Miniature, multiple angle accessible, ultraviolet nail gel curing lamp and method of use

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a miniature, multiple-angle accessible nail gel curing lamp that minimizes the size of a light exposure area, while at the same time providing access to the light exposure area for a customer's hand, and both of technician's hands. This lamp is particularly useful for performing the “gel-press on” technique of applying artificial nails with a UV-curable nail gel. Some embodiments include a base, a riser extending generally upward from the base, and a lamp head extending generally horizontally from the riser, where the lamp head is operatively connectable to a power source and comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode (“UV LED”) configured to direct light emitted by the UV LED generally toward the base, thereby defining a light exposure area extending from the UV LED downward toward the base, and where an arc of access to the light exposure area is defined as an arc in a plane generally parallel to the UV LED and centered on the UV LED, so that the base, the riser and the lamp head are configured to allow unimpeded access of a user's hand to the light exposure area throughout the arc of access and where the arc of access is at least 180 degrees, and in some instances, at least 270 degrees.

Claims

1. A nail gel curing lamp comprising: a base; a lamp head mounted on and positioned above the base; wherein the lamp head is operatively connectable to a power source and comprises at least one, but no more than three ultraviolet light emitting diodes (“UV LED”) configured to direct light emitted by the UV LED generally toward the base, thereby defining a light exposure area extending from the UV LED downward toward the base; wherein an arc of access to the light exposure area is defined as an arc in a horizontal plane between the lamp head and the base, wherein the base, and the lamp head are configured to allow unimpeded access of a user's hand to the light exposure area throughout the arc of access; wherein the arc of access is at least 180 degrees; wherein a height of access to the light exposure area is defined as the height from the UV LED to the base; and wherein the height of access is between 35 mm and 65 mm.

2. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 further comprising: an activation mechanism located on the base, wherein the activation mechanism is operably connected to the UV LED, such that the user may activate the UV LED when the user's hand is within the light exposure area.

3. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein the activation mechanism comprises a mechanical button switch positioned on the base within the light exposure area.

4. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein the activation mechanism comprises a touch switch.

5. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 4 wherein the touch switch comprises a capacitance switch.

6. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 4 wherein the touch switch comprises a resistance switch.

7. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 4 wherein the touch switch comprises a piezo touch switch.

8. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 2 wherein the activation mechanism comprises a motion sensor.

9. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 8 wherein the activation mechanism comprises a passive infra-red sensor.

10. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 8 wherein the activation mechanism comprises an active infra-red sensor.

11. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 comprising: wherein the activation mechanism comprises an infra-red transmitter and an infra-red receiver; wherein the infra-red transmitter is positioned in the lamp head and aimed downwardly; wherein the infra-red receiver is positioned in the base such that it is generally aligned with the infra-red transmitter; wherein when the infra-red transmitter is transmitting, a beam path is created between the transmitter and receiver; and wherein the presence of an obstruction in the beam path will close an activation circuit that activates the UV-LED.

12. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein the arc of access is equal to or greater than 270 degrees.

13. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp head comprises two UV LEDs.

14. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp is no more than 66 mm tall.

15. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein lamp head further comprises recessed apertures for each of the UV LEDs, whereby the light emitted by each of the UV LEDs is further directed downwardly and lateral light exposure from the UV LEDs is limited.

16. The nail gel curing lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp has a height of about 66 mm, a width of about 47 mm, a depth of about 58 mm, a height of access of about 40 mm, and a depth of access of about 43 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the descriptions that follow, like parts or steps are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a top front perspective view of an embodiment of the nail lamp;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom side perspective view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a back view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a left side view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a top front perspective view of the embodiment of the nail lamp of FIG. 1 in preparation for use;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates another view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1 in further preparation for use;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates another view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1 in use;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1;

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1, with an arc of access to the light exposure area shown;

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the nail lamp of FIG. 1, with an arc of access to the light exposure area shown, and further illustrating the hand of a customer and the hands of a nail technician engaged in an exemplary use of the nail lamp;

