CONTINUOUS CURVE FINGERNAIL ACRYLICS FORM WITH HANDLE TAB

AND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates generally to the field of cosmetics and fingernail care. More specifically the present invention relates to a form for molding an acrylic cosmetic fingernail on top of and extending forwardly from a fingernail. The form, preferably made of polypropylene to be readily removable from acrylic, includes a channel member with arched cross-section and curved along its length to define a member rim, preferably substantially contained within a plane, and a concave interior surface progressing rearwardly along a smooth and continuous curve to a cuticle rim end, the cuticle rim end being arched outwardly to meet and match the inward curve of a cuticle and progressing forwardly to an opposing forward rim end. A coating of fingernail acrylic is applied to the concave interior surface and then the concave interior surface is placed over and onto a fingernail with the cuticle rim end substantially abutting the fingernail cuticle, so that the layer of fingernail acrylic makes uniform contact with the surface of the fingernail. The smooth curve leading to the cuticle rim end forms the fingernail acrylic into a coating with a progressively increasing thickness along a continuous curve, forwardly from the cuticle, to provide a smooth, natural appearance.

A handle tab preferably extends from the member rim

generally co-planar with the member rim for gripping between user fingers to hold the form inverted and horizontally to deposit gel or acrylic into the channel member interior surface/ whether plain or with a design, and also to place and position the form onto a fingernail and also to overcome the adhesion of the acrylic and remove the form from the fingernail after the acrylic sets drys and cures. The handle tab preferably protrudes forwardly from the forward rlττ. er.d, although the handle tab or multiple handle tabs optionally protrude from other points along the rim or channel member outer surface. A form size number for matching the form with a particular size of fingernail preferably is printed or molded on top of the tab. The channel member outer surface optionally has a central longitudinal breaking groove, acting as a stress riser, dividing the channel member into a first channel member side portion and a second channel member side portion. The breaking groove permits the channel member to be broken into two side portions, for disengagement one side portion at a time.

For a second embodiment, not made of polypropylene, the form remains on the user fingernail, bonded to the nail with the acrylic, and itself becomes the cosmetic fingernail. 2. Description of the Prior Art;

There has previously been a type of nail acrylic form for coating with a layer of fingernail acrylic and placing onto the surface of a fingernail to deposit a layer of acrylic cnto the r.ail. A problem with the prior form known to the present applicant is that the cuticle end of the form has an abrupt step angling downwardly to the cuticle which is intended to keep the acrylic from leaking at the cuticle end, but which produces an unattractive and unnatural looking upward step and corner adjacent the cuticle area in the solidified acrylic. This prior form was the subject of a Spanish patent application, publication number 2 265 250, issued on January 2, 2007 to AbelIa Rodriguez, Yenis and Mayoral Moyano, and Juan

Manuel .

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a fingernail acrylic form which deposits acrylic onto a fingernail, so that the cured and solidified acrylic follows a smooth, continuous upward and forward curve from the cuticle area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a form which is easy to position and hold to receive gel or acrylic, and also to apply and remove from *vo fin"θJγ _^ S11 sftsir the ~>c-T"lic h€is solidified -

It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a form which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.

A form for depositing fingernail acrylic onto a fingernail, including a channel member with arched cross- section and curved along its length to define a member rim, and a concave member interior surface and a member outer surface progressing rearwardly along a smooth and continuous curve to a cuticle rim end, the cuticle rim end being arched outwardly to meet and match the inward curve of a cuticle and progressing forwardly to an opposing forward rim end; so that a coating of fingernail acrylic can be applied to the concave interior surface and then the concave interior surface can be placed over and onto a fingernail with the cuticle rim end substantially abutting the fingernail cuticle, so that the layer of fingernail acrylic makes uniform contact with the surface of the fingernail and the interior surface continuous curve leading to the cuticle rim end forms the fingernail acrylic into a coating with a progressively increasing thickness along a continuous curve, forwardly from the cuticle, to provide a smooth, natural appearance.

