Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Wo91/12747 ~ ~ PCT/US90/00919
2~759~ 2
8ELF ADHE~Iv~ NAIL coATINGs
Background of the Invention and
DescriDtion of the Prior Art
The present invention relates to fingernail coatings or
press-on nails which are intended to provide an attractive,
finished-looking fingernail polished-looking coating. It is
quite common today for women's fingernails to be coated with
liquid enamel, which is dried by exposure to the air. The
drying time requires, of course, that the nails not come into
contact with any object, lest the nail coating become smudged or
smeared. In addition, it is currently quite fashionable for
French manicuring or polishing, i.e., applying a first coat of
liquid nail polish to the nails, allowing them to dry and then
superimposing thereon a partial second coat of liquid enamel to
create a fanciful design. For example, the first coat is
ordinarily a solid background of a first color, while the second
coating, after the first is dried, is applied only to the tip of
the nail, in a second color, or a set of diagonal stripes,
across the dried first layer of nail polish is provided. The
present invention relates to providing, in a simple and
efficient, relatively inexpensively, manner, a product which
allows fingernails to be quickly coated with a high-gloss,
enamel-look. The product can be of a single color for ordinary
looking fingernail polishing or, preferably, a fanaiful design
superimposed on a solid color background of nail polish enamel
can be provided for a French manicure look. The manicure or
freshly polished look, provided by the present invention, is
accomplished by directly adhering, by self-adhesive means, a
WO91/12747~ ~ PCT/US90/W919
2 2~7~9~ ~
fingernail coating to the nails, consisting of semi-solid nail
enamel. This, then eliminates application of liquid enamel to
the fingernails by manually brushing. Also, the prior art
method of applying a coat of liguid nail polish to the
fingernails suffers from the disadvantage that uniformity of
thickness of application is extremely difficult, often resulting
in a portion or all of one nail being coated with more nail
polish than another portion or all of another nail. This lack
of uniformity often caused the wearer to remove the polish,
after drying, and then reapply a new coat of liquid polish in an
attempt to provide uniformity of nail polish application.
Another problem which the prior art application of
liquid nail polish suffered from, was that the wearer's skin
often negatively reacted to the accidental contact with the nail
polish, which was quite often due to the manual brushing of the
polish, in liquid form, onto the skin. The use of the same nail
enamel, but now, however, in a semi-solid form, eliminates the
accidental contact between the liquid nail enamel and the user's
skin and the negative reaction therebetween is eliminated.
The method of manufacturing the present invention
contemplates pouring the liquid enamel into a mold. A backing
sheet of adhesively-peelable paper is slowly drawn through a
passage of the mold to *hereby coat the paper with a uniform
th1ckness of nail polish. After drying, semi-solid, enamel-
looking fingernail coatings result. If desired, pad printing of
fanciful designs can be done on top of the partially dried
coatings. The fingernaiI coatings are sealed and packaged in an
air tight envelope so that when it is desired to use the
WO 91/12747 ~ PCltUS90/0091g
Z~7~''3~ 2
product, the package is opened and after application of the
coatings to the nails, the coatings are finally volatilized,
i.e. "cured." The fingernail coatings are manufactured in
groups of five nails to a strip and the user merely cuts the
individual fingernail segments from the strip to facilitate
coating each of the fingernails of a hand. A peel strip is also
provided to facilitate the removal of the coatings from the
adhesive backed paper.
The prior art, with respect to the product disclosed
herein, is, of course, liquid finger nail enamel which comes in
bottled form and is applied by either a manicurist or the
individual, herself, by brushing onto the fingernails and then
drying. As previously mentioned, fingernails, after being
brushed with the liquid enamel, must dry, without touching
anything else, for a few minutes. During this time, however,
the just-coated fingernails emit, by virtue of the fragrance of
the curing enamel, a pleasant but, often, too overpowering
aroma. The French manicure or polishing of women's nails,
recently quite popular, requires a second partial, coating of
the completely dried fingernails. This, of course, is time
con~uming and, in addition, requires the applier, whether
manicurist or the individual, herself, to be quite adept at
brushing only a portion of each nail with a design of a second
color of enamel. Clearly, this is quite difficult, labor
intensive, frequently unsuccessful, due to smearing, hand
moving, shaking, etc. and rather expensive.
