GB2177300A - Apparatus for drying nail polish - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus 10 for drying nail polish applied to either the fingernails or the toenails comprises a nichrome coiled wire element 20 situated downstream of fan 22 for blowing air onto support 12 for the fingers or toes. The element 20 is actuated to heat the air stream from fan 22 cyclically according to a preselected pattern governed by a first timer so that the air stream temperature is controlled to avoid overheating of the nail polish and surrounding fingers/toes whilst still achieving optimum drying conditions. A second embodiment has two heaters actuated alternatively according to a preheated pattern. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Nail polish dryer This invention relates to nail polish dryers, and methods and processes for drying wet nail polish on nails.

At ambient temperatures (15"C-25") and in a static air environment, wet nail polish can take up two 25 minutes and sometimes longer to dry to a smudge resistant hardness after application to nails. This is particularly so when the application of the nail polish includes coating the nail with a base coat, applying at least one coat of nail polish pigment over the base coast and finally applying a finishing coat.

The duration of the drying period for wet nail polish can result in the wear being inconvenienced. For example, a wearer of wet nail polish necessarily postpones manual activities of the type which can result in accidental smudging of wet nail polish until the nail polish has dried to at least a smudge resistant hardness. Thus there is not only an application for a nail polish dryer which can be used to reduce the drying time of wet nail polish but more particularly, for a nail polish dryer which significantly reduces the unaided drying time of wet nail polish since the more the unaided wet nail polish drying time is reduced the more time becomes available to the wearer for carrying out manual activities which are otherwise necessarily postponed.It is particularly advantageous, in this respect, if the nail polish dryer dries wet nail polish to a smudge resistant hardness preferably in less than six to ten minutes and more preferably in less than about five minutes. It is also preferable, in this respect, that the nail polish dryer is capable of simultaneously drying wet nail polish on all the nails on the fingers of both hands or on all the nails of the toes of both feet rather than on all the nails of a single hand or foot in a given time period.

A preliminary nail polish dryer configuration was tested by the present inventor. The configuration comprised a resistive Nichrome coiled wire element in circuit with an a.c. power supply and a fan for blowing an air stream over the element and over wet nail polish coated on nails placed on the opposite side of the element to the fan. In one experiment the element was disconnected from the a.c. power supply and cool air was blown over wet nail polish coated on nails. It was found that the nail polish took longer than six minutes to dry to a smudge resistant hardness. In other experiments the a.c. power supply was connected to the element and resultant hot air was blown across wet nail polish coated on nails.It was found that in order to dry wet nail polish within a desirable time limit the heated air temperature should preferably be greater than 27"C preferably greater than 40"C. Whilst it was found preferable to keep the heated air temperature above 40"C it was also found preferable to keep it below 60 and more preferably below 50"C since above 50"C caused discomfort to the exposed skin around the nails. A further reason for keeping the temperature below 60"C and preferably below 50"C is that it is known that nail polish can crack and/or blister if it is dried at too high a temperature and thus too rapidly.It was also found, to be desirable to limit the duration of exposure to air heated to between 40"C and 50"C to periods of short duration and preferably no longer than about 60 seconds otherwise discomfort caused by the heat to the exposed skin started to become pronounced. In the prototype configuration the skin and nails were not only exposed to heated air but also were in the proximity of the heated element and thus were exposed to direct radiation emanting therefrom. Exposure of skin to direct radiation is more likely to cause localised skin damage than skin exposure to heated air by itself since direct radiation is absorbed by pigments in the skin. This disadvantage was overcome by the inclusion of a shielding means to prevent or minimise the direct radiation component of heat directed to wet nail polish on nails.

Unexpectedly, it was found that the nail polish applied in three separate coatings could be dried to a smudge resistant hardness by exposure to a preselected pattern of unheated air and air heated by the element to between 27"C and 60"C blown by the fan to and over the wet nail polish coated on nails, in the fan to and over the wet nail polish coated on nails, in about three and a half minutes to six minutes. Exposure of the skin to the unheated air after exposure to the heated air for about a minute, was particularly advantageous since it quickly ameliorated any discomfort to the skin caused by the heat.The present inventor also observed that blowing unheated air over wet nail polish enhanced the hardening process of the wet nail polish as opposed to the enhancement of solvent evaporation rate from the wet nail polish due to blowing heating air to and over the coated nails.

Nail polish dryer devices are described in Australian Patent Specification Nos. 274 415, 420 684, 428 862 and 282 579.

