Patent Publication Number: US-2009229621-A1

Title: Artificial nail having soft back part and method for producing it

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an artificial nail having a soft back part and a method for producing it, and in particular to an artificial nail having a soft back part and a method for producing it which are characterized in that a back part of an artificial nail attached to a natural nail is softer than a front part of the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, an artificial nail called a nail tip is formed of a synthetic resin material such as nylon or acetate and is produced by means of a molding method. The artificial nail is configured to attach on a user&#39;s nail while making a user&#39;s nail look nice and protecting a nail bed for thereby decorating a nail in a beautiful French nail design and a fascinating color. 
     The conventional artificial nail is made by molding its whole parts using the same material, and it has hardness for maintaining a certain shape. A back part of an artificial nail attached to an upper surface of a natural nail is equipped with hardness, so it can maintain itself in a certain shape. There is a lot of problems for naturally attaching an artificial nail to the curved nail surfaces of different users. 
     In order to overcome the above problems, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,281 B2 discloses an artificial nail with multiple layers which might be applied to various nail sizes and shapes. The U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,281 B2 discloses an invention that a back part of an artificial nail attached to a natural nail is made of a flexible material. Namely, a front part of an artificial nail made of a polymer material is formed as one layer, and a flexible layer made through a spray molding, a double injection or a manual application is attached to an underneath surface of the same, so a back part can be easily transformed. 
     However, even when a transformable layer is attached to a polymer material of an artificial nail through a spray molding, a double injection or a manual work, a certain gap might remain around the attached portions, which leads to a separation of an attached layer while making an attached part look worse. 
     In addition, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,281 B2 discloses silicone, silicone derivatives, rubber or something for a transformable material. However, when the above materials are actually used, it is impossible to maintain a natural shape of an artificial nail before wearing the same and to produce a desired product which can meet a user&#39;s demand. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an artificial nail having a soft back part and a method for producing it which are characterized in that a back part softer than a front part of an artificial nail is disclosed, while a softer back part can maintain itself in a natural nail shape, and a gap is not formed between a front part and a back part even though it is formed in multiple layers. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an artificial nail having a soft back part and a method for producing it which are characterized in that a smoother such as solvent, plasticizer, a mixture of the same or something is applied to a surface of an artificial nail molded with the same material, and a back part of an artificial nail is smoothened for thereby producing a flexible and soft back part of an artificial nail while avoiding any gap around a front part which might occur due to an engagement with a different material during a double injection and a spray molding in a conventional art. 
     It is further another object of the present invention to provide an artificial nail having a soft back part and a method for producing it which are characterized in that a back part of an artificial nail is substantially softer than a front part of the same by smoothing a back part of an artificial nail depending on a predetermined shape of a nail and coating a hardener on a front part of the same. 
     It is still further another object of the present invention to provide an artificial nail having a soft part and a method for producing it which are characterized in that a back part of an artificial nail is much more uniform and soft and flexible as compared to a front part of an artificial nail by making solvent and plasticizer, which are smoother, and a mixture of the same more effectively penetrate into a surface of an artificial nail by using a heat, ultrasonic waves or high frequency waves depending on a predetermined shape of a nail. 
     It is still further another object of the present invention to provide an artificial nail having a soft part and a method for producing it which are characterized in that it feels good when wearing an artificial nail by making a thickness of an artificial nail become thinner and thinner in a rearward direction of the back part depending on a predetermined shape of a nail. 
     To achieve the above objects, there is provided a method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part which comprises an injection molding step for inject-molding an artificial nail figure using plastic; a smoother coating step for coating a smoother on an upper side, a lower side or upper and lower sides of the back part so as to smoothen the back part attached to a surface of a natural nail in the inject-molded artificial nail figure; and a smoother penetration step for penetrating the smoother into a surface of the back part of the artificial nail figure, whereby the back part of the artificial nail figure is more flexible and smoother than the front part of the same. 
