U.S. patent application number 12/108896 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for artificial nails including application tabs.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pacific World Corporation. Invention is credited to Jeanine Catherine Coppola, Joseph Michael Fracassi.
Application Number | 20080283076 12/108896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026274 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080283076 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fracassi; Joseph Michael ;
et al. |
November 20, 2008 |
ARTIFICIAL NAILS INCLUDING APPLICATION TABS
Abstract
A preformed artificial nail assembly comprising an artificial
nail sized to correspond to at least a portion of said natural
nail, and an application tab extending from the distal end of the
artificial nail, the application tab having a neck portion and a
body portion, said neck portion being disposed between the body
portion and the distal end of the artificial nail, the body portion
being disposed at an angle to the artificial nail such that the
body may be readily grasped by the user to facilitate placement of
the artificial nail on the natural nail. Embodiments includes a tab
that twists from the connection to the artificial nail to the tab
body, and a tab or gating structure that extends from the bottom
surface of the artificial nail.
Inventors: |
Fracassi; Joseph Michael;
(Lake Forest, CA) ; Coppola; Jeanine Catherine;
(Irvine, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900, 180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6731
US
|
Assignee: |
Pacific World Corporation
Lake Forest
CA
|
Family ID: |
40026274 |
Appl. No.: |
12/108896 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11739371 |
Apr 24, 2007 |
|
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12108896 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/200 ;
132/285; 132/73; 132/73.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 31/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/200 ;
132/73.5; 132/73; 132/285 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/00 20060101
A45D029/00; A45D 29/18 20060101 A45D029/18 |
Claims
1. A preformed artificial nail assembly for placement on a natural
nail by a user, said artificial nail assembly comprising: an
artificial nail sized to correspond to at least a portion of said
natural nail, the artificial nail including a bottom surface, a
gating structure extending from the bottom surface.
2. The artificial nail assembly of claim 1 wherein the artificial
nail includes a free edge portion defining a distal end, said
distal end defining an artificial nail distal edge, the gating
structure extending proximal to the distal end.
3. The artificial nail assembly of claim 2 wherein the gating
structure is disposed substantially adjacent the distal end.
4. The artificial nail assembly of claim 1 wherein the gating
structure includes a weakened area substantially adjacent the
artificial nail, said weakened area facilitating separation of the
gating structure from the artificial nail.
5. The artificial nail assembly of claim 4 wherein the weakened
area includes at least one of a perforation, an area of reduced
thickness, a score line, a cut, or a reduced cross-sectional area
relative to the remainder of the gating structure.
6. The artificial nail assembly of claim 1 wherein the gating
structure includes an application tab for placement of the
artificial nail during application.
7. A kit of preformed artificial nails, the kit comprising a
plurality of artificial nails of claim 1 coupled to the gating
structure, the plurality of artificial nails and said gating
structure being a molded structure.
8. The kit of claim 7 wherein the artificial nails include a free
edge portion defining a distal end, said distal end defining an
artificial nail distal edge, the gating structure extending from
the lower surface proximal the distal end of the artificial
nail.
9. The kit of claim 7 wherein the gating structure includes a
weakened area substantially adjacent the artificial nail, said
weakened area facilitating separation of the gating structure from
the artificial nail.
10. The kit of claim 9 wherein the weakened area includes at least
one of a perforation, an area of reduced thickness, a score line, a
cut, or a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the remainder of
the gating structure.
11. The kit of claim 7 further including a package, the artificial
nails being disposed within the package.
12. The kit of claim 7 wherein the artificial nails and gating
structure are simultaneously molded together of at least one
material.
13. The kit of claim 7 further comprising at least one of the
following: an adhesive, a nail wipe, a manicuring tool, a placement
tool, and nail polish.
14. A method of forming an artificial nail having an upper surface
and a bottom surface, the method comprising the steps of providing
a mold including at least two portions, at least one of said
portions including at least one cavity for forming a gating
structure, at least one of said portions including at least one
cavity for forming the bottom surface of said nail, at least one of
said portions including at least one cavity for forming the upper
surface of the nail, said cavity for forming the upper surface
being complimentary with the cavity for forming the lower surface,
said cavity for forming the gating structure providing fluid
communication to the cavity for forming the lower surface of the
nail, providing a moldable material through the cavity for forming
the gating structure to the cavity for forming the bottom surface
of the nail in order to form the nail.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing a moldable
material includes the step of providing the moldable material to a
plurality of cavities for forming the bottom surface in order to
form a plurality of nails.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of providing
a weakened area substantially adjacent the artificial nail, said
weakened area facilitating separation of the gating structure from
the artificial nail.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a weakened
area includes at least one of molding or making a perforation,
molding an area of reduced thickness or a reduced cross-sectional
area relative to the remainder of the gating structure, or molding
or making a score line, or making a cut.
