FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the art of ornamental accessories for human nails. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosure relates to forming, decorating, and fixing an artificial nail to a human nail.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The information provided below is not admitted to be. prior art to the present invention, but is provided solely to assist the understanding of the reader.

[0003] Consumers generally prefer long, attractive human nails which resist breaking and chipping. Many consumers also may have human nails that are damaged or contain imperfections or texturing that distract from the attractiveness. For example, nails may be chipped or have ridges and other imperfections.

[0004] The manicurist's art is an ancient profession; manicures and pedicures appear in the records and artwork of even the earliest civilizations. Current techniques in manicure treatments are often particularly elaborate. Manicurists are known to use ornamental accessories, applied to the human nail, that provide elaborate decoration made from thin, molded, synthetic sheets in the shape of a human nail.

[0005] Some of the problems associated with the synthetic fingernails are the poor quality of design over the entire curved surface of the fingernail, scratching of the design, and dissolvent of the design.

[0006] It would be desirable to provide an ornamental fingernail accessory that is flexible, durable, easily removable and reusable. SUMMARY

[0007] In order to meet this need, the following discloses an ornamental fingernail accessory (fingernail) for a human nail comprising: a reusable printed substrate having a shape and size approximating the shape and size of at least one of a human nail, wherein the ornamental fingernail accessory is achieved by; printing on a flat sheet, pre-forming the flat sheet, cutting the pre-formed flat sheet, fusing the cut pre-formed flat sheet to a substrate to obtain a fused substrate, and finishing the fused substrate to form the ornamental fingernail accessory for the human nail.

[0008] in embodiments, the ornamental accessory for a fingernail is manufactured by a process of printing a design or color on a flat sheet; pre-forming the sheet, cutting the sheet, fusing the sheet to a substrate; and finishing the substrate to form the ornamental accessory for the fingernail.

[0009] The disclosure also includes a cosmetic kit containing at least one individual ornamental accessory for a human nail having a shape and size approximating the shape and size of the human nail, a container for displaying the ornamental fingernail accessories, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a cleaning product, and a human nail preparation product.

[0010] In an embodiment the ornamental fingernail accessories is printed on a fiat sheet using a digital printing method or a serigraphy printing method. In an embodiment the flat sheet has a gloss finish. In another embodiment the flat sheet has a textured finish. In another embodiment the fiat sheet has a fiat finish and no texture.

[0011] In an embodiment the printed sheet is pre-formed to a three dimensional shape. The pre-forming step is accomplished by cold forming with a vacuum or thermoforming. Other means for preforming a flat sheet into a three dimensional shape can be accomplished by other methods known by those of skill in the art. Excess material on the preformed sheet is cut using a laser or a die to achieve a fingernail having the same size and shape as a human nail.

[0012] In an embodiment the pre-formed sheet is fused to a substrate by injection molding a melted substrate into a mold cavity containing the printed, pre-formed, cut sheet. In another embodiment the pre-formed sheet is fused to a substrate by pressing the melted substrate and the film together in a mold. In another embodiment the pre-formed sheet and substrate are fused using a vacuum. [0013] In an embodiment the fused sheet-substrate is polished, cured, and optionally engraved and provides ornamental fingernail accessories for a human nail. The ornamental fingernail accessory is attached to the human nail using a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of adhesive or glue.

[0014] In an embodiment the ornamental fingernail accessory for a human nail incorporates a design that matches elements found on a handbag, a shoe, or an article of clothing

[0015] Further objectives and advantages, as well as the structure and function of preferred embodiments will become apparent from a consideration of the description, drawings, and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a representation of a printed flat sheet.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a representation of the printed flat sheet pre-formed by thermoforming or cold forming by a vacuum.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a representation of pre-formed sheet cut to the size and shape of a human nail by a laser or a die cut.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a representation of cut pre-formed sheet fused with a substrate by injection molding or press molding.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a representation of an ornamental accessory for a fingernail with polished edges and optional ink curing,

[0022] FIG. 6 is a representation of an ornamental accessory for a fingernail engraved by a laser.