Specification 274 415 describes a combined hair/fingernail polish dryer. With this dryer wet nail polish on nails is dried by placing freshly coated nails adjacent to the air inlet of the dryer. Disadvantageously, this dryer makes no provision to preheat air which passes over the coated nails and enters the air inlet. Thus the air directed over the wet nail polish is at ambient temperature. On the basis of the results of experiments conducted by the present inventor there is some doubt whether the dryer disclosed in 274 415 would significantly reduce the time required to dry wet nail polish to a smudge resistant hardness.

Specification 282 579 discloses a nail polish dryer which incorporates a chamber into which part of the hand is inserted whereupon heated air is directed onto the inserted nail polish coated nails. One of the features of this dryer is that a portion of the heated air is recirculated. The dryer also includes grinders, buffers, cutters and other like facilities to otherwise groom the nails. One particular disadvantage of- this nail polish dryer is that it is only adapted to dry wet nail polish on all the fingernails of a single human hand during a given time period.

Specification 428 862 discloses a combination manicuring hair/nail polish drying appliance. Like the nail polish dryer of specification 282 579 the portion of the appliance of 428 862 concerned with drying wet nail polish is only adapted to dry wet nail polish on all the fingernails of a single human hand during a given time period. Further the air directed over the nail polish coated nails by this appliance is only slightly heated. Thus like the dryer of specification 274 415 there is doubt whether this appliance would significantly reduce the time required to dry wet nail polish to a smudge resistant hardness.

Specification 420 684 discloses a self-contained motor operated manicure appliance having provision for storage of all its loose parts such as electric extension cord, flexible drive cable and manicure attachment tools. The appliance includes a plurality of outlets through which unheated air is directed by a fan enclosed in the housing of the appliance. To dry nail polish a user places the fingernails in front of the vents whereupon unheated air is directed over the nails. Like the dryer of specification 274 415 it is doubtful whether this dryer would significantly reduce the time to dry wet nail polish to a smudge resistant hardness due to the use of unheated air.

None of the above-referenced prior art specifications have addressed the desirability of drying wet nail polish on nails in a short time span. Further, none of these prior art devices incorporte a combination of features to significantly increase the evaporation rate of solvent from the wet nail polish and to harden the wet nail polish to a smudge resistant hardness within an acceptably short time span without significant discomfort to the surrounding skin.

This invention pertains to nail polish dryers for drying wet nail polish on nails and to processes and methods for drying wet nail polish on nails.

In a first embodiment, this invention provides a nail polish dryer for drying wet nail polish coated on nails, said dryer comprising a first heater which when enabled is for heating an air stream to be blown thereacross to within a preselected upper temperature range or to a preselected upper temperature, blower means for blowing said air stream across said first heater and.a resultant emerging air stream across nails coated with wet nail polish disposed in the path of said emerging air stream and wherein said blower means is enabled for at least as long as said preselected pattern, and a first timer means associated with said first heater to enable and disable said first heater according to a preselected pattern.

In a second embodiment this invention provides a nail polish dryer further including a second heater in the air stream. When enabled the second heater heats the emerging air stream to within a preselected temperature when the ambient air temperature is below the preselected lower temperature limit of the preselected lower temperature range or is below the preselected lower temperature. In a preferred form of the second embodiment a second timer means associated with the second heater is included. The second timer means enables the second heater when the first time disables the first heater and then disables the second heater when the first timer enables the first heater, or vice versa, according to a preselected pattern.

In a third embodiment this invention provides a nail polish dryer which includes a first heater; blower means for blowing an air stram across the heater and then across nails coated with nail polish positioned in an emerging air stream from the heater; a first temperature sensor positioned in the emerging air stream and having a first sensor output, a first timer means associated with the first sensor output and with a sensor dependent heater controller associated with the first heater; a second temperature sensor positioned in the emerging air stream and having a second sensor output, a second timer means associated with the second sensor output and with the controller; wherein the first and second timer means in conjunction with the controller enable the temperature of the emerging air stream to be varied according to a preselected pattern. The controller controls the heat dissipated by the heater and thereby the emerging air temperature: (a) within a preselected first temperature range or to a preselected first temperature according to a first sensor signal received from the first sensor output when it is enabled by the first timer; and (b) within a preselected second temperature range or at a preselected second temperature according to a second sensor output signal received from the second sensor output when it is enabled by the second timer means provided the ambient air temperature is below a preselected lower temperature limit of the preselected lower temperature range or is below the preselected lower temperature.

In a fourth embodiment this invention provides a process for drying wet nail polish coated on nails comprising: disposing said nails in an air stream charac terised in that said air stream is heated and cooled whereby the temperature of said air stream alternates between a preselected upper temperature range or a preselected upper temperature and a lower temperature range or lower temperature according to a preselected pattern.

