Abstract:
Method and apparatus for cosmetically disguising an unattractive finger or toe nail area of a negatively affected hand or foot digit by using a temporary, cosmetically appealing covering, by providing a cosmetic nail covering that will simulate the appearance of a nearby normal nail when a suitably sized and shaped cosmetic nail covering is applied to cover the nail area of the affected digit, and both the cosmetic nail covering and the nearby normal nails of the hand or foot are coated by a user with identical user-supplied nail polish. The covering is made from adhesive tape suitable for wrapping around a digit, and a pad sized and shaped to resemble a normal nail for the affected digit when the pad is adhered to the tape. The tape should enable forming a coating that is as smooth, level, and uniformly colored as natural nails when coated by conventional polish.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Division of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/768,358, filed Apr. 27, 2010; which claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/174,972, filed May 1, 2009; both by Maria A. Barile. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a base for application of cosmetic composition thereupon and, more particularly to a base that is applied over finger or toe nails. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many people suffer from a lost or damaged, and possibly infected toe or finger nail. In addition to pain, there is the nuisance of a very unappealing appearance for a relatively long time required for re-growth of a nail. In particular, women are thus hindered from wearing sandals or open-toe shoes. An attractive cosmetic cover that does not interfere with healing of the damaged or diseased nail would be a multifold solution to this problem, that is, cosmetic and medical. 
         [0004]    The primary medical problem is toenail fungus, which affects about 10 percent of American adults. Fungus causes the nail to become thick, yellow, and fetid. This creates an unattractive finger or toe that embarrasses the person who has the affliction, which causes the person to hide the nail, such as in a closed shoe, even in the high temperatures of summer. Another problem affects both finger and toe nails, and that is an injury to the nail portion of a digit, for example an impact severe enough to cause a blood blister under the nail. Such injuries yield unsightly discoloration at the least, and often cause loss of the nail followed by many months before a new nail grows back. 
         [0005]    Current remedies for nail fungus are rarely successful, and treatment often involves removal of a portion of the nail. Even when an available prescription works, it takes months for a new nail to grow out and replace the diseased nail. The patient is left with a nail that is ugly, discolored, and unappealing. 
         [0006]    In the case of a nail infection, a bandage may be required to control bleeding and to hold topical medications in place, however medical bandages are generally unattractive. Another medical issue is that untreated nail fungus can spread by shedding invisible spores when a person removes shoes and socks or goes barefoot, especially in public areas such as locker rooms. Thus, covering the diseased nail could help prevent the spread of fungal disease. 
         [0007]    Prior art discloses multiple ways to decorate finger or toe or both nails. In general, these are placed over an existing nail primarily to provide ornamentation to the nail without attempting to disguise the nail as a normal, healthy nail, or in the case of complete nail covers such as false nails, the cover is glued—typically permanently—to the real nail underneath. This exacerbates the problem for infected nails, and is totally unsuitable for growing nails and exposed nail beds. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,983 (Wissman et al.: 1986) discloses a method of installing an artificial toe or finger nail at the site of a surgically removed natural nail. The disclosed invention requires preparing the exposed nail bed (12) before attaching the artificial nail by applying a separating agent and mass of plastic material. It can be seen that the Wissman et al. method is for surgically removed nails and requires medical supervision. It does not provide a simple self-applied cosmetic disguise of the affected digit to simulate a healthy nail, and it is difficult to apply and might interfere with healing if not done properly. 
         [0009]    US Application 2005/0,010,146 (Levanon et al.: 2005) discloses a decorative bandage with an LED display, the display being for displaying a skin condition value. While hiding skin conditions, the Levanon adhesive bandage with display does not disguise a damaged or diseased or missing nail to give the appearance of a normal nail. 
