Patent Abstract:
A packaging arrangement for preformed artificial nails and/or nail tips that includes a display that presents the profile contour of at least one nail, wherein the display includes a card having a front wall and at least one side wall, the front wall including at least one opening therethrough that supports said nail in profile contour. Embodiments of the display include a U-shaped cross-section, a second wall disposed substantially parallel to the front wall and having a mating opening for supporting the nail, indicia on the front wall, and two nested U-shaped cross-section structures.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to human nail decorations, and more specifically the invention pertains to the packaging of preformed artificial nails and tips for placement over and adherence to human nails. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Well manicured hands and feet present a polished, professional appearance. A major factor in such a manicured appearance is the presentation of ones nails. Many individuals are unable or unwilling, however, to grow or maintain healthy nails of a desired length or uniformity. Alternately, they may not have the time, skill, or financial wherewithal to maintain or obtain a more finished appearance that may result from well manicured and/or polished nails. As a result, entire industries have developed around the artificial supplementation and enhancement of natural nails. 
     Such enhancements may range from manicuring and polishing of natural fingernails to individually building artificial nails on the natural nail and nail form from an acrylic powder and liquid which chemically bond to the nail surface as the artificial nail is built. Prior to application of an acrylic nail, a bonding agent or primer is applied directly to the natural nail. Typically, a form is placed subjacent the free edge of the user&#39;s finger nail or a tip portion is applied to the finger nail when the user desires a lengthening of the natural nail. Acrylic nails are built up and formed directly on the user&#39;s own finger nail and the form and/or tip from a mixture of an acrylic liquid (typically methacrylate ester) and an acrylic powder (typically methacrylate copolymer). The operator then dips an applicator brush in the liquid and powder are mixed together to provide a flowable acrylic resin that is repeatedly brushed over the length of the nail and tip and/or form to develop an acrylic nail. The acrylic literally bonds with the user&#39;s own fingernail. Although kits are available for home fabrication of such acrylic nails, acrylic nails are typically formed in salons. While such acrylic nails are relatively durable, the process of fabricating acrylic nails is time consuming and can be expensive. The use of acrylic nails also requires regular maintenance as the user&#39;s natural nails grow out. Finally, because the acrylic bonds to the nail surface, removal of such acrylic nails from the user&#39;s natural nails requires particular chemicals or mechanically prying the developed acrylic nail from the natural nail surface, and can still result in damage to the natural nail. 
     Between these two extremes of time-consuming manicures and the creation of acrylic nails, are preformed, artificial nails that are glued or otherwise bonded to a person&#39;s own naturally occurring fingernails. Such nails are readily available to a wide range of users through drug and department stores. Such preformed artificial nails may be clear or opaque, and/or prepolished and/or decorated to provide the desired appearance. Preformed artificial nails provide users with a relatively quick and economical means by which to provide a polished, manicured appearance. 
     Such preformed artificial nails are traditionally made of plastic materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene or polypropylene and are secured to the user&#39;s nail with an adhesive. The preformed nails may be removed using commonly available acetone nail polish remover, which dissolves the adhesive to separate the preformed nail from the natural nail. Preformed artificial nails may either be polished or decorated once applied, or the preformed nail may include color and/or other decoration prior to application. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “preformed artificial nail” shall mean an artificial nail that is molded, by injection molding or other method of fabrication, into a complete, discrete nail that may then be secured to the user&#39;s natural nail, rather than a nail that is formed directly on the user&#39;s nail, as with the acrylics described above. 
     Preformed artificial nails are provided in a variety of lengths to extend the free edge of the user&#39;s nail from a relatively short, sportier amount to relatively long, glamorous lengths. Moreover, the free edge of such artificial nails is provided in a variety of shapes to meet the user&#39;s preference as to how one might file one&#39;s own nails. 