     The smoother is at least one among a solvent and a plasticizer or a mixture of the same with respect to a plastic material used for inject-molding the artificial nail figure. 
     A smoother is penetrated into a surface of the artificial nail figure by applying one or at least one of heat, ultrasonic waves and high frequency waves in the smoother penetration step. 
     There is further provided a hardener coating step for coating a hardener on an upper side, a lower side or upper and lower sides of the front part so as to harden a front part of the artificial nail figure before or after the smoother penetration step. 
     There is further provided a hardener penetration step for penetrating a hardener into a surface of the front part of the artificial nail figure, and the hardener penetration step is performed concurrently along with the smoother penetration step when the hardener coating step is performed before the smoother penetration step, and is performed after the smoother coating step when the hardener coating step is performed after the smoother penetration step. 
     The artificial nail figure inject-molded in the injection molding step has a thick front part with the back part getting thinner and thinner in a direction of its end. 
     The plastic material in the injection molding step is formed of one selected from PS resin, ABS resin(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), SBS block resin(Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymer), EVA resin(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer) or is formed of a mixed resin containing at least one selected from the above resins. 
     To achieve the above objects, in an artificial nail whose back part of a nail shape inject-molded using a plastic is attached to a surface of a natural nail, there is provided an artificial nail characterized in that the back part contains a more amount of smoother components as compared to the front part as a smoother is coated on an upper side, a lower side or upper and lower sides and is penetrated into a surface, whereby the back part is more flexible and smoother as compared to the front part. 
     The smoother is at least one among a solvent and a plasticizer with respect to a plastic material or is a mixture of the same. 
     The front part of the artificial nail has a more amount of hardeners as compared to the back part as a hardener is coated on an upper side, a lower side or upper and lower sides and is penetrated into a surface of the same. 
     A front part of the artificial nail is thicker, and the back part is getting thinner and thinner in a direction of its end. 
     A plastic material of the inject-molded artificial nail is formed of one selected from PS resin, ABS resin(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), SBS block resin(Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymer), EVA resin(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer) or is formed of a mixed resin containing at least one selected from the above resins. 
     EFFECTS 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, the present invention provides an artificial nail having a smoother back part than a front part while a smoother back part can maintain a predetermined shape of an artificial nail, and a gap, which might be formed due to multiple layers, is not formed between a front part and a back part. 
     A back part of an artificial nail is smothered by applying a smoother on a surface of a back part of an artificial nail molded with the same material for thereby producing a flexible and soft back part while avoiding a gap around a front part which might occur as being engaged with another material during a conventional double molding work and a spray molding process. 
     A back part of an artificial nail is smoothened, and a hardener is applied on a front part of an artificial nail and is penetrated into the same for thereby producing an artificial nail whose back part is much more flexible as compared to a front part of the same. 
     It is possible to produce an artificial nail whose back part is much more uniform, soft and flexible by effectively penetrating solvent and plasticizer, which are smoothers, or a mixture of the same into a surface of an artificial nail by using heat, ultrasonic waves or high frequency waves. 
     The thickness is getting thinner and thinner in a backward direction of a back part, so it feels comfortable when wearing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein; 
         FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view illustrating a wearing state of an artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view illustrating an artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 4A through 4C  are flow charts of a method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part according another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following descriptions, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and the duplicating descriptions are omitted. 
     The method of producing an artificial nail having a soft back part according to the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view illustrating a wearing state of an artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view illustrating an artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an injection molding step S 100 , a smoother coating step S 200 , and a smoother penetration S 300 . 