Preferably, the dryers of the first, second and third embodiments each include a blower timer means associated with the blower means to enable the blower for at least as long as the duration of the preselected pattern.

Other embodiments of this invention provide methods of drying wet nail polish on nails including placing nails coated with wet nail polish in an emerging air stream from the dryers of the first, second or third embodiments and operating the dryer according to the preselected pattern. Preferably the coated nails are disposed in the emerging air stream for at least as long as the duration of the preselected period.

Preferred embodiments of the invention include: (a) the nail polish dryer of the first embodiment further including: a temperature sensor having an output the sensor being positioned within the air stream; sensor dependent control means associated with the sensor output, the first heater and the first timer means for controlling the heat dissipated by the first heater, when enabled, to maintain the emerging air stream temperature within a preselected upper temperature range or at a preselected upper temperature; (b) the nail polish dryer of the first embodiment further including:: a second timer means associated with the first heater for respectively enabling and disabling the first heater when the first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by the first timer means according to the preselected pattern; a temperature sensor having an output positioned within the emerging air stream, sensor dependent controller means associated with the sensor output, the first heater and the second timer means for controlling the heat dissipated by the first heater when enabled by the second timer, to maintain the emerging air stream temperature within a preselected lower second temperature range or at a preselected lower second temperature provided the ambient air temperature is below the preselected lower temperature limit of the preselected lower temperature range or is below the preselected lower temperature.

(c) the nail polish of the first embodiment further including: a first temperature sensor having a first sensor output positioned within the emerging air stream, a first sensor dependent controller means associated with the first sensor output, the first heater and the first timer means for controlling the heat dissipated by the first heater, when enabled by the first timer, to maintain the emerging air stream within a preselected first temperature range or at a preselected first temperature; a second timer means associated with the first heater for respectively enabling and disabling the first heater when the first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by the first timer means according to the preselected pattern;; a second temperature sensor having a second sensor output positioned within the emerging air stream, a second temperature dependent control means associated with the second sensor output, the heater and the second timer means, for controlling the heat dissipated by the heater when enabled by the second timer, to maintain the emerging air stream temperature within a preselected temperature range or at a preselected second temperature provided the ambient air temperature is below a preselected lower temperature limit of the preselected lower temperature range or is below the preselected lower temperature; (d) the nail polish dryer of the first embodiment further including:: a temperature sensor having an output positioned within the emerging air stream, sensor dependent controller means associated with the sensor output and the blower means for controlling the velocity of the air stream across the heater, when the first heater is enabled, to maintain the emerging air stream temperature within a preselected upper temperature range or at a preselected upper temperature.

Preferably the first timer means of the first embodiment provides a final step defining the end of the preselected pattern which comprises disabling the first heater.

Preferably, for the first, second and third embodiment the blower timer means provides a final step which consists of disabling the first and second timer means and the blower means.

The first and second heaters can be electrical resistance elements such as Nichrome ribbon elements or Nichrome coiled wire elements or can be IR lamps or other like heating means.

The first timer means of the first embodiment and the second timer means of preferred forms of the first embodiment can be cycle timers, repeat cycle timers, reset cycle timers, reset repeat cycle timers or other like timers.

The repeat cycle timer can be a synchronous motor driven cam timer or an electronic cyclic timer. In another preferred form the first timer means can be an a.c. electronic flasher timer circuit.

The first and second timer means of the second and third embodiments can be cycle timers, repeat cycle timers, reset cycle timers, reset repeat cycle timers or a combination of two of these later timers or a combination of two other like timers. The first and second timer means can also be an a.c. electric flasher circuit.

The blower timer means is preferably a stop cycle timer or a reset stop cycle timer. The stop cycle timer can be a synchronous motor driven cam timer, an electronic stop cycle timer or other like timer. The reset stop cycle timer can be a reset electronic stop cycle timer or other like timer.

Preferably the first heater when enabled is adapted to heat the air stream to within an upper temperature range between 27"C and 60"C, more preferably between 35"C and 50"C, even more preferably between 40"C and 46"C and most preferably to a first temperature of about 45"C. The first heater when enabled typically, gradually heats the emerging air stream to one of the above preferred temperatures within a timer period of between Ssec and 60sec, more preferably between Ssec to 25sec.

