Abstract:
The invention provides an artificial finger for fake nail preparation having a simple structure, requiring low production costs, easy to handle, and requiring less space because of its minimum size, and a fake nail preparation tool including the artificial finger and a base plate. An artificial finger for fake nail preparation of the invention is an artificial finger having a shape imitating a human finger including only a part from a proximal finger portion to a fingertip portion and the artificial finger has a detachably attachable structure at the proximal finger portion thereof with respect to an inclined portion of a base plate by a magnet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an artificial finger for fake nail preparation and a fake nail preparation tool including the artificial finger and a base plate, and particularly, to an artificial finger for fake nail preparation and a fake nail preparation tool for technical acquisition relating to coloring and extension of the fake nails (modeling of the fake nails), and also to an artificial finger for fake nail preparation and the fake nail preparation tool for preparing the fake nails which are to be actually used in addition to the technical acquisition. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Known examples of the tool for the technical acquisition relating to the fake nails as described above include those disclosed in JP-A-2000-333731, JP-A-2004-313634, JP-A-2006-320451, JP-A-2008-93212, Japanese Utility Model No. 3168569, JP-A-2014-14547, and Japanese Utility Model No. 3185307. 
         [0005]    JP-A-2000-333731 discloses a fake nail preparation practice tool including a full-scale hand model and nail bodies that are detachably attachable with respect to the hand model. The fake nail preparation practice tool has detachably attachable nail bodies, and thus can be used repeatedly only by replacing the nail bodies. In addition, by replacing the nail body with other nail bodies having various forms, a practice for technical acquisition relating to the fake nail corresponding to the various forms is enabled. The hand model is formed by molding a skin member having flexibility and similar to human skin over a bone member having movable joints. The nail body is fixed to the hand model by locking a projection formed on a back surface thereof with a mounting portion of the bone member through the skin member. With the hand model formed to imitate a real hand in this manner, a practice for technical acquisition relating to the fake nails is enabled in conditions similar to actual operations. In addition, a practice similar to actual operations is enabled by a configuration in which the hand model is rotatably coupled to an end of a supporting arm formed of a flexible tube, a clamp is provided at the other end of the supporting arm, and the supporting arm is configured to be fixable to a desk with the clamp. 
         [0006]    JP-A-2004-313634 discloses a fake nail stand including a base, a supporting member provided on the base, a supporting column, and a fake nail holder having a dome-shaped upper surface. The fake nail stand has a configuration in which the supporting column is detachably attached to the supporting member, and the fake nail holder is coupled to the supporting column so as to allow an oscillating motion. 
         [0007]    JP-A-2006-320451 discloses a fake nail preparation practice tool including a flat plate-shaped base portion, a first finger portion, a second finger portion, and a fingertip portion. In other words, the fake nail preparation practice tool includes the first finger portion formed on the fiat plate-shaped base portion so as to project therefrom, and the second finger portion coupled to the first finger portion so as to allow a vertical bending motion and a lateral rotating motion with respect to the first finger portion via a first joint. The fingertip portion is coupled to the second finger portion via a second joint so as to allow the vertical bending motion. The fingertip portion is provided with a nail bed at a fingertip, and a fake nail insertion groove in the back of the nail bed so as to allow the fake nail to be inserted thereto and removed therefrom. 
         [0008]    JP-A-2008-93212 discloses a model of a human hand or foot placed on a flat surface. A surface of a back side of the hand or an instep side of the foot is formed into a three dimensional shape by using a thin plate of a synthetic resin. The model includes a bulged portion formed into a shape of the hand or the foot including fingers arid the surface of the back or the instep, and a fiat portion formed around the bulged portion. Nail body portions formed into a shape of a nail at the fingertips are formed at extremities of bulged portions that is formed into a shape of fingers, and a rear end wall is formed at a rear end of the bulged portion formed into a shape of the surface of the back of the hand, the rear end wail extending at a right angle toward the flat portion or in a direction spreading toward the bottom. A curved surface or an inclined surface spreading toward the bottom is provided at a boundary between an outer periphery of the bulged portion and the flat portion except for the rear end wall. 
