JP7737745B2 - Nail layer structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a layer structure of a nail.

Gel nails, which use nail agents containing photocurable resins, are a widely known method for decorating fingernails and toenails (see, for example, Patent Document 1). These gel nails are made by applying a gel-like nail agent to the nail and then irradiating it with light to harden it and make it become one with the nail.

JP 2013-244141 A

However, with gel nails, a base layer is applied from the base of the nail to cover the entire nail, so as the nail grows, untreated areas (areas where base gel is not applied) appear at the base of the nail, creating the problem of the boundary between the treated and untreated areas becoming noticeable.

In addition, when applying gel nails, the natural nails are filed down to allow the gel nails to adhere, and when removing the gel nails, a process called sanding is performed to remove the surface of the gel nail so that the remover can penetrate better. Sanding can thin the natural nail, and using remover can remove the oils on the surface of the nail, causing the nail to turn yellow and negatively affecting the entire nail. Furthermore, removing gel nails takes an average of 30 to 40 minutes, which is time-consuming.

From this perspective, the present invention aims to provide a layer structure for nails that reduces damage to the nails, makes nail growth less noticeable, and allows application in a short time.

The layered structure of the nail of the present invention that solves the above problem comprises a nail sheet attached to the tip of the nail, a base gel layer applied to the nail sheet, and a top gel layer applied to the base gel layer, wherein the nail sheet is attached so that the rear end of the nail sheet is near the middle position of the nail in the front-to-back direction, and the back of the nail sheet is provided with a mark indicating the center position of the nail sheet in the left-to-right direction, and the mark is arranged in multiple places at intervals in the front-to-back direction .

According to the present invention, a nail sheet is applied to the tip of the nail, and then base and top gels are applied on top of it, thereby reducing the area of direct contact between the base gel and the nail. Furthermore, most of the decorative portion can be easily removed by simply removing the nail sheet from the nail. In other words, according to the present invention, the process of sanding the natural nail is reduced, and the amount of remover used is reduced, thereby reducing damage to the nail. Furthermore, while it previously took 30 to 40 minutes to remove nail polish, the present invention shortens this time to approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
Furthermore, the present invention is premised on the existence of an untreated area (a portion where base gel, etc. is not applied) at the base of the nail, and since the proportion of the untreated area to the entire nail is large from the beginning of treatment, even if the nail grows, the presence of the untreated area is less noticeable compared to conventional nail layer structures (structures in which base gel, etc. is applied to the entire nail), in which the untreated area appears a few days after treatment.

According to the present invention, a layer structure of a nail that reduces damage to the nail and allows easy application can be provided.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state when a nail sheet is attached to a nail. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the nail sheet is attached to the nail. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state in which marks are provided on the nail and the back surface of the nail sheet. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a top gel layer has been formed. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the layer structure of the nail of the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the layer structure of the nail. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a gel nail seal according to a second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

First Embodiment
In the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a nail sheet 3 is attached to the tip of a nail 2, and various gels are applied onto the nail sheet 3 to decorate the nail. As shown in Figure 5, the layer structure 1 of the nail of this embodiment includes the nail sheet 3, a base gel layer 4, and a top gel layer 5.

The nail sheet 3 is formed by processing, for example, masking tape with a base material of Japanese paper and an adhesive layer on one side, or vinyl tape with a base material of polyvinyl chloride and an adhesive layer on one side. After processing the nail sheet 3 into a shape suitable for the nail, the adhesive surface of the nail sheet 3 is brought into contact with the tip of the nail 2 to secure the nail sheet 3. The nail sheet 3 is attached so that its rear end (the curved edge 3d side) is located near the midpoint of the nail 2 in the front-to-back direction. The area over which the nail sheet 3 is attached on the surface side of the nail 2 is preferably no more than half the total length of the nail 2 from the tip (no more than half the surface area of the nail 2), more preferably no more than one-third the length of the nail 2 from the tip (no more than one-third the surface area of the nail 2), and even more preferably no more than one-quarter the total length of the nail 2 from the tip (no more than one-quarter the surface area of the nail 2).

