A NAIL FILE SYSTEM This invention relates to a nail file system.

Nail files have been used for many years. A nail file is a tool used to gently grind down and shape the edges of finger and toe nails. They are often used in manicures and pedicures, for example after the nail has been firstly trimmed using appropriate nail clippers. Nail files may either be emery boards, ceramic, glass, crystal, plain metal files or metal files coated with corundum (sapphire). Nail files are also used by individuals on their own nails, either after clipping their nails, or as an occasional tidying of their nails. Traditional flat nail files have been around for many years in a simple design, although they are not ideal in all circumstances.

United States of America patent application publication US 2010/0224203 discloses an improved nail file having a flexible filing strip. The flexible filing strip has a support portion, an abrasive portion, and at least two edge portions. The support portion provides a groove that extends at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the support portion, and has a degree of flexibility sufficient to flex under pressure applied with the insertion of an end of a human nail into the groove. The abrasive portion is positioned within the groove so as to file the end of the human nail inserted into the groove. The edge portions are positioned at least partially along an upper periphery and a lower periphery of the groove, respectively, to define a depth of the groove to limit the insertion of the human nail into the groove and to ensure only the end of the nail and not surrounding flesh to the human nail is filed by the abrasive portion. The nail file of this publication is an improvement of the traditional flat nail file, but has a number of disadvantages.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art. According to the present invention, there is provided a nail file system comprising a handle for gripping by a user's hand, the handle including a hollow interior and an opening to the hollow interior, a plug for closing the opening, a filing strip releasably mountable on the handle and a buffer strip releasably mountable on the handle, wherein one of the filing strip and the buffer strip is mounted on the handle and the other of the filing strip and the buffer strip is stored in the hollow interior of the handle

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a nail file which is much easier to use than known nail files, in that it provides a handle for the user to hold and also provides a removable filing strip that can be changed if it is worn or if the user wishes to use a different filing strip on their nails. In a preferred embodiment the filing strip includes a crystal glass file. The handle includes a hollow interior and an opening to the hollow interior, and the system comprises a plug for closing the opening. The provision of a hollow body with an opening that can be closed by a plug allows additional components to be stored inside the handle. This greatly increases the functionality of the nail file and allows the user much more flexibility in the uses to which they can put the nail file.

The nail file system comprises a buffer strip releasably mountable on the handle, where one of the filing strip and the buffer strip is mounted on the handle and the other of the filing strip and the buffer strip is stored in the hollow interior of the handle. The nail file system is provided with a buffer strip that can be stored in the hollow handle of the nail file while the filing strip is in use. The user can then switch over from filing to buffing, and vice versa, using the same device (the nail file system) with all of the necessary components being ready to hand when they are needed.

Ideally, the nail file system further comprises a dust cap for covering the filing strip when mounted on the handle. In one embodiment, the cap is arranged to be slid on and off the handle. The provision of the cap protects the filing strip that is mounted on the handle when the nail file system is not in use and also prevents dust that has accumulated on the filing strip from spreading away from the nail file system. This allows the whole device to be kept in, for example, a lady's handbag, while keeping the filing strip free from damage and preventing dust escaping into the handbag.

Preferably, the system has a longitudinal axis A, with both the handle and the filing strip (when mounted on the handle) lying along the longitudinal axis A. The cap also lies along the longitudinal axis A. As shown in Figure 1, the nail file system can be compactly constructed as a long and slender device with the handle and the filing strip in line along the same axis A. This makes the nail file system easier to use and to store and carry. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the components of the nail file system, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the nail file system in a closed configuration,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nail system partially open, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the nail system, fully open, in use on a user's nail.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the nail file system 10. The nail file system 10 comprises a handle 12 for gripping by a user's hand, and a filing strip 14, which is releasably mountable on the handle 12. The handle 12 includes a hollow interior and has an opening 16 to the hollow interior. The nail file system 10 further comprises a plug 18 for closing the opening 16. The system also has a buffer strip 20, which can also be releasably mountable on the handle 12. In genera), one of the filing strip 14 and the buffer strip 20 is mounted on the handle 12 and the other of the filing strip 14 and the buffer strip 20 is stored in the hollow interior of the handle 12.

