U.S. patent application number 10/383354 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for artificial nail having a color transition portion.
This patent application is currently assigned to KMC Exim Corp.. Invention is credited to Chang, Sung Yong.
Application Number | 20030209250 10/383354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29424812 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030209250 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Sung Yong |
November 13, 2003 |
Artificial nail having a color transition portion
Abstract
An artificial nail for attachment to a natural nail has a nail
body including a proximal bed portion sized and shaped to be
attachable to the top surface of the natural nail, a distal tip
portion opposite the bed portion and a transition portion between
the tip portion and the bed portion. Either the tip portion or the
bed portion has a first color in contrast to the other portion for
obscuring the natural nail tip when the artificial nail is attached
to the natural nail and the color contrast between the portions
gradually fades within the transition portion.
Inventors: |
Chang, Sung Yong; (Roslyn
Heights, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOFFMANN & BARON, LLP
6900 JERICHO TURNPIKE
SYOSSET
NY
11791
US
|
Assignee: |
KMC Exim Corp.
|
Family ID: |
29424812 |
Appl. No.: |
10/383354 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10383354 |
Mar 7, 2003 |
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10208270 |
Jul 29, 2002 |
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10208270 |
Jul 29, 2002 |
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09891806 |
Jun 26, 2001 |
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09891806 |
Jun 26, 2001 |
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09616404 |
Jul 14, 2000 |
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6354304 |
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09891806 |
Jun 26, 2001 |
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09696879 |
Oct 26, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 31/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/73 |
International
Class: |
A45D 029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 27, 2000 |
KR |
20-2000-0018221 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An artificial nail for attachment to a natural nail, said
artificial nail having a nail body comprising: a proximal bed
portion sized and shaped to be attachable to the top surface of the
natural nail; a distal tip portion opposite said bed portion, said
tip portion having a first color in contrast to said bed portion
for obscuring the natural nail tip when the artificial nail is
attached to the natural nail; and a transition portion between said
tip portion and said bed portion, wherein said color contrast
between said tip portion and said bed portion gradually fades
within said transition portion.
2. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said bed
portion is substantially transparent.
3. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said bed
portion has a second color in contrast to said first color of said
tip portion.
4. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said first
color of said tip portion comprises glitter.
5. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said bed
portion is sized and shaped to substantially correspond to the full
nail bed of a natural nail.
6. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said bed
portion is sized and shaped to be attachable to only the distal end
of the natural nail.
7. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail body
is a one-piece injection molded body.
8. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail body
is made from a transparent material.
9. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail body
is made from a translucent material.
10. An artificial nail as defined in claim 1, wherein said nail
body is made from an opaque material.
11. An artificial nail for attachment to a natural nail, said
artificial nail having a nail body comprising: a distal tip
portion; a proximal bed portion opposite said distal tip portion,
said bed portion being sized and shaped to be attachable to the top
of the natural nail and having a first color in contrast to said
tip portion for obscuring the natural nail tip when the artificial
nail is attached to the natural nail; and a transition portion
between said bed portion and said tip portion, wherein said color
contrast between said bed portion and said tip portion gradually
fades within said transition portion.
12. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said tip
portion is substantially transparent.
13. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said tip
portion has a second color in contrast to said first color of said
bed portion.
14. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said first
color of said bed portion comprises glitter.
15. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said bed
portion is sized and shaped to substantially correspond to the full
nail bed of a natural nail.
16. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said bed
portion is sized and shaped to be attachable to only the distal end
of the natural nail.
17. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said nail
body is a one-piece injection molded body.
18. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said nail
body is made from a transparent material.
19. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said nail
body is made from a translucent material.
20. An artificial nail as defined in claim 11, wherein said nail
body is made from an opaque material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10,208,270, filed Jul. 29, 2002, which is
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/891,806, filed
Jun. 26, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/616,404, filed Jul. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,354,304 and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/696,879, filed Oct. 26, 2000, now abandoned. This
application further claims priority from Korean Application No.
