel and spaced apart (so that cutouts 51 in each surface are aligned) by parallel surfaces 56 & 57.

Package 60 is inserted into assembled sleeve 50 so that nail polish container 40 is aligned with cutouts 51. Thus, the nail polish color is revealed through a semi-circular cutout 51 in the carrier sleeve 50. Cutout 51 has the added advantage of facilitating gripping package 60 for removal from and insertion into sleeve 50.

The entire carrier sleeve 50 with package 60 inserted therein is dimensionally less than substantially 3.5 inches (edge 53) by 3 inches by 0.5 inches. The quantities of nail polish and nail polish remover are less than substantially 3 ounces each.

Claims

1. A manicure travel kit comprising:

a nail polish remover towelette,

an emery board,

a cuticle stick,

and a transparent nail polish container with applicator,

all packaged within a thin film, clamshell, or blister package, all placed into a carrier sleeve such that the nail polish color is revealed through a semi-circular cutout in the carrier sleeve;

the entire carrier sleeve with contents being dimensionally less than substantially 3.5 inches by 3 inches by 0.5 inches;

wherein the quantities of nail polish and nail polish remover are less than substantially 3 ounces each.