Preferably the second heater when enabled is adapted to heat the emerging air stream to within a lower temperature range of between 17"C and 26"C, more preferably between 20"C and 25"C, and most preferably to a second temperature of about 22"C. The second heater when enabled typically, gradually heats the emerging air stream to one of the above preferred temperatures within a time period of between Ssec and 60sec, more preferably between Ssec and 25sec.

The nail polish dryer of the first embodiment advantageously includes adjustment means for preselecting the upper temperature of the emerging air stream. In one preferred form the adjustment means is connected in electrical circuit in series with the first blower means for adjusting the speed of the first blower means. In another preferred form the adjustment means is connected in electrical circuit in series with the first heater for adjusting the heat dissipated by the first heater. The adjustment means can be a mnaually adjustable variable resistor.

The nail polish dryer of the second embodiment adantageously includes adjustment means for preselecting the upper and lower temperatures of the emerging air stream. In one preferred form the adjustment means is connected in electrical circuit in series with the blower means for adjusting the speed of the blower means. In another preferred form the adjustment means is connected in electrical circuit in series with the first and second heaters for adjusting the heat dissipated by the first and second heaters. The adjustment means can be at least one variable resistor which is manually adjustable.

The temperature of the emerging air stream of the first and second embodiments is dependant upon the ambient air temperature.

Thus the cooler the ambient air the cooler the upper and lower emerging air temperatures.

Hence the adjustment means can be advantageously utilised to compensate for ambient air temperature.

In one preferred form of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, which does not include the second timer means, the preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling and a final step of disabling the first heater. In another preferment of the first embodiment the preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling and a final step of disabling the first heater. In another preferred form of the first embodiment the preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling, a second step of disabling, a third step of enabling a fourth step of disabling and a fifth step of enabling and a final step of disabling the first heater. It will be appreciated that numerous preselected patterns of enabling and disabling the first heater can be used.

In one preferred form of the second embodiment which includes a second timer means and the third embodiment the preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling the first heater and disabling the second heater, a second step of disabling the first heater and enabling the second heater and a final step of disabling the first and second heater. In another preferment of this embodiment the preselected pattern includes a first step of enabling the first heater and disabling the second heater, a second step of disabling the first heater and enabling the second heater and a final step of disabling the first and second heaters.In a further preferement of this embodiment the preselected pattern comprises a first step of disabling the first heater and enabling the second heater, a second step of enabling the first heater and disabling the second heater, a third step of disabling the first heater and enabling the second heater, a fourth step of enabling the first heater and disabling the second heater and a final step of disabling the first and second heaters.

Excluding the final disabling step, it is preferred that each enabling and disabling step has a preselected step period between 5 and 240 seconds more preferably between 5 and 180 seconds even more preferably 5 seconds and 120 seconds, even more preferably between 20 seconds and 90 seconds and still even more preferably between 29 seconds and 61 seconds. Excluding the final disabling step, the preselected step periods can be of equal duration or of different durations or a combination of equal and different durations.

When the preselected pattern of the first embodiment includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and final steps as specified above the duration of the respective preselected step periods excluding the final step are preferably 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 30 seconds and 60 seconds respectively. In another option the duration of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth preselected step periods excluding the final step are 45 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 30 seconds and 45 seconds respectively.

It will be appreciated that a wide variation in preselected step periods can be used.

It is preferred that the blower means or that the blower timer means enables the blower means for preferably up to 180 seconds, more preferably for up to 120 seconds, and even more preferably for up to 90 seconds after the end of the preselected period.

The nail polish dryers of the first, second and third embodiments can optionally include a plate for placing at least one hand or one foot when drying wet nail polish coated on the nails. Preferably the width of the plate is selected so two hands or two feet can be placed along side each other simultaneously on the plate. Preferably the plate has indentations on one side which define the location of the fingers and indentations on the other side which define the location of the toes. The plate is optionally slidable. In one preferred form, the plate is pivotally attached to a telescopic member which is fixed to the nail polish dryer whereby the plate can be slid out of the mail dryer and rotated 180 and then slid back into the nail polish dryer.

Advantageously, the nail polish dryers of the first, second and third embodiments further include a deflector member to deflect the emerging air stream across nails coated with nail polish which are preferably positioned in the indentations on the plate. Preferably the surface of the deflector member has a small infra-red radiation emmissivity coefficient. The deflector surface can be aluminium, chromium, copper, gold, iron or steel, lead, nickel, tin or zin or other like surface. It is preferred that the deflector is in the form of a grill. Advantageously, the deflector member is adapted to direct air primarily onto the locations of the indentations.

