ELECTRONIC NAIL FILE

Abstract

An electric nail file system is provided which may include a power pack having one or more battery cells disposed therein. The electric nail file system may also include a tool coupled with the power pack, the tool having a motor disposed therein, and a power cable operably coupling the power pack with the tool and operable to transfer electrical power from the power pack to the motor. The electric nail file system may also include a first set of controls operable to determine a motor speed of the motor, wherein the first set of controls includes a plurality of predetermined motor speed settings associated with the motor.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to apparatuses and systems for electric file (e-file) personal care devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to apparatuses and systems for e-file personal care devices for use in fingernail, toe nail, and/or related cosmetology.

BACKGROUND

Nail salons and/or nail technicians can use a variety of devices during a personal care treatment, including an electric file device for use during a manicure or pedicure. These e-files can be cordless/wireless, and have an adjustable rotations per minute (rpm) speed depending on the user preference, customer preference, application, and/or treatment. However, the user must constantly adjust the rpm speed between ranges through steps within a particular treatment, which can be time consuming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the disclosure are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative examples, in which the principles of the disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front left isometric view of an electric nail file system, according to at least one instance of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is front right isometric view of an electric nail file system, according to at least one example of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a top planar view of an electric drill dock system, according to at least one example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples and various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of known starting materials and processes can be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the disclosure in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating the preferred examples, are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited only those elements but can include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, process, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

The term substantially, as used herein, is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.

Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular example and as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompass other examples as well as implementations and adaptations thereof which can or cannot be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification and all such examples are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such non-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “In some examples,” and the like.

An electric nail file system comprising: a power pack having one or more battery cells disposed therein, a tool coupled with the power pack, the tool having a motor disposed therein; a power cable operably coupling the power pack with the tool and operable to transfer electrical power from the power pack to the motor; a first set of controls operable to determine a motor speed of the motor, wherein the first set of controls includes a plurality of predetermined motor speed settings associated with the motor, wherein each of the plurality of predetermined motor speed settings correspond to a unique motor speed of the motor.

The motor can include a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, wherein the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction are opposite relative to the other. The plurality of predetermined motor speed of the first set of controls can include an associated rotational direction.

The electric nail file system can further include one or more displays displaying the motor speed of the motor. The displayed motor speed is the motor speed setting. The displayed motor speed is a real-time motor speed.

The electric nail file system can further include a battery indicator light operable to provide a visual display of a charge state of the one or more battery cells disposed within the power pack. The battery indicator light can be operable to change color based on the battery charge state. The battery indicator light can display a first color when the battery charge state is between 25% and 100% of a predetermined capacity, a second color when the battery charge state is less than 25% of the predetermined capacity, and/or a third color when the battery charge state is less than 10% of the predetermined capacity. The battery indicator light can oscillate between a fourth color and one of the first color, second color, and third color based on the battery charge state when the power pack is in a charging state.

The present disclosure is drawn to an electronic file (e-file) for use in personal care and/or cosmetic applications. The e-file can include a power pack and a tool with the power pack communicatively coupled with the tool and operable to transfer power therebetween. The power pack can be operable transfer electric power (e.g. current) to the tool, mechanical power (e.g. revolutions per minute (RPM)), and/or combinations thereof. The power pack can include one or more battery cells, processors, memory, and/or one or more controls.

The one or more controls can be operable to adjust the tool via adjusting current, RPM, and/or combinations thereof. The one or more controls can be operably coupled with the processors and/or memory to allow one or more predetermined power settings associated with the tool. The one or more predetermined power settings can determine the amount of electrical and/or mechanical power is distributed from the power pack to the tool. The one or more predetermined power settings can be user determined based on preference, appointment, treatment, and/or the like.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a front left diagrammatic view and a front right diagrammatic view of an electronic nail file (e-file) according to at least one instance of the present disclosure. The e-file nail system 100 can include a power pack 102 and a tool 104. The power pack 102 can be communicatively coupled with the tool 104 and be operable to transfer power from the power pack 102 to the tool 104. In at least one instance, the power pack 102 is operable to transfer electric power (e.g. current) to the tool 104. In other instances, the power pack 102 can be operably arranged to transfer mechanical power (e.g. revolutions per minute (RPM)) to the tool 104.

