Patent Publication Number: US-6213131-B1

Title: Fingernail stenciling system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fingernail painting using a specialized stencil and more particularly pertains to a new fingernail stenciling system for applying novel and decorative shapes and designs upon fingernails. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of fingernail painting using a specialized stencil is known in the prior art. More specifically, fingernail painting using a specialized stencil heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 2,234,657; U.S. Pat. No. 2,283,703; U.S. Pat. No. 2,262,977; U.S. Pat. No. 2,220,758; U.S. Pat. No. 2,055,357; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 367,886. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new fingernail stenciling system. The inventive device includes a carrying case having a plurality of compartments disposed inside thereof, and also includes a stencil member having a plurality of openings therein, each opening having a distinctive design and shape, and further includes a base member, an elongate member, and a finger support member, and also includes an airbrush nozzle connected to a portable air compressor and having a hopper for holding and providing paint used to paint one&#39;s fingernails. 
     In these respects, the fingernail stenciling system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of applying novel and decorative shapes and designs upon fingernails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of fingernail painting using a specialized stencil now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new fingernail stenciling system construction wherein the same can be utilized for applying novel and decorative shapes and designs upon fingernails. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which has many of the advantages of the fingernail painting using a specialized stencil mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fingernail stenciling system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fingernail painting using a specialized stencil, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a carrying case having a plurality of compartments disposed inside thereof, and also includes a stencil member having a plurality of openings therein, each opening having a distinctive design and shape, and further includes a base member, an elongate member, and a finger support member, and also includes an airbrush nozzle connected to a portable air compressor and having a hopper for holding and providing paint used to paint one&#39;s fingernails. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which has many of the advantages of the fingernail painting using a specialized stencil mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fingernail stenciling system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fingernail painting using a specialized stencil, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such fingernail stenciling system economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system for applying novel and decorative shapes and designs upon fingernails. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system which includes a carrying case having a plurality of compartments disposed inside thereof, and also includes a stencil member having a plurality of openings therein, each opening having a distinctive design and shape, and further includes a base member, an elongate member, and a finger support member, and also includes an airbrush nozzle connected to a portable air compressor and having a hopper for holding and providing paint used to paint one&#39;s fingernails. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system that allows the user to easily and quickly apply paint in many different decorative shapes and designs to one&#39;s fingernails. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new fingernail stenciling system that provides the user with beautiful and fashionable nail designs. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new fingernail stenciling system according to the present invention as being used. 
     FIG. 2 is a top planar view of the stencil member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of the base member, elongate support and the finger support member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top planar view of the plate-like member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new fingernail stenciling system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the fingernail stenciling system  10  generally comprises a carrying case  11  having a plurality of compartments disposed inside thereof. A means for supporting a person&#39;s finger  33  upon which a fingernail  34  is being stenciled is stored in the carrying case  11  and includes a base member  12 , an elongate member  14  being securely attached to the base member  12  and extending vertically and upwardly therefrom, and a finger support member  17  being removeably mounted upon the elongate member  14 . The base member  12  includes a hole  13  extending through a center thereof, the hole  13  being adapted to receive and support a bottom end portion  15  of the elongate member  14 . The finger support member includes a laterally curved plate-like member  17  and a mounting member  28  securely and conventionally attached to a bottom side of the plate-like member  17 . The mounting member  28  has a bore  29  extending through a bottom thereof with the bore  29  being adapted to receive a top end portion  16  of the elongate member  14 . The plate-like member  17  includes a top side  18  having a textured surface upon which a person&#39;s finger  33  would rest. 
     A means of stenciling a person&#39;s fingernail  34  is stored in the carrying case  11  and includes an airbrush nozzle  20  having a bore extending therein, and having a dispensing end  21 , and further. having a hopper  22  securely mounted to the airbrush nozzle  20  and extending in the bore for providing a paint material, and also having an air control member  23  disposed upon and in the nozzle  20  for controlling the dispensing of air through the airbrush nozzle  20 , and a hose coupling member  24  disposed in and extending from the airbrush nozzle  20 ; and also includes a portable air compressor  25  having a hose  26  removeably connected to the hose coupling member  24 . The means of stenciling a person&#39;s fingernail includes a stencil member  30  having a plurality of openings  31  spaced about and extending through the stencil member  30 . Each of the openings  31  has a distinctive shape and decorative design for being applied to a person&#39;s fingernail  34  with each of the openings  31  being adapted to be placed upon a person&#39;s fingernail  34 . The stencil member  30  is essentially a sheet which is essentially a polyester film. 
     In use, the user places one&#39;s finger  33  upon the plate-like member  17 , and then places the selected opening  31  of the stencil member  30  upon the fingernail  34  of that finger  33 , and then places the airbrush nozzle  20  containing the desired paint in the hopper  22  over the fingernail  34  and depresses the air control member  23  to release the compressed air through the bore of the airbrush nozzle  20  which sends a spray of paint from the hopper  22  through the dispensing end  21  and over the selected opening  31  in the stencil member  30  onto the fingernail  34 . When completed, the user can store the stenciling items in the carrying case  11 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.