Advantageously it is has been found that by operating apparatus according to the invention that by alternatively blowing heated (--44"C) and ambient air across wet nail polish, wet nail polish can be dried to a smudge resistant hardness in three and a half minutes to 5 minutes. In particular it has been found, using a preferred form of the apparatus according to the first embodiment, that by blowing ambient air for 30 seconds, followed by air heated to 45"C for sixty seconds, followed by ambient air for 30 seconds, followed by 45 C air for 30 seconds, followed by ambient air for 60 seconds, to and over three component nail polish coated on nails, the nail polish dried to a smudge resistant hardness in three and a half minutes to 5 minutes depending upon the ambient air temperature.Advantageously, using this apparatus it was found possible to expose the hands to air heated to between 40"C to 46"C for periods of up to a minute without significant discomfort. However, if the hands were exposed to air heated to between 40"C and 46"C for 70 to 80 seconds and longer the sensation of the heated air on the skin commences to become uncomfortable but not unbearable. A further advantage of this apparatus is that ambient air is blown accross wet nail polish coated on nails following 60 seconds of heated air and thus the uncomfortable sensation of the heated air on the skin is ameliorated.Further, whilst the heated air advantageously increases the evaporation rate of solvent from wet nail polish, ambient air advantageously assists the nail polish to attain a smudge resistant hardness.

In the second embodiment a particular advantage arises over the first embodiment as a result of enabling the second heater after the first heater is disabled particularly when the ambient air temperature is such that when it is blown across the skin it causes discomfort due to its coolness (i.e. approximately below 16"C). The effect of the second heater is that it warms ambient air to a temperature that reduces such discomfort.

This invention is now described by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a nail polish dryer haveing a slidable plate with indentations; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a nail polish dryer of Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an electrical circuit of a first preferred embodiment of a nail polish dryer of Figs. 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a synchronous motor driven cam timer; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a nail polish dryer of Fig. 1; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an electrical circuit of a second preferred embodiment of a nail polish dryer of Figs. 1 and 5.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the nail polish dryer of Fig. 2 except that the fan heating element and first and second timer means are in a separate housing; Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the nail polish dryer of Fig. 1 without a slidable plate or hand/footrest support; Figure 9 is a side perspective view of the nail polish dryer of Fig. 8 except that the grill extends outwardly from the housing; Figure 10 is the nail polish dryer of Fig. 1 except that the grill is enclosed in a housing having an opening through which the fingers are placed; Figure 11 is the nail polish dryer of Fig. 10 except that the grill in not enclosed in a housing but is positioned directly above a slidable plate thereby forming a gap into which the hands or feet can be placed directly under neath the grill; Figure 12 is a nail polish dryer having a grill adjacent to a slidable plate;; Figure 13 is a nail polish dryer having a grill adjacent a hand/foot rest both of which are enclosed in a substantially semi-circular housing and having a curved door.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the nail polish dryer 10 (Fig. 1) consists of a first heater consisting of a Nichrome coiled wire element 20 (Fig. 2), a blower means which is a cylindrical-shaped fan 22 (Fig. 2, 3) which blows air over element 20 and a first timer means associated with element 20 which is a synchronous motor driven cam cycle timer 30 (Figs. 3, 4).

Referring to Fig. 4 timer 30 is a synchronous motor (not shown) driving an electrically conducting rod 40 which is connected to a.c.

power supply 41 via electrical contact 42. An electrical contact 43 on rod 40 completes and breaks electrical connection with contacts 44 and 45 to enable and disable the element 20 (Figs. 2, 3) in accordance with a preselected pattern as the dial rotates.

The preselected pattern starts on connection of a.c. 240 volt power supply 32 by disabling element 20 for 30 seconds enabling it for 60 seconds, disabling it for 30 seconds and enabling it for 60 seconds followed by a final step of disabling it.

Referring to Fig. 3 a blower timer means associated with fan 22 which comprises a stop cycle timer 31 is adapted on connection of supply 32 to enable fan 22 for three and a half minutes to five minutes.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 timer 31 consists of a single third electrical contact 46 joined to rod 40 and a fourth electrical contact 47.

Contact 46 completes and breaks electrical contact 47 to enable fan 22 for three and a half minutes on connection of supply 32.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, element 20 when enabled is adapted to heat air blown over it by fan 22 gradually up to about 45"C after about 40 seconds. The resistance of Nichrome wire and length of wire required will depend on the thickness of the Nichrome wire and the configuration chosen. In one configuration tried by the inventor a 175Q resistance was found satisfactory with a 240 Volt a.c.

power supply.