The present invention relates to a method of
manufacturing finger nail coatings in a semi-solid state. A set
o ~
Wo91/12747 PCTt~S90/~919
4 2~7~9~ 2
of fin~ernail coatings are provided for simple and inexpensive
application to the nails which will not smudge or smear, need
minimal time to dry and, yet, can be preprinted with a design to
look like the "perfect" manicure and French manicure. In
addition, the curing of the semi-solid fingernail coatings emits
an aroma almost identical in smell, but on a reduced level (due
to reduced volatility of the semi-solid nail enamel of the
coatings) to that of the drying of ordinary liguid enamel and
that, too, enhances the desirability, while retaining
authenticity, of the semi-solid fingernail coating application
process.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of
manufacturing a set of fingernail coatings or a manicure film in
semi-solid form which, until desirably used, is stored in an
air-tight envelope and to a product so formed. The invention
also relates to the product, itself, independent of the method
of manufacture. Upon application, the u~er removes the film
from the package, separates the strip of film into individual
nail coatings, removes the adhesive backing sheet from the film
and places the film on an individual nail. The end or edge of
the nail coatings are then trimmed to correspond precisely to
the nail shape and dimensions. Then, the nail film, now in
individual nail shapes, is adhesively secured to the nails, by
pressing them firmly onto the nails. The nails are then further
air dried or "cured" in a very short time period. During the
drying time, however, the nail coatings will emit a pleasing
Wogl/1274~ ~ PCT/US90/~919
2~75~ ~
aroma, quite similar to that generated by liauid nail enamel
when it i5 drying but on a much reduced aromatic level.
The nail coatings are made by using a mold having a
pour hole and a slot or passage for a sheet of adhesively-backed
paper to pass through. Liquid nail enamel is poured onto the
sheet of adhesively-backed paper as it is lowly drawn through
the mold. A uniformly coated, adhesively backed nail coating
sheet is thus provided. The sheet is then dried, for a
predetermined time, at a predetermined temperature or, until,
the sheet has the nail enamel coating in a semi-solid, yet not
completely dried state. The strip is then preferably cut into
sets of five fingernail coatings. Preferably, too, the sheet is
provided with a ribbon or tear strip which serves to facilitate
the individual application of the nail coatings to the
fingernails by easing removal of the coatings from the adhesive-
backed paper. The sets of coatings, after partial drying, are
encased in a substantially air-tight envelope until used.
Brief Descri~tion of the Drawinas
Drawing 1 is an exploded view of the mold apparatus for
manufacturing the nail coatings.
Drawing 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
mold for manufacturing the nail coatings, shown in its assembled
state.
Drawing 3(A) is a perspective view of the mold
apparatus for manufacturing the nail coatings, shown with the
adhesive-backed strip of paper located in the mold yet, prior to
WO91/12747 ~ pcT/~s9o/oo9ls
6 Z~?~Y5~ L2
passing the paper through the mold. The drawing also shows the
mold fill-hole ful1 of liquid nail enamel.
Drawing 3~) is a perspective view of the mold
apparatus for manufacturing the nail coatings, shown with the
adhesive-backed strip of paper having been partially pulled
through the mold, and the liquid nail enamel having been
uniformly coated onto a portion of the strip of paper; the level
of liquid nail enamel, in the mold fill-hole being lower than
that shown in Drawing 3(A), since a portion of the liquid has
now been transferred to the strip of paper, as also shown in
this drawing.
Drawing 4(A) is a partial perspective view of the nail
coating product or manicure film, after it has been
appropriately cut and shows individual nail coatings.
Drawing 4 (B) is a partial perspective view of the nail
coating product or manicure film after it has been further
coated or printed with an attractive design, superimposed on top
of the initial colored background, of semi-solid, nail enamel.
Drawing 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nail
coatings, after drying on the adhesively-backed paper, i.e., the
manicure film is coated ont he adhesive-backed paper and some
adhesive is transferred to the nail enamel on its bottom or
underneath surface.