The nail file system 0 further comprises a cap 22, which is for covering the filing strip 14, when the filing strip 14 is mounted on the handle 12. The cap 22 is arranged to be slid on and off the handle 12. The cap 22 is a dust cap 22 for protecting the filing strip 14 from damage and also to prevent any dust from the nail file being spread around. The system has a longitudinal axis A and the handle 12, the filing strip 14, when mounted on the handle 12, and the cap 22 all lie along the longitudinal axis A. The filing strip 14 includes a crystal glass file 24 and the nail file system 10 can include one or more different files 26 (such as metal or emery) that form part of replacement filing strips. A buffer 28 is provided that is bonded onto the buffer strip 20.

Figure 2 shows the nail file system 10 when the dust cap 22 has been slid closed onto the handle 12. The plug 8 is also closed onto the opening 16 of the hollow interior of the handle 12. When the cap 22 and the plug 18 are closed, the exterior of the nail file system 10 provides a continuous and smooth external surface with a rounded finish at each of the ends. This makes the nail file system 10 easy and pleasant to handle. The nail file system 10, in this closed configuration, can be stored in the user's handbag without any dust being lost from the filing strip 14 and without any of the spare parts being lost from the hollow interior of the handle 12.

The dust cap 22 can be slid on and off by the user as and when they wish to use the nail file system 0. Other opening and closing systems can be used for the nail file system 10. For example, a lipstick-style opening system could be used. In this case, the filing strip 14 is located within the body of the handle 12 and is accessed by the user by twisting a suitable rounded part of the handle 12 in order to cause the filing strip 14 to rise from the interior of the handle 12. Another alternative opening and closing system is for the nail file system 10 to be constructed so that it is hinged at a middle point, and the system 10 can be opened by unfolding or flipping open the system 10.

The nail file system 10 is shown in a further view in Figure 3, as the dust cap 22 is being slid open to reveal the filing strip 14, which is mounted on the handle 12. The plug 18 remains in the closed position sealing the hollow interior of the handle 12. The user will slide of the cap 22 in order to use the nail file system 10 to file their nails. The filing strip 14 is flexible, which means that it will bend under pressure as the user applies their nail to the file 24 that is part of the filing strip 14. This creates a curved surface to use against the user's nails, which has the advantage that more rounded finish can be generated on the user's nails. The filing strip 14 is designed so that the file 24 is fixed in the filing strip 14 when the system 10 is manufactured. A user can carry one or more spare filing strips 14 that have a different file 26 fixed thereon in the hollow interior of the handle 12 and these filing strips 14 can be swapped over. For example, the grade of the abrasion provided by the different files 24 and 26 can differ and the user can select the filing strip 14 that best suits their current purpose. The filing strip 14 is readily releasable from the handle 12 and a different filing strip can then be clipped back into place on the handle 2. Spare buffer strips 20 can also be stored in the handle 12, which have different buffers 28. For example, four different buffer strips 20 can be provided that will deliver different functions through different finishes, for example providing respective shaping, buffing, smoothing and shining functions.

Figure 4 shows the nail filing system 0 in use. A user's finger 30 has a nail 32 that is being filed using the filing strip 14. The dust cap 22 has been removed from the handle 12 and the user can access the filing strip 14 which has a crystal glass file 24 fixed in place. The user's nail 32 engages with the file 24 through a groove in the filing strip 14 which effectively guides the user's nail 32 as the user moves their finger 30 from side to side. The filing strip 4 is flexible, as discussed above. As the user presses onto the filing strip 1 in the action of filing, then the filing strip 14 will flex in response to that pressure. The user can hold the handle 12 with the their other hand and the nail filing system 10 provides a comfortable and effective way in which a user can file their nails using an easily portable system 10.

Once the user has finished filing their nails 32, they can cover the filing strip 14 with the dust cap 22 and place the nail filing system 10 away. The nail filing system 10 is designed to be portable and to be flexible in that alternative filing strips 14 that use different files 24 and 26 can be used and the buffer strip 20 can also be used as an alternative. The buffer strip 20 has the buffer 28 bonded thereto and the buffer strip 20 can replace the filing strip 14 in the same mountings on the handle 12. The user can therefore also use the nail filing system 10 to buff their nails. All of the spare parts for the nail filing system 10 can be carried internally within the handle 12 of the system 10.