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates a top front perspective view of a second embodiment of the nail lamp with an alternative activation button on the base, within the light exposure area;

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a top front perspective view of a third embodiment of the nail lamp, which activates the UV-LED's when the user's hand triggers a motion sensor in the light exposure area; and

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom side perspective view of the third embodiment of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) The present embodiments disclose and describe a miniature, multiple-angle accessible, ultra-violet LED powered, nail gel flash curing lamp, which is particularly useful for the gel press-on technique of applying artificial finger nails. The embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be instructional and not limiting to the scope of the claims, except where specifically set forth. Moreover, while the description focuses on certain embodiments and uses, it will be understood that this disclosure is non-limiting, and the present embodiments could be applicable to other applications for which a miniature UV LED lamp would be useful.

(17) With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a miniature, multiple-angle accessible, ultraviolet nail gel curing lamp 10 is illustrated. The lamp 10 includes a base 12, a riser 14 and a lamp head 16. In the embodiment shown, the base 12, the riser 14 and the lamp head 16 are integrated as a single unit, but they need not be so. The base 12 also includes a finger placement depression 18. The lamp head 16 also includes a purely decorative “curly brace” scroll design 22 along its outer edge.

(18) With reference to FIG. 2, the embodiment of the lamp 10 also includes two UV LED's 24, each in its respective recess 26 on the underside of the lamp head 16. Each UV LED 24 is operatively attached to an electrical power source. In various embodiments, the lamp head 16 may include one, two, three, four, five or even six UV LEDs. The UV LEDs 24 are tuned to emit ultraviolet light in a spectrum of between approximately 330 nm and 440 nm. In one embodiment, the light spectrum emitted is 400 nm, for the curing of commercially available UV-curable nail gel. The lamp 10 also includes an activation button 28 on the riser 14. However, in other embodiments not shown, the activation button 28 may be located on the lamp head 16, or the base 12. The lamp 10 may also include a timer, operatively connected to the activation button 28. The timer may be set to one or more pre-selected activation times, such as 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, and 60 seconds. The timer is, in turn, operatively connected to the UV LED's 24, and upon expiration of the pre-selected activation time, the timer activates a switch to turn off the UV LED's 24.

(19) The embodiment of the lamp 10 includes a mini-USB port 30, for providing electrical power to the lamp 10. In some embodiments, not shown, the lamp 10 includes a rechargeable internal battery for wireless operation. In such embodiments, the mini-USB port 30 may be used to charge the internal battery. In other embodiments, not shown, the lamp 10 may use non-rechargeable batteries, such as AA alkaline batteries, for its electrical power source. The base 12 includes feet 32 for supporting the lamp 10 on a flat surface such as a table. The feet 32 may be rubberized, or of some other non-skid substance, to prevent or reduce the potential for the lamp to slide if it is bumped during use.

(20) With reference to FIGS. 3-5, additional views of the embodiment of the lamp 10 are illustrated, including, respectively, a front view, a back view, and a left side view.

(21) In certain embodiments, the lamp has exemplary dimensions of a height of 66 mm, a depth of 58 mm, and a width of about 47 mm. In another embodiment, the lamp has exemplary dimensions of a height of about 66 mm, a width of about 47 mm, a depth of about 58 mm, a height of access of about 40 mm, and a depth of access of about 43 mm.

(22) In certain alternative embodiments of the lamp 10, not shown, the base 12 may have an alternative structure, such as a plate, a ring, or a plurality of horizontal supports, so long as the base 12 serves to hold the rest of the lamp 10 in a stable and upright position. Similarly, in certain alternative embodiments of the lamp 10, not shown, the riser 14 may have an alternative structure, such as a plate, a strut, a rod or a bar, so long as the riser 14 serves to hold the rest of the lamp 10 in a stable and upright position, and provides for an unimpeded arc of access to the light exposure area as discussed herein.

