EP2671466A1

EP2671466A1 - Device and method for applying nail decals

Info

Publication number: EP2671466A1
Application number: EP13150087.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Margaret Pak
Original assignee: KMC Exim Corp
Current assignee: KMC Exim Corp
Priority date: 2012-06-04
Filing date: 2013-01-03
Publication date: 2013-12-11
Also published as: RU2013117807A; US20130319444A1; JP2013248380A; KR20130136379A; CA2798724A1; CN103445462A; KR20130136389A; BR102013004733A2

Abstract

A device and method for applying decals to fingernails or toenails involving a substrate (11) and a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of the substrate (11), wherein the substrate includes a central body portion (14), a plurality of stem (18) portions extending outwardly from the central body portion (14) and a decal application tab (12) portion extending outwardly from each of the stem portions. The decal application tab portion has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and has at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to nail decals or appliqués that are applied to natural nails with an adhesive to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the nail, and more particularly to a device and method for applying such nail decals or appliqués.
Artificial nails, nail decals and nail appliqués have been used for many years to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the fingers and toes. 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.
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. For example, many conventional pre-designed fingernails often include a decorative design stenciled or air-brushed on a top surface thereof.
The pre-designed artificial nail is glued to the surface of the natural nail by applying an amount of a liquid bonding adhesive to the bottom surface of the artificial nail and/or the top surface of the natural nail to affix the accessory to the nail. An overlay is then typically applied to the entire top surface of the artificial nail. The overlay is usually transparent or translucent so that the decorative design is visible on the top surface of the artificial nail. Once the overlay sets, the artificial nail is shaped as desired.
It has also been known in the art of adorning fingernails and/or toenails with nail decals or appliqués. Such decals or appliqués typically take the form of a thermal- and/or pressure-sensitive adhesive-backed film, which adds strength and beauty to nails. The application of an opaque or clear graphic film onto fingernails or toenails provides the elements of nail polish, but includes the added benefits of nail support, graphics, specialty colors, no liquid, no dry time, no brush, no mess, no uneven brush strokes, no chipping, no known cancer causing chemicals, no fumes, and easy removal. With the advent of such artificial fingernail accessories, the wearer could now have intricately pre-designed fingernails that are attached to the natural fingernail and then later easily removed.
However, conventional nail decals or appliqués are typically provided as an assortment of decorative designs provided on one or more transfer sheets. Typically, the decorative designs are stenciled, air-brushed or hand-painted on some form of transfer sheet, wherein the user must typically select a design from the sheet and apply it to the natural nail. Often times, the designs are densely grouped on the transfer sheet, which makes application of a single decal from the group a difficult process.
Specifically, in the case of decals using water activated adhesives, water applied to the substrate to loosen the selected decal will often run into neighboring decals on the substrate. Alternatively, extricating the selected design from the others by cutting can also be a difficult process. In particular, once the selected design is cut from the transfer sheet, the user is left with a small piece of paper, or other carrier material, having the decal thereon, which then must be manipulated into position over the natural nail in order to apply the decal to the natural nail. Obviously, such manipulation is difficult and often leads to the decal being dropped or the decal being misapplied to an undesirable location of the nail.
Moreover, because nail size varies from person to person, it is virtually impossible to design a single nail decal or appliqué that will universally fit every fingernail. To address this problem, appliqué sets have been provided with multiple appliqués of varying size for each fingernail. For instance, in a typical package of appliqués, there may be two or more different appliqués for each finger, wherein each appliqué for a particular finger is more slender than the others.
The obvious problem with this approach is the increased expense involved and the larger packaging required for providing multiple appliqués per fingernail. This would naturally disadvantageously affect both consumers who would be required to pay more per package and retailers who would have to stock and display larger packages.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a single set of nail decals or appliqués that provides the user with multiple design variations depending on how the appliqué is placed on the natural nail. It would be further desirable to provide a single set of nail decals that eliminates the step of cutting an individual decal out from the others. It would be still further desirable to provide a single set of nail decals that can be easily manipulated during application and has provisions to aid in the accurate positioning of the decals on the nails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device and a method for applying nail decals or appliqués to a natural fingernail or toenail. The device generally includes a substrate and a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a central body portion, a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from the central body portion and a decal application tab portion extending outwardly from each of the stem portions. Each decal application tab portion has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and has at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto.
