Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     None.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses and processes for decorating or adorning fingernails, whether natural or artificial, with artwork and/or jewelry. More particularly, the present invention relates to such apparatuses and processes that are simple to utilize, relatively low cost and reusable. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to fingernail apparatuses and processes that utilize a decorative nail plate which is configured to be received on a fingernail and secured thereto with a connector, a post or an adhesive.  
         [0004]     B. Background  
         [0005]     The enhancement or modification of fingernails to improve their appearance and that of the person generally is well known and practiced by many people, although primarily women. One such very common modification is to color or paint the fingernails with fingernail polish and other materials so as to enhance or change the color of the natural fingernail. Another very common and desirable modification is to have longer length fingernails such that the fingernail tips extends some distance past the end of the person&#39;s fingers. Many people consider colored and longer length fingernails to enhance femininity and beauty. Unfortunately, use of the hands and fingers for common everyday activities, such as cleaning, typing, handling various materials and the like, make it very difficult to maintain the desired polish or length of the fingernails. As is well known, such activities tend to break, tear, scar or otherwise damage a person&#39;s fingernails, thereby taking away from the desired femininity or beauty enhancement. Due in part to the difficulty associate with maintaining fingernails in the desired aesthetic condition, an entire sector of the cosmetic industry has developed that specializes in taking care of a person&#39;s fingernails. In addition, although a number of people at least attempt to take care of their own fingernails, many people go to nail or beauty salons and the like that have manicurists who trim, file, polish and decorate a person&#39;s fingernails.  
         [0006]     Although the visual “look” of the fingernails can be changed relatively easy by removing any existing fingernail polish and applying new fingernail polish on the fingernails, growing long fingernails takes some time. The difficultly in growing and maintaining long fingernails has led to a number of artificial fingernail attachments that, when installed on the fingernails, longitudinally extends the length of the person&#39;s natural fingernail. Generally, the devices for extending the natural length of the fingernails comprise acrylic or press-on fingernail extensions that are attached through adhesives to the person&#39;s natural fingernail. Once attached, the fingernail extension is then trimmed, filed and polished, in much the same way as long natural fingernails. One advantage of artificial fingernails is that, depending on the manner or materials used to attach the fingernail extensions, the person can have longer fingernails for the weekend, weekday social engagement or other activity when desired, and then remove them when the longer fingernails are no longer desired or are inappropriate.  
         [0007]     In addition to merely coloring the fingernails or utilizing artificial fingernails, a number of different devices and methods of enhancing or modifying the fingernails are also well known. For instance, nail artists are available to paint designs on a person&#39;s fingernails. These designs can be from simple lines and other geometric shapes to sophisticated and elaborate designs incorporating a variety of animals, plant and other figures. Needless to say, to obtain a well done design requires the skills of a person of sufficient artistic ability. As such, the use of such a method of fingernail enhancement is somewhat limited by the availability and cost of such artists. In addition to artwork, it is also well known to adorn the fingernails with rhinestones, gems or jewels by adhering the material to the fingernail. As one would expect, this can be a time consuming process. The use of stencils to apply designs to fingernails is a well known alternative to the skills of an artist. Fingernail stencils are typically provided in a sheet that requires the applier to lift the stencil from the sheet, remove the cutout (the design) from the stencil and then press the stencil on the fingernails at the desired position(s). Once the stencil is attached, the person then applies the desired nail art color over the stencil, allows the material to set, carefully removes the stencil and then applies a topcoat and bonder over the entire fingernail. The use of decals and striping tape is also well known. For this method of fingernail enhancement, the striping tape and decals are placed in the desired position, pressed down firmly against the fingernail and then a topcoat and bonder is applied over the striping tape and decals. If desired, rhinestones are placed on the fingernails and then sealed with a topcoat and bonder. Another method of enhancing fingernails is directed towards a French manicure style and comprises applying a basecoat to the fingernail, placing a white tip guide onto the fingernails just below the desired white tip area, applying a white nail polish to the area above the guide, allowing the polish to dry, peeling off the guide and then covering the entire fingernail with a sheer color topcoat. Use of jewelry to enhance the fingernails is also well known. A common method of attaching jewelry to fingernails involves the use of a specially configured nail drill that is used to drill a hole in the fingernail and then placing the post of the jewelry through the drilled hole, tightening a hex nut onto the post from below and then cutting the post off close to the nut with post cutters. Various combinations of the foregoing are also well known.  
         [0008]     A number of prior art patents have addressed various issues with regard to enhancing or modifying fingernails. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,087 to Jang describes an artificial nail overlay that is configured with a picture or pattern offset-printed on a fabric strip having an adhesive coated on the opposite surface of the fabric strip. U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,989 to Abraskin describes a fingernail adornment that comprises a selected display object, such as a charm or the like, that is spaced apart and interconnected to the fingernail by a nominally-sized chain that is attached to the fingernail with an adhesive in a manner that enables the display object to move in a dangling manner. U.S. Pat. No. 1,238,046 to Nuss describes a fingernail ornament that comprises a plate at the end of the fingernail and utilizes a spring tongue configuration to secure the plate to the fingernail. U.S. Pat. No. D445,542 to Dubnicka discloses a removable fingernail ring and charm holder that is similar in concept to a ring for pieced ear. U.S. Pat. No. 2,013,290 to Rohrbach describes a fingernail device that is in the shape of a crescent that fits over the tip of the fingernail. U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,935 to Mast, et al. describes an artificial fingernail formed of a polymer plastic having light diffusing means in the front or tip end portion of the artificial fingernail to obtain a natural appearing contrast between the front portion of the fingernail and the back portion of the fingernail. U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,100 to Chang describes an ornamental fingernail overlay having reusable, pressure-sensitive layer on the bottom surface thereof, which is textured to enhance the adhesion of the adhesive layer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,217 to Coker, et al. describes a process for fabricating custom fit removable and reusable false metal fingernails. U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,365 to Sullivan, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,724 to Takami describe systems and devices for sensing the contours and shape of a person&#39;s fingernail for placement of a decorative design or pattern on the fingernail, either directly on the fingernail or by way of a material having an adhesive layer thereon.  
         [0009]     While the foregoing prior art and patents describe a variety of different devices and methods of enhancing or modifying fingernails, there is a need for an improved device and method. Initially, the foregoing have generally been available for a number of years and are somewhat stale from a fashion sense or at least their popularity is somewhat limited. In addition, a number of the prior art devices and methods are not easy for an individual to place on their own fingernail, particularly when placement on the fingernails of the dominant hand are desired, thereby requiring the person to utilize his or her less dominant hand to adorn the fingernails of the dominant hand. In addition, a number of the prior art devices are not readily reusable, therefore requiring the consumer to buy fresh supplies each time he or she desires to enhance their fingernails. Many of the prior art devices and methods are somewhat awkward, tedious and require a number of different steps to place on the fingernail, thereby being quite time consuming to apply. Certain of the prior art devices and methods of enhancing or modifying fingernails are best accomplished by professional manicurists, which is known to be somewhat costly and require the person to set aside sufficient amount of time to have the tasks completed, including whatever travel or waiting time is necessary.  
         [0010]     What is needed, therefore, is fingernail jewelry that is easier and faster to apply and configured such that most individuals will be able to enhance or modify their own fingernails without the need of a professional manicurist, thereby reducing the cost of enhancing or modifying the fingernails. The improved fingernail jewelry should be adaptable to a wide variety of different designs, configurations and materials, including the use of gold, silver and other metals and precious or semi-precious gems or other jewels. The improved fingernail jewelry should be removable and reusable to further reduce the cost of applying the fingernail jewelry to the person&#39;s fingernails. The fingernail jewelry should be adaptable to both natural and artificial fingernails, including acrylic and press-on nails.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The fingernail jewelry of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses fingernail jewelry that enables most people to easily and quickly enhance and modify their own fingernails without the need to attend and pay for an appointment with a professional manicurist. As such, the present invention reduces the cost and amount of time necessary to enhance and modify a person&#39;s fingernails. In addition, the fingernail jewelry of the present invention further reduces the cost of enhancing fingernails by being reusable. The fingernail jewelry of the present invention is adaptable to both natural and artificial fingernails and can be made out of a wide variety of different materials in a wide variety of different designs and configurations. The fingernail jewelry is adaptable for use with virtually all types of precious, semi-precious and artificial gems and jewels.  
         [0012]     In one general aspect of the present invention, the fingernail jewelry of the present invention is configured for placement on a fingernail, natural or artificial, having a proximal end near the cuticles, an opposite distal end and a pair of opposing sides. The fingernail jewelry comprises a nail plate having a first end, a second end and a pair of opposing sides. The nail plate has an upper portion that is placed above the fingernail and a lower portion that extends below the fingernail to help hold the nail plate in place and prevent the fingernail jewelry from flopping around. The upper portion and lower portion of the nail plate form a cavity at the first end thereof that receives the distal end of the fingernail. The nail plate can be made out of a variety of materials, including gold and/or silver, and in a nearly infinite number of designs that utilize both positive and negative spacing, including various geometric, animal or other figure designs. Design elements, such as stars, flowers or other objects and enhancement materials, such as diamonds, rubies, cubic zirconium, cut glass and the like, can further adorn the outer surface of the upper portion of the nail plate.  
         [0013]     The fingernail jewelry also includes an attachment mechanism for securely attaching the fingernail jewelry to the fingernail. In one embodiment, the fingernail and cavity are cooperatively sized and configured such the distal end of the fingernail is tightly received inside the cavity to prevent the fingernail jewelry from being easily dislodged or knocked off of the fingernail. In this configuration, the lower surface of the upper portion and the upper surface of the lower portion are in abutting relation with the top and bottom sides of the fingernail. In another embodiment, an adhesive is disposed between the distal end and the sides of the fingernail and the cavity to secure the fingernail jewelry on the fingernail. The adhesive can be applied to the fingernail and/or the cavity and should be of the type that is dissolvable with a commonly available and utilized solvent, such as nail polish remover. In another embodiment, the nail plate is secured onto the fingernail by one or more connectors, such as small screws or bolts, that extend through the nail plate and into the fingernail. Fingernail apertures can be located on the fingernail to receive the connectors. Preferably, the apertures on the fingernail jewelry can be incorporated into a design element thereon such that it is not easily discernable that the connector is utilized. In one configuration, the head of the connector is attached to an enhancement material to further hide the connector in the design. The process of installing the fingernail jewelry on a fingernail includes the use of a template to locate the fingernail apertures and identify any trim area at the distal end that needs to be cut, filed or otherwise removed to provide a fingernail shaped and configured with a distal end that fits well into the cavity of the nail plate. The present invention is also suitable for use with toenails.  
         [0014]     Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide fingernail jewelry that has the advantages discussed above and that overcomes the disadvantages and limitations which are associated with presently available fingernail jewelry.  
         [0015]     It is an important objective of the present invention to provide fingernail jewelry for enhancing or modifying fingernails that is relatively easy and quick to install so that most users thereof will be able to install it themselves to reduce or eliminate the costs and time associated with having professional manicurists enhance or modify their fingernails.  
         [0016]     It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide fingernail jewelry that is removable and reusable.  
         [0017]     It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide fingernail jewelry that is adaptable for both natural and artificial nails, including acrylic and press-on nails.  
         [0018]     It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide fingernail jewelry that can be manufactured out of a wide variety of different materials and in a wide variety of different designs that can incorporate many different types of jewels, gems, rhinestones, artificial materials and the like, such that the decoration is inherent in the nail jewelry.  
         [0019]     The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a top exploded view of one embodiment of the fingernail jewelry configured according to the principles of the present invention showing the use of connectors to attach the fingernail jewelry to the fingernail;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a proximal end view of the fingernail jewelry shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the fingernail jewelry shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top view showing the fingernail jewelry of  FIG. 1  installed on the fingernail;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternatively configured fingernail jewelry of the present invention installed on a fingernail;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a top view of another alternatively configured fingernail jewelry of the present invention installed on a fingernail;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a top view of another alternatively configured fingernail jewelry of the present invention installed on a fingernail;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a proximal end view of an alternative configuration for the fingernail jewelry of the present invention showing the use of a pair of attached stud members affixed to and extending generally downwardly from the fingernail jewelry; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is top view of a fingernail having a fingernail jewelry template configured according to the principles of the present invention placed thereon.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, and particularly with reference to the embodiment of the fingernail jewelry of the present invention that is illustrated in the figures, various preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed description and drawings are merely illustrative of various alternative embodiments and represent only several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses of the present invention are illustrated and set forth in this disclosure, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of the components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For purposes of this disclosure, references are generally to use of the jewelry of the present invention with fingernails, however, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosure herein is not so limited as the jewelry of the present invention is also useful, if desired, for toenails.  
