Patent Publication Number: US-2021169197-A1

Title: Digitized Artificial Nail and Production Method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a non-provisional application that claims priority to Chinese application number CN/201911233902.9, filing date Dec. 5, 2019, the entire contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an artificial nail and its production method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a digitized artificial nail and its production method via a 3D printing technology. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ARTS 
     Artificial nail tips are known in nail art and extensions placed on top of a natural fingernail of a user to visually modify the shape of the fingernail, such that the artificial nail tips can make the fingers of the user look more graceful and longer so as to enhance an aesthetic hand form of the user. 
     However, the conventional artificial nail tips have the following drawbacks: 
     1. The size of the conventional artificial nail tips is standard and pre-formed so that the conventional artificial nail tip cannot perfectly match with the fingernail of the user. Therefore, the shape and length of the conventional artificial nail tip must be customized and trimmed by the manicurist with nail clippers according to the actual contour of the fingernail of the user. 
     2. The shape and curvature of the conventional artificial nail tip  1 ′ (as shown in  FIG. 11 ) cannot perfectly match with the curvature of the fingernail  2 ′ of the user. Therefore, when glue  3 ′ is applied between the artificial nail tip  1 ′ and the fingernail  2 ′, the glue  3 ′ is unevenly distributed therebetween, so that the adhesion force of the glue is unevenly applied to the artificial nail tip l′ to damage the artificial nail tip  1 ′ easily. 
     3. The fingernail of the user cannot be directly personalized and customized for nail art. Accordingly, an extension gel must be initially applied on the fingernail of the user to form the artificial nail tip. After curing and solidifying, the artificial nail tip must be removed from the fingernail of the user to make any style of nail art on the artificial nail tip. Otherwise, the nail art must be directly made on the fingernail of the user. 
     The conventional nail arts mainly formed by manually painting the nail art on the fingernail of the user by the manicurist or directly sticking a finished art sticker on the fingernail of the user. However, the color of the conventional nail art through the above methods is easy to fade, the gloss of the conventional nail art cannot last long, the conventional nail art is lack of 3D effect. 
     Therefore, in order to solve the above technical problems, a need exists for a digital nail art and its production method to overcome the above mentioned defects in the prior arts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In order to solve the above technical problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a digitized artificial nail and its production method having the advantages of low manufacturing cost, tailor making for a nail surface of a user, and convenient for styling. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a digitized artificial nail and its production method, wherein the artificial nail is digitized to form on the nail surface of the user. 
     In order to achieve the above objects, the production method of a digitized artificial nail on a nail surface of a user, comprises the steps of: 1) scanning the nail of the user; 2) data sampling and topology deformation of an artificial nail; 3) digitizing the artificial nail; 4) personalizing and customizing the artificial nail; and 5) three dimensionally printing the artificial nail. 
     According to the production method of the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, the step 1) is performed through a projection of a structured light to obtain user nail point cloud data of the nail of the user, so as to construct a digitized nail model of the nail of the user, wherein the step 1) further comprises the following steps. 
     (1-1) Project the structured light or fixed light by an optical instrument to scan the finger of the user so as to obtain scanned data of a finger model. 
     (1-2) Via a structured light projection camera, capture a user nail image of projection lines  1  on the nail  2  of the user, determine a plurality of three dimensional coordinates at different points on a nail surface of the user according to a curvature change of nail surface in the user nail image, obtain the irregular user nail point cloud data to construct an irregular digitized user nail model  3 , that is, an irregular three dimensional grid. 
     According to the production method of the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, the above data is collected when the nail surface is retained and scanned in a stationary manner, and the data collection time is 3 seconds. 
     According to the production method of the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, the step (2) further comprises the following steps. 
     (2-1) At a predetermined sampling density, sample the irregular digitized user nail model established in the step (1) to obtain a new set of cloud points, i.e. by tracing the sampling points on the irregular digitized user nail model in the step (1), determine a plurality of intersections between the sampling points and a triangular face, so that new cloud point data are finally determined by the intersections to form a regular digitized artificial nail model, that is, a regular three dimensional grid surface. 
     (2-2) Duplicate the regular three dimensional grid surface  7  into multiple layers  8  for forming an artificial nail model having a predetermined thickness configuration, and topologically deform the top layer of the artificial nail model and keep a nail attachment layer unchanged in order to form a digitized artificial nail model capable of perfectly attaching onto the nail surface of the user. 
     According to the production method of the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, the step (3) further comprises a step of: matching an artificial nail shape selected by the user with the digitized artificial nail model in the step (2) to obtain a desired artificial nail model. 
     In other words, the digitized nail model is processed in the step (2) according to the intersection data to ensure the shape of the artificial nail closely matching with the nail shape of the user. 
     Accordingly, the data processing includes, but not limited to, moving the location of the intersection point, and zooming in and out thereof. 
     The data of the intersection point is the data of the outer layer in the digitized artificial nail model, wherein the nail attachment layer contacted with the nail surface of the user is remain unchanged. 
     According to the production method of the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, in the step (4), available customized digitized artificial nail includes, but not limited to, hollow style, three dimensional style, embossed style, or designed pattern. 
