Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
This invention relates to a method and means for the in situ forming
of artificial fingernails using an organic nail wrappi~g ~echnique to improve
the appearancP of, reinforce, and/or extend h~man fingernail~.
Pr~formed artificial fingernails Are known, for application over ~
natural nail by Nail Glue or the like. Such preformed n~ils, however, do not
accurately fit the contours of all natural nails and their bonding power is not
al~ays sufficient to in~ure reliable adhesion.
Brush-on nail~ are also known consisting, for example, of Liquid Nail
solution and a powder. In this syste~, a form is placed around the wearer's
finger, and the powder and Liquid Nail i3 brushed o~ the nail and extended over
th~ nail form to ma~e a lo~g artificial nail. A problem with this type of nail,
ho~ever, i9 that it h~rdens to a porcel~in-like consistency ~ith little flexi-
bility, making it ~ucceptible to cracking and popping off. If the powder and
~olution is bru~hed on heavily to prevent cra~ki~g, the nail i~ artificial look-
ing. When growing out the~e nails acquire a rid8e requiring frequent touching
up .
The weight of artificial nail~ of the above type may cause breakages
of more fragile natural nail~ to which they are applied by creation of a lever-
age point causing be~ding of the natural nail, becau6e of extra weight placed
out on the ends of natural nail~.
The following U.S. patent~ di~close e~amples of prior proposals
relating to artificial nails. None of the~e, however, di~rlo~es the fe~ture~
of the present i~ention.
1,978,144 Oct. 23, 1934
2,607,356 Aug. 19, 1952
2,864,384 Dec. 16, 1958
3,925,426 Feb. 4, 1969
3,993,084 Wov. 23, 1976
4,299,243 Nov. 10, 1981
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According to the present invention there is provided a
method of forming an artificial nail including the steps of
adhering a ~irs~ layer of organic material over substantially the
entire surface of a wearer's natural nall with an inner edge of
the first layer spaced from the wearer's cuticle, adhering a
second layer of organic material over substantially the entire
surface of the first layer with an inner edge of the second layer
adjacent the cuticle, applying adhesive over the second layer and
then applying hardening solution to harden the nail.
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In a preferred embodlment ~ 6 3 ~ an artificial nail is
fQrmed from organic fabric applied over a ~learer'g natural nail with Nail Glue,
trimmed to shape, and rapidly hardened by the application of Liquid Nail 801u-
tion. Preferably, two ~taggered layer~ of organic fabric are applied over the
natural nail, with the bottom layer being placed about 1/16 inch to 1/14 inch
away from the cuticle, and conaisting, for example, of linen, flax, or like
fabric of the weight u~ed, for example, in men's handkerchief~ (e.g. about 43
threads per inch or 68 threads per square inch). The top layer may compri~e a
thin fabric, such as ~ilk, placed at the base of the cuticle, but not t~uching
the cuticle. This layer smooth~ out the porous bottom layer and leavea only a
slight line of dem2rcation which can be readily concealed by a wearer as the
nail grow~ out. It i~ within the scope of the invention to omit cha top layer,
but it~ inclu~ion as~ists in ~moothing oue of the ridge at the ba~e of the nail
as well as the nail surface, and adds e~tra ~trength if naili are extended.
When a ~ingle layer, or a pair of layer~ of organic fabric are
applied over a human nail with Cyanocrylate Nail Glue (Trademark),
the glue i8 partially absorbed by the fabric, and a
lengthy period (up to an hour) may be required for the glue to dry sufficiently
to allo~ the nail ~o harden to a state in which it can be filed of buffed.
`20 ThiR problem is increa~ed i~ additional glue i~ needed, for e~ample, to smooth
out uneven surfaces. Thu~, in the preferred entcd}=ent,
Liquid Nail (Trademark) ~olution i8 applied to the glued fabric
layes or layers to serve ac a hardener for the Nail Glue. The Liquid Nail
~olution ~hich contains Acrylic Eater Monomers, Di Toludine, BaT, ha~ a
reaction with the ~ail Glue, rapidly hardening same to enable filing and
buffing of the artificial nail in a very short time down to one ~inute.
Additionally, to build up and ~trength of fabric nails in accordance with the
invention, particularly nails extended beyond the natural nail, Nail Glue
Filler containing polyacrylic polymer May be applied.
The Cyanocrylate Nail Glue, Liquid Nail ~olution, and Nail Glue
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Filler are each of a known type gener~lly available i~ beauty 8~pply stores.
An embodiment o-f th~ inventlon w.ill now be described by
.ay o example only with refer~nce to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Figures 1 to 7 are semi-diagrammatic representations resp~ctively of
~equential step3 employed in a process of applying an artificial fingernail
over a wearer'~ natura1 nail.
The ensuing descri,tion refers to the application of An artificial
nail to a single finger. I~ will be appreciatedl however, in general, 8UCil
nails will be ap~lied to all of a wearer's fingers, 80 tha~ bseaks may occur
bet~een the variou3 procesa steps aa these steps are performed ~equen~ially
from finger to finger.
Initially, the wearer's natural nail 10 ~hould be ~oaked, completely
cleanRed, and the cuticle pushed and removed. The nail ~hould be lightly
buffed with a~ emery board or the like, without removal of the nail dust.
