Abstract:
An artificial fingernail, fingernail kit and a method of applying the artificial fingernails to natural nails. The artificial fingernail includes a nail body made from transparent plastic and having a nail bed portion and a nail tip portion. The nail bed portion substantially corresponds to the nail bed of a natural fingernail and is applied over a natural fingernail. The nail tip portion includes a continuous opaque decoration which obscures a natural nail tip when the artificial fingernail is applied over a natural fingernail. The nail bed portion is substantially transparent allowing the natural nail bed to be visible therethrough.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICTIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 09/616,404, filed Jul. 14, 2000 and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/696,879, filed Oct. 26, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an artificial nail and to a method of applying the artificial nail to a natural fingernail. In particular, the invention relates to an artificial full nail cover and an artificial nail tip that have the appearance of a natural nail once it is applied.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Traditional artificial fingernails are made of an opaque hard, flexible plastic. They are applied over natural nails with an adhesive and then covered with nail polish or a topcoat of clear acrylic. In the case of a nail tip, the seam between the tip and the nail bed is filled with a filler prior to the application of the nail polish or topcoat of clear acrylic. These conventional nails look like natural nails only when covered with polish, because the artificial nails completely obscure the natural nail bed underneath.  
           [0004]    Because of the opacity of the artificial nails, a french-style manicure is impossible. A French-style manicure is one in which only the nail tip is colored, (usually white) and the nail bed is left a natural color or tinted only slightly pink. Attempts at a French-style manicure with artificial nails do not look natural, because the opaque artificial nails do not look natural, and because the opaque artificial nail bed portion cannot be made to look like a natural nail bed. In the case of an artificial nail tip, because the seam between the opaque nail tips and the natural nail bed must be filled, the tips cannot be made to look like a natural nail.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an artificial nail that provides a naturally looking French-style manicure and that is easily applied without the need for an experienced nail technician.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is an artificial full fingernail comprising a nail body made from transparent material and having a nail bed portion, a nail tip portion and a dividing line separating the nail bed portion and the nail tip portion. The nail bed portion substantially corresponds to the nail bed of a natural fingernail and is applied over a natural fingernail. The nail bed portion is substantially transparent, whereas the nail tip portion is provided with a continuous opaque decoration. Thus, the transparent nail bed portion allows at least a portion of a natural nail bed to be visible therethrough and the opaque tip portion obscures at least a portion of a natural nail tip when the artificial fingernail is applied over a natural fingernail. This way, the artificial fingernail has the color and appearance of a natural fingernail, which is especially important when doing a french manicure.  
           [0007]    To give the appearance of a French-style manicure, white paint is preferably applied over the entire nail tip portion. To give an even more decorative appearance, decorative designs can be applied over all or a portion of the nail. Such designs can include airbrushed or printed flowers, birds, or any other designs. These designs are used in addition to the opaque coating that covers the area corresponding to a natural nail tip. It is important that the natural nail tip not be visible through the artificial nail, because the artificial nail would not look natural. Only the natural nail bed is visible through the artificial nail.  
           [0008]    The artificial nail is further preferably coated with a topcoat of transparent sealer to protect the opaque coating and designs. Thus, the nail comes pre-finished and does not need any additional polish once it is applied to the natural fingernails.  
           [0009]    In an alternate embodiment, an artificial fingernail tip made of a transparent, acrylic material is provided. The fingernail tip comprises an opaque nail tip portion and a transparent base portion. The nail tip base portion corresponds in size and shape only to the distal end of a natural fingernail and is applied to the tip of a fingernail. Additional opaque decorations can be applied over the nail tip, in any desired pattern, as long as the nail base portion is left substantially transparent. Thus, a French-style manicure can be created by having the nail tip portion of the nail tip covered with a white opaque design. This gives a much more natural appearance than simply applying a fully opaque nail tip to the nail.  
