Nail cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate to apparatuses and methods for improving sanitary conditions. Certain aspects relate to an apparatus having at least one protrusion for removing visible debris from a nail and at least one nail cleaning region comprising an impregnable material for containing a liquid. In one exemplary embodiment, several nail cleaning elements may be configured to each clean a different nail without cross contaminating any other nail cleaning element on the apparatus. In various exemplary embodiments, the liquid comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of: a biocide agent, moisturizing agent, a cleaning agent, and combinations thereof. Multiple nail cleaning elements may be positioned to permit the simultaneous cleaning of multiple nails without cross-contamination.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a circular unitary body configured to remove debris from an area between a skin surface and an underside of a nail surface; and   an attachment structure on the unitary body configured to removably attach a removable cartridge a in a manner that the removable cartridge becomes a terminal end of the unitary body and comprises a nail cleaning region, wherein the removable cartridge comprises:
 a first nail cleaning element configured to clean an area located between an underside of a nail surface of a first digit and an opposing skin surface of the same first digit as well as an upperside of the nail surface of the first digit; and 
 a second nail cleaning element configured to clean an area located between an underside of a nail surface of a second digit and an opposing skin surface of the same second digit as well as an upperside of the nail surface of the second digit simultaneously while the first nail cleaning element is cleaning without cross-contaminating the first nail cleaning element of the removable cartridge. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one nail cleaning region comprises a agent selected from the group consisting of: a dry agent, a biocide agent, a cleaning agent, a moisturizing agent, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary body comprises a spherical portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cartridge is configured to retain moisture. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus comprising:
 a unitary body configured to receive a liquid comprising a first end extending along a first axis of a horizontal plane from a first terminus nail cleaning region to a middle section of the unitary body and further comprising a second end extending along the first axis from the middle section to a second terminus nail cleaning region, wherein the unitary body is convex with respect to the horizontal axis;   at least one nail cleaning region that defines at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the apparatus, each region comprising:   a pair of nail cleaning elements comprising an impregnable material configurable to receive the liquid, the pair of nail cleaning element further configured to simultaneously clean an area of a different digit, in which each is configured to clean an area located between an underside of a nail surface of a respective digit and an opposing skin surface of the same respective digit as well as an upperside of the nail surface of the respective digit and a terminal end of the same respective digit in a manner that prevents cross-contamination from one of the nail cleaning element to the other.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one nail cleaning region comprises a first nail cleaning region, wherein each nail cleaning element in the first nail cleaning region is configured to allow the cleaning a terminal end of a respective digit and atop, around, and underneath a nail of the same digit without cross-contaminating another nail cleaning element in the first nail cleaning region. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the outer perimeter of the apparatus comprises a circular portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the unitary body comprises an oval portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the body comprises a concave portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one nail cleaning region comprises a first nail cleaning region and a second nail cleaning region and the apparatus is configured such that collapsing of the unitary body on the flexible midline results in the first and the second nail cleaning regions to be in substantial proximity with respect to the vertical plane to create a single third nail cleaning region that includes the first nail cleaning region and the second nail cleaning region. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the center of the apparatus has a greater thickness along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis than the thickness around the outer perimeter of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the at least impregnable material comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of: a dry agent, a biocide agent, a cleaning agent, a moisturizing agent and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus configured to simultaneously clean two digits on a single extremity comprising:
 a unitary body configured to receive a liquid; and   a nail cleaning region being formed along an outside perimeter around at least a portion of the unitary body to form at least a corresponding portion of an outside perimeter of the apparatus, comprising:   a pair of nail cleaning elements comprising an impregnable material configurable to receive the liquid, the pair further being positioned such to prevent cross-contamination from one another during simultaneous use,   wherein the pair of elements in the same nail cleaning region is configured to be simultaneously utilized allow the cleaning atop, around and underneath a different nail up to and including a location where the respective nail meets skin of the respective digit and extending to a terminal end of the same respective digit.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the unitary body comprises an attachment structure configured to removably attach a removable cartridge in a manner that the removable cartridge becomes a terminal end of the unitary body and further comprises two nail cleaning region. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the unitary body comprises a circular portion. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , a wherein the unitary body comprises a convex portion. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the center of the apparatus has a greater thickness along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis than the thickness around the outer perimeter of the apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least impregnable material comprises a agent selected from the group consisting of: a dry agent, a biocide agent, a cleaning agent, a moisturizing agent and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the body comprises an oval portion. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the body comprises a spherical portion.