18. A mold for forming at least one gating structure and at least
one molded artificial nail having an upper surface and a bottom
surface, the mold comprising at least two portions, at least one of
said portions including at least one cavity for forming the gating
structure, at least one of said portions including at least one
cavity for forming the bottom surface of said nail, at least one of
said portions including at least one cavity for forming the upper
surface of the nail, said cavity for forming the upper surface
being complimentary with the cavity for forming the lower surface,
said cavity for forming the gating structure providing fluid
communication to the cavity for forming the lower surface of the
nail.
19. The mold of claim 18 wherein at least one of the cavity for
forming the gating structure or the cavity for forming the bottom
surface of said nail includes an area of reduced thickness or a
reduced cross-sectional area in the relative to the remainder of
the gating structure such that an area of weakened area
facilitating separation of the molded gating structure from the
molded artificial nail.
20. The mold of claim 18 comprising a plurality of cavities for
forming the bottom surface of said nail and a plurality of cavities
for forming the upper surface of said nail, said cavity for forming
said gating structure providing fluid communication to the
plurality of cavities for forming the lower surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of
copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/739,371 filed Apr.
24, 2007
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to human nail decorations, and
more specifically the invention pertains to structure and methods
for placement of preformed artificial nails and tips for adherence
to human nails.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For various aesthetic reasons, many individuals wish to
possess elongated fingernails or fingernails having a more finished
or polished appearance. However, some are unable or unwilling to
grow their own natural fingernails out to the desired length.
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. Between these two
extremes, are preformed, artificial nails that are glued or
otherwise bonded to a person'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.
[0004] Artificial nails are commonly made from molded thermoplastic
and are available in a wide range of lengths and styles. One broad
category of an artificial nail style is the full nail form. As its
name implies, the full nail form simulates the entire human
fingernail and includes a proximate edge intended to overlay
substantially the entire nail bed and a distal free edge which is
intended to extend beyond the fingertip of the wearer. The
proximate edge is shaped to be disposed substantially adjacent or
abut against the cuticle of the finger. The distal free edge may
have any of various lengths and shapes, such as oval, square, or
flared, depending upon the desired look. Preferably, the artificial
nail is sufficiently durable and rigid to withstand the hazards
inherent in its use.
[0005] 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.
Tips are often utilized with the construction of acrylic nails or
gel nails.
[0006] 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, peel-off adhesive pads,
and/or preplaced tacky adhesive for bonding the artificial nails to
the purchaser's natural fingernails.
[0007] Artificial nails are provided in a variety of lengths
ranging from relatively long nails having either a straight profile
or arched profile, to relatively short nails, which more closely
simulate well groomed natural nails. In placement of the artificial
nail on a user's natural nail, the adhesive is typically applied
either directly to the user's natural nail bed or to the nail bed
portion of the artificial nail. The artificial nail is then placed
on the user's natural nail bed with the proximal end of the
artificial nail disposed at or near the user's cuticle, and
pressure is applied to ensure the desired adhesion of the
artificial nail to the user's natural nail. Inasmuch as the
adhesive used in placing artificial nails is generally tacky, it is
difficult to make adjustments to the position of the artificial
nail on the natural nail once initial placement is made. Attempts
to reposition the artificial nail relative to the natural nail or
to remove and replace the artificial nail may result in either a
substandard appearance to the artificial nail, or time consuming
additional cleaning of the artificial nail and repetition of the
placement process. As a result, it is important that the artificial
nail be placed at the desired position on the natural nail at the
first attempt so as to avoid the need to remove and reposition the
nail.
[0008] Longer artificial nails typically extend well beyond the
free edge of the user's natural nails. Consequently, in placing
relatively long artificial nails on the user's natural nails, one
may generally utilize the extended free edge of the artificial nail
to hold the artificial nail prior to placement, and to manipulate
and accurately position the artificial nail on the user's nail bed.