     In the injection molding step S 100 , an artificial nail  FIG. 1  is inject-molded using a plastic material. Generally, an artificial nail  FIG. 1  formed of a front part  10  made of the same material and a back part  20  attached to a surface of a natural nail  2  is inject-molded. Preferably, an injection molding process is so formed that the front part  10  and the back part  20  are integrally formed. As not shown in the drawing, when forming a multiple-layer structure like in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,281 using the same material or when forming another front part multiple-layer structure, it is preferred to omit a smoother penetration step S 300  or to omit an interlayer boundary after the above step by penetrating into opposing layers by applying heat. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the plastic used in an injection molding process is formed of one selected from PS resin, ABS resin(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), SBS block resin(Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymer), EVA resin(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer) or is a mixed resin containing at least one from the same. 
     In the smoother coating step S 200 , a smoother is coated to an upper surface  22 , a lower surface  24  or upper and lower surfaces  22  and  24  of the back part so as to smoothen the back part  20  to be attached on a surface of the natural nail  2  in the inject-molded artificial nail  FIG. 1 . The coating of smoother might be performed by means of a spray method or a painting method. Preferably, when coating a smoother, the surface is maintained to be an upper side, so a smoother can easily penetrate into the interior of the surface. 
     Here, it is possible to properly control the kinds and concentration of smoother. Preferably, the smoother is formed of at least one among solvent, plasticizer or a mixture of the same with respect to a plastic material used for molding an artificial nail  FIG. 1 . Solvent is properly selected based on the kinds of plastic used as an injection molding material. Plasticizer is formed of an organic compound such as DOP or DBP, but is not limited to the same. It can be selected depending on the kinds of plastic used as an injection molding material. It is preferred to select plasticizer which makes the hardness of plastic soft while having an excellent compatibility with the polymer of plastic. More preferably, plasticizer having less harmful substances such as environment hormone might be used. 
     In the smoother penetration step S 300 , a smoother is penetrated into a surface of the back part  20  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1 . The above penetration is preferably naturally performed based on a spreading into the surface of the back part. Preferably, the smoother is penetrated into the back part  20  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1  as at least one among heat, ultrasonic waves and high frequency waves are applied to the coated portions or at least two among the same are applied to the coated portions. When heat is applied, a melting point of plastic, which is a material of the artificial nail  FIG. 1 , should be considered. Namely, a plastic is melted at about 150 through 300° C., and a polystyrene resin is melted at 180 through 240° C., and an ABS resin is melted at 180 through 260° C., and a SBS resin is melted at 150 through 260° C., and an EWA resin is melted at 150 through 220° C. or their viscosities are lowered and become soft at the above temperatures, respectively. So, it is preferred to apply heat for making a smoothed state which corresponds to a state that the viscosity is lowered, and the material starts melting. As the smoother is penetrated into the surface by applying heat, ultrasonic waves or high frequency waves, the back part  20  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1  becomes more flexible and soft as compared to the front part  10 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4C  are flow charts of a method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4C , there are further provided a hardener coating step S 1200   a , S 1200   b , S 1200   c  before or after the smoother penetration step S 300  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the hardener coating steps S 1200   a , S 1200   b , S 1200   c , a hardener is coated on the upper surface  12 , the lower surface  14  or the upper and lower surfaces  12  and  14  of the front part  10  so as to harden the front part  10  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4C , the hardener penetration steps S 1300   a , S 1300   b , S 1300   c  might be further provided after the hardener coating steps S 1200   a , S 1200   b  and S 1200   c . Here, an artificial hardener penetration step might be omitted by simply coating a surface hardener. The kinds and concentration of a hardener might be properly selected depending on the kinds of plastic. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the hardener coating step S 1200   a  might be performed after the smoother coating step S 200 . As not shown in the drawing, it might be concurrently performed along with the smoother coating step S 200  or might be performed earlier than the same. As shown in  FIG. 4C , the hardener coating step S 200   a  might be performed after the smoother penetration step S 300 . 