     Preformed artificial nails are traditionally supplied in either a full nail form or a nail tip form. As indicated by the name, full nails simulate a complete nail, including nail bed and free edge and are adhered thereto, covering the entire nail, including the nail bed and free edge of the nail. The proximate edge is shaped to be disposed substantially adjacent or abut against the cuticle of the finger. In contrast, nail tips do not simulate the complete nail, but, rather, only the free edge and, typically, a small extended portion to cover only a portion of the nail bed in order to facilitate attachment to the nail. In use, nail tips are secured to the edge of the nail bed adjacent the free edge and the tip only. 
     The distal free edge may have any of various lengths and shapes, such as oval, square, or flared, depending upon the desired look. Additionally, to further simulate a natural fingernail, the artificial nail is typically formed with a curvature between a first side edge and a second side and a curvature between the proximate and distal edges. Preferably, the artificial nail is sufficiently durable and rigid to withstand the hazards inherent in its use. 
     Manufacturers typically provide users with a range of nail sizes, e.g., identified by size numbers 0-9, to accommodate most nail sizes. Generally, artificial nails are packaged together in sets including a range of different sizes so that the purchaser receives differently artificial nails for their different fingers. In addition to the set of different sized artificial nails, the package may also include liquid adhesive and/or peel-off adhesive pads for bonding the artificial nails to the purchaser&#39;s natural fingernails. 
     It is well known, however, that the contour of natural fingernails varies greatly between individuals and even between different fingers on the same individual. It has been difficult, if not impossible, to produce artificial nails having degrees of curvature between the first and second side edges and proximate and distal edges that accommodate all natural fingernails. While manufacturers may produce a large number of artificial nails with a variety of curves, this solution is undesirable and impractical because of the associated increase in manufacturing costs. As a result, manufactures typically produce a set of preformed artificial nails have varying widths and including set degrees of curvature. 
     Variations between the curvatures of the preformed artificial nail and the natural nail, however, may affect the integrity of the attachment to the nail, the comfort to the wearer, and the aesthetic appeal of the nail when secured to the natural nail. For example, some individuals have one or more relatively flat nail beds. When attaching an artificial nail that is more curved than the natural nail bed, there will be a gap between the artificial and natural nail bed. In order to adequately bond the artificial nail to the nail bed, a proportionally greater amount of adhesive must be applied. The best bond, however, is obtained from a thin layer of glue between adjacently disposed artificial and natural nail surfaces. A greater amount of glue may result in the formation of air pockets within the volume of glue, weakening the bond. Consequently, the use of a greater amount of glue may actually result in a less durable bond between the artificial and natural nails, and shorten wear time. Moreover, when the user presses the more arched artificial nail downward against the flatter natural nail bed of the user, and the bond is established, the artificial nail will seek to return to its natural, more arched free position. As a result, this pulling on the natural nail bed can cause the user significant pain and discomfort. 
     To minimize the chances of formation of air pockets within the layer of glue between the artificial and natural nails, and thereby provide a stronger bond between the artificial nail and the natural fingernail and a reduction in user discomfort, it has been proposed that the preformed artificial nail be permitted to flex and conform to the curved shape of a nail bed of a natural fingernail along the nail bed portion. As set forth in U.S. Provisional Application 60/601,895 and PCT Application PCT/US0529170, which are incorporated herein by reference for all disclosed therein, to enable the artificial nail to conform to the nail bed of the wearer, the thickness of the artificial nail body may increase between the proximate edge and the distal edge. Accordingly, the portion of the nail body corresponding to the proximate edge is sufficiently thin to demonstrate a degree of flexibility while the portion corresponding to the distal end is sufficiently thick to provide strength to the artificial nail. In this way, the flexibility of the artificial nail increases as along the length of the nail from a relatively rigid distal end portion to a relatively flexible proximate portion. Thus, the flexibility associated with the portion of the artificial nail corresponding to the proximate edge allows that portion of the artificial nail to be pressed adjacent to the nail bed. More specifically, the flexible portion of the artificial nail can deform to mirror the curve of the nail bed between the first and second sides of the wear&#39;s own natural fingernail. As a result, the inventive nail will result in a reduction, and, sometimes, elimination of the pain often caused to the user by the arched nail seeking to return to its free state and exerting and upward force on a flatter natural nail bed. 