         [0010]    Prior art that hides a broken chipped nail, such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,688,331 (Bogoslowsky et al.:  1949 ), generally specifies adhesion directly to the existing nail. It does not provide an easily applied cosmetic covering suitable for use on infected nails or exposed nail beds. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,889 (Stout et al.: 2003) discloses a gel dressing that can be used in the treatment of fungus-involved or discolored toe nails. The gel dressing, while protective of the damaged toe nail, does not cosmetically disguise the affected nail, especially if the nail is misshaped in any way. Such coatings are no more effective in hiding a nail than simply applying nail polish to the nail. 
         [0012]    Thus, there is an unmet need for a simple means of cosmetically disguising a damaged, diseased, or missing nail while also avoiding discomfort and further damage in the affected area. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The cosmetic nail cover is a temporary covering for cosmetically hiding diseased, damaged, or missing nails on toes or fingers, especially on women. According to the invention, the nail cover is a device and method of use thereof, to create an illusion of a full, healthy nail, though not adhering directly to the damaged nail or exposed nail bed. The cover has adhesive strong enough to adhere to the skin if subjected to water or moisture. The cover is a smooth material with the capability to accept nail polish in a way that looks like the other normal nails around it. The herein disclosed method uses the cosmetic nail cover device to disguise an unappealing nail on a digit, by making it appear to be normal by covering the affected digit and enabling the application of nail polish to the covering as if it were the normal nail for the digit. 
         [0014]    According to the invention, a strip of tape and a pad cut to size covers a diseased or damaged nail, which allows the user to apply nail polish on the strip of tape over the area where the pad is adhesively attached to the bottom of the strip of tape that is wrapped around the digit (toe or finger) to disguise the diseased or damaged nail or nail bed. 
         [0015]    The main purpose of the current invention is to cosmetically disguise a diseased or damaged nail that provides the illusion of a healthy nail. In an embodiment according to the invention the cosmetic nail cover includes: a strip of adhesive tape, which is of suitable length to wrap around a digit, has a backing paper that protects the adhesive on the back side of the strip of tape and is removed by the user before use; and a flexible pad that the user cuts to cover the entire nail area that is diseased or damaged, and which pad the user attaches to the adhesive on the bottom of the strip of tape, after the backing paper has been removed. The user then places the pad directly over the unattractive nail and wraps the strip of tape around the skin of the digit. The user finishes the process by applying nail polish to the strip of tape over the pad that covers the diseased or damaged nail area. 
         [0016]    According to the invention, a cosmetic nail cover is disclosed for cosmetically disguising, with a temporary covering and conventional nail polish, an unattractive nail area on a nail portion of an affected hand or foot digit; the cosmetic nail cover comprising: an elongated strip of tape that has a front side and an opposed back side; material of the tape being resistant to damage by conventional nail polish chemicals, and the front side of the tape material being suitable for application and adherence of a coating of the conventional nail polish by conventional means; an adhesive substantially coating the back side of the strip of tape, wherein the adhesive is suitable for removable adherence to skin of the hand or foot; and a flexible pad having a firm smooth top surface for adherence to the back side of the strip of tape. 
         [0017]    Further according to the invention, the pad material is: suitable for conventionally trimming to a size and shape appropriate for the nail area of the affected digit; and has a pad thickness comparable to that of a nail for the affected digit. Preferably the tape material is substantially transparent or translucent, and the front side is non-glossy. Also preferably, the adhesive and the tape material are medically approved for application to human skin; and the pad material is medically approved for application to exposed, medicated, or healing nail beds; and has a bottom side that is sufficiently soft to avoid irritation of an exposed nail bed of the affected digit. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment of the invention, the cosmetic nail cover is provided pre-cut and preassembled to a specific size and shape that is appropriate for cosmetically covering the nail area of a specific affected digit; such that: the pad has been trimmed to the specific size and shape appropriate for the nail area of the specific affected digit, including a curved cuticle edge of the pad spaced apart from an opposed pad outside edge by a pad length, and two opposed substantially parallel and linear lateral pad edges spaced apart by a pad width; the pad top is adhered to the adhesive coated back side of the strip of tape, with the pad length being aligned with the tape width, the pad cuticle edge being close to a cuticle edge of the strip of tape, and the pad being approximately centered in the tape length; the strip of tape has been trimmed to a tape width that aligns an outside tape edge with the outside edge of the adhered pad, and a tape length sufficient to wrap approximately once around the nail portion of the specific affected digit; and a strip of backing paper is releasably adhered to substantially all exposed portions of the adhesive coating, and also covers the pad bottom. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment of the invention, the strip of tape is provided in a plurality of tape widths and the pad is separately provided in one or more pre-cut shapes and sizes. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment of the invention, the tape material with adhesive coating, and the pad material, are supplied separately in a kit with instructions for trimming and assembling a cosmetic nail cover that has a size and shape appropriate for covering the nail area of an affected digit. 
         [0021]    According to the invention, a method is disclosed for cosmetically hiding an unattractive finger or toe nail area of an affected digit with a temporary, cosmetically appealing covering, the method comprising the steps of: providing tape material that has a back side substantially coated with an adhesive suitable for releasably adhering to human skin, and that has an opposed front side that is suitable for coating with nail polish; trimming the tape material to form a strip of tape having a tape length sufficient to wrap approximately once around the nail portion of the affected digit; providing pad material that is semi-rigid and which presents a smooth firm surface on a top side; trimming the pad material to form a pad having a pad length, a pad width, and a cuticle edge curved shape appropriate for a desired shape of nail for the nail area of the affected digit; removing backing paper, if present, from the adhesive on the back side of the strip of tape; positioning the pad on the adhesive coated side of the strip of tape such that the pad length is aligned with the tape width, the pad cuticle edge is close to a cuticle edge of the strip of tape, and the pad is approximately centered in the tape length; pressing to adhere the pad top surface to the strip of tape; positioning the pad over the nail area of the affected digit with the adhesive coating facing the digit; wrapping the strip of tape around the affected digit; trimming a pad outside edge and a corresponding outside tape edge as needed to form a desired shape and dimensions for the outside edges of the nail covering; and applying nail polish on the tape front side above the pad as cosmetic decoration to match that of other nails, thereby presenting the appearance of one nail-polished natural nail among others on the same hand or foot. 
         [0022]    Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in light of the following description thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Reference will be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these preferred embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention to these particular embodiments. 
           [0024]    Certain elements in selected ones of the drawings may be illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views, if any, presented herein may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a true cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. 
           [0025]    Elements of the figures can be numbered such that similar (including identical) elements may be referred to with similar numbers in a single drawing. For example, each of a plurality of elements collectively referred to as  199  may be referred to individually as  199   a ,  199   b ,  199   c , etc. Or, related but modified elements may have the same number but are distinguished by primes. For example,  109 ,  109 ′, and  109 ″ are three different elements which are similar or related in some way, but have significant modifications. Such relationships, if any, between similar elements in the same or different figures will become apparent throughout the specification, including, if applicable, in the claims and abstract. 
           [0026]    The structure, operation, and advantages of the present preferred embodiment of the invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a pre-assembled embodiment of a cosmetic nail cover, according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a strip of tape with adhesive and backing paper, according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side views of two examples of tape material provided in a roll format; as a coil with backing paper, and on a spool, respectively, according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an assortment of strips of tape of different widths, and two pieces of pad material, all provided on a card of release paper, according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of pad material, according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a strip of tape with inside ends of the backing paper partly peeled away from the adhesive on the back side of the tape material, according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an assembled cosmetic nail cover, according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the assembled cosmetic nail cover of  FIG. 7 , according to the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the cosmetic nail cover after it has been applied to a nail portion of a digit according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 10-17  illustrate the process of assembling the cosmetic nail cover, applying it to a digit, and applying cosmetic decoration, according to the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the step of trimming a strip of tape to a desired cut width, according to the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the step of cutting a strip of tape with a desired cut length Lt′ from tape material in the coil of tape of  FIG. 3A , according to the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the step of cutting a pad with a desired size and shape from pad material, according to the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the step of peeling the backing paper away from a strip of tape, according to the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the step of adhering the pad to the strip of tape, according to the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the step of aligning the cosmetic nail cover with a nail area of the digit, according to the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the step of wrapping the cosmetic nail cover&#39;s strip of tape around the nail portion of the digit, according to the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  is a top view of the step of applying nail polish to the applied cosmetic nail cover, according to the present invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    For the sake of clear and focused description, the present disclosure is primarily discussed and illustrated with reference to exemplary embodiments of a “cosmetic nail cover,” however, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of structure and the arrangement of the components set forth in the disclosed embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are merely suggestive of many modes of implementation of the inventive concept(s). 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 17 , the present invention cosmetically disguises an unattractive nail area  119  of an affected digit  124  having a diseased or damaged nail  119  or exposed nail bed  119  caused, for example, by physical trauma or, for example, by a medical problem such as nail fungus. The inventive cosmetic nail cover  100  hides an unsavory nail area  119  beneath a pad  116  that is held in place on the affected digit  124  by a strip of tape  112  with adhesive  108  (see  FIG. 13 ). The cosmetic nail cover  100  provides a firm, smooth, nail-shaped tape top surface  104  that is receptive to an application of nail polish  128  (provided by the user) as desired by the user to provide a temporary cosmetic affect that appears to be a normal nail decorated with nail polish  128  like the surrounding nails. The terms nail portion  118  of an affected digit  124  will be used herein to refer to the part of a digit that underlies the nail area  119 , wherein the nail area  119  references the area normally covered by a natural nail including any portions of nail or nail bed that lie within the nail area  119 . An “affected digit”  124  is a specific one of the fingers or toes that has a nail area  119  that the user desires to cosmetically hide with the cosmetic nail cover  100 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 1  shows an assembled embodiment of the cosmetic nail cover  100  as it can be supplied to a user (e.g., by retail sale, in appropriate packaging, not shown). Referring also to  FIG. 8 , the cosmetic nail cover  100  comprises an elongated strip of tape  112  made of a tape material  102  that has a front side  104  (or top side as shown) and an opposed back (or bottom) side  106  that is substantially coated with an adhesive  108  suitable for removably adhering to human skin of the hand or foot, and is preferably water resistant. Adhered by the adhesive  108 , approximately centered on the strip of tape  112 , is a flexible pad  116  having a pad thickness Tp (shown in  FIG. 5 ) comparable to that of a finger or toe nail  119 . The pad  116  has a firm smooth top surface  115 , which is the side of the pad  116  that is adhered to the back side  106  of the strip of tape  112 ; and an opposed bottom side  117  that is preferably sufficiently soft to avoid irritation of an exposed nail bed  119  of the affected digit  124 . Where the tape material  102  is adhered to the firm smooth top surface  115  of the pad  116 , it conforms such that the front (top) side  104  of the tape material  102  also becomes firm and smooth like a natural finger or toe nail. For further enabling cosmetic application of nail polish  128 , the tape material  102  is resistant to damage by conventional nail polish  128  chemicals, and the front side  104  of the tape material is suitable for application and adherence of a coating of the conventional nail polish  128  by conventional means (e.g., by brush). A non-glossy front surface  104  is preferred for suitably aiding uniform adherence of the nail polish  128 . It is also preferred, along with transparency or translucence for visually “hiding” the strip of tape  112  on the skin of the digit  124 , given that these characteristics avoid unnatural light reflection and allow the normal skin color to show through. 
