Devices and methods for curing nail gels

Abstract

Novel nail gel curing devices and methods of their use are disclosed. Novel shields for nail gel curing devices and methods of their use are also disclosed. The devices and shields are useful for curing nail gels and more particularly where light emitting diode “LED” equipped devices are used to cure UV-VIS curable nail gel resins.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A nail gel curing device, comprising:
 an outer housing, a base, a dome and a detachable tray, said housing, base, dome and tray defining an irradiation chamber, an opening to said chamber for inserting a hand or foot of a user, and a space between the dome and housing,
 said irradiation chamber being suitable for curing five nails of a user's hand or foot; 
 said dome comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes for curing nails positioned in the irradiation chamber; and 
 said space being sufficient to accommodate electronic or electric circuitry to operate the plurality of light emitting diodes in the curing device; 
   a shield slidably attached to the device;
 said shield being capable of reducing the opening's size by sliding from an open to a more closed position, said closing diminishing a user's secondary exposure to UV light exiting the confines of the device; and 
   electronic or electric circuitry to operate the plurality of light emitting diodes in the curing device.   
     
     
         2 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 1 , wherein plurality of light emitting diodes are substantially uniformly disposed about the top and sides of the dome. 
     
     
         3 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 1 , wherein each light emitting diode provides from about 2 to about 5 watts of power. 
     
     
         4 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the combined light emitting diode wattage is in a range of from about 20 to about 40 watts. 
     
     
         5 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 3 , wherein the combined light emitting diode wattage is from about 30 to about 36 watts. 
     
     
         6 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diodes employ reflectors. 
     
     
         7 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 1  wherein AC, DC or battery power is used to operate the device. 
     
     
         8 . A nail gel curing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said shield is attached to the exterior surface of said outer housing. 
     
     
         9 . A shield for a nail gel curing device, comprising:
 a solid material that reduces the transmission of UV light from exiting the confines of the device;
 said shield being capable of slidably attaching to the device in proximity to an opening in the device for inserting a user's hand or foot into an irradiation chamber; 
 said shield further being capable of reducing the opening's size by sliding from an open to a more closed position with respect to the opening; 
 such that when the shield is in a more closed position, the amount of light that can escape the device is diminished. 
   
     
     
         10 . A shield according to  claim 9 , which is attached to the exterior surface of the outer housing. 
     
     
         11 . A method for curing gel-coated nails comprising:
 inserting a hand or foot of a user into a device according to  claim 1 ; said hand or foot having one or more gel-coated nails capable of being cured by UV irradiation,   sliding the shield of said device to a more closed position; and   curing said one or more gel-coated nails with UV irradiation.   
     
     
         12 . A method of inhibiting the transmission of UV light from exiting the confines of a nail gel curing device, comprising:
 slidably attaching a shield according to  claim 9  to a nail gel curing device;   inserting a hand or foot of a user into the nail gel curing device, said hand or foot having one or more gel-coated nails capable of being cured by UV irradiation;   sliding the shield of said device to a more closed position; and   curing said one or more gel-coated nails with UV irradiation.