Patent Publication Number: US-8985122-B1

Title: Fingernail decoration kit

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/697,963 filed on Sep. 7, 2012, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a kit for that allows a user to easily shape, pierce and decorate a fingernail. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Conventional manicuring tools do not easily pierce, shape or decorate fingernails. Though conventional fingernail files are sometimes used to shape the edge of a fingernail, they are laborious and usually create a nail that is asymmetrical and unsightly. More complicated sculpting techniques, such as scalloping, are even more difficult with a conventional fingernail file. 
     Accordingly, there is currently a need for a tool that facilitates the shaping and decorating of fingernails. The present invention addresses this need by providing a kit having pliers that manipulate interchangeable dies to shape, pierce and adorn a nail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fingernail decoration kit comprising a pair of pivotally-joined handles that reciprocate in a scissors-like fashion. The handles open and close a pair of jaws that are each configured to releasably retain any one of a plurality of manicuring dies for either shaping or piercing a nail, or crimping a jewelry item thereto. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fingernail decoration kit that allows a user to quickly and easily shape, pierce and decorate a fingernail. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fingernail decoration kit that allows a user to create consistent, uniform decorations on each of a desired number of fingernails. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary, unadorned fingernail. 
         FIGS. 2-4  depict the fingernail of  FIG. 1 , each decorated using the kit according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an isolated view of the pliers. 
         FIG. 6  is an isolated view of the piercing dies. 
         FIG. 7  is an isolated view of the crimping dies. 
         FIG. 8  is an isolated, exploded view of the jewelry item. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the jewelry item being attached to a fingernail. 
         FIG. 10  is a top, plan view of the jewelry item being attached to the fingernail of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the jewelry item attached to the fingernail of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  a plan view of one of the jaws. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a die with the alignment button depressed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention relates to a fingernail decoration kit comprising pliers  1  formed of a pair of pivotally-joined handles  2  that reciprocate in a scissors-like fashion. The handles open and close a pair of jaws  3 , each having a channel  4  formed therein for slidably receiving any one of a plurality of manicuring dies. An annular stop member  30  on the inner surface of one of said handles is dimensioned to maintain a minimum, predetermined separation between the handles to prevent over-compression of the dies. 
     A set of piercing dies  5  can be used to fasten a decorative jewelry item  13 , such as a stud, to a fingernail  60 . The jewelry item includes a pair of attachment tabs  18  depending from a lower surface that are bent to attach the item to a desired surface. Pulsing LED&#39;s  70  may be positioned on an upper surface of the jewelry item to uniquely enhance the fingernail. A microprocessor  101  disables the LED&#39;s when an upper section  14  of the jewelry item is rotated. 
     The piercing dies  5  are configured to create a hole  35  in the fingernail  60  for receiving the attachment tabs  18 . An upper piercing die  6  includes a plate  65  having a prong  7  on a lower surface that is dimensioned and configured to form the hole  35  into a desired shape and size. A lower die  8  includes a similar plate having a receptacle  9  on an upper surface that aligns with the prong for receiving the resulting severed nail fragment. 
     A second set of crimping dies  10  is designed to anchor the decorative jewelry item  13  within the hole created by the piercing dies. An upper die  11  includes a plate with a compartment  12  on a lower surface that is dimensioned and configured to tightly receive the upper end  82  of the jewelry item. A lower die  15  includes an impact head  16  on an upper surface of the plate with a pin  17  extending upwardly therefrom that aligns with a central portion of the compartment  12  when the dies are properly seated within the jaws. 
     Each plate is slidably retained within the channel  4  of either jaw and includes a spring-biased button  31  thereon that properly aligns the dies. Each button  31  includes an upper disc  32 , a lower disc  33  and a shaft  34  therebetween while each jaw includes a slot  85  that extends from a distal end to a circular opening  36 . To attach a die, the plate is slid within a jaw channel until the button seats within the opening thereby locking the die to the jaw. To remove the die, the button is depressed until the shaft aligns with the slot to allow the die to easily slide out of the channel. The spring-biased button mechanism assures that the engagement portions of the dies are perfectly aligned when the jaws are attached to assure proper operation. 
     To create a hole having a desired shape, a user first attaches the piercing dies to the jaws and then places a fingernail therebetween. When the handles are tightly compressed, the prong quickly pierces the fingernail to create a hole  35  therein, and simultaneously forces the resulting fingernail fragment into the receptacle. If the user wishes to also add the jewelry item, he or she substitutes the crimping dies for the piercing dies. The attachment tabs  18  are passed through the hole  35 , the compartment  12  is superimposed on the jewelry item and the impact head  16  is placed against the attachment tabs. When the handles are compressed against the jewelry item, the pin separates the tabs while the impact head bends them in opposite directions. 
     The kit may also include sculpting dies for forming scalloped  19 , elliptical  20  or other shaped edges on a fingernail. Preferably, the kit also includes multiple jewelry items, each having unique design elements, themes, colors or other features. 
     The above-described device is not limited to the exact details of construction and enumeration of parts provided herein. For example, though the piercing die has been primarily depicted and described as creating a circular hole, it can be configured to form an opening having virtually any desired shape. Furthermore, the size, shape and materials of construction of the various components can be varied. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.