UV-Blocking Shield with Slits for Nail Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shields do not effectively protect users' hands and feet from ultraviolet light during UV gel manicures and pedicures, as they either fail to cover the necessary areas, expose too much skin, or are not designed for UV light protection.

Innovation Solution

A single, thin elastomeric shield with Titanium Dioxide for UV protection, featuring multiple slits to expose fingernails and toenails, covering the top of the hand or foot and extending to the wrist or ankle, ensuring maximum skin coverage without interfering with the curing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a shield is designed to cover the hand and protect from UV light, then UV protection is improved, but the ability to allow nail curing light transmission may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUV light protectionVSAvoidnail curing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is segmented into distinct regions: a first region covering the dorsal hand with UV-blocking properties, and a second region at the distal end with UV-transmitting properties. This segmentation allows different parts of the same shield to have different optical characteristics, enabling simultaneous UV protection for the hand and UV transmission for nail curing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the shield have different optical qualities - the first region is designed to block UV light while the second region is designed to transmit UV light. This local differentiation of material properties allows the shield to simultaneously protect the hand from UV damage while permitting the curing light to reach the nails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a shield covers the entire hand, then UV protection is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to interference with finger movement and nail application

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUV light protectionVSAvoidfinger movement and nail application

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is segmented to cover only the dorsal aspect of the hand while leaving the palmar side and fingers exposed. This partial coverage approach provides UV protection where needed (dorsal hand) while maintaining full dexterity and access for nail application procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shield is designed as a dorsal-only cover that wraps around the back of the hand, providing UV protection in a three-dimensional configuration that does not interfere with finger movement or the nail application process on the ventral side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If a reusable shield is used, then cost effectiveness is improved, but reliability is worsened due to potential contamination and material degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost effectivenessVSAvoidprotection consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is designed as a disposable, single-use item that is inexpensive to manufacture. This ensures consistent protection quality without the risks of contamination or material degradation associated with reusable shields, while remaining cost-effective for salon operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The shield is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning, sterilization, or material recovery processes. This disposable approach ensures reliable protection for each client while simplifying operational procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The shield effectively blocks UV rays, providing comprehensive protection for the user's skin during UV gel curing processes while allowing nail curing, and is inexpensive and disposable for convenience.

Implementation Method 1

A single, thin elastomeric shield with Titanium Dioxide for UV protection... The shield effectively blocks UV rays

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV protection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9345277B2Protective hand or foot shield

Publication Date: 2016.05.24 ALBERA RENEE

AI summary

A protective shield for protecting a user's hands or feet from harmful ultraviolet rays when a coating composition applied to the user's fingernails or toenails during a manicure or pedicure is cured by an ultraviolet curing system. The protective shield includes a thin elastomeric or polymeric sheet of material impregnated with an ultraviolet blocking composition. The protective shield is provided with five or more slits, allowing the ends of the user's digits to be inserted through separate slits, ensuring that only the user's fingernails or toenails would be subjected to the ultraviolet rays produced by the ultraviolet curing system, while protecting the user's hands or feet from the ultraviolet rays. The protective shield is designed to cover a user's hand or foot while allowing the user's fingernails or toenails to protrude from separate slits provided near the end of the shield, while the slits rest firmly under the cuticles of the user's fingernails or toenails.