CURVED NAIL FILE

Abstract

Described is a curved nail file. The curved nail file is formed of a curved material (e.g., plastic) having an outside convex surface and an inside concave surface. An abrasive material (e.g., sandpaper) is adhered to one or both of the outside convex surface and inside concave surface, forming one or more abrasive surfaces. A prong tip extending from the curved material that can be used for cleaning nails, etc. Further, cap is for positioning over the prong tip. The cap has a flattened tip that can be used to treat and press cuticles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/193,330, filed on Jul. 16, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a nail file and, more particularly, to a curved nail file.

(2) Description of Related Art

Nail files have long been known in the art and are typically elongated shafts with a rough surface thereon. While operable for filing fingernails, the generally elongated shape makes it difficult to work with the curved nature of natural finger nails.

Thus, a continuing need exists for a new and improved nail file that easily files naturally curved finger nails.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nail file and, more particularly, to a curved nail file. The curved nail file is formed of a curved material (e.g., plastic) having an outside convex surface and an inside concave surface. An abrasive material (e.g., sandpaper) is adhered to one or both of the outside convex surface and inside concave surface, forming one or more abrasive surfaces. A prong tip extending from the curved material that can be used for cleaning nails, etc. Further, cap is for positioning over the prong tip. The cap has a flattened tip that can be used to treat and press cuticles.

In another aspect, the curved material is formed of a bendable plastic, thereby allowing a user to selectively bend the curved material to conform to the user's fingernail shape.

In yet another aspect, the one or more abrasive surfaces further comprises an outside abrasive surface and an inside abrasive surface.

In another aspect, at least one of the outside abrasive surface and inside abrasive surface is formed of sandpaper.

Additionally, at least one of the outside abrasive surface and inside abrasive surface is formed of a nail buffing material.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a curved nail file according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the curved nail file.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a nail file and, more particularly, to a curved nail file. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.

(1) Description

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is directed to a curved nail file 100. The curved nail file 100 has an inside curved surface (concave surface 102) and an outside convex surface (convex surface 104). In some embodiments, at least a portion of one or both of the outside convex surface 104 and inside concave surface 102 include an abrasive surface that is suitable for filing (or polishing or buffing) nails. For example, the surfaces 102 and 104 can be formed to be sufficiently abrasive or they can have an abrasive surface adhered thereto. As a non-limiting example, the curved nail file 100 is formed of plastic (or metal), and a waterproof, cosmetic grade sandpaper (or polishing or buffing material) is glued to one or both of the concave 102 and convex 104 surfaces. In this aspect, the sandpaper operates as the abrasive surface, providing an inside abrasive surface 106 and one or more outside abrasive surfaces 108. As another non-limiting example, instead of sandpaper, a spray-on material can be added to the surfaces 102 and 104 to provide the desired abrasive properties and function as the relevant abrasive surface. As yet another non-limiting example, a buffing or polishing material can be used as an abrasive surface (instead of sandpaper). The buffing or polishing materials are commonly known to those skilled in the art and are often used on nail buffing pads.

Because of the curved surfaces, a user can place a finger nail within the interior surface (concave surface 102) and against the inside abrasive surface 106 while turning the nail file 100. In this aspect, the curved nail file 100 files the nails perfectly round while the user turns the file 100. Alternatively, a user can flip the nail file 100 around and use the outside convex surface 104 to file the nails perfectly square. The outside abrasive surfaces 108 (e.g., sandpaper) can be used, for example, to file the corners and sides of the finger nail. Thus, the abrasive surfaces 106 and 108 can be used for sides of nails and actually filing. For example, a user may use the inside concave surface 102 and file only one direction for perfect round nails and, thereafter, turn the nail file 100 over and rotate the nail file 100 for perfectly square finger nails

A cap 110 is included that has a flatted tip 112 to allow a user to treat the finger's cuticles. Further, when the cap 110 is removed, a prong 114 is exposed that can be used to take care of dead skin or remove dirt underneath the user's nails. The prong 114 is formed of any suitable rigid material, a non-limiting example of which includes being formed of metal, with the remainder of the nail file 100 being formed of plastic and molded around the prong 114. Desirably, the plastic is bendable or semi-flexible so that a user can bend the nail file 100 to wrap around and conform to the shape of the user's finger nails. Thus, when bendable, the nail file 100 fits the shape of the finger nails perfectly.

In various embodiments, one side either the outside convex surface 10r or inside concave surface 102) buffs and shines the finger nails (having the appropriate finger nail shining or buffing material attached to the device, or any combination thereof), while the other side can be used to sand and file round finger nails and/or square finger nails (using the appropriate sanding/filing material attached to the device, or any combination thereof). For example, the abrasive material (forming the outside abrasive surface 108) on the outside convex surface 104 of the device can, in one embodiment, be a buffer (having nail buffing material instead of sandpaper), while the inside abrasive material (forming the inside abrasive surface 106) is a filing surface (using, for example, sandpaper). Further and in some embodiments, the central portion of the interior surface can be flatted (either entirely or somewhat) to allow for sanding a flat nail while the outer portions of the interior concave surface 102 are curved (concaved) to provide a curved sanding surface.

It should be understood that the abrasive surfaces can be modified to include buffing material or sanding material at each of the locations or switched around as desired or in any combination thereof Further, as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the nail file 100 can be used for feet as well or can be further enlarged for feet.

Finally, while this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the invention may have other applications in other environments. It should be noted that many embodiments and implementations are possible. Further, the following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the specific embodiments described above. In addition, any recitation of “means for” is intended to evoke a means-plus-function reading of an element and a claim, whereas, any elements that do not specifically use the recitation “means for”, are not intended to be read as means-plus-function elements, even if the claim otherwise includes the word “means” Further, while particular method steps have been recited in a particular order, the method steps may occur in any desired order and fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A curved nail file, comprising:

a curved material having an outside convex surface and an inside concave surface; and

an abrasive material adhered to one or both of the outside convex surface and inside concave surface, forming one or more abrasive surfaces.

2. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a prong tip extending from the curved material.

3. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a cap for positioning over the prong tip, the cap having a flattened tip.

4. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 3, wherein the curved material is formed of a bendable plastic, thereby allowing a user to selectively bend the curved material to conform to the user's fingernail shape.

5. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 4, wherein the one or more abrasive surfaces further comprises an outside abrasive surface and an inside abrasive surface.

6. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one of the outside abrasive surface and inside abrasive surface is formed of sandpaper.

7. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of the outside abrasive surface and inside abrasive surface is formed of a nail buffing material.

8. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 1, wherein the curved material is formed of a bendable plastic, thereby allowing a user to selectively bend the curved material to conform to the user's fingernail shape.

9. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 1, wherein the one or more abrasive surfaces further comprises an outside abrasive surface and an inside abrasive surface.

10. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least one of the outside abrasive surface and inside abrasive surface is formed of sandpaper.

11. The curved nail file as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least one of the outside abrasive surface and inside abrasive surface is formed of a nail buffing material.