JP2013248380A - Device and method for applying nail decal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost simple affixing means of decals to nails.SOLUTION: There are provided a device and a method for applying decals (16) to fingernails or toenails, the device (10) involving a substrate (11) and a plurality of decals (transfer picture) (16) temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate includes a central body portion (14), a plurality of stem portions (18) extending outwardly from the central body portion and a decal application tab portion (12) 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

  The present invention relates generally to nail decals (transfer pictures) or appliques that are attached to the natural nails with an adhesive to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the natural nails, and in particular, to attach such decals or appliques for nails. It is related with the instrument and method to be made.

  For many years, artificial nails, nail decals and nail appliques have been used to enhance the cosmetic appearance of fingers and toes. Some people choose to use artificial nails because their nails are too weak to grow to the desired length without breaking. Some people choose an artificial nail because the artificial nail is much stronger and more durable than the natural nail and because the nail polish sticks well to the artificial nail surface. Some people choose to use artificial nails to improve the appearance of their nails because they do not like the shape and contours of their own nails.

  In the field of hand decorating, it is known to provide decorative finger nail accessories made from thin molded plastic members that are generally manufactured in the shape of finger nails. Indeed, many artificial fingernail manufacturers offer various combinations of materials, arrangements and colors in fingernail accessories. For example, many conventional pre-designed finger nails often have a stencil-printed or air-brushed decorative design on the top surface.

  A pre-designed artificial nail is adhered to the surface of the natural nail by applying a given amount of liquid adhesive to the bottom surface of the artificial nail and / or the top surface of the artificial nail to attach the accessory to the nail. . The 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 becomes visible on the top surface of the artificial nail. Once the overlay is cured, the artificial nail is shaped as desired.

  It is also known in the art to decorate finger nails and / or toenails (toenails) with nail decals or appliques. Such decals or appliques are typically in the form of heat and / or pressure sensitive films, which add strength and aesthetics to the nails. The application of an opaque or clear graphic film to the fingernail or toe nail provides nail polish elements, but nail support, graphics, dedicated color, no liquid, no drying time, no brush, Additional advantages are obtained: no scatter, no uneven brush strokes, no chipping, no known carcinogenic chemicals, no toxic gases, easy removal. With the advent of such artificial fingernail accessories, the wearer can now have pre-complexly designed fingernails that can be attached to the native fingernail and later easily removed.

  However, conventional nail decals or appliques are typically provided as a set of decorative designs applied on one or more transfer sheets. Typically, the decorative design is stenciled, airbrushed or hand painted on a form of transfer sheet, and the user typically chooses the design from the sheet and attaches it to the natural nail. I have to let it. Often, the designs are grouped together on the transfer sheet, which makes it a difficult process to deposit a single decal from the group.

  Specifically, in the case of a decal using a water activated adhesive, the water applied to the carrier to loosen the selected decal will often flow into the adjacent decal on the carrier. As a variant, removing a selected design from another design by cutting it can also be a difficult process. In particular, once the selected design is cut from the transfer sheet, the user is left with the decal attached to a small piece of paper or other carrier material, which in turn is attached to the natural nail. You have to manipulate the decal and bring it into place on the natural nail. Obviously, such an operation is difficult and often results in the decal falling or accidentally attaching the decal to an undesirable location on the nail.

  Furthermore, since the size of the nail varies from person to person, it is virtually impossible to design a single nail decal or applique that fits all finger nails universally. To address this issue, the applique set comprises a number of appliques of various sizes that vary in size for each fingernail. For example, within a typical applique package, there may be two or more different appliques for each finger, each applique for a particular finger being slenderer than the other applique. Yes.

  The obvious problem with this approach is that the associated costs are high and the packaging required to provide a large number of appliques per fingernail is large. This, of course, has a detrimental effect on both consumers who have to spend on each package and retailers who need to stock and display large packages.

  Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a single set of nail decals or appliques that provide users with a number of design variations depending on how the applique is placed on the natural nails. It is further desirable to provide a single set of nail decals that eliminates the step of cutting individual decals from other decals. It would also be desirable to provide a single set of nail decals that can be easily manipulated during attachment and that has a hand that helps to accurately position the decal on the nail.

  The subject matter of the present invention provides an instrument and method for attaching a decal to an innate fingernail or toe nail. This instrument has as its main components a carrier and a plurality of decals temporarily attached to the bottom surface of the carrier. The carrier has a central body portion, a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from the central body portion, and a decal attachment tab portion extending outwardly from each of the stem portions. Each decal attachment tab portion has a dimension corresponding to that of a human fingernail or toe nail, and at least one decal is temporarily attached to the decal attachment tab portion.