         [0031]     Fingernail jewelry that is manufactured out of the components and configured pursuant to the concepts and principles of the present invention is shown generally as  10  in the figures. As shown in  FIG. 1 , fingernail jewelry  10  is configured for use with a fingernail  12 , which can be a natural fingernail or an artificial fingernail (such as those which are acrylic or press-on nails), or a toenail. Fingernail  12  has a distal end  14  that is the tip of fingernail  12  and a proximal end  16  that is generally adjacent to or towards the cuticles of fingernail  12 . As those skilled in the art know, the proximal end  16  of an artificial fingernail  12  may or may not be adjacent to the cuticles of fingernail  12  depending on where the user adheres the artificial fingernail to the natural fingernail. Fingernail jewelry  10  comprises nail plate  18  formed into upper portion  20  and lower portion  22  with first end  24  which, when installed on fingernail  12  as shown in  FIGS. 4 through 7 , is positioned generally adjacent distal end  14  of fingernail  12  and second end  26  which is positioned generally towards, though not usually at, proximal end  16  of fingernail  12 . Upper portion  20  of nail plate  18  has top surface  28  and bottom surface  30  and lower portion  22  of nail plate  18  has top surface  32  and bottom surface  34 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . As also best shown in  FIG. 2 , upper portion  20  and lower portion  22  are cooperatively configured to form cavity  36  therebetween at first end  24  of fingernail jewelry  10 , in which the distal end  14  of fingernail  12  is received when fingernail jewelry  10  is placed on fingernail  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , cavity  36  extends around to the sides  38  and  40  of fingernail jewelry  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The sides  38  and  40  of fingernail jewelry  10  are sized and configured to receive sides  42  and  44 , shown in  FIG. 1 , of fingernail  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , nail plate  18  is sized and configured, such as with the curvilinear shape, such that distal end  14  of fingernail  12  fits within cavity  36  between upper portion  20  and lower portion  22  of fingernail jewelry  10 . This may require providing fingernail jewelry  10  with different sized cavities  36 , such as small, medium and large, for different thickness of fingernails  12  and/or the trimming of distal end  14  of fingernails  12  to fit inside of cavity  36 . Lower portion  22  of nail plate  18  helps hold fingernail jewelry  10  in place and prevent undesirable movement (i.e., flopping around) of the fingernail jewelry.  
         [0032]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, nail plate  18  is cooperatively sized and configured with fingernail  12 , as set forth below, such that fingernail  12  conforms to the shape of fingernail jewelry  10  so that it fits snugly into cavity  36 . In one configuration, the bottom surface  30  of upper portion  20  abuttingly engages the top side of fingernail  12  and the top surface  32  of lower portion  22  abuttingly engages the bottom side of fingernail  12 . When properly configured, the sides  38  and  40  of fingernail jewelry  10  will tightly engage the sides  42  and  44 , respectively, of fingernail  12 . In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, an attachment mechanism is utilized to fixedly attach fingernail jewelry  10  to fingernail  12 . For instance, and adhesive  46  can be placed in cavity  36  prior to placement of fingernail jewelry  10  on fingernail  12  (i.e., by the insertion of distal end  14  into cavity  36 ). Preferably, adhesive  46  is of the quick dry type of nail glue utilized in various prior art fingernail decorative devices and methods. This type of adhesive  46  is generally provided in a dispenser that is suitable for directing adhesive  46  towards cavity  36  of fingernail jewelry  10  or onto distal end  14  of fingernail  12 , is known to bond well with the materials of fingernail  12  and fingernail jewelry  10  and is easily unbonded or separated with the use of an acetone-type nail polish remover of the type that is utilized to remove nail polish.  
         [0033]     As will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art, nail plate  18  can be made out of a wide variety of materials or combinations of materials, with gold, silver and other precious metals likely being the most popular, and in wide variety of designs, a few samples of which are shown in  FIGS. 4 through 7 . The designs for nail plate  18  can incorporate positive and negative space, symmetric designs, scroll designs and various curved or angular shapes. In addition, to the basic design configuration, fingernail jewelry  10  can also comprise one or more design elements, examples of which are shown as  48  in the figures, placed on nail plate  18 . A wide variety of configurations are also available for design elements  48 . If desired, one or more enhancing materials  50 , such as jewels or other precious, semi-precious or non-precious items, including diamonds, rubies, rhinestones, cubic zirconium or cut glass, can also be placed on nail plate  18 . Enhancing materials  50  can be incorporated into design elements  48 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The materials for nail plate  18 , the designs which nail plate can be configured, the design elements  48  and the enhancing materials  50  which can be utilized with fingernail jewelry  10  of the present invention are virtually unlimited. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, however, some materials may be more costly, harder to work with or fragile compared to others, particularly depending on the design chosen for nail plate  18  or design element  48 .  
         [0034]     As set forth above, a method of attaching fingernail jewelry  10  to fingernail  12  is to size and configure it to snugly fit onto distal end  14  and sides  42  and  44  of fingernail  12  or, in an alternative to or in conjunction therewith, to utilize adhesive  46  inside cavity  36  to attach fingernail jewelry  10  to fingernail  12 . A more preferred attachment mechanism for attaching fingernail jewelry  10  to fingernail  12  is the use of one or more connectors  52 , shown in  FIG. 1 , that are configured to engagedly connect nail plate  18  to fingernail  12 . Connectors  52  can be screw, bolt or like elements that engage fingernail  12 . Preferably, the use of connectors  52  are incorporated into the design or design elements  48  on nail plate  18  such that their utilitarian function is not obvious to the casual observer. For instance, design elements  48  can be provided with an aperture  54  therein that is sized to allow the post member  56  of connector to pass through and engage fingernail  12 . The head member  58  of connector  52  can be shaped and configured (i.e., by choosing the appropriate material or colors) such that it “blends” with design element  48  or resembles a diamond or other favorable component. If desired, the head member  58  of connector  52  can have one or more decorative stones imbedded thereon or be configured to cooperatively engage a charm or other item. Fingernail  12  can be provided with a like number of fingernail apertures  60  configured to receive the post member  56  of connector  52 . In one configuration, fingernail apertures  60  can pass entirely through fingernail  12  or only extend part way into fingernail  12  as a start for receiving connector  52 . With natural fingernails  12 , it is likely not preferred to have to drill a hole entirely through fingernail  12  due to the risk of injury to the finger underneath fingernail  12 . Artificial fingernails  12  can be provided with fingernail apertures  60  prior to attachment to the natural fingernail so as to avoid this risk of injury. If connector  52  is of the self-tapping screw type of connecting element, it may only be necessary to provide a slight indentation into fingernail  12  to provide a start for the insertion of post  56  of connector  52 . In any such configuration, fingernail jewelry  10  should be sufficiently attached to fingernail  12  such that incidental contact against fingernail jewelry  10  or fingernail  12  will not dislodge fingernail jewelry  10  from fingernail  12 .  
         [0035]     In an alternative configuration for fingernail jewelry  10 , shown in  FIG. 8 , the attachment mechanism comprises one or more generally downwardly extending stud members  62  that are configured to engage a like number of fingernail apertures  60 . As shown, stud members  62  protrude from the lower surface  34  of lower portion  22  of nail plate  18  to engage fingernail apertures  60  when fingernail jewelry  10  is placed on fingernail  12 . Preferably, stud members  62  are sized and configured to be tightly received in fingernail apertures  60  such that fingernail jewelry  10  is secured onto fingernail  12  in a manner that it is not easily disengaged by incidental contact against fingernail jewelry  10  or fingernail  12  while the user is wearing fingernail jewelry  10 . As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, stud members  62  can be molded with fingernail jewelry  10  as part of the process of making nail plate  18  or they can be welded, glued or otherwise securely attached to nail plate  18  after it is manufactured. If desired, stud members  62  and fingernail apertures  60  can be configured such that stud members  62  are merely inserted into apertures  60  without being tightly engaged thereby. To protect against loss of fingernail jewelry  10  in this configuration, it is preferred that adhesive  46  also be utilized.  
         [0036]     Due to the need to pre-drill fingernail apertures  60  into fingernails  12  with the use of either connector  52  or stud member  62  attachment mechanisms, it is important to ensure that the location for fingernail apertures  60  are carefully positioned. The use of cavity  36  at the first end  24  and sides  38 ,  40  of fingernail jewelry  10 , which is in engaged relation with the distal end  14  and sides  42 ,  44  of fingernail  12 , requires that the position of fingernail apertures  60  be set relative to the distal end  14  and sides  42 ,  44  of fingernail  12 . Although proper positioning can be obtained through careful measurements, it is preferred that template  64  be provided, as shown in  FIG. 9 , having one or more template apertures  66  that are numbered and positioned in cooperation with apertures  54  on design elements  48  or elsewhere on nail plate  18 . Template apertures  66  are sized to receive a drill bit or other hole means for forming fingernail apertures  60 , which only has to be deep enough to receive post member  56  or stud member  62  (but preferably not through the fingernail  12  so as to protrude on the finger side of the fingernail). As it is necessary for the distal end  14  and sides  38 ,  40  of fingernail  12  to be properly received in cavity  36  of fingernail jewelry  10 , template  64  is also configured to identify trim area  68  on fingernail  12  that the user should cut, file or otherwise remove so as to obtain the proper shape to correspond with first end  24  and sides  43 ,  44  of fingernail  12 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , template is placed on fingernail  12  at the location where fingernail jewelry  10  is desired, held in place by tape, adhesive (i.e., press-on type of configuration) or otherwise by holding it still and then fingernail apertures  60  are formed and trim area  68  removed. Once fingernail  12  is configured, template  64  is removed and fingernail jewelry  10  is attached.  
         [0037]     As stated above, fingernail jewelry  10  of the present invention can be manufactured out of a variety of different materials and in a nearly infinite variety of designs with designs elements  48  and enhancing materials thereon. Fingernail jewelry  10  can comprise a variety of different shapes, such as curved or square ends, and should be provided in different sizes for different sized fingernails  12 . In use, the user places template  64  on fingernail  12  where use of fingernail jewelry  10  is desired. With template  64  in place, using a press-on or other type of arrangement, the user will remove trim area  68  by cutting and/or filing away that portion of fingernail  12 . If the attachment mechanism for fingernail jewelry  10  is of the type having one or more connectors  52  or stud members  62 , then the user will drill or otherwise provide one or more fingernail apertures  60  by utilizing the like number of template apertures  66 . Once fingernail  12  is properly shaped and provided with apertures  60 , the user removes template  64  and prepares to place fingernail jewelry  10  on fingernail  12 . If adhesive  46  is to be utilized, with or without the use of connectors  52  or stud members  62 , then the user applies the adhesive, such as quick dry nail glue, to inside cavity  36  of nail plate  18  and/or at the distal end  14  of fingernail  12 . The distal end  14  of fingernail  12  is slid into cavity  36  to engage the distal end  14  and sides  42 ,  44  of fingernail  12  with the first end  24  and sides  38 ,  40  of fingernail jewelry  10 . If connectors  52  are utilized, the user inserts connectors  52  through apertures  54  on fingernail jewelry  10 , which may or may not be incorporated into a design element  48 , to engage the previously provided fingernail aperture  60  and secure fingernail jewelry  10  in place on fingernail  12 . If stud members  62  are utilized, then the user will insert distal end  14  into cavity  36 , which will preferably have adhesive  46  therein, in a manner that facilitates stud members  62  engaging fingernail apertures  60 . If fingernail apertures  60  are sized to tightly receive stud members  62 , then adhesive  46  may not be required. For removal of fingernail jewelry  10 , the user removes any connectors  52  and then uses a fingernail polish remover or other appropriate solvent to dissolve any adhesive  46  and disengage fingernail jewelry  10  from fingernail  12 .  
         [0038]     As will be apparent from the foregoing, the fingernail jewelry  10  of the present invention provides a less expensive way of enhancing or modifying one&#39;s fingernails  12  by reducing or eliminating the need to have installation by a professional manicurist or other nail assistance, thereby eliminating that cost and the time necessary for the appointment. The fingernail jewelry  10  is also less expensive due to is reusable nature. Because it can be manufactured out of a wide variety of materials and designs, the user can select materials and a design which is most personal and/or unique to them. In addition to serving decorative purposes, the fingernail jewelry  10  also protects the tip of the fingernail  12  from damage, such as chipping, tearing, breaking or bending, that typically occurs to longer fingernails from daily activities. The fingernail jewelry  10  can be used on one or all fingernails  12  or on one or more toenails, as desired by the user.  
         [0039]     While there are shown and described herein certain specific alternative forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.

Technology Category: 1