When utilizing smaller artificial nails, however, the free edge is
very short, and does not extend far beyond the user's natural nail
or finger tip, if at all. Accordingly, such short nails can be
particularly difficult to accurately place on the user's natural
nail by simply grasping the artificial nail using one's
fingers.
[0009] As a result, manufacturers have proposed various tools to
allow for holding and placing artificial nails during application.
One such tool is comprises an elongated rod with a tacky adhesive
pad or tape at the end of the tool to grip the artificial nail,
such as the tools shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,250 to Park and the
tool marketed by Sally Hansen.RTM.. This tacky, adhesive pad,
however, has proven unreliable in use, however, inasmuch as the
retaining force exerted by the adhesive on the artificial nail
typically deteriorates over time such that it does not exert a
consistent retaining force on the artificial nail. Moreover, should
the adhesive pad become contaminated with dust or the like, it
becomes generally useless in that it does not exhibit adequate
force to retain a series of nails for placement.
[0010] Another such tool is shaped like a concave shovel with a
shorter opposing lip that is disposed parallel to the shovel such
that a small slot or gap is formed between the inside surface of
the shovel and the lip, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D441,134 to
Manzione and marketed by Uptown Nails, LLC. In use, the outer,
arched surface of the artificial nail is disposed against the
inside surface of the shovel with the free edge of the artificial
nail disposed in the gap between the lip and the shovel. This tool
likewise exhibits deficiencies. While the "shovel" tool does not
deteriorate with use, it is cumbersome to utilize. Should the gap
between the shovel and lip be sufficiently small to exert a
retaining force on the artificial nail, the user will typically be
required to exert an external downward, retaining force on the
artificial nail when it is placed against the natural nail in order
to facilitate release of the artificial nail by the tool. Inasmuch
as the user's free hand grasps the tool, the user must typically
use a different finger from the placement hand to exert a retaining
force the placed artificial nail to facilitate release of
artificial nail from the tool. Conversely, if the tool does not
exert adequate retaining force to hold the artificial nail during
the placement process, the tool may allow artificial nail to move
within the gap, making accurate placement of the artificial nail
against the natural nail significantly more difficult.
[0011] The assignee of the present invention has proposed a tool
that utilizes a small suction cup disposed at the distal end of an
elongated rod. In applying an artificial nail to a natural nail,
the user places the suction cup on the upper surface of the
artificial nail and expels any air trapped between the cup and the
nail. The user then utilizes the tool to position the artificial
nail on the natural nail. The suction cup provides sufficient force
to retain the nail during placement, yet that force is overcome by
the tackiness of the adhesive or the adhesive bond between the
artificial nail and the natural nail once properly placed. The tool
is disclosed in greater detail in PCT Publication WO06/062963A.
[0012] Manufacturers have likewise proposed severable protrusions
that extend from one or more edges of the artificial nail
themselves. The protrusions are utilized to place the artificial
nail and then severed from the nail once proper placement has been
achieved. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,736 to Chinn et al.
includes a tab that extends from the distal edge of the nail.
Unfortunately, however, the Chinn tab is not ergonomic, and is
difficult and cumbersome to use. As may be seen in FIG. 11, the
Chinn tab 13 must typically be held between a finger 14 and the
thumb 15 of the applying hand 16, the thumb 15 being disposed
either below or above the plane of the artificial nail 17.
Accordingly, the user's hand 16 is in an awkward position relative
to the receiving finger. As a result, typically, either a separate
finger from the receiving hand must be used to securely seat the
artificial nail 17 in position on the natural nail during severing
of the nail tab 13, or the user must hold the artificial nail 17 in
position until such time as the adhesive fully cures. Similar
difficulties are encountered in placing the nails disclosed in
other references, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,595 to Aylott, for
example.
[0013] As a result, it is desirable to provide a nail placement
arrangement that overcomes these shortcomings of the prior art to
provide for accurate and reliable, repeatable placement of
artificial nails.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The invention provides a nail application tab that extends
generally from the distal end of the nail, the body of the
application tab being disposed at an angle to a plane including the
top or bottom surface of the artificial nail. Typically, the
application tab is disposed at approximately a normal angle to a
plane containing the top surface of the artificial nail when taken
along the centerline, although the tab may be disposed at an
alternate angle, preferably greater than 30.degree.. The
application tab may extend from one or more of any of the distal
edge, or top or bottom surface of the nail. After placement, the
application may be severed by any appropriate means. Separation may
be facilitated by a weakened area provided by, for example, a
perforation, an area of reduced thickness, a score line, or a
reduced cross-sectional area.
