ARTIFICIAL NAIL ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention is a device for applying artificial nails to the natural nails of a user. The device includes a central file that can be used to file a user's fingernails or toenails. A variety of artificial nails are positioned around the outer perimeter of the emery board via a plurality of stems. Advantageously, one surface of the nail file includes a housing that can be sized and shaped with a central indentation to removably attach any of a wide variety of accessories, such as a nail glue pen. The device therefore streamlines application of the artificial nails to the natural nails of a user.

Claims

1. An artificial nail application device comprising: a nail file defined by a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a thickness therebetween; a plurality of stems positioned about an outer circumference of the nail file; a plurality of nails defined by a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of each nail is releasably attached to a corresponding stem; an optional housing positioned on the top or bottom surface of the nail file, wherein the housing is configured to releasably attach an accessory item.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the nail file includes one or more ceramic, glass, metal, crystal, or emery board materials.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the nail file has a length and width of about 3-6 inches and a thickness of about 0.1-3 inches.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the stems are evenly spaces about the entire outer circumference of the nail file.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the nail file includes a gap area configured without stems, the gap area represents about 5-40 percent of a total circumference of the nail file.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nails are each about the same size. same shape, or both.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one nail differs in size, shape, or both compared to the remainder of the plurality of nails.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the accessory is selected from fingernail polish, fingernail glue, and fingernail polish remover.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is off centered on the face of the file.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the natural nail is a fingernail or toenail.

11. A method of applying an artificial nail to a natural nail of a user, the method comprising: releasably positioning an adhesive container within the housing of the device of claim 1; applying a desired amount of adhesive from the adhesive container onto a top surface of the user's natural nail; positioning a desired artificial nail onto the adhesive on the top surface of the natural nail; allowing the adhesive to dry; applying light pressure to separate the artificial nail from the corresponding step, whereby the artificial nail remains is separated from the device and attached to the natural nail; repeating the process for each desired natural nail.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising buffing or shaping the artificial nail using the file.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the outer circumference of the nail file includes a gap area configured without stems.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gap area represents about 5-40 percent of a total circumference of the nail file.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the natural nail is a fingernail or toenail.

16. A kit comprising: a plurality of artificial nail application devices of claim 1, wherein each device differs with respect to a length, width, shape, or color of the nails; a plurality of different accessories configured to releasably fit within the housing.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the accessory is selected from fingernail polish, fingernail glue, and fingernail polish remover.

18. The kit of claim 16, wherein the outer circumference of the nail file includes a gap area configured without stems, the gap area represents about 5-40 percent of a total circumference of the nail file.

19. The kit of claim 16, wherein the plurality of nails are each about the same size. same shape, or both.

20. The kit of claim 16, wherein at least one nail differs in size, shape, or both compared to the remainder of the plurality of nails.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1a is a top plan view of a fingernail device in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0025] FIGS. 1b and 1c are front plan views of fingernail devices in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0026] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a device fingernail file in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0027] FIG. 2b is a top plan view of a device fingernail file in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0028] FIG. 2c is a top plan view of a device nail file with a central non-abrasive surface in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0029] FIGS. 3a-3c are top plan views of fingernail files and attached stems in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0030] FIG. 4a is a front plan view of a device file and housing in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0031] FIG. 4b is a side plan view of a device file housing and attached accessory in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0032] FIG. 4c is a front plan view of a device file and housing in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0033] FIGS. 4d and 4e are top plan views of a nail device including artificial nails in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0034] FIG. 5a is a top plan view of a device nail in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0035] FIG. 5b is a bottom plan view of a device nail in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0036] FIG. 5c is a side plan view of a device nail in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0037] FIGS. 6a-6c illustrate one method of using the device in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates a kit in accordance with some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0040] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.

[0041] Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms a, an, and the refer to one or more when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to a device can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth. It will be further understood that the terms comprises, comprising, includes, and/or including when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0042] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0043] As used herein, the term about, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/20%, in some embodiments +/10%, in some embodiments +/5%, in some embodiments +/1%, in some embodiments +/0.5%, and in some embodiments +/0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.

[0044] As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0045] Relative terms such as below or above or upper or lower or horizontal or vertical may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the drawing figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawing figures.

[0046] The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

[0047] The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a device for applying artificial nails to the natural nails of a user. As shown in FIG. 1a, device 5 includes central file 10 that can be used to file a user's fingernails or toenails. The file can also make it easier for the adhesive and artificial nail to adhere to the natural nail, and it can also be used to file the artificial nail to the desired shape and/or size. A variety of artificial nails 15 are positioned around the outer perimeter of the emery board via stems 20. Advantageously, one surface of nail file 10 optionally includes housing 25 that can be sized and shaped with a central indentation to removably attach any of a wide variety of accessories, such as a nail glue pen, as shown in FIG. 1b. Thus, the disclosed system can be used to easily access a wide variety of nail accessories including nail file 10, nails 15, as well as the nail pen, etc. In this way, device 5 streamlines application of the artificial nails to the natural nails of a user, as described in detail below. It should be appreciated that housing 25 is optional, streamlining the central file as shown in FIG. 1c.