In a preferred embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of differently sized decal application tab portions corresponding to the different sizes of human fingernails or toenails. The decal application tab portions are preferably defined by opposite longitudinal ends, wherein each of the longitudinal ends has a peripheral contour matching the contour of the cuticle portion of the human fingernail or toenail.
The substrate may be made of a water permeable material, wherein the decals are temporarily affixed to the substrate with a water activated adhesive. In an alternative embodiment, the decals are temporarily affixed to the substrate with a dry transfer adhesive.
The central body portion of the substrate is preferably an elongate member having a longitudinal extent and the plurality of stem portions extend outwardly from the central body portion in opposite lateral directions. The central body portion further preferably has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof and further preferably includes a perforation for separating the device into two parts.
Each of the stem portions preferably includes at least one frangible portion for separating the decal application tab portion from the central body portion. In a preferred embodiment, the frangible portion is a perforation.
The substrate has a top surface opposite the bottom surface and the top surface preferably has a printed image disposed directly opposite at least one of the decals, wherein the printed image depicts the decal disposed on the bottom surface directly opposite the printed image.
In a method for applying decals to fingernails or toenails according to the present invention, a substrate with a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface thereof, as described above, is utilized. The method includes the steps of selecting a decal application tab portion having a desired decal and a size matching the size of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal is to be applied, aligning the shape of the selected decal application tab portion with the shape of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal is to be applied and transferring at least one decal from the aligned decal application tab portion to the fingernail or toenail.
In a one embodiment, the aligning step includes the step of removing the decal application tab portion from the central body portion and placing the removed decal application tab portion on the fingernail or toenail. In an alternative embodiment, the aligning step includes the step of placing the selected decal application tab portion on the fingernail or toenail while the decal application tab portion is still connected to the central body portion.
The preferred embodiments, as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are intended as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. The scope will be pointed out in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of the front side of a device for applying nail decals formed in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the back side of the device shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the decal application tabs of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, taken along the line 3-3.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figures 1-3 during use.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a method for using the device shown in Figures 1-4, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a subsequent step of the method for using the device shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a method for using the device shown in Figures 1-4, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a subsequent step of the method for using the device shown in Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of a device 10, formed in accordance with the present invention, for applying nail decals is shown. The device 10 is preferably formed as a unitary substrate 11 having a plurality of spaced differently sized decal application tabs 12 connected to a central supporting body 14, such as a central tree. Each of the decal application tabs 12 has at least one decal 16 temporarily affixed thereto, and is preferably connected at one end to the supporting structure 14 via a stem 18. The central supporting body 14 is also preferably provided with a plurality of differently sized decals 19 temporarily affixed thereto.
In a preferred embodiment, the central supporting body portion 14 of the substrate 11 is an elongate member having a longitudinal extent and the decal application tab portions 12 extend outwardly from the body portion in opposite lateral directions. It is however conceivable for the decal application tabs 12 to extend from the central body 12 from only one lateral side. In either case, each decal application tab 12 extends outwardly from the supporting body 14 so that the user can readily see the respective sizes of the tabs.
Preferably, the tabs 12 are arranged on the supporting body 14 in an aesthetically pleasing, as well as a functional pattern. In particular, the tabs 12 are preferably arranged in order of size and are positioned side-by-side along the supporting body 14. Since all the tabs 12, the central body 14 and stems 18 are provided as integral portions of the substrate 11, the decal application device 10 is rendered relatively easy to manufacture and to handle for subsequent packaging and use.
Each tab 12 has a size and shape that respectively substantially corresponds to the size and shape of a natural fingernail or toenail. The tabs 12 are provided in a variety of sizes to match the different sizes of the natural nails of a particular user, as well as to match the different sizes of nails from one user to the next. Each of the opposite longitudinal ends 20 of each tab 12 has a peripheral contour 22, which matches the curvature of the cuticle portion of a natural fingernail or toenail.
More specifically, each decal application tab 12 of the present invention has an initially planar oval shape defined by a convexly curved distal end 20 and a convexly curved proximal end 20 opposite the distal end. The length of the tab 12, defined as the distance between the distal end and the proximal end, matches the length of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal 16 is to be attached. As will be discussed in further detail below, the peripheral contour 22 of the distal and proximal ends 20 of the tab 12 serves as a guide for positioning the decal 16 on a natural nail.
