Abstract:
The invention pertains to a nail tip comprising of an artificial nail tip having a top surface and a bottom surface. The artificial nail tip has a plurality of decorative particles covering the entire top surface of the artificial nail tip and a base adhesive to attach the plurality of decorative particles to the top surface of the artificial nail tip and to other pluralities of decorative particles.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/813338 entitled, HauteNautic Micros by Khuong VO, filed Apr. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    This specification generally relates to the field of artificial nail tips. More specifically, this specification relates to pre-manufacturing artificial nail tips with decorative particles to produce a 3 dimensional (3D) visual and/or tactile effect. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem and the understanding of the causes of a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section may merely represent different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. 
         [0005]    The invention is about fashionable pre-manufacture 3D multi-color micro beads and/or pre-manufacture 3D glitters on top of artificial nail tips, cell phone covers, tablet covers, laptop covers or other applicable surfaces such as plastic, metal, laminated wood or glass surfaces. 
         [0006]    Manufactured artificial nail tips are broadly known in the prior art. However, decorative aspects of these manufactured artificial nail tips have been limited in design such as different shapes of nail tips or different colors of nail tips. Recent fashion trends have directed the nail industry to develop more decorative designs to artificial nail tips. Recent designs include artwork painted on the nails. Other designs include painting the tips of the nail white while leaving the remainder of the body of the nail tip a pink color tone, more commonly known in the art as “French Tips.” 
         [0007]    Currently, nail technicians and in some cases, ordinary consumers have minimal desire to hand make fingernails with decorative particles because it is highly time consuming. Also, handmade decorative particles designs on top of fingernails may have less of a lasting effect. Nail technicians and consumers prefer to have an artificial nail tip with various decorative particles already pre-manufactured on the artificial nail tip so they can easily attach the artificial nail tip to the fingernail to save time. No company has manufactured artificial nail tips pre-manufactured with decorative particles covering the entire artificial nail tips. Furthermore, no company has manufactured artificial nail tips pre-manufactured with decorative particles to provide a 3D visual and/or tactile effect. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    In the following drawings like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements. Although the following figures depict various examples of the invention, the invention is not limited to the examples depicted in the figures. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of an artificial nail tip. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of an embodiment of an artificial nail tip pre-manufactured with decorative particles. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an artificial nail tip pre-manufactured with decorative particles taken longitudinally along the  3 - 3  cut line of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for manufacturing an artificial nail tip with decorative particles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Although various embodiments of the invention may have been motivated by various deficiencies with the prior art, which may be discussed or alluded to in one or more places in the specification, the embodiments of the invention do not necessarily address any of these deficiencies. In other words, different embodiments of the invention may address different deficiencies that may be discussed in the specification. Some embodiments may only partially address some deficiencies or just one deficiency that may be discussed in the specification, and some embodiments may not address any of these deficiencies. 
         [0014]    In general, at the beginning of the discussion of each of  FIGS. 1-3  is a brief description of each element, which may have no more than the name of each of the elements in the one of  FIGS. 1-3  that is being discussed. After the brief description of each element, each element is further discussed in numerical order. In general, each of  FIGS. 1-3  is discussed in numerical order and the elements within  FIGS. 1-3  are also usually discussed in numerical order to facilitate easily locating the discussion of a particular element. Nonetheless, there is no one location where all of the information of any element of  FIGS. 1-3  is necessarily located. Unique information about any particular element or any other aspect of any of  FIGS. 1-3  may be found in, or implied by, any part of the specification. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of an artificial nail tip generally designated as reference numeral  100 . Artificial nail tip  100  may include a front edge  110 , a top surface  120 , a bottom surface  130 , and a back edge  140 . 
         [0016]    Artificial nail tip  100  is a standard nail tip that typically is attached to a fingernail. The artificial nail tip  100  is preferably constructed from a plastic like material such as ABS Plastic, tenite acetate, or nylon, and is generally rectangular in shape. In some embodiments, artificial nail tip  100  may exist in various shapes such as oval, square, triangular, etc. Artificial nail tip  100  is not limited to any particular dimensions or shapes, and preferably, a plurality of artificial nail tip  100 , of various dimensions, can be sold as a package, in order to provide a selection to the user. Furthermore, artificial nail tip  100  may be different colors. 