Referring to Fig. 3, a first adjustment means consisting of a variable resistor 33 for preselecting the first temperature of the emerging first air stream is connected in electrical circuit in series with fan 20.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 the nail polish dryer includes a deflector means consisting of an aluminium grill 11. The deflector members of grill 11 are positioned to direct an emerging first air stream from element 20 (Figs. 2, 3) onto slidable plate 12. Plate 12 has indentations 13 on one side 14 which define the positioning of the fingers and indentations on the other side 15 which define the positioning of the toes. The width of the plate 12 is dimensioned to allow simultaneous placement of the fingers of both hands in the indentations 13.

A second preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the cross-sectional view of nail polish dryer 50 (Fig. 5) and the schematic representations of the electrical circuit of the nail polish dryer of Fig. 5 in Fig. 6.

Dryer 50 consists of a first heater and a second heater both consisting of Nichrome coiled wire elements 51 and 52 respectively.

Dryer 50 also includes a blower means consisting of a fan 53 for blowing an air stream across elements 51 and 52 and for blowing an emerging air stream across nail polish coated on nails.

A first timer means associated with elements 51 and 52 consists of an a.c. electronic flasher circuit 60 and 61 (adapted from the circuit described in the GE SCR Manual (4th Edition), 1967, Electronics Park, Syracuse 1, New York) simultaneously disables element 51 and enables element 52 and then simultaneously enables element 51 and disables element 52 according to a preselected second pattern.

The preselected pattern commences, on connection of a.c. 240 volt power supply 63, a first step of simultaneously disabling element 51 and enabling element 52 for 30 seconds, and a second step of simultaneously enabling element 51 and disabling element 52 for 60 seconds. This preselected second pattern is repeated until disconnection supply 63 per se or per a third timer means.

Element 51 is adapted, when enabled, to heat the second emerging air stream gradually up to about 45"C after 25-30secs and element 52 is adapted, when enabled to heat the second emerging air stream to 22"C after 5-20secs. The length and resistance of Nichrome coiled wire chose for elements 51 and 52 depends on the configuration and wire thickness. For the configuration chosen in a test prototype a resistance of 165 Ohms of Nichrome coiled wire was found to be satisfactory for element 51.

A blower timer means associated with blower means in the form of fan 42 and elements 51 and 52 is in the form of a standard electronic reset stop cycle timer 62 (Fiber Stop Cycle Timer, Type R1604507) disables fan 42 and flasher circuit 60, 61, three minutes and twenty-five seconds after connection of supply 63.

Nail polish dryer 50 also includes a grill 64 and slidable plate 55 similar to grill 11 and plate 12 of the first embodiment.

A third embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the cross-sectional view of nail polish dryer 70 (Fig. 7).

Dryer 70 has the same features as dryer 10 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) except the fan, first heater element and first and third timer circuits are external to dryer housing 71 and are located in external housing 72. External housing 72 communicates with housing 71 via flexible coupling 73.

Other preferred nail polish dryer housings are illustrated in Figs. 8-13.

Claims (53)

CLAIMS The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A nail polish dryer for drying wet nail polish coated on nails, said dryer comprising a first heater which when enabled is for heating an air stream to be blown thereacross to within a preselected upper temperature range or to a preselected upper temperature, blower means for blowing said air stream across said first heater and a resultant emerging air stream across nails coated with wet nail polish disposed in the path of said emerging air stream and wherein said blower means is enabled for at least as long as said preselected pattern, and a first timer means associated with said first heater to enable and disable said first heater according to a preselected pattern.

2. The dryer as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second heater disposed in said air stream or in said emerging air stream wherein said second heater, when enabled, is for heating an air stream to be blown thereacross to within a preselected lower temperature range or to a preselected lower temperature and wherein said second heater is enabled when the ambient air temperature is below the lower temperature limit of said preselected lower temperature range or is below said preselected lower temperature.

3. The dryer as defined in claim 2 further comprising a second timer means associated with said second heater wherein said second timer means enables said second heater when said first heater is disabled by said first timer and wherein said second timer means disables said second heater when said first heater is enabled by said first timer according to a complementary preselected pattern.

4. The dryer as defined in claim 1 further including a blower timer means associated with said blower means to enable said blower means for at least as long as the duration of said preselected pattern.

5. The dryer as defined in claim 2 further including a blower timer means associated with said blower means to enable said blower means for at least as long as the duration of said preselected pattern and said complementary preselected pattern.

6. The dryer as defined in claim 3 further including a blower timer means associated with said blower means to enable said blower means for at least as long as the duration of said preselected pattern and said complementary preselected pattern.

