Patent Publication Number: US-2015083153-A1

Title: French manicure guide

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/882,154 filed on Sep. 25, 2013, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The process of applying a French manicure to one&#39;s own fingernails is difficult because in order to achieve this style, the white polish line across each nail tip needs to be applied in a curved manner, or straight line, that is uniform across the nail and be the same thickness as each other finger. It is exceedingly difficult to do this without assistance, especially with one&#39;s non-dominant hand. Moreover, this process is time consuming at salons and can be costly. 
     Adhesive strips that cover the part of the nail not to be polished can be difficult to handle and are not reusable. In addition, these strips tend to stick to themselves while applying to fingernails and even if one is successful in the application of the white line, once the adhesive strip is removed, it usually takes some of the painted line with it resulting in a jagged line. Another option for DIY French manicures is a dipping system called the “French Tip Dip” which utilizes a four-sided device that is bent and subsequently dipped into polish and pushed onto fingernails. This process would make it difficult to apply the same thickness of white polish consistently across all fingers; and it would be equally difficult to apply the ideal-two coats of the white polish as it would be necessary to push the device back over the exact same spot as the first application. Moreover, this apparatus doesn&#39;t span a large variety of necessary nail sizes rendering it minimally effective. Metal applicators, house polish but require the user to put fingers into the stationary device with assistance from a technician. Lastly, when French manicures are done in a salon their typical process prohibits the use of the most important layer of polish—the base coat. The base coat helps to ensure a clean, even nail surface and is vital to the quality and longevity of the finished French manicure. It is the imperative equivalent of priming the exterior of a home before applying the paint; it ensures the strength, durability, and overall integrity of the completed job. 
     The average cost in America for a French manicure is $20-$40 dependent largely upon location and if the application uses gel or regular nail polish and on acrylic or natural nails. Typical salon applications begin with clean fingernails which have no base coat polish. The next step is applying the white nail polish to the top half of the fingernail. Then the technician uses a small brush dipped in nail polish remover and rubs off the excess white nail polish to shape the curved white painted line. Because this process precludes the possibility of applying a base coat it leaves the tips more vulnerable to chipping and an overall manicure that does not last as long as it could. A typical salon French manicure applied to natural nails usually lasts, on average, about 10 days without chipping or cracking. This time frame largely depends upon the user&#39;s normal wear and usage of their hands. Also, because this process is done with a “free hand” manner, it is difficult to achieve uniformity in the shape and thickness of the white polished line. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for simple, easy to use, durable, portable, and reusable design nail guides that enable a user to apply their own French manicure at home or office in a timely manner with high quality results without assistance and at a minimal cost. Moreover, there is a need in the art for the fingernail guides to fit snuggly onto each finger without messy adhesives. In addition, there is a need in the art for fingernail guides that are designed in a variety of sizes to securely attach to each finger and act as a guide and guard during the application of the curved or straight white polish line. Further, there is a need in the art for the fingernail guides to ensure consistency of thickness for all nails and help prevent painting outside the desired area allowing a person to do the process on their own fingernails without assistance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     One example embodiment includes a French manicure guide. The French manicure guide includes a body. The French manicure guide also includes a first edge of the body, the first edge including a curve configured to allow a user to create a first polish line style. The French manicure guide further includes a second edge of the body, the second edge including a straight edge configured to allow a user to produce a second polish line style. 
     Another example embodiment includes a French manicure guide. The French manicure guide includes a body configured to leave a portion of a user&#39;s fingernail covered and to leave a second portion of the user&#39;s fingernail exposed. The French manicure guide also includes a first edge of the body, the first edge including a curve configured to allow a user to create a curved polish line. The French manicure guide further includes a second edge of the body, the second edge including a straight edge configured to allow a user to produce a straight polish line. The French manicure guide additionally includes an attachment, the attachment configured to attach the body to the finger of a user. 