     According to the production method of the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, the step (5) further comprises a step of: after importing the designed nail data of the digitized artificial nail model into a computer with a printing software installed thereinto, printing the digitized artificial nail via a 3D printer. 
     According to the present invention, the production method of the digitized artificial nail further comprises a post processing step which comprises the following steps. 
     (6-1) Surface treatment: remove the digitized artificial nail from a printing platform of the 3D printer, remove any residue on the digitized artificial nail, cure and solidify the digitized artificial nail, and finally polish and smooth a top surface of the digitized artificial nail. 
     (6-2) Coloring: print an ink on the top surface of the digitized artificial nail by an UV printer, and cure and solidify the ink by an UV lamp to finally form an artificial nail tip. 
     According to the present invention, the production method of the digitized artificial nail further comprises a step of forming two chamfers along two longitudinal edges of the digitized artificial nail. 
     In order to achieve the above objectives, the digitized artificial nail is made by the production method and is configured to have two configurations, i.e. a chambered artificial nail and a non-chambered artificial nail. 
     According to the present invention, by using the adhesive with low adhesive force or heat process, the digitized artificial nail can be easily removed from the nail of the user, so that the digitized artificial nail can be repeatedly used. 
     According to the present invention, the production method of the digitized artificial nail further comprises a step of applying an adhesive at a nail chamber of the chambered artificial nail. 
     According to the present invention, the digitized artificial nail is printed on the nail surface layer by layer, wherein a printing thickness of the digitized artificial nail is gradually increased from a root of the nail to a tip thereof. The thickness of the digitized artificial nail is between 0.01 mm and 0.6 mm. 
     Comparing to the conventional artificial nail tip, the digitized artificial nail of the present invention has the following advantages: 
     1. The production method of the digitized artificial nail is incorporated with a three dimensional scanning method to sample the nail of the user in order to form a three dimensional digitized artificial nail model by topologically deformation to form the three dimensional grid. Then, through the digitized matching and 3D printing, the digitized artificial nail is formed with perfectly matching the nail of the user, minimum adhesive force, and easy to use, and the digitized artificial nail is reusable. 
     2. Through the production method of the digitized artificial nail, a gap between the digitized artificial nail of the present invention and the nail of the user is relatively uniform and integrally formed with chamber to receive the adhesive. Therefore, the forces can evenly exerted on the digitized artificial nail. By using the adhesive with low adhesive force or heat process, the digitized artificial nail can be easily removed from the nail of the user without damaging the digitized artificial nail, so that the digitized artificial nail can be repeatedly used. 
     3. The production method of the digitized artificial nail is incorporated with a three dimensional printing technology, wherein the digitized artificial nail is integrally formed in a one piece manner. The shape and size of the digitized artificial nail is adjustable and varied with any further trimming process by the manicurist. Therefore, the digitized artificial nail is convenient for use, is easy to make in low cost, and is rapidly made. The digitized artificial nail can meet different personalized preferences of different users, and can be worn repeatedly. 
     4. The digitized artificial nail is manufactured in low cost, and the manufacturing speed is fast, and can meet individual preference. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flow diagram showing a production method of a digitized artificial nail according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing the light projection on a nail surface in step 1) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows the irregular data of the digital modeling in step (1) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing the step (2-1) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing the step (2-2) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the irregular data of the digital modeling in step (2) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing nail type in the step (3) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the step (3) of the production method the digitized artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a non-chambered artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a chambered artificial nail according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows the conventional artificial nail tip glued on a nail surface of a user. 
         FIG. 12  shows the chambered artificial nail glued on a nail surface of a user according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 10 and 12  of the drawings, the present invention provides a production method of a digitized artificial nail as a nail tip for a nail surface of a user, wherein the production method comprises the following steps. 
     (1) Scanning the nail of the user. 
     The nail of the user has the following properties: stiffness; the basic color tones of finger and nail are relatively close; basic curvature of the nail surface, uneven nail surface, such as bump on the nail surface. Therefore, in this step, through the projection of structured light, point cloud data of the nail of the user is obtained to construct a digitized nail model of the nail by the following steps. 
     (1-1) Project the structured light or fixed light by an optical instrument to scan the finger of the user so as to obtain scanned data of a finger model. 
     (1-2) Via a structured light projection camera, capture a user nail image of projection lines  1  on the nail  2  of the user, determine a plurality of three dimensional coordinates at different points on a nail surface of the user according to a curvature change of nail surface in the user nail image, obtain the irregular user nail point cloud data to construct an irregular digitized user nail model  3 , that is, an irregular three dimensional grid. 
     The above data is collected when the nail surface is retained and scanned in a stationary manner, and the data collection time, i.e. the scanning time, is 3 seconds so that the data collection speed is relatively fast. 
     Furthermore, since the user nail has a single color or monochrome, the contrast of the projected structured light can be effectively adjusted to enhance the scanning accuracy of the user nail. 
     (2) Data sampling and topology deformation, which comprises the following steps. 