(23) With reference to FIGS. 6-8, a method of use is illustrated, highlighting one of the benefits of the embodiment, namely the multiple angle accessibility of the lamp 10, particularly for use in the gel press-on nail technique. In FIG. 6, a customer holds her hand 34 in position under the lamp 10, with her finger 38 extended in anticipation of receiving a gel press-on nail prepared as discussed herein with UV-curable nail gel. In FIG. 7, the technician uses her left hand 36 to hold the customer's finger 38 in proper position generally under the UV-LEDs 24 of the lamp head 16. In FIG. 8, the technician uses her right hand 40 to hold and correctly place an artificial nail 42 onto the cuticle of the customer's finger 38. The technician may activate the lamp 10 either immediately prior to placement of the artificial nail 42, or immediately after. The technician will press and hold the artificial fingernail 42 in place on the customer's finger 38, to ensure proper placement and eliminate air bubbles, while the UV-LED's 24 are active and projecting UV light 44 downwardly so that the artificial nail 42 is bonded to the client's finger 38 by at least a partial cure of the UV-curable nail gel. The amount of time needed for this partial cure varies, but can range from as little as ten seconds, to thirty seconds, to as long as one minute. Thus, FIGS. 6-8 illustrate the ability of a nail tech to use both hands, while maneuvering and manipulating a client's finger 38, under the lamp head 16. This ability is, at least in part, the result of the configuration of the base 12, riser 14 and lamp head 16, so as to provide three open sides to the area under the UV-LED's 24.

(24) This multiple-angle accessibility feature is further illustrated in the overhead views of FIGS. 9-11. FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the nail lamp 10. FIG. 10 builds upon FIG. 9 and includes dashed lines to indicate the relative position of the two UV-LEDs 24 within their recesses 26. FIG. 10 also includes a center point 50 of the UV-LEDs 24 and a dashed line 51 illustrating the light exposure area 52 that the UV-LEDs 24 generate when the UV-LEDs 24 are activated. Lines 54 extend outwardly from the center point 50, to the edge of the riser 14. When viewed in a plane, these lines 54, in combination with the dashed line 51, define an arc of access 56 to the light exposure area 52. Specifically, a nail tech and a customer may access the light exposure area 52, with their hands 34, 36, 40, without impediment by the base 12, the riser 14 or the lamp head 16, from any point along the arc of access 56. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the arc of access 56 is greater than 180 degrees, and in fact is at least 270 degrees.

(25) With respect to FIG. 11, which builds upon FIG. 10, a broken line illustration shows the customer's left hand 34, the nail tech's left hand 36 and the nail tech's right hand 40. As can be seen, the customer's left hand 34 (or right hand, not shown), the nail tech's left hand 36 and the nail tech's right hand 40 each can easily access the light exposure area 52 under the lamp head 16, each from a different direction along the arc of access 56. Specifically, the customer's left hand 34 accesses the light exposure area 52 along a first direction 60, the nail tech's left hand 36 accesses the light exposure area 52 along a second direction 62, and the nail tech's right hand 40 accesses the light exposure area 52 along a third direction 64. The first direction 60, second direction 62, and third direction 64 are each off-set approximate ninety degrees from each adjacent direction.

(26) With respect to FIG. 12, a second embodiment of the nail lamp is shown, with an alternative activation mechanism. Instead of the finger placement depression 18 shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG. 12 includes an alternative activation mechanism 1200 located on the base 12. The alternative activation mechanism 1200 is electrically coupled to the UV-LEDs 24, such that when the alternative activation mechanism 1200 is touched or pressed, the UV-LEDs 24 are activated. The alternative activation mechanism 1200 may be a touch switch, a mechanical button switch, or any other known “press-able” or “touchable” switch for activating an electrical circuit. The alternative activation mechanism 1200 may be instead of, or in addition to, the activation button 28.