Drawings 6 show the fingernail coatings, after
application to an individual nail, and also shows a second
finger and nail of the fingernail coating-applying individual,
as it is used for further trimming of the fingernail coating to
wos~ 747 ~ PCT/US90/00919
7 2~9~
the shape and dimensions of the nail on which the coating is
applied. The Drawings also show the finished "polished" look of
the individual's fingernails, both with a solid color nail
enamel and, in addition, shows the fingernail coating if it has
the printed design superimposed on a solid color background.
Detailed Description of the Drawings and
the Preferred Embodiment of the Inventio~
The present invention, as mentioned, relates to
fingernail coatings which are applied to an individual's nails
in a minimum of time, with minimum effort, require a minimum of
drying time and, yet, provide a visually pleasing look of "just
polished," high gloss, appear as if the nails were polished with
liquid nail polish and, also, provide, where desired, the look
o~ a French manicure, i.e., the looX of a design of nail polish
coated on top of a background of solid nail polish. In
addition, the present invention provides, during the final
curing or drying of the semi-solid nail coatings, the otherwise
available and olfactory pleasing smell of liquid nail enamel as
it dries but on a reduced level.
According to the method of manufacturing the present
nail coatings, a mold (best seen in Drawings l, 2, 3 and 4) is
used, generally referred to as l, and comprises a bottom half or
panel 2 and an upper half or panel 3. The bottom half or panel
2 has a center passage 5 recessed therein which serves to guide
the passage of and hold a strip of adhesively-backed paper
therethrough, when the mold is assembled together. The depth of
the passage S is sufficient to allow the adhesive-backed strip
of paper 4 to be easily pulled through the mold and to have the
~ ~2~ 9~ ~
WO91/12747 - PCT/VS90/00919
liquid nail polish become uniformly coated onto the strip of
paper as it is pulled through the mold at a uniform rate. A set
of alignment and mold securing holes are provided along with
corresponding pegs to assemble the halves 2 and 3 together.
The upper half or panel 3 is pro~ided with a mold fill
hole or aperture 6 which completely passes through the upper
half or panel 3. When the mold haves 2 and 3 are assembled
together, as seen in Drawings 2, 3 and 4, liquid nail enamel can
be poured into the mold fill hole 6 and as the paper strip 4,
having an adhesive backing, is pulled through the passage 5
(with the adhesive material facing towards the bottom of the
upper half or panel 3), the liquid nail enamel is uniformly
coated onto the strip of paper. It should be appreciated that
the strip of paper provides adhesiveness beneath the application
of the liquid nail enamel so that upon separation of the
adhesive backing sheet from the nail coatings, after initial
drying of the liquid nail coatings into their semi-solid state,
the nail coatings are themselves adhesively backed and thus
capable of being easily secured, by location and pressing, onto
the nail.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the mold fill hole 6 downwardly expands, from the top of the
upper half or panel 3 to the bottom thereof, i.e., it outwardly
tapers from the top surface of the upper half or panel 3 to the
bottom surface (the surface which is intended to be placed
immediately over and in contact with the upper surface of the
bottom half or panel 2). This allows the nail enamel liquid to
spread out over a larger area than area of the top opening of
WOgl/12747 ~ 7 ~ PCT~USso/00919
the mold fill hole 6. Preferably, the length of the botto~ or
enlarged portion 7 of the mold fill hole 6 corresponds to the
length of the fingernails sought to be coated with the ultimate
product produced by the mold, i.e., the fingernail coatings.
Drawing 3(A) shows a strip of adhesive-backed paper 4,
located between the upper half or panel 3 and the lower half or
panel 2 of the mold 1, with the paper 4 secured within the
confines of passage 5. This drawing also shows the mold, in its
assembled state, with the mold fill hole 6 fully filled with
liquid nail enamel 9. Thus, the mold 1 is ready to manufacture
the semi-solid nail coatings, the ultimate product to be
produced by the present invention. The arrow shown in Drawing
3(A) shows the intended direction of pulling the paper 4, during
the manufacturing process.
Drawing 3(B) shows the same assembled mold, after a
portion of the adhesively-backed strip of paper 4 has been
pulled through the passage 5 of the mold 1. This Drawing shows
the paper 4 coated with a uniform thickness of nail enamel 10 of
substantially the same length as the length of the large portion
7 of the fill up hole 6 (See Drawing 3(B)). Further, this
Drawing ~hows how the level of the liquid nail enamel 9 has
become reduced down below the top surface of the upper half or
panel 3, as the paper 4 has been pulled through the mold and as
the nail enamel has become coated onto the paper 4. Clearly,
the downward decrease of the level of the liquid nail enamel 9
is directly related to the quantity of liquid nail enamel coated
onto the adhesively-backed sheet of paper 4.
WO 91/12747 ~7S~, PCT/US90/00919
According to the invention, the upper half or panel 3
overlies the lower half or panel 2. After inserting the
adhesive-backed paper 4 between the panels 2 and 3, within the
confines of passage 5, the liquid nail enamel 9 is injected into
the mold fill hole 6. Then, the paper is slowly and at a
uniform rate, pulled through the passage 5. The lamination of
the paper 4 with the liquid nail enamel 9 is preferably to a
thickness of about 0.04 mm (40 microns). Subsequently, the
paper, with the liquid nail enamel coated thereon, is dried at
about 30- C. for about 5 minutes. It is then further cooled for
about 2 to 3 minutes at about 0- C. This produces a semi-solid
set of nail coatings which are adhesively-backed, when xemoved
from the paper 4.
During the lamination or coating of the nail enamel
onto the strip of paper, much of the solvent of the nail enamel
volatilizes. The film, as mentioned, turns into a semi-solid
state as it is dried at about 30- C. for about 5 minutes. The
adhesive layer of the adhesive-backed strip of paper 4 maintains
its adhesion and yet, transfers it to the underside of the
coatings because the nail enamel does not significantly
volatilize there. The film 10 does not fully dry since it is
cooled, after initial drying, at about 0- C. for about 2 to 3
minutes.
Drawing 5 shows a partial cross-sectioned view of the
nail coatings after drying on the adhesive-backed paper 7. The
film 13 is coated on the adhesive-backed paper 4 and some of the
adhesive 8 is transferred to the nail enamel 13 on its bottom or
underneath surface.
wosl/l2747 ~ ~ PCT/US90/00919
11 2~J9~
If desired, fan~iful drawing patterns are pad printed
onto the cooled and dried ssmi-solid nail coatings~ The drawing
patterns ll are shown in Drawing 4(B) and also in Drawing 67.
Then, after pad printing with the drawing patterns, if desired,
the enamel portion of the strips are scored and trimmed
accordinq to the size of the fingernails 12. The coatings are
cut into sets of five fingernail coatings and stored or packaged
in a semi-solid state in a closed container. Preferably, the
container is an air-tight plastic envelope.
The fingernail coatings, after drying can be handled
rather cleanly and the coatings can be easily attached to
fingernails. Preferably, the attachment of the fingernail
coatings to the fingernails is facilitated by the use of a
ribbon or tear strip 14, attached at one side of the semi-solid
nail enamel coatings.
The semi-solid fingernail coatings, when desirably
attached to the fingernails, are removed fxom the packaging, as
a set of five fingernails, i.e., enough for coating an entire
hand, separated, if desired into individual nail coatings,
removed from the adhesive-backed strip of paper (facilitated by
the ribbon or tear strip 14) and initially secured to the nail.
Then, the fingernail coatings are firmly pressed onto the nail.
After securing it to the nail, the portion of the nail coating
extending over the edge of the nail can be cut off, by scissor,
or by using another nail and scraping it against the edge of the
just-coated nail. It is then a short period of time for the
fingernail coatings to completely dry.
WO91/12~47 ~ PCT/US90/00919
12 2 ~7~9~?~
It should be appreciated that the scope of the present
invention is not limited to the drawings illustrated or the
embodiments described herein. Rather, it should be understood
that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and
described are intended to be representative only, as certain
changes may be made therein, without departing from the clear
teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be
made to the following appended claims, as interpreted by the
Courts, in determining the full scope of the invention.