The nail sheet 3 has a tip edge 3a, side edges 3b and 3c, and a curved edge 3d. After attaching the tip edge 3a to the tip of the nail 2, the shape is adjusted by cutting or bending it with a file so that it roughly matches the shape of the nail tip. The width dimension of the nail sheet 3 (the dimension from one side edge 3b to the other side edge 3c) is set taking into account the size and shape of the nail. For example, the width dimension of the nail sheet 3 is set smaller than the overall width of the nail 2 so that a gap of approximately 1 mm is formed between the side edges 3b and 3c and the side edges of the nail 2. When prefabricating multiple types of nail sheets 3 with different dimensions, it is recommended to attach multiple types of nail sheets 3 with different dimensions in increments of 0.1 to 0.3 mm to a backing such as release paper. In this way, simply peel the nail sheet 3 corresponding to the size of the nail to be treated from the backing and attach it to the tip of the nail 2 to cover the tip of the nail 2 without excess or deficiency. The thickness of the nail sheet 3 is, for example, 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm. The curved edge 3d is an arc-shaped curve.

The nail sheet 3 may be colored, such as white, or colorless and transparent. The surface of the nail sheet 3 may also be decorated with patterns, letters, or other decorations. Alternatively, the nail sheet 3 may be semi-transparent and decorated, transparent and decorated, or opaque and decorated.

The base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are formed by applying and curing a gel nail agent that contains acrylic resin and hardens when exposed to light.

Next, a method for decorating nails using the nail sheet 3 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In this embodiment, the process involves an attachment step, a base gel application step, a base gel curing step, a top gel application step, and a top gel curing step.

The pasting process involves pasting a nail sheet 3 cut into a predetermined shape onto the nail 2 as shown in Figure 2 and shaping the nail sheet 3. When pasting, the center position can be clearly identified by marking a mark 3f at the center of the curved edge 3d in the left-right direction. The mark 3f may be printed or engraved on the surface of the nail sheet 3 in advance, or written with a writing implement during the application. A mark 2c indicating the center of the nail 2 in the left-right direction is also written on the surface of the nail 2. By positioning the nail sheet 3 so that the mark 3f on the nail sheet 3 overlaps the mark 2c on the nail 2, the nail sheet 3 can be easily pasted symmetrically. The mark 3f may be a line or a dot. If the mark 3f is a dot, it is preferable to arrange multiple marks 3f in a row in the front-to-back direction at intervals of 1 to 2 mm. By lining up the dot marks 3f in the front-to-back direction at a specified interval, it becomes easier to align the nail 2 in the front-to-back direction, making it easier to standardize the front-to-back length of the nail sheet 3 for all fingers.

3, the mark 3f may be printed or engraved in advance on the back surface of the nail sheet 3. When the mark 3f is provided on the back surface of the nail sheet 3, it is preferable to provide the mark 3f at the center in the left-right direction of the leading edge portion 3a of the nail sheet 3. In this case, by writing the mark 2c on the back surface of the leading end side (edge portion 2b side) of the nail 2, the nail sheet 3 can be positioned so that the mark 3f on the nail sheet 3 and the mark 2c on the nail 2 overlap.
If the mark 3f is provided on the back surface of the nail sheet 3, the mark 3f is less noticeable when the sheet is attached to the nail 2, and therefore the finish of the treatment is less likely to be affected. Also, if the mark 2c is provided on the back surface of the nail 2, there is no need to erase the mark 2c after the nail sheet 3 is attached, and therefore the time required for the treatment can be shortened.

The excess portion of the nail sheet 3 (the portion protruding from the tip of the nail 2) is filed away using a special file called a file or emery board. When doing so, file from the front to the back of the nail 2. This leaves the nail sheet 3 attached to the surface of the nail 2 with the excess portion removed. It is preferable to attach the nail sheet 3 only to the surface of the nail 2, and not to the edge portion 2b of the nail 2 (the thick part of the nail).

The base gel application process is a process of applying base gel from above the nail sheet 3. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the base gel is applied so as to cover the top of the nail sheet 3, and at the edge portions (side edges 3b, 3c, curved edge 3d) of the nail sheet 3, the base gel is applied so as to cover the edge portions (thickness portions) of the nail sheet 3, and is applied so as to extend about 1 mm beyond the nail sheet 3. At the side edges 3b, 3c of the nail sheet 3, it is preferable to apply the base gel up to the side of the nail 2. At the tip portion of the nail 2, it is preferable to apply the base gel also to the edge portion (thickness portion) of the nail sheet 3 and the edge portion 2b (thickness portion of the nail) of the nail 2. Note that the range to which the base gel is applied may be limited to the tip edge of the nail 2.
The base gel application step is preferably performed with the nail 2 in an upright position (with the surface of the nail 2 aligned vertically). Treatment only on the tip of the nail 2 was previously avoided because it could accentuate the difference in level with the non-treated area, but when the base gel is applied with the nail 2 in an upright position, the base gel flows downward due to the action of gravity, reducing the thickness of the base gel layer 4 and minimizing the difference in level with the non-treated area.

