Nail dryer

Abstract

A nail dryer includes a shell, an air stream generation unit received in the shell for generation of air stream and a cover mounted on the shell for covering the air stream generation unit for contacting a user's fingers. The air stream can dry nail polish on the user's nails. The shell defines a plurality of apertures. The cover also defines a plurality of apertures. The nail dryer can be switched between a first mode of operation where air is sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and a second mode of operation where air is sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover. The cover includes recessed areas for receiving a user's fingertips. The apertures are defined in the recessed areas. The cover may include a raised area for close contact with the user's fingers. The air stream generation unit includes a motor and a propeller connected with the motor. The air stream generation unit includes a switch connected with the motor. The switch can be operated so as to switch the nail dryer between the first and second modes of operation. The nail dryer may include an air stream control unit received in the shell for control over the air stream generated by the air stream generation unit.

1 . A nail dryer including a shell ( 10 ) that defines a plurality of apertures ( 14 ), an air stream generation unit ( 25 ) received in the shell ( 10 ) and a cover ( 40 ) that defines a plurality of apertures ( 42 ) and is mounted on the shell ( 10 ).  
     
     
         2 . The nail dryer according to  claim 1  wherein it can be switched between a first mode of operation where air is expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell and sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and a second mode of operation where air is expelled from the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the cover and sucked into the nail dryer through the apertures defined in the shell.  
     
     
         3 . The nail dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the cover includes recessed areas ( 45 ,  46 ) for receiving a user's fingertips and each defining a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         4 . The nail dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the cover includes a raised area ( 41 ) for close contact with the user's fingers.  
     
     
         5 . The nail dryer according to  claim 1  wherein the air stream generation unit includes a motor ( 20 ) and a propeller ( 21 ) connected with the motor.  
     
     
         6 . The nail dryer according to  claim 5  wherein the air stream generation unit includes a power supply for powering the motor.  
     
     
         7 . The nail dryer according to  claim 6  including a circuit for connecting the motor with the power supply.  
     
     
         8 . The nail dryer according to  claim 7  wherein the circuit includes a switch ( 22 ) connected with the motor.  
     
     
         9 . The nail dryer according to  claim 6  wherein the power supply is an AC power supply.  
     
     
         10 . The nail dryer according to  claim 6  wherein the power supply is a DC power supply ( 60 ).  
     
     
         11 . The nail dryer according to  claim 5  wherein the shell includes a cylinder ( 12 ) formed thereon for receiving the motor.  
     
     
         12 . The nail dryer according to  claim 11  wherein the cylinder defines at least one slit so as to increase flexibility therein.  
     
     
         13 . The nail dryer according to  claim 1  including an air stream control unit ( 30 ) received in the shell for control over the air stream.  
     
     
         14 . The nail dryer according to  claim 13  wherein the air stream control unit is located between the air stream generation unit and the cover.  
     
     
         15 . The nail dryer according to  claim 14  wherein the air stream control unit includes a plate ( 31 ) defining a hole ( 33 ) through which air can flow.  
     
     
         16 . The nail dryer according to  claim 15  wherein the air stream control unit includes a cylinder ( 32 ) projecting from the plate and surrounding the hole.  
     
     
         17 . The nail dryer according to  claim 16  wherein the shell ( 10 ) includes blocks ( 15 ,  16 ) formed thereon, wherein the cover ( 40 ) includes blocks ( 43 ;  44 ) formed thereon, wherein the plate is clamped between the blocks formed on the shell and the blocks formed on the cover.