         [0009]    Japanese Utility Model No. 3168569 discloses a dummy hand for fake nail preparation practice and a practice base. The practice base includes a base and an upper semi-spherical member provided on an upper surface of the base. The dummy hand for fake nail preparation practice includes a major block portion and finger bone structure with five fingers connected to the major block portion. The finger bone structures each include bone shafts, a proximal joint, a joint formed between a second joint and a first joint, and a nail. The bone shafts and the joints including the proximal joints, the second joints, and the first joints are covered with a soft resin, and a depression is provided on the major block portion on a palm side. By placing the dummy hand for fake nail preparation practice configured to allow the joints of the fingers to be bent in this manner so as to cover the upper semi-spherical member on the practice base with the depression of the major block portion, the dummy hand for fake nail preparation practice is allowed to rotate forward, backward, leftward and rightward on the practice base. 
         [0010]    JP-A-2014-14547 discloses a fake nail technique practice tool having a fingertip shape including a finger-shaped skin portion and a nail body portion formed integrally with each other and a fake nail disposed thereon. In the fake nail technique practice tool, the fake nail includes a cuticle line and a nail wall formed thereon to enable a practice of the fake nail technique such as filing, coloring and extension. 
         [0011]    Japanese Utility Model Mo. 3185307 discloses a fake nail preparation practice stand for practicing fake nail preparation with dummy hand or foot fixed. The fake nail preparation practice stand includes a first clip configured to fix the dummy hand or foot, a second clip configured to be fixed to a table, and a connecting portion that connects the first clip and the second clip. The first clip of the fake nail preparation practice stand has a clamping force that is larger than the clamping force of the second clip. Therefore, when actually preparing the fake nail, the dummy hand or foot can be fixed to a better position to perform the fake nail preparation by adjusting the connecting portion. 
         [0012]    However, since the configuration disclosed in JP-A-2000-333731 employs the full-scale hand model provided with the hand model that is rotatably coupled to one end of a supporting arm formed of a flexible tube, and a clamp at the other end of the supporting arm so as to allow fixation to the desk, a practice tool that is bulky as a whole and requiring high production costs may result even though the user may have a real feeling of practicing. 
         [0013]    In the configuration disclosed in JP-A-2004-313634, since the holder of the fake nail does not have a finger shape, the user can hardly have a real feeling of practicing, and thus the tool is less effective as a learning tool. 
         [0014]    The configuration disclosed in JP-A-2006-320451 has a complex structure in which joints are bendable and rotatable, and thus high production costs may result. 
         [0015]    Since the configuration disclosed in JP-A-2008-93212 employs the model formed into a shape of a human hand, the user may have a real feeling of practicing. However, the practice tool which is bulky as a whole and requiring high production costs may result. 
         [0016]    The configuration disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 3168569 includes the major block portion and finger bone structure with five fingers connected thereto and enables joints of the fingers. Therefore, the practice tool is bulky as a whole and requires high production costs because of a complex structure even though the user may have a real feeling of practicing. 
         [0017]    The configuration disclosed in JP-A-2014-14547 is a model of only the nail side extremity and is extremely simple. However, the fake nail technique practice tool itself does not have a configuration to be attached to the base plate or the like. Therefore, if the user hold the fake nail technique practice tool by one hand, both hands cannot be used for performing the fake nail technique practice, which is inconvenient. If the user wants to perform the fake nail technique practice by using both hands, it is required to purchase a commercially available fake nail stand separately and attach the fake nail technique practice tool to the fake nail stand to free both hands. 
         [0018]    The configuration disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 3185307 is not configured to allow the user to perform the fake nail preparation practice by itself, and the fake nail preparation practice cannot be performed unless the dummy hand or foot is fixed to one of the clips. Accordingly, in order to perform the fake nail preparation practice, the fake nail preparation practice stand and the dummy hand or foot are necessary, and the practice tool which is bulky as a whole may result. 
         [0019]    Accordingly, after earnest studies has been made, the present inventor has developed an artificial finger for fake nail preparation and a fake nail preparation tool including the artificial finger and a base plate having a simple structure, requiring low production costs, easy to handle, and requiring less space because of its minimum size. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    An artificial finger for fake nail preparation (hereinafter, referred to simply as an “artificial finger”) of the invention is an artificial finger including only a part from a proximal finger portion to a fingertip portion and having a shape imitating a human finger, in which the artificial finger is configured to be detachably attached at the proximal finger portion thereof to a base plate. The detachably attachable structure described above may employ not only a characteristic structure such that a magnet is embedded in the proximal finger portion of the artificial finger so as to be detachably attachable with respect to the base plate made of a metal such as iron by a magnetic force, but also a general detachably attachable structure as described later. Examples of the general detachably attachable structure include a structure in which a suction cup is provided at the proximal finger portion of the artificial finger to achieve the detachably attachable structure with respect to the base plate by an adsorption force, a structure using a hook and loop fastener in which one of a hook side and a loop side of the fastener is attached to the proximal finger portion of the artificial finger and the other one of the hook side and the loop side to be adhered to the one of a hook side and a loop side of the fastener is attached to the base plate, so that the detachably attachable structure by an engaging force therebetween is achieved, and other structures that achieve the detachably attachable structure by using an adhesive force or a fitting force. 
         [0021]    With the configuration described above, since the artificial finger has a shape imitating a human finger, a real feeling of of practicing is achieved by performing a fake nail preparation practice with the fake nail adhered to the fingertip portion of the artificial finger and thus an improvement of the effect of practice is expected. With the provision of the base plate to which the artificial finger is attached, the both hands are freed by attaching the artificial finger to the base plate, and thus the fake nail preparation practice by using the both hands is enabled. In addition, the artificial finger imitating a human finger, including only a portion from the proximal finger portion to the fingertip portion, is small in sixes and is not bulky. If the artificial fingers imitating the shapes of Thumb, Index finger, Middle finger, Ring finger, and Pinky are provided, the practice can be conveniently and effectively performed as a matter of course. In addition to the practice, the artificial finger may be used for preparing fake nails to be actually worn on fingers. Therefore, the fake nails after the preparation can be worn on the fingers. In this manner, preparation to the user&#39;s satisfaction is conveniently achieved, and thus inconvenience such that the fake nails need to be prepared in a state of being worn on the fingers is avoided. In addition, the effect of the fake nail preparation practice achieved by using the artificial finger may be effectively applied to a procedure such as decorations or the like on human nails. 
         [0022]    The artificial finger of the invention described above may have a configuration in which a depressed portion and a projecting portion formed in the depressed portion are formed on one surface of the fingertip portion to allow a back surface of the fake nail to be adhered to a top surface of the projecting portion of the fingertip portion, whereby the fake nail is detachably attached to the fingertip portion of the artificial finger. 
         [0023]    With a configuration described above, since the fake nail is adhered to the top surface of the projecting portion, easy-to-replace properties for removing the adhered fake nail and putting another fake nail after the preparation such as the preparation practice has been performed on the fake nail adhered on the top surface of the projecting portion is advantageously achieved. 
         [0024]    In addition, the artificial finger according to the invention described above may have a configuration in which the projecting portion may be one or both of a rib in a fingertip direction and a rib in a finger width direction. 
         [0025]    With the configuration described above, the adhered surface area between the top portion of the projecting portion and the fake nail is increased. Therefore, the fake nail is stabilized without moving when performing preparation such as the preparation practice on the fake nail adhered to the top surface of the projecting portion, whereby an improvement of the effect of practice is achieved. In addition, since the fake nail is not adhered to the depressed portion, an advantage of easy-to-remove properties is maintained. 
         [0026]    Furthermore, the artificial finger of the invention described above may have a configuration in which the projecting portion includes projections scattered on the fingertip portion. In this configuration, since the fake nail is adhered by point contact at a plurality of locations, stability of the adhered fake nail is further improved, and the easy-to-remove properties are maintained. 
         [0027]    The artificial finger of the invention may have a configuration in which the rib in the fingertip direction is protruded beyond an extremity of the fingertip portion of the artificial finger. In this configuration, adhesive stability of the fake nail is still further improved while maintaining the easy-to-remove properties of the fake nail. 
         [0028]    A fake nail preparation tool of the invention includes an artificial finger having the configurations described above and a base plate configured to allow detachable attachment of a proximal finger portion of the artificial finger, and a substance having a magnetic force is integrated in the proximal finger portion and at least part of the base plate where the proximal finger portion of the artificial finger is to be attached is formed of a substance attracted by the magnetic force. 
         [0029]    With the configuration described above, since the artificial finger can be attached easily to the base plate and can be detached easily from the base plate, the fake nail preparation practice can be conveniently performed, and advantageously, an adhesive agent, an adhesive tape, and release paper are not required. 
         [0030]    The fake nail preparation tool of the invention described above may have a configuration in which the base plate includes an inclined portion and a horizontal portion continuing from a lower end of the inclined portion and extending under the inclined portion, and the upper surface of the inclined portion is an area which allows attachment of the proximal finger portion of the artificial finger. 
         [0031]    With the configuration described above, in the case where the artificial finger is attached to the inclined portion, the extremity of the artificial finger projects obliquely upward, which is convenient for performing the fake nail preparation practice. In addition, the configuration of the base plate is simple and compact, and it a space interposed between the inclined port ion and the horizontal portion is used as a storage portion for storing the artificial finger, the entire fake nail preparation tool becomes advantageously compact. 
         [0032]    As described above, since the artificial finger and the fake nail preparation tool including the artificial finger and the base plate of the invention have simple structures, require less production costs, and have minimum sizes, advantages of the easy-to-handle and less space requirement are achieved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an artificial finger according to Example 1 of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2A  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the artificial finger according to Example 1 of the invention illustrating an entire part of the artificial finger taken along a longitudinal direction; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the artificial finger according to Example 1 of the invention illustrating a fingertip portion of the artificial finger taken along a width direction of a fingertip portion; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a fake nail preparation tool illustrating a state in which a plurality of the artificial fingers according to Example 1 of the invention are attached to a base plate; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first modification of the artificial finger according to Example 1 of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second modification of the artificial finger according to Example 1 of the invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third modification of the artificial finger according to Example 1 of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Referring now to the drawings, preferred examples of an artificial finger and a fake nail preparation tool according to the invention will be described below. 
       Example 1 
       [0041]    In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , reference sign A denotes an artificial finger according to Example 1. The artificial finger A has a shape imitating a human finger and including only a part from a proximal finger portion  10  to a fingertip portion  20 . In order to provide the proximal finger portion  10  of the artificial finger A with a detachably attachable structure with respect to a base plate B described later, a substance having a magnetic force, for example, a magnet  11  is integrated in the proximal finger portion  10 . Reference sign C in the drawings denotes a fake nail before preparation. 
         [0042]    The fingertip portion  20  is provided with a depressed portion  21  for allowing adhesion of the fake nail C on one of surfaces, that is, on a surface to which the fake nail C is to be adhered, and a projecting portion corresponding to a rib  22  extending in a fingertip direction is formed in the depressed portion  21 . The rib  22  is formed so as to protrude slightly beyond an extremity of the fingertip portion  20  of the artificial finger A. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a top surface of the rib  22  and a back surface of the fake nail C are configured to be adhered to each other. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates the base plate B to which the artificial fingers A of Example 1 are attached. The artificial fingers A each include the magnet  11  integrated in the proximal finger portion  10  thereof as already described. At least part of the base plate B where the proximal finger portions  10  of the artificial fingers A are to be attached is formed of a substance attracted by a magnetic force, for example, a metal such as iron. A configuration in which an entire part of the base plate B is formed of a metal such as iron which is attracted by the magnetic force is also applicable as a matter of course. The base plate B includes an inclined portion  30  and a horizontal portion  40  continuing from a lower end of the inclined portion  30  and extending under the inclined portion  30 , and the proximal finger portion  10  of the artificial finger A is configured to be attached to an upper surface of the inclined portion  30  by a magnetic force. 
         [0044]    With a configuration of the artificial finger A according to Example 1 as described above, since the artificial finger has a shape imitating a human finger, a real feeling of practicing is achieved by performing a fake nail preparation practice using the artificial finger A, and thus an improvement of the effect of practice is expected. In addition, by attaching the artificial finger A to the base plate B, both hands can be used for performing the fake nail preparation practice. Furthermore, the artificial finger A imitating a human finger, including only a portion from the proximal finger portion  10  to the fingertip portion  20 , is small in size and is not bulky. It is preferable to provide artificial fingers A by type of the human fingers, that is, those having shapes imitating Thumb, Index finger, Middle finger, Ring finger, and Pinky, as a matter of course. The artificial finger A may be used not only for the practice, but also for preparing fake nails to be ready for actually wearing on fingers after the preparation has done. 
         [0045]    Since the rib  22  termed on the fingertip portion  20  of the artificial finger A has a configuration as described above, an adhered surface area with respect to the fake nail C is sufficiently large, and thus the fake nail C is stably adhered. In addition, since the rib  22  has a configuration partly separated from the depressed portion  21 , the fake nail C is configured to have easy-to-remove properties with respect to the fingertip portion  20 . 
         [0046]    Furthermore, the base plate  3  is configured to allow the artificial finger A to be easily attached to the base plate B by an action of a magnetic force, and the artificial finger A can be removed easily from the base plate. Since the artificial finger A is attached to the inclined portion  30  of the base plate B, an extremity  20  of the artificial finger A protrudes obliquely upward. Therefore, a convenient configuration for performing the fake nail preparation practice is achieved. The base plate B may be used as a storage for the artificial fingers A by using a space formed between the inclined portion  30  and the horizontal portion  40 . 
       First Modification 
       [0047]      FIG. 4  is a first modification of the projecting portion formed on the fingertip portion  20  of the artificial finger A described in Example 1. 
         [0048]    In other words, in the first modification, a depressed portion  121  on a fingertip portion  120  of an artificial finger  100 A is provided with projecting portions by providing two rows of ribs  122  extending in a finger width direction. Other configurations are the same as Example 1. The number of rows of the ribs  122  is not limited to two rows as a matter of course. 
         [0049]    With the configuration described above, since the adhered surface area between the top portion of the rib  122  and the fake nail C is increased, the fake nail C is stabilized at the time of preparation such as a practice without moving. In addition, since the back surface of the fake nail C is not entirely adhered to the fingertip portion  120 , the easy-to-remove properties of the fake nail C with respect to the fingertip portion  120  is achieved. 
       Second Modification 
       [0050]      FIG. 5  is a second modification of the projecting portion formed on the fingertip portion  20  of the artificial finger A described in Example 1. 
         [0051]    In other words, in the second modification a plurality of projections  222  are scattered to form the projecting portion in a depressed portion  221  of a fingertip portion  220  of an artificial finger  200 A. Other configurations are the same as Example 1. The arrangement of the projections  222  is not limited to that illustrated as a matter of course. 
         [0052]    With the configuration described above, the fake nail C is adhered by point contact at a plurality of locations, and thus adhesion stability of the fake nail C is improved. In addition, since the back surface of the fake nail C is not entirely adhered to the fingertip portion  220 , the easy-to-remove properties of the fake nail C with respect to the fingertip portion  220  are maintained. 
       Third Modification 
       [0053]      FIG. 6  is a third modification of the projecting portion formed on the fingertip portion  20  of the artificial finger A described in Example 1. 
         [0054]    In other words, in the third modification, a projecting portion including a rib  322   a  in the fingertip direction and ribs  322   b  in the finger width direction intersecting with each other is formed in a depressed portion  321  of a fingertip portion  320  of an artificial finger  300 A. Other configurations are the same as Example 1. The arrangement and the configuration of the rib  322   a  in the fingertip direction and the ribs  322   b  in the finger width direction are not limited to those illustrated as a matter of course. 
         [0055]    With the configuration described above, the total surface area of the top portions is increased toy the provision of the rib  322   a  in the fingertip direction and the ribs  322   b  in the finger width direction, and the fake nail C is adhered to the top portions. Therefore, the adhesion stability of the fake nail C is improved. In addition, since the back surface of the fake nail C is not entirely adhered to the fingertip portion  320 , the easy-to-remove properties of the fake nail C with respect to the fingertip portion  320  are maintained. 
         [0056]    Although several embodiments of the present invention has been described, these embodiments are intended for illustration only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments may be implemented in other various modes, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in claims and a range equivalent thereto. 
         [0057]    While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.