7. The dryer as defined in claim 1 further comprising a first temperature sensor having a first sensor output, said first temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; first sensor dependent control means associated with said first sensor output said first heater and said first timer means wherein said first sensor dependent control means for controlling heat dissipated by said first heater, when enabled, to adjust and maintain said emerging air stream temperature to and within said upper temperature range or to and at said upper temperature.

8. The dryer as defined in claim 4 further comprising a first temperature sensor having a first sensor output, said sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; first sensor dependent control means associated with said first sensor output, said first heater and said first timer means wherein said first sensor dependent control means is for controlling heat dissipated by said first heater, when enabled, to adjust and maintain the temperature of said emerging air stream to and within said upper temperature range or to and at said upper temperature.

9. The dryer as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a second timer means associated with said first heater for respectively enabling and disabling said first heater when said first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by said first timer means; a temperature sensor having a sensor output, said sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; sensor dependent control means associated with said sensor output, said first heater and said second timer means, said control means being for controlling heat dissipated by said first heater when enabled by said second timer, and to thereby adjust and maintain the temperature of a resultant emerging air stream to and within a preselected lower temperature range or to and at a preselected lower temperature.

10. The dryer as defined in claim 4 further comprising: a second timer means associated with said first heater for respectively enabling and disabling said first heater when said first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by said first timer means; a temperature sensor having a sensor output, said sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; sensor dependent control means associated with said sensor output, said first heater and said second timer means, said control means being for controlling heat dissipated by said first heater when enabled by said second timer and to thereby adjust and maintain the temperature of a resultant emerging air stream to and within a preselected lower temperature range or to and at a preselected lower temperature.

11. The dryer as defined in claim 7 further comprising: a second timer means associated with said first heater for respectively enabling and disabling said first heater when said first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by said first timer means; a second temperature sensor having a second sensor output, said second temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; second sensor dependent control means associated with said second sensor output, said first heater and said second timer means, said second sensor dependent control means being for controlling heat dissipated by said first heater, when enabled by said second timer, and to thereby adjust and maintain the temperature of said resultant emerging air stream to and within a preselected lower temperature range or to and at a preselected lower temperature.

12. The dryer as defined in claim 8 further comprising: a second timer means associated with said first heater for respectively enabling and disabling said first heater when said first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by said first timer means; a second temperature sensor having a second sensor output, said second temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; second sensor dependent control means associated with said second sensor output, said first heater and said second timer means, said second sensor dependent control means being for controlling heat dissipated by said first heater when enabled by said second timer, and to thereby adjust and maintain the temperature of said resultant emerging air stream to and within a preselected lower temperature range or to and at a preselected lower temperature.

13. The dryer as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a first temperature sensor having a first sensor output, said first temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; a first sensor dependent blower control means associated with said first sensor output, said blower means and said first timer means said first sensor dependent blower control means being for controlling the speed of said blower means and thereby controlling the velocity of said air stream across said first heater to adjust and maintain the temperature of said emerging air stream by said first timer, when said first heater is enabled, to and within said preselected upper temperature range or to and at said preselected upper temperature.

14. The dryer as defined in claim 4 further comprising: a first temperature sensor having a first sensor output said first temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; a first sensor dependent blower control means associated with said first sensor output, said blower means and said first timer means said first sensor dependent blower control means being for controlling the speed of said blower means and thereby controlling the velocity of said air stream across said first heater to adjust and maintain the temperature of said emerging air stream, when said first heater is enabled, to and within said preselected upper temperature range or to and at said preselected upper temperature.

15. The dryer as defined in claim 13 further comprising: a second timer means associated with said first heater for respectively enabling and disabling said first heater when said first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by said first timer means; a second temperature sensor having a second sensor output, said second temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; a second sensor dependent blower control means associated with said second sensor output; said blower means and said second timer means, said second sensor dependent blower control means being for controlling the speed of said blower means and thereby controlling the velocity of said air stream across said first heater to adjust and maintain the temperature of said emerging air stream, when said first heater is enabled by said second timer, to and within a preselected lower temperature range or to and at a preselected lower temperature.

16. The dryer as defined in claim 14 further comprising: a second timer means associated with said first heater for respectively enabling and disabling said first heater when said first heater is respectively disabled and enabled by said first timer means; a second temperature sensor having a second sensor output, said second temperature sensor being disposed in the path of said air stream or said emerging air stream; a second sensor dependent blower control means associated with said second sensor output, said blower means and said second timer means, said second sensor dependent blower control means being for controlling the speed of said blower means and thereby controlling the velocity of said air stream across said first heater to adjust and maintain the temperature of said emerging air stream, when said first heater is enabled by said second timer, to and within a preselected lower temperature range or to and at a preselected lower temperature.

17. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 1, 4, 7 to 10, 13 or 14 wherein said upper temperature range is from 27"C to 60"C.

18. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 1, 4, 7 to 10, 13 or 14 wherein said upper temperature range is from 40"C to 46"C.

19. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15 or 16 wherein said upper temperature range is from 27"C to 60"C and said lower temperature range is from 1 7 C to 26"C.

20. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15 or 16 wherein said upper temperature range is from 40"C to 46"C and said lower temperature range is from 20"C to 25"C.

21. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling, a second step of disabling, a third step of enabling and a final step of disabling said first heater.

22. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling and a second step of disabling said first heater.

23. The dryer as defined in any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of enabling a second step of disabling a third step of enabling, a fourth step of disabling, a fifth step of enabling and a final step of disabling said first heater.

24. The dryer as defined in claim 21 wherein each of said steps has a duration of 5 to 180 seconds and said blower means is enabled for up to 120 seconds after the end of said preselected pattern.

25. The dryer as defined in claim 21 wherein each of said steps has a duration of 20 to 90 seconds and said blower means is enabled for up to 90 seconds after the end of said preselected pattern.

26. The dryer as defined in claim 22 wherein each of said steps has a duration of 5 to 240 seconds and said blower means is enabled for up to 180 seconds after the end of said predescribed pattern.

27. The dryer as defined in claim 22 wherein each of said steps has a duration of 5 to 180 seconds and said blower means is enabled for up to 180 seconds after the end of said preselected pattern.

28. The dryer as defined in claim 23 wherein each of said steps has a duration of 5 to 180 seconds and said blower means is enabled for up to 180 seconds after the end of said preselected pattern.

29. The dryer as defined in claim 23 wherein each of said steps has a duration of 20 to 90 seconds and said blower means is enabled for up to 90 seconds after the end of said preselected pattern.

30. A process for drying wet nail polish coated on nails comprising; disposing said nails in an air stream characterised in that said air stream is heated and cooled whereby the temperature of said air stream alternates between a preselected upper temperature range or a preselected upper temperature and a lower temperature range or lower temperature according to a preselected pattern.

31. The process as defined in claim 30 wherein said lower temperature range or said lower temperature is preselected.

32. The process as defined in claim 30 wherein said upper temperature range is from 27"C to 60"C.

33. The process as defined in claim 30 wherein said upper temperature range is from 40"C to 46"C.

34. The process as defined in claim 31 wherein said upper temperature range is from 27"C to 60 C and said lower temperature range is from 17"C to 20"C.

35. The process as defined in claim 31 wherein said upper temperature range is from 40"C to 46"C and said lower temperature range is from 20"C to 25"C.

36. The process as defined in claim 30 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating, a second step of cooling, a third step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

37. The process as defined in claim 31 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating, a second step of cooling, a third step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

38. The process as defined in any one of claims 32 to 35 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating, a second step of cooling, a third step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

39. The process as defined in any one of claims 36 to 38 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 5 and 180 seconds.

40. The process as defined in any one of claims 36 to 38 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 20 and 90 seconds.

41. The process as defined in claim 30 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating, a second step of cooling, a third step of heating, a fourth step of cooling, a fifth step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

42. The process as defined in claim 31 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating, a second step of cooling, a third step of heating, a fourth step of cooling, a fifth step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

43. The process as defined in any one of claims 32 to 35 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating, a second step of cooling, a third step of heating, a fourth step of cooling, a fifth step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

44. A process as defined in any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 5 and 180 seconds.

45. The process as defined in any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 20 and 90 seconds.

46. The process as defined in any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 29 and 61 sec onds.

47. The process as defined in any one of claims 41 to 43 wherein each of said first, third, fifth and final steps has a duration of about 60 seconds and each of said second and fouth steps has a duration of about 30 seconds.

48. The process as defined in claim 30 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

49. The process as defined in claim 31 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

50. The process as defined in any one of claims 32 to 35 wherein said preselected pattern comprises a first step of heating and a final step of cooling said air stream.

51. The process as defined in any one of claims 48 to 50 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 5 and 240 seconds.

52. The process as defined in any one of claims 48 to 50 wherein each of said steps has a duration of between 20 and 120 seconds.

53. A method of drying wet nail polish coated on nails comprising placing said nails in the emerging air stream of a dryer of any one of claims 1 to 29 and operating said dryer according to said preselected pattern.