In a preferred embodiment, the rounded distal end 20 and the rounded proximal end 20 have the same convex curvature, which may, for example, be defined by the same radius. The identical curvature of both the distal end and the proximal end matches the curvature of the cuticle portion of a natural fingernail or toenail to which the decal 16 is to be applied.
Thus, for example, one tab 12a, shown in Figure 1, may have a size, shape and a matching curvature 22 at its distal and proximal ends 20 that respectively correspond to the size, shape and curvature of the cuticle portion of an index finger of an average wearer. Another tab 12b may have a size, shape and a matching curvature 22 at its distal and proximal ends 20 that respectively correspond to the size, shape and curvature of the cuticle portion of a thumb of an average wearer.
Alternatively, each decal application tab 12 may have different curvatures at its opposite longitudinal ends. Thus, for example, the decal application tab 12 may have a curvature at its distal end that corresponds to the curvature of the cuticle portion on an index finger of an average wearer, while its proximal end may have a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the cuticle portion on a thumb of an average wearer.
In any case, it can be appreciated that a set of a plurality of tabs 12, as shown in Figure 1, would typically be supplied as a package to the wearer, wherein decal application tabs 12a, 12b having end curvatures matching all of the fingers of the typical wearer would be provided.
The opposite ends of the stems 18 are preferably provided with frangible portions 24 for detaching the decal application tab 12 from the stem and/or detaching the stem 18 from the central supporting body 14. For example, the frangible portion 24 of the stem 18 located adjacent the tab 12 allows for removal of the tab 12 from the stem, thereby leaving the stem attached to the body portion 14. Similarly, the frangible portion 24 located adjacent the body 14 allows for removal of the tab 12, together with the stem 18, from the body.
The central supporting body 14 also preferably includes a frangible portion 26 extending longitudinally down its center for splitting the device 10 into two halves. Both the frangible portions 24 of the stem and the frangible portion 26 of the body 14 are preferably formed as a perforation, which permits the decal application tab 12 and/or the stem 18 to be easily and cleanly removed from the central supporting structure.
Referring additionally to Figure 3, each decal application tab portion 12 has at least one decal 16 temporarily affixed to a bottom surface 28 thereof. In this regard, an adhesive 30 is provided between the decal 16 and the substrate 11 in a typical laminar structure as is well known in the art.
In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive 30 is a water activated or water soluble adhesive and the substrate 11 is made of a water permeable material so as to allow water, applied to a top surface 32 of the substrate, to pass through the substrate to activate the adhesive disposed on the bottom surface of the substrate. The moistened decal 16, with adhesive 30, is thus released from the substrate 11 and can be transferred to a human fingernail or toenail. Such water activated adhesives are well known in the art of nail decal application and will not be described in detail here. Materials used for water permeable carrier substrates, such as paper stock films, for such water activated decal applications are also well known in the art.
The invention, however, is not limited to this basic laminar structure and it is conceivable that the decal 16 can be provided together with the application tab 12 of the present invention in other laminate forms or other forms known in the field of nail ornamentation. For example, a dry transfer adhesive 30' can be utilized, wherein the decal 16 is transferred to a natural fingernail or toenail using a dry transfer technique known in the art. In another alternative, a self-adhesive, which is releasably peelable from the substrate 11 can be used.
Additionally, the decal 16 may take any form known in the art. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the decal 16 may include any graphic film known in the art, such as 3M^™ Scotchcal^™ Graphic films, manufactured by the 3M Corporation. It is understood that other films, such as, for example, graphic films, self-adhesive films, vinyl, polyester, Mylar, latex, rubber, or other films may be used for this purpose.
As used herein, exemplary nail decals 16 may include, for example, any non-liquid thermally curable pressure sensitive self-adhesive film. Exemplary materials may include thermal sensitive graphic films. Graphic film suitable for methods embodiments of the present invention may include, for example, any self adhesive thin film type material vinyl film, cast film (film manufactured by cast method), "2 mil" film, "high performance" film, "long-term" film, or "premium" films. As used herein, "thin film" may include vinyl casting graphic film about 2 millimeters or less. In certain embodiments, the graphic laminate includes a graphic film of about 2 millimeter or less laminated to a clear coat vinyl casting film layer of about 2 millimeter or less. In certain embodiments, film and/or substrates may include various embedded visual effects such as, for example, varying degrees of shading and/or transparencies, varying background patterns, varying optical properties such as, for example, refractivity, fluorescence, pearlescence, night-glow, clear, matte, glossy, holographic, iridescent, glitter, and/or other decorative visual effects.
The substrate 11 and/or the decal 16 may take the form of a vinyl film. As used herein, the term "vinyl film" may include any solid or flexible film manufactured by casting methods known in the art. Exemplary vinyl casting films are well known in the graphic arts. In certain embodiments, exemplary vinyl films may comprise polyvinylchloride (PVC) polymer, polymeric or monomeric plasticizer (to modulate flexibility), pigment (to make desired coloration), UV absorbers (to improve resistance to UV radiation), heat stabilizers, fillers and processing aids. In certain embodiments, cast films may offer the added benefit of dimensional stability, thinness (about 2 millimeters or less), conformability, durability, and a "paint-like" finish.
In one exemplary embodiment, the substrate 11, such as paper for example, is coated with an adhesive coating to form the adhesive layer 30. A uniform layer of partially cured nail polish material may be applied over the adhesive layer in any desired shape to form the decal 16.
In another exemplary embodiment, the substrate 11 is coated with an adhesive coating to form the adhesive layer 30 and a uniform layer of partially cured nail polish material may be applied over the adhesive layer in the general shape of a natural nail forming a film of nail polish 16. A second adhesive layer (not shown in Figure 3) is then applied to the opposite surface of the nail polish layer to provide an adhesive surface opposite the substrate. Thus, when the film 16 of nail polish is removed from the backing 11, it has an adhesive surface. A nail decal or appliqué 16 formed in this manner can be adhesively secured to a fingernail by placing it and pressing on the nail.
The decals 16 can also take the form of printed films formed by any conventional method. For example, printing methods contemplated as best achieving the desired designs include, but are not limited to, silk screening, flexographic printing, gravure printing, digital printing or Digital Flexo, offset printing, and hot stamping. Alternatively, decorative designs may be made as separate pieces and brought together on a single application tab 12.
Printed graphics layers may consist essentially of a dye- and/or pigment-containing layer capable of adhering, under the action of heat and/or pressure, to a thin film substrate, such as, for example, a vinyl casting film substrate. In this case, the graphics layer is the primary layer which imparts visibility to the graphics laminate. It includes generally a pigment and/or dye material in which the graphic design is formed during the printing process, such as, for example, thermo transfer onto vinyl films. In certain embodiments, the dye or pigment-containing layer may be made up of a plurality of successive dye- or pigment-containing layers.
Returning to Figures 1, 2 and 3, each decal 16 provided on each application tab 12 is preferably provided with a matching image 34 disposed on the front surface of the substrate 11 in register relationship with the decal. The decals 19 provided on the center body portion 14 are likewise preferably provided with matching images 35 on the front surface of the substrate 11 in register relationship with the decals 19. The image 34, 35 disposed on the top surface of the substrate 11 depicts the decal 16, 19 disposed directly opposite the image on the bottom surface of the substrate. The image 34 may be a printed image and is preferably positioned with respect to the periphery of the substrate in the same orientation as the decal 16 to which it corresponds. Thus, as will be discussed in further detail below, the user can position the image 34 of the decal with respect to the nail and the corresponding decal 16 will be positioned accordingly.
Turning now to Figures 4-8, use of the device 10 of the present invention will now be described. In an exemplary manner, to apply a decal 16 of the present invention, the surface of the natural nail 36 to which the decal 16 is to be applied is pre-cleaned (e.g. alcohol or following a manicure). A tab 12 having the desired decal 16 and also having a size and shape matching the size and shape of the natural fingernail 36 is then selected from one of the plurality of differently sized tabs of the deice 10.
The contour 22 of the tab 12 is aligned with the contour of the cuticle portion 38 of the natural nail 36 and the tab 12 is then placed on the top surface of the natural nail. This can be done by first removing the selected tab 12 from the central body 14, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, or the tab 12 can be placed on the natural nail 36 while still attached to the central body 14, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. As described above, the frangible portions 24 of the stems 18 facilitate removal of the tabs from the body 14.
In either case, the central body 14 provides a convenient means for grasping the device 10 with the opposite hand while applying the decal. The plurality of differently sized tabs 12 and the shape and peripheral contour of each tab matching the shape and contour of the natural nails provide a convenient and accurate means for positioning the decal 16 on the top surface of the natural nail 36. Finally, the printed image 34 depicting the decal 16 being applied provides yet another guide for accurately positioning the decal.
As mentioned above, the decal 16 can be transferred in several known manners. In a preferred embodiment, the decal 16 is provided with a water soluble adhesive and the substrate 11 is water permeable. In this embodiment, an amount of water is applied to moisten the top surface 32 of the substrate directly over the decal 16 to be applied, while the tab is aligned with the natural fingernail 36.
In other embodiments, a burnishing stick or other utensil is pressed and rubbed on the top surface 32 of the tab 12 directly opposite the decal to affect a dry-adhesive transfer technique. In other alternative embodiments, the tab 12 is simply peeled off the nail 36 leaving the decal 16 in place on the corresponding nail. In certain embodiments, the decal 16 may be pre-heated to facilitate the ease of manipulation. In all cases, the tab 12 is removed from the nail 36 after transfer of the decal 16.
As a result of the present invention, a device for accurately and conveniently applying nail decals is provided. The device is easily manufactured and can be simply applied. A package of one or more of such decal application devices according to the present invention can be provided to the consumer at low cost and with relatively small packaging.
Although preferred embodiments of the present device and method have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the herein device and method are not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be affected herein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and that it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

