Home compostable artificial nails

Abstract

Artificial nails made primarily or exclusively from home compostable materials provide a desirable alternative to plastic artificial nails. The disclosed artificial nails may be plain or decorated with colored layers, may be sold in sized sets, and after being worn and discarded may biodegrade in a home compost unit, and will do so much more readily than conventional plastic nails.

Description

HOME COMPOSTABLE ARTIFICIAL NAILSCross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 535,517 filed on August 30, 2023, and entitled “BIODERIVED ARTIFICIAL NAILS”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to artificial nails (e.g., fingernails and toenails), as well as to methods for making and using the same.Background

[0003] Artificial nails (a term that will be used in this application to denote not only nails but also accessories such as extensions, stickers and tips) have long been used for ornamental purposes. Artificial nails made from thin members generally in the shape of a fingernail or toenail are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,942,332 (Hamberg), 4,745,934 (Mast) and 6,394,100 (Chang). U.S. Patent No. 4,641,669 (Kimble) describes a nail reinforcement mat made from cellulose fibers impregnated with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Brazilian Patent Application No. BR 10 2013 004216-1 A2 describes an artificial nail made from a biodegradable material selected from fish scales, organic cotton, bamboo fiber and bone powder, with acid-treated, oven-dried fish scales being preferred.

[0004] Artificial nails preferably are flexible, waterproof, and sufficiently durable to withstand typical manual labor, but not so firm as to cause injury. For example, an artificial nail made from metal or glass might not nick or break, but could slide beneath the nailbed resulting in injury or infection.

[0005] Most artificial nails are made from plastics such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers, methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene terpolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymers or polycarbonates. These plastics may be applied to the natural nail as a solid (e.g., an injection-molded plastic) or in a liquid or powdered form, or in a combination thereof, on their own or in conjunction with additional materials. The applied plastic may also undergo hardening, shaping, or other finishing treatment or combination thereof.For example, plastic artificial nails for use in salons may be applied, extended, shaped, and finished with a variety or combination of methods, including but not limited to dipping, gluing, painting, building, filing, drilling, and can be referred to variously, as “acrylics,” “dips,” “powder,” “gels,” “builders,” “tips,” “wraps,” “silks,” or “fills".

[0006] Artificial nails may come precoated with a colored layer ( .g, colored lacquer, a molded layer or an applied colored film) or other decoration. They may instead or in addition be colored by the wearer or by a nail technician before or after affixation to the wearer.

[0007] Artificial nails are normally affixed to a natural nail, or in the case of accessories such as a sticker, tip or extension, to a portion of a natural nail or a portion of an already-installed artificial nail. The wearer or a technician may for example apply a small amount of a hardenable liquid bonding adhesive (e.g., a moisture-curable cyanoacrylate or so-called “super glue” adhesive, or a UV-curable or other light-curable adhesive) to the artificial nail underside and to the portion of the natural or installed artificial nail to which affixation is desired. Alternatively, artificial nails may be supplied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and removable adhesive liner on the artificial nail underside, or with a separate double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tab with removable liners. Artificial nails with a pressure-sensitive adhesive are mainly sold through retail stores and other consumer outlets for application by the wearer.

[0008] Before or after affixation, artificial nails may require shaping or trimming. This may be done using scissors but often also requires use of a nail file or other abrasive tool and, in the case of plastic nails, may release fine plastic particles into the surrounding air or to a nearby nail technician or the wearer.

[0009] If applied with care and then worn carefully, artificial nails may typically remain in place for up to a two or three weeks. Artificial nails with a pressure-sensitive adhesive tend to be less durable, and often detach after only a few days. In either case, a detached artificial nail may be reaffixed or discarded. Artificial nails may also be deliberately removed and discarded for many reasons besides adhesive failure, including coating failure, coating deterioration, damage to the artificial nail or underlying nail, cuticle exposure due to normal nail growth, or a desire by the wearer to further change their nail appearance. Artificial nails may be deliberately removed by breaking the adhesive bond, e.g., by soaking the entire nail in acetone or by simply popping loose or peeling off the adhesive. Popping or peeling may break the natural nail rather than the adhesive, and may strip the natural nail of its superficial layer. In any event, the failure orremoval of one artificial nail will often prompt the wearer to replace an entire artificial nail set. Eventually all artificial nails are discarded.