(27) As to a touch switch, various alternative embodiments exist and are contemplated herein. On type of touch switch is a capacitance switch. A capacitance switch needs only one electrode to function. The electrode can be placed behind a non-conductive panel such as wood, glass, or plastic. In certain embodiments herein, the non-conductive panel is plastic. The capacitance switch works using body capacitance, a property of the human body that gives it electrical characteristics. The capacitance switch continuously charges and discharges to detect changes in capacitance. When a person touches the metal exterior of the switch (or the non-conductive panel covering it), their body increases the capacitance and triggers the switch. Capacitance switches are available commercially as integrated circuits from a number of manufacturers. These devices can also be used as a short-range proximity sensor.

(28) Another type of touch switch is a resistance switch. A resistance switch needs two electrodes to be physically in contact with something electrically conductive (for example a finger) to operate. The resistance switch works by lowering the resistance between two pieces of metal. A resistance switch is thus much simpler in construction compared to the capacitance switch. Placing one or two fingers across the plates achieves a turn on or closed state. Removing the finger(s) from the metal pieces turns the device off. One implementation of a resistance switch is two Darlington-paired transistors where the base of the first transistor is connected to one of the electrodes. Also, an N-Channel, enhancement-mode, metal oxide field effect transistor can be used. Its gate can be connected to one of the electrodes and the other electrode through a resistance to a positive voltage.

(29) Yet another type of touch switch is a Piezo switch, which is sometimes also called a Surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch sensor. The SAW touch sensor measures the disturbance of ultrasonic waves sent across the surface of a glass layer. It consists of Piezoelectric crystals attached to the glass layer on an LCD display, making such sensing possible.

(30) Piezo touch switches are based on mechanical bending of piezo ceramic, typically constructed directly behind a surface. This solution enables touch interfaces with any kind of material. Another characteristic of piezo is that it can function as actuator as well. Current commercial solutions construct the piezo in such a way that touching it with approximately 1.5 N is enough, even for stiff materials like stainless steel. Piezo touch switches are available commercially.

(31) A still further type of touch sensor is the infrared touch sensor. Infrared touch sensor measures touch through whether the emitting LED beam is broken or changed when an object makes contact with it. Commonly used in kiosks or gaming applications, infrared touch sensors are long-lasting and insensitive to pressure (similar to a capacitive touch sensor). Infrared touch sensors operate on the basis of light-beam interruption, commonly referred to as beam break, to determine the location of touch events. Infrared uses an array of X-Y infrared LED and photo detector pairs around the edges of the screen or touch pad to detect a disruption in the pattern of LED beams. These LED beams cross each other in vertical and horizontal patterns. As an object touches the screen, it interrupts the light-beam causing a loss of light at the sensor. This loss of light is used to determine the location of the touch event, helping the sensors pick up the exact location of the touch. A major benefit of such a system is that it can detect essentially any input including a finger, gloved finger, stylus, or pen. Infrared touch sensors are available commercially.

(32) With respect to FIG. 13, a third embodiment of the nail lamp is shown, with a still further alternative activation mechanism. The embodiment of FIG. 13 includes a sensor that detects the presence of a user's fingers or hand within the light exposure area 52, and activates the UV-LEDs when such presence is detected, in order to enable “hands-free activation” of the UV-LEDs. Such devices are commonly referred to as “motion sensors” and can include both active infra-red sensors, and passive infra-red sensors. For example, one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-14, the sensor is an active paired infra-red receiver 1302 and infra-red transmitter 1402. The infra-red receiver 1302 is positioned in the base 12, generally within the light exposure area 52, and in this case, in place of the finger depression 18 shown in FIG. 1. The infra-red transmitter 1402 is positioned in the lamp head 16 and is aimed downward, such that the transmitter 1402 and the receiver 1302 establish a beam path. When a user places her hand in the light exposure area 52 between the transmitter 1402 and the receiver 1302, thus breaking the infra-red beam, the sensor generates an electrical signal that is used, in turn, to activate the UV-LEDs 24. The positions of the transmitter 1402 and receiver 1302 shown here are exemplary and could be placed elsewhere in the light exposure area 52. Further, while one pair of active infra-red sensors are illustrated, more than one pair could be used for enhanced coverage and sensitivity. Still further, a passive IR sensor could be used in either the lamp head 16 or the base 12.

(33) Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments disclosed.