A power cable 106 can communicatively couple the power pack 102 with the tool 104. The power cable 106 can have a predetermined length, thereby allowing the tool 104 to have a useful range away from the power pack 102. The power cable 106 can be operably arranged to communicatively couple electric and/or mechanical power from the power pack 102 to the tool 104. In at least one instance, the power cable 106 can be one or more electrical cables operably arranged to transfer electrical power from the power pack 102 to the tool 104. In other instances, the power cable 106 can have a rotational element disposed therein along the predetermined length transferring rotational mechanical power generated at the power pack 102 to the tool 104. In yet other instances, the power cable 106 can be operably arranged to transfer a combination of mechanical and/or electrical power from the power pack 102 to the tool 104.

The power pack 102 can include one or more rechargeable battery cells 108 operable to store electrical energy. The power pack 102 can be a single large battery cell 108 and/or an array of smaller battery cells 108 operably coupled together to act as a larger battery. The one or more rechargeable battery cells 108 can be Nickel metal hydride (NiMH), Nickel-cadmium (NiCad), Lithium-ion (Li-ion), and/or any other battery chemistry desirable for implementation in a high power, long battery life applications.

The tool 106 can include a proximal end 110 and a distal end 112 and have a predetermined length 150 therebetween. The predetermined length 150 can be operably arranged to comfortably fit within a user's hand without being too large to manipulate and/or too small to grasp. The proximal end 110 can be operable to receive communicative coupling with the power pack 102 via the power cable 108. The distal end 112 can have a contact tip 114 operable to engage with a customer's hand and/or nail. the contact tip 114 can be interchangeable depending on the desired procedure, process, step, and/or user or customer preference. The contact tip 114 can be operable to file, shape, and/or otherwise engage with the customer's fingernail and/or toenail.

The e-file nail system 100 can further include at least one motor 116 communicatively coupled with the one or more battery cells 108 and the contact tip 114 at the distal end 112 of the tool 106. In at least one instance, the at least one motor 116 is arranged within the tool 106 and operable to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells 108 within the power pack 102 via the power cable 106. In other instances, the at least one motor 116 is arranged within the power pack 102 and operable to transfer mechanical power to the tool 106 via the power cable 106.

The at least one motor 112 can be operable to produce rotational and/or vibratory motion at the contact tip 114 to allow a user to file, grind, shape and/or otherwise engage with a customer's fingernail and/or toenail.

The power pack 102 can include one or more controls 118 arranged on one or more surfaces of the power pack 102. The power pack 102 can have one or more controls 118 disposed on a top surface 120, and/or one or more side 122, 124, respectively. The one or more controls 118 can determine the on/off state of the e-file nail system 100, the motor direction (e.g. forward/reverse), motor speed, and/or one or more predetermined motor speeds. The one or more controls 118 can be depressible buttons, touch-sensitive buttons, slidable switches, and/or combinations thereof.

As can be appreciated in FIG. 1, the one or more controls 118 can include a first set of controls 118a arranged on side 122, a second set of controls 118b on side 124, and a third set of controls 118c on top surface 120. The first set of controls 118a can be operable to control one or more predetermined motor speeds. The one or more predetermined motor speeds can be user programmable and/or adjustable depending on the user's preference, the application, the treatment, and/or the customer's preference. In at least one instance, the one or more predetermined motor speeds can also include a motor direction, thus selection of one of the one or more predetermined motor speed can also select a motor direction. The second set of controls 118b can include an on/off state of the e-file nail system 100 and a motor direction. In at least one instance, the motor direction can be automatically adjusted based on the selection of the one or more predetermined speeds. In other instances, the motor direction can be independent of the one or more predetermined speeds. The third set of controls 118c can be disposed on the top surface 120, which can be operable to adjust the motor speed. In at least one instance, the third set of controls 118c can include a rotable wheel in which rotation of the wheel in one direction (e.g. clockwise) can increase the motor speed, while rotation of the wheel in an opposite direction (e.g. counter-clockwise) can decrease the motor speed. In other instances, the third set of controls 118c can include one or more buttons and/or switches operable to increase and/or decrease the motor speed.

The top surface 120 can also include one or more displays 126 indicating current motor speed, motor direction, and/or if the current motor speeds corresponds to one of the one or more predetermined speeds. In at least one instance, the one or more displays 126 includes a digital read out of the current motor speed in RPM and one or more indicator lights operable to indicate one or more of motor direction and/or if the current motor speed corresponds to one of the predetermined motor speeds. The current motor speed in RPM can be an indication of a “set” speed and/or speed at which the motor should be operating at. In other instances, the current motor speed can be a real-time read out of the RPM of the motor, and thus may include some fluctuations.