[0048] As noted above, device 5 includes central nail file 10. The term nail file refers to any tool that can be used to gently grind down and shape the edges of artificial or natural nails. File 10 can be constructed from any suitable material, such as ceramic, glass, metal, crystal, emery board, or combinations thereof. As is known, emery includes any material with an abrasive substance positioned on at least one face. Suitable abrasive materials include silica, sand, aluminum oxide, iron, magnetite, rutile, or combinations of these materials. However, it should be appreciated that any material or combination of materials can be used to construct the file.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2a, the file includes opposed top and bottom faces 30, 31 with thickness 32 therebetween. In some embodiments, the top and/or bottom faces can be horizontal or about horizontal for ease of use. Nail file 10 can be configured with any desired dimensions. For example, the file can include length and/or width 35, 36 of about 3-6 inches (e.g., at least/no more than about 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, or 6 inches), as shown in FIG. 2b. The term length refers to the longest horizontal distance of the file (e.g., between two side edges). The term width refers to the longest straight-line distance perpendicular to the length (e.g., between front and rear file faces).

[0050] File 10 can include any desired thickness 32, such as about 0.1-3 inches (e.g., at least/no more than about 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 inches).

[0051] However, it should be appreciated that the length, width, and thickness of file 10 is not limited to the ranges given above and can be configured with any suitable dimensions.

[0052] Nail file 10 can have any cross-sectional shape, such as circular or oval. However, any shape can be used (e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, and the like). In some embodiments, central portion 11 of the file lacks the file material (e.g., emery, etc.) and can be gripped by a user's fingers or thumb during use to properly hold the file. For example, the central region can include texturing to maintain the user's grip, as shown in FIG. 2c.

[0053] As mentioned above, file 10 includes a plurality of stems 20 that extend fully or partially around the file outer circumference, as shown in FIGS. 3a-3c. Each stem 20 functions to releasably attach an artificial fingernail to the file. The term stem therefore includes any linking element that can be used to releasably attach fingernail 15 to the file. Stems 20 can be constructed from any suitable material, such as plastic. In some embodiments, the stems can extend fully around the outer circumference of the file, as shown in FIGS. 3b and 3c. In other embodiments, the file includes gap area 40 that allows for the proper placement of an accessory, as illustrated in FIG. 3a. For example, the gap area can represent about 5-40% of the total circumference of the file (e.g., about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 percent), depending on the size of a corresponding accessory. The gap area allows an accessory to be paired with housing 25 and not come into contact with nails 15.

[0054] In some embodiments, stems 20 are spaced equidistantly around the file outer circumference as shown in FIG. 3b. Stated another way, each stem can be the same (or about the same) distance from adjacent stems (e.g., a distance of at least/no more than about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1 inch). In other embodiments, the stems can be clustered to allow for different sized nails (e.g., smaller sized nails for pinky fingers) to be grouped together (versus larger sized nails like thumbnails). As shown in FIG. 3c, first stem cluster 21 are closer together compared to second stem cluster, accommodating smaller nails and larger nails, respectively.

[0055] Top or bottom face 30, 31 of the file can optionally include housing 25 configured to releasably attach one or more accessory items 45, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. For example, a screw pen including nail adhesive can be releasably attached to the housing. In this way, the accessory can be conveniently retained by the user and easily accessible when needed. As shown, the housing can include curved ledge 46 that is sized and shaped to support accessory 45. The ledge includes pressure point 47 (which can be configured as a raised dot) to retain the accessory in position and allow the accessory to be removed when desired by a user. The pressure point can have a diameter of about 0.5 cm in some embodiments (e.g., at least/no more than about 0.25-0.75 cm). The width of the ledge can be about 0.5-2 inches (e.g., at least/no more than about 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, or 2 inches), as shown in the front view of FIG. 4c. However, it should be appreciated that housing 25 is an optional feature.

[0056] The housing can be positioned in the approximate center of the file, as shown in FIG. 4b. In some embodiments, housing 25 is off centered to better accommodate an elongated accessory 45.

[0057] Device 5 also includes a plurality of nails 15 positioned around the outer edge of the file. Specifically, each stem 20 attaches one single artificial nail 15 to the file, as shown in FIGS. 4d-4e. The nails can be all of the same (or about the same) size, as illustrated in FIG. 4d. Alternatively, some of the nails can be larger or smaller relative to the others (e.g., to accommodate different fingers or different sized fingers), as shown in FIG. 4e.

[0058] The term artificial nail broadly includes extensions placed over fingernails or toenails as fashion accessories. The artificial nail can include full cover nails that fit over and on top of a full user fingernail or toenail. Alternatively, nail 15 can be a tip, configured as a nail-shaped plate that is attached to the distal end of a natural fingernail or toenail.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, nail 15 includes bottom surface 50 that is sized and shaped to attach to the top surface of a user's real fingernail. The nail also includes top surface 51 that is viewable to the public and can be painted or adorned as desired. The nail further includes a one-piece molded body having distal end 52 and proximal end 53 opposite the distal end. The proximal end of nail 15 (e.g., the bottom surface adjacent the proximal end) is sized and shaped to attach to the top surface of a natural nail. Distal end 52 may be sized to extend beyond the end of the natural nail when the artificial nail is attached, or it may be sized to coincide with the end of the natural nail. The distal end of nails 15 attach to stems 20 as illustrated in the figures.

[0060] The nail body can be rounded or straight and it is not limited to any particular dimensions. In other words, artificial nails can be applied to fingernails and/or toenails and can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes. For instance, proximal end 53 can substantially correspond in size and shape to the full nail bed of a natural fingernail. Alternatively, the proximal end may be attachable to only the distal end of a natural fingernail (e.g., a nail tip that is applied to the end of the natural fingernail).

[0061] Nails 15 can therefore vary in shape and size, such that one device 5 includes the proper fingernails to accommodate each finger and/or toe. For example, a thumbnail will require a larger and wider nail 15 when compared to a pointer finger. The fingernails can also be configured in a variety of shapes, such as squared, oval, rounded, almond, stiletto, or combinations thereof. In this way, a user can select the desired shape and size for a particular application. Further, the growth of the natural fingernail or toenail surface occurs in a slightly curvilinear shape such that it may be desirable that the artificial nail have a conforming curvilinear shape to provide maximum surface-to-surface bonding.

[0062] Artificial nails 15 can be constructed from any suitable materials. For example, one or more acrylic material, ABS plastic, nylon, acetate, vinyl acetate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-butadiene block copolymer, methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene terpolymer, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene methyl methacrylate copolymers, and the like can be used.

[0063] Nail 15 can include thickness 60 of about 0.05-0.5 inches (e.g., at least/no more than about 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, or 0.5 inches), as illustrated in FIG. 5c. The term thickness refers to the vertical distance between top and bottom surfaces 51, 50. Nail 15 can also include length 61 and/or width 62 of about 0.25-3 inches (e.g., at least/no more than about 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, or 3 inches). However, it should be appreciated that the dimensions of the nails are not limited and can include any desired length, width, and thickness.

[0064] Fingernails 15 can be nude (e.g., unpainted). Alternatively, the fingernails can be painted or adorned in any way (e.g., with nail art).

[0065] Nails 15 can be arranged in any desired way about the outer circumference of the device. For example, the nails can be arranged according to size (e.g., smallest to largest), according to width (widest to narrowest), according to length (longest to shortest), according to shape, and the like. As noted above, distal end 52 of each nail is attached to a corresponding stem 20 positioned about the outer perimeter of the file.

[0066] In use, a user can hold device 5 in one hand and apply nail glue to the natural nail and/or false nail. For example, the user can grasp the device in one hand, squeeze accessory 45 (e.g., nail glue) held within housing 25 to apply a portion of the glue, as shown in FIG. 6a. In embodiments, where the device does not include the accessory, a user can easily apply glue using a separate (e.g., non-attached) glue source. After an amount of glue is applied to the top surface of the natural nail, a desired fingernail 15 from about the circumference of the device is then pressed onto the natural nail, as shown in FIG. 6b. Once the glue dries, the nail is then easily detached from the device stem by applying light pressure. In this way, nail 15 is snapped off from stem 20 and remains attached to the user's real nail, as shown in FIG. 6c. In this regard, the device includes a frangible or breakable stem 20 connected to the proximal end of each nail that enables the nails to be manually snapped off without damage occurring. The user therefore avoids the hassle of picking up and placing each individual fingernail, as well as clumsily applying glue to each finger from a separate container. The user can then use file 10 to shape and/or trim nails 15 as desired. The file can further be used to eliminate any portion of stem 20 that remains on the nail after detachment. The process can be repeated for any remaining fingernails or toenails.

[0067] The disclosed device can also be provided as part of kit 70, as shown in FIG. 7. For example, a plurality of different devices 5 can be included within the kit. Each device can vary with regard to size, length, and/or shape of nails 15. In some embodiments, the nails can also vary by design (e.g., paint color, adornment, and the like). The kit further includes a plurality of optional accessories (e.g., polish 46 and glue pen 47), which can include nail glue pens, nail polish, etc. The user can select a desired device and pair it with a desired accessory. When the user is finished with the accessory or device, a new version can be mixed and matched.

[0068] The disclosed nail application device offers many advantages over prior art devices. For example, device 5 allows for quick and easy application of nails 15 to a user's natural nails.

[0069] Each of the plurality of nails can be removed from the file individually without moving the remaining nails.

[0070] The device also allows users to easily control where fingernails 15 are placed.

[0071] The disclosed device allows a user to apply glue and then a desired nail to the user's natural nail using a single hand without picking up and switching multiple items.

[0072] Device 5 increases safety by reducing or eliminating contact between nail glue or other harmful materials and a user's skin.

[0073] In embodiments that include housing 25, a user can easily attach accessory 45 (e.g., a nail glue pen) to the device.

[0074] Exemplary embodiments of the methods and components of the presently disclosed subject matter have been described herein. As noted elsewhere, these embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes only, and are not limiting. Other embodiments are possible and are covered by the presently disclosed subject matter. Such embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.