The base gel curing process involves irradiating the base gel with light, such as UV (ultraviolet) light, to harden the applied base gel and form the base gel layer 4 as shown in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the base gel application process and the base gel curing process are each performed twice, and two layers of base gel are stacked to form the base gel layer 4. Note that the base gel application process and the base gel curing process may each be performed once, or three or more times.

Once the base gel curing process is complete, the top gel application process is performed. In the top gel application process, a top gel is applied over the base gel layer 4. The top gel is applied so as to cover the base gel layer 4. In the top gel curing process, the top gel is irradiated with light, such as UV (ultraviolet) light, to harden the applied top gel and form the top gel layer 5. In this embodiment, the top gel application process and the top gel curing process are each performed twice, and two layers of top gel are stacked to form the top gel layer 5. Finally, the top gel layer 5 is dried, completing the nail layer structure 1. The top gel application process and the top gel curing process may each be performed once, or three or more times. It is preferable to perform the top gel application process with the nail 2 in an upright position (with the surface of the nail 2 aligned vertically).

According to the nail layer structure 1 described above, the nail sheet 3 is attached to the tip of the nail 2, and then the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are applied on top of it. This eliminates the need for preparatory work of filing the natural nail to fix the gel nail, reduces the area where the base gel comes into direct contact with the nail 2, and allows most of the decorative portion to be easily removed simply by removing the nail sheet 3 from the nail 2. In other words, according to the nail layer structure 1, the process of filing the natural nail by sanding is reduced, and it is possible to remove the nail polish while using less remover, thereby reducing damage to the nail 2.

Conventionally, it took an average of about 85 minutes to form a smile line on a nail 2. However, with the nail layer structure 1, the nail sheet 3 has a curved edge 3d formed on it, making it easy to form a smile line simply by attaching the nail sheet 3. This reduces the treatment time to about 20 to 30 minutes.

In addition, by using masking tape, which has a paper base with a finely textured surface, as the nail sheet 3, the nail sheet 3 and nail 2 can be more easily adhered to each other, making them last longer.

The width of the nail sheet 3 is also slightly narrower than the width of the nail 2. In other words, when the nail sheet 3 is attached to the nail 2, a gap is formed between the side edges 3b, 3c and the side edges of the nail 2, exposing the side edges of the nail 2. By applying base gel and top gel to this gap, waterproofing can be improved and the durability of the nail layer structure 1 can be improved.

In addition, since the nail sheet 3 can be pre-selected in the desired color and pattern, the process of applying color gel can be omitted, thereby shortening the treatment time. Furthermore, if the decoration (color, pattern, lettering, etc.) on the surface of the nail sheet 3 is to be utilized, it is preferable that the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 be made of a transparent or translucent resin so that they can be seen through the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5.

In the base gel application process, base gel is applied from the leading edge of the nail sheet 3 to the edge portion 2b. This ensures that the base gel is applied all the way to the tip of the nail, resulting in a beautiful appearance. Furthermore, the edge of the nail sheet 3 on the tip side is more waterproof, and the edge is less likely to peel off, improving the durability of the nail layer structure 1.

(Modification)
FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the nail layer structure 1. The nail layer structure 10 includes a base gel layer 4, a top gel layer 5, and a color gel layer 6. This modified example differs in that the nail sheet 3 is not attached. In other words, the nail sheet 3 is omitted, and instead, the base gel layer 4 is formed by applying a base gel to the nail 2. The color gel layer 6 is also formed on the base gel layer 4. With the nail layer structure 10, the area where the base gel comes into direct contact with the nail 2 can be limited to the tip of the nail, thereby reducing damage to the nail 2.
Furthermore, since the time and effort required to prepare the nail sheet 3 in advance can be eliminated, nail decoration can be easily performed.

Second Embodiment
Next, a gel nail seal according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The gel nail seal 1A differs from the first embodiment in that a base gel layer 4 and a top gel layer 5 are applied to the surface of a nail sheet 3 beforehand, and the nail sheet 3 is then detachably placed on the surface of a sheet 20. As shown in Fig. 7, multiple gel nail seals 1A are arranged side by side on the surface of the sheet 20. The layer structure and shape of the gel nail seal 1A are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described here.

The gel nail sticker 1A is applied so that the rear end (the curved edge 3d side) of the gel nail sticker 1A is near the midpoint in the front-to-rear direction of the nail 2. In other words, the gel nail sticker 1A is applied only to the tip of the nail 2. The area on the surface of the nail 2 where the gel nail sticker 1A is applied is preferably 1/2 or less of the total length of the nail 2 from the tip (1/2 or less of the surface area of the nail 2), more preferably 1/3 or less of the length of the nail 2 from the tip (1/3 or less of the surface area of the nail 2), and even more preferably 1/4 or less of the total length of the nail 2 from the tip (1/4 or less of the surface area of the nail 2).

