Hand Rest Vacuum and Method

Abstract

A hand rest vacuum and method is provided for the nail care industry. A body is configured to be supported by a desk between a client and a nail care technician. A cushioned hand rest pad is supported by the body. The body has a retractable nozzle on the technician side of the body. The nozzle is in fluid communication through an interior volume of the body to a body discharge location. Air is pulled through the nozzle opening and through the body interior volume by a vacuum source. The vacuum source may be located within the body interior volume or may be located separately from the body. The interior volume may incorporate a particulate filter, a carbon filter or a cyclone particulate matter separator.

1 . A hand rest apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a body, said body defining an interior volume, said body being configured to rest upon a desk between a nail technician and a client, said body having a top, said top being configured to support a pair of hands of said client when said client is seated at said desk, said body having a client side and a technician side, said client side being proximal to said client when said client is seated at said desk, said technician side being distal to said client when said client is seated at said desk;   b. an air intake opening, said air intake being located on said technician side of said body;   c. a vacuum source, said vacuum source being operably attached to said body, said vacuum source being in a fluid communication with said air intake opening through said interior volume of said body.   
     
     
         2 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said air intake opening comprises: a nozzle, said nozzle being operably connected to said air intake opening. 
     
     
         3 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said nozzle has an upper side, said upper side being distal to said desk when said body is resting on said desk, said upper side defining a nozzle opening, said nozzle opening being in fluid communication with said vacuum source. 
     
     
         4 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said nozzle has a first position and a second position, said nozzle when in said first position being extended from said technician side, said nozzle when in said second position being retracted against said technician side of said body. 
     
     
         5 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said nozzle is telescoping, said nozzle having a plurality of positions intermediate between said first and said second positions. 
     
     
         6 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said fluid communication comprises said hand rest being configured to direct a flow of air from said nozzle to said vacuum source, the apparatus further comprising: a particulate matter filter, said filter being disposed within said interior volume of said hand rest, said particulate matter filter being configured so that said flow of air from said nozzle to said vacuum source passes through said particulate filter. 
     
     
         7 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 6 , the apparatus further comprising: a carbon filter, said carbon filter being disposed within said interior volume, said carbon filter being configured to that said flow of air passes through said carbon filter downstream of said particulate filter. 
     
     
         8 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said vacuum source comprises:
 a. a motor; and 
 b. a blower rotatably connected to and configured for rotation by said motor, said blower having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, said low pressure side of said blower being in said fluid communication with said air intake opening, said motor and said blower being disposed within said interior volume. 
 
     
     
         9 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said vacuum source comprises:
 a. a motor; 
 b. a blower rotatably connected to and configured for rotation by said motor, said blower having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, said motor not being located within said interior volume; and 
 c. a vacuum source duct, said vacuum source duct communicating between said low pressure side and said body. 
 
     
     
         10 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 9 , said vacuum source further comprising: a body duct, said body duct being in fluid communication between said vacuum source duct and said air intake. 
     
     
         11 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 9 , the apparatus further comprising: a cyclone particulate matter separator, said cyclone particulate matter separator being disposed within said interior volume of said hand rest, said cyclone particulate matter separator defining a cyclone inlet and a cyclone outlet, said cyclone inlet being in fluid communication with said air intake, said cyclone outlet being in fluid communication with said vacuum source duct. 
     
     
         12 . The hand rest apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said cyclone particulate matter separator comprises a circular cyclone side wall defining a cyclone interior volume, said cyclone inlet being configured to direct said flow of said air from said air intake into said cyclone interior volume annularly to and adjacent to said cyclone side wall. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing nail care, the method comprising:
 a. providing a hand rest apparatus, said hand rest apparatus having a body, said body being configured to rest upon a desk between a client and a nail technician, said body having a top, said body defining an interior volume, said body having a technician side and a client side, said body defining a air intake on said technician side, said body being movable when said body is located on said desk;   b. providing a vacuum source, said vacuum source being in fluid communication with said air intake of said hand rest through said interior volume;   c. shaping a fingernail of a client by said nail technician when a hand of said client is supported by said top of said hand rest and said fingernail of said client is located above said air intake.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said air intake comprises: a nozzle, said nozzle being operably connected to said air intake. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said nozzle has an upper side, said upper side being distal to said desk when said body is resting on said desk, said upper side defining a nozzle opening, said nozzle opening being in fluid communication with said vacuum source. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said nozzle has a first position and a second position, said nozzle when in said first position being extended from said technician side, said nozzle when in said second position being retracted against said technician side of said body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said fluid communication comprises said hand rest being configured to direct a flow of air from said nozzle to said vacuum source, and wherein a particulate filter is disposed within said interior volume of said hand rest, said particulate matter filter being configured so that said flow of air from said nozzle to said vacuum source passes through said particulate filter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a carbon filter is disposed within said interior volume, said carbon filter being configured to that said flow of air passes through said carbon filter downstream of said particulate filter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said vacuum source comprises a motor and a blower rotatably connected to and configured for rotation by said motor, said blower having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, said low pressure side of said blower being in said fluid communication with said air intake opening, said motor and said blower being disposed within said interior volume. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , the method comprising:
 a. providing a flexible tube, said flexible tube and said nozzle being configured for selectable engagement;   b. providing an attachment, said attachment being in selectable engagement with said flexible tube, said attachment being in selectable fluid communication with said nozzle.