The member rim preferably is contained substantially

within a single geometric plane. The form preferably additionally including a form handle tab extending from the member rim for gripping between user fingers to receive gel or acrylic and optionally a design, and to place and position the form onto the fingernail and also to overcome adhesion of the fingernail acrylic and remove the form from a fingernail after fingernail acrylic solidifies. As noted, the member rim preferably is contained substantially within a single geometric plane, where the handle tab is generally co-planar with the member rim. The handle tab preferably protrudes forwardly from the forward rim end. i rie C i iαZlFic x incnuucj. u ii tc i. s ui. . &. c ^y-. <= _< . <_... c..^ .. ^ ......^. ._ — a longitudinal breaking groove, functioning as a stress riser and dividing the channel member into a first channel member side portion and a second channel member side portion; so that the breaking groove permits the channel member to be broken into two side portions, for disengagement one side portion at a time and thus with only part of the prying disengagement force at a time, from solidified fingernail acrylic. The form preferably further includes both the handle tab described above, the breaking groove extending over the handle tab, and also first and second removal tabs which protrude from opposing sides of the channel member rim in opposing directions, the first removal tab being for gripping to dislodge the first channel member side portion and the second removal tab being for gripping to dislodge the second channel member side portion. The breaking groove preferably extends substantially along the center of the channel member outer surface and handle tab upper surface.

The form preferably is formed of a plastic. The

A method of applying a form to a fingernail is provided, where the form includes a channel member with arched cross-section and curved along its length to define a member rim, and a concave member interior surface and a member outer surface progressing rearwardly along a smooth and continuous curve to a cuticle rim end, the cuticle rim

end being arched outwardly to meet and match the inward curve of a cuticle and progressing forwardly to an opposing forward rim end, the method including the steps of: depositing one of a gel and an acrylic onto the channel member interior surface; placing the form with the channel member interior surface oriented toward the fingernail and with the cuticle rim end adjacent the cuticle, such that the one of gel and acrylic contacts substantially the entire fingernail upper surface; permitting the one of gel and acrylic to substantially cure; and trimming the forward rim end away from the form such that a desired length of form and any underlying one of gel and acrylic remains attached to the fingernail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an upper perspective view of the present form.

FIGURE 2 is a lower perspective view of the present form.

Prior Art FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a prior form having step discontinuity along the interior surface at the form cuticle end, and a fingertip showing the shape of the solidified acrylic deposited by the prior form.

Prior Art FIGURE 4 is a side view of a fingertip having a cosmetic nail resulting from use of the prior art form of Prior Art FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the present form having the interior surface at the cuticle end with a smooth, continuous interior curvature, and a fingertip showing the shape of the solidified acrylic deposited by the prior form.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of a fingertip having a cosmetic nail resulting from use of the present form of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view as in FIGURE 1, with the addition of a central handle tab.

FIGURE 8 is a view as in FIGURE 7, with the addition of the longitudinal breaking groove dividing the channel member into first and second channel member side portions from which first and second removal tabs respectively protrude laterally.

FIGURE 9 is a view as in FIGURE 6 showing the second embodiment in which the form itself remains bonded to the underlying nail and becomes part of the cosmetic nail, functioning as a protective layer over the gel or acrylic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it. is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals .

First Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIGURES 1-2 and 5-6, a form 10 is disclosed for depositing and molding acrylic A onto the top a fingernail N to provide a cosmetic fingernail CF extending forwardly from the existing user fingernail N. The form 10 includes a channel member 20 with arched cross- section and curved along its length to define a member rim 26, and a ccr.cave nernber interior surface 2OA progressiva rearwardly along a smooth and continuous curve to a cuticle rim end 22, the cuticle rim end 22 being arched outwardly to meet and substantially match the inward curvature of a typical cuticle C and progressing forwardly to an opposing

forward rim end 24. A coating of fingernail acrylic A is applied to the concave interior surface 2OA and then the concave member interior surface 2OA is placed over and onto a fingernail N with the cuticle rim end 22 substantially abutting the fingernail cuticle C, so that the layer of fingernail acrylic A makes uniform contact with the surface of the fingernail N. The smooth curve of the concave interior surface 2OA leading to the cuticle rim end 22 forms the fingernail acrylic A coating into a shape having a progressively increasing thickness along a continuous curve, forwardly from the cuticle C, to provide a smooth and natural appearance.