[0010] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that what remains needed in the art are improved artificial nails. Such improvements are disclosed and claimed herein.Summary

[0011] Discarded plastic artificial nails are not recyclable, compostable or biodegradable, and are difficult to separate from other materials in a waste stream. Other potential injection- molded materials, such as bioplastics, are not readily compostable by consumers. For example, starch-based, cellulose-based, protein-based, aliphatic polyesters or bio-derived polyethylenes require high temperatures to biodegrade, and cannot be composted in standard home or municipal compost units. Artificial nails made from fish scales, organic cotton, bamboo fiber or bone powder may be biodegradable but will persist too long to be categorized as home compostable. Although small in size, the accumulated volume of discarded artificial nails represents a considerable addition to the planet’s accumulating mass of unwanted and potentially harmful waste.

[0012] This disclosure provides, in one aspect, an artificial nail made primarily (viz., more than 50, more than 60, more than 70, more than 80 or more than 90 weight percent of the artificial nail weight) or exclusively from home compostable material(s). In some embodiments the artificial nail is hardened, rigidified or both hardened and rigidified to approximate the hardness or rigidity of a natural nail. In some embodiments, the artificial nail may include scrap material, viz., the cutoffs, chips, cuttings, or other small pieces of excess material that are a byproduct from processes for manufacturing home compostable materials. In some embodiments the artificial nail comprises a composite. In some embodiments the artificial nail comprises a biopolymer. In some embodiments the artificial nail includes an adhesive, and preferably a bioderived, home compostable adhesive. In some embodiments the artificial nail includes a colored topcoat, preferably a bioderived, home compostable topcoat.

[0013] This disclosure provides, in another aspect, a sized set of home compostable artificial nails in retail display packaging. In some embodiments the packaging contains a plurality of the set members showcased under a transparent film window. In some embodiments both the artificial nails and the packaging are bioderived and home compostable.

[0014] This disclosure provides, in another aspect, a method for making artificial nails, the method comprising the steps of forming a home compostable sheet substrate, and in either order i) molding or otherwise shaping the substrate into nail shapes having a convex underside and at least partially rounded perimeter, and ii) hardening or rigidifying the substrate or nail shapes, e.g., using one or more of heat, pressure, impregnation or crosslinking.

[0015] This disclosure provides, in yet another aspect, a method for applying artificial nails comprising the step of adhering a home compostable artificial nail or portion thereof to a natural nail or portion thereof or to another artificial nail or portion thereof.Brief Description of the Drawing

[0016] Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed artificial nails;

[0017] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a Fig. 1 artificial nail;

[0018] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sized set of the disclosed artificial nails in retail display packaging; and

[0019] Fig. 4 through Fig. 8 are schematic views of a roll-to-roll method for manufacturing the disclosed artificial nails.

[0020] Like reference symbols in the various figures of the drawing indicate like elements. The elements in the drawing are not to scale.Detailed Description

[0021] The recitation of a numerical range using endpoints includes all numbers subsumed within that range (c. ., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

[0022] The terms “a,” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably. Thus, for example, a display package that contains “an” artificial nail includes “one or more” such nails.

[0023] For purposes of the present application, the term “biodegradable” means a substance or object capable of being decomposed by sunlight, water, bacteria or other living microorganisms into compounds found in nature, within a specified time frame of 180 days. Where applicable local regulations or laws in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used determine whether something can be classified or advertised as “biodegradable”, then such local regulations or laws shall, for purposes of the present application in the jurisdictionwhere a substance or object is sold or used, control whether such substance or object is biodegradable. However, there is no universally-accepted legal definition as to what may be “biodegradable”, and products labeled as “biodegradable” may be subject to overlapping national, international or third-party certification schemes and standards. For example, in the United States, the FTC Green Guides denote a biodegradable product as one in which there is “competent and reliable scientific evidence that the entire item will completely break down and return to nature (i.e., decompose into elements found in nature) within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal”. For products customarily disposed in a landfill, a “reasonably short period of time” is defined as one year.

[0024] The term “bioderived” means an organic material obtained or obtainable from a living or recently living renewable biological source.

[0025] The term “biopolymer” means a biodegradable polymer obtained or obtainable from living organisms.

[0026] The term “composite” means a material produced from two or more constituent materials having notably dissimilar chemical or physical properties and which are combined without dissolving them into or reacting them with one another, to create a non-homogenous structure with properties unlike (e.g., stronger than) the individual constituent materials.

[0027] For purposes of the present application, the term “compostable” means a substance or object capable of being decomposed in an aerobic environment by bacteria or other living microorganisms, at ambient or heated temperatures, within a specified time frame of 180 days into compounds found in nature.

[0028] For purposes of the present application, the term “home compostable” means a substance or object that is “compostable” as defined above in a home or garden compost system at room or ambient temperatures (e.g., from about 20 to less than 40 °C). Where applicable local regulations or laws in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used determine whether something can be classified or advertised as “home compostable”, then such local regulations or laws shall, for purposes of the present application in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used, control whether such substance or object is home compostable. Exemplary such local regulations or laws include but are not limited to Australian Standard AS 5810 (2010); the “OK compost HOME” standard from TUV Austria; French Standard NF T51-800 (201 ); the “DIN-Gepriift HOME compostable" standard from DINCERTCO, Germany; Italian Standard UNI 11 183 (2006); and European Standard EN 17427 (2020). Similar home compost standards are under development by US-based certification bodies, such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM, under a standard likely to be designated as WK35342) and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), and if accepted such standards under development shall, for purposes of the present application in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used, control whether such substance or object is home compostable.

[0029] For purposes of the present application, the term “industrially compostable” means a substance or object that is “compostable” as defined above at elevated temperatures (e.g., from 40 to about 60 °C or more), generally in the presence of added oxygen, water and optionally other substances. Where applicable local regulations or laws in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used determine whether something can be classified or advertised as “industrially compostable”, then such local regulations or laws shall, for purposes of the present application in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used, control whether such substance or object is industrially compostable. Exemplary such local regulations or laws include but are not limited to Australian Standard AS 4736; ASTM D6400; and European Standards EN 13432 and 14995. Similar industrial compost standards are under development by other certification bodies, and if accepted such standards under development shall, for purposes of the present application in the jurisdiction where a substance or object is sold or used, control whether such substance or object is industrially compostable.

[0030] The term “landfill” refers to an anaerobic trash burial site that typically is sealed off from water, air, and sunlight order to protect the surrounding environment, and in which food waste and other nutrient-rich forms of biomass decompose while also emitting significant quantities of the potent greenhouse gas methane.

[0031] The term “mycelium” means a mass of branching, interwoven filamentous or threadlike hyphae that make up the vegetative portion of a fungus or fungus-like colony.

[0032] The term “polymer” means a substance whose molecular structure chiefly or entirely contains a large number (e.g., 6, 8, 10 or more) of similar units bonded together.

[0033] The term “sticker” (sometimes also referred to as a “wrap”) refers to a thin transparent, opaque or colored film that may be applied to a natural nail or to an artificial nail and trimmed to fit. A sticker or wrap may be used to provide a smoother surface for theapplication of a polish or other topcoat, or may by itself provide a colored or patterned topcoat. Wraps or stickers may be flat and flexible, or arced (e.g., curved from side to side to approximate the curvature of a natural or artificial nail) and less flexible. Stickers or wraps typically are less rigid than a natural nail, and after installation and trimming typically are no larger than and do not project beyond the underlying natural or artificial nail.

[0034] Referring to Fig. 1, artificial nail 100 is shown in perspective view above hand 102 whose fingers 104, 106 and 108 and thumb 110 already respectively have affixed to them fingernail embodiments 112, 114, 116 and thumbnail 118 of the disclosed artificial nails. Natural nail 120 on index finger 122 awaits affixation of artificial nail 100. Artