WO2005076996A2 - Ebauche d'ongle artificiel et procedes associes - Google Patents

Ebauche d'ongle artificiel et procedes associes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005076996A2
WO2005076996A2 PCT/US2005/003854 US2005003854W WO2005076996A2 WO 2005076996 A2 WO2005076996 A2 WO 2005076996A2 US 2005003854 W US2005003854 W US 2005003854W WO 2005076996 A2 WO2005076996 A2 WO 2005076996A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nail
raw material
artificial
recited
blank
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2005/003854
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2005076996A3 (fr
Inventor
Scott L. Nielson
Craig P. Gifford
Original Assignee
Nielson Scott L
Gifford Craig P
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/708,065 external-priority patent/US20050175558A1/en
Priority claimed from US10/710,959 external-priority patent/US7536286B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/710,962 external-priority patent/US20060033758A1/en
Priority claimed from US10/710,961 external-priority patent/US7526416B2/en
Priority claimed from US10/710,971 external-priority patent/US20060034507A1/en
Priority claimed from US10/711,019 external-priority patent/US20060038318A1/en
Application filed by Nielson Scott L, Gifford Craig P filed Critical Nielson Scott L
Publication of WO2005076996A2 publication Critical patent/WO2005076996A2/fr
Publication of WO2005076996A3 publication Critical patent/WO2005076996A3/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
    • A45D31/00—Artificial nails
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0059—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence
    • A61B5/0062—Arrangements for scanning
    • A61B5/0066—Optical coherence imaging

Definitions

  • the Field of the Invention relates to custom fit artificial nails and, more specifically, to measuring for, manufacturing, and attaching custom artificial nails.
  • Artificial nails typically comprise thin, elongated, plastic structures having a configuration substantially similar to a real fingernail. Through use of an adhesive, the artificial fingernails can be selectively secured to existing fingernails.
  • One of the benefits of artificial nails is that they enable a user to selectively have uniform nails of a desired thickness, length, and configuration without having to wait for the real nails to grow. This is especially useful to those who have weak nails that easily crack or break.
  • There are several different methods for attaching artificial nails In one method, commonly used in nail salons, after a real nail is trimmed to a desired length, the tail end of an artificial nail is attached to the tip of the real nail by an adhesive.
  • the tip of the real nail is filed down to reduce its thickness in order to keep the artificial nail from rising too far above the remainder of the real nail.
  • a thermoset acrylic is then used to fill in the gap between the cuticle of the finger or toe and the tail end of the artificial nail.
  • the acrylic is also used to cover over the artificial nail so that a uniform surface extends from the cuticle to the tip of the artificial nail.
  • the acrylic overlay is then filed to provide a smooth surface. This process is repeated for each finger or toe.
  • the resulting artificial nails can then be painted with a nail polish to a desired color.
  • the artificial nail may be painted with a white tone or may be a white tone in color in order to provide a French-style nail look.
  • the above process is time consuming, labor intensive, and requires significant skill so that the resulting artificial nails have a uniform and smooth configuration.
  • a gap is formed between the cuticle and the acrylic.
  • the gap must be repeatedly filled with acrylic after which the artificial nail must again be filed smooth and polish reapplied.
  • the artificial nail (or eventually the real nail after sufficient grown has taken place) also is trimmed to maintain the desired length.
  • the artificial nail In order to maintain a French-style nail look, the artificial nail must be removed and reapplied as described above, or trimmed and repainted, usually overlapping the acrylic covering the real nail in order to account for nail growth.
  • each artificial nail is manufactured in standard sets by size, length, and possibly style.
  • each artificial nail is first manually trimmed so as to snugly fit around the cuticle of a corresponding finger or toe.
  • the artificial nails are also trimmed to a desired length or shape. This process must be repeated for each of the ten fingers and/or toes.
  • the artificial nails are then attached by simply applying an adhesive between the artificial nail and the real fingernail or toenail. Once attached, each of the artificial nails can be painted to a desired color. While somewhat simpler, this process also has its shortcomings.
  • the artificial nails typically have a poor fit between the inside surface of the artificial nail and the top surface of the actual nail. This occurs because the real fingernails and the real toenails of each person have a unique arch and a unique surface texture with small ridges or bumps. In contrast, the inside surface of artificial nails are smooth and have a standard arch configuration. This poor fit between the artificial nails and the real nails can result in a poor presentation or look of the attached artificial nails and can significantly reduce the ability for the adhesive to secure the artificial nails to the real nails. Furthermore, should an artificial nail crack or break, the process must be repeated for at least that nail.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an example system for providing custom artificial nails to a consumer
  • Figure 2 is a simplified flow diagram for providing custom artificial nails in accordance with the example system illustrated in Figure 1
  • Figure 3 illustrates visual and/or digital inspection of a nail surface and surrounding tissue
  • Figure 4 shows the perimeter of the nail surface illustrated in Figure 3 and the cuticle
  • Figures 5A-5C illustrate the use of a coating to facilitate automated detection of the nail surface within a computer system
  • Figures 6A-6C are various views of a digitized nail surface and surrounding tissue with a coordinate system
  • Figures 7A and 7B illustrate various reference points for the digitized nail surface shown in Figures 6A-6C
  • Figure 8 illustrates a nail surface generated from the digitized nail surface shown in Figures 6A-6C
  • Figures 9-11 illustrate example techniques for generating an artificial nail object customized for the scanned fingern
  • providing custom artificial nails to consumers involves four high-level tasks: digitizing (210) the nail surfaces of interest and tissue surrounding the nail surfaces of interest for a particular consumer; generating (220) an artificial nail object for each nail surface of interest; manufacturing (230) a custom artificial nail for each artificial nail object that is generated; and attaching (240) the custom artificial nails to the consumer's nail surfaces.
  • a digitizing device 140 digitizes the nail surface 110 of fingernail nail 106 as well as surrounding tissue 104 of finger 102.
  • the digital data produced by the digitizing device includes the nail surface 110 and surrounding tissue 104
  • digitizing computer 150 is responsible for distinguishing the nail surface 110 from the surrounding tissue 104. Once the nail surface is distinguished from the surrounding tissue, digitizing computer 150 generates an artificial nail object that is customized for the nail surface.
  • digitizing computer 150 transfers the artificial nail object to manufacturing computer 160.
  • Manufacturing computer 160 controls machining device 170 to cut a customized artificial nail 130 from an artificial nail blank. The artificial nail 130 then is fit to the nail surface 110 of nail 106 on finger 102 of the consumer.
  • the digitizing computer 150 and digitizing device 140 are remote from the manufacturing computer 160 and machining device 170. In other embodiments digitizing computer 150 and manufacturing computer 160 are within a local area network. It should also be noted that digitizing device 140 and digitizing computer 150, as well as manufacturing computer 160 and machining device 170 may be integrated into a single unit.
  • digitizing computer 150 and manufacturing computer 160 are shown as separate computing systems in Figure 1, in other embodiments digitizing computer 150 and manufacturing computer 160 also may be integrated into a single unit.
  • An example computer system suitable for digitizing computer 150 and/or manufacturing computer 160 is illustrated in Figure 18 and described in further detail below. II. Digitizing and Identifying the Nail Surface
  • nail surface 110 and surrounding tissue 104 may undergo visual 310 and/or digital 320 inspection to determine if the nails surface 110 needs to be prepared by removing tissue, such as tissue 112 and tissue 114, from the nail surface.
  • Digital inspection 320 may involve comparing the nail surface to other similar nail surfaces in order to determine if further finish work is recommended prior to digitizing the nail surface.
  • Digital inspection may take the form of photographic imaging, digital camera imaging, laser imaging, refracted light imaging, and topographical measurement using a structured light scanner, a laser scanner, a refracted light scanner, a photogrammetry scanner, an acoustic scanner, a holographic scanner, a touch probe, etc.
  • A. Manual Editing and Identifying Figure 4 shows the perimeter 411 and cuticle 406 of nail surface 110.
  • digitizing computer 150 may display the digital data that digitizing device 140 produces for the nail surface and surrounding tissue. The technician then may provide user input that identifies the nail surface, identifies the surrounding tissue, or identifies both the nail surface and the surrounding tissue. From this user input, digitizing computer 150 identifies the nail surface. Although from the foregoing description manually distinguish the nail surface from the surrounding tissue may not seem overly complex, providing this type of user input requires a fair amount of sophistication and skill in order to assure an aesthetically pleasing and properly fitting artificial nail. B.
  • FIGS 5A-5C illustrate the use of a coating to facilitate automated detection of the nail surface within a computer system.
  • rapid prototyping machines have been used to scan an entire object.
  • the object may be coated with a material, in some instances like a fine powder, to facilitate the scanning.
  • the purpose of the coating in rapid prototyping is just the opposite of its purpose in connection with this aspect of the invention (to distinguish one part of a scanned object from another).
  • an applicator 580A a paint brush
  • the coating composition may be any of a variety of materials, including paint, veneer, dye, or any other type of opaque substance suitable for coating a nail surface and/or tissue surrounding the nail surface.
  • the coating composition may be in the visible spectrum of light. For example, green tones have proved to be effective since they are easily distinguished from the natural flesh tones of the nail surface and surrounding tissue.
  • the coating composition also may be outside of the visible spectrum of light, such as in the ultraviolet or infrared portions of the spectrum, depending on the source used to illuminate the nail surface and surrounding tissue while it is being digitized.
  • red structured light sources in connection with charge coupled detectors (CCDs) and green coating compositions with a flat, as opposed to glossy, sheen (e.g., a water-soluble flat green paint) work well together.
  • Other types of coating compositions also may be used, involving stencils or cutouts designed to fit the nail surface or surrounding tissue in order to distinguish them from each other.
  • the nail surface 110 may be airbrushed with an applicator 580B using a stencil 590B over the surrounding tissue 104 to catch any overspray. After the nail surface 110 is coated with the coating composition 570B, the stencil is removed and the digitization of the nail surface 110 and surrounding tissue 104 is performed.
  • the applicator may take any of a variety of forms, including a brush, an airbrush, spraying, dipping, cutouts, and stencils.
  • Figure 5C shows surrounding tissue 104 being spray painted using applicator 580C with a cutout 590C over nail surface catch any overspray. Once the surrounding tissue has been covered with the coating composition 570C, the cutout 590C is removed to reveal an uncoated nail surface 100.
  • One requirement for the coating composition and applicator is that they make it easier to distinguish the nail surface from the surrounding tissue.
  • digitizing device 140 digitizes the nail surface and surrounding tissue.
  • Digitizing the nail surface and surrounding tissue includes producing digital data representing the nail surface and surrounding tissue, including spatial data identifying the dimensions of the nail surface and surrounding tissue as well as color data for the nail surface and surrounding tissue.
  • the particular format of the digital data may vary significantly depending on the digitizing device and digitizing computer, but typically will include point data in an XYZ coordinate system with RGB, CMYK, or gray scale color data.
  • the digitizing computer is able to more readily distinguish between the nail surface and the surrounding tissue, which allows the process of identifying the nail surface to be more automated and less labor intensive. In many circumstances, a technician need only confirm the displayed identification results from a visual representation of the nail surface and surrounding tissue at the digitizing computer, without further interaction.
  • the labor requirement for any manual identification is significantly reduced than otherwise would be required without the use of a coating composition.
  • an automated analysis of the nail surface identified may be sufficient. After digitizing the nail surface and the surrounding tissue, the coating composition may be removed. In some circumstances, however, the coating composition may be left in place. For example, if the nail surface is coated and the artificial nails are manufactured immediately, the artificial nails will cover the nail surface and therefore removing the coating composition or removing the coating composition completely may be unnecessary. Alternatively, if a coating composition is used that does not fall within the visible spectrum of light, there may be no need to remove the coating composition since the coating composition will not be visible in any case.
  • FIGS. 6A-6C are various views of a scanned fingernail surface and surrounding tissue within an XYZ coordinate system.
  • Figure 6A is a top view of a scanned nail surface 610 and surrounding tissue 604, with x-axis 640 across the width of the nail surface, y-axis 650 along the length of the nail surface, and z-axis 660 along the thickness of the nail surface.
  • Figure 6B shows a side view and Figure 6C shows a view from the front of the nail surface.
  • the resolution for the spatial or topographical component of the digital data representing the nail surface and surrounding tissue depends on the digitizing device used.
  • the nail surface may be identified automatically as follows. Beginning at the highest point on the nail surface and moving outward, elevations should generally decrease smoothly until the perimeter of the nail surface is encountered.
  • the elevation drops sharply (at least the thickness of the nail) and then does not increase above the nail surface thereafter.
  • the elevation drops smoothly and then increases above the nail surface.
  • the front of the nail may rise sharply when the nail surface has been trimmed beyond the finger tip, thus a situation where the tissue extends beyond the nail may exist and be detected by determining the elevation discontinuities by either rising or sharply decreasing.
  • Edge detection also may need to account for certain irregularities in the nail surface, such as dips or bumps. Although most irregularities tend to be less pronounced than the nail edge, some irregularities can be quite abrupt. Usually, however, irregularities can be identified by putting them in context with their surroundings. For example, a dip may be characterized by a sharp drop followed by a sharp rise and then a gradual rise or drop. The points surrounding the dip are likely to have the smooth changes in elevation that characterize the nail surface. In other words, determining that a dip or any other irregularity is surrounded by nail surface is an indication that the irregularity does not mark the edge of the nail. Bumps and many other irregularities are subject to a similar analysis.
  • adjacent points are examined in order to discover other points matching the discontinuity conditions. In this fashion, examination proceeds along the perimeter of the nail surface until the only remaining adjacent points have been previously considered, indicating that the entire perimeter of the nail surface has been identified. Since the entire nail surface need not be considered in identifying the perimeter, processing requirements are reduced. In order to confirm the accuracy of the perimeter, the process could be repeated by using a different starting point or moving in a different direction from the same starting point. If a wide variation is discovered between various iterations, each of the iteration could be presented to a technician for selection of the best match at the digitizing computer. Once the nail surface has been identified, processing continues by generating an artificial nail object for the nail surface. III.
  • Generating an Artificial Nail Object As described in greater detail below, there are a variety of ways to generate three-dimensional artificial nail objects. However, each of these techniques has one constraint in common: the artificial nail object needs to fit the nail surface and surrounding tissue of the consumer, and therefore needs to fit over digitized nail surface 610. Accordingly, although the various techniques for generating an artificial nail object may result in differently shaped and sized artificial nail objects, the bottom surface of each artificial nail object will be the same, because in each case the digitized nail surface 610 that it fits over is the same. The description of generating an artificial nail object that follows, therefore, begins with generating the bottom surface of the artificial nail object and then moves on to generating the top surface and volume of the artificial nail object.
  • bottom surface 810 is relatively straightforward because the digitized nail surface 610 dictates its topography.
  • bottom surface 810 itself includes a top 812 and a bottom 814.
  • the bottom 814 of bottom surface 810 needs to match the digitized nail surface 610. Creating a surface that fits over another surface is a common task with well-known solutions and therefore will not be described in great detail.
  • the bottom 814 of bottom surface 810 is created by duplicating the digitized nail surface 610 and turning it inside out.
  • the top 812 of bottom surface 810 is simply a duplicate of digitized nail surface 610.
  • top 812 of bottom surface 810 is less significant because it may simply be covered by other objects that make of the artificial nail object.
  • B. Top Surface and Volume of Artificial Nail Object Artificial Nail Objects, or about any other three-dimensional object for that matter, can be modeled manually with existing software technology. However, in most cases, manually manipulating and creating an artificial nail object is extremely labor intensive and allows for too much human error when artificial nails with a consistent and reliable appearance are desired.
  • the largest width 742 of the nail surface may be used to find the y-center line 752 of the nail surface.
  • the y-center line 752 is simply the mid-point of the largest width 742, and may be used to find the center of digitized nail surface 610.
  • Figure 7B shows another reference point for the digitized nail surface shown in Figures 6A-6C. This reference point may be determined by taking two-thirds of the greatest length 754 along the y-axis 650. Note the intersection of y-center line 752 and two-thirds line 744. Of course, other reference points may be helpful as well. For example, most nails slope gradually toward the sides until just before the side edge of the nail, and then slope more dramatically to the side edge of the nail.
  • digitized nail surface 610 is modified by the parameters given above to generate nail surface 820.
  • the intersection of y-center line 752 and two-thirds line 744 represents the highest point on this surface.
  • top 822 of generated nail surface 820 will be approximately 1 millimeter above digitized nail surface 610, but nail thickness is at least somewhat subject to individual preferences and therefore this amount may vary by 100% or more.
  • a bottom surface 810 is created to match (i.e., fit over) digitized nail surface 610 (i.e., the bottom 822 of bottom surface 820 matches digitized nail surface 610 as described above) and combined with the generated nail surface 820 to create an artificial nail object 830. Note that in creating artificial nail object 830, a significant portion of the bottom 824 of generated nail surface 820 is covered by bottom surface 810. 2.
  • Library of Artificial Nail Tips Figure 9 illustrates using a library of artificial nail tips to generate an artificial nail object 930 customized for the digitized nail surface 610 shown in Figures 6A-6C.
  • pre-existing representations of three-dimensional nail tips are compared to the reference points and an appropriate nail tip 920 is selected that also represents the overall appearance desired by the consumer.
  • a top surface is created by duplicating digitized nail surface 610 (or for that matter bottom surface 810) and raising the duplicated nail surface 910 along the z-axis to achieve the desired thickness or depth.
  • the duplicated nail surface 910, the selected nail tip 920, and the bottom surface 830 are then combined to form an artificial nail object.
  • the duplicated nail surface 910 will need to be smoothed and blended to match the selected nail tip 920.
  • Smoothing generally involves comparing each data point of the duplicated nail surface and verifying that each point falls within a specified acceptable range of a smoothing function. For example, all points along a particular arc or curve made need to be of a particular height. If a point falls outside the range, then the appropriate change is made along the x-, y-, and/or z-axis. Blending occurs in much the same way but is focused on the intersection points between the selected nail tip 920 and the duplicated nail surface 910. 3.
  • FIG 10 illustrates using a library of artificial nail objects to generate an artificial nail object 1030 customized for the digitized nail surface 610 shown in Figures 6A-6C.
  • reference points including the periphery
  • pre-existing representations of three-dimensional nail objects perhaps stored in the library of three-dimensional nail objects having various sizes and shapes, are compared to the reference points and an appropriate library nail object 1020 is selected that represents the overall appearance desired by the consumer.
  • bottom surface 830 created from the digitized nail surface 610 is aligned with the bottom of the selected library nail object.
  • the data representing the bottom surface is used and the data representing the selected library nail object is dropped, thereby combining the bottom surface and the selected library nail object into a single custom nail object.
  • perimeter or periphery points of the bottom surface are evaluated. Any points of the selected library nail object that overhang the bottom surface (in order words, that would overhang the cuticle end of the nail surface) are dropped, and the remaining points are combined with the bottom surface to create a customized representation of a nail object that fits over the digitized nail surface.
  • Morphing Figure 11 illustrates the use of morphing to generate an artificial nail object 1130 customized for the digitized nail surface 610 shown in Figures 6A-6C.
  • reference points including the periphery, are identified or measured for bottom surface 830. These reference points are used to initialize and determine the morphing process that will create a new three-dimensional data representing the new artificial nail object 1130.
  • morphing involves transforming a starting representation into an end representation.
  • Bottom surface 830 corresponds to the starting representation and pre-existing nail object 1120 corresponds to a desired end representation that reflects the overall appearance desired by the consumer.
  • pre-existing nail object 1120 may be stored in a library having pre-existing nail objects of varying sizes and shapes. In this way, an artificial nail with the overall appearance and characteristics desired by the consumer can be created.
  • Morphing begins by mathematically changing the bottom surface 830 to appear more like the pre-existing nail object 1120 while maintaining the reference points of bottom surface 830.
  • the pre-existing nail object 1120 (or more specifically a copy of the pre-existing nail object) is also made to appear more like the bottom surface 830 during each morphing iteration 1 150. Accordingly, both the starting representation, bottom surface 830, and the desired end representation, pre-existing nail object 1120, are altered.
  • the morphing is accomplished by mathematically making x, y, and z values of bottom surface 830 and pre-existing nail object 1120 more alike, subject to certain constraints to assure that the end product will fit over digitized nail surface 610.
  • Custom artificial nails may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including thermoplastics, metals, such as gold, platinum, and silver, ceramics, such as glass or clay, and so forth.
  • thermoplastics may be polycarbonate based, thermoplastic resin, or thermoset.
  • plastic includes materials that become flowable upon the application of sufficient heat and/or pressure, but which set as solids, while maintaining their original chemical composition, upon removal of the applied heat and/or pressure.
  • Raw materials for plastics may purchased in a variety of different colors and different sheens.
  • raw materials could be purchased in a high gloss red, or any other color for that matter, so that the manufactured artificial nails do not need to be painted.
  • ABS plastics, acetals, acrylics, cellulosics, ionomers, nylons, polyethylenes, polycarbonates, and polystyrene are plastic materials.
  • Fillers, such as glass and fibers, can be added to the plastic materials to selectively vary their properties.
  • the present invention also uses USP Class 6 medical grade thermoplastic materials.
  • thermoplastic materials include MACROLON®, available from the Bear Corporation; CALIBRI® and ISOPLAST®, available from Dow Coming; and LEXAN®, available from General Electric.
  • the present invention uses thermoplastic materials that are resistant to acetone.
  • acetals nylons, polyethylenes, and polypropylenes that are resistant to acetone.
  • Specific examples include ZYTELL® which is a nylon and DELRIN® acetol resin which is an acetal, both of which are available from DuPont.
  • Preferred plastic materials typically have a durometer hardness based on a Shore A scale in a range between about 50 to about 120, with about 70 to about 120 being preferred, and about 80 to about 120 being most preferred.
  • binding pockets may be formed on the portion of the bottom surface of the artificial nail that overlays the real nail. Conventional adhesives can then be used to attach the artificial nail to the real nail.
  • binding pockets includes recesses, trenches, cuts, slots, pitting, sanding or any other irregularities which enable an adhesive to securely bind to artificial nail. Binding pockets can be made from a variety of different tools such as small sand blasters, knives, sand paper or the like.
  • FIG. 12A shows an example single injection mold 1210 for creating a solid artificial nail blank of plastic from which an artificial nail can be cut.
  • Figure 12B shows an example two mold configuration 1240 having an artistic design for creating an artificial nail blank of plastic, using an injection molding technique, from which an artificial nail can be cut.
  • the two molds are used in a multi-injection process to create an artificial nail blank from which artificial nails having a French-style, or other artistic design, may be cut. Molds for French-style artificial nails have an alternating arch and recess pattern.
  • the size of the arches and recesses should vary from one artificial nail blank (and mold) to another in order to account for the individual nail sizes of consumers.
  • the size of the arches and recesses may also vary within a particular artificial nail blank (and mold) in order to account for differences in nail size from one finger or toe to another.
  • the size of the arches and recesses may be constant within a particular artificial nail blank, and then different artificial nail blanks may be used for each of a consumer's nails, if necessary.
  • the first mold 1220 is injected with a selected material which may include any of a variety of raw materials. Immediately after the injection, and before the first mold 1220 result have completely cooled or settle, the second mold 1230 is injected with a raw material.
  • the raw material used for the first mold need not be the same as the raw material used for the second mold. Generally, when two mold are used, the raw materials differ in at least some sense, such as color, in order to justify the added complexity associated with using two molds.
  • the first mold results are heated prior to the injection of the material into the second mold. Once the injected material from the second injection shapes around the first mold results and the second mold itself, a vice or clamp may be applied to facilitate a pressure bond.
  • the result of this process is a single artificial nail blank fused along an artistic design line so that the manufactured nail blank can be used to cut out and artificial nail.
  • FIG. 13A illustrates two raw materials 1320 and 1330 with matching artistic designs 1322 and 1332 that allow the two raw materials to be welded together.
  • the most common artistic design is likely a French-style look, where the nail tip is a different color (often a white tone) from the remainder of the nail (often a natural or flesh tone).
  • Figure 13B shows the two raw materials that are illustrated in Figure 13A as having been welded together in order to create an artificial nail blank 1340 from which an artificial nail can be cut. Creating the artistic design in the raw materials is described in more detail below.
  • artificial nail blanks for French-style artificial nails have an alternating arch and recess pattern, as shown for example in Figures 13A-13B.
  • the size of the arches and recesses should vary from one artificial nail blank to another in order to account for the individual nail sizes of consumers.
  • the size of the arches and recesses may also vary within a particular artificial nail blank in order to account for differences in nail size from one finger or toe to another.
  • the size of the arches and recesses may be constant within a particular artificial nail blank, and then different artificial nail blanks may be used for each of a consumer's nails, if necessary.
  • the sizes of the arches and recesses may be controlled by the mold used to create the artificial nail blank as described above, or may be machined, extruded, etc., as described below.
  • Artificial nail blank 1340 may come in a variety of widths to accommodate cutting various numbers of artificial nails.
  • artificial nail blank 1340 is designed to have ten artificial nails cut from it, such as for the fingernails or toenails of one person.
  • a single artificial nail blank may be shared among a larger number of people, and the particular dimensions may be driven by the machining process for cutting out the artificial nails, as described in greater detail below.
  • the artificial nail blank 1340 may be of any color and/or combination of materials, and may be of any variety of dimensions.
  • the length of the artificial nail blank 1340 is a function of the nails to be cut from it. (Note that the dimension labels for artificial nail blank 1340 correspond to the dimensions used above for nail surfaces and objects.)
  • a significant advantage of artificial nail blank 1340 is that the color goes completely through the blank, and therefore is not subject to being chipped or cracked.
  • Welding may take the form of many common welding techniques, including chemical welding, ultrasonic welding, hot gas welding, contact or impulse welding, high frequency welding, or vibration welding. Welding includes fusing raw materials together under the action of heat and/or pressure, resulting in the cross-linking of molecular chains of the raw materials. In other words, a weld bond is created at the molecular level.
  • Machining an Artistic Design Figure 14 illustrates an example of using a machining tool 1410 to add an artistic design 1422 to raw material 1440 for artificial nails. Note that the raw material 1450 could be injection molded in a single mold as described above. The length of raw material 1450 may be cut to accommodate the desired number of artificial nails to be cut out in order to reduce waste of the raw material.
  • the machining to be performed by machining tool 1410 depends on which of the matching artistic designs for raw material 1320 and/or raw material 1330 is needed. Although a French-style look is probably the most likely artistic design, raw material 1450 may be machined with any arbitrary artistic design. Of course, raw material 1420 need not be joined with any other raw material, and may simply reflect a desired nail tip shape. 2. Extruding an Artistic Design ( Figure 15) Figure 15 illustrates using an extrusion machine 1510 to extrude raw material 1520 through an example artistic die or cast 1512 in order to add an artistic design 1522. As with the machining described above in connection with Figure 14, the extrusion performed by extrusion tool 1510 depends on which of the matching artistic designs for raw material 1320 and/or raw material 1330 is needed.
  • FIG. 16 shows an example artificial nail 130 being cut out of the artificial nail blank 1340 illustrated in Figure 13B by a computerized numerical cutting machine (CNC) 1610.
  • CNC computerized numerical cutting machine
  • the artificial nail blank 1340 is held in place by a jig and the CNC cutter 1612 adjusts its position to make the appropriate cuts 1634 to expose the artificial nail 130, however some CNCs may also move the artificial nail blank.
  • tabs 1632 have been added to hold artificial nail 130 in place until the cutting is complete. Tabs 1632 are not necessary, but adds to the stability of artificial nail 130 while it is being cut out, and therefore helps assure as close of match as possible to the generated artificial nail object, the nail surface to receive the artificial nail, and the surrounding tissue.
  • consideration is given to placement of the artificial nail object into the artificial nail blank from which the artificial nail will be cut. Nail style, such as round-tip, square-tip, curvature, smile lines, thickness, and overall arcs, is also considered. Taking the foregoing into consideration assures that the appropriate artificial nail blank is selected and that the artificial nail object fits within the artificial nail blank when it is received from digitizing computer 150.
  • Manufacturing computer 160 locates the artificial nail object 1630 in the artificial nail blank 1340 in preparation for the automated cutting process.
  • Numerical cutting reference codes are generated to reflect the artificial nail object within the artificial nail blank in order to give the CNC 1610 the appropriate commands to cut out or reveal the artificial nail 130 corresponding to the artificial nail object.
  • the CNC 1610 may receive command along the x-, y-, and z-axis for movement of the cutter 1612 and potentially the jig holding the artificial nail blank 1340 as well.
  • the automated CNC cutting process removes all undesirable material from the artificial nail blank that does not represent the artificial nail object.
  • an artificial nail 130 that fits the originally imaged nail surface 1 10 has been produced. V.
  • the finished artificial nail 130 (bottom 132) is custom fit to nail surface 110 of fingernail 106 and the tissue 104, including cuticle 1712, surrounding fingernail 106. Accordingly, the cuticle end 136 of artificial nail 130 does not have to be trimmed to avoid the surrounding tissue of finger 102 or otherwise fitted prior to attachment. As a result, the artificial nail may simply be attached with an appropriate adhesive.
  • one common type of adhesive is a cyanoacrylate adhesive.
  • acetone is used to remove cyanoacrylate adhesives, but as indicated above, this leads to the destruction of artificial nails that have not been manufactured from the acetone resistant raw materials identified above. Accordingly, for some artificial nails, acetone resistant raw materials are preferred. Of course, like the preferred raw materials used in producing the artificial nails themselves, inert adhesives without adverse health risk also are preferred. As indicate above, the nails also can be formed from a material having a desired color or colors. For a French-style look, the white and flesh tones may be incorporated into the artificial nails themselves (i.e., tip 138 could be made from a white toned plastic and the remainder of nail 130 could be made from a flesh toned plastic).
  • the step of having to paint the artificial nail with a nail polish can be eliminated.
  • the nail is the same color all the way through, the color is not removed as a result of scratching or chipping.
  • the artificial nail is formed from an acetone resistant material, it may be useful to first lightly roughen the surface of artificial nail to assist the polish in binding to the artificial nail surface.
  • the surface of artificial nail could first be coated with an adhesive over which the nail polish is subsequently applied. When the artificial nail is formed from an acetone resistant material, the nail can be repeatedly removed and reapplied.
  • FIG. 18 illustrates an example computer system that provides a suitable operating environment for the present invention, such as for digitizing computer 150 and/or manufacturing computer 160. Figure 18 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention may be implemented.
  • program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
  • Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of the program code means for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions or methods described in such steps.
  • the invention may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.
  • the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by a combination of hardwired or wireless links) through a communications network.
  • program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
  • an example system for implementing the invention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a conventional computer 1810, including a processor 1830, a system memory 1820, and a system bus 1840 that couples various system components including the system memory 1820 to the processor 1830.
  • the system bus 1840 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures.
  • the system memory includes read only memory (ROM) 1822 and random access memory (RAM) 1824.
  • ROM read only memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • a basic input/output system, containing the basic routines that help transfer information between elements within the computer 1820, such as during start-up, may be stored in ROM 1822.
  • the computer 1810 may also include various disk drives 1852, including a magnetic hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a magnetic hard disk, a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk, and an optical disc drive for reading from or writing a to removable optical disc, such as a CD-ROM or other optical media.
  • the various disk drives 1852 are connected to the system bus 1840 by disk drive interfaces 1850.
  • the drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer 1810.
  • Program code means comprising one or more program modules may be stored on the various drives 1852, ROM 1822, or RAM 1824, including an operating system 1823, one or more application programs 1825, other program modules (not shown), and program data 1827.
  • a user may enter commands and information into the computer 1820 through a keyboard, a pointing device, or other input devices, such as a microphone, joy stick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like.
  • I/O interfaces 1860 or other interfaces 1870 are often connected to the processing unit 1810 through I/O interfaces 1860 or other interfaces 1870 through system bus 1840.
  • Other interfaces 1870 may include a parallel port, a game port, or a universal serial bus (USB).
  • a monitor 1892 or another display device is also connected to system bus 1840 via an interface, such as video adapter 1890.
  • personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.
  • the computer 1810 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computers 1882.
  • Remote computers 1882 may each be another personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically include many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 1810.
  • the logical connections depicted in Figure 18 may be made to a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), by way of example and not limitation.
  • LAN local area network
  • WAN wide area network
  • Such networking environments are commonplace in office-wide or enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.
  • the computer 1810 When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1810 is connected to the local network through a network interface or adapter 1880.
  • the computer 1810 When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1810 may include a modem, a wireless link, or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network, such as the Internet.
  • the modem which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 1840 via other interfaces 1870.
  • program modules depicted relative to the computer 1810, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing communications over wide area network may be used. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more special purpose and/or one or more general purpose computers including various computer hardware, as discussed in greater detail below.
  • embodiments within the scope of the present invention also include computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.
  • such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, CD-ROM or other optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, electronic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.
  • ROM read-only memory
  • EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
  • CD-ROM or other optical disc storage magnetic disk storage
  • magnetic storage other magnetic storage devices
  • electronic storage devices or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.
  • a network or another communications connection either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless
  • Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.
  • the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics.
  • the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
  • the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Abstract

L'invention concerne des ongles artificiels personnalisés ainsi que les procédés, systèmes et produits informatiques associés. Pour produire des ongles artificiels personnalisés, des données numériques de surface d'ongle et de tissu périphérique à la surface de l'ongle sont produites par un dispositif de numérisation et elles sont envoyées à un système informatique de numérisation. Le système informatique de numérisation distingue la surface de l'ongle du tissu entourant la surface de l'ongle et il génère un objet d'ongle artificiel tridimensionnel personnalisé pour la surface de l'ongle. Un système informatique de production sélectionne une ébauche d'ongle artificiel ayant des couleurs et des styles spécifiques à partir de laquelle est découpé l'ongle artificiel personnalisé, il génère des codes de découpage numérique pour l'objet d'ongle artificiel tridimensionnel à l'intérieur de l'ébauche d'ongle artificiel, et il fournit les codes de découpage à une machine de découpage numérique informatisée afin d'éliminer la matière indésirable de l'ébauche d'ongle artificiel et afin d'exposer l'objet d'ongle artificiel tridimensionnel. Une fois qu'il est exposé, l'ongle artificiel personnalisé peut être fixé à la surface de l'ongle d'un client.
PCT/US2005/003854 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Ebauche d'ongle artificiel et procedes associes WO2005076996A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/708,065 2004-02-06
US10/708,065 US20050175558A1 (en) 2004-02-06 2004-02-06 Method and process for detecting a nail surface
US10/710,959 2004-08-14
US10/710,959 US7536286B2 (en) 2004-08-14 2004-08-14 Method, process and computer program to automatically create a customized three-dimensional nail object
US10/710,962 US20060033758A1 (en) 2004-08-15 2004-08-15 A method, process and computer program to automatically create a customized three-dimensional nail object by morphing
US10/710,961 2004-08-15
US10/710,961 US7526416B2 (en) 2004-08-15 2004-08-15 Method, process and computer program to automatically create a customized three-dimensional nail object by welding
US10/710,962 2004-08-15
US10/710,971 US20060034507A1 (en) 2004-08-16 2004-08-16 A method, process and computer program to automatically create a customized three-dimensional nail object by library reference
US10/710,971 2004-08-16
US10/711,019 US20060038318A1 (en) 2004-08-18 2004-08-18 A method and process of manufacturing an artificial nail blank
US10/711,019 2004-08-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005076996A2 true WO2005076996A2 (fr) 2005-08-25
WO2005076996A3 WO2005076996A3 (fr) 2006-08-31

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ID=34865556

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2005/003831 WO2005076992A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Production d'un ongle artificiel personnalise
PCT/US2005/004829 WO2005077132A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Ongles artificiels personnalises et systemes, procedes et logiciel associes
PCT/US2005/003855 WO2005076997A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Distinction d'une surface d'ongle du tissu environnant
PCT/US2005/003854 WO2005076996A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Ebauche d'ongle artificiel et procedes associes

Family Applications Before (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2005/003831 WO2005076992A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Production d'un ongle artificiel personnalise
PCT/US2005/004829 WO2005077132A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Ongles artificiels personnalises et systemes, procedes et logiciel associes
PCT/US2005/003855 WO2005076997A2 (fr) 2004-02-06 2005-02-06 Distinction d'une surface d'ongle du tissu environnant

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TW (1) TW200533308A (fr)
WO (4) WO2005076992A2 (fr)

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FR2964305B1 (fr) 2010-09-06 2019-06-28 L'oreal Procede de fabrication d'articles cosmetiques personnalises, notamment de faux ongles et articles ainsi realises
US20150189971A1 (en) * 2014-01-09 2015-07-09 Quadir Hakeem Artificial nails with displays
WO2015126533A1 (fr) * 2014-02-19 2015-08-27 Jobani Itamar Système implémenté par ordinateur et procédé de production d'ongles artificiels personnalisés et individualisés
WO2017174703A2 (fr) 2016-04-08 2017-10-12 L'oreal Procédé de fabrication d'un faux ongle
EP3488731A4 (fr) * 2016-07-20 2019-08-28 Sony Corporation Dispositif de réception de commande et procédé de réception de commande
US20200105007A1 (en) * 2018-09-28 2020-04-02 Mani.Me, Inc. Apparatus and method for model reconstruction using photogrammetry
GB201913301D0 (en) * 2019-09-14 2019-10-30 Hoang Kim A method for obtaining and storing information suitable for production of artificial nails for an individual
CN116369655A (zh) * 2023-04-11 2023-07-04 上海南狮商贸有限责任公司 一种立体装饰的美甲贴纸及其制作方法

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005076992A3 (fr) 2009-03-26
WO2005076996A3 (fr) 2006-08-31
WO2005076997A3 (fr) 2009-04-16
TW200533308A (en) 2005-10-16
WO2005076992A2 (fr) 2005-08-25
WO2005077132A3 (fr) 2009-05-07
WO2005077132A2 (fr) 2005-08-25
WO2005076997A2 (fr) 2005-08-25

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