A handle tab 40 preferably extends from the member rim 26 generally co-planar with the member rim 26 for gripping between user fingers so that the user can hold the form inverted while depositing gel or acrylic k on the interior surface 2OA and optionally form a design, and also to place the form 10 onto the fingernail N and also to overcome the adhesion of the acrylic A and remove the form 10 from the fingernail N after the acrylic A sets drys and cures . See FIGURE 7. The form handle tab 40 can be of any desired or suitable shape or size. The handle tab 40 preferably protrudes forwardly from the forward rim end 24, although the handle tab 40 or multiple handle tabs optionally protrude from other points along the member rim 26 or channel member outer surface 2OB. A form 10 size number N for matching the form 10 with a particular size of fingernail N preferably is printed or molded on top of the tab 40.

The channel member outer surface 2OB optionally has a central longitudinal breaking groove 28, acting as a stress riser, dividing the channel member 20 into a first channel member side portion 62 and a second channel member side portion 64. The breaking groove 28 permits the channel member 20 to be broken into two pieces, for disengagement one side portion 62 and 64 at a time and thus with one side portion 62 or 64 of the prying disengagement force at a time, from the cured fingernail acrylic A. For this

embodiment, the handle tab 40 preferably is provided for gripping between user fingers to initially place and position the form of the fingernail N as needed. The breaking groove 28 extends along the center of the handle tab 40 as well to break during form 10 removal as well. See FIGURE 8. In addition, first and second removal tabs 42 and 44 preferably protrude from opposing sides of the channel member rim 26 in opposing directions, the first removal tab 42 being for gripping to dislodge the first channel member side portion 62 and the second removal tab 44 being for gripping to dislodge the second channel member side portion 64.

This first embodiment of form 10 preferably is made of polypropylene to be readily dislodgable and removable from a user fingernail N, although the use of any other suitable plastic permitting such removal is contemplated.

Second Preferred Embodiment

A second embodiment of form 10 is not made of polypropylene and remains on the user fingernail N, bonded to the nail N with the gel or acrylic A, and itself becomes the cosmetic fingernail CF. See FIGURE 9. For this embodiment, the channel member 20 preferably is formed of transparent plastic and preferably is very thin. Channel member 20 functions as a protective layer on top of cured gel or acrylic A, shielding the gel or acrylic A from damage. The cross-sectional arch of the channel member 20 preferably has a smaller radius than that of the natural fingernail N to which it is applied, so that a gap is created between the channel member 20 and the fingernail N which is filled by the gel or acrylic A, for both the first and second embodiments of form 10 as recited here. This is preferably is The form 10 becomes the surface of a finished nail extension protecting the acrylic A, gel, and nail art underneath, leaving a glossy finish and shape every time. The embodiment results in three dimensional nail art and sculpts acrylic A and gel nails. Following curing of the gel or acrylic A, the forward rim end 24 of the channel member 20 together with any gel or acrylic A on the channel

member interior surface 2OA is trimmed away such as with scissors to the length and shape desired. Therefore the form 10 preferably includes a handle tab 40 for ease of placement on the fingernail N, since it is removed by subsequent trimming of the forward rim end 24. Once again, the tab 40 can be of any suitable shape or size.

Method

A method of using the form 10 of the second embodiment is provided, including the steps of: depositing gel or acrylic A onto the channel member interior surface 2OA; placing form 110 with the channel member interior surface 2OA oriented toward the fingernail N and with the cuticle rim end 22 adjacent the cuticle C such that the gel or acrylic A contacts substantially the entire fingernail N upper surface; permitting the gel or acrylic A to substantially cure; trimming the forward rim end 24 away from the form 110 so that a desired length of form 110 and underlying gel or acrylic A remains bonded to the fingernail N.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.