Then, Nsil Glue i8 applied to the ~urface of nail 10, and a fir~t piece of
orga~ic fabric 12, such a~ linen or fla~ as previou~ly referred to, precut to
fit the natural nail but of greater length than the natural nail i~ appli~d
to che nail bed with it~ inner end 14 spaced about 1/16 inch to 1/14 inch
from cuticle 16 (Figure 1). Fabric 12 may be firmly pre~sed into place u~ing
a`2-inch by 4-inch iheet of clear plastic film (not shown3, for example.
After removin~ the plaatic film, a ~econd precut laye~ 18 of organic
2~ material, such a~ silk a~ previously referred to, may be applied over layer 12
and in Che ssme manner, but with the inner end 20 of layer 18 placed at ths
base o~ the cuticle 16 (Figure 2) with a 31ight space betwee~ ~he cu~icle and
the material. If, in ei~her layer, any of the fabric does not turn transparent
upon applicatio~ over the Nail Glue, the plantic may be removed, and additional
Nail Glue applied to ehe required area of the fabric. The plastic may then be
reapplied, and the nail wrapped with l-inch by 4-inch elastic 22 (Figure 3)
tightly fiecured with a pin 24. The ela~tic may be removed after about 2 to 3
minute~.
After removal of the ela~tic and plastic sheet, layer~ 12 and 18 may
3~ be trimmed to the approximat~ t~quired length and fihape (Figure 4) and Nail
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G1UP re~pplied over the outer ~urface of nail 18 with ~ bottle nozzle 26. The
`lail Glue ~hould be allowed to dry for about 5 minutea, and then Liquid N~il
solutio~ a~ previously referred to i9 applied to the nail ~urface by ~ bru~h
27 (Figure 5). Preferably two coats of Liquid Nail are applied consecutively.
The Liquid Nail solution i8 a h~rdener and there is ~n epoxy reaction, possibly
accompanied by a thermo-sensation, if it i~ applied too rapidly. If this should
occur, fu~ther application of the Liquid Nail ~hould be delayed for a few
minutes.
When the Liquid N~il solution has dried (gener~lly ~bout 5 mi~utes),
~ fureher c~t of N~il Glue may be applied over the surf2ce (Figure 6) and
allowPd to dry. If any pa~t of the nail needs to be built up, filled in, or
Pxte~ded, Nail Glue Filler mny be spri~kled over ~h~ Nail Glue. Small ~mo~nt~
~f Powder are sprinkled and Nail Glue addéd to the required area until the n~il
i8 built up a~ nece~ary. If the nail is ~xtended, e.g. the fabric lay2rs
e~tending about 1/4 to 1/3 inch beyond the natural n~ilJ the hand should be
turned over, 3nd the back of the nail reinforced ~ith ~ small amount of Nail
~lue Filler and Nail Glue.
l~hen dry, the thus completed ~rtificial nail 30 ~ay be shaped with
an emery board 28 (Figure 7) smoothing out the entire nail a~d ma~ing sure
~0 that the base ~f the ~r~ficial nail i3 even with the n~ural nail. The bac~
of the nail ~hould al80 be checked for smoo~hnes~. The nail may then be
bru~hed with waterl pa~ted dry, and 2olished. Preferably three coats of
poli~h are applied, with the base coat being a cream. If the firat coat doe~
not go on smoothly, it may be removed with ti~sue, and reapplied aft~r smooth-
ing out any roughness with an emery boa~d.
The above-described proc~ss steps may be var~ed
somewhat to suit particular condltions, and the time wlll depsnd
on the sequence ln whtch indivldual finger~ are treated. In all
Ca~eQ, however, lt ha~ been found preferable for the Mall Glue
and Liquid Nail to be glven a 5-minut0 drying time when applied
over an entire nail bed. An artificial organic nail formed in
the manner desoribed
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may be extended, e.g. about 1/3 inch beyo~d ~ wearer'~ natural nail, in which
~ase the extended back and Lop of the nail ghould be reinforced wi~h N~il Glue
Filler and Nail Glue. Of the available organic fabric6, flax ha~ a relatively
high capacity to absorb Nail Glue and i8 optimal in adherence to a natural nail.
For maintenance and upkeep, about 6 to 8 week~ after application of
the arti~icial nail, the wearer may 90ak, cleanBe, pu8h and remo~e the cuticle,
and lightly buff the natural nail base with emery. Then, a layer of precut
silk may be placed over the entire nail up to the cuticle using Nail Glue and
a plastic sheet as previously described. After lifting the plastic, a further
coat of Nail Glue i~ applied and, after 5 to 7 minutes, two light coats of
Liquid Nail are applied by brush eo harden the nail. The nail may, after
hardening, be buffed and smoothed with emery and then polished.
l~e artiicial na~ls descri~ed rnaY be soaked off
at any time, using aceto~e polish remover and the nailg may be reapplied as
pre~iously.
Once the nails have reàched a desired length, u~ually in 6 to 12
week3, this method may be used with 2 ~taggered layer~ of very thin organic
material 3uch as silk, fir~t layer 3/8 inch from cuticle, second layer 1/4
inch from cuticle. After nails are polished, 5 ~o 8 coats of fast drying
acrylic nail glaze must be applied over entire nail to maintain a ~trong
hi8h gloss nail. There is li~tle upkeep to this nail but polish should be
changed every two weeks or ~o. Nails will need to be rewrapped every 8 to
10 weeks depending on rate of nail growth.
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