20-2000-0018221 filed on Jun. 27, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to artificial nails
that are applied to natural nails with an adhesive, and more
particularly to an artificial nail having a color transition
portion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Artificial nails have been used for many years to enhance
the cosmetic appearance of the fingers. Some individuals opt to use
artificial nails because their own nails are too weak to grow to a
desirable length without breaking. Others choose artificial nails
because they are considerably stronger and more durable than
natural nails, and because nail polish adheres better to the
artificial nail surface. Some individuals are unhappy with the
shape and contour of their natural nail and opt to use an
artificial nail to improve the appearance of their nails.
[0004] It has been known in the art of adorning the hands to
provide ornamental fingernail accessories made from thin, molded
plastic members manufactured generally in the shape of a
fingernail. Indeed, numerous artificial fingernail manufacturers
have provided a variety of combinations of materials, arrangements,
and colors in fingernail accessories. With the advent of such
artificial fingernail accessories, the wearer could now have
intricately pre-designed fingernails that are simply attached to
the natural fingernail and then later easily removed.
[0005] Traditional artificial fingernails are made of an opaque
hard, flexible plastic. They are applied over natural nails with an
adhesive and then covered with nail polish or a topcoat of clear
acrylic. In the case of a nail tip, the seam between the tip and
the nail bed is filled with a filler prior to the application of
the nail polish or topcoat of clear acrylic. These conventional
nails look like natural nails only when covered with polish,
because the artificial nails completely obscure the natural nail
bed underneath.
[0006] Because of the opacity of the artificial nails, a
French-style manicure is impossible. A French-style manicure is one
in which only the nail tip is colored, (usually white) and the nail
bed is left a natural color or tinted only slightly pink. Attempts
at a French-style manicure with artificial nails do not look
natural, because the opaque artificial nails do not look natural,
and because the opaque artificial nail bed portion cannot be made
to look like a natural nail bed. In the case of an artificial nail
tip, because the seam between the opaque nail tips and the natural
nail bed must be filled, the tips cannot be made to look like a
natural nail.
[0007] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an artificial
nail that provides a naturally looking French-style manicure and
that is easily applied without the need for an experienced nail
technician. It would also be desirable to provide a color
transition portion to the French-style manicure as a decorative
feature to the artificial nail. Accordingly, it is an object of the
present invention to provide an ornamental artificial nail having
such a unique decorative feature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is an artificial nail for attachment
to a natural nail. The nail has a nail body including a proximal
bed portion sized and shaped to be attachable to the top surface of
the natural nail, a distal tip portion opposite the bed portion and
a transition portion between the tip portion and the bed portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the tip portion has a first color in
contrast to the bed portion for obscuring the natural nail tip when
the artificial nail is attached to the natural nail and the color
contrast between the tip portion and the bed portion gradually
fades within the transition portion. In an alternative embodiment,
the bed portion has a first color in contrast to the tip portion
for obscuring the natural nail tip when the artificial nail is
attached to the natural nail and the color contrast between the bed
portion and the tip portion gradually fades within the transition
portion.
[0009] In either embodiment, the non-colored portion is preferably
substantially transparent. Alternatively, the respective bed or tip
portion can have a second color in contrast to the first color.
Additionally, the first color may include glitter. Preferably, the
nail body is a one-piece injection molded body made from either a
transparent, translucent or opaque material.
[0010] "Artificial nail", as used herein also includes fingernail
extensions, referred to in the trade as "tips", which will be more
fully explained hereinbelow. Thus, the artificial nail may be a
fill cover, wherein the proximal bed portion of the nail body is
sized and shaped to substantially correspond to the full nail bed
of the natural nail, or the artificial nail may be a nail tip,
wherein the proximal bed portion of the nail body is sized and
shaped to be attachable to only the distal end of the natural
nail.
[0011] The invention also includes an artificial fingernail kit,
comprising at least ten of the artificial nail covers and/or tips
described above, along with a translucent pink adhesive and
transparent filler and coating materials. The adhesive is
preferably an ethylcyanoacrylate, but other adhesives could also be
used. The filler is a standard powder material that is mixed with a
liquid solvent and applied to the nail with a brush. The filler
then quickly hardens into a transparent solid coating.
[0012] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the artificial full nail cover
according to the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the artificial full nail cover
as applied to a natural fingernail.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the layers
of natural nail, adhesive, artificial full nail cover, opaque
coating and outer coating according to the invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the
artificial full nail cover according to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the alternative embodiment of
the full nail cover shown in FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a top view of another alternative embodiment of
the present invention in the form of an artificial nail tip.
[0019] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the artificial nail tip of FIG.
6 as applied to a natural fingernail but without the filler and
topcoat.
[0020] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the layers
of natural nail, artificial nail tip, opaque coating, filler and
outer coating according to the invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 shows a top view of yet another alternative
embodiment of the artificial full nail cover according to the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the alternative embodiment of
the full nail cover shown in FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of still another
alternative embodiment of the artificial nail formed in accordance
with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the artificial nail
shown in FIG. 11 in the form of an artificial nail tip.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of still another
alternative embodiment of the artificial nail formed in accordance
with the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the artificial nail
shown in FIG. 13 in the form of an artificial nail tip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 show an
artificial full nail cover 10 according to the invention.
Artificial nail cover 10 is made of a transparent plastic material.
The cover 10 is preferably made of ABS plastic, which can be
trimmed and filed to a desired size and shape. The cover 10
includes a nail bed portion 11, and a nail tip portion 12. The nail
bed portion 11 of the full nail cover 10 substantially corresponds
to the full nail bed 21 of a natural fingernail and is applied over
the nail bed of a natural fingernail. When the nail bed portion 11
is the same approximate size and shape of a full nail bed of a
natural fingernail, the dividing line 13 between bed portion 11 and
tip portion 12 corresponds to a transition line 23 of a natural
nail from natural nail bed 21 to natural nail tip 22. In that case,
the transition line 23 generally corresponds to the end of the
finger 20 and the natural nail tip 22 is that portion of the
natural nail that extends beyond the end of the finger.
[0028] Tip portion 12 is decorated with a continuous opaque
decoration. "Continuously opaque" as used herein means decorations
(primarily by way of color or shade) which have no breaks or
discontinuities. Thus, tip portion 12 can be painted with an opaque
paint 15, e.g. white, to resemble a French-style manicure, whereas
the bed portion 11 remains substantially transparent. However,
additional designs 14 may be applied over the bed portion 11 and
tip portion 12 to enhance the nail's appearance so long as the bed
portion 11 is left substantially transparent.
[0029] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
dividing line 13a between the bed portion 11 and the tip portion 12
is slanted in relation to the transition line 23 of the natural
nail. In other words, the dividing line 13a begins on one side of
the cover 10 at the transition line 23, but as the dividing line
crosses the cover, it extends inwardly into the natural nail bed
21. Here too, the tip portion 12 is painted with an opaque paint
15, preferably white, whereas the bed portion 11 remains
substantially transparent to give a modified French-style manicure
appearance.
[0030] To apply nail cover 10 to a natural fingernail, a
translucent pink adhesive 18, shown in FIG. 3, is applied to the
nail bed portion 11 of the cover 10 in a conventional manner. The
adhesive is preferably an ethylcyanoacrylate, but other adhesives
could also be used. Nail cover 10 is then placed on the natural
nail bed 21 on finger 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The natural
nail tip 22 extends out under tip portion 12, but it is not visible
through the cover 10 due to the opaque nail tip portion 12.
However, because the nail bed portion 11 is substantially
transparent, the natural nail bed 21 is visible through the bed
portion 11. In this way, artificial nail cover 10 resembles a
natural nail. Preferably, a transparent topcoat sealer 16 is
applied over the entire artificial nail for protection.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 6-8 another alternative embodiment of
the present invention in the form of an artificial nail tip 30 is
shown. The artificial nail tip 30 is similar to the full cover 10
shown in FIGS. 1-5, however, the tip is applied only to the outer
end of the natural nail bed 21 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Artificial nail tip 30 is also preferably made of a transparent ABS
plastic and comprises a nail tip portion 31 and a base portion 32.
