ARTIFICIAL NAIL TIPS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The description herein relates generally to artificial nail tips.

BACKGROUND

Artificial nail tips are tips that can be applied to one's nails. Artificial nail tips have been used as an alternative to painting fingernails and/or growing nails longer. Artificial nail tips are easy to use and typically provided in one solid color or multiple colors. Artificial nail tips are often used to convey a sense of fashion and act as an accessory.

One recent trend for nail applications is applying a coat of colors in a way to create color gradient, or an ombré effect, which creates a visual gradation from a first color to a second color on the nail tips. This change in color is aesthetically pleasing. Typically, the ombré effect is coated onto the top layer of a nail tip or artificial nail tip.

SUMMARY

Artificial nail tips may have an ombré effect coated onto the top layer of the nail tips. A problem with this implementation, however, is that if the ombré effect is coated onto the top layer, it is easy to file off, scrape off, chip off, or otherwise inadvertently remove. This is especially problematic during application of the artificial nail tips to the fingernails by nail technicians or DIY consumers as it is often desirable to file the artificial nail tip down to a preferred shape or length. It has been discovered that one way to avoid accidental removal is to embed the color into the nail tip itself, instead of coating the ombré effect on the top layer. In the present embodiments, injection molding is used to inject color into the material of the nail tips and molded in a manner such that an ombré effect is created and entirely incorporated into the body of the artificial nail tips. The present artificial nail tips achieve an ombré effect color blending by using a translucent mixture that yields a color gradient from clear to opaque based on a variable thickness of the nail tip.

According to an embodiment, there is provided an artificial nail tip for attaching onto a nail. The artificial nail tip comprises a nail bed end and a free end that are connected by a middle nail portion. The thickness of the artificial nail tip is a gradient that is thinnest at the nail bed end and thickest at the free end and gradually increases in thickness in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end. The artificial nail tip comprises a consistent translucent mixture throughout the artificial nail tip. Due to a balancing of the thickness gradient and the translucent mixture, the artificial nail tip has a color gradient that conveys a clear color at the nail bed end and an opaque color at the free end and increases in opacity in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end.

In some embodiments, the color gradient displays an ombré effect.

In some embodiments, the opaque color at the free end is white.

In some embodiments, the opaque color at the free end is black.

In some embodiments, the opaque color at the free end is a solid color.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the artificial nail tip affects the color of the artificial nail tip.

In some embodiments, the thicker the artificial nail tip is, the more opaque the color of the artificial nail tip.

In some embodiments, the thinner the artificial nail tip is, the more clear the color of the artificial nail tip.

In some embodiments, the opacity of the artificial nail tip is directly proportional to the thickness of the artificial nail tip.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the artificial nail tip ranges from 0.05 mm at the nail bed end to 2 mm at the free end.

In some embodiments, the mixture comprises polymethyl methacrylate and a color powder.

In some embodiments, the color powder comprises titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent.

In some embodiments, the mixture comprises between 500 g to 2000 g of the polymethyl methacrylate.

In some embodiments, the mixture comprises between 0.5 g to 2 g of the titanium dioxide powder.

In some embodiments, the mixture comprises between 0.005 g to 0.1 g of the whitening agent.

In some embodiments, the ombré effect cannot be filed or scraped off the artificial nail tip.

In some embodiments, the nail is a fingernail or a toenail.

In some embodiments, the artificial nail tip is wider at the nail bed end than at the free end.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing an artificial nail tip for attaching onto a nail. The method comprises creating a translucent mixture comprising polymethyl methacrylate, titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent, wherein these ingredients are mixed consistently throughout. The method comprises depositing the mixture into an injection molding machine. The method comprises injection molding the artificial nail tip using a mold of the injection molding machine, wherein the artificial nail tip comprises a nail bed end and a free end that are connected by a middle nail portion, wherein the mold produces the artificial nail tip as having a thickness gradient that is thinnest at the nail bed end and thickest at the free end and gradually increases in thickness in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end. Due to a balancing of thickness gradient and the translucent mixture, the artificial nail tip has a color gradient that conveys a clear color at the nail bed end and an opaque color at the free end and increases in opacity in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an ombré effect.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an artificial nail tip, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the artificial nail tip to show the thicknesses of the nail tip, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4A illustrates a view facing the nail bed end of the artificial nail tip, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4B illustrates a view facing the free end of the artificial nail tip, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5A illustrates a finger and its nail, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5B illustrates the artificial nail tip attached to the finger on the nail, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for manufacturing the artificial nail tip, according to an embodiment.

FEATURES

- 1 Artificial nail tip
- 11 Nail bed end
- 12 Middle nail portion
- 13 Free end
- 21 Topside
- 22 Underside
- 30 Middle line
- 31 Left edge
- 32 Right edge
- 33 Bottom edge
- 34 Top edge
- 50 Finger
- 60 Fingernail
- 100 Ombré effect
- 101 First color region
- 102 Intermediate color region
- 103 Second color region
- 600 Method
- d11 Thickness of the nail bed end
- d13 Thickness of the free end

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Artificial nail tips are popular, especially tips with colors that are in vogue. One recent trend is having nails that display a color gradient, or an ombré effect, which creates a visual gradation from a first color to a second color on the nail tips. This change in color is aesthetically pleasing. The ombré effect is typically generated by coating the ombré effect onto an artificial nail tip. However, one of the challenges of coating an ombré effect onto the artificial nail tip is it can easily be removed. Filing, scraping, or chipping can remove the ombré effect coating, for example. With a top layer coating, it is easy to accidentally file, scrape, or chip off the ombré effect color. As a result, users may inadvertently need to replace nail tips that have the ombré effect coating and do so more frequently.

Advantageously, in the present artificial nail tip(s), the color of the artificial nail tip is injection molded into the artificial nail tip itself, instead of being coated onto the artificial nail tip. As a result, the ombré effect color gradient is embedded into the entirety of the artificial nail tip and cannot be accidentally and/or otherwise easily removed. Injection molding, for example, may be used to make the present artificial nail tip(s). However, injection molding typically uses a well-blended mixture of one or more materials. This makes it difficult to create the ombré effect using injection molding. For example, it may be difficult to blend two colors to create the ombré effect if only one mixture can be injected into the mold. In order to achieve a clear and/or other color ombré effect using injection molding, a translucent mixture is injected into a mold with a thickness gradient, so that an artificial nail with the ombré effect is formed. The thicker a mold cavity with the translucent mixture is, the more opaque the color will be at that position in the nail tip. At the thinnest portion of the nail tip, the translucent mixture appears clear. At the thickest portion of the nail tip, the translucent mixture appears opaque. In the middle of the nail tip, where the nail tip is of an intermediate thickness, the translucent mixture will blend the clear color and the solid color. As a result, the present artificial nail tip has the ombré effect and can be produced using injection molding.

FIG. 1 illustrates an ombré effect 100. The ombré effect 100 is defined as a visual gradation from a first color region 101 to a second color region 103. An intermediate color region 102 is positioned between the first color region 101 and the second color region 103 and has an intermediate color that transitions between the two colors. As a result, the ombré effect 100 shows a color gradient, where the color gradually transitions from the first color to the second color via the intermediate color. The intermediate color region 102 can also be described as a region that blends together the first color and the second color. The color regions 101, 102, and 103 are approximate and not rigid. For example, the first color region 101 could extend further before reaching the intermediate color region 102. Alternatively, the second color region 103 could occupy a greater percentage of the ombré effect 100. Further, it is not necessary that the first color region 101 be white and the second color region 103 be black as shown in FIG. 1. Any other color can be used, so long as the first color region 101 and the second color region 103 are comprised of different levels of transparency. Additionally, a clear color can be used for one of the color regions. In some embodiments, for artificial nail tips having the ombré effect, the first color region may be clear and the second color region may be a solid color. This will be described in further detail below.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an artificial nail tip 1, according to an embodiment. A topside 21 of the nail tip 1 is visible in FIG. 2. The topside 21 of the nail tip 1 has a smooth surface. The artificial nail tip 1 has a raindrop or candy corn shape with the top flattened. This shape is one representative example of many possible shapes. In this example, the artificial nail tip 1 is defined at the bottom with a substantially horizontal base, labeled as bottom edge 33, having rounded edges which lead to the vertical left edge 31 and right edge 32 that are inwardly inclined. The bottom portion of the artificial nail tip 1 can be called a nail bed end 11. Nail bed end 11 is configured to be attached to a user's fingernail. The middle portion of the artificial nail tip 1 includes the pair of vertical edges, the left edge 31 and the right edge 32, that continue upward and inward. The middle portion of the nail tip 1 can be called a middle nail portion 12. The top portion of the artificial nail tip 1 includes the vertical edges, the left edge 31 and the right edge 32, that end at a top (substantially) horizontal tip, labeled as top edge 34. The top portion of the nail tip 1 can be called a free end 13. The free end 13 and the nail bed end 11 of the artificial nail tip 1 are connected together by the middle nail portion 12. Note again that the shape of the artificial nail tip 1 is not limited to the above description. For example, instead of rounded edges at the nail bed end 11, the edges can be sharp angles. Further, instead of vertical edges that incline inward as seen in the left edge 31 and the right edge 32, the vertical edges can be parallel or even extend outward. Additionally, instead of the top horizontal tip, shown as the top edge 34, for the free end 13, a pointed tip may be used to form a true raindrop or candy corn shape, for example.