     In the hardener penetration steps S 1300   a , S 1300   b  and S 1300   c , the hardener is penetrated into the surface of the front part  10 . Here, its spreading is naturally performed. A certain method might be used so as to promote the spreading process. In this case, heat, ultrasonic waves or high frequency waves might be used for efficient spreading. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , the hardener penetration step S 1300   a  might be performed concurrently along with the smoother penetration step S 300 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the hardener penetration step S 1300   a  might be performed after the smoother penetration step S 300 . As shown in  FIG. 4C , the hardener coating step S 1200   a  and the hardener penetrations step s 1300   a  might be performed after the smoother penetration step S 300 . When the hardener coating step S 1200   a  is performed before the smoother penetration step S 300 , preferably, the smoother penetration step S 300  and the hardener penetration step S 1300   a  are concurrently performed as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     In the smoother penetration step S 300 , when a smoother is penetrated into a surface of the artificial nail by applying at least one or at least two of heat, ultrasonic waves and high frequency waves, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the hardener coating step S 1200   a  is performed before the smoother penetration step S 300 , so that the hardener penetration step S 1300   a  and the smoother penetration step S 300  can be concurrently performed, or as shown in  FIG. 4C , the hardener coating step S 1200   a  might be performed after the smoother penetration step S 300 , and various modifications are possible. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, in the injection molding step of the method for producing an artificial nail having a soft back part, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the artificial nail  FIG. 1  is characterized in that the front part  10  is thick, and the back part  20  is getting tapered in the direction of the end  20   a.    
     The artificial nail having a soft back part according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view illustrating a wearing state of an artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of an artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the artificial nail according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a front part  10 , and a back part  20  directly connected with the front part  10  and is generally injected using plastic. The plastic used for an injection molding work is one selected from PS resin, ABS resin(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), SBS block resin(Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymer), EVA resin(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer) or is a mixed resin containing at least one from the same. The back part  20  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1  is configured to easily attach to a surface of the natural nail  2 . The front part  10  and the back part  20  are inject-molded integrally with the same material. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the boundary “a” between the front and back parts  10  and  20  is not a boundary formed by an engagement with another material of the U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,281, but is a boundary for distinguish the portion attached to the surface of the natural nail  2  and the other portion as being integrally inject-molded with the same material. Preferably, the boundary “a” between the front and back parts  10  and  20  is matched with the boundary formed as the end of the natural nail  2  or the lower side of the natural nail meets with the ends of fingers. Here, the rear end  20   a  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1  is formed toward the cuticle  3 . 
     The back part  20  of the artificial nail  FIG. 10  attached to a surface of the natural nail  2  contains a more amount of smoother components as compared to the front part  10  as a smoother is coated on the upper surface  22 , the lower surface  24  or the upper and lower surfaces  22  and  24  and is penetrated into the surface. So, the back part  20  is more flexible and smoother as compared to the front part  10 . 
     Preferably, a smoother is formed of at least one among solvent, plasticizer or something or a mixture of the same with respect to a plastic material to be injected and molded. Solvent is properly selected based on the kinds of plastic used as an injection molding material. Plasticizer is formed of an organic compound such as DOP or DBP, but is not limited to the same. It can be selected depending on the kinds of plastic used as an injection molding material. It is preferred to select plasticizer which makes the hardness of plastic soft while having an excellent compatibility with the polymer of plastic. 
     As not shown in the drawing, when forming a multiple-layer structure like in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,281 using the same material or when forming another front part multiple-layer structure, it is preferred to omit a smoother penetration step S 300  or to omit an interlayer boundary after the above step by penetrating into opposing layers by applying heat. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front part  10  of the artificial nail  FIG. 1  contains a more amount of hardeners as compared to the back part  20  as a hardener is coated on the upper surface  12 , the lower surface  14  or the upper and lower surfaces  12  and  14  and is penetrated into the surface. The kinds and concentration of the hardener is properly selected depending on the materials of plastic used in the injection molding process. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the artificial nail  FIG. 1  is characterized in that the front part  10  is thick, and the back part  20  is getting tapered in the direction of the end  20   a.    
     As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.