Patent Application
20070227934
The present invention relates to human nail decorations, and more specifically the invention pertains to the packaging and selection of preformed artificial nails and nail color for placement over and adherence to human nails.
Well manicured hands and feet present a polished, professional appearance. A major factor in such a manicured appearance is the presentation of ones nails. Many individuals are unable or unwilling, however, to grow or maintain healthy nails of a desired length or uniformity. Alternately, they may not have the time, skill, or financial wherewithal to maintain or obtain a more finished appearance that may result from well manicured and/or polished nails. As a result, entire industries have developed around the artificial supplementation and enhancement of natural nails.
Such enhancements may range from manicuring and polishing of natural fingernails to individually building artificial nails on the natural nail and a tip and/or nail form from an acrylic powder and liquid which chemically bond to the nail surface as the artificial nail is built. Prior to application of an acrylic nail, a bonding agent or primer is applied directly to the natural nail. Typically, a form is placed subjacent the free edge of the user's finger nail or a tip portion is applied to the finger nail when the user desires a lengthening of the natural nail. Acrylic nails are built up and formed directly on the user's own finger nail and the form and/or tip from a mixture of an acrylic liquid (typically methacrylate ester) and an acrylic powder (typically methacrylate copolymer). The operator then dips an applicator brush in the liquid and powder are mixed together to provide a flowable acrylic resin that is repeatedly brushed over the length of the nail and tip and/or form to develop an acrylic nail. The acrylic literally bonds with the user's own fingernail. Although kits are available for home fabrication of such acrylic nails, acrylic nails are typically formed in salons. While such acrylic nails are relatively durable, the process of fabricating acrylic nails is time consuming and can be expensive. The use of acrylic nails also requires regular maintenance as the user's natural nails grow out. Finally, because the acrylic bonds to the nail surface, removal of such acrylic nails from the user's natural nails requires particular chemicals or mechanically prying the developed acrylic nail from the natural nail surface, and can still result in damage to the natural nail.
So-called gel tips are similarly built up directly on the user's natural nail, generally following the placement of a tip. The tip itself may be adhered to the natural nail using an adhesive or a fluid gel overlay, typically an ethyl cyanoacrylate, strengthening the line between the natural nail and artificial tip if desired. The fluid gel overlay is then brushed over the entire nail and tip, if utilized. Optionally, the wet nail is then dipped into a powder substance (typically an ethyl methacrylate), and this process repeated. Finally, a gel activator, typically an ethyl acetate, is then applied, generally by brush or spray, to set the gel overlay. The finished nail is then buffed smooth.
Between these two extremes (of time-consuming manicures and the creation of acrylic or gel nails directly on the user's natural nail) are preformed, artificial nails that are glued or otherwise bonded to a person's own naturally occurring fingernails. Such nails are readily available to a wide range of users through drug and department stores. Such preformed artificial nails may be clear or opaque, and/or prepolished and/or decorated to provide the desired appearance. Preformed artificial nails provide users with a relatively quick and economical means by which to provide a polished, manicured appearance.
Such preformed artificial nails are traditionally made of plastic materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene or polypropylene and are secured to the user's nail with an adhesive. The preformed nails may be removed using commonly available acetone nail polish remover, which dissolves the adhesive to separate the preformed nail from the natural nail. Preformed artificial nails may either be polished or decorated once applied, or the preformed nail may include color and/or other decoration prior to application. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “artificial nail” shall mean an artificial nail that is molded, by injection molding or other method of fabrication, into a complete, discrete nail that may then be secured to the user's natural nail, rather than a nail that is formed directly on the user's nail, as with the acrylics and gels described above.
Preformed artificial nails are provided in a variety of lengths to extend the free edge of the user's nail from a relatively short, sportier amount to relatively long, glamorous lengths. Moreover, the free edge of such artificial nails is provided in a variety of shapes to meet the user's preference generally as to how one might file one's own nails. The distal free edge may have any of various lengths and shapes, such as oval, square, or flared, depending upon the desired look. Additionally, to further simulate a natural fingernail, the artificial nail is typically formed with a curvature between a first side edge and a second side and a curvature between the proximate and distal edges.
Preformed artificial nails are traditionally supplied in either a full nail form or a nail tip form. As indicated by the name, full nails simulate a complete nail, including nail bed and free edge and are adhered thereto, covering the entire nail, including the nail bed and free edge of the nail. The proximate edge is shaped to be disposed substantially adjacent or abut against the cuticle of the finger. In contrast, nail tips do not simulate the complete nail, but, rather, only the free edge and, typically, a small extended portion to cover only a portion of the nail bed in order to facilitate attachment to the nail. In use, nail tips are secured to the edge of the nail bed adjacent the free edge and the tip only.
While artificial nails and polishes provide convenient and economical ways to enhance the appearance of one's natural nails, the wide selection of artificial nails and nail colors and combinations available can be overwhelming to the user. No only are given nail colors typically more complementary certain tones evidenced by the user's own features, but particular colors may not be particularly suited for all possible users. While this phenomenon is most apparent in the use of so-called French manicure-type artificial nails and French manicure polishes inasmuch as the French manicure is generally intended to simulate a very well manicured natural-looking nail, it is likewise applicable to a wide range of nail colors. Unfortunately, however, a potential user is provided no guidance in the selection of the most appropriate nail colors for the user's own features among the literally hundreds of artificial nails and nail colors available on the market today.
The invention comprises an arrangement that facilitates user identification of desirable nail color configuration. The arrangement comprises a combination of a rendition comprising at least one user identifier and at least one corresponding nail color configuration identifier to be associated with said user identifier, and at least one of a bottle of nail polish and/or a plurality of artificial nails corresponding to said nail color configuration identifier. The rendition may be provided on the product or product packaging itself, or a rendition separate from the product itself, such as a chart, pamphlet, display board or card. The at least one user identifier may be in the form of either graphic or written identification of user skin tone, user foundation color, and/or user ethnicity.
The at least one corresponding nail color configuration identifier comprises an identifier unique to one or a group of nail colors. The nail color configuration identifier may be, for example, one or more of a color name, identifying product number and/or letter or the like, type, graphic indicia, product decoration, package or package insert color or shape, or graphic representation of color, as, for example, by a sample of the color or an artificial nail displaying such color or configuration. The nail color configuration identifier may be for a single such color or for a group of colors. The nail color configuration identifier may further include an arrangement for sampling or trying a sample nail on the user's natural nail by allowing the user to place a finger under or adjacent a sample artificial nail displaying such color or configuration.
Thus, the invention provides invaluable guidance to the potential user as to the colors or configurations of nail polish color or artificial nails that would be appropriate for the user's unique characteristic tone or tones. The combination of the rendition and the actual product in near proximity allows the potential user to rapidly narrow and identify desirable product from the voluminous polish shades and artificial nails available.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following summary and detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements, there is illustrated in
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an arrangement that facilitates user identification of selected, appropriate nail color configuration(s). The arrangement comprises a rendition 50 comprising at least one user identifier 52 and at least one corresponding nail color configuration identifier 54 to be associated with the user identifier, in combination with at least one of the bottle of nail polish 42 and/or the package 22 of the plurality of artificial nails 24 corresponding to the nail color configuration identifier 54.
The rendition 50 may be provided at any appropriate location. In the embodiment of
Similarly, the at least one corresponding nail color configuration identifier 54 comprises an identifier unique to one or a group of nail colors. In the illustrated embodiment of
The nail color configuration identifier 54 may further include an arrangement for sampling or trying a sample nail on the user's natural nail by allowing the user to place a finger proximate to or under a sample artificial nail displaying such color or configuration. As shown in the display board 56a of
As shown in
While the renditions 50, 50a of
While the rendition 50 has been illustrated as separate from the product, alternately, either the product 24, 42 or product packaging 20, 44, 46 itself or an enclosure may include the rendition. For example, as shown in
Similarly, in
In summary, the invention provides a rendition 50 of at least one user identifier 52 and at least one coordinated product color configuration identifier 54. The product color configuration identifier 54 corresponds to an actual product in the form of at least one of a plurality of artificial nails 24 or a nail polish 42. In this way, the invention guides the potential user as to the colors or configurations of nail polish color or artificial nails that would be appropriate for the user's unique characteristic tone or tones. The combination of the rendition and the actual product in near proximity allows the potential user to rapidly narrow and identify desirable product from the voluminous polish shades and artificial nails available.
While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, variations of the preferred embodiments can be used, and it is intended that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
All of the references cited herein, including patents, patent applications, and publications, are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference.
