Abstract:
A packaging system for use with a fingernail embellishment product can comprise a container configured to contain one or more solid fingernail embellishment components. The container can comprise a lid configured to close the container. A protrusion can extend from the lid and extend in a first direction. The protrusion can comprise an elastomeric embellishment receiving portion. The embellishment receiving portion can be configured to engage with a fingernail embellishment component and apply the fingernail embellishment component to a fingernail.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to the field of decorative nail embellishments for application on fingernails. 
     2. Background and Relevant Art 
     Fingernail polish and artificial fingernails have long been a prominent fashion accessory. Many individuals expend significant time and money decorating and maintaining their fingernails. Some individuals maintain their own fingernails within their home. In other cases, individuals pay a salon to maintain and decorate their fingernails. Oftentimes, the individuals decorate their fingernails to match a particular outfit or to coordinate with a particular event. 
     In addition to coloring fingernails, many individuals also apply decorative embellishments to their nails. For example, an individual may desire to apply a jewel to her fingernail. The jewel may be placed on top of, or within, fingernail polish. In any case, the jewel is affixed to the fingernail in a decorative fashion. 
     Applying fingernail polish and other fingernail decorations can be a tedious and difficult process. For example, painting a fingernail in way that completely covers the nail and does not leave streaks requires practice and quality applicators. Similarly, applying a decorative embellishment to a fingernail can also be difficult. For example, a clumsily applied decorative embellishment may damage or smear an undercoating of fingernail polish. 
     Accordingly, there are a number of problems in the art relating to applying decorative embellishments to fingernails. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Implementations of the present invention comprise systems, methods, and apparatus configured to package fingernail embellishments within a container that also comprises an embellishment applicator. Implementations of the present invention can provide an easy to use and easy to manufacture embellishment system. In particular, implementations of the present invention comprise an embellishment applicator integrated into the lid of an embellishment container. As such, an implementation of a container and lid can comprise both the container to hold the embellishments and the applicator to apply the embellishments. 
     Implementations of the present invention can include a packaging system for use with a fingernail embellishment product. The packaging system can comprise a container configured to contain one or more solid fingernail embellishment components. The container can comprise at least one opening that allows access to the one or more solid fingernail embellishment components, and a lid configured to block the at least one opening. 
     The lid can comprise a protrusion extending from an interior surface of the lid and extending in a first direction to an extreme end relative to the lid such that when the lid is positioned to block the at least one opening the extreme end extends into the container. The protrusion can comprise an embellishment receiving portion, wherein the embellishment receiving portion is configured to engage with a solid fingernail embellishment component and apply the solid fingernail embellishment component to a fingernail. 
     Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to describe the manner in which the above recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an implementation of a nail stud application tool and container; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of an implementation of a nail stud application tool and container; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another implementation of a nail stud application tool and container; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of an implementation of a nail stud application tool and container; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of an implementation of a nail stud application tool and container; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates an implementation of a nail stud application tool preparing to select a nail stud; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates an implementation of a nail stud application tool after a nail stud has been selected; 
         FIG. 6C  illustrates an implementation of a nail stud application tool applying a nail stud to a nail; 
         FIG. 6D  illustrates an implementation of a nail stud application tool after a nail stud has been applied to a nail; 
         FIG. 7A  depicts another implementation of a nail stud application tool; 
         FIG. 7B  depicts yet another implementation of a nail stud application tool; 
         FIG. 7C  depicts still another implementation of a nail stud application tool; and 
         FIG. 7D  depicts another implementation of a nail stud application tool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention extends to systems, methods, and apparatus configured to package fingernail embellishments within a container that also comprises an embellishment applicator. Implementations of the present invention can provide an easy to use and easy to manufacture embellishment system. In particular, implementations of the present invention comprise an embellishment applicator integrated into the lid of an embellishment container. As such, an implementation of a container and lid can comprise both the container to hold the embellishments and the applicator to apply the embellishments. 