The artificial nail tip 1 has a height (out of the page in the negative z-direction) that is greatest along middle line 30. The peak of the nail tip 1 along the middle line 30 is a rounded and smooth top. Moving away from middle line 30 in either direction along the x-axis, the nail tip 1 curves more and more downward. At the left edge 31 and the right edge 32, the heights of the nail tip 1 are the lowest. All inclines in the nail tip 1 are gradual, forming a smooth surface. When viewed as a whole, the topside 21 of the artificial nail tip 1 is convex. FIGS. 4A and 4B shows the convex nature of the topside 21. The reason for this shape is that the nail tip 1 is configured for affixing to a human fingernail. As a result, the nail tip 1 follows the shape of a fingernail.

A length L of the artificial nail tip 1 is in the y-direction of FIG. 2. The length L of the nail tip 1 can be measured as the distance between the bottom edge 33 and the top edge 34. In some embodiments, the length L of the nail tip 1 may be between about 1 cm and about 4 cm. For example, the length L of the artificial nail tip 1 may be about 2.5 cm. The width of the artificial nail tip 1 is measured as the distance between the left edge 31 and the right edge 32. Since the left edge 31 and the right edge 32 are inclined, the width of the nail tip 1 changes depending on the position measured on the nail tip 1. The width of the artificial nail tip 1 (in the x-direction of FIG. 2) is wider at the nail bed end 11 than at the free end 13. In some embodiments, a width w11 of the artificial nail tip 1 at the widest part of the nail bed end 11 may be between about 0.5 cm and about 2 cm. For example, the width w11 of the artificial nail tip 1 at the nail bed end 11 may be about 1.3 cm. In some embodiments, a width w13 of the artificial nail tip 1 at the top edge 34 of the free end 13, where the width of the nail tip 1 is smallest, may be between about 0.2 cm and about 1.0 cm. For example, the width w13 of the artificial nail tip 1 at the top edge 34 of the free end 13 may be about 0.7 cm.

The thickness may be uniform across a width (in the x-direction) of the nail tip 1. Any cross-section taken of the artificial nail tip 1 in the x- and z-directions may have a uniform thickness, for example. In some embodiments, the thickness of the artificial nail tip 1 is a gradient that is thinnest at the bottom edge 33 of the nail bed end 11 and thickest at the top edge 34 of the free end 13 and gradually increases in thickness in the middle nail portion 12 from the nail bed end 11 to the free end 13. The thickness in the middle nail portion 12 is an intermediate thickness that is thicker than the nail bed end 11 yet thinner than the free end 13. In FIG. 2, the thickness of the artificial nail tip 1 is in the z-direction (into the page) and cannot be discerned from the figure. See FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B below for drawings that show the thicknesses of the nail tip 1.