         [0017]    Front edge  110  is the portion of the artificial nail tip  100  typically furthest from the fingernail when artificial nail tip  100  is attached to the fingernail. Top surface  120  is the surface of the artificial nail tip  100  that is opposite the surface that is attached to the fingernail. Top surface  120  is the surface where the decorative designs for artificial nail tip  100  is applied. For example, when a nail technician paints an artificial nail tip  100 , once attached to a fingernail, the color nail polish is typically painted onto the top surface  120  of the artificial nail tip  100 . 
         [0018]    Bottom surface  130  is the surface that attaches to the fingernail. In some embodiments, the majority of the bottom surface  130  is in direct contact with the fingernail. In other embodiments, only a small portion of the bottom surface  130  is in contact with a fingernail to extend the fingernail; more commonly known in the art as a French tip nail tip. Rear edge  140  is the portion of the artificial nail tip  100  that is always in contact with a fingernail when attached to a fingernail. In some embodiments, rear edge  140  is in contact with both a fingernail and the cuticle of the finger. In other embodiments, rear edge  140  is in contact with just the tip of a fingernail. Artificial nail tip  100  is not limited to any particular attachment techniques to a fingernail for the purpose of this invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of an embodiment of an artificial nail tip pre-manufactured with decorative particles generally designated as reference numeral  200 . Nail tip  200  may include front edge  110 , top surface  120 , micro bead  210 , glitter  220 , and rear edge  140 . 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, nail tip  200  includes artificial nail tip  100  along with decorative particles such as micro bead  210  and glitter  220 . Micro bead  210  is a round bead typically made out of glass, metal, or plastic. In some embodiments, micro bead  210  is at least 0.4 mm in diameter to provide a 3D visual and/or tactile effect. The micro bead  210  may be of varying colors. In some embodiments, the micro bead  210  is placed throughout the entire nail tip  200  to produce a 3D visual and tactile effect. 
         [0021]    Glitter  220  is glitter of various shapes, sizes, color, and designs. The glitter  220  is typically at least 0.078″ in size. In some embodiments, the glitter  220  is placed throughout the entire nail tip  200  to produce a visual shine and glamour of a fully covered nail tip  200 . The shape of glitter  220  may include round, diamond, hearts, flower, birds, playboy symbol, stars, and squares. Glitter  220  may be known in industry as flakes, confetti, or large glitters. In some embodiments, all of the different decorative particles, such as the micro bead  210  and the glitter  220 , may be introduced onto the same nail tip  200 . In other embodiments, only the micro bead  210  may be introduced onto the nail tip  200  or only the glitter  220  may be introduced onto the nail tip  200 . Various embodiments may have various combinations or solo combination of the various decorative particles such as the micro bead  210  or the glitter  220 . Nail tip  200  is not limited to any one combination of the various decorative particles. Existing prior arts may have included pre-manufactured nail tips with small fine sized glitter used in the manufacture of the nail tips, however, no prior art exists where the glitters used are of a size greater than 0.078″. In an embodiment, glitter  220  is of size 0.078″ or greater is used to provide a 3D visual and/or tactile effect. Furthermore, micro bead  210  is generally of a diameter greater than 0.4 mm to provide a 3D visual and/or tactile effect. Existing prior arts may have included pre-manufactured nail tips with small fine sized glitter placed on only a small portion of the top surfaces of a manufactured nail tips. In an embodiment, the entire nail tip  200  is covered with either micro bead  210  and/or glitter  220 . In some embodiments, nail tip  200  may include glitter of size smaller than 0.078″ for additional design options. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an artificial nail tip pre-manufactured with decorative particles taken longitudinally along the  3 - 3  cut line of  FIG. 2  generally designated as reference numeral  300 . Cross-sectional nail tip  300  may include base adhesive  310 , top coat adhesive  320 , top surface  120 , bottom surface  130 , micro bead  210 , and glitter  220 . 
         [0023]    Base adhesive  310  is an adhesive to provide adhesion of the various decorative particles such as micro bead  210  and glitter  220  to the top surface of the artificial nail tip  100 . Base adhesive  310  is specially formulated to secure the decorative particles to the top surface  120  of the artificial nail tip. Furthermore, base adhesive  310  can be used to provide adhesion of the various decorative particles to one another. Base adhesive may be formulated by a combination of a glue mixed with either polish thinner or acetone to achieve the appropriate level of viscosity for the appropriate level of adhesion. 