     In selecting between the various nail curvatures, or the flexible nail described above, however, the user is typically left with little more than a written description of the same and/or possibly a picture or artist&#39;s rendition of the curvature of the nail. Accordingly, it may be difficult for the user to choose the nail design that is appropriate for her particular nail profile. U.S. Application Publication US 2005-0150814 A1 in the name of Kiss Nail Products, Inc., discloses a “Combination package for artificial fingernails”. The package of the &#39;814 publication includes a sponge-like block through which the nails are disposed in order to display the curvature. This arrangement, however, does not provide for further guidance to the potential purchaser regarding the attributes in the nails displayed beyond the accompanying packaging. Moreover, the block of sponge material is relatively voluminous. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a packaging arrangement for preformed artificial nails or nail tips (collectively referred to as “preformed artificial nails” in the specification and in the claims) that includes a display that presents the profile contour of at least one nail, wherein the display includes a card having a front wall and at least one side wall, the front wall including at least one opening therethrough that supports said nail in profile contour. The display may be formed with a U-shaped cross-section. It may additionally include a second wall disposed substantially parallel to the front wall and having a mating opening for supporting the nail. The second wall may be formed as part of the basic front and side wall. Alternately, the second wall may be included in a second U-shaped cross-sectional structure that nests with a first such structure. 
     The display is preferably formed from a flat card stock or polymeric material in a sheet form. In this way, the flat sheet is bent into the final display arrangement. 
     Preferably, the display includes indicia that provide information to the potential user regarding the displayed nail. The indicia may be printed or formed directly on the display or secured thereto. 
     The kit may further include an adhesive, a towelette including a cleaner, a roughening surface, a stick, and/or a placement tool. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following summary and detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packaging arrangement constructed in accordance with teachings of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, front perspective view of the display arrangement of the packaging arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, rear perspective view of the display arrangement of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged plan view of the display arrangement of  FIGS. 3 and 4  laid flat. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the display arrangement of  FIGS. 3-5  supporting a preformed artificial nail. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the packaging arrangement of  FIG. 1 , showing the display arrangement of  FIG. 6  nested within a display card. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a nail kit  18  comprising a package  20  containing a plurality of preformed artificial nails  22 . Each artificial nail  22  includes a nail body having a generally convex upper surface and a generally concave lower surface. Each nail  22  further comprises a proximal end  30 , adapted to be placed generally adjacent the user&#39;s cuticle, and a distal end  32  that is generally disposed at or beyond the end of the user&#39;s natural nail when properly placed. The areas between the proximal and distal ends  30 ,  32  of the artificial nail  22  generally define the nail bed portion  34  and the free end  36 , the nail bed portion  34  being adapted to be placed adjacent the user&#39;s natural nail bed and the free end portion  36  being adapted to extend beyond the end of the user&#39;s finger. The artificial nails  22  further include right and left side edges  37 ,  38  with the nail  22  having a generally arched contour between the side edges  37 ,  38 . 
     The nail kit package  20  typically includes an outer covering  40 , here in the form of a box, having at least one transparent portion  41  for viewing the contents of the package  20 . The package  20  further includes an inner support housing  42  that generally retains the contents of the package  20  in position within the package  20 . The inner support housing is typically formed of a polymeric material. The inner support housing  42  generally includes a plurality of recessed areas  44 ,  46 , and additional contents of the package  20  may be retained in a rear open portion  48  of the inner support housing  42 . In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of such recessed areas  44  display a plurality of artificial nails  22  in a plan view, while the recessed area  46  retains a display arrangement  50  for displaying at least one of the artificial nails  22  from an end profile such that the potential user may view of the contour between the side edges  37 ,  38  of the nails  22 . 