[0015] The extension of the tab or other gating feature used in the
molding of the artificial nail may be particularly advantageous in
de-gating or separating the nail from the tab, tree or other
molding structure.
[0016] In order to place the artificial nail on a natural nail, the
user may grasp the generally vertically extending tab with the
thumb and middle finger of the applying hand to apply the
artificial nail to the natural nail of the receiving hand or a
foot. Once the nail is placed, while continuing to hold the
application tab, the user uses the index finger of the applying
hand to lightly press the artificial nail into a final secured
position on the receiving natural nail until such time as the
adhesive secures the artificial nail in place. The user may then
sever the application tab from the artificial nail by any
appropriate means, such as snapping, tearing, or cutting. In this
way, the artificial nail with tab provides ergonomic arrangement
that facilitates nail placement with one hand.
[0017] The kit may further include an adhesive, a towelette
including a cleaner, a roughening surface, a stick, and/or a
placement tool.
[0018] 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
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a kit having exemplary
contents, including an artificial nail according to teachings of
the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an artificial nail with
application tab constructed in accordance with teachings of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is top plan view of the artificial nail of FIG.
2.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the artificial nail of
FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
an artificial nail with application tab constructed in accordance
with teachings of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the artificial nail of FIG.
5.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a side view of the artificial nail of FIGS. 5 and
6.
[0026] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the artificial nail of
FIGS. 5-7.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of another alternate embodiment of
an artificial nail with application tab constructed in accordance
with teachings of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the artificial nail
of FIG. 8.
[0029] FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views of the artificial
nail of FIGS. 2-4 during placement on a natural nail.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an artificial nail
arrangement of the prior art during placement on a natural
nail.
[0031] FIG. 12A is a partial cross-sectional view of an artificial
nail and gating arrangement.
[0032] FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
an artificial nail and gating arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] 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 nail assemblies. Each nail assembly comprises an
artificial nail 22 which has a proximal end 30, adapted to be
placed generally adjacent the user's cuticle, and a distal end 32
that is generally disposed at or beyond the end of the user'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's natural nail bed
and the free end portion 36 being adapted to extend beyond the end
of the user'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 and a generally less
arched contour between the proximal and distal edges 31, 33.
[0034] 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, and additional contents of the
package 20 may be retained in a rear open portion of the inner
support housing 42.
[0035] In accordance with the invention, the artificial nail
assembly includes an application tab arrangement 50 to
ergonomically facilitate placement of the artificial nail 22 on a
natural nail. The tab arrangement 50 includes a body 52 for the
user to grasp during placement, and a neck 54 that extends between
the body 52 and the nail 22. According to an important feature of
the invention, at least a portion of the body 52 is disposed at an
angle to a plane containing the upper or lower surface 39 of the
nail 22 generally along its centerline 23. Significantly, the
portion of the body 52 disposed at an angle to the plane must be
sufficiently large to be grasped by a user during placement of the
nail 22.
[0036] The neck 54 attaches the body 52 to the nail 22 at its
distal end 32. While the neck 54 may extend from the distal edge
33, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, it may alternately extend from the upper
or lower surface 39 of the artificial nail 22 or a combination of
the distal edge 33 and one or both of the upper or lower surfaces
39. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, for example, the neck 60 may extend from
the lower surface 39. It will be appreciated by those of skill in
the art that when the neck 60 is separated from the nail 64, the
neck 60 will not leave any sharp edges or points protruding from
the distal edge 66 of the nail 64. In this embodiment, the neck 60
extends from the lower surface 39 proximate to the distal edge 66,
while in the embodiment of FIGS. 8-9, the neck 70 is spaced back
slightly from the distal edge 72 of the nail 86.
[0037] The advantages of FIGS. 5-9 are likewise apparent when a
gating structure 115, 116 for molding the artificial nail extends
from the lower surface of the nail, as shown, for example in FIGS.