     Accordingly, implementations of the present invention comprise a variety of different embellishment applicator types integrated into the embellishment container. In at least one implementation, the embellishment container may comprise a conventional fingernail polish container with the novel embellishment applicator as described herein. The various implementations of the present invention provide a variety of different benefits including lower manufacturing costs, lower packaging costs, greater ease-of-use for an end-user, and other similar benefits. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an implementation of a nail stud application tool and an embellishment container. The embellishment container  100  further comprises a lid  110 . Extending from an interior surface of lid  110  is a protrusion  120 . In various implementations, the protrusion  120  can comprise a cylindrical protrusion, a cubic protrusion, or any number of other protrusions that are capable of extending from the interior surface of the lid  110  and extending into the jar  140 . 
     In at least one implementation, an embellishment receiving portion  130  is positioned at an extreme end of the protrusion  120  relative to the rest of the lid  110 . As such, the embellishment receiving portion  130  can be distal to the lid and positioned within the jar  140 . Additionally, in at least one application, the embellishment receiving portion  130  comprises an elastomeric material that comprises sufficient adhesion to lift an embellishment  150  off of a surface. For example, an elastomeric material may comprise sufficient adhesion that the embellishment  150  at least temporarily sticks to the embellishment receiving portion  130 . 
     In various implementations, the protrusion  120  can comprise different lengths. For example, in at least one implementation, the protrusion  120  can extend such that the embellishment receiving portion  130  contacts the bottom of the jar  140 . In this implementation, the embellishment receiving portion  130  can be used to interact with embellishments  150  positioned at the bottom of the jar  140 . In contrast, in at least one implementation, the protrusion  120  can extend less than the entire length of the jar  140  such that at least a portion of the embellishments  150  have to be removed from the jar  140  before the embellishment receiving portion  130  can interact with them. In at least one implementation, it may be beneficial to have a shorter protrusion  120  because then the shorter protrusion can be used with a wider variety of different jars  140 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of an embellishment container  100 . In particular,  FIG. 2  depicts the lid  110 , the protrusion  120 , the embellishment receiving portion  130 , and the jar  140  as being separate components. For example, the protrusion  120  comprises a connection interface  122  that connects with a similar connection interface  124  within the interior of the lid  110 . Additionally,  FIG. 1  shows that the embellishment receiving portion  130  can comprise an elastomeric cap that fits around the extreme end of the protrusion  120 . In particular, the elastomeric cap can comprise a silicon material, a rubber material, a plastic material, a nylon material, or any other material with sufficient adhesion to at least temporarily lift an embellishment  150  from a surface. 
     One will appreciate that, in at least one implementation, the connection between the protrusion  120  and the lid  110  can comprise a glue or epoxy connection. The glue or epoxy connection may allow the protrusion  120  and embellishment receiving portion  130  to be integrated into a conventional lid  110 . Additionally, in at least one implementation, the protrusion  120  and embellishment receiving portion  130  can comprise a single continuous piece. As such, when converting a conventional lid  110  it may only be necessary to glue in the protrusion  120 . 
     In contrast to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  depicts embellishment container  100  as a physically integrated unit. For example, the lid  110 , the protrusion  120 , and the embellishment receiving portion  130  all comprise a single continuous component. This single component is attachable to the jar  140 . As such, in at least one implementation, the lid  110 , the protrusion  120 , and the embellishment receiving portion  130  are formed within a single mold. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  depict top and bottom views, respectively, of the embellishment container  100  of  FIG. 1 . In particular, the top view comprises a view of the upper surface of the lid  110 . The bottom view comprises a view of the bottom surface of the jar  140  and of the bottom surface of the embellishment receiving portion  130 . One will understand, however, that in the case that the jar  140  is opaque, the bottom surface of the embellishment receiving portion  130  may not be visible. 
       FIG. 6A-6D  depict various steps in a method for applying an embellishment  150  to a fingernail  600  using embodiments of the present invention. For example, in  FIG. 6A , a user has removed an embellishment  150  from within the jar  140 . The embellishment  150  has been placed on a flat surface such as a table. The user can then hold the lid  110  and direct the protrusion  120  and embellishment receiving portion  130  towards the embellishment  150 . 
       FIG. 6B  depicts the embellishment receiving portion  130  attached to the embellishment  150 . In at least one implementation, the embellishment receiving portion  130  comprises an elastomeric material. As such, pressing the embellishment receiving portion  130  onto the embellishment  150  can cause the elastomeric material to deform around the embellishment  150 . The combination of the elastomeric material deforming and an adhesion associated with the elastomeric material may then allow the user to lift the embellishment  150  from the surface using the embellishment receiving portion  130 . 
