NAIL FILES AND METHODS

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to nail files and a method for manufacturing a nail file. Multisided nail files are disclosed having two or more concave surfaces covered with an applied material including an abrasive material such as sandpaper. And the method comprises the steps of providing a substrate having two or more surfaces, providing an abrasive material, and securing the abrasive material.

Claims

1. A nail file comprising: a substrate with three or more elongated recessed surfaces, wherein each elongated recessed surface has a first edge and a second edge and the substrate is one of solid or hollow; a length along the first edge and the second edge and a width between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the width of the elongated recessed surface is less than the length of the first edge of the surface; and an abrasive material secured to one or more of the elongated recessed surfaces.

2. The nail file of claim 1 further comprising a curved tip at least at a first end.

3. The nail file of claim 1 wherein the substrate is formed of a material selected from plastic, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene, foam, rubber, silicone, glass, wood, paper, and epoxy.

4. The nail file of claim 1 wherein the substrate has a convex upper surface.

5. The nail file of claim 1 wherein the abrasive material is sandpaper.

6. The nail file of claim 1 wherein at least one the elongated recessed surfaces is a nail buffing material.

7. The nail file of claim 1 further comprising a channel along two or more sides of each elongated recessed surface.

8. The nail file of claim 1 further comprising a channel along two or more sides of each elongated recessed surface operable to receive a substrate having the abrasive material.

9. The nail file of claim 1 wherein a first width at a first end and a second width at a second end, narrower than the first width.

10. The nail file of claim 1 wherein the elongated recessed surface is concave.

11. A method for manufacturing a nail file: providing a substrate with three or more elongated recessed surfaces, wherein each elongated recessed surface has a first edge and a second edge and the substrate is one of solid or hollow, a length along the first edge and the second edge and a width between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the width of the surface is less than the length of the first edge of the surface; providing an abrasive material; and securing the abrasive material or more of the elongated recessed surfaces along the length.

12. The method of claim 11 further wherein the securing step is snapping-in an abrasive material substrate to engage a first channel on a first side of the elongated recessed surface and a second channel on the second edge of the elongated recessed surface.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming a substrate from a material selected from plastic, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene, foam, rubber, silicone, glass, wood, paper, and epoxy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

[0012] FIGS. 1A-D illustrates a three-sided nail file with concave surfaces;

[0013] FIGS. 2A-E illustrates another three-sided nail file with concave surfaces;

[0014] FIGS. 3A-D illustrate a nail file with two concave surfaces;

[0015] FIGS. 4A-F illustrate another nail file with two concave surfaces; and

[0016] FIGS. 5A-B illustrate another nail file with two concave surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Devices

[0017] FIGS. 1A-D illustrates a three-sided nail file 100 with a plurality of concave surfaces 104, 106, 108 (e.g., elongated recessed surfaces). The figures illustrate the three-sided nail file 100 from a perspective view (FIG. 1A), a first side view (FIG. 1B), a second side view (FIG. 1C), and an end view (FIG. 1D). The three-sided nail file 100 has a three dimensional shape with a first elongated dimension, e.g., from 2 inches to 10 inches, and a second dimension (width), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches, and a third dimension (depth), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches. Each side of the nail file can be made from an abrasive material substrate. From FIG. 1D the planar shape in a first plane (e.g., width and depth) that is an equilateral triangular with convex surfaces and a hollow center. Each of the concave surfaces 104, 106, 108 has a first layer 102 and a second layer 103. The first layer 102 can be any suitable material including flexible materials including, but not limited to wood, cardboard, paper, plastic, etc. The three-sides can define a hollow cavity 110 The second layer 103 is an applied material, such as a coated abrasive. Coatings can include, but are not limited to, aluminum oxide coated paper, aluminum oxide coated foam, aluminum oxide coated stainless steel, diamond coated stainless steel, perforated stainless steel, laser etched stainless steel, textured stamped stainless steel, sand blasted glass and bead blasted glass. The second layer 103 can have a different level of abrasiveness from one side to another without departing from the scope of the disclosure. One surface of the nail file can have a nail buffing material.

[0018] The three sided nail file can have two or more layers that form a structural base of the nail file. The two or more layers forms a foundation for applying the applied material. The abrasive surfaces do not touch one another. Additionally, a shell can be provided that is covered with, for example, a flexible plastic that wraps around the seams, as well as over the hollow openings of the nail file.

[0019] The abrasive material can be, for example, sandpaper. The abrasive material can be applied or secured as a separate component during a manufacturing step. Where the abrasive material is a separate component can be self-adhesive or snap-in (where a recess is provided to receive two or more edges of the abrasive material. The snap-in layer allows for the layer to be snapped in via a snappingin process. The abrasive material can be self-locking.

[0020] Additional faces of the nail file also means that there can is an extended use life of the nail file as a first abrasive surface is worn down and a second abrasive surface is used. Should one of the sides not be sufficient for filing and/or shaping the nail after repeated use, the user can simply switch to another face on the nail file and shape and round their nails.

[0021] FIGS. 2A-E illustrates another three-sided nail file 200 with concave surfaces 204, 206, 208. The figures illustrate the three-sided nail file 200 from a perspective view (FIGS. 2A-B), a first side view (FIG. 2C), a second side view (FIG. 2D), and an end view (FIG. 2E). The three-sided nail file 200 has a three dimensional shape with a first elongated dimension, e.g., from 2 inches to 10 inches, and a second dimension (width), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches, and a third dimension (depth), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches. From FIG. 2E the planar shape in a first plane (e.g., width and depth) that is an equilateral triangular with convex surfaces and a cap 202. The cap 202 can be a convex upper surface and form part of a solid housing or a housing encapsulating a space (e.g., with a sealed hollow cavity). The housing for the three-sided nail file 200 and can be formed from plastic, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene, foam of various shore hardness, rubber of various shore hardness, silicone o various shore hardness, glass, wood, paper, and epoxy. Other materials can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, a finish can be applied so that the portions of the housing that arc not covered in an applied material have a finish. The three-sided nail file 200 can have a curved tip, e.g., convex curved tip, as show in, for example, FIG. 2D. One of the surfaces can be a nail buffing material. The adhesive material and/or nail buffing material can be secured to the housing either permanently or impermanently (e.g., temporarily secures and thereby allowing the materials can be replaced).

[0022] FIGS. 3A-D illustrate a nail file 300 with two concave surfaces 304, 306. The figures illustrate the nail file 300 from a perspective view (FIG. 3A), a first side view (FIG. 3B), a second side view (FIG. 3C), and an end view (FIG. 3D). The nail file 300 has a three dimensional shape with a first elongated dimension, e.g., from 2 inches to 10 inches, and a second dimension (width), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches, and a third dimension (depth), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches. From the end view show in FIG. 3D two u-shaped curved surfaces are shown. Each u-shaped surface has an interior surface 310, 310 and an exterior surface 312, 312. The exterior surfaces are formed integrally to create a base or secured at a central surface location 316. The concave surfaces 304, 306 can have an applied material applied to the surface, such as an abrasive material as disclosed herein.

[0023] FIGS. 4A-F illustrate another nail file 400 with two concave surfaces 404, 406. The figures illustrate the nail file 400 from a perspective view (FIGS. 4A-B), a first side view (FIG. 4C), a partial perspective view in use (FIG. 4D), and an end view (FIGS. 4E-F). The nail file 400 has a three dimensional shape with a first elongated dimension, e.g., from 2 inches to 10 inches, and a second dimension (width), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches, and a third dimension (depth), e.g., from 0.5 inch to 2 inches. From FIGS. 4E-F the planar shape in a first plane (e.g., width and depth) has a first concave surface and a second concave surface (concave surfaces 404, 406). The concave surfaces can be formed in a solid housing or a housing encapsulating a space. The housing for the nail file 400 and can be formed from plastic, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene, foam of various shore hardness, rubber of various shore hardness, silicone of various shore hardness, glass, wood, paper, and epoxy. Other materials can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0024] FIGS. 5A-B illustrate another nail file 500 with two concave surfaces. The nail file 500 is spherical having a round shape in a first plane with two concave surfaces 504, 506 positioned on either side of the sphere. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other three-dimension rounded shapes are possible such as ovoid. Additionally, the concave surfaces can be on opposing sides, as illustrated, adjacent or at 90 degree angles from one another. Additionally, more than two concave surfaces can be provided without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0025] In use, the user applies a curved surface of the nail file with the applied material to the edge of the nail bed. A forward and back motion within the curved surface is applied to achieve removal of a portion of the edge of the nail bed.

II. Manufacturing Methods

[0026] In an example of manufacturing a nail file, a substrate with two or more surfaces is provided. The substrate can be formed from a material selected from plastic, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene, foam, rubber, silicone, glass, wood, paper, and epoxy. Abrasive material is provided. The abrasive material can be applied or secured via a snap-in process utilizing the channels along the sides of the nail file.

[0027] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that any claims presented define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.