     (2-1) Collect sampling points as sampling density during the data sampling. In the step (1), since the irregular digitized user nail model  3  is constructed as the irregular three dimensional grid, the nail surface of the user is constructed to have a plurality of points arranged in a regular manner. In other words, the points are aligned and arranged under a predetermined guideline. Therefore, at a predetermined sampling density, the irregular digitized user nail model  3  established in the step (1) is sampled to obtain a new set of cloud points. That is, by tracing the sampling points on the irregular digitized user nail model  3  in the step (1), determine a plurality of intersections between the sampling points  4  and a triangular face  5 , so that new cloud point data  6  are finally determined by the intersections to form a regular digitized artificial nail model  7 , that is, a regular three dimensional grid surface. In other words, the data sampling is configured to convert the irregular digitized user nail model  3  into the regular digitized artificial nail model  7 . 
     (2-2) Duplicate the regular three dimensional grid surface  7  into multiple layers  8 , i.e. including a top layer and a bottom layer, for forming an artificial nail model  9  having a predetermined thickness configuration, and topologically deform the top layer of the artificial nail model  9  and keep a nail attachment layer, i.e. the bottom layer, unchanged in order to form a digitized artificial nail model  10  capable of perfectly attaching onto the nail surface of the user. In other words, a curvature of the nail attachment layer of the artificial nail model  9  is configured to perfectly match with a curvature of the nail of the user while a curvature of the top layer of the artificial nail model  9  can be selectively adjusted by the user. Preferably, the curvature of the nail attachment layer of the artificial nail model  9  should match with the curvature of the nail attachment layer thereof, so that the thickness of the artificial nail model  9  with respect to a width thereof is uniform. 
     (3) Digitalize the digitized artificial nail model  10  to match with the nail shape selected by the user. 
     In this step, match an artificial nail shape  12  (the nail shape shown in  FIG. 7  includes, but not limited to, French nail shape, oval nail shape, pointed nail shape, or “Shamete” nail shape) according to the selection of the user with the digitized artificial nail model  10  in the step (2) to obtain a desired artificial nail model  13 . In other words, the digitized nail model is processed in the step (2) according to the intersection data to ensure the shape of the artificial nail closely matching with the nail shape of the user. Therefore, once the artificial nail shape  12  is selected, the curvatures of the nail attachment layer and the top layer are predetermined. 
     Accordingly, the data processing includes, but not limited to, moving the location of the intersection point  14 , and zooming in and out thereof. 
     The data of the intersection point is the data of the outer layer in the digitized artificial nail model, wherein the nail attachment layer contacted with the nail surface of the user is remain unchanged. 
     (4) Customize and personalize the digitized artificial nail model. Available customized digitized artificial nail includes, but not limited to, hollow style, three dimensional style, embossed style, or designed pattern. 
     (5) Three dimensional printing, wherein the 3D printing process is configured to: 
     import the designed nail data of the digitized artificial nail model into a computer with a printing software installed thereinto, and print the digitized artificial nail via a 3D printer. The digitized artificial nail is 3D-printed layer by layer, wherein a printing thickness of the digitized artificial nail is gradually increased from a root to tip with respect to a root of the nail to a tip thereof. In one example, a thickness of the digitized artificial nail is between 0.01 mm and 0.6 mm. 
     (6) Post processing, wherein the post processing comprises the following steps. 
     (6-1) Surface treatment: remove the digitized artificial nail from a printing platform of the 3D printer, remove any residue on the digitized artificial nail, cure and solidify the digitized artificial nail, and finally polish and smooth a top surface of the digitized artificial nail. 
     (6-2) Coloring: print an ink on the top surface of the digitized artificial nail by an UV printer, and cure and solidify the ink by an UV lamp to finally form an artificial nail tip. 
     According to the present invention, the digitized artificial nail is made by the production method and is configured to have two configurations, i.e. a chambered artificial nail and a non-chambered artificial nail, wherein the chambered artificial nail has a nail chamber receiving an adhesive  15  therein to easy bonding and to minimize a bonding force to the nail. In other words, the adhesive  15  is applied and retained on the nail attachment layer of the digitized artificial nail. 
     Furthermore, hangnails are jagged pieces of skin jut out on the side of the nail of the user. Therefore, the digitized artificial nail of the present invention further comprises two chamfers  11  integrally protruded along two longitudinal edges of the digitized artificial nail respectively during the 3D printing, wherein the chamfers  11  are configured to fit and match with the nail structure so as to eliminate any discomfort for the user when the digitized artificial nail is attached onto the nail. 
     A gap between the digitized artificial nail of the present invention and the nail  2 ′ of the user is relatively uniform and integrally formed with chamber to receive the adhesive. Therefore, the forces can evenly exerted on the digitized artificial nail. By using the adhesive with low adhesive force or heat process, the digitized artificial nail can be easily removed from the nail of the user without damaging the digitized artificial nail, so that the digitized artificial nail can be repeatedly used. 
     Using the above mentioned production method to make the digitized artificial nail of the present invention, the digitized artificial nail can be worn and replaced according to the user preference such as clothing, color, mode, location, etc, wherein the digitized artificial nail of the present invention is reusable. 
     The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to be limiting. The present invention should include all modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention.