WO2006062963A1

WO2006062963A1 - Tool for placement of artificial nails and plurality of artificial nails and tool for placement thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006062963A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/044092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeanine Catherine Coppola
Original assignee: Pacific World Corporation
Priority date: 2004-12-06
Filing date: 2005-12-02
Publication date: 2006-06-15
Also published as: WO2006062963B1

Abstract

A tool (40) for manipulation and placement of an artificial nail (22)on a user's nail, the tool (40) comprising a suction cup (42) and a handle (60), and a kit (18) containing a plurality of artificial nail (22) and said tool (40) disposed in a package (20). The tool (40) optionally includes a manicuring tool, such as a cuticle pusher (68) or nail file.

Description

TOOL FOR PLACEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL NAILS AND PLURALITY OF ARTIFICIAL NAILS AND TOOL FOR PLACEMENT THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains generally to artificial nails that are intended to be adhered to a human's natural fingernail, and, more particularly, to a tool for placement of artificial nails, and a plurality of artificial nails and tool for placement thereof on a user's natural nails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] For various aesthetic reasons, many individuals wish to possess elongated fingernails or fingernails having a more finished or polished appearance. However, some are unable or unwilling to grow their own natural fingernails out to the desired length. Alternately, they may not have the time, skill, or financial wherewithal to maintain or obtain a more finished appearance that may result from well manicured and/or polished nails. As a result, entire industries have developed around the artificial supplementation and enhancement of natural nails. Such enhancements may range from manicuring and polishing of natural fingernails to individually building artificial nails on the natural nail and nail form from an acrylic powder and liquid which chemically bond to the nail surface as the artificial nail is built. Between these two extremes, are preformed, artificial nails that are glued or otherwise bonded to a person's own naturally occurring fingernails. Such nails are readily available to a wide range of users through drug and department stores. Such preformed artificial nails may be clear or opaque, and/or prepolished and/or decorated to provide the desired appearance.

[0003] Artificial nails are commonly made from molded thermoplastic and are available in a wide range of lengths and styles. One broad category of an artificial nail style is the full nail form. As its name implies, the full nail form simulates the entire human fingernail and includes a proximate edge intended to overlay substantially the entire nail bed and a distal free edge which is intended to extend beyond the fingertip of the wearer. The proximate edge is shaped to be disposed substantially adjacent or abut against the cuticle of the finger. The distal free edge may have any of various lengths and shapes, such as oval, square, or flared, depending upon the desired look. Preferably, the artificial nail is sufficiently durable and rigid to withstand the hazards inherent in its use. [0004] Manufacturers typically provide users with a range of nail sizes, e.g., identified by size numbers 0-9, to accommodate most nail sizes. Generally, artificial nails are packaged together in sets including a range of different sizes so that the purchaser receives differently artificial nails for their different fingers. In addition to the set of different sized artificial nails, the package may also include liquid adhesive, peel-off adhesive pads, and/or preplaced tacky adhesive for bonding the artificial nails to the purchaser's natural fingernails.

[0005] Artificial nails are provided in a variety of lengths ranging from relatively long nails having either a straight profile or arched profile, to relatively short nails, which more closely simulate well groomed natural nails. In placement of the artificial nail on a user's natural nail, the adhesive is typically applied either directly to the user's natural nail bed or to the nail bed portion of the artificial nail. The artificial nail is then placed on the user's natural nail bed with the proximal end of the artificial nail disposed at or near the user's cuticle, and pressure is applied to ensure the desired adhesion of the artificial nail to the user's natural nail. Inasmuch as the adhesive used in placing artificial nails is generally tacky, it is difficult to make adjustments to the position of the artificial nail on the natural nail once initial placement is made. Attempts to reposition the artificial nail relative to the natural nail or to remove and replace the artificial nail may result in either a substandard appearance to the artificial nail, or time consuming additional cleaning of the artificial nail and repetition of the placement process. As a result, it is important that the artificial nail be placed at the desired position on the natural nail at the first attempt so as to avoid the need to remove and reposition the nail.

[0006] Longer artificial nails typically extend well beyond the free edge of the user's natural nails. Consequently, in placing relatively long artificial nails on the user's natural nails, one may utilize the extended free edge of the artificial nail to hold the artificial nail prior to placement, and to manipulate and accurately position the artificial nail on the user's nail bed. When utilizing smaller artificial nails, however, the free edge is very short, and does not extend far beyond the user's natural nail or finger tip, if at all. Accordingly, such short nails can be difficult to accurately place on the user's natural nail by simply grasping the artificial nail using one's fingers.

[0007] As a result, manufacturers have proposed various tools to allow for holding and placing artificial nails during application. One such tool is comprises an elongated rod with a tacky adhesive pad or tape at the end of the tool to grip the artificial nail, such as the tools shown in U.S. Patent 6,220,250 to Park and the tool marketed by Sally Hansen®. This tacky, adhesive pad, however, has proven unreliable in use, however, inasmuch as the retaining force exerted by the adhesive on the artificial nail typically deteriorates over time such that it does not exert a consistent retaining force on the artificial nail. Moreover, should the adhesive pad become contaminated with dust or the like, it becomes generally useless in that it does not exhibit adequate force to retain a series of nails for placement. [0008] Another such tool is shaped like a concave shovel with a shorter opposing lip that is disposed parallel to the shovel such that a small slot or gap is formed between the inside surface of the shovel and the lip, as shown in U.S. Patent D441,134 to Manzione and currently marketed by Uptown Nails, LLC. In use, the outer, arched surface of the artificial nail is disposed against the inside surface of the shovel with the free edge of the artificial nail disposed in the gap between the lip and the shovel. This tool likewise exhibits deficiencies. While the "shovel" tool does not deteriorate with use, it is cumbersome to utilize. Should the gap between the shovel and lip be sufficiently small to exert a retaining force on the artificial nail, the user will typically be required to exert an external downward, retaining force on the artificial nail when it is placed against the natural nail in order to facilitate release of the artificial nail by the tool. Inasmuch as the user's free hand grasps the tool, the user must typically use a different finger from the placement hand to exert a retaining force the placed artificial nail to facilitate release of artificial nail from the tool. Conversely, if the tool does not exert adequate retaining force to hold the artificial nail during the placement process, the tool may allow artificial nail to move within the gap, making accurate placement of the artificial nail against the natural nail significantly more difficult.

[0009] As a result, it is desirable to provide a nail placement tool that overcomes these shortcomings of the prior art to provide for accurate and reliable, repeatable placement of artificial nails.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention provides a tool for the handling and placement of artificial nails, and a kit containing a plurality of artificial nails along with a tool to facilitate placement of the artificial nail against a user's natural nails. The tool comprises a handle portion to which a suction cup is secured or coupled. In use, the suction cup grasps the top surface of an artificial nail such that the artificial nail can be easily placed on top of the user's natural nail. In the preferred embodiment, the retaining force of the suction cup on the artificial nail is less than the force exerted by the adhesive between the artificial nail and the user's natural nail such that, once the artificial nail is placed, the suction cup releases the artificial nail as it is retained by the adhesive on the user's natural nail.

[0011] Because, the suction cup is not an adhesive itself, as is the case with the one prior art structure, the suction cup provides a relatively consistent retaining force on the artificial nail during continued use. Moreover, the suction cup may be designed or chosen such that it provides a desired level of retaining force, i.e., a force sufficient to retain the artificial nail, yet sufficiently smaller than the retaining force of the adhesive between the artificial nail and the user's natural nail such that the adhesive force overcomes the retaining force, leaving the placed artificial nail on the natural nail. In use, it will be appreciated that the user may also or alternately apply a slight rotation or a tilting motion to the suction cup to further or alternately facilitate separation of the cup from the artificial nail. [0012] The handle may be of any appropriate design that permits that user adequate leverage in use of the suction cup. The presently preferred form of the handle is an elongated rod or the like with the suction cup disposed at one end of the rod. The suction cup may be disposed in axial alignment with the rod or may be disposed at an angle to the rod. Further, the handle may comprise one or more additional tools useful in the care of one's natural nails or artificial nails, or the placement or removal of artificial nails. For example, the opposite end of the elongated rod may include a beveled edge that functions as a cuticle pusher. By way of further example, and not limitation, the handle could alternately or additionally include a pointed structure or a nail file.

[0013] These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a kit according to and containing a tool according to teachings of the invention. [0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the kit of FIG. 1. [0016] FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 5 is an opposite side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the tool of FIG. 1. [0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the handle of the tool of FIG. 1. [0021] FIG 8 is a cross-sectional view of the suction cup of the tool of FIG. 1 [0022] FIG 9 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Now referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a nail kit 18 comprising a package 20 containing a plurality of artificial nails 22. Each artificial nail 22 includes a nail body having a generally convex upper surface and a generally concave lower surface. Each nail 22 further comprises a proximal end 30, adapted to be placed generally adjacent the user's cuticle, and a distal end 32 that is generally disposed at or beyond the end of the user's natural nail when properly placed. The areas between the proximal and distal ends 30, 32 of the artificial nail 22 generally define the nail bed portion 34 and the free end 36, the nail bed portion 34 being adapted to be placed adjacent the user's natural nail bed and the free end portion 34 being adapted to extend beyond the end of the user's finger. [0024] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the nail kit 18 further includes a tool 40, constructed in accordance with teachings of the invention, for use in placement of an artificial nail 22 on a user's natural nail. In order to grip the artificial nail 22, the tool 40 includes a small suction cup 42 that will hold the nail 22 without additional coupling. The suction cup 42 is sufficiently large that it will exert an adequate retaining force on the nail 22, yet small enough that it may be utilized with a wide range of sizes of nails. In the currently preferred embodiment, the suction cup 42 has a diameter on the order of 6 mm, although smaller or larger sizes of suction cups likewise fall within the purview of the invention. By way of example only, the suction cup 42 may be on the order of 3-10 mm in diameter so long as it exerts sufficient retaining force on the nail 22 and may be separated from the nail 22 when properly placed. The suction cup 42 may be formed of any appropriate material, so long as the desired retaining force is attained. For example, it may be constructed of polymeric materials or rubber, such as silicone, neoprene, and urethane. [0025] In use, preferably the suction cup 42 provides a holding force that is adequate to retain an artificial nail 22, yet less than the force that an adhesive exerts between the artificial nail 22 and the user's natural finger nail when the artificial nail 22 is properly placed. In this way, the user may readily separate the suction cup 42 from the nail 22 when the retaining force is no longer required. It will be appreciated that a slight tilting of the cup 42 will further facilitate separation. Alternately or additionally, the tool 40 may include further structure to facilitate such separation. For example, the suction cup 42 may include a protrusion from its rim 46 or its outer surface 48, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, such that the protrusion may be utilized to break the seal between the suction cup 42 and the surface of the nail 22. Alternately, the tool 40 may be provided with an actuator that may be used to exert a force to break the seal between the suction cup 42 and the nail 22. Such an actuator may include, for example, an axially extending actuation rod disposed axially within the handle 60, that allows the user to exert a force in the well 54 of the suction cup 42 that effectively pushes the nail 22 from the interior of the suction cup 42. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that alternate methods may be provided to facilitate the separation of the suction cup 42 from the artificial nail 22 once proper placement has been made.

[0026] In order to facilitate manipulation of the suction cup 42, the tool 40 is further provided with the handle 60. The handle 60 may be of any appropriate design that allows the user to manipulate the suction cup 42. The handle 60 may be formed with the suction cup 42 or the handle 60 may be formed as a separate piece that is secured to the suction cup 42 by any appropriate means. In a currently preferred embodiment, the handle 60 is in the form of an elongated rod 62 that is formed separately from the suction cup 42 and then secured thereto. To facilitate this connection, the rod 62 is provided with an elongated axially extending bore 64, and the suction cup 42 is provided with an axially extending protrusion 66. It will be appreciated, however, that any appropriate coupling structure or mechanism may be provided. For example, the handle 60, here, the rod 62, may be provided with a radially extending bore such that the protrusion from the suction cup 42 may be disposed within the radially extending bore, providing a handle 60 disposed at a substantially right angle from the suction cup 42. The handle may be made of any appropriate material. Polymeric materials are generally economical and versatile options for the handle, although other natural and artificial materials may be utilized. In a currently preferred embodiment, polypropylene is utilized for the handle, although polyethylene, for example, likewise provide for reasonably priced, easily fabricated handles. [0027] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the handle 60 may include further structure in the form of one or more additional tools useful in the care of one's natural nails or artificial nails, or the placement or removal of artificial nails. By way of example only, the opposite end of the elongated rod 62 may include a beveled edge 68 that may be utilized as a cuticle pusher. By way of further example, and not limitation, the handle 60 could alternately or additionally include a pointed structure at a distal end, or a nail file along its length.

[0028] In summary, the invention includes a nail tool 40 that may provided either alone or as a part of a kit 18 that includes a plurality of artificial nails 22 of varied sizes disposed in a package 20. The kit 18 may further include nail glue, nail wipes, and/or instructions. In this way, the user is conveniently provided a self contained package that includes all tools necessary for use of the nails 22 and proper placement thereof. [0029] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0030] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non- claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A tool for placement of a preformed artificial nail, the tool comprising: suction cup, and a handle for manipulation of the suction cup.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the suction cup has a diameter of 3 - 10 mm.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the diameter is 5-8 mm.

4. The tool of claim 4 wherein the diameter is substantially 6 mm.

5. The tool of any of claims 1-4 wherein the suction cup comprises a protrusion.

6. The tool of any of claims 1-5 wherein the handle comprises an elongated rod.

7. The tool of any of claims 1-6, wherein the handle comprises a beveled edge.

8. The tool of any of claims 1-6 wherein the suction cup is disposed at one end of the elongated rod, and further comprising a manicure tool at an opposite end of the rod.

9. The tool of any of claims 1-8 wherein the suction cup comprises an elongated protrusion, and the handle comprises a bore, the elongated protrusion being disposed and retained in the bore.

10. The tool of any of claiml-9 wherein the suction cup and handle are separately formed and coupled together post formation.

11. The tool of any of claims 1-10 wherein the handle comprises a nail file.

12. The tool of any of claims 1-11 wherein the suction cup is formed of rubber.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the suction cup is formed of at least one of the following: silicon, neoprene, and urethane.

14. The tool of any of claims 1-13 wherein the handle is at least partially formed of polymeric material

15. The tool of claim 14 wherein the handle is at least partially formed of polypropylene.

16. A kit of preformed artificial nails comprising: a plurality of artificial nails, and a tool for assistance in placing said nails on a user's natural nails, the tool comprising a suction cup and a handle, and a package, the artificial nails and the tool being disposed within the package.

17. The kit of claim 16 further comprising adhesive.

18. The kit of either of claims 16 or 17 further comprising nail wipes.

19. The kit of any of claims 16-18 wherein the tool further comprises a manicuring tool.

20. The kit of claim 19 wherein the manicuring tool is disposed on said handle.