Motorized Nail File

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a housing having a shape and size suitable for being held in a single hand of a user. A nail file head is coupled to the housing. An electric drive device is contained within the housing and configured to rotationally oscillate the nail file head about an axis. An abrasive surface is coupled to the nail file head configured to trim or smooth a fingernail or toenail when the nail file head is oscillated. The abrasive surface extends around and faces radially away from the axis.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a shape and size suitable for being held in a single hand of a user;   a nail file head coupled to the housing;   an electric drive device contained within the housing and configured to rotationally oscillate the nail file head about an axis; and   an abrasive surface coupled to the nail file head and configured to trim or smooth a fingernail or toenail when the nail file head is oscillated, the abrasive surface extending around and facing radially away from the axis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is a first abrasive surface, the apparatus further comprising:
 a second abrasive surface, the second abrasive surface being generally perpendicular to the first abrasive surface.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second abrasive surface is circular. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first abrasive surface has a different grit than the second abrasive surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second abrasive surfaces are comprised of sandpaper. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the nail file head extends radially from the axis further than the abrasive surface extends from the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the distal radial portion of the nail file head includes a cutting surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surface is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a nail file head configured to rotationally oscillate about an axis;   an abrasive surface coupled to the nail file head and configured to trim or smooth a fingernail or toenail when the nail file head is oscillated; and   a stem extending from the nail file head and configured to releasably couple the nail file head to a housing, the stem including one or more radially extending features configured to mate with one or more corresponding radially extending features of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more radially extending features includes one or more axially extending grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the stem is configured to couple with the housing in two or more different, predetermined, radial positions. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the stem is configured to couple with the housing in four or more different, predetermined, radial positions. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stem is coupled to a clutch that is configured to allow a user to twist the nail file head between two or more different, predetermined, radial positions relative to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stem is configured to snap fit into the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stem is configured to snap fit into the housing upon an initial coupling between the stem and the housing and not snap fit into the housing upon subsequent coupling between the stem and the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a proximal end of the stem includes a bulbous tip. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the abrasive surface is cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the abrasive surface includes a cylindrically shaped sidewall portion and a planar, circular, distal end portion. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising:
 a nail file head configured to rotationally oscillate about an axis;   a first abrasive surface coupled to the nail file head and configured to trim or smooth a fingernail or toenail when the nail file head is oscillated;   a second abrasive surface coupled to the nail file head and configured to trim or smooth fingernail or toenail when the nail file head is oscillated; and   a stem extending from the nail file head and configured to releasably couple the nail file head to a housing, the stem including two or more axially extending grooves and a bulbous proximal tip, the two or more axially extending grooves configured to mate with one or more corresponding axially extending projections of the housing, the bulbous proximal tip configured to snap fit into the housing upon coupling the nail file head with the housing.   
     
     
         20 . A method of filing or trimming a fingernail or toenail comprising:
 oscillating a nail file head about an axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the nail file head configured to be coupled to a housing, the nail file head having a first abrasive surface coupled to a distal end of the nail file head and perpendicular to the axis and a second abrasive surface coupled to the nail file head, the second abrasive surface extending around and facing radially away from the axis; and   contacting one of the first or second abrasive surfaces with the fingernail or toenail to trim or file the fingernail or toenail.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 rotating the nail file head at least 45 degrees relative to the housing; 
 oscillating the nail file head about the axis; and 
 contacting one of the first or second abrasive surfaces with the fingernail or toenail to trim or file the fingernail or toenail.