DESCRIPTION

[0023] Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. While a number of embodiments and features are described herein, it is to be understood that the various features of the invention and aspects of embodiments, even if described separately, may be combined unless mutually exclusive or contrary to the specific description. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had been individualiy incorporated.

[0024] The subject of this application an ornamental fingernail accessory for a human nail comprising: a reusable printed substrate having a shape and size approximating the shape and size of at least one of a human nail, wherein the ornamental fingernail accessory is achieved by; printing on a flat sheet, pre-forming the flat sheet, cutting the pre-formed flat sheet, fusing the cut pre-formed flat sheet to a substrate to obtain a fused substrate, and finishing the fused substrate to form the ornamental fingernail accessory for the human nail.

[0025] For purposes of this application a human nail is the natural nail of the finger or toe. The human nail also includes semi-permanent nail material that is applied to the natural nail. Examples include nail wraps, nail implants, or nail polish. Semi-permanent means the material applied to the human nail is intended to stay attached to the naif surface for at (east one week.

[0026] The term ornamental fingernail accessory is used interchangeably with fingernail or ornamental accessory for a fingernail in this application.

[0027] The ornamental accessory for a fingernail differs from the artificial nails currently found on the market by providing a specific substrate and flat sheet combination to maximize the printing, processing, and resistance of the ornamental accessory. Table 1 be!ow provides examples of substrate and fiat sheet combinations that may be used to create the fingernail

[0028] The use of a high-quality printing technology alone is not suitable for printing on a curved nail surface. The process disclosed here-in fuses the high-quality printed image with a specific substrate for manufacturing a fingernail with durability of the design against daily usage. This versatile process allows the ornamental accessory for a fingernail in a range of sophisticated designs. These designs can illustrate an aspect of a designer handbag, shoe, or an article of clothing for example. The designs are limited only by the end-user's imagination.

[0029] In an embodiment the technologies used for printing on a sheet can be used alone or together. In an embodiment screen printing is a print method in which a design is imposed on a screen of polyester flat sheet or other flat sheet having a fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance. Ink is forced into the mesh openings by a fill blade or squeegee and onto the printing surface during the squeegee stroke. It is also known as silkscreen, serigraphy, and serigraph printing. One co)or is printed at a time, so several screens can be used to produce a multi-colored image or design. This method allows for use of a variety of inks including, but not limited to, glittered, metallic, UV, and mirrored inks. In another embodiment digital printing on a flat sheet that has no mesh allows for a variety of color and images to be reproduced. (Figure 1).

[0030] As described above and shown in Table 1 the flat sheet used depends on the printing method used. The flat sheet can have for example a gloss finish, a smooth surface, textured surface, a mesh surface, a foil surface, or some combination of these surfaces.

[0031] The flat sheet is pre-formed into a shape that resembles a human nail by thermoforming or cold-forming or a combination of these processes.

[0032] The thermoforming process uses a machine with individual cavities having shapes and sizes of human nails (Fig. 4). Into each cavity a printed flat sheet is placed and a vacuum can optionally be applied to the closed cavity. The closed cavity is heated and causes the flat sheet to take the form of the cavity.

[0033] The film can be pre-formed by cold forming with a vacuum to achieve the shape of a human nail (as seen in Figure 2), Cold forming deforms the substrate without heating. The substrate is cold-formed into a desired shape, by placing the. substrate in the mold, closing the moid and applying a vacuum to the mold.

[0034] The printed pre-formed film when removed from the mold may need to be trimmed or cut to achieve the human nail shape and size. This can be done by cutting the film using a sharp device such as a knife or die cut or by using a laser cutting-die for example. (Figure 3), [0035] Thermoforming or injection is used to fuse the pre-formed trimmed sheet to a substrate. A molten resin is injected into the human nail shaped cavities so as to fill the cavities with the molten resin and not disturb the printed flat sheet. The molten resin flows into the cavity, the heat of the molten resin bonds to pre-formed sheet. After the completion of injection of the molten resin, the resin in the cavity is cooled by a cooling process. This solidifies the resin so as to form the printed fused substrate.

[0036] The printed substrate (fingernail) can be finished to remove any excess material or rough surfaces on the printed substrate by polishing with a machine buffer, hand buffer or fine sandpaper. The finish can be cured using a material that will provide shine, enhanced color, and smooth surface or other desirable feature to improve the look and feel of the preprinted substrate. (Figure 5).

[0037] The fingernail can be engraved with a laser to add a design. Figure 6 shows a non- limiting example of engraving. (Figure 6).

[0038} In an embodiment the ornamental accessory for the fingernail is packaged in a container, case or box having at least 1 fingernail approximating the shape and size of a human user's nail. The package can optionally contain together with the nails a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a cleaning product for cleansing the nail, and a nail preparation product.

[0039] The ornamental accessory for the fingernail is reusable in that the nail is attached to a user's fingernail with a pressure-sensitive adhesive or glue.

[0040] In an embodiment the pressure-sensitive adhesive may be a layer of at least a polymer or a polymeric system being comprised of one or more polymers of different nature. This adhesive can be presented in the form of a solution of polymer or a dispersion of polymer particles in a solvent.

[0041] This adhesive must be able to stick by its viscoelasiic properties. The viscoelasiic properties of a material are classically defined by characieristic values of elastic behavior of material for a given frequency and which is classically noted G', the viscous module which represents the viscous behavior of material for a given frequency and which is classically noted G ". These values are in particular defined in the "Handbook off Presses Sensitive Adhesive Technology" 3rd edition, D. Satas, chap. 9, p. 155 to 157. The adhesive usable according to the present invention present viscoe!astic properties which are measured at a temperature of reference of 35 °C and in a certain interval of frequencies. [0042] In the case of adhesive materials in the form of solution or of polymer dispersion in a volatile solvent (such as water, a short ester, a short alcohol, acetone...), one measures the viscoeiastic properties of this material under conditions under which it presents a content volatile solvent lower than 30%, and in particular a content volatile solvent lower than 20%. One measures in particular the elastic module of material at three different frequencies: at weak frequency, either to 2.10-2 Hz, at a frequency intermediate, or to 0,2 Hz, high frequency, or to 2 the viscous Hz, and module at the frequency of 0,2 Hz. These measurements make it possible to evaluate the evolution of the sticking capacity of adhesive the material over time.

[0043] These viscoeiastic properties are measured during dynamic tests under sinusoidal requests of low amplitude (small deformations) carried out with 35 °C on a beach of frequency going from 2.10-2 to 20 Hz on a rheometer of the type "Haake RS50®" under a request of torsion/shearing, for example in geometry cone-plan (for example with a taper angle of 1 °). Use of a polymer or a polymeric system being able to include one or more polymers of different nature selected among the adhesives of the type "Presses Sensitive Adhesive" (adhesive sensitive to the pressure) for example, as those quoted in the "Handbook off Presses Sensitive Adhesive Technology" 3 rd edition, D. Satas.

[0044] The adhesive materials according to the invention can in particular comprise polymers chosen among the copolymers blocks or statistics including/understanding at least a monomer or an association of monomers of which polymer resulting at a temperature from vitreous transition lower than the room temperature (25 °C), these monomers or associations of monomers being able to be selected among butadiene, ethylene, propylene, isoprene, isobutylene, a silicone, and their mixtures, The adhesive materials may be selected from adhesive polymers such as: acrylic poiyurethanes, polymers, butylic silicones, Bio-PSA, gums, the polymers ethylene- acetate of vinyl, polyamides possibly modified by fatty chains, natural gums, and their mixtures. Such polymers can moreover be used in an emulsion, for example, an emulsion of acrylic polymers, deriving from the copolymerization of vinyl monomers with polymeric entities such as for example those described in the US patent 6.136.296. Also appropriate are adhesive copolymers described in the US patent 5.929.173 having a polymeric skeleton, of Tg varying from 0 °C with 45 °C, grafted by chains deriving from acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers and having on the other hand varying Tg of 50 °C with 20O °C. The adhesive may comprise polymers chosen among the copolymers blocks or statistics including at least a monomer or an association of monomers of which polymer resulting at a temperature from vitreous transition lower than the room temperature (25 °C), these monomers or associations of monomers being able to be selected among butadiene, ethylene, propylene, isoprene, isobutyiene, a silicone, and their mixtures. Examples of such materials are the polymers blocks of the type styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene (ethyienebutylene) - styrene, styrene-isoprene-styrene. The adhesive materials may moreover comprise resins tackifiers, such as rosins or derived from rosin such as hydrogenated rosins, rosin esters, the hydrogenated rosin esters, terpenes, the aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon resins, the phenolic resins, the styrenic resins. Other examples include the compounds such as shellac.

[0045] The aforementioned adhesive material according to the invention can moreover contain a piasticizing agent. Among these plasticizing agents, one can for example choose: glycols and their derivatives such as the diethylene glycol ethyiether, the diethylene glycol methylether, the diethylene glycol butyl ether or the diethylene glycol hexylether, the ethylene glycol ethyiether, the ethylene glycol butyl ether, the ethylene glycol hexyl ether; glycol esters, propylene glycol derivatives and in particular the propylene glycol phenyl ether, the propylene glycol diacetate, the dipropyiene glycol butyl ether, the tripropylene glycol butyl ether, the propylene glycol methyl ether, the dipropyiene glycol ethyl ether, the tripropylene glycol methyl ether and the diethylene glycol methyl ether, the propylene glycol butyl ether, in particular carboxylic esters of acids such as citrates, in particular the citrate of triethyle, the citrate of tributyle, the acetylcitrate of triethyle, the acetylcitrate of tributyle, the acetyicitrate of triethyl-2 hexyl; phthalates, in particular the phthalate of diethyie, the dibutyl phthalate, the phthalate of dioctyle, the phthalate of dipentyle, the phthalate of dimethoxyethyle; phosphates, in particular phosphate of tricresyle, phosphate of tributyle, phosphate of triphenyle, phosphate of tributoxyethyle; tartrates, in particular tartrate of dibutyl; adipates; carbonates; sebacates; the benzyl benzoate, the acetylricinoleate of butyl, the acefylricinoleaie oi glyceryle, the glycolate of butyl, camphor, the triacetate of glycerol, N-ethyl-o, p-toiuenesulfonamide, derivatives oxyethy!enes such as oxyethylenes oils, in particular plant oils such as the castor oil; silicone oils, their mixtures.

[0046] The adhesive layer is not immediately affixed on the human naif or the fingernail, the aforementioned article is stored in a sheet with a removable backing or in a container before application to the nail.

Advantageously, the adhesive layer of the article comprises only little solvent, and can be removed when desired (i.e. removeably attached). [0047] The ornamental accessory for a fingernail is offered for sale in a container that will fit on a store shelf and can be opened or closed for display in a store. The individual nails must be held in one place inside the container and are fixed within the container so they will not move around. Any means that will hold the ornamental accessory for a fingernail in place without damage while still allowing the accessory to be removed from storage when ready for use is acceptable.

[0048] For purposes of this application a cleaning product is a solvent or cream that is not toxic to humans and removes dirt, grease, cream, soap, or residue found on a human nail or a fingernail. The cleaning product must not prevent the fingernail from adhering to the human nail.

[0049] The ornamental accessory for a fingernail is intended to be a fashion accessory that can be applied and removed whenever a user changes their handbag, shoes, or an article of clothing. The ornamental accessory would ideally mirror some aspect of the design of the handbag, shoes, or an article of clothing. An example would be use of a trademark design used by a fashion designer on articles of clothing, a purse, or a shoe.

[0050] Table 1 below presents examples of various substrates, flat sheets, printing, and processing that may be used to create an ornamental accessory for a fingernail. The substrate is listed in row one. The results for various printing forms, processing of the substrate, and resistance of the printed substrate to environmental assaults (chemicals, scratching, and water) are presented.

[0051] Table 1