The base portion 32 of the tip 30 corresponds in size and shape
only to the distal end of the natural nail bed 21 and is applied to
end of the nail bid 21 and the tip 22 of a fingernail. Again, the
tip portion 31 is coated with an opaque paint 33 to resemble a
French-style manicure, whereas the base portion remains
substantially transparent. Separating the tip portion 31 and the
base portion 32 is a dividing line 34, which corresponds to the
transition line 23 of the natural nail from natural nail bed 21 to
natural nail tip 22. Here too, the dividing line 34 may be askew to
the transition line 23, as discussed above and shown in FIGS. 4 and
5, and decorative designs 35 may be applied over the tip portion 31
and the base portion 32 by air brushing or other means.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 8, the nail tip 30 is attached to a natural
nail with an adhesive so that the tip extends just into the natural
nail bed 21, to create the look of a long natural fingernail. At
this point, a translucent acrylic filler 36 is applied over the
natural nail bed 21 to create a smooth transition to nail tip 30.
The filler 36 is a standard powder material that is mixed with a
liquid solvent and applied to the nail with a brush. The filler
then quickly hardens into a transparent solid coating. The entire
natural nail and nail tip 30 are then covered with a layer of
translucent acrylic 37 to give a glossy attractive appearance and
to enhance the look of design layer 32.
[0033] Similar to the nail cover 10 described above, the natural
nail bed 21 is visible through the nail tip 30 because the base
portion 32, the filler 36 and the outer acrylic layer 37 are all
transparent. Likewise, because the tip portion 31 is opaque, the
natural nail tip 22 is obscured when the artificial nail tip 30 is
applied. The result is a beautiful looking nail in the form of a
French-style manicure that appears very natural and attractive.
[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, in which same elements have
same reference numerals, still another alternative embodiment of
the present invention is shown. The artificial nail cover 40 shown
in FIGS. 9 and 10 is similar to the full cover 10 shown in FIGS.
1-5. However, in addition to the bed portion 11 and the tip portion
12, the cover 40 is further provided with an opaque crescent-shaped
lunula portion 42 opposite the tip portion. Thus, the cover 40
includes an opaque crescent-shaped lunula portion 42 at a proximal
end thereof, an opaque nail tip portion 12 at a distal end thereof
opposite the lunula portion, a substantially clear and transparent
nail bed portion 11 between the lunula portion and the tip portion
and a dividing line 13 between the nail bed portion and the nail
tip portion. The crescent-shaped lunula portion 42 of the
artificial nail cover 42 is also preferably coated with a white
opaque paint, however, other colors can naturally be used.
[0035] The lunula portion 42 is provided to simulate the naturally
whitish lunula, or distal portion of the natural nail matrix that
is commonly visible under a natural fingernail. Another common term
for the natural lunula is the "cuticle moon". Because the natural
lunula is often visible under some natural fingernails but not
visible under others, it is desirable to provide a set of
artificial fingernail covers having uniform lunula portions for
improved cosmetic appearance.
[0036] Artificial nail cover 40 is also preferably made of a
transparent ABS plastic with the tip portion 12 being coated with
an opaque paint as described above. Thus, the base portion 11,
located between the lunula portion 42 and the tip portion 12,
remains substantially transparent. Separating the tip portion 12
and the base portion 11 is a dividing line 13, which corresponds to
the transition line 23 of the natural nail from natural nail bed 21
to natural nail tip 22. Here too, the dividing line 13 may be askew
to the transition line 23, as discussed above and shown in FIGS. 4
and 5, and decorative designs 14 may be applied over the tip
portion 12 and the base portion 11 by air brushing or other
means.
[0037] Similar to the nail cover 10 described above, the natural
nail bed is visible through the nail cover 40 because the base
portion 11 is clear and transparent. Likewise, because the tip
portion 12 is opaque, the natural nail tip 22 is obscured when the
artificial nail cover 40 is applied. In addition, the opaque
crescent-shaped lunula portion 42 obscures the presence or absence
of the natural lunula to provide a beautiful looking nail in the
form of a uniform French-style manicure that appears very natural
and attractive.