     Another example embodiment includes a method of producing a French manicure. The method includes selecting a French manicure guide and edge of the French manicure guide. The French manicure guide includes a body. The French manicure guide also includes a first edge of the body, the first edge including a curve configured to allow a user to create a first polish line style. The French manicure guide further includes a second edge of the body, the second edge including a straight edge configured to allow a user to produce a second polish line style. The method also includes placing the French manicure guide on a fingernail with the tip of the fingernail exposed. The method further includes applying polish to the exposed tip of the fingernail. The method additionally includes removing the French manicure guide. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered 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. 1A  is a top view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 1C  is a right side view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 1D  is a left side view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 1E  is a front view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 1F  is a bottom front right perspective view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 1G  is a top front left perspective view of the French manicure guide; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a top view of an example of a French manicure guide applied to a user&#39;s fingernail; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a side view of an example of a French manicure guide  100  applied to a user&#39;s fingernail; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of polish being applied to the user&#39;s fingernail; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a French manicure when the French manicure guide has been removed; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method of producing a French manicure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale. 
       FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C,  1 D,  1 E,  1 F and  1 G (collective “FIG.  1 ”) illustrate an example of a French manicure guide  100 .  FIG. 1A  is a top view of the French manicure guide  100 ;  FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the French manicure guide  100 ;  FIG. 1C  is a right side view of the French manicure guide  100 ;  FIG. 1D  is a left side view of the French manicure guide  100 ;  FIG. 1E  is a front view of the French manicure guide  100 ;  FIG. 1F  is a bottom front right perspective view of the French manicure guide  100 ; and  FIG. 1G  is a top front left perspective view of the French manicure guide  100 . The French manicure guide  100  fits onto each finger without adhesives. The simple, easy to use, durable, portable, and reusable design of the French manicure guide  100  enables a user to apply their own French manicure at home or office in a timely manner with high quality results without assistance and at a minimal cost. The French manicure guide  100  does not have adhesives and are easily pressed onto fingers and stay in place because of their design, composition, and the variety of sizes. This enables the user to perform a French manicure to either another person or to one&#39;s own hands at one&#39;s leisure in a timely manner. The manicure using the invented French manicure guide  100  will be stronger and last longer because this process allows for a base coat application. As well, each painted line will have conformity and consistency as the convex and the straight edge of the French manicure guide  100  is the same for each of its sizes. The French manicure guide  100  acts as a guide and guard in the painting process which is not reliant on the “free hand” method providing more accurate and consistent results. Moreover, a user can utilize the French manicure guide  100  to prolong and/or repair an existing French manicure as it would be easy to line the French manicure guide  100  up against the existing line. 
       FIG. 1  shows that the French manicure guide  100  can include a body  102 . The body  102  can be the main portion of the French manicure guide  100 . I.e., the body  102  can include the central portion of the French manicure guide  100 . The body  102  can be long enough to allow for the French manicure guide  100  to be placed over the fingernail of the user. For example, the body  102  can be between 7.5 millimeters and 11.5 millimeters in length (as shown by the length indicator in  FIG. 1 ) for a first size, between 9.5 millimeters and 13.5 millimeters in length for a second size, between 10.5 millimeters and 14.5 millimeters in length for a third size, and between 13.5 millimeters and 17.5 millimeters in length for a fourth size. E.g., the body  102  can be approximately 9.5 millimeters in length for the first size, approximately 11.5 millimeters in length for the second size, approximately 12.5 millimeters in length for the third size and approximately 15.5 millimeters in length for the fourth size. As used in the specification and the claims, the term approximately shall mean that the value is within 10% of the stated value, unless otherwise specified. 
       FIG. 1  also shows that the French manicure guide  100  can include an attachment  104 . The attachment  104  is configured to releasably attach the French manicure guide  100  to the finger of a user. In particular, the French manicure guide  100  must be attached securely enough that it will remain in place during use but be adjustable and removable when desired. For example, the attachment  104  can include an elastic material. Elasticity is the tendency of solid materials to return to their original shape after being deformed. Solid objects will deform when forces are applied on them. If the material is elastic, the object will return to its initial shape and size when these forces are removed. I.e., when an elastic material is deformed due to an external force, it experiences internal forces that oppose the deformation and restore it to its original state if the external force is no longer applied. For example, the attachment  104  can include a curved portion of the body  102  that is elastic and that is straightened when placed on the finger of a user. The elastic forces in the attachment  104  want to return the attachment  104  to a curved shape which “pinches” the user&#39;s finger without imparting excessive force. For example, the body can be made of a rubberized polymer which has elastic properties. As used in the specification and the claims, the phrase “configured to” denotes an actual state of configuration that fundamentally ties recited elements to the physical characteristics of the recited structure. As a result, the phrase “configured to” reaches well beyond merely describing functional language or intended use since the phrase actively recites an actual state of configuration. 
