GB2198334A - Nail varnish-removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for removing nail varnish comprises first and second housings 2 and 3 which are releasably fitted together. The first housing accommodates a motor 4, part of a gear drive 8 linked to the motor 4 and the second housing 3 accommodates the other part of the gear drive 8, a cleaning compartment 5 to receive nail varnish-removing liquid (18) and a rotatable brush 6 located in the cleaning compartment 5, the brush 6 being provided at one end with a gear-wheel 7 which meshes with the gear drive 8 so that when the two housings 2 and 3 are fitted together the brush 6 may be rotated by operating the motor 4. In use, the users fingers rest on finger rest 17. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR REMOVING NAIL VARNISH The present invention relates to a device for removing nail varnish from a wearer's finger nails.

Nail varnish removing devices have been proposed but they are large and bulky and difficult to clean.

Further they require a large amount of nail varnish removing solution to be poured into the device. If the solution is left in the device there is a risk that a spark from the motor mechanism could ignite fumes from the solution and so cause a fire. If the solution is removed from the device it either has to be thrown away which is wasteful or poured back into its bottle which is messy.

Further the angle at which the fingers have to be inserted in the device in not comfortable for the user.

We have sought to provide a device for removing nail varnish which overcomes the above problems.

Accordingly the present invention provides a device for removing nail varnish which comprises first and second housings which are releasably fitted together, the first housing accommodates a motor, part of a gear drive linked to the motor and the second housing accommodates the other part of the gear drive, a cleaning compartment to receive nail-varnish removing liquid and rotatable brush located in the cleaning compartment, the brush being provided at one end with a gear wheel which meshes with the gear drive so that when the two housings are fitted together the brush may be- rotated by operation of the motor.

Preferably the two housings are snap-fitted together by means of a catch on one housing which engages a recess in the other housing. Since the housing containing the brush and cleaning compartment can be detached from the housing containing the motor it is possible to clean the housing accommodating the brush and cleaning compartment without fear of water entering the housing containing the motor.

The bristles of the brush are preferably arranged so that they at least contact the inner walls of the cleaning compartment and the brush rotates in a clockwise direction. This means that it is possible to use a very small amount of nail varnish remover -- between 10 and 40 cc and still achieve the desired result. This is because as the brush rotates it picks up liquid which is then released as a cascade across the entrance to the cleaning compartment. If the users fingers are positioned at the entrance to the cleaning compartment under the cascade of nail varnish remover the nail varnish is dissolved and the nail varnish is removed as the bristles of the brush contact the finger nails. A safety factor is also provided since as only a small amount of nail varnish removing liquid is required after use it can be thrown away so none remains in the device to be a fire hazard.

So that the device is comfortable for the user a finger rest is provided at the entrance to the cleaning compartment. Preferably at an angle of between 100 and 80e to the base of the second housing.

To prevent nail varnish removing liquid passing from the second housing to the first housing via the gear drive, the gear drive is preferably located above the central axis of the brush.

In a preferred embodiment the device is made of plastic, preferably acetone-resistant plastic.

The motor may be battery-powered or powered by AC current.

The invention is further illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a section through one housing of Figure 1 with the brush at rest and Figure 3 is a section through one housing of Figure 1 showing the effect of the brush in motion.

The device shown generally as 1 in Figure 1 comprises a first housing shown generally as 2 and second housing shown generally as 3. Housing 2 comprising a base 9 and cover 10 accommodates motor 4 driven by batteries (not shown). Housing 3 comprising a base 11 and cover 12 accommodates a cleaning compartment 5 in which a brush 6 is located. The brush 6 is provided at one end with a gear wheel 7 which meshes with a gear drive 8 which connects the brush 6 with the motor 4. Cover 12 can be removed to facilitate the cleaning of compartment 5.

The cover 10 of housing 2 is provide with an on/off switch 13 which starts and stops the motor 4. The base 9 of housing 2 is provided with a push button 14 which operates a catch 15 so that housing 2 can be releasably attached to housing 3.

The base 11 of housing 3 is provided with a removable measuring cup 16 which can be used to measure the correct amount of nail varnish removing liquid to be poured into the cleaning compartment 5. The base 11 of housing 3 is also provided with a finger rest 17 (shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3).

Figures 2 and 3 show a cross section through housing 3 of Figure 1 with the brush 6 touching the inner wall of cleaning compartment 5. In Figure 2 the brush 6 is at rest and the preferred resevoir 18 of nail varnish removing liquid is indicated and can be seen to be well below the axis 19 of the brush 6. In Figure 3 the brush 6 is rotating in a clockwise direction and the nail varnish removing liquid is being picked up from the resevoir 18 by brush 6 to return to the resevoir 18 as a cascade 20. The user's fingers rest on finger rest 17 so as to be located under the cascade 20 and touching the bristles of brush 6 so that the cascade of nail varnish removing liquid dissolves the nail varnish and it is than brushed off by the bristles of brush 6.

Claims (8)

1. A device for removing nail varnish which comprises first and second housings which are releasably fitted together, the first housing accommodates a motor, part of a gear drive linked to the motor and the second housing accommodates the other part of the gear drive, a cleaning compartment to receive nail varnish-removing liquid and a rotatable brush located in the cleaning compartment, the brush being provided at one end with a gear-wheel which meshes with the gear drive so that when the two housings are fitted together the brush may be rotated by operating the motor.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the bristles of the brush are arranged to contact the internal walls of the cleaning compartment and to rotate in a clockwise direction so that when the brush is rotating the movement of nail varnish-removing liquid in the cleaning compartment creates a cascade effect across the entrance of the cleaning compartment.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which a finger rest is provided adjacent the entrance of the cleaning compartment, the finger rest being at an angle of between 100 and 80" to the base of the second housing.

4. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the gear drive is located above the central axis of the brush.

5. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 made of acetone-resistant plastic.

6. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the motor is powered by batteries.

7. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 in which the motor is AC powered.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.