NAIL BATH
A nail bath (1) has a surface (7) provided with one or more wells (8) for nail treatment solution. The one or more wells (8) have a disposition generally corresponding to the positions of the ends of the fingers and thumbs of one or both hands of a user. A cover (4) cooperates with the surface (7) to define a housing (2) in which the surface (7) serves as a floor. The housing (2) substantially encloses a space defined between the floor (7) and the cover (4), apart from a single opening (3), in the case of a one hand nail bath, or two openings, in the case of a nail bath for both hands, through which the hand or hands of a user extend(s) into the enclosed space during use of the nail bath.
This disclosure relates to nail baths; that is: containers into which a person's nails may be immersed during a beauty treatment.
Customers visiting a beautician for treatment of their nails are commonly required to immerse their nails in solutions in a small bowl. The solution may commonly comprise acetone or other organic solvents for removing old nail varnish. The bowls are often warmed by being placed within a wider shallow bowl containing warm water.
The organic solvents commonly employed are volatile. Thus solvent is lost to atmosphere, reducing possibilities for re-use or recycling. Solvent-laden air presents a Health and Safety problem for staff and customers, as the solvents are commonly inflammable as well as unhealthy for staff and customers exposed to them, especially over long periods.
Described below is a preferred embodiment of nail bath which seeks to reduce or alleviate these problems.
SUMMARYAccording to a first aspect of this disclosure, a nail bath comprises: a surface provided with one or more wells for nail treatment solution, the disposition of said one or more wells generally corresponding to the positions of the ends of the fingers and thumbs of the two hands of a user, and a cover cooperating with said surface to define a housing in which said surface serves as a floor, said housing substantially enclosing a space defined between said floor and said cover, apart from openings through which the hands of a user extend into said space during use of the nail bath.
A nail bath for one hand only is also contemplated. Thus, according to a second and alternative aspect of this disclosure, a nail bath comprises: a surface provided with one or more wells for nail treatment solution, the disposition of said one or more wells generally corresponding to the positions of the ends of the fingers and thumbs of a hand of a user, and a cover cooperating with said surface to define a housing in which said surface serves as a floor, said housing substantially enclosing a space defined between said floor and said cover, apart from an opening through which the hand of a user extends into said space during use of the nail bath.
Preferred embodiments may have one or more of the following features: There are individual wells for each finger and thumb. The floor includes a raised pad disposed for resting the palm of a hand thereon when inserted through said opening. The floor cooperates with a bottom surface to define an underfloor chamber that is both closed and beneath the floor when the nail bath is in use for treatment of a user's nails, the underfloor chamber optionally containing warm water, the or each well being defined by a circumextending sidewall and a well bottom, and the or each well extending down into the underfloor chamber, so that at least the sidewall(s) may be surrounded by warm water when such water is contained in the underfloor chamber. In one arrangement, the nail bath is formed from three plastics components, namely the cover, the floor surface and the base portion, the cover and base portion being adapted to releasably clip together, and the floor surface being provided by a plate adapted to be trapped between the cover and the base when clipped together. In an alternative arrangement, the nail bath is also formed from three plastics components, namely the cover, the floor surface and the base portion, but, in this case, the floor surface and base portion are connected together by at least one of fasteners, adhesive and melt welding to form a generally closed unit in which the underfloor chamber is provided internally, this chamber being provided with an openable nozzle for filling with warm water or emptying, and the cover fitting over the generally closed unit. Handhold portions are provided to facilitate carrying the nail bath with the floor generally horizontal to avoid spillage of nail treatment solution from said wells. The handhold portions comprise, for one or for both hands, a main hand-receiving portion on the underside of the base portion and a thumb receiving portion on the outer side of the cover.
Embodiments of nail bath are described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As best shown in
In this embodiment, nail bath 1 is formed from three plastics components shown in exploded view in
The plate 5 defines a floor 7 to an upper chamber of the housing 2 accessible through openings 3 and otherwise defined by upper portion 4. Floor 7 is provided with a plurality of wells 8, each formed with a well bottom 9 and a circumextending sidewall 10, and each arranged to receive a small quantity of a nail treatment solution for immersion of the end of a user's finger 11 therein, as shown in
Each opening 3 is defined by the surface of plate 5 and an arch 14 formed in upper portion 4, and having sides 15 and 16 and an arch top 17. Cover 4 of the housing 2 is defined by a top portion 18 terminating at arch tops 17, and respective front 19 and rear 20 sidewalls into which the top portion 18 smoothly curves. As best shown by the plan view of
Base portion 6 takes the form of a shallow dish 25, as best shown in
It will be understood from the drawings and from the description above that the generally closed housing 2 defined by the cooperating cover 4 and base portion 6 is divided into two separate chambers by the floor 7 defined by plate 5. Plate 5 is trapped between the cover and base portions as they are clipped together, and rests on internal partition walls 28 and, via well bottoms 9, on the inside of bottom surface 26 of base portion 6. It is located by two notches 35 (
A user's hand may be inserted through an opening 3, as shown in
At least cover 4 may be formed of transparent plastics material so that a user can see their hands while the treatment is in progress.
In a second embodiment illustrated in
In the first described embodiment, cover 4 is clipped to base portion 6 to trap plate 5 therebetween to hold the nail bath together for use. This is no longer necessary in the embodiment of
Several breather holes 45 are formed through cover 4 at a position corresponding to that of nozzle 40 and cap 41 in unit 39. A line 46 visible on the top surface of cover 4 marks the position of a depending internal wall on the underside of cover 4 that defines a volume separated from the remainder of the underside of cover 4 by that internal wall. Any water vapour that might escape from the nozzle during use of the nail bath will be vented to the exterior via this volume without entering the space within which the user places their hands.
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A portable nail bath comprising:
- a surface provided with one or more wells for nail treatment solution, the disposition of said one or more wells generally corresponding to the positions of the ends of the fingers and thumbs of a hand of a user, and
- a cover cooperating with said surface to define a housing in which said surface serves as a floor, said housing substantially enclosing a space defined between said floor and said cover, apart from an opening through which the hand of a user extends into said space during use of the nail bath, wherein said floor cooperates with a bottom surface to define an underfloor chamber that is both closed and beneath said floor when said nail bath is in use for treatment of a user's nails, said underfloor chamber being adapted to be filled with warm water, the or each well being defined by a circumextending sidewall and a well bottom, and the or each said well extending down into said underfloor chamber, so that at least said sidewall(s) may be surrounded by warm water when such water is contained in said underfloor chamber.
11. A portable nail bath according to claim 10, wherein there are individual wells for each finger and thumb.
12. A portable nail bath according to claim 10, wherein the surface includes a raised pad disposed for resting the palm of a hand thereon when the ends of the fingers and thumb of that hand are disposed in said well(s).
13. A portable nail bath according to claim 10, formed from three plastics components, namely said cover, said floor surface and said base portion, the cover and base portion being adapted to releasably clip together, said floor surface being provided by a plate adapted to be trapped between said cover and said base when clipped together.
14. A portable nail bath according to claim 10, formed from three plastics components, namely said cover, said floor surface and said base portion, the floor surface and base portion being connected together by at least one of fasteners, adhesive and melt welding to form a generally closed unit in which said underfloor chamber is provided internally, said chamber being provided with an openable nozzle for filling with warm water or emptying, and wherein said cover fits over said unit.
15. A portable nail bath according to claim 10, further provided with handhold portions to facilitate carrying the nail bath with the floor generally horizontal to avoid spillage of nail treatment solution from said wells.
16. A portable nail bath according to claim 15, wherein the handhold portions comprise a main hand-receiving portion on the underside of the base portion and a thumb receiving portion on the outer side of the cover.
17. A portable nail bath comprising:
- a surface provided with one or more wells for nail treatment solution, the disposition of said one or more wells generally corresponding to the positions of the ends of the fingers and thumbs of the two hands of a user, and
- a cover cooperating with said surface to define a housing in which said surface serves as a floor, said housing substantially enclosing a space defined between said floor and said cover, apart from openings through which the hands of a user extend into said space during use of the nail bath, wherein said floor cooperates with a bottom surface to define an underfloor chamber that is both closed and beneath said floor when said nail bath is in use for treatment of a user's nails, said underfloor chamber being adapted to be filled with warm water, the or each well being defined by a circumextending sidewall and a well bottom, and the or each said well extending down into said underfloor chamber, so that at least said sidewall(s) may be surrounded by warm water when such water is contained in said underfloor chamber.
18. A portable nail bath according to claim 17, wherein there are individual wells for each finger and thumb.
19. A portable nail bath according to claim 17, wherein the surface includes a raised pad disposed for resting the palm of a hand thereon when the ends of the fingers and thumb of that hand are disposed in said well(s).
20. A portable nail bath according to claim 17, formed from three plastics components, namely said cover, said floor surface and said base portion, the cover and base portion being adapted to releasably clip together, said floor surface being provided by a plate adapted to be trapped between said cover and said base when clipped together.
21. A portable nail bath according to claim 17, formed from three plastics components, namely said cover, said floor surface and said base portion, the floor surface and base portion being connected together by at least one of fasteners, adhesive and melt welding to form a generally closed unit in which said underfloor chamber is provided internally, said chamber being provided with an openable nozzle for filling with warm water or emptying, and wherein said cover fits over said unit.
22. A portable nail bath according to claim 17, further provided with handhold portions to facilitate carrying the nail bath with the floor generally horizontal to avoid spillage of nail treatment solution from said wells.
23. A portable nail bath according to claim 22, wherein the handhold portions comprise a main hand-receiving portion on the underside of the base portion and a thumb receiving portion on the outer side of the cover.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 15, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 2, 2010
Inventor: Helen Hurman (Buckinghamshire)
Application Number: 12/682,947
International Classification: A45D 29/00 (20060101);