         [0048]      FIG. 1  further shows an embodiment of a retail version of a preassembled cosmetic nail cover  100  wherein releasable backing paper  110  protects both the adhesive layer  108  and the pad  116  until use, preferably with overlapping ends  111  to make removal easier. Although this pre-assembled embodiment of the cosmetic nail cover  100  is also pre-cut to specific strip of tape  112  and pad  116  size and dimensions, the user can be instructed to trim the tape length Lt and the tape width Wt (and pad length Lp along with it) as needed to accommodate a smaller circumference nail portion  118  or a shorter length nail area  119  of the affected digit  124 . The pad width Wp is essentially fixed since it is difficult to trim once the pad  116  is adhered to the strip of tape  112  during preassembly. Such preassembled and pre-cut cosmetic nail covers  100  may be packaged as one size or an assortment of sizes in various tape/pad lengths and widths suitable for covering different sized/shaped nail portions  118  of digits  124 . 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  15 ,  16 , and  17 , a preassembled and precut embodiment of the cosmetic nail cover  100  may be provided with instructions for its application and finishing, such as the following:
       remove the backing paper  110  from the cosmetic nail cover  100 ;   position the pad  116  over the nail area  119  of the affected digit  124  with the adhesive coating  108  facing the digit  124 ;   wrap the strip of tape  112  around the affected digit  124 ;   trim a pad outside edge  120  and a corresponding outside tape edge  113   a  as needed to form a desired shape and dimensions for the outside edges  113   a ,  120  of the nail covering  100 ; and   apply nail polish  128  on the tape front side  104  above the pad  116  as cosmetic decoration to match that of other nails, thereby presenting the appearance of one nail-polished natural nail among others on the same hand or foot.       
 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A,  3 B,  4  and  5 , the inventive product may be sold as a kit  130  that includes a supply of tape material  102  with adhesive coating  108 , and pad material  114 . Preferably instructions are also provided that describe trimming the supplied materials  102 ,  114  to a desired shape and size, assembling a cosmetic nail cover  100 , applying it to an affected digit  124 , and cosmetically decorating it (e.g., with nail polish  128 ). 
         [0056]      FIGS. 3A-3B  show two embodiments of the adhesive  108  coated tape material  102  being provided in a roll form.  FIG. 3A  illustrates a loose coil of the tape material  102  with backing paper  110  releasably adhered to it by the adhesive coating  108 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates the tape material  102  with adhesive coating  108  but without backing paper  110 , all rolled on a spool like a roll of one-sided adhesive tape. 
         [0057]      FIG. 2  shows one of several individual strips of tape  112  that are pre-cut to a tape length Lt between tape ends  126  and to a tape width Wt. The strip of tape  112  is made of the tape material  102  with a front side  104  and an opposed back side  106  that is substantially coated with an adhesive  108 , which in turn is covered by a layer of backing paper  110  that is releasably adhered to the adhesive coating  108  for the purpose of preventing unwanted sticking of the adhesive  108  to other surfaces such as, for example, a retail package (not shown) that holds several of the strips of tape  112 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 5  shows one of several individual pieces of pad material  114  that are pre-cut to a pad length Lp and to a pad width Wp. The pad material  114  has a pad top  115  and an opposed pad bottom  117 . 
         [0059]    The individual strips of tape  112  and the individual pieces of pad material  114  can be provided in a plurality of sizes (width and length dimensions) suitable for trimming as needed to form a pad  116  and strip of tape  112  having specific sizes and shapes appropriate for covering a specific affected nail area  119 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of bulk material provisioning, wherein an assortment of pre-cut strips of tape  112  with adhesive  108 , and pad material  114  are releasably adhered on a sheet (or “card”) of backing paper  110 , thereby making an example embodiment of a kit  130 . The tape length Lt and tape width Wt (varied among the strips); and the pad width Wp and pad length Lp (varied among the pieces) are labeled assuming that pads  116  would be made using rectangles of pad material  114  cut across (horizontal as illustrated) the vertical strips of pad material  114  on the card  110 . 