A device for applying decals to fingernails or toenails, the device comprising a substrate and a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of said substrate, said substrate comprising:
a central body portion;

a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from said central body portion; and

a decal application tab portion extending outwardly from each of said stem portions, said decal application tab portion having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and having at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of differently sized decal application tab portions corresponding to the different sizes of human fingernails or toenails.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a water permeable material and said decals are temporarily affixed to said substrate with a water activated adhesive.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said decals are temporarily affixed to said substrate with a dry transfer adhesive.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said central body portion is an elongate member having a longitudinal extent and said plurality of stem portions extend outwardly from said central body portion in opposite lateral directions.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein each of said stem portions comprises at least one frangible portion for separating said decal application tab portion from said central body portion.
A device as defined in Claim 6, wherein said frangible portion is a perforation.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said substrate has a top surface opposite said bottom surface, said top surface having a printed image disposed directly opposite at least one of said decals, said printed image depicting said decal disposed on said bottom surface directly opposite said printed image.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said central body portion has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said decal application tab portions are defined by opposite longitudinal ends, each of said longitudinal ends having a peripheral contour matching the contour of the cuticle portion of the human fingernail or toenail.
A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said central body portion includes a perforation for separating the device into two parts.
A method for applying decals to fingernails or toenails comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate with a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface thereof, said substrate comprising a central body portion, a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from said central body portion and a decal application tab portion extending outwardly from each of said stem portions, said decal application tab portion having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and having at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto;

selecting a decal application tab portion having a desired decal and a size matching the size of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal is to be applied;

aligning the shape of the selected decal application tab portion with the shape of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal is to be applied; and

transferring at least one decal from said aligned decal application tab portion to the fingernail or toenail.
A method as defined in Claim 12, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of differently sized decal application tab portions corresponding to the different sizes of human fingernails or toenails.
A method as defined in Claim 12, wherein said aligning step comprises the step of removing said decal application tab portion from said central body portion and placing said removed decal application tab portion on the fingernail or toenail.
A method as defined in Claim 12, wherein said aligning step comprises the step of placing the selected decal application tab portion on the fingernail or toenail while said decal application tab portion is still connected to said central body portion.