ARTIFICIAL FINGERNAIL EXTENSION

Abstract

An artificial fingernail extension has opposing top and bottom surfaces with opposing distal and proximal ends and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends. An offset ledge is formed in the bottom surface, extends along the proximal end between the opposing sides, is thinner than an average thickness immediately adjacent the offset ledge, has a textured surface, and optionally has a transparency differing by 20% from the transparency of the immediately adjacent nail portion. The textured surface improves adhesion and along with the transparency differences improves alignment during use.

Claims

1. An artificial fingernail extension for use with a person's fingernail, comprising: an artificial fingernail extension having opposing top and bottom surfaces and extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having an offset ledge formed in the bottom surface so as to face the fingernail during use and extending between the opposing sides, the offset ledge having a thickness about 35% to 65% of an average thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge, the surface of the offset ledge being textured to have a surface roughness greater than a surface roughness of the bottom of the artificial fingernail extension, the surface roughness comprising a matt finish and being between 0.35-2.8 Ra.

2. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein the offset ledge has a uniform length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 2, wherein the uniform length is between 3 and 6 mm.

4. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein offset ledge has a thickness of 40% to 60% the thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge.

5. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 3, wherein offset ledge has a thickness of 40% to 60% the thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge.

6. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the offset ledge has a different and rougher surface texture than the bottom surface of the artificial fingernail immediately adjacent the offset ledge.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished.

10. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 5, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished.

11. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 8, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished.

12. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein the offset ledge is of a crescent shape and has a transparency that is about 15%-40% different from the transparency of the immediately adjacent portion of the artificial fingernail extension so as to enhance the contrast between the offset ledge and the remainder of the artificial fingernail extension.

13. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 5, wherein the transparency of the offset ledge is about 15%-40% more transparent than the transparency of the immediately adjacent portion of the artificial fingernail extension so as to enhance the contrast between the offset ledge and the remainder of the artificial fingernail extension.

14. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein the offset ledge is about 50% transparent and a portion of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge is about 70% transparent.

15. An artificial fingernail extension for use with a person's fingernail, comprising: an artificial fingernail extension having opposing top and bottom surfaces and extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having an offset ledge formed in the bottom surface so as to face the fingernail during use and extending along the entire proximal end, the offset ledge having a thickness about 40% to 60% of an average thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge, the surface of the offset ledge being textured with a matt finish and having a rougher surface texture than the bottom surface of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge, the artificial fingernail extension having a length along the longitudinal axis of about 3 mm-6 mm, the offset ledge having a transparency through the matt finish that differs from the transparency of the immediately adjacent portion of the artificial fingernail extension by about 15% to 30% in transparency, so as to enhance the contrast between the offset ledge and the remainder of the artificial fingernail extension.

16. The artificial fingernail extension of 15, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished, and the offset ledge has a transparency of about 50%.

17. A method of applying an artificial fingernail extension to a person's fingernail using the artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, comprising the steps of: applying a fingernail adhesive to the textured offset ledge; aligning the offset ledge with the distal end of the person's fingernail; and placing the offset ledge on top of the person's fingernail with an interior edge of the offset ledge at a distal end of the person's fingernail.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the offset ledge has a length along the longitudinal axis of about 2-6 mm.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the offset ledge has a thickness of about 0.15 mm to 0.23 mm and the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge has a thickness of about 0.35 mm to 0.38 mm, and the offset ledge has a transparency about 15% to 30% different from a transparency of the immediately adjacent the offset ledge to enhance visibility of the offset ledge.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the artificial fingernail extension has a transparency of about 70% and the offset ledge has a transparency of about 50%, and offset ledge has a thickness of about 0.15 mm to 0.23 mm and the artificial fingernail has a thickness of about 0.35 mm to 0.38 mm immediately adjacent the offset ledge.

21. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein the fingernail extension has a convex curve between the proximal and distal ends in the direction a finger bends, and the proximal end is curved convexly from side to side.

22. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 1, wherein the proximal end and the offset ledge are curved toward the distal end and in a direction that a finger curls, and are also curved convexly from side to side.

23. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 8, wherein the fingernail has a convex curve between the proximal and distal ends in the direction a finger bends, and the proximal end is curved convexly from side to side.

24. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 8, wherein the proximal end and the offset ledge are curved toward the distal end and also curved convexly from side to side.

25. An artificial fingernail extension for use with a person's fingernail, comprising: an artificial fingernail extension having opposing top and bottom surfaces and extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having an offset ledge formed in the bottom surface so as to face the fingernail during use and extending between the opposing sides, the offset ledge having a first thickness and the fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, the first thickness being configured to permit bending of the offset ledge to conform to the shape of the fingernail when pressed against the fingernail.

26. The artificial nail extension of claim 25 wherein the first thickness provides the offset ledge with a greater transparency than that fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge.

27. The artificial nail extension of claim 25 wherein the bottom surface of the offset ledge is textured to have a surface roughness greater than a surface roughness of the bottom of the artificial fingernail immediately adjacent to the offset ledge.

28. The artificial nail extension of claim 25 wherein the bottom surface of the nail extension has a first region and second region, wherein the first region is textured greater than the second region, wherein the first region has a surface area of less than one third of the second region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and other advantages and features of the invention will be better appreciated in view of the following drawings and descriptions in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view of an artificial fingernail extension having a square distal end;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the artificial fingernail extension of FIG. 1 showing a textured area;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an end view of the artificial fingernail extension of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along section 4-4 of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view of the artificial fingernail extension of FIG. 1 on a person's finger;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 5 showing a straight, artificial fingernail extension in cross section along the longitudinal axis;

[0018] FIG. 7 is cross sectional view of a straight artificial fingernail extension;

[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a curved artificial fingernail extension;

[0020] FIG. 9A is a top view of an artificial fingernail extension having a round distal end;

[0021] FIG. 9B is a top view of an artificial fingernail extension having an almond-shaped distal end;

[0022] FIG. 9C is a top view of an artificial fingernail extension having a coffin-shaped distal end; and

[0023] FIG. 9D is a top view of an artificial fingernail extension having a pointed distal end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] As used herein, the following part numbers refer to the following parts: 10artificial fingernail; 12distal end; 14proximal end; 16finger; 18natural fingernail; 20longitudinal axis; 22right side; 24left side; 26top surface; 28bottom surface and 30offset ledge.

[0025] As used herein, the longitudinal axis 20 extends direction along a person's finger when held horizontally, with the vertical direction extending in the direction of gravity and the later direction extending in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal and vertical planes. The relative orientations and directions top and bottom, up and down, upward and downward are with respect to the vertical axis. The relative orientations and directions inner and outer, inward and outward are with respect to the longitudinal axis extending through the middle of a person's finger.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, an artificial fingernail extension 10 is shown as extending in a longitudinal direction and having a distal end 12 and an opposing, proximal end 14. The proximal end 14 is curved in a direction along the longitudinal axis 20 toward the distal end 12 to form a curve having a center extending away toward the distal end of the artificial fingernail extension 10 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5). The proximal end 14 and the entire artificial fingernail extension 10 have a convex curvature between the sides of the fingernail extension 10 as seen in FIGS. 3-4. The finger 16 has a natural fingernail 18. The curved proximal end 14 is preferably symmetric about the longitudinal axis 20 and advantageously has a configuration selected to conform to the distal edge of a person's fingernail 18. Continuously curved surfaces are preferred for the shape of the curved proximal end 14, as are segments of circles, ellipses or parabolas, with the curves centered on the longitudinal axis of the fingernail extension 10. The fingernail extension 10 is also advantageously curved along a length of the longitudinal axis 20 so as to conform to the curved top surface of a person's fingernail 18 and this results in a convex curve between the distal and proximal ends of the artificial fingernail, curved in the general direction a finger bends when clenching the fingers into a fist.

[0027] The fingernail extension 10 has opposing right and left sides 22, 24, respectively, when looking from the top downward toward the fingernail extension when the extensions are orientated to fasten to a person's fingernail. The right and left sides 22, 24 of the proximal end 14 of the fingernail extension 10 are adjacent the lateral nail folds and nail groove of a finger during use of the fingernail extension. The artificial fingernail extension thus advantageously is curved from side 22 to side 24 as are the natural fingernails of a person and the curve is convex shaped.

[0028] The fingernail extension 10 has opposing top and bottom surfaces 26, 28, respectively, with the distance between the opposing top and bottom surfaces preferably being substantially the same distance or thickness. As used herein, substantially the same refers to a variation of 10% and the use of about refers to a variation of 15%. The bottom side 28 of the fingernail extension at the proximal end 14 has a reduced thickness that forms an offset ledge 30 having a longitudinal length that is advantageously from about 2-6 mm, and preferably about 2-4 mm or 3-5 mm, and ideally 3, 4 or 5 mm. Offset ledges 30 having longer longitudinal lengths are believed suitable, but less desirable. The offset ledge 30 advantageously extends from side 22 to side 24 and has substantially the same thickness and advantageously has substantially the same length measured along the longitudinal axis. The offset ledge 30 is advantageously less than about the length of the fingernail extension 10 along the longitudinal axis, is advantageously about to 1/10 the length of the extension. The thickness of the offset ledge 30 may be selected for ease of use by the manicurist or user, in which case the offset ledge thickness is reduced in order to reduce the effort needed to blend the outer or top surface 26 of the fingernail extension with the outer surface of the fingernail 18.

[0029] The offset ledge 30 may thus have a convex curve from side 22 to side 24, and advantageously also curves toward the distal end 12 to conform to the shape of the end of a person's nail plate at the hyponychium. The proximal end of the artificial nail and the offset ledge may thus have a complex curve in three dimensions which results in a proximal end conforming in shape to the hyponychium.

[0030] Offset ledges 30 having a thickness of 20% to 40% the thickness of the fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge, and preferably about 30% to 40% the thickness of the fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge, are believed suitable. A stronger connection is believed achievable if the thickness of the offset ledge 30 is about 30% to 60% the thickness of the fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge, with an offset of 40% to 50% believed suitable. As used herein, the term immediately adjacent means a length that is equal to the axial length of the offset ledge 30 along axis 20. Because a person's fingernail curves about three axes, the above description of and reference to the offset ledge having an axial length or a uniform axial length, is understood to accommodate variations encompassed by the natural curvature of a person's fingernails, which curvature may vary among fingernails of the same person, and which may vary among different persons. Thus, for example, an offset ledge 30 with a length of 1 mm encompasses not just the axial length but any variations caused by the curvature of the interior end of the offset ledge 30 which is generally a portion of a circle centered on a longitudinal axis through the top, middle portion of the nail, and which curves downward toward the cuticle and the lateral nail fold. In short, variations caused by difficulties and uncertainties in measuring the dimensions are accommodated, with an implicit variation of 15% in such dimensions believed sufficient to encompass the variations in a person's nails.

[0031] Advantageously, for an artificial nail having a thickness of 0.35 mm to 0.38 mm (0.14 [0032] 0.15 inches), the offset ledge 30 has a thickness of 0.15 mm-0.23 mm (0.006-0.09 inches). These thicknesses may be average thicknesses. For an artificial nail having a thickness T, an offset ledge 30 having a thickness of 35% to 65% of T is believed preferred, and a thickness of 40% to 60% is believed more preferable, and a thickness of about 50% preferred.

[0033] Because the proximal end 14 is curved into the fingernail extension 10, the offset ledge 30 forms a crescent-shaped strip following that curvature on the proximal end 14. The thickness of the offset ledge 30 is advantageously uniform from side 22 to side 24. The offset ledge 30 may be formed by grinding the proximal end 14 to reduce the thickness and texture the offset ledge, or the nail extension may be molded to have the reduced thickness at the offset ledge and molded to have the desired texturing finish, or a combination of the two methods can be used. If grinding is used, the axial length of the offset ledge 30 is advantageously the width of the grinding wheel.

[0034] The top and bottom surfaces 26, 28 advantageously have a shiny, polished surface finish. This polished surface may be achieved by molding. But the offset ledge 30 advantageously has a textured surface on the bottom side of the artificial nail and facing downward, toward the person's fingernail 18 during use and this textured surface is shown by the dashed lines in the figures that indicate surface texturing. This textured surface is also achieved during molding of the fingernail extensions 10, or by other means such as grinding with an abrasive wheel. The textured surface is selected to be rough enough to substantially improve adhesion with the nail adhesive used to fasten the fingernail extension 10 to the underlying fingernail 18 compared to a non-textured surface such as a polished surface, while not causing stress risers that induce cracking and fracture or fatigue fracture of the offset ledge 30 during periods of extended use, advantageously 10 to 20 days, and preferably from two to four weeks. The textured surface is preferably a matt finish, manufactured as a crude finish with a surface roughness of about 74 m, RMS believed suitable. A surface roughness of 0.35 to 0.7 Ra (micro-inches) is believed suitable, with a texture of 0.8 to 2.8 Ra believed usable but less desirable.

[0035] The surface finish on the remainder of the artificial nail other than the offset ledge 30 is advantageously a polished finish. A surface roughness of 0.1 to 0.3 RA (micro-inches) is believed suitable.

[0036] The artificial fingernail extensions 10 may be made from any suitable material. Various thermoplastic materials are commonly used in the formation of artificial nails, such as, by way of example only, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and combinations thereof, by coextrusion or otherwise. Also believed suitable for use are cellulose acetate and other cellulose esters, nylon, clear acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, acrylic resin and polystyrene. Furthermore, the composition of material in the nail body is preferably consistently uniform throughout.

[0037] The fingernail extensions 10 are typically made in clear, natural, and white colors with the clear nail extensions being effectively 100% transparent when the top and bottom surfaces have a polished finish. If the fingernail extension is made of clear material then the texturing on the offset ledge 30 advantageously provides a visually perceptible contrasting appearance to the unaided eye compared to the clear remainder of the fingernail extension 10. Advantageously the offset ledge is made of a material with a transparency differing by about 15% to 30% from the immediately adjacent portion of the fingernail extension before polish or gel is applied. As the fingernail extension is clear in this example, the offset ledge 30 is less transparent by about 15% to 30% compared to the immediately adjacent portion of the nail extension, and advantageously about 20% less transparent, with the texturing on the offset ledge 30 contributing almost all of that difference in transparency as the material itself is clear. But preferably the thinner (textured) offset ledge still results in an offset ledge 30 sufficiently transparent that one can see through the offset ledge with the texturing increasing the contrast. Advantageously, the offset ledge has a transparency of about 40% to 80% for the clear nail extension, with transparencies of about 50% and 70% believed advantageous within that range. These differences in transparency are before use. The crescent shape formed by the offset ledge 30 is visible when viewed through the outer or top surface 26 of the nail extension, and that crescent shape may be used to help align the proximal end 30 during use. The texturing and reduced thickness contribute to this difference in appearance.

[0038] If the fingernail extension 10 is made of natural color material then it is not transparent. For a natural colored fingernail extension 10, the thinner offset ledge 30 advantageously provides a contrasting appearance to the unaided eye compared to the darker and naturally colored remainder of the fingernail extension 10, even when looking through the outer or top surface 26 of the fingernail extension. But preferably the thinner offset ledge 30 has about 15% to 30% more transparent than the immediately adjacent portion of the fingernail extension 10 when viewed through the polished top surface 26, even with the texturing on the offset layer. The offset ledge is preferably about 20% more transparency even though the ledge 30 is textured. The transparency arises from the material used, or from the reduced thickness of the offset ledge or both. Thus, the reduction in thickness of the offset layer may result in increasing transparency of the naturally colored nail by the desired amount when the offset layer is textured, or the transparency of the material used to form the artificial nail may be changed to contribute. For example, naturally colored artificial nails having a normal transparency of 60% may be made with a transparency about 20% to 30% greater and preferably with a transparency of about 10% greater. For natural colored nail extensions, a transparency of about 70% is believed suitable. That increased transparency of the material, combined with the reduced thickness of offset ledge 30 and texturing of offset ledge 30 results in the specified transparency when viewed through the polished top surface 26. The offset ledge advantageously has a transparency of about 40% to 60% and preferably about 50%, when viewed through a polished top surface 24 of the fingernail extension. These transparency differences are before use. The crescent shape formed by the offset ledge 30 on a naturally colored fingernail extension is visible and may be used to help align the proximal end 30 with a person's natural fingernail during use, and the increased transparency of that crescent shaped, offset ledge 30 may also be used for such alignment.

[0039] For a white colored fingernail extension 10, the thinner offset ledge 30 advantageously provides a contrasting appearance to the unaided eye compared to the less transparent and white colored remainder of the fingernail extension 10, when looking through the outer or top surface 26 of the fingernail extension. Preferably, the thinner offset ledge 30 has about 15% to 30% more transparent than the immediately adjacent portion of the white-colored fingernail extension 10 when viewed through the polished top surface 26, even with the texturing on the offset layer. The offset ledge is preferably about 20% more transparency even though the ledge 30 is textured. The transparency arises from the material used, or from the reduced thickness of the offset ledge or both. Thus, the reduction in thickness of the offset layer may result in increasing the transparency of the white-colored nail by the desired amount when the offset layer is textured, or the transparency of the material used to form the artificial nail may be changed to contribute. For example, white-colored artificial nails having a normal transparency of 60% may be made with a transparency about 20% to 30% greater and preferably with a transparency of about 10% greater. For white-colored nail extensions a transparency of about 70% is believed suitable. That increased transparency of the material, combined with the reduced thickness of offset ledge 30 and texturing of offset ledge 30 results in the desired transparency when viewed through the polished top surface 26. The offset ledge advantageously has a transparency of about 40% to 60% and preferably about 50%, when viewed through a polished top surface 24 of the fingernail extension. The transparency differences in these examples are before use. The crescent shape formed by the offset ledge 30 on a white-colored fingernail extension is visible and may be used to help align the proximal end 30 with a person's natural fingernail during use, and the increased transparency of that crescent offset ledge 30 may also be used for such alignment.

[0040] The transparency refers to the passage of ambient visible light such that 50% transparent refers to passing 50% of the ambient, visible light. Transparency is preferably determined at an illumination of 800 lumens on the fingernail extension using a light source at 5000 K. The particular illumination and color temperature are not believed critical as the majority of manicurists can visually see through the offset ledge 30 in their work environment to align the interior edge of the offset ledge with the distal end of a person's fingernail to adhere the artificial nail to the fingernail.

[0041] As seen in FIGS. 7-8, the fingernail extensions 10 may be straight or curved along the direction of the finger and fingernail. The curvature is preferably selected to match or approximate the natural curvature of the fingernails 18 extending from a person's fingers. The fingernail extensions also curve from left to right sides 22, 24 to conform to the curvature of a person's fingers, with the extensions being thin enough that the bend to conform to the individual shape of the person's nails.

[0042] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, the artificial fingernail extensions 10 may have different shapes on the distal ends 12, including rounded (FIG. 9A), almond shaped (FIG. 9B), coffin shaped (FIG. 9C) and pointed (FIG. 9D). Thus, a variety of straight and curved fingernail extensions 10 are provided with an offset ledge 30 having a textured surface to provide a strong and fast connection to a fingernail 18.

[0043] In use, the manicurist selects the fingernail extension 10 to be used and optionally looks through the offset ledge 30 to compare the shape of the offset ledge to the shape of the distal edge of the underlying fingernail. The fingernail may be shaped to better conform to the shape of the offset ledge 30 if desired. The manicurist then applies an adhesive to at least one of the textured offset 30 or the distal end of the fingernail 18. The textured surface and the offset 30 cooperate to help retain the liquid adhesive within the bounds of the textured offset 30. The manicurist then looks through the proximal end 30 of the fingernail extension 10 and uses the visible contrast between the offset textured portion 30 and the adjacent fingernail extension to position the fingernail extension 10 relative to the underlying fingernail. The manicurist then places the textured offset ledge 30 against the distal end of the underlying fingernail 18 and, as needed, slides the fingernail extension 10 longitudinally until the distal edge of the fingernail 18 contacts the interior edge of the offset ledge 30, and slides the fingernail extension laterally until the offset ledge is visually centered on the fingernail. Advantageously, the offset ledge 30 overlaps or has its proximal edge aligned with the hyponychium so as to lend the appearance of a French manicure. The conforming shapes of the interior end of the offset ledge 30 and the distal end of the fingernail 38 help align and center the fingernail extension 10 on the fingernail 18. The contrasting texture and visibility of the textured offset ledge 30 allows easy rough alignment and positioning of the fingernail extension 10 with the fingernail 18. The ability of the manicurist to see the shape of the offset ledge 30 through the thickness of the proximal end 30 of the fingernail extension allows easy alignment and positioning of the fingernail extension with the fingernail as the proximal end 14 approaches the fingernail 18, and when the offset ledge contacts the fingernail.

[0044] The textured surface on the offset ledge 30 provides improved adhesion, especially compared to an adhesive applied to the polished finish on the remainder of the surfaces of the fingernail extension 10. The textured surface thus provides a stronger and more durable connection with the artificial fingernail extension.

[0045] After the offset ledge 30 is adhered to the person's fingernail 30 and the adhesive is set or hardened, the manicurist will sand down the overlapping edge of the offset ledge 30 to more closely conform to the person's fingernail 18. Alternatively, the manicurist may add a layer of gel, adhesive or filler around the proximal end 14 and the outer edge of the outer ledge 30 and when hardened, file or sand that added material to more smoothly blend to the fingernail 18. The manicurist may then add any sealant, clearcoat, or color coat desired on the outer surface 26 of the fingernail extension 10 or other portions of the nail extension.

[0046] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0047] The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention, including various ways of texturing the offset ledge 30. Further, the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.