The top surface 120 and/or the one or more displays 126 can also include a battery indicator light 128 operable indicate a provide a user feedback on the current charge state of the one or more battery cells 108 within the power pack 102. As can be appreciated in FIG. 1, the battery indicator light can be arranged around the periphery of the one or more displays 128 to provide a halo illuminator effect. In at least one instance, the battery indicator light 128 can be a peripheral edge of the one or more displays 126. In other instances, the battery indicator light 128 can be an independent lighting element arrange around and tangential to the one or more displays 126.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed view of a power pack according to at least one instance of the present disclosure. As can be appreciated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the battery indicator light 128 can be a light emitting diode (LED) operable to change color based on current battery charge state. In at least one instance, the LED battery indicator light 128 can display a first color (e.g. blue) if the current battery charge state is between 25% and 100% of capacity, a second color (e.g. yellow) if the current battery charge state is less than 25% of capacity, and/or a third color if the current battery charge state is less than 10% of capacity. In at least one instance of the present disclosure, the battery indicator light can oscillate between one of the first color, the second color, or the third color and a fourth color (e.g. white) in a charging state. This can provide a user an positive indication that the power pack is in a charging state, while simultaneously providing an indication of the current charge state of the power pack.

While FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the indicator light 128 being disposed substantially around the one or more displays, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the indicator light 128 can be arranged adjacent to and/or as a portion of the top surface 120 and/or the one or more displays 126. Further while FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, illustrate the indicator light 128 as color change indication, it is further within the scope of the present disclosure that the indicator light 128 can provide an indication of the charge state of the power pack 102 via light brightness, light display pattern (e.g. around a portion of the one or more displays 126), and/or the like.

Claims

1. An electric nail file system comprising:

a power pack having one or more battery cells disposed therein, a tool coupled with the power pack, the tool having a motor disposed therein;

a power cable operably coupling the power pack with the tool and operable to transfer electrical power from the power pack to the motor;

a first set of controls operable to determine a motor speed of the motor, wherein the first set of controls includes a plurality of predetermined motor speed settings associated with the motor,

wherein each of the plurality of predetermined motor speed settings correspond to a unique motor speed of the motor.

2. The electric nail file system of claim 1, wherein the motor includes a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, wherein the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction are opposite relative to the other.

3. The electric nail file system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of predetermined motor speed of the first set of controls includes an associated rotational direction.

4. The electric nail file system of claim 1, further comprising one or more displays displaying the motor speed of the motor.

5. The electric nail file system of claim 4, wherein the displayed motor speed is the motor speed setting.

6. The electric nail file system of claim 4, wherein the displayed motor speed is a real-time motor speed.

7. The electric nail file system of claim 1, further comprising a battery indicator light operable to provide a visual display of a charge state of the one or more battery cells disposed within the power pack.

8. The electric nail file system of claim 7, wherein the battery indicator is light operable to change color based on the battery charge state.

9. The electric nail file system of claim 8, wherein the battery indicator light displays a first color when the battery charge state is between 25% and 100% of a predetermined capacity, a second color when the battery charge state is less than 25% of the predetermined capacity, and/or a third color when the battery charge state is less than 10% of the predetermined capacity.

10. The electric nail file system of claim 9, wherein the battery indicator light oscillates between a fourth color and one of the first color, second color, and third color based on the battery charge state when the power pack is in a charging state.

11. An electric nail file system, comprising:

a power pack having one or more battery cells disposed therein, the power pack having a predetermined capacity; a tool coupled with the power pack, the tool having a motor disposed therein;

a power cable operably coupling the power pack with the tool and operable to transfer electrical power from the power pack to the motor;

a first set of controls operable to determine a motor speed of the motor;

a battery indicator light operable to provide a visual display of a charge state of the power pack, the battery indicator light displays a first color when the power pack charge state is between 25% and 100% of the predetermined capacity, a second color when the power pack charge state is less than 25% of the predetermined capacity, and/or a third color when the power pack charge state is less than 10% of the predetermined capacity

wherein the first set of controls includes a plurality of predetermined motor speed settings associated with the motor, each of the plurality of predetermined motor speed settings correspond to a unique motor speed of the motor.

12. The electric nail file system of claim 11, wherein the motor includes a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, wherein the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction are opposite relative to the other.

13. The electric nail file system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of predetermined motor speed of the first set of controls includes an associated rotational direction.

14. The electric nail file system of claim 11, further comprising one or more displays displaying the motor speed of the motor.

15. The electric nail file system of claim 14, wherein the displayed motor speed is the motor speed setting.

16. The electric nail file system of claim 14, wherein the displayed motor speed is a real-time motor speed.

17. The electric nail file system of claim 11, wherein the battery indicator light oscillates between a fourth color and one of the first color, second color, and third color based on the power pack charge state when the power pack is in a charging state.