Method and device for glass nail files

Abstract

A glass nail file device and method for making a glass nail file wherein the glass nail file includes a glass-like substrate, a permanent grinding surface formed in at least a part of at least one surface by a chemical etching process and a handle defined by the substrate. The process of making glass nail files includes providing a glass or glass like substrate, chemically etching at least a portion of at least one surface using a solution that includes dissolved salts or some other aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride that facilitates an ionic exchange between the solution and glass substrate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for making glass nail files, said process comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining a substrate comprising a glass material and having a top surface and a bottom surface;    (b) chemically etching at least a portion of one of said surfaces to create a rough finish on said surface; and    (c) facilitating hardening of said elongated substrate to increase the rigidity and durability of said elongated substrate.    
     
     
         2 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step of facilitating hardening comprises: 
 thermally treating said elongated substrate at at least one predetermined temperature.    
     
     
         3 . A process as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said step of thermally treating comprises: 
 heating said substrate at a first temperature and then cooling said substrate at a second temperature.    
     
     
         4 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step of chemically etching comprises: 
 soaking said substrate in a solution that facilitates an ionic exchange of ions contained in said glass material with ions released by said solution.    
     
     
         5 . A process as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said solution comprises dissolved salts that facilitate an ionic exchange of ions contained in said glass material with ions released by said solution.  
     
     
         6 . A process as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said solution comprises potassium.  
     
     
         7 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said solution comprises hydrofluoric acid and facilitates an ionic exchange of ions contained in said glass material with ions released by said solution.  
     
     
         8 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said grinding surface comprises a substantially uniformly rough finish devoid of sharp edges so as to define a relatively soft grinding surface.  
     
     
         9 . A process as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 protecting said substrate from said solution in at least one section where a grinding surface is undesirable.    
     
     
         10 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming an elongated substrate comprising said glass material.    
     
     
         11 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a handle from said substrate.    
     
     
         12 . A process as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said handle forming step comprises: 
 protecting at least one predetermined section of said substrate in a manner that isolates said section from said step of chemically etching.    
     
     
         13 . A process as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said handle forming step comprises: 
 affixing a rigid sleeve extension to one end of said substrate so as to cover at least a portion of said end.    
     
     
         14 . A process as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said handle forming step further comprises: 
 providing a removable sleeve that mates with said sleeve extension to substantially conceal said substrate above said sleeve extension.    
     
     
         15 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a sleeve for removably inserting said substrate to protect said substrate during periods of non-use.    
     
     
         16 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a pictorial indicia on said substrate.    
     
     
         17 . A process as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said step of forming a pictorial indicia comprises: 
 sand blasting said substrate to form said indicia on said substrate.    
     
     
         18 . A process as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said step of forming a pictorial indicia comprises: 
 engraving said substrate to form said indicia on said substrate.    
     
     
         19 . A process as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said step of forming a pictorial indicia comprises: 
 imprinting said substrate with said indicia to form said indicia on said substrate.    
     
     
         20 . A process as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said step of forming a pictorial indicia comprises: 
 grinding said substrate to form said indicia on said substrate.    
     
     
         21 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing at least one color in said substrate.    
     
     
         22 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a reflective surface on at least one of said surfaces.    
     
     
         23 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a reflective surface on at least one of said surfaces.    
     
     
         24 . A process as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step of forming a reflective surface on at least one of said surfaces comprising applying a reflective varnish to said surface.  
     
     
         25 . A glass nail file for filing human and domestic animal nails, said nail file comprising: 
 an elongated substrate comprising a glass material, said substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, a first end, a second end and a predetermined thickness defined between said first and second surface; and    a virtually permanent grinding surface defined on and by at least a portion of at least one of said surfaces, said grinding surface defining a rough finish devoid of sharp edges.    
     
     
         26 . A nail file as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said grinding surfaces is formed by chemically etching said surface in a solution that facilitates an ionic exchange of ions contained in said glass material with ions released by said solution.  
     
     
         27 . A nail file as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said solution comprises dissolved salts.  
     
     
         28 . A nail file as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said solution comprises hydrofluoric acid.  
     
     
         29 . A nail file as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a handle proximal at least one end of said first and second ends.    
     
     
         30 . A nail file as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said handle comprises a smooth section defined by said substrate wherein said smooth section is devoid of a grinding surface.  
     
     
         31 . A nail file as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said handle comprises a rigid extension mounted to said end.  
     
     
         32 . A nail file as recited in  claim 31 , further comprising a removable sleeve that mates with said rigid extension.  
     
     
         33 . A nail file as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising a sleeve for removably receiving said substrate to at least partially conceal said substrate.  
     
     
         34 . A nail file as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising at least one pictorial indicia disposed proximal at least one end of said first and second ends.