       FIG. 1  further shows that the French manicure guide  100  can include a first edge  106 . The first edge  106  can include a curve. The curve allows a user to produce a curved polish line across the nail. I.e., the curve on the first edge  106  allows a user to apply polish that has the correct curvature. 
       FIG. 1  additionally shows that the French manicure guide  100  can include a second edge  108 . The second edge  108  can include a straight edged. The straight edge allows a user to produce a straight polish line across the nail. I.e., the straight edge on the second edge  108  allows a user to apply polish that is straight. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  (collectively “FIG.  2 ”) illustrate an example of a French manicure guide  100  applied to a user&#39;s fingernail.  FIG. 2A  illustrates a top view of an example of a French manicure guide  100  applied to a user&#39;s fingernail; and  FIG. 2B  illustrates a side view of an example of a French manicure guide  100  applied to a user&#39;s fingernail. The French manicure guide  100  leaves a portion of the user&#39;s fingernail exposed and covers the adjacent portion of the user&#39;s fingernail allowing the unexposed portion to be polished. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of polish  302  being applied to the user&#39;s fingernail. The French manicure guide  100  allows polish  302  to be applied to the tip of the user&#39;s fingernail and prevents polish  302  from being applied to the adjacent portion of the user&#39;s fingernail. I.e., the user need not create the desired edge, but only needs to polish  302  up to the French manicure guide, which produces the correct edge when removed. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a French manicure when the French manicure guide has been removed. The polish  302  has a uniform edge. In particular, polish  302  has been applied to the nail where the French manicure guide was absent and polish  302  is absent where the French manicure guide was removed. Thus, an even edge is produced and need not be “freehanded” by the user or by other person applying the polish  302 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a method  500  of producing a French manicure. In at least one implementation, the French manicure can be produced using a French manicure guide, such as the French manicure guide  100  of  FIG. 1 . Therefore, the method  500  will be described, exemplarily, with reference to the French manicure guide  100  of  FIG. 1 . Nevertheless, one of skill in the art can appreciate that the method  500  can be used to produce a French manicure using a device other than the French manicure guide  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows that the method  500  can include applying  502  a base coat to a fingernail. A base coat allows polish to stick to the nail more easily. A base coat also creates a barrier that helps protect the nail from the damaging effects of nail polish. It prevents staining and peeling, and it will give polished nails a more even texture. Base coats come in plain and ridge-filler varieties. Ridge-filling base coats are thicker than regular base coats. They fill in any lines, ridges and grooves to give the nails a smoother looking appearance. The base coat may be fortified with substances such as protein, vitamin E or calcium. These ingredients help keep nails healthier and prevent breaking, splitting and peeling. 
       FIG. 5  also shows that the method  500  can include selecting  504  a French manicure guide and edge. The French manicure guide will be selected  504  based on size. I.e., the user will select  504  a French manicure guide that is approximately the same size as her finger, allowing the French manicure guide to easily attach and produce the desired edge that best matches the size of the user&#39;s fingernail. In addition, the user determines whether she wants a French manicure with a straight edge or a curved edge. 
       FIG. 5  further shows that the method  500  can include placing  506  the French manicure guide on the fingernail. The French manicure guide is placed  506  by firmly pressing the French manicure guide onto the fingernail with the desired edge away from the user&#39;s hand. That is, the desired edge is placed  506  toward the tip of the user&#39;s fingernail. The French manicure guide is aligned such that the desired thickness of the polish line remains exposed. I.e., the user leaves the tip of the fingernail exposed in order to polish the tip of the nail. 
       FIG. 5  additionally shows that the method  500  can include applying  508  polish to the tip of the fingernail. I.e., the exposed nail above the French manicure guide is polished and allowed to dry. This produces the white tip that is the identifying look of a French manicure. One of skill in the art will appreciate that additional coatings may be applied as needed. 
       FIG. 5  moreover shows that the method  500  can include finishing  510  the manicure. In particular, the French manicure guide is removed from the finger of the user and any additional polish can be applied. For example, if the user wishes to achieve a traditional French manicure look, she may then coat each nail with a sheer color followed by a clear top coat polish or just apply clear top coat polish. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments. 
     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.