     In at least one implementation, the embellishment receiving portion  130  comprises a circumference that is approximately equal to or less than the circumference of the embellishment  150 . As such, in the case that multiple embellishments  150  are spread on a surface, the embellishment receiving portion  130  is sized such that a user can select a single embellishment  150  from the group of embellishments  150  using the embellishment receiving portion  130 . 
       FIG. 6C  depicts a user applying an embellishment  150  to a fingernail  600 . In at least one implementation, the fingernail  600  comprises a coating such as fingernail polish or lacquer. The coating may comprise a sufficient adhesion, or stickiness, to overcome the attachment between the embellishment  150  and the embellishment receiving portion  130 . Accordingly, when the user applies the embellishment to a fingernail  600  using the embellishment receiving portion  130  the embellishment leaves the surface of the embellishment receiving portion  130  and remains on the surface of the fingernail  600 . 
     For example,  FIG. 6D  depicts the embellishment  150  attached to the fingernail  600 . One will understand that while the depicted embellishment comprises a heart, in various implementations other types and shapes of embellishments  150  may be used. For example, embellishment may comprise a single gemstone, a sequin, a shape, or a component of a larger shape. For instance, an embellishment  150  may comprise an image that is made up of multiple components. When applying the embellishment  150  a user can selectively apply one component at a time using the embellishment receiving portion  130 . 
       FIG. 7A-7D  depict various implementations of embellishment receiving portions  130 . For example,  FIG. 7A  depicts and an embellishment receiving portion that comprises a set of tweezers  700 . The tweezers  700  can be constructed of plastic, metal, or any other functional material. One will understand that a user can individually grab an embellishment  150  with the tweezers  700  and apply the embellishment  150  to a fingernail  600 . 
     In addition,  FIG. 7B  depicts an embellishment receiving portion  130  that comprises a high adhesion surface  710 . In at least one implementation, the high adhesion surface  710  can comprise a silicone surface, a plastic surface, a nylon surface, an elastomeric surface, or any other high adhesion surface capable of lifting an embellishment  150 . Further, in at least one of implementation, the high adhesion surface  710  can comprise the same material as the protrusion  120 . As such, the high adhesion surface  710  can easily be made within the same mold as a protrusion  120 . 
       FIG. 7C  depicts an embellishment receiving portion  130  that comprises a magnet  720 . The magnet  720  can be used with embellishments  150  that also comprise magnetic properties. Additionally, the strength of the magnet  720  can be selected such that it is weaker than a force applied to an embellishment  150  by a coating or lacquer on a fingernail  600 . Similar to the magnetic embellishment receiving portion  130 , in at least one implementation, the embellishment receiving portion  130  can also comprise a static charge. The static charge may be such that it creates a static attraction between an embellishment  150  and the embellishment receiving portion  130 . 
       FIG. 7D  depicts an embellishment receiving portion  130  that comprises a vacuum tube to  730 . In particular, the vacuum  730  in combination with the vacuum hole  732  can be used to create a vacuum hold on an embellishment  150 . For example, a user can place the embellishment receiving portion  130  firmly against a surface of an embellishment  150 . The user can then cover the vacuum hole  732  with a finger. Covering the vacuum hole  732  may create sufficient vacuum to lift an embellishment  150  from a surface and apply the embellishment  150  to a fingernail  600 . Once the embellishment  150  is applied to a fingernail  600 , the user can break the vacuum by removing their finger from the vacuum hole  732 . 
     Accordingly, various implementations of the present invention provide a container system that comprises both a container for the embellishments  150  and an integrated applicator for the embellishments  150 . Integrating the applicator into the container can provide significant benefits both when manufacturing the container  100  and when using the embellishments  150 . For example, in contrast to conventional containers and applicators, implementations of the present invention allow the container and applicator to be formed within a single mold. Additionally, implementations of the present invention make it easier to ship the product because the applicator is wholly contained within the embellishment container  100  and does not require additional and/or separate packaging. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the described features or acts described above, or the order of the acts described above. Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.