Artificial nail and method of forming same

Abstract

An artificial nail is formed by injection molding a first section and a second section. The first section and second section are adjacent to one another. One of the sections defines a front distal tip of the artificial nail and is formed by injecting a quantity of heated material under pressure from a nozzle into a sprue, through a runner and through a cavity gate into a mold cavity. The other section is formed by injecting another quantity of heated material under pressure from a heated nozzle through another cavity gate into the mold cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 473,251, filed Jun. 22, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 348,718 filed Jan. 22, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 281,500 filed Oct. 28, 2002, now abandoned. [0002] This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 641,986 filed Aug. 15, 2003 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 348,718 filed Jan. 22, 2003 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 281,500 filed Oct. 28, 2002, now abandoned. [0003] This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 041,182 filed Jan. 20, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 348,718 filed Jan. 22, 2003 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 641,986 filed Aug. 15, 2003. U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 348,718 filed Jan. 22, 2003 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. applica...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] An advantage of an artificial nail and a method of forming an artificial nail according to an aspect of the invention is that an artificial nail is provided which has an improved fit at a wearer's cuticle area. A further advantage of an artificial nail and a method for forming an artificial nail according to an aspect of the invention is that an artificial nail having two or more discrete sections is provided, wherein the properties and appearance of each section of the artificial nail may be tailored to the particular requirements associated with that section. A further advantage is that a strong mechanical bond is provided at an interface between adjoining sections.

[0026] Another advantage of an artificial nail and a method for forming an artificial nail according to an aspect of the invention is that a simple and economical way for producing an artificial nail having various colors is provided, wherein a colored portion of the artificial nail is not prone to damage by scratching, chipping, rubbing and / or peeling.

Problems solved by technology

However, ABS plastic cracks easily and is relatively inflexible which prevents the artificial nail from conforming to a particular user.

However, nail shapes are different, and it is impractical to make nails to accommodate the various shapes for each customer.

Instead, artificial fingernails are typically sold in standard sets by size and length, but these sets cannot precisely fit all people.

Another drawback with known artificial nails is that their appearance is usually readily distinguishable from natural nails.

Achieving this fit with artificial nails, however, is difficult and often requires considerable skill in shaping and filing the artificial nail.

These processes are complicated, and there is still a need for an artificial fingernail that is more universally conformable to varying finger sizes and shapes.

Such vestiges may detract from or interfere with the fit of the artificial nail, particularly if the vestige is disposed on a portion of the artificial nail to be positioned adjacent a wearer's cuticle area.

The vestiges may also form air pockets that prevent good sealing between the protrusion and an adjacent surface.

Several methods of obtaining a French manicure are discussed in the patent, including employing a highly skilled manicurist, which is difficult, time consuming and expensive.

There are several drawbacks associated with existing techniques for applying a color to an artificial nail or a portion thereof.

This thin colored layer may be easily scratched, chipped or rubbed off, thereby revealing the underlying color of the artificial nail.

Moreover, the thin colored layer according to existing techniques is susceptible to peeling, particularly when the artificial nail is cut to size by severing a portion of the tip of artificial nail.

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