In some embodiments, the ombré effect for the nail tip 1 blends a clear color and a white color (but any other color may be substituted for the white color). Further, the artificial nail tip 1 comprises a consistent translucent mixture throughout the artificial nail tip 1. The translucent mixture may be made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) transparent plastic particles, as one example material, and a color powder, which includes titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent, again for example. In this example, the PMMA particles provide the mixture with its clear color, while the color powder gives the mixture its white color. In some embodiments, 500-2000 g by weight of the PMMA particles, 0.5-2 g by weight of the titanium dioxide powder, and 0.005-0.1 g by weight of the whitening agent are added to create the translucent mixture. Further details of the mixture are provided below. However, the solid color is not limited to white. The color powder can be adjusted to create any opaque color, including black, red, etc.

By using a translucent mixture, the thickness of the nail tip 1 at a certain position along the nail tip 1 affects the color of the nail tip 1 at that position. Where the thickness of the nail tip 1 is thinnest (at the bottom edge 33 of the nail bed end 11), there is only a small amount of translucent mixture, which allows light to pass through, creating a clear color. On the other hand, where the thickness of the nail tip 1 is thickest (at the top edge 34 of the free end 13), the much greater quantity (thickness) of translucent mixture block light from passing through, creating an opaque color. Between these two extremes (at the middle nail portion 12), the color transitions from nearly clear to nearly opaque in conjunction with the increase in thickness of the nail tip 1. In other words, the opacity of the nail tip 1 is directly proportional to the thickness of the nail tip 1. As a result, the thickness of the nail tip 1 at a specific position determines its color in the spectrum between clear and a solid color.

By using the translucent mixture in a thickness gradient, a color gradient results that conveys a clear color at the nail bed end 11 where the nail tip 1 is thinnest and an opaque color at the free end 13 where the nail tip 1 is thickest. As a result, the color gradient of the nail tip 1 blends two colors for the ombré effect. In this case, the first color is the clear color and the second color is the opaque color. In this example, the opaque color is white, but it can also be black or red or any other solid color.

Since a clear color is difficult to convey in FIG. 2, a light color represents the clear color at the nail bed end 11. The nail bed end 11 in FIG. 2 is equivalent to the first color region 101 of FIG. 1. The nail bed end 11 comprises a region having primarily a first color. This first color is the clear color. Further, a dark color represents the opaque color at the free end 13. The free end 13 in FIG. 2 is equivalent to the second color region 103 of FIG. 1. The free end 13 comprises a region having primarily a second color. This second color is the opaque color. As a result, an intermediate color is shown at the middle nail portion 12 between the light color and the dark color that is a combination of the two colors. The middle nail portion 12 in FIG. 2 is equivalent to the intermediate color region 102 of FIG. 1. The middle nail portion 12 comprises a region having a blend between the first color and the second color. The middle nail portion 12 blends the clear color with the opaque color. It is re-emphasized that the opaque color can be changed as desired. Any solid color can be used as the dark color of the free end 13. In a preferred embodiment, the opaque color is white, but the opaque color could alternatively be black, red, pink, violet, etc.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the artificial nail tip I used to show the thicknesses of the nail tip 1. FIG. 3 shows a view of the artificial nail tip 1 of FIG. 2 in the y- and z-directions. For simplicity, the ombré effect has been omitted from FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the artificial nail tip 1 after it has been cut along the middle line 30 in FIG. 2. By cutting open the artificial nail tip 1, the internal thicknesses of the nail tip 1 from the nail bed end 11 through the middle nail portion 12 and to the free end 13 can be observed. The internal thicknesses are the thicknesses between the two arrows of thickness d11 and the two arrows of thickness d13. FIG. 3 shows the different thicknesses of the nail tip 1 from the nail bed end 11 to the free end 13. The thickness varies along the length (in the y-direction) of the nail tip 1. The thickness gradually increases from the nail bed end 11 where it is the thinnest to the free end 13 where it is the thickest. On the other hand, the thickness is uniform across a width (in the x-direction of FIG. 2) of the nail tip 1. As a result, any cross-section taken of the artificial nail tip 1 in the x- and z-directions will have a uniform thickness.

The artificial nail tip 1 has an underside 22, which is now visible due to the curvature of the nail tip 1 bending down at the edges of the nail tip 1. The underside 22 is on the opposite side of the topside 21. The underside 22 of the nail tip 1 also has a smooth surface similar to the topside 21. It is possible for the underside 22 to have the same surface texture or a different surface texture from that of the topside 21. For example, underside 22 may have a roughened or scored surface texture to promote attachment to a user's fingernail, while topside 21 may be smooth to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

The thickness of the nail tip 1 is smallest at the bottom edge 33 of the nail bed end 11. In some embodiments, at the nail bed end 11, the nail tip 1 can have a thickness d11 in the range of 0.05 mm-0.2 mm. For example, the thickness d11 of the artificial nail tip 1 at the nail bed end 11 may be about 0.1 mm. Having a thickness d11 in this range allows for the translucent mixture to produce a clear color at the nail bed end 11. On the other hand, the thickness of the nail tip 1 is largest at the top edge 34 of the free end 13. In some embodiments, at the free end 13, the nail tip 1 can have a thickness d13 in the range of 1 mm-2 mm. For example, the thickness d13 of the artificial nail tip 1 at the free end 13 may be about 1.5 mm. Having a thickness d13 in this range allows for the translucent mixture to produce a solid color at the free end 13. Along the middle nail portion 12, the thickness progressively increases from the nail bed end 11 to the free end 13. As a result, the thickness of the artificial nail tip 1 can range anywhere from 0.05 mm at the nail bed end 11 all the way up to 2 mm at the free end 13. Further, in some embodiments, the ratio of the thickness d13 of the free end 13 to the thickness d11 of the nail bed end 11, or d13:d11, can be in the range of 5:1 up to 40:1. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the thickness ratio d13:d11 can be 15:1.

FIG. 4A illustrates a view facing the nail bed end 11 of the artificial nail tip 1. FIG. 4A shows the thickness d11 of the nail bed end 11. The thickness d11 is uniform across the width (in the x-direction) of the nail tip 1. In FIG. 4A, the left edge 31 is positioned on the left side, and the right edge 32 is positioned on the right side. The topside 21 and the underside 22 of the artificial nail tip 1 are on opposite sides of the nail tip 1. The shape of the topside 21 is convex, and the shape of the underside 22 is concave. The topside 21 faces the outside environment, while the underside 22 faces a fingernail of the wearer. The topside 21 is exposed for all to see and not covered. On the other hand, the underside 22 is hidden from view as it is in contact with the wearer's nail. The topside 21 and the underside 22 each are comprised of a half ellipse, with the topside 21 having a larger half ellipse than the underside 22. The difference in radius of the semimajor axis between the half ellipses of the topside 21 and the underside 22 is the thickness d11 of the nail bed end 11. However, it is noted that the shape of the topside 21 and the underside 22 need not be half elliptical. For example, the shape can be oval or circular instead. Since the nail bed end 11 is affixed to the wearer's nail, the shape of the nail bed end 11 must conform to the shape of the nail. As a result, any shape that can fit onto a person's nail can be used.

FIG. 4B illustrates a view facing the free end 13 of the artificial nail tip 1. FIG. 4B shows the thickness d13 of the free end 13. The thickness d13 is uniform across the width (in the x-direction) of the nail tip 1. In FIG. 4A, the left edge 31 is positioned on the right side, and the right edge 32 is positioned on the left side. This is due to the fact that the view is from the top. Similar to the nail bed end 11, the topside 21 and the underside 22 of the free end 13 of the artificial nail tip 1 are on opposite sides of the nail tip 1. The shape of the topside 21 is convex, and the shape of the underside 22 is concave. The topside 21 faces the nail-tip wearer, while the underside 22 faces a nail of the wearer. The topside 21 is exposed for all to see and not covered. On the other hand, the underside 22 is hidden from view as it is in contact with the wearer's nail. The topside 21 and the underside 22 each are comprised of a semicircle, with the topside 21 having a larger semicircle than the underside 22. The difference in radius between the semicircles of the topside 21 and the underside 22 is the thickness d13 of the free end 13. However, it is noted that the shape of the topside 21 and the underside 22 need not be semicircular. For example, the shape can be oval or elliptical instead. In fact, since the free end 13 does not need to be attached to the wearer's nail, it can have any configuration. For instance, it could be in the shape of a half square or rectangle, or it could be triangular or half hexagonal. Any other configuration for the shape of the free end 13 can be used.