  In a preferred embodiment, the carrier has a plurality of different sizes of decal attachment tab portions corresponding to different sizes of human fingernails or toe nails. The decal attachment tab portions are preferably defined by opposite longitudinal ends, each having a peripheral contour that matches the contour shape of the horny portion of a person's fingernail or toe nail.

  The carrier may be composed of a water permeable material, and the decal is temporarily attached to the carrier with a moisture activated adhesive. In an alternative embodiment, the decal is temporarily attached to the carrier with a dry transfer adhesive.

  The central body portion is preferably an elongate member having a longitudinal extent extending in the longitudinal direction, and the plurality of stem portions extend outwardly in opposite lateral directions from the central body portion. The central body portion more preferably has at least one decal provided on its bottom surface, and more preferably has a perforation for separating the instrument into two portions.

  Each of the stem portions preferably has at least one fragile portion for separating the decal attachment tab portion from the central body portion. In a preferred embodiment, the vulnerable portion is a perforation.

  The carrier has a top surface opposite the bottom surface, the top surface preferably having a print image disposed on the diametrically opposite side of at least one of the decals, the print image being diametrically opposite the print image. It depicts a decal placed on the bottom that is located.

  In the method of attaching the decal to the fingernail or toe nail according to the present invention, as described above, a carrier on which a plurality of decals are temporarily attached to the bottom surface is used. The method includes the steps of selecting a desired decal and a decal attachment tab portion having a size that matches the size of the finger nail or toe nail to which the decal is to be attached, Aligning the shape of the nail or toe nail and transferring at least one decal from the aligned decal attachment tab portion to the finger nail or toe nail.

  In one embodiment, aligning includes placing the decal attachment tab portion removed from the central body portion and placing the decal attachment tab portion on the fingernail or toe nail. In an alternative embodiment, the aligning step includes placing the selected decal attachment tab portion on the fingernail or toe nail with the decal attachment tab portion still connected to the central body portion.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are intended as examples only and are not intended to limit the invention. The scope of the present invention is defined based on the description of the scope of claims.

It is a top view of the front of the instrument which adheres the nail decal comprised according to this invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rear side of the instrument shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of one of the decal attachment tabs of the instrument shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the instrument shown in FIGS. 1-3 in use. 5 is a perspective view showing a method of using the instrument shown in FIGS. 1-4 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the next step in the method using the instrument shown in FIG. 5. 5 is a perspective view showing a method of using the instrument shown in FIGS. 1-4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the next step in the method using the instrument shown in FIG. 7.

  Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of a device 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention for attaching a nail decal is shown. The instrument 10 is preferably formed as a unitary carrier 11 with a plurality of spaced apart decal attachment tabs 12 connected to a central support body 14, for example a central tree. At least one decal 16 is temporarily attached to each of the decal attachment tabs 12, and each decal attachment tab is preferably connected at one end to the support structure 14 via a stem 18. The central support body 14 preferably further comprises a plurality of different sized decals 19 temporarily attached thereto.

  In a preferred embodiment, the central support body portion 14 of the carrier 11 is an elongate member having a longitudinal extent, and the decal attachment tab portion 12 extends outwardly from the body portion in opposite lateral directions. However, it can also be envisaged that the decal attachment tab 12 extends only from one lateral side of the central body 14. In either case, each decal attachment tab 12 extends outwardly from the support body 14 so that the user can easily see the respective size of the tab.

  Preferably, the tabs 12 are arranged on the support body 14 in a good looking and functional pattern. In particular, the tabs 12 are preferably arranged in size order and positioned side by side along the support body 14. Since all of the tabs 12, the central body 14 and the stem 18 are provided as an integral part of the carrier 11, the decal applicator 10 is relatively easy to manufacture and handle for subsequent packaging and use.

  Each tab 12 has a dimensional shape substantially corresponding to the dimensional shape of the native fingernail or toe nail. Tabs 12 are provided in various sizes to fit different sizes of a particular user's native nails and to different nails sizes from one user to another. Each of the opposed longitudinal ends 20 of each tab 12 has a perimeter profile 22 that matches the curvature of the horny portion of the native finger or toe nail.

  Specifically, each decal attachment tab 12 of the present invention is initially flat defined by a convexly curved distal end 20 and a convexly curved proximal end 20 opposite the distal end. It has an oval shape. The length of the tab 12 defined as the distance between the distal end and the proximal end corresponds to the length of the fingernail or toe nail to which the decal 16 is to be attached. As will be described in more 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 the native nail.

  In a preferred embodiment, the rounded distal end 20 and the rounded proximal end 20 have the same convex curvature, which may be defined, for example, by the same radius. The same curvature at both the distal and proximal ends corresponds to the curvature of the horny portion of the native finger or toe nail to which the decal 16 is to be attached.

  Thus, for example, one tab 12a shown in FIG. 1 matched the size, shape, and curvature of the horny portion of the average wearer's index finger at its distal and proximal ends 20, respectively. It may have dimensions, shape and conform curvature 22. Another tab 12b has, at its distal and proximal ends 20, dimensions, shapes and mating curvatures 22 corresponding to the dimensions, shape and curvature of the average wearer's thumb stratum corneum, respectively. good.

  As a variant, each decal attachment tab 12 may have a different curvature at its opposite longitudinal end. Thus, for example, the distal end of the decal attachment tab 12 has a curvature that matches the curvature of the horny portion of the average wearer's index finger, and its proximal end is the horny portion of the average wearer's thumb. It may have a curvature that matches the curvature.

  In either case, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of tabs 12 are typically supplied to the wearer as a package with a curvature that matches all of the typical wearer's fingers. It can be seen that decal attachment tabs 12a, 12b are provided at the ends.

  The opposite end of the stem 18 preferably includes a fragile portion 24 for removing the decal attachment tab 12 from the stem and / or for removing the stem 18 from the central support body 14. For example, the fragile portion 24 of the stem 18 located adjacent to the tab 12 allows removal of the tab 12 from the stem, thereby leaving the stem attached to the body portion 14. Similarly, the tab 12 can be removed from the body along with the stem 18 by a frangible portion 24 located adjacent to the body 14.

  The central support body 14 also preferably has a frangible portion 26 extending longitudinally down along its center and dividing the device 10 into two halves. Both the frangible portion 24 of the stem and the frangible portion 26 of the body 14 are preferably formed as perforations that allow the decal attachment tab 12 and / or the stem 18 to be easily and from the central support structure. It can be removed neatly.

  Still referring to FIG. 3, at least one decal 16 is temporarily attached to the bottom surface 28 of each decal attachment tab portion 12. In this regard, as is well known in the art, an adhesive 30 is provided between the decal 16 and the carrier 11 in a typical layered structure.

  In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive 30 is a water activated or water soluble adhesive and the carrier 11 is deposited on the bottom surface of the carrier with water applied to the top surface 32 of the carrier passing through the carrier. Made of water permeable material so that the adhesive can be activated. Thus, the moistened decal 16 can be peeled from the carrier 11 with the adhesive 30 and transferred to a human fingernail or toe nail. Such moisture activated adhesives are well known for nail decal application and will not be described in detail here. Materials used in water permeable carrier carriers for such water activated decal applications, such as paper stock films, are also well known in the art.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this basic layered structure and the decal 16 is provided with the adhesive tab 12 of the present invention in other layered or other forms known in the nail decoration art. It is possible to do it. For example, a dry transfer adhesive 30 'can be utilized, in which case the decal 16 is transferred to a native fingernail or toe nail by use of dry transfer techniques known in the art. In another variation, an adhesive that can be removably removed from the carrier 11 may be used.

  In addition, the decal 16 can take any form known in the art. Thus, exemplary embodiments of decal 16 include any graphic film known in the art, such as 3M ™ Scotchcal ™ graphic film manufactured by 3M Corporation. It goes without saying that other films can be used for this purpose, for example graphic films, adhesive films, vinyl, polyester, mylar, latex, rubber or other films.

  Exemplary nail decals 16 used herein may include, for example, any non-liquid thermosetting pressure sensitive adhesive film. Exemplary materials include thermal graphic films. Graphic films suitable for the method embodiments of the present invention include, for example, any adhesive thin film material vinyl film, cast film (film produced by casting), “2 mil” film, “high performance” film, “Long term” film or “Premium” film. As used herein, the term “thin film” includes cast graphic films of about 2 millimeters or less. In certain embodiments, the laminate includes a graphic film of about 2 millimeters or less laminated to a transparent clearcoat vinyl cast film layer of about 2 millimeters or less. In certain embodiments, the film and / or carrier may have various embedded visual effects, such as grading shading and / or transparency, grading background patterns, grading optical properties, such as refraction. It may have rate, fluorescence, pearl essence, nocturnal, clear, matt, glossy, holographic, iridescent, glitter and / or other decorative visual effects.

  The carrier 11 and / or decal 16 may take the form of a vinyl film. The term “vinyl film” as used herein includes solid or flexible films made by casting methods known in the art. Exemplary vinyl cast films are well known in graphic arts. In certain embodiments, exemplary vinyl films include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer, polymer or monomer plasticizers (to adjust flexibility), pigments (to impart the desired shade), UV absorbers ( In order to improve the resistance to ultraviolet light), it is preferable to include a heat stabilizer, a filler and a processing aid. In certain embodiments, cast films may provide additional benefits of dimensional stability, thinness (less than about 2 millimeters), conformability (isomorphism), durability, and “paint-like” finish. it can.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the carrier 11, such as paper, is covered with an adhesive coating to form the adhesive layer 30. A uniform layer of partially cured nail polish may be applied to the adhesive layer in any desired shape to form the decal 16.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the carrier 11 is covered with an adhesive coating to form an adhesive layer 30, and a uniform layer of partially cured nail polish is formed into the overall shape of the natural nail. It is then applied to the adhesive layer to form a film 16 of nail polish. Next, a second adhesive layer (not shown in FIG. 3) is applied to the opposite surface of the nail polish layer to provide an adhesive surface opposite the carrier. Thus, when the nail polish film 16 is removed from the support 11, the film has an adhesive surface. The nail decal or applique 16 thus formed can be adhered to the finger nail by placing the nail decal or applique 16 on the nail and pressing it.

  Decal 16 may be in the form of a printed film formed by any conventional method. For example, printing methods envisioned to best achieve the desired design include silk screen printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, digital printing or digital flexo, offset printing and hot stamping. However, it is not limited to these. Alternatively, the decorative design may be made as separate pieces and put together on a single adhesive tab 12.

  The printed graphics layer may consist essentially of a dye and / or pigment containing layer that can adhere to a thin film carrier, such as a vinyl cast film carrier, under the action of heat and / or pressure. In this case, the graphics layer is the primary layer that provides visibility to the graphics laminate. Such graphics layers generally include pigments and / or dyes, where the graphic design is formed on the vinyl film during a printing process, such as thermal transfer. In certain embodiments, the dye or pigment containing layer may be comprised of a plurality of consecutively located dye or pigment containing layers.

  Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, each decal 16 provided on each attachment tab 12 is preferably disposed on the front surface of the carrier 11 in a positional relationship with the decal. The matched image 34 is provided. The decal 16 provided on the central body portion 14 is likewise preferably provided with a matching image 35 on the front surface of the carrier 11 in alignment with the decal 19. The images 34 and 35 provided on the top surface of the carrier 11 depict the decals 16 and 19 positioned opposite to the image on the bottom surface of the carrier. The image 34 can be a printed image, which is preferably positioned relative to the periphery of the carrier in the same orientation as the corresponding decal 16. Thus, as described in more detail below, the user can position the decal image 34 relative to the nail and the corresponding decal 16 will be positioned accordingly.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 4-8, the usage of the instrument 10 of this invention is demonstrated. In an exemplary manner, to deposit the decal 16 of the present invention, the surface of the natural nail 36 to which the decal 16 is to be deposited is pre-cleaned (eg, cleaned with alcohol or following a nail polish). Next, a tab 12 having the desired decal 16 and having a dimensional shape that matches the dimensional shape of the native fingernail 36 is selected from one of the different sized tabs of the instrument 10.

  The contour shape 22 of the tab 12 is aligned with the contour shape of the horny portion 38 of the native nail 36, and then the tab 12 is placed on the top surface of the native nail. This can be done by first removing the selected tab 12 from the central body 14 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or the tab 12 is shown in FIGS. Thus, it can be placed on the natural nail 36 while still attached to the central body 14. As described above, the fragile portion 24 of the stem 18 facilitates removal of the tab from the body 14.

  In either case, the central body 14 provides a convenient means for grasping the instrument 10 with the reverse hand while attaching the decal. The tabs of different sizes and the shape of each tab corresponding to the shape and contour of the natural nail and the peripheral contour provide a convenient and accurate means of positioning the decal 16 on the top surface of the natural nail 36. . Finally, the printed image 34 depicting the decal 16 to be deposited provides yet another guide for accurately positioning the decal.

  As mentioned above, the decal 16 can be transferred in several known ways. In a preferred embodiment, the decal 16 comprises a water soluble adhesive and the carrier 11 is water permeable. In this embodiment, while aligning the tab with the native finger nail 36, a given amount of water is applied to wet the top surface 32 of the carrier just above the decal 16 to be deposited.

  In other embodiments, a burnishing stick or other device is rubbed against the top surface 32 of the tab 12 located diametrically opposite the decal, thereby affecting the dry adhesive transfer technique. In another alternative embodiment, the tab 12 is simply peeled from the nail 36 so that the decal 16 remains in place on the corresponding nail. In certain embodiments, the decal 16 may be preheated to increase ease of operation. In all cases, the tab 12 is removed from the claw 36 after the decal 16 is transferred.

  As a result of the present invention, an instrument for accurately and conveniently applying a nail decal is provided. This instrument is easy to manufacture and easy to use. One or more packages of such decal applicators of the present invention can be provided to consumers at low cost and in relatively small packaging.

  Although preferred embodiments of the devices and methods of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, the devices and methods described herein are not limited to the embodiments themselves and are known to those skilled in the art. Various other modifications and alterations can be devised without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and the appended claims claim all such modifications and alterations that fall within the scope of the invention. It should be understood that

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Attachment tool 11 Integral carrier 12, 12a, 12b Decal attachment tab 14 Central support body 16, 19 Decal or transfer picture 18 Stem 20 Longitudinal end 22 Surrounding contour shape 24, 26 Vulnerable part

Claims (20)

An instrument for attaching a decal to a fingernail or toe nail, the instrument comprising a carrier and a plurality of decals temporarily attached to the bottom surface of the carrier, the carrier comprising:
A central body part,
A plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from the central body portion;
A decal attachment tab portion extending outwardly from each of the stem portions, the decal attachment tab portion having a dimensional shape corresponding to a dimensional shape of a human fingernail or toe nail, and the decal attachment tab portion Is an instrument in which at least one decal is temporarily attached.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein the carrier has a plurality of different sizes of decal attachment tab portions corresponding to different sizes of human fingernails or toe nails.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a water permeable material and the decal is temporarily attached to the carrier with a moisture activated adhesive.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein the decal is temporarily attached to the carrier with a dry transfer adhesive.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein the central body portion is an elongate member having a longitudinal extent, and the plurality of stem portions extend outwardly in opposite lateral directions from the central body portion.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the stem portions has at least one fragile portion for separating the decal attachment tab portion from the central body portion.   The instrument of claim 6, wherein the fragile portion is a perforation.   The carrier has a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, the top surface having a print image disposed on the opposite side of at least one of the decals, and the print image includes the print image and The instrument of claim 1, depicting the decal disposed on the bottom side on the opposite side.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein the central body portion has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof.   The decal attachment tab portions are defined by opposite longitudinal ends, each of the longitudinal ends having a peripheral contour that matches the contour shape of the horny portion of the person's fingernail or toe nail. Item 1. The device according to item 1.   The instrument of claim 1, wherein the central body portion has a perforation that separates the instrument into two parts. A method of attaching a decal to a fingernail or toe nail, comprising the step of providing a carrier having a plurality of decals temporarily attached to a bottom surface, the carrier comprising a central body portion and a central body portion A plurality of stem portions extending outward and a decal attachment tab portion extending outward from each of the stem portions, the decal attachment tab portion having a dimensional shape corresponding to a dimensional shape of a human fingernail or toe nail And at least one decal is temporarily attached to the decal attachment tab portion;
Selecting a decal attachment tab portion having dimensions that match the desired decal and the dimensions of the fingernail or toe nail to which the decal is to be attached;
Aligning the shape of the selected decal attachment tab portion with the shape of the fingernail or toe nail to which the decal is to be attached;
Transferring at least one decal from the aligned decal attachment tab portion to the fingernail or toe nail.   13. The method of claim 12, wherein the carrier has a plurality of different sizes of decal attachment tab portions corresponding to different sizes of human fingernails or toe nails.   13. The method of claim 12, wherein the aligning step includes removing the decal attachment tab portion from the central body portion and placing the removed decal attachment tab portion on the fingernail or toe nail.   The method of claim 14, wherein the stem portion of the carrier has a fragile portion that facilitates the separation of the decal attachment tab portion from the central body portion.   The method of claim 15, wherein the fragile portion is a perforation.   The method of claim 12, wherein the aligning step comprises placing the selected decal attachment tab portion on the fingernail or toe nail with the decal attachment tab portion still coupled to the central body portion. .   The carrier has a top surface opposite to the bottom surface, the top surface having a print image disposed on the opposite side of at least one of the decals, and the print image includes the print image and The method of claim 12, depicting the decal placed on the bottom side on the opposite side.   The decal attachment tab portion is defined by longitudinal ends facing each other, each of the longitudinal ends having a peripheral contour shape that matches the contour shape of the horny portion of the person's fingernail or toe nail. 12. The method according to 12.   The method of claim 12, wherein the central body portion has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof.

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