The sheet 20 is a resin sheet with multiple gel nail stickers 1A arranged on one side. The sheet 20 has multiple perforations 21 along its width, corresponding to the positions of the arranged gel nail stickers 1A. The perforations 21 mark the width of the nail sheet 3. The user can adjust the width of the gel nail sticker 1A to the appropriate size for their nail by cutting the gel nail sticker 1A along the perforations 21 with scissors or a cutter, and then peel it off the sheet 20. Note that dots, figures, symbols, color coding, etc. may be used as markers instead of the perforations 21. While all of the gel nail stickers 1A in this embodiment are formed with a uniform width, gel nail stickers 1A of various widths may be prepared in advance. In this case, the width markers (perforations 21) for the gel nail stickers 1A may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the base gel layer 4 and the top gel layer 5 are made of a resin that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light and are in a semi-solid state. The semi-solid state is, for example, a gel state. To adhere the gel nail sticker 1A to the nail 2, the gel nail sticker 1A is peeled off from the sheet 20, attached to the nail 2, and then exposed to ultraviolet light to harden into a solid state.
In addition, when utilizing the decorations (colors, patterns, letters, etc.) on the surface of the nail sheet 3, it is preferable that the base gel layer 4 and the top gel layer 5 be made of a transparent or translucent resin so that they can be seen through the base gel layer 4 and the top gel layer 5.

The base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are applied so as to cover the top of the nail sheet 3, and are applied so as to cover the edge portions (thickness portions) of the nail sheet 3 at the edge portions (side edges 3b, 3c, curved edge 3d) of the nail sheet 3, respectively, and extend about 1 mm beyond the nail sheet 3. In this embodiment, the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are applied so as to extend beyond the nail sheet 3 when attached to the sheet 20, but the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 may also be applied so as not to extend beyond the nail sheet 3.

Once you get gel nails, looking at your nails and fingertips can boost your motivation and naturally boost your confidence. However, to keep your gel nails in good condition, you need to have them maintained frequently, generally about once every three weeks, or about 17 times a year. Getting gel nails done at a salon can be time-consuming and expensive, with each treatment taking an average of one and a half to two hours and costing between 5,000 and 15,000 yen, for a total annual cost of 85,000 and 255,000 yen.

According to the gel nail seal 1A described above, the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are in a soft, semi-solid state, and when irradiated with ultraviolet light after being applied to the nail, they harden into a solid state while maintaining the shape of the surface attached to the nail. Furthermore, because the gel nail seal 1A already includes the nail sheet 3, base gel layer 4, and top gel layer 5, the application can be completed simply by irradiating with ultraviolet light, allowing for inexpensive and quick nail decoration.

In addition, because the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are in a semi-solid state, they can be applied to the curved surface of the nail.

In this embodiment, a top gel layer 5 is applied on top, but this is not limited to this. For example, a protective sheet may be attached to the surface of the top gel layer 5. This prevents oils from the hands and other substances from adhering to the gel nail sticker 1A when it is applied.

The above describes an embodiment of the invention, but appropriate design changes are possible within the scope of the present invention. In this embodiment, the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 are formed using a photocurable gel nail material, but they may also be formed by applying a polish coating material or the like.

Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, multiple nail sheets 3 may be arranged on the sheet 20. In other words, multiple nail sheets 3 may be arranged on the sheet 20 without the base gel layer 4 and top gel layer 5 being applied. Furthermore, if marks (such as cutting lines 21) that serve as a guide for the size of the nail sheet 3 are displayed on the sheet 20, the width dimension of the nail sheet 3 can be easily adjusted by simply cutting the nail sheet 3 along the marks.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Nail layer structure 1A Gel nail seal 2 Nail 2b Edge portion 3 Nail sheet 3a Tip edge portion 3b Side edge portion 3c Side edge portion 3d Curved edge portion 4 Base gel layer 5 Top gel layer 6 Color gel layer

Claims (2)

A nail sheet attached to the tip of the nail,
a base gel layer applied on the nail sheet;
a top gel layer applied on the base gel layer,
The nail sheet is attached so that the rear end of the nail sheet is located near the center position of the nail in the front-rear direction ,
A mark indicating the center position of the nail sheet in the left-right direction is provided on the back surface of the nail sheet,
A layered structure of a nail, characterized in that the marks are arranged at intervals in the front-to-back direction . The layer structure of a nail according to claim 1 , wherein the markings are dots.