US2239040A

US2239040A - Apparatus for manicuring nails

Info

Publication number: US2239040A
Application number: US270334A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myra J Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-04-27
Filing date: 1939-04-27
Publication date: 1941-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-22

Description

April 22, 1941. HOLMES 2,239,040

APPARATUS FOR MANICURING NAILS Filed April 27, 1939 INVENTOR. MYRA J HOLMES ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

'Ihis specification comprises a description of my invention in improvements in apparatus for manicuring nails, and is submitted in compliance with the statutes relative to the granting of Letters Patent of the United States. This application comprises in part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 253,575, filed January 30, 1939.

In the description, the apparatus will be described generally, and the main respects in which it constitutes improvements over the prior art will be pointed out. The main objects and features of the invention will be stated. Following this, the figures of the drawing will be described generally. Then a detailed description of several preferred embodiments of my invention will be given, and a description of the use of the embodiments will follow. Lastly, a brief description of other modified arrangements will be given. The claims will particularly point out my invention and will follow the specification.

My invention is illustrated and described as comprising a maskfor use as an aid in applying liquid polish, dye or enamel to a finger nail, but it may be used for other purposes, and especially may be used for similar purposes in connection with toe nails.

It has become common practice in manicuring nails to stain, paint or polish the nails with a liquid color, polish or dye. In so painting the nails, it is preferable to leave the lighter moonshaped portion uncolored while coloring only the portion which normally should have a pinker tint. It has been found difficult, however, for many people to apply the polish or enamel evenly and to leave the moon-shaped portion uncolored with a clear line of demarcation between the colored and uncolored portions.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide masks of various types to cover the moon-shaped and end portions of nails, while the main portions of the nails are left uncovered so that polish may be applied thereto. However, so far as I am aware, no one has been able heretofore to produce a satisfactory mask or stencil, because such a stencil must fit closely to the nail and prevent streaks of the polish or stain from creeping under the mask and thus rendering the unpolished portion unsightly.

I have discovered that by the use of my novel type of stencil for masking the moon-shaped portion of the nail it is possible to stain, polish, or color the main body of the nail easily and quickly, leaving the moon-shaped portion unstained and providing a clear line of demarcation between the stained and unstained portions.

Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is the provision of a mask capable of fitting closely to the nail and of masking satisfactorily the lighter or moon-shaped portion of the nail so as to prevent polish or dye from creeping under the mask and so as to provide a clear line of demarcation between said lighter portion and the main body of the nail, after polish or dye has been applied.

A further object of my invention is the provision of improved means for handling or using such nail masks or stencils.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a series of nail masks, each formed of a strip of pliable paper, tape or cellulose material having at least a portion of one side coated with any suitable adhesive and adapted to be positioned on and to adhere closely to the moon-shaped portion of the nail and a portion of the finger so that nail polish may be easily applied to the exposed portion of the nail. 1

A further feature of my invention is the arrangement of the masks in such relation that they may be handled in packs but yet may be easily separated and also easily removed from the finger after use.

' A further feature is the arrangement of my masks with perforations so that they may be easily separated.

A further feature is the arrangement of masks upon rolls so that they may be convenient for use.

Further objects and features of the invention should be apparent from a reading of the subjoined specification and claims, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fragmentary section of a finger having a portion of the finger and the moon-shaped portion of the nail covered by one of my improved masks constituting my preferred embodiment;

Figure 2 is a view of the same fragmentary section of a finger, in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a view. in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, shown on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a view, in vertical section, taken substantially as if on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View, in vertical section, similar to a portion of Figure 3, but showing a modification; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, showing another modification;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a strip of masking tape or paper having a suitable adhesive, the strip forming a series of masks;

Figure 8 is a view, in section, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7, and illustrates a strip of masks of an alternative shape;

Figure 10 is a view, in perspective, showing a series of masks arranged on a roll;

Figure 11 is a plan view, and illustrates a strip of masks of alternative shape;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, and illustrates another shape of mask;

Figure 13 illustrates another alternative form of mask;

Figure 14 illustrates another alternative shape of mask; and I Figure 15 is a View, in section, of a strip of masks of modified form.

Referring especially to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, it may be seen that I'have shown a portion of a finger I having a nail l2, a portion of the nail and finger being covered by one of my improved masks I3. The mask is formed, as is shown in Figure 3, of an upper layer I4 of pliable paper or cloth, or of any other pliable material, and a lower adhesive layer I5. I have found the socalled Scotch tape most suitable, that material being similar to the material described in'one or more of the following patents: 1,357,020, 1,779,588, 1,856,986, 1,814,132, 1,895,978, 1,959,413, 1,954,805, Reissue 18,742 and Reissue 19,128. A tape formed of a Cellophane upper layer and a coating of rubber cement is suitable, inasmuch as the rubber cement does not leave any sticky material on the skin or nails and does not leave a tacky surface when removed, but nevertheless adheres securely. The mask 13 has a rectangular body portion l6 and a moon-shaped extending portion 18. The inner face of the moon-shaped portion I8 and the adjacent part 19 of the body portion it are arranged to adhere (by reason of the coating of rubber cement) to the nail and finger, but the end portion 2! is folded over so that it does not adhere to the finger and so that it may be grasped to remove the mask from the nail and finger. As may be seen in Figure l, the moonshaped portion it has curved edges both forward and rearward of the finger, so that it may be pressed firmly against the nail and leave exposed for tinting only the portion of the nail desired, entirely masking the moon, and so that the side points of the portion It may be pressed securely against the nail and not tend to bulge out by reason of the flesh. Thus, between the portion l8 and the portion It, there are formed indentations such as As may be seen in 'Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the moon-shaped portion [8 is arranged to cover the moon-shaped portion 28 of the nail I2. In Figures 3 and 4, the thicknesses of the mask, adhesive and polish are exaggerated.

