← Back to Patent Explorer
US4020856A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fingernail and hand cleaning appliance

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-28
•
Granted: 1977-05-03
•
Expires: 1996-06-28
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A fingernail and hand cleaning apparatus applies pulsating jets of liquid to the ends of the fingers of a user's hand while the hand is positioned in a grooved hand rest within the apparatus. Additional pulsating jets of liquid are applied to other areas of the user's hand to provide cleansing and massaging action.

Inventors

  • 👤 Albert C. Masterson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 02:23
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D29/00; A45D29/17

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 127 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance comprising: a housing including a port through which the user's hand may be inserted; a hand rest mounted within the housing, said hand rest including a plurality of finger receptacles for receiving the fingers of the user's hand; fingernail nozzle means positioned within each one of said plurality of finger receptacles for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward each of the fingernails of the user's hand; a reservoir for storing a supply of liquid; and pump means including an intake port coupled to said reservoir and a discharge port coupled to said fingernail nozzle means, said pump means being operative for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir and for discharing the liquid in pulsating jets for delivery to said fingernail nozzle means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 127 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance comprising: a housing including a port through which the user's hand may be inserted; a hand rest mounted within the housing, said hand rest including a plurality of finger receptacles for receiving the fingers of the user's hand; fingernail nozzle means positioned within each one of said plurality of finger receptacles for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward each of the fingernails of the user's hand; a reservoir for storing a supply of liquid; and pump means including an intake port coupled to said reservoir and a discharge port coupled to said fingernail nozzle means, said pump means being operative for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir and for discharing the liquid in pulsating jets for delivery to said fingernail nozzle means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 81 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 1 further comprising: a palm nozzle positioned within said hand rest and coupled to the discharge ports of said pump means for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward the palm area of the user's hand; and one or more upper hand nozzles positioned within said housing and coupled to the discharge port of said pump means for directing one or more pulsating liquid jets toward the top surface of the user's hand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 64 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 1 wherein: said housing comprises a generally hemispherical transparent bonnet having a gasketed port through which the user's hand may be inserted; said hand rest is generally hemispherical in shape; and said finger receptacles comprise grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface of the hand rest for receiving each of the fingers of the user's hand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 64 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 2 wherein: said housing comprises a generally hemispherical transparent bonnet having a gasketed port through which the user's hand may be inserted; said hand rest is generally hemispherical in shape; and said finger receptacles comprise grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface of the hand rest for receiving each of the fingers of the user's hand.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 188 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped lower housing having a closed bottom end and an open top end; a generally hemispherically shaped transparent upper housing hingedly positioned over the open end of said lower housing, said upper housing including a port through which the user's hand may be inserted; a generally hemispherically shaped palm ball mounted within said upper housing for receiving the user's hand, said palm ball including a plurality of finger grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface thereof for receiving each of the fingers of the user's hand; fingernail nozzle means positioned within each of said plurality of finger grooves for directing a liquid jet toward each of the fingernails of the user's hand; a reservoir within said lower housing for storing a supply of liquid; and pump means mounted within said lower housing, said pump means including an intake port coupled to said reservoir and a discharge port coupled to said fingernail nozzle means, said pump means being operative for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir and for discharging the liquid in pulsating jets for delivery to said fingernail nozzle means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 188 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped lower housing having a closed bottom end and an open top end; a generally hemispherically shaped transparent upper housing hingedly positioned over the open end of said lower housing, said upper housing including a port through which the user's hand may be inserted; a generally hemispherically shaped palm ball mounted within said upper housing for receiving the user's hand, said palm ball including a plurality of finger grooves positioned around the hemispherical surface thereof for receiving each of the fingers of the user's hand; fingernail nozzle means positioned within each of said plurality of finger grooves for directing a liquid jet toward each of the fingernails of the user's hand; a reservoir within said lower housing for storing a supply of liquid; and pump means mounted within said lower housing, said pump means including an intake port coupled to said reservoir and a discharge port coupled to said fingernail nozzle means, said pump means being operative for withdrawing liquid from said reservoir and for discharging the liquid in pulsating jets for delivery to said fingernail nozzle means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 44 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 5 further comprising palm nozzle means positioned within said palm ball and coupled to the discharge port of said pump means for directing a pulsating liquid jet toward the palm area of the user's hand.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 56 words
A fingernail and hand hygiene appliance as in claim 6 further comprising a semicircular nozzle strip mounted within said upper housing, said nozzle strip including one or more nozzles coupled to the discharge port of said pump means and arranged for directing one or more pulsating liquid jets toward the top surface of the user's hand.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2169990A Cited
US2360457A Cited
US3177868A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-05-02 1980-11-01 1981-05-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-05-02 1984-11-01 1985-05-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-05-02 1988-11-01 1989-05-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag