Modular Artificial Nail

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an artificial nail with a pre-built apex which is accompanied by detachable nail tips of different shapes and sizes that modularly couple with a main body giving the user the ability to achieve a customizable salon looking nail on their own. The main body of the nail and the tip fit snugly together to form a flush top surface with a small seam. Various finishes and embellishments can be applied to the top surface without damaging it. Like a salon nail, it will last until the user chooses to remove it. This solves the problems associated with traditional press-on nails.

Claims

1. A modular artificial nail, comprising: a main body having a concave first surface configured to cover a human nail, the top of the arch begins at the apex, the highest point of the nail and then gradually tapers in an arc to a thin layer at the end of the main body, and an opposing convex second surface, the first surface being longer than the second surface and the difference in length being occupied by a convex third surface configured to detachably couple with a nail tip attachment, the third surface being separated from the second surface by a shelf having a first height; and a nail tip attachment, the nail tip attachment having a fourth convex surface and an opposing fifth concave surface, the fifth surface having a profile with a first end shaped to interlock and couple with the shelf and third surface of the main body to form a complete artificial nail, the depth of the nail tip attachment at the first end being equal to the height of the shelf such that the fourth surface and second surface form a flush seam with one another when the nail tip attachment is in place; wherein the thickness of the main body between the first and second surfaces varies to provide a side profile in which a point along the second surface forms an apex.

2. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the shelf, third surface, and first end of the nail tip attachment have a squared area profile.

3. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the shelf, third surface, and first end of the nail tip attachment have a rounded or curved area profile.

4. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the nail is at least 2.5 mm in thickness at its apex.

5. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the shelf, third surface, and first end of the nail tip attachment have one or more indents or protrusions that interlock with one another to form a stronger connection.

6. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the height of the shelf is approximately 1 mm.

7. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the length of the third surface is approximately 5 mm.

8. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein the main body and/or nail tip attachments are made of one or more of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastics, Acrylic Resin, Acrylic, Methaacrylic, Sumipex ME, Sumipex, and Polymethyl Methacrylate Acrylic.

9. A modular artificial nail according to claim 1, wherein a second end of the nail tip attachment opposite to the first end has one of the following profile shapes: Oval, Square, Stiletto, Coffin or Almond.

10. A kit comprising a modular artificial nail according to claim 1 and two or more different types of nail tip attachment having varying profiles and/or lengths.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a first example configuration of an artificial nail main body and tip attachment according to the present disclosure with the tip removed from the body.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the first example configuration of the artificial nail main body and tip attachment according to the present disclosure with the tip attached to the body.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a second example configuration of the artificial nail main body and tip attachment according to the present disclosure with the tip removed from the body.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the second example configuration of the artificial nail main body and tip attachment according to the present disclosure with the tip attached to the body.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the main body of the first example configuration with no tip attachment.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the main body and tip attachment of the first example configuration.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the main body of the second example configuration with no tip attachment.

[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the main body and tip attachment of the second example configuration.

[0029] Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

[0031] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term and/or includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0033] The present disclosure provides an artificial nail with a pre-built apex which is accompanied by detachable nail tips of different shapes and sizes that modularly couple with a main body giving the user the ability to achieve a customizable salon looking nail on their own. The main body of the nail and the tip fit snugly together to form a flush top surface with a small seam. Various finishes and embellishments can be applied to the top surface without damaging it. Like a salon nail, it will last until the user chooses to remove it. This solves the problems associated with traditional press-on nails.

[0034] Two specific configurations of the artificial nail will now be described with reference to the drawings, one with a squared profile and one with a curved/rounded profile but it should be understood that these are merely example configurations.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, isometric views of a first example configuration of an artificial nail 100 having a main body 102 and an example tip attachment 104 are shown (in FIG. 1 with the tip 104 removed from the body 102 and in FIG. 2 with the tip 104 attached to the body 102.)

[0036] The tip 104 used in the present example has a coffin-type profile and a medium length, however those of skill in the art will recognise that various tips of different profiles and lengths could be used in conjunction with the main body 102. Other example types include but are not limited to stiletto, oval, square, and almond profiles.

[0037] The main body 102 has a concave first surface (underneath) which would be shaped so as to easily be glued to a user's fingernail. The opposing second surface 106 is convex and forms a first portion of the top of the artificial nail 100, and is curved in an appealing shape with the end that would be proximal to a user's finger forming an apex.

[0038] A third surface 108 on the convex side of the main body acts as a mounting point for the nail tip attachment 104. The third surface 108 is displaced from the second surface 106 by a shelf 110 that in some examples is approximately a millimetre in height. This difference in height allows a top fourth surface 112 of the nail tip attachment 104 to be flush with the second surface 106 when coupled to the main body 102, as can be seen in FIG. 2 where a small, barely visible seam 114 is formed between the body 102 and the attachment 104.

[0039] The underside of the nail tip attachment comprises a fifth concave surface which is shaped to interlock with the third surface 108 like a puzzle piece. In some examples these two surfaces may also include one or more interlocking protrusions and indents (not illustrated). Alternatively, they can simply be shaped to fit flush with one another to allow for glue to easily bond them.

[0040] In this first example configuration, the shelf 110 and the seam 114 formed with the nail tip attachment 104 thereby are squared off at the edges, however other shelf types are also possible as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, isometric views of the second example configuration of the artificial nail 200 having a main body 202 and an example tip attachment 204 are shown (in FIG. 3 with the tip 204 removed from the body 202 and in FIG. 4 with the tip 204 attached to the body 202.)

[0042] In this second configuration the shape of the shelf 210 and the seam 214 formed with the tip attachment 202 are rounded, which may allow for a better shape of apex to be formed by the main body 206. Aside from that, and the difference in the shape of the nail tip attachment edge, the second configuration of the artificial nail is identical in structure to the first configuration.

[0043] The main body 202 has a concave first surface (underneath) which would be shaped so as to easily be glued to a user's fingernail. The opposing second surface 206 is convex and forms a first portion of the top of the artificial nail 200, and is curved in an appealing shape with the end that would be proximal to a user's finger forming an apex.

[0044] A third surface 208 on the convex side of the main body acts as a mounting point for the nail tip attachment 204. The third surface 208 is displaced from the second surface 206 by a shelf 210 that in some examples is approximately a millimetre in height. This difference in height allows a top fourth surface 212 of the nail tip attachment 204 to be flush with the second surface 206 when coupled to the main body 202, as can be seen in FIG. 4 where a small, barely visible seam 214 is formed between the body 202 and the attachment 204.

[0045] The underside of the nail tip attachment comprises a fifth concave surface which is shaped to interlock with the third surface 208 like a puzzle piece. In some examples these two surfaces may also include one or more interlocking protrusions and indents (not illustrated).

[0046] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, side views are shown of the main body 102 of the first example configuration with and without the tip attachment 104 installed thereon. This more clearly illustrates the pleasing apex-like shape formed by the artificial nail of the present disclosure.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, similar side views of the main body 202 and the tip attachment 204 of the second configuration are shown.

[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the main body and tip attachment of the first example configuration.

[0049] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0050] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the artificial nail have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

[0051] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.