12A and 12B. The gating structure may include a tab or any
structure known in the art, such as a nail tree, for example, and
the nails and gating structure may be molded by any appropriate
molding techniques, including those presently known in the art or
developed in the future. Those of skill in the art will appreciate
that in molding the nails and gating structure, a mold cavity for
molding the gating structure provides fluid communication to the
mold cavities for forming the lower surface such that the resulting
molded gating structure extends from the lower surface of the
molded nail.
[0038] Returning to the figures illustrating the nail tabs,
according to a feature of the invention, once appropriately placed,
the tab arrangement 50 may be separated from the nail 22 by any
appropriate mechanism. For example, the neck 54 of the tab
arrangement 50 may include a weakened area, such as, for example, a
thinned section 80 substantially adjacent the distal edge 33 of the
nail 22, similar to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2-4, a
perforation 82, as shown, for example, in FIG. 7A, a relatively
small cross-section 84 at the location where the neck 70 meets the
nail 86, such as is as shown, for example in FIG. 9, a score line,
or any combination of such structures. While less desirable, those
of skill in the art will appreciate that the tab arrangement 50
could alternately be severed from the nail 22 by a tool, such as
scissors or a blade.
[0039] Turning to FIGS. 10A and 10B, according to an important
feature of the invention, a user may easily apply the artificial
nail 22 to a natural nail 100 in a coordinated and ergonomic
manner. More specifically, when applying the artificial nail 22 to
a natural nail 100, the user may grasps the body 52 of the tab
arrangement 50 between the thumb 102 and middle finger 104 of the
applying hand 106 to position the artificial nail 22 on the natural
nail 100 of the receiving hand 108, as shown in FIG. 10A. Once the
user has placed artificial nail 22 on the natural nail 100, while
continuing to hold the body 52 of the tab arrangement 50, the user
may then utilize the index finger 110 of the applying hand 106 to
place a retaining force on the upper surface of the situated
artificial nail 22, as shown in FIG. 10B, in order to ensure proper
seating of the artificial nail 22 and distribution of the adhesive.
If desired, while continuing to apply a downward force, the user
may further use the thumb 102 and middle finger 104 of the applying
hand 106 to separate the tab arrangement 50 from the artificial
nail 22, should the arrangement 50 include a weakened area as the
mechanism for facilitating separation. In this way, the user may
easily and quickly apply a plurality of artificial nails to
respective natural nails to obtain a polished, manicured
appearance.
[0040] It will thus be appreciated by those of skill in the art
that the disposition of the body 52 at an angle to the upper or
lower surfaces of the artificial nail 22 provides an ergonomic
arrangement that is easily utilized to place the nail. The angled
disposition is as opposed to a tab in a generally continuous plane
with the nail, as provided, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,736
to Chinn et al. or U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,595 to Aylott. The angle
must be sufficient to allow the user to comfortably grasp the body
52 and place the nail 22. While a normal angle is generally
preferable inasmuch as it allow the user to readily place the nail
using either the left or right hand, an angle of at least
30.degree. to either the top or bottom surface of the nail 22 will
typically be adequate to facilitate grasping and placing the nail
22.
[0041] In order to further assist the user in artificial nail
choice, at least the body 52 of the tab arrangement 50 may be
sufficiently wide to display information for the user. Thus, the
tab 50 may include indicia 112 such as, for example, the size
number of the accompanying nail, the name of the manufacturer, a
trademark or tradename, the nail color or instructions. The indicia
112 may provided on the tab arrangement 50 by any appropriate
mechanism, such as, for example, molding the indicia into the
arrangement, or printing the indicia thereupon. In this way, such
indicia 112 may facilitate the user's choice of nail for
application.
[0042] It will be appreciated that the preformed artificial nails
22 utilized in the nail kit 18 may be of any appropriate design.
For example, the invention may likewise be utilized in connection
with a nail tip, as opposed to a full nail, as illustrated in the
figures. Thus, for the purposes of this disclosure and the claims
appended hereto, the term "nail" will be used to correspond to both
a full nail and a nail tip. Those of skill in the art will
appreciate that the nail tip is essentially the same as a full nail
with the exception that the nail tip includes only a portion that
is adapted to cover only a distal portion of the natural nail.
Moreover, the nail kit may include additional items, such as, by
way of example only, an appropriate adhesive, such as is shown in
FIG. 1, 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] All of the references cited herein, including patents,
patent applications, and publications, are hereby incorporated in
their entireties by reference.
* * * * *