         [0061]    To assemble a cosmetic nail cover having a shape and size appropriate for the nail portion  118  of the affected digit  124  (e.g., as in  FIG. 9 ), the user cuts the supplied tape material  102  (e.g., as in  FIG. 11 ) to form a strip of tape  112  with a trimmed tape length Lt′ sufficient for wrapping substantially around the nail portion  118  of the affected digit  124 . The user also cuts the strip of tape  112  (e.g., as in  FIG. 10 ) to a trimmed tape width Wt′ sufficient to cover the nail area  119  without extending beyond the end of the affected digit  124  (see  FIG. 16 ). 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the user also cuts the pad material  114  to a trimmed pad width Wp′ and trimmed pad length Lp′ that correspond to a desired shape and size that at least covers the nail area  119  by the opaque pad  116  of the cosmetic nail cover  100 , thereby making the pad  116  look like a normal nail for the affected nail area  119 . To look like a typical normal nail (and nail area  119 ), a pad  116  is typically trimmed to have the trimmed pad width Wp′ between two substantially parallel and linear opposed lateral side edges  123 ; and to have the trimmed pad length Lp′ between a pad outside edge  120  (shown straight across as for a “square-cut” toenail) and a pad cuticle edge  122  that is roughly U-shaped to follow the curve of a cuticle. 
         [0063]    In the best mode, the tape material  102  is resistant to damage by chemicals in commonly used (conventional) nail polish, and the strip of tape  112  has an adhesive  108  on its back side  106  that is approved for medical use such as for over-the-counter bandage tape and is resistant to moisture. The tape material  102  is preferably translucent or transparent and has a non-glossy front surface  104  so that, once applied to the skin, the tape material  102  is unseen and the skin shows through. Furthermore, a non-glossy (matt) surface is more likely to be suitable for application and adherence of a layer of nail polish, e.g. brushing on without beading up. An example of a commercially available product meeting these criteria is product #9865A by 3M (St. Paul, Minn.), which is a polyethylene film (tape) supplied with adhesive on one side. Polyethylene film is known to have good resistance to chemicals such as inks, coloring, carrier fluids, and the like that are typically used in conventional “nail polish”. Listed material properties that make the #9865A product (film with adhesive) particularly suitable are: hypoallergenic, suitable for repeat/chronic skin contact, “medium” conformability, fluid resistant, “printable”, and transparent (preferred, but is also available in “tan” and “blush tan” colors). The printable characteristic means that paint or ink, and therefor likely nail polish (enamel lacquer) will adhere when applied by conventional means. Additional properties that are advantageous include: average adhesion, sterilizable, 3.0 mil (0.003″) thick film with good tensile strength and moderately low elongation, and supplied on a roll with a liner (release paper) protecting the adhesive. 
         [0064]    Embodiments of the tape material  102  as it may be supplied include, for example, a preassembled cosmetic nail cover  100  ( FIG. 1 ), or for example, pre-cut strips of tape  112  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4 ), or for example a roll of tape material  102  ( FIGS. 3A ,  3 B). In a less-preferred embodiment, the tape material  102  may be perforated for ventilation, but perforations are not suitable for the tape material  102  that is on top of the adhered pad  116  due to a resultant uneven front surface  104  for painting with nail polish  128 . A way to provide ventilation may be to perforate the assembled nail cover  100  only where the tape material  102  doesn&#39;t sit on top of the adhered pad  116 , where it is to be painted. 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , kit instructions could, for example, suggest that the user “trace around” the nail portion  118  on paper to create a template which is then transferred to the pad material  114 , or to simply trace a line directly on the pad material  114 , for cutting the pad material  114  to the appropriate shape and size to create the pad  116  with a trimmed pad length Lp′ and trimmed pad width Wp′. A uniform curvature for the pad cuticle edge  122  can generally be approximated by eye. 
         [0066]    The inventor&#39;s measurements, and/or a survey of “false nail” dimensions in the market, indicate what may be a best mode set of strip of tape  112  and pad  116  dimensions for nail beds  119  of an average set of finger or toe digits  124 . The following listing of dimensions is a preferred but non-limiting example of a set of tape widths Wt and tape lengths Lt plus corresponding pad widths Wp and pad lengths Lp for an “average” set of toe nails (i.e. toe nail beds)  119 . A pad cuticle edge  122  radius of curvature is also listed. The pad lengths are not listed because they are assumed to be approximately equal to their corresponding tape widths Wt. The largest dimensions are for the “big toe” digit  124 , and are a tape width Wt of ¾ inch and a tape length Lt of 3½ inches, with a corresponding pad width Wp of 11/16 inch (and pad length Lp of ¾ inch). Radius of curvature is 11/64 inch. Dimensions for the other toe digits  124  are a tape width Wt of ⅜ inch and tape length Lt of 2⅜ inch, with a pad width Wp of ⅜ inch and a radius of curvature of 9/64 inch; tape width Wt of 5/16 inch and tape length Lt of 2⅜ inches, with a pad width Wp of 5/16 inch and a radius of curvature of 9/64 inch; tape width Wt of ¼ inch and tape length Lt of 2¼ inches, with a pad width Wp of 5/16 inch and a radius of curvature of 9/64 inch; and tape width Wt of 3/16 inch and tape length Lt of 2¼ inches, with a pad width Wp of ¼ inch and a radius of curvature of 5/64 inch. A similar set of dimensions appropriate for covering an average set of finger nail beds  119  is easily determined by making measurements on a number of people. Although such an “average” set of cosmetic nail covers  100  can be supplied in a package, it is advantageous to make them from tape material  102  and pad material  114  that is suitable for conventionally trimming (e.g., by common paper scissors) to adjust for individual variations from the average. In another advantageous embodiment, pre-assembled (and pre-cut) cosmetic nail covers  100  are packaged as several tape strips  112  of a standard tape length Lt and just a few tape widths Wt, and a suitable range of pad widths Wp for each corresponding pad length Lp (equaling the tape width Wt). The user selects an appropriate pad width Wp for the affected nail area  119 , then trims the tape length Lt, tape width Wt, and pad length Lp as needed to fit the affected nail portion  118  and nail area  119  of the affected digit  124 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the pad material  114  has a pad top surface  115  that is firm and smooth to form a good surface for applying nail polish  128  on the front surface  104  of the tape material  102  where it is adhered to the top surface  115  of a pad  116  made from the pad material  114 . The pad material  114  is preferably flexible for conforming to contours of the nail portion  118  of the affected digit  124  (e.g., cylindrically convex), and is preferably semi-rigid to hold its shape under the strip of tape  112 . It preferably has a closed cell structure (without porosity), is fluid resistant and is approved for medical use. The pad thickness Tp is preferably comparable to that of a nail for the affected digit  124 , for example approximately 10 mils (0.010 inch) thick. An example of commercially available product meeting these criteria is product #9776 by 3M (St. Paul, Minn.), which is a 10 mil, closed cell polyethylene “medical foam” with “medium” conformability, supplied in a “tan” color (preferred so that the outside edge  120  will not stand out as an unnatural pure white color). It is non-porous, fluid resistant, sterilizable, hypoallergenic, and approved for repeat skin contact. 
         [0068]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of the strip of tape  112  wherein tape material  102  is cut to a trimmed tape length Lt′. The backing paper  110  has ends  111  partly peeled away to expose the adhesive coating  108  that is on the tape back  106 . Once the backing paper  110  is removed and the pad  116  is adhered to the strip of tape  112 , the user can apply the now-assembled cosmetic nail cover  100  to the affected digit  124 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the assembled cosmetic nail cover  100 . The pad  116  is approximately centered relative to the trimmed length Lt′ and the trimmed width Wt′ of the strip of tape  112 , and is adhered to the back side  106  of the tape material  102  by the adhesive  108 . The pad  116  has been trimmed to the specific size and shape appropriate for the nail area  119  of the specific affected digit  124 , including a curved cuticle edge  122  spaced apart from an opposed pad outside edge  120  by a trimmed pad length Lp&#39;, and two opposed, substantially parallel and linear, lateral pad edges  123  are spaced apart by a trimmed pad width Wp′. The outside pad edge  120  is preferably flush with the outside tape edge  113   a , and the cuticle pad edge  122  is preferably flush with the cuticle tape edge  113   b.    
         [0070]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the assembled cosmetic nail cover  100 . The top surface  115  of the pad  116  is adhered to the back side  106  of the strip of tape  112  by the adhesive coating  108  on the tape material  102  (and also on the pad  116  if it comes with its own adhesive  108 ). 
         [0071]      FIG. 9  illustrates the cosmetic nail cover  100  applied to the nail portion  118  of the affected digit  124 . The pad  116  is trimmed such that the lateral edges  123  and the curved cuticle edge  122  substantially align with corresponding edges of the nail area  119  of the affected digit  124 , thereby substantially covering the nail area  119 . The strip of tape material  102  is wrapped around the nail portion  118  of the digit  124 . Because it is clear and non-glossy the tape material  102  essentially disappears, as indicated by a ghosted outline. 
         [0072]      FIGS. 10-17  illustrate a process (method) for cutting, assembling, applying and finishing a cosmetic nail cover  100  using supplies provided in a kit  130 . 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , a user cuts a length Lt from, for example, a roll of tape material  102 . The instructions could tell the user to cut a strip of tape  112  to sufficiently wrap around an affected digit  124  approximately one time. The user can, but only if necessary, cut the strip of tape  112  lengthwise, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , to reduce the tape width Wt to sufficiently cover the affected nail bed  119  without protruding over the outside end of the digit  124 . The user then cuts the pad material  114  to create the pad  116  (see  FIG. 12 ). To determine the desired shape and size of the pad  116 , a user may trace around the nail area  119  on a piece of paper to form a template for trimming the pad material  114  to a trimmed pad width Wp′ and trimmed pad length Lp′ having a matching cuticle edge  122  shape, that are appropriate for covering the nail area  119  of the affected digit  124  with the pad  116 . Next, the user peels off the backing paper  110  from the strip of tape  112  as shown in  FIG. 13 , and applies the pad  116  approximately centered on the adhesive  108  of the tape back  106  on the strip of tape  112 , which  FIG. 14  illustrates. To apply the assembled cosmetic nail cover  100  to the affected digit  124 , the user aligns the pad  116  over the nail portion  118  of the affected digit  124  (shown in  FIG. 15  being moved down into position), and wraps the strip of tape  112  around the digit  124  approximately one time, as shown in  FIG. 16 , preferably overlapping the tape ends  126  for a strong hold.  FIG. 17  illustrates the last step in the process of cosmetically disguising an unattractive nail  119  by applying conventional nail polish  128  on the portion of the tape material  102  that is over the pad  116 . The dotted lines on the drawing, indicating edges of the tape material  102  (e.g., outside edge  113   a  and cuticle edge  113   b ), show how the tape material  102  becomes practically invisible due to its preferred properties of being translucent or transparent and non-glossy, such that skin color shows through in a natural way. The illustration in  FIG. 17  includes an adjacent toe to show how the covered nail portion  118  of the affected digit  124  looks just like the adjacent natural nail when both are painted with nail polish  128 . 
         [0074]    Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character—it being understood that only preferred embodiments have been shown and described, and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the invention as claimed are desired to be protected. Undoubtedly, many other “variations” on the “themes” set forth hereinabove will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention most nearly pertains, and such variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention, as disclosed herein.