     In accordance with the invention, the display arrangement  50  is of a construction that is readily fabricated and stored for shipment. As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3 , the display arrangement  50  comprises a U-shaped channel  52  having a front wall  54  from which side walls  56 ,  58  depend. At least one opening  60  extends through the front wall  54  of the display arrangement  50  such that an artificial nail  22  may be disposed therein. In order to stabilize the artificial nail  22  within the opening  60 , the opening  60  is preferably of a generally arcuate or sector shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in a preferred embodiment, the display arrangement  50  additionally includes a second U-shaped channel  62  wherein the front wall  64  of the second U-shaped channel  62  is disposed substantially parallel to, but spaced away from the front wall  54  of the first U-shaped channel  52 . In order to further stabilize an artificial nail  22  when disposed in the first opening  60 , the front wall  54  of the second U-shaped channel  62  likewise includes at least one opening  70  therethrough that is disposed generally behind the opening  60  in the first U-shaped channel  52 . As with the first opening  60 , the second opening  70  is preferably generally arcuate or sector shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the second U-shaped channel  62  likewise includes side walls  66 ,  68  that depend from the front wall  64  such that the U-shaped channels  52 ,  62  are nested. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the shape and execution of the display arrangement  50  may be varied from the illustrated design without departing from the invention. By way of example only, the second front wall  64  may not be a part of a separate U-shaped channel, but may simply be a back face to the first U-shaped channel  52 . 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the display arrangement  50  is formed as a flat structure  72 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the illustrated embodiment, the flat structure  72  includes portions that correspond to the front wall  54  and side walls  56 ,  58  of the first U-shaped channel  52 , as well as the front wall  64  and side walls  66 ,  68  of the second U-shaped channel  62 . It further includes the openings  60 ,  70 . In this embodiment, the openings  60  are merely a slit of an arcuate shape, while the openings  70  include such an arcuate shape, but are larger openings shaped as a sector. In order to facilitate final shaping of the display arrangement  50 , the flat structure  72  may further include score lines or perforations  74  that extend along those lines where that flat structure  72  is to be folded to shape it into the final display arrangement  50 . 
     The display arrangement  50  is preferably formed of a thin sheet of polymeric material, such as, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene, or card stock. The arrangement  50  may be fabricated by any appropriate method, including, for example, stamping. It will thus be appreciated by those of skill in the art that this flat structure may be easily and economically fabricated. Moreover, when shipped as a flat structure  72 , a large volume of the flat structures  72  may be shipped as a very compact unit. Similarly, even when the display arrangement  50  is in its final U-shaped structure, a plurality of the arrangements  50  may be nested and compactly shipped. 
     In use, the flat structure  72  shown in  FIG. 5  is bent along lines  74  to form the nested generally U-shaped channels  52 ,  62  shown in  FIG. 6 . The display arrangement  50  is then inserted into the recess  46  in the inner housing structure  42 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this way, when the artificial nail is inserted into end held in the openings  60 ,  70 , it is maintained in a manner whereby the potential user may readily view the contour of the nails  22 . 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the display arrangement  50  is particularly suited for display of indicia  80  regarding the particular nails  22  displayed in profile. Advantageously, such indicia  80  may be provided directly on the display arrangement  50  as shown, in  FIG. 3 . Alternately, a small placard may be provided and coupled to the display arrangement  50  in this way, the user may utilize the displayed nails  22  for reference, even when the display arrangement is separated from the remainder of the nail kit  18 . 
     It will be appreciated that the preformed artificial nails utilized in the nail kit  18  may be of any appropriate design. Moreover, the nail kit may include additional items, such as, by way of example only, an appropriate adhesive, a rough or emery type surface for buffing the natural nail prior to placement of the artificial nail, a towelette including an acetone or other substance to clean the nail prior to placement, a rosewood stick and/or an application tool for assistance during installation of the artificial nail onto the natural nail surface. Such a tool is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Provisional Application 60/634068. 
     While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, variations of the preferred embodiments can be used, and it is intended that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 
     All of the references cited herein, including patents, patent applications, and publications, are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1