           [0010]    The tips are applied to the natural nail with a standard adhesive. Then, clear acrylic or resin filler is placed over the natural nail bed, to create a smooth transition between the clear nail base portion of the tip and the natural nail bed. The filler too is transparent, so the natural nail bed is visible through the filler. A clear topcoat of the acrylic is applied over the entire nail and nail tip, so that the finished nail is smooth, glossy and natural looking. The layer of clear acrylic over the decorations also gives the decorations a very attractive three-dimensional appearance. The acrylic also protects the decorations from scratches and chipping.  
           [0011]    The artificial nail cover and tip are preferably made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic. However, other materials could also be used.  
           [0012]    The invention also includes an artificial fingernail kit, comprising at least ten of the artificial nail covers and/or tips described above, along with a translucent pink adhesive and transparent filler and coating materials. The adhesive is preferably an ethylcyanoacrylate, but other adhesives could also be used. The filler is a standard powder material that is mixed with a liquid solvent and applied to the nail with a brush. The filler then quickly hardens into a transparent solid coating.  
           [0013]    The invention also involves a method of applying artificial fingernails, comprising applying the translucent pink adhesive to the artificial nail described above, and placing the artificial nail over a natural nail, so that the natural nail bed is visible through the artificial nail and the adhesive. In the case of a nail tip, a transparent acrylic filler is applied over the natural nail bed to create a smooth transition to the tip, and the filler material is also applied in a layer over the entire nail and tip to give a smooth glossy top coating to protect the nail tip and decorations.  
           [0014]    The present invention has the advantage over traditional nail tips in that it provides a clear nail bed portion allowing the natural nail bed to be visible therethrough. By pre-applying the opaque coating and the designs to the tip, the present invention reduces the costs in having the designs applied directly to a finger while in a nail salon. Also, the transparent outer coating over the nail tip gives the designs an attractive three-dimensional appearance. Finally, the artificial nail tip according to the invention requires little or no filing after application, because the base of the nail tip is transparent and invisible after it is applied to the natural nail bed and filled.  
           [0015]    As a result of the present invention, an artificial nail and a method for applying the nail is provided, in which the natural nail bed is visible through the artificial nail, and the entire nail looks as if it were a natural nail. The artificial nail can be easily applied by a consumer without the need for an experienced nail technician. Additionally, the artificial nail is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Alternatively, an artificial nail tip and a method for applying the nail tip is provided, in which the natural nail bed is visible through the artificial nail tip, and the nail tip looks as if it were part of the natural nail.  
           [0016]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 shows a top view of the artificial full nail cover according to the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the artificial full nail cover as applied to a natural fingernail.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the layers of natural nail, adhesive, artificial full nail cover, opaque coating and outer coating according to the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the artificial full nail cover according to the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the alternate embodiment of the full nail cover shown in FIG. 4  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 shows a top view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention in the form of an artificial nail tip.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 shows a side view of the artificial nail tip of FIG. 6 as applied to a natural fingernail but without the filler and topcoat.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the layers of natural nail, artificial nail tip, opaque coating, filler and outer coating according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]    Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS.  1 - 3  show an artificial full nail cover  10  according to the invention. Artificial nail cover  10  is made of a transparent plastic material. The cover  10  is preferably made of ABS plastic, which can be trimmed and filed to a desired size and shape. The cover  10  includes a nail bed portion  11 , and a nail tip portion  12 . The nail bed portion  11  of the full nail cover  10  substantially corresponds to the full nail bed  21  of a natural fingernail and is applied over the nail bed of a natural fingernail. When the nail bed portion  11  is the same approximate size and shape of a full nail bed of a natural fingernail, the dividing line  13  between bed portion  11  and tip portion  12  corresponds to a transition line  23  of a natural nail from natural nail bed  21  to natural nail tip  22 . In that case, the transition line  23  generally corresponds to the end of the finger  20  and the natural nail tip  22  is that portion of the natural nail that extends beyond the end of the finger.  
         [0026]    Tip portion  12  is decorated with a continuous opaque decoration. “Continuously opaque” as used herein means decorations (primarily by way of color or shade) which have no breaks or discontinuities. Thus, tip portion  12  can be painted with an opaque paint  15 , e.g. white, to resemble a French-style manicure, whereas the bed portion  11  remains substantially transparent. However, additional designs  14  may be applied over the bed portion  11  and tip portion  12  to enhance the nail&#39;s appearance so long as the bed portion  11  is left substantially transparent.  
         [0027]    In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the dividing line  13   a  between the bed portion  11  and the tip portion  12  is slanted in relation to the transition line  23  of the natural nail. In other words, the dividing line  13   a  begins on one side of the cover  10  at the transition line  23 , but as the dividing line crosses the cover, it extends inwardly into the natural nail bed  21 . Here too, the tip portion  12  is painted with an opaque paint  15 , preferably white, whereas the bed portion  11  remains substantially transparent to give a modified French-style manicure appearance.  
         [0028]    To apply nail cover  10  to a natural fingernail, a translucent pink adhesive  18 , shown in FIG. 3, is applied to the nail bed portion  11  of the cover  10  in a conventional manner. The adhesive is preferably an ethylcyanoacrylate, but other adhesives could also be used. Nail cover  10  is then placed on the natural nail bed  21  on finger  20 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The natural nail tip  22  extends out under tip portion  12 , but it is not visible through the cover  10  due to the opaque nail tip portion  12 . However, because the nail bed portion  11  is substantially transparent, the natural nail bed  21  is visible through the bed portion  11 . In this way, artificial nail cover  10  resembles a natural nail. Preferably, a transparent topcoat sealer  16  is applied over the entire artificial nail for protection.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIGS.  6 - 8  an alternate embodiment of the present invention in the form of an artificial nail tip  30  is shown. The artificial nail tip  30  is similar to the full cover  10  shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , however, the tip is applied only to the outer end of the natural nail bed  21  as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Artificial nail tip  30  is also preferably made of a transparent ABS plastic and comprises a nail tip portion  31  and a base portion  32 . The base portion  32  of the tip  30  corresponds in size and shape only to the distal end of the natural nail bed  21  and is applied to end of the nail bid  21  and the tip  22  of a fingernail. Again, the tip portion  31  is coated with an opaque paint  33  to resemble a French-style manicure, whereas the base portion remains substantially transparent. Separating the tip portion  31  and the base portion  32  is a dividing line  34 , which corresponds to the transition line  23  of the natural nail from natural nail bed  21  to natural nail tip  22 . Here too, the dividing line  34  may be askew to the transition line  23 , as discussed above and shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and decorative designs  35  may be applied over the tip portion  31  and the base portion  32  by air brushing or other means.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 8, the nail tip  30  is attached to a natural nail with an adhesive so that the tip extends just into the natural nail bed  21 , to create the look of a long natural fingernail. At this point, a translucent acrylic filler  36  is applied over the natural nail bed  21  to create a smooth transition to nail tip  30 . The filler  36  is a standard powder material that is mixed with a liquid solvent and applied to the nail with a brush. The filler then quickly hardens into a transparent solid coating. The entire natural nail and nail tip  30  are then covered with a layer of translucent acrylic  37  to give a glossy attractive appearance and to enhance the look of design layer  32 .  
         [0031]    Similar to the nail cover  10  described above, the natural nail bed  21  is visible through the nail tip  30  because the base portion  32 , the filler  36  and the outer acrylic layer  37  are all transparent. Likewise, because the tip portion  31  is opaque, the natural nail tip  22  is obscured when the artificial nail tip  30  is applied. The result is a beautiful looking nail in the form of a French-style manicure that appears very natural and attractive.  
         [0032]    The pre-fabricated covers  10  and tips  30  can be provided to the consumer as part of a kit for adorning fingernails. Preferably, at least ten covers  10  and ten tips  30  are provided along with an amount of transparent adhesive, filler and top coating. The covers  10  and tips  30  provided in the kit will vary in size according to the different sizes of natural fingernails. A nail file and additional decorative decals can also be provided in the kit.  
         [0033]    Although the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.