As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, it is essential that the mask l3 be pressed firmly down upon the nail and into the recess between the nail and the cuticle, especially at the

angles

22, 24 and 25, and that the mask firmly adhere to the nail, especially along the line 28. The provision of the notches 5| aids this adherence. It is essential, in order to prevent seepage of polish under the mask, that material of a satisfactorily pliable nature be used, so that it may be pressed down firmly into these angles and may b secured mentary views, portions of modified forms of masks. Thus, in Figure 5, the upper layer '4 of mask H3 is of pliable paper or cloth and has only a portion of its face covered with cement N5, the portion IZI being free of cement and thus serving to aid in removing the mask from the finger H0 and in separating the masks from each other. The mask 2l3 shown. in Figure 6 has the upper layer 2M with its lower face completely covered with cement 2l5. While this form is not as satisfactory as the forms shown in Figures 3 and 5, it may be used.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate my preferred method of handling masks, in that they are arranged in strips, such as the strips 3H3, 320 and 322, secured to each other by their adhesive. Each strip comprises a plurality of masks, such as the masksiZ, 326, 328, 330 and 332. The individual masks may be easily detached, being separated by perforations 334, and inasmuch as the strips may be separated easily from each other because,

when the folded over end or tab portion 32l is rasped, the mask may be pulled free, the cement adhering to the under side of the mask and later serving to attach the mask to the fingers The masks shown in Figures 7 and 8 are of slightly different shape from the one shown in Figures 1 to 4, the indentations 5| being omitted and the tab portion 32| having beveled edges. The moon-shaped portion 3H3 has a semi-circular outline 335 imprinted thereon so as to aid in positioning, and the portion within the outline 336 is colored for the same purpose.

I also prefer to prepare other forms of masks in strips: for instance, the masks 213 shown in Figure '6 are shown in a strip in Figure 9 as

masks

224, 226, 228, 230 and 232. However, the masks could be formed originally as single elements, not joined, if desired. As may be seen, these masks are connected, but perforations such as 234 ar provided so that the separate masks may be easily detached. As may be seen, the

moon-shaped portion 2H3 of the mask 224 is the same size as similar portions of

masks

226 and 228, but the similar portion of mask 230 is larger and the similar portion of mask 232 is smaller, masks 23B and 232 being formed for the thumb and little finger respectively.

In using my improved masks, I prefer to follow my proved method as follows. A single mask, for example 324, is detached from the strip or pack and is carefully applied so that the moonshaped portion (H8 of the mask coincides with the moon-shaped portion 29 of the nail., The body portion 3H5 of the mask is firmly pressed against the upper face of the finger, care being taken to press the mask into the angles between nail and skin. In doing this, the adhesive on the lower face of the mask secures the mask firmly to the nail and finger except where the fold 32l prevents adhesion. The layer of polish is applied to the exposed portion of the nail, and, as soon as the coloring material is dry, the mask is removed from the finger and nail. If desired, all of the masks in each strip maybe of the same size, or they may each be of a different size.

Preferably the strips and pack of masks are protected by being enclosed in glassine envelopes.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 10, instead of providing masks in relatively short fiat strips as in Figures 7 and 9 enclosed in envelopes or arranged in a pack of flat strips, I show an arrangement in which the masks are formed in strips M9 of extensive length, which are formed into rolls, a strip of separating tape 442 being arranged between alternat strips of masks, so that the mask strip may be easily removed and so that the separate masks may be taken ofi. easily and without damage to them.

In Figure 11, I have shown other modified forms of

masks

524, 526, 528, 530 and 532 arranged in a strip 519. These masks may be detached along perforations 534. In Figure 12, I have similarly shown

masks

624, 625, 628, 530 and 832 connected as at 635.

In Figures 13 and 14, I have shown masks 124 and 824 of slightly different shape, each having a portion such as 121 and EH formed without adhesive.

In Figure 15, I have shown a cross-section of a mask 824 having a portion 82lfolded over, so that two adhesive faces are pressed together, and having a portion 821a formed without any adhesive. The masks of the form shown in Figures 5, 13 and 1e could be arranged on rolls such as that shown in Figure 10 without the separating a tape 442, but the form shown in Figure 15 provided with separating tape 852 is preferred for use in rolls.

It is to be understood that the masks may be provided originally as separate masks, or they may be provided in strips, each mask of which is of a different size from the other masks, or any number of masks of the same size may be provided in the strip or in combination with masks of different sizes, or the masks may be provided in packs, as described.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments of my invention are for the purpose of illustration only, and various changes may be 2. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toe nails comprising a pliable element provided with a substantially rectangular or circular body portion and an extending moonshaped portion and having an adhesive on at least a portion of one face and having indentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

3. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toe nails comprising a pliable element provided With a body portion and extending portion, having adhesive on at least a portion of one face, and having indentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

4. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toe nails comprising a pliable element provided with a body portion and an extending moon-shaped portion and having indentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

5. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toe nails comprising a pliable element provided with a substantially rectangular body portion and an extending moon-shaped portion and having indentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

6. A mask for aiding in applying liquid polish or color to finger or toe nails comprising a pliable element provided with a substantially rectangular or circular body portion and an extending moonshaped portion and having indentations separating the body portion and the extending portion.

MYRA J. HOLMES.