[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 11-14, still other alternative
embodiments of the present invention are shown. The artificial nail
covers 50 and 60 shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 are similar to the full
covers 10 and 40 shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 9-10. The artificial nail
tips 70 and 80 shown in FIGS. 12 and 14 are similar to the nail tip
30 shown in FIGS. 6-8.
[0039] Thus, the cover 50 shown in FIG. 11 includes a bed portion
52 at a proximal end thereof and a tip portion 54 at a distal end
thereof opposite the bed portion. The bed portion 52 is sized and
shaped to be attachable to the top surface of the natural nail. The
tip portion 54 has a color 56 which is in contrast to the bed
portion 52 of the cover 50. The color 56 may be applied over the
tip portion 54 by air brushing or other means. The colored tip
portion 54 thus obscures the tip of a natural nail when the cover
50 is applied thereto. However, as opposed to a discrete dividing
line, the cover 50 further includes a transition portion 58 between
the bed portion 52 and the tip portion 54. The color contrast
between the tip portion 54 and the bed portion 52 gradually fades
within the transition portion 56 of the cover 50. Thus, for
example, if the tip portion 54 has a darker color than the bed
portion 52, the color gradually lightens within the transition
portion 56 from the tip portion to the bed portion until the color
eventually blends into the bed portion.
[0040] Preferably, the nail bed portion 52 is substantially
transparent so that the natural nail bed is visible through the
nail cover 50. Thus, the color 56 of the tip portion 54 gradually
disappears within the transition portion 58 as it approaches the
transparent bed portion 52. However, the nail bed portion can
alternatively have a second color in contrast to the first color 56
of the tip portion 54. In this embodiment, the two contrasting
colors blend together within the transition portion 58. Moreover,
the first color 56 of the tip portion 54 may include a glitter or
sparkle incorporated therein to enhance the decorative effect.
[0041] The bed portion 52 of the cover 50 shown in FIG. 11 is sized
and shaped to substantially correspond to the full nail bed of the
natural nail. However, the present invention may also take the form
of a nail tip 70, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the bed portion 72 of
the tip 70 is sized and shaped to be attachable to only the distal
end of the natural nail. Again, the tip portion 74 of the tip 70
has a color 76 which is in contrast to the bed portion 72. The
colored tip portion 74 thus obscures the tip of a natural nail when
the tip 70 is applied thereto. The tip 70 further includes a
transition portion 78 between the bed portion 72 and the tip
portion 74 wherein the color contrast between the tip portion and
the bed portion gradually fades as discussed above.
[0042] FIGS. 13 and 14 show alternative embodiments of a cover 60
and a tip 80, wherein the bed portions 62 and 82 have a color 66
and 86 which is in contrast to the tip portions 64 and 84. In this
embodiment, the colored bed portions 62 and 82 thus obscure the tip
of a natural nail when the cover 60 or the tip 80 is applied
thereto. Similarly, the cover 60 further includes a transition
portion 68 between the bed portion 62 and the tip portion 64 and
the tip 80 further includes a transition portion 88 between the bed
portion 82 and the tip portion 84. The color contrast between the
bed portions 62 and 82 and the tip portions 64 and 84 gradually
fades within the transition portions 68 and 88 of the cover 60 and
the tip 80.
[0043] Like the covers 10 and 40 and the tip 30 described above,
the covers 50 and 60 and tips 70 and 80 are preferably one-piece
injection molded bodies made from either a transparent, translucent
or opaque material. Furthermore, the pre-fabricated covers 10, 40,
50 and 60 and tips 30, 70 and 80 can be provided to the consumer as
part of a kit for adorning fingernails. Preferably, at least ten
covers and ten tips of each variety are provided along with an
amount of transparent adhesive, filler and top coating. The covers
and tips provided in the kit will vary in size according to the
different sizes of natural fingernails. A nail file and additional
decorative decals can also be provided in the kit.
[0044] Although the illustrative embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other
changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in
the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *