Lamp that is capable of curing nail products using either a LED Light Source or a UV Light Source all in one machine

Abstract

Right now, some nail products can cure in a UV Lamp for several minutes OR LED Lamp for several seconds. The LED products are new to the Industry. Nail Technicians are frustrated that they will need TWO units. One to cure with LED bulbs in it. And one to cure with UV bulbs in it. My invention solves this problem by combining both types of bulbs in one unit. With the touch of a button a Nail Technician can choose to use the LED bulbs OR the UV bulbs (but never at the same time).

Description

The present invention relates to a lamp that is capable of curing nail products using either a LED Light source OR a UV Light Source all in one machine.

The device is comprised of the following

The Unit itself has a center panel of LED bulbs that can cure chemical products in a downward direction (the tops of the nails). Then there are strips of LED bulbs off to the right and off to the left (tilted at an angle) in order to provide light to cure the nails from both sides. ALSO in the unit are four 9 watt UV bulbs. Two at the top on either side of the LED Panel offering light downward to the tops of the nails, as well as a bulb on the right side and a bulb on the left side in order to cure the sides of the nails. There is reflector material lining the inside to allow the light rays to reflect and sufficiently cover all sides of a finger nail (ONE full hand at a time). There is also a hand rest plate that can be removed so that the lamp can comfortably fit over a foot without sticking a foot inside the lamp (a sanitation issue in the US Nail Industry). On the outside of the unit there is a power switch. Once turned on the Technician can use a button panel to control her lamp. One button will choose “LED” or “UV” bulbs. A dot light illuminates once the choice is made. Then there are four buttons to choose how much time to cure the chemical product on the nails. There is also a digital visual to show the time ticking backwards. Once it reaches 0:00 the light bulbs automatically shut off and let the Nail Technician and his/her client know that the cure time is reached. The electrical cord can be done in 110v for USA or 220v for overseas.

An electrical source is necessary.

Nail products contain an “initiator” chemical that allows it to cure. There are two that are used in the nail industry. One will react with the light rays emitted by an LED bulb while the other will react with the light rays emitted by a UV bulb. Any single product CAN have both initiators. The reason for either choice is UV bulbs take longer to cure the product (about 2-3 minutes). LED bulbs cure for a much shorter time (15-45 seconds). A technician may choose to save time and cure in an LED lamp OR may not own an LED lamp and would use their slower UV lamp. Newer products containing the LED initiator would benefit from the LED bulbs and cure fast. While OLDER industry products that are not formulated with the LED initiator require the UV bulbs to cure their products. There is no need or use for both bulbs to run at the same time.

The unit is plugged into an electrical outlet. The user would then turn on a powder switch located on the back of the lamp unit providing power to the unit. The Nail Technician then applies her chemical product to his/her clients finger or toe nails. Generally there are several coats or layers involved. The technician would then either place the hand into the unit with the bottom hand tray still in the lamp unit OR place the unit over the toe nails with the hand tray removed. The technician would then press one button to choose which light source to use LED or UV. Once the light source is chosen, the technician would then press the button for the appropriate amount of cure time (the choices are 5 secs, 10 secs, 30 secs, 60 secs for LED and 30 secs, 90 secs, 120 secs or 180 secs for the UV bulbs). The appropriate light source would then come on inside the lamp unit. As well a window shows the time chosen and ticks back the seconds until it reaches 0:00 at which time the light source automatically shuts off. The technician then removes the clients hand and may or may not apply another coat of the chemical product to the nails and repeat the curing process in the Lamp Unit. When finished, the Technician can wipe down and clean the inside of the units hand tray for the next client.

A plastic mold is necessary to make the entire housing for the Lamp unit. Electrical components and wires hidden inside the closed part of the unit provide electrical power to the bulbs and control panel.

The unit is plugged into an electrical outlet. The user would then turn on a powder switch located on the back of the lamp unit providing power to the unit. The Nail Technician then applies her chemical product to his/her clients finger or toe nails. Generally there are several coats or layers involved. The technician would then either place the hand into the unit with the bottom hand tray still in the lamp unit OR place the unit over the toe nails with the hand tray removed. The technician would then press one button to choose which light source to use LED or UV. Once the light source is chosen, the technician would then press the button for the appropriate amount of cure time (the choices are 5 secs, 10 secs, 30 secs, 60 secs for LED and 30 secs, 90 secs, 120 secs or 180 secs for the UV bulbs). The appropriate light source would then come on inside the lamp unit. As well a window shows the time chosen and ticks back the seconds until it reaches 0:00 at which time the light source automatically shuts off. The technician then removes the clients hand and may or may not apply another coat of the chemical product to the nails and repeat the curing process in the Lamp Unit. When finished, the Technician can wipe down and clean the inside of the units hand tray for the next client.

Since UV light sources can cure chemical products it is possible that another field of technology that uses either LED or UV Bulbs to cure their products. For example, hand held units are available in the dental field to cure fillings, whiten teeth and create caps or crowns.

The current units either house LED bulbs OR UV bulbs but never both.

UV Lamps have been on the market for 20+ years. LED have only been on the market for the last 2-3 years. Nail Technicians are limited to their work space and frustrated that they need to keep two separate units. Also, there are many pre-existing products on the market that will not cure in a LED lamp. So the Nail Technicians cannot just replace their UV Lamps with an LED Lamp. My invention solves the issue of their small work space and offers them the two options of curing in ONE unit that is the size of a typical unit.

Right now, some nail products can cure in a UV Lamp for several minutes OR LED Lamp for several seconds. The LED products are new to the Industry. Nail Technicians are frustrated that they will need TWO units. One to cure with LED bulbs in it. And one to cure with UV bulbs in it. My invention solves this problem by combining both types of bulbs in one unit. With the touch of a button a Nail Technician can choose to use the LED bulbs OR the UV bulbs (but never at the same time).

IMAGES ADDED TO THE PATENT APPLICATION

FIG. 1: view of the top of the unit

FIG. 2: view of the control pad that chooses light source as well as timer options. Also you can see the display that shows the time as it ticks down.

FIG. 3: Front of the unit looking inside with the hand rest tray still attached.

FIG. 4: Front of the unit looking inside with the hand rest tray removed. Also shows what the hand rest tray looks like.

FIG. 5: Front of the unit looking inside with the hand rest tray removed. You can see placement of all the LED bulbs (little dot bulbs) and all the UV bulbs (long skinny bulbs).

FIG. 6: shows only the bulbs at the top of the lamp (shot upside down) that will cure the tops of the nails. (side UV bulbs not visible).

FIG. 7: Back of the unit. This shows the main power switch that supplies power to the unit. Also, the location of the fuse for ease of replacement.

FIG. 8: Shows a hand in the lamp the way a technician will use it with his/her client.

Claims

1. lamp that is capable of curing nail products using either a LED Light source OR a UV Light Source all in one machine.