Comparing FIGS. 4A and 4B, it can be seen that the thickness d13 of the free end 13 is greater than the thickness d11 of the nail bed end 11. As stated above, in a preferred embodiment, the thickness d13 of the free end 13 may be about 1.5 mm, and the thickness d11 of the nail bed end 11 may be about 0.1 mm. Further, it can be seen that, in the x-direction, the width w11 of the nail bed end 11 is greater than the width w13 of the free end 13. As stated above, in an embodiment, the width w11 of the nail bed end 11 may be about 1.3 cm, and the width w13 of the free end 13 may be about 0.7 cm.

FIG. 5A illustrates a finger 50 and a fingernail 60. The finger 50 and the fingernail 60 of FIG. 5A do not have the artificial nail tip 1 affixed. FIG. 5A shows the finger 50 and the fingernail 60 prior to the attachment of the artificial nail tip 1. Alternatively, FIG. 5A could be showing a toe 50 and a toenail 60. In this example, it is the finger or toe of a human, but this is not necessarily the case. It could also be a finger or a toe of an animal.

FIG. 5B illustrates the artificial nail tip 1 affixed to the finger 50 on the fingernail 60. For simplicity, the ombré effect has been omitted from FIG. 5B. The nail bed end 11 of the artificial nail tip 1 is aligned with the nail bed of the fingernail 60. The underside 22 of the nail tip 1 (see FIGS. 4A-4B) is affixed to the top of the fingernail 60. The underside 22 of the artificial nail tip 1 can be attached to the fingernail 60 using gel, adhesive, glue, and/or any other material that will make the artificial nail tip 1 stick and remain attached to the fingernail 60. Additionally, the underside 22 of the artificial nail tip 1 can include an adhesive with backing paper. The backing paper can be removed from the adhesive for easy attachment of the nail tip 1 to the fingernail 60. Alternatively, the underside 22 of the nail tip 1 can have a roughened surface for better affixing properties to the fingernail 60. The underside 22 can have any surface that allows it to improve the bonding properties to the fingernail 60. The free end 13 of the artificial nail tip 1 extends past the tip of the fingernail 60. The free end 13 is not attached to the fingernail 60. Rather, it protrudes over the edge of the fingernail 60. The amount that the free end 13 sticks out over the fingernail 60 can be adjusted. FIG. 5B shows that the free end 13 protrudes well over the fingernail 60, but in other embodiments, the free end 13 can stick out just slightly over the edge of the fingernail 60. Alternatively, the free end 13 can end at the tip of the fingernail 60 such that the nail tip 1 and the fingernail 60 are of the same length. In a preferred embodiment, the free end 13 protrudes out well over the tip of the fingernail 60. By having the nail tip 1 much longer than the fingernail 60, the nail tip wearer has the option to file the nail tip 1 down to a desired length. Usually that length would be longer than the length of the fingernail 60.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for manufacturing the artificial nail tip 1. Creating the nail tip 1 is performed by obtaining needed raw materials, melting the materials into a mixture, and then injection molding the mixture into an artificial nail tip 1 mold. The artificial nail tip 1 of FIGS. 2-4 is manufactured through a series of steps. Additional steps can be added or subtracted to the method 400 in the manufacture of the nail tip 1.

At step 601, a translucent mixture is created. First, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), for example, transparent plastic particles are added. Between 500 g to 2000 g of the PMMA particles can be added to the mixture. In an embodiment, 1000 g of the PMMA particles are used in the mixture. PMMA raw materials are transparent and provide the clear color that can be seen at the nail bed end 13 of the nail tip 1. Additionally, the PMMA particles are also known as acrylic glass, which provides a hard yet smooth surface after melting and hardening. The composition of the artificial nail tip 1 is overwhelmingly made up of the PMMA particles.

Next, a color powder is added. The color powder gives the mixture its color. In this example, titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent comprise the color powder to create a white color, for example. An amount between 0.5 g to 2 g of the titanium dioxide powder and an amount between 0.005 g to 0.1 g of the whitening agent can be added to the mixture. In an embodiment, 1 g of the titanium dioxide powder and 0.01 g of the whitening agent are used in the mixture. In some embodiments, the ratio by weight of titanium dioxide powder to whitening agent can be in the range of 5:1 to 400:1. In an embodiment, the ratio by weight of titanium dioxide powder to whitening agent may be about 100:1. The titanium dioxide powder functions as a pigment to provide whiteness and opacity to the nail tip color. The whitening agent is added to enhance the appearance of white, causing a whitening effect. In effect, both color powders are used to make the mixture whiter. The white color of the artificial nail tip 1 can be observed at the free end 11 of the nail tip 1. From these quantities, it can be seen that the PMMA particles comprise the bulk of the mixture. The ratio by weight of PMMA particles to color powder can be in the range of 250:1 to 4000:1. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio by weight of PMMA particles to color powder may be about 1000:1. In other words, for every 1000 g of the PMMA particles, there is added 1 g of color powder.

Thereafter, the ingredients are mixed thoroughly and consistently throughout to create the translucent mixture. The PMMA particles and the color powder can be mixed together by hand or using a mixing machine. As a result of the mixing, the color powder will be homogenously mixed into the PMMA particles. The translucent mixture described above is for creating a white opaque color, but the invention is not limited to this. The translucent mixture can also create an opaque color that is black or red or any other solid color. This can be achieved by substituting the titanium dioxide powder and the whitening agent for color powders that change the color to black, red, or any other solid color.

At step 602, the translucent mixture created in step 601 is deposited into an injection molding machine. The translucent mixture can be deposited into the injection molding machine by pouring the mixture into a drum of the injection molding machine or by depositing a container that is filled with the translucent mixture into the injection molding machine, for example.

At step 603, the translucent mixture deposited in step 602 is injection molded using a mold of the injection molding machine. First, the translucent mixture is heated until it becomes a molten material. Molten material changes the mixture from a solid to a liquid form. By converting to liquid form, the molten material can be injected into the nail tip molds such that the molten material takes on the shape of the nail tip molds. The molten material is injected evenly into the mold. The amount of mixture is injected into a unit volume is the same throughout the entire space of the cavity. More mixture is not injected into some areas; less mixture is not injected into other areas. The same amount of mixture is applied to each region. By injecting the same amount, a thickness gradient can convey a clear color at the thinnest region (where the bottom edge 33 of the nail bed end 11 will be) and an opaque color at the thickest region (where the top edge 34 of the free end 13 will be). Thereafter, the molten material cools and hardens to the configuration of the mold. Last, the molded material is removed from the injection molding machine and is ready to be packaged. As a result, the molded material that is created is the artificial nail tip 1 of FIGS. 2-4.

The hollow portion of the mold of the injection molding machine is in the shape of the artificial nail tip 1 of FIGS. 2-4. The empty space of the mold coincides exactly with the shape of the nail tip 1. The cavity of the mold is wider at the bottom (where the bottom edge 33 of the nail bed end 11 will be) than at the top (where the top edge 34 of the free end 13 will be). Further, the cavity of the mold has a thickness gradient that is thinnest at the bottom (where the bottom edge 33 of the nail bed end 11 will be), increases in thickness along the middle (where the middle nail portion 12 will be), and thickest at the top (where the top edge 34 of the free end 13 will be).

The artificial nail tip 1 that comes out of the injection molding machine has a color gradient due to using the translucent mixture in a thickness gradient. The color gradient conveys a clear color at the nail bed end 11 where the nail tip 1 is thinnest and an opaque color at the free end 13 where the nail tip 1 is thickest. As a result, the color gradient of the nail tip 1 displays the ombré effect.

The artificial nail tip 1 can be manufactured one at a time as described, but method 600 may comprise manufacturing many nail tips 1 in one process. However, it is possible adjust the quantities of material described herein to manufacture one hundred, five hundred, or even one thousand artificial nail tips 1 in one pass.

By injecting the translucent mixture into the mold, the color gradient is embedded into the entire thickness of the nail tip 1. Consequently, the created ombré effect cannot be removed. Filing, scraping off, or chipping off the artificial nail tip 1 does not remove the ombré effect. Removing the top layers from the nail tip 1 will not substantially change the color of the nail tip 1. By creating a color gradient using injection molding, the ombré effect of the artificial nail tip 1 is accident-proof.