         [0024]    Top coat adhesive  320  is another adhesive to provide a cover adhesion on top of the decorative particles. In one embodiment, top coat adhesive  320  is similar to top coats used by nail technicians or individuals to place over a finished nail product to protect the nail from scratches or impact from every day use. In some embodiments, top coat adhesive  320  provides an additional adhesion between the micro bead  210 , glitter  220 , top surface  120  and base adhesive  310 . Top coat adhesive  320  is generally clear and transparent in color to maintain the original designs of the nail tip  200 . In some embodiments, top coat adhesive  320  may be various colors as well as clear and transparent. In other embodiments, top coat adhesive  320  may also provide additional adhesion between the decorative particles such as micro bead  210  and glitter  220 . In other embodiments, top coat adhesive  320  may be an ultra violet (UV) gel overlay to provide a smooth finish similar to a crystal ball while preserving a 3D visual effect below the layer of the UV gel top coat adhesive  320 . The UV gel overlay is a gel that cures under either a UV or LED lamp. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method  400  for manufacturing an artificial nail tip with decorative particles. In step  410 , a set of artificial nail tip  100  is placed on a wire tray. In an embodiment, a set of artificial nail tip  100  may be a set of 12 artificial nail tip  100  of the same size. In another embodiment, a set of 12 artificial nail tip  100  may be of varying sizes. In an embodiment, the wire tray may be made of a metal of some kind such as steel or aluminum or plastic. The wire tray helps to minimize the base adhesive  310  from collecting on the tray and sticking to subsequent artificial nail tip  100  on future implementation. 
         [0026]    In step  420 , base adhesive  310  is applied onto the top surface  120  of artificial nail tip  100  to provide an adhesive layer on the top surface  120 . Application of base adhesive  310  may be in the form of a spray or brush. In one embodiment, the base adhesive  310  is applied to the top surface  120  and not allowed to cure before proceeding to the next step. In step  430 , artificial nail tip  100  is moved from the first wire tray to a second wire tray in preparation for the sprinkling of 3D decorative particles onto the top surface  120  of artificial nail tip  100 . 
         [0027]    In step  440 , artificial nail tip  100  is sprinkled with decorative particles. The decorative particles may be a plurality of glitter  220  and/or micro bead  210 . Sprinkling is the process of randomly distributing decorative particles onto artificial nail tip  100 . In some embodiments, decorative particles are sprinkled over the entire top surface  120  of artificial nail tip  100 . In some embodiments, glitter  220  may be limited to only one shape and one size. In other embodiments, glitter  220  may include various shapes and various sizes. In some embodiments, micro bead  210  may also be sprinkled onto artificial nail tip  100  in addition to glitter  220 . In some embodiments, only micro bead  210  is sprinkled onto artificial nail tip  100 . In other embodiments, the base adhesive  310  is not cured before sprinkling the plurality of glitter  220  and/or micro bead  210  so that the glitter  220  and/or micro bead  210  may adhere to the top surface  120  and to each other. 
         [0028]    In step  450 , artificial nail tip  100  with decorative particles is moved onto a second wire tray in preparation for the application of adhesive top coat  320 . 
         [0029]    In step  460 , top coat adhesive  320  is applied to artificial nail tip  100  with decorative particles, now referred to as nail tip  200 . Top coat adhesive  320  provides a protective top coat over nail tip  200 . Application of top coat adhesive  320  may be performed by spray or brush. Furthermore, top coat adhesive  320  provides an additional adhesion between the decorative particles to one another and to top surface  120  of artificial nail tip  100 . In some embodiments, top coat adhesive  320  is a UV gel overlay that provides a crystal ball like finish while preserving the 3D visual effect of the decorative particles. 
         [0030]    In step  470 , nail tip  200  is set to dry until top coat adhesive  320  cures. In some embodiments, nail tip  200  may cure on the wire tray used during application of top coat adhesive  320 . In other embodiments, nail tip  200  may be moved to another wire tray for curing (drying). In some embodiments, the curing process is shortened by air drying. In other embodiments, the curing process may be accomplished with a low heat or no heat air blower. 
         [0031]    In step  480 , nail tip  200 , once dried and cured, is plucked and packaged for inventory or shipping. In some embodiments, nail tip  200  may not require plucking before being packaged for inventory or shipping. In other embodiments, nail tip  200  may require plucking for special package and handling. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, each of the steps of method  400  is a distinct step. In another embodiment, although depicted as distinct steps in  FIG. 4 , step  410 - 480  may not be distinct steps. In other embodiments, method  400  may not have all of the above steps and/or may have other steps in addition to or instead of those listed above. The steps of method  400  may be performed in another order. Subsets of the steps listed above as part of method  400  may be used to form their own method.