Various embodiments of the present systems and methods are disclosed in the subsequent list of numbered clauses:

1. An artificial nail tip for attaching onto a nail, comprising: a nail bed end and a free end that are connected by a middle nail portion; wherein the thickness of the artificial nail tip is a gradient that is thinnest at the nail bed end and thickest at the free end and gradually increases in thickness in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end; wherein the artificial nail tip comprises a consistent translucent mixture throughout the artificial nail tip; and wherein due to a balancing of the thickness gradient and the translucent mixture, the artificial nail tip has a color gradient that conveys a clear color at the nail bed end and an opaque color at the free end and increases in opacity in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end.

2. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the color gradient displays an ombré effect.

3. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opaque color at the free end is white.

4. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opaque color at the free end is black.

5. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opaque color at the free end is a solid color.

6. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thickness of the artificial nail tip affects the color of the artificial nail tip.

7. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thicker the artificial nail tip is, the more opaque the color of the artificial nail tip.

8. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thinner the artificial nail tip is, the more clear the color of the artificial nail tip.

9. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opacity of the artificial nail tip is directly proportional to the thickness of the artificial nail tip.

10. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thickness of the artificial nail tip ranges from 0.05 mm at the nail bed end to 2 mm at the free end.

11. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the mixture comprises polymethyl methacrylate and a color powder.

12. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the color powder comprises titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent.

13. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the mixture comprises between 500 g to 2000 g of the polymethyl methacrylate.

14. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the mixture comprises between 0.5 g to 2 g of the titanium dioxide powder.

15. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the mixture comprises between 0.005 g to 0.1 g of the whitening agent.

16. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the ombré effect cannot be filed or scraped off the artificial nail tip.

17. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the nail is a fingernail or a toenail.

18. The artificial nail tip of any of the previous clauses, wherein the artificial nail tip is wider at the nail bed end than at the free end.

19. A method of manufacturing an artificial nail tip for attaching onto a nail, comprising: creating a translucent mixture comprising polymethyl methacrylate, titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent, wherein these ingredients are mixed consistently throughout; depositing the mixture into an injection molding machine; injection molding the artificial nail tip using a mold of the injection molding machine, wherein the artificial nail tip comprises a nail bed end and a free end that are connected by a middle nail portion, wherein the mold produces the artificial nail tip as having a thickness gradient that is thinnest at the nail bed end and thickest at the free end and gradually increases in thickness in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end; and wherein due to a balancing of the thickness gradient and the translucent mixture, the artificial nail tip has a color gradient that conveys a clear color at the nail bed end and an opaque color at the free end and increases in opacity in the middle nail portion from the nail bed end to the free end.

20. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the color gradient displays an ombré effect.

21. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opaque color at the free end is white.

22. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opaque color at the free end is black.

23. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opaque color at the free end is a solid color.

24. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thickness of the artificial nail tip affects the color of the artificial nail tip.

25. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thicker the artificial nail tip is, the more opaque the color of the artificial nail tip.

26. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thinner the artificial nail tip is, the more clear the color of the artificial nail tip.

27. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the opacity of the artificial nail tip is directly proportional to the thickness of the artificial nail tip.

28. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the thickness of the artificial nail tip ranges from 0.05 mm at the nail bed end to 2 mm at the free end.

29. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the translucent mixture comprises polymethyl methacrylate and a color powder.

30. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the color powder comprises titanium dioxide powder and a whitening agent.

31. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the translucent mixture comprises between 500 g to 2000 g of polymethyl methacrylate.

32. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the translucent mixture comprises between 0.5 g to 2 g of the titanium dioxide powder.

33. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the translucent mixture comprises between 0.005 g to 0.1 g of the whitening agent.

34. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the ombré effect of the artificial nail tip cannot be filed or scraped off.

35. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the nail is a fingernail or a toenail.

36. The method of any of the previous clauses, wherein the artificial nail tip is wider at the nail bed end than at the free end.

The descriptions above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Thus, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made as described without departing from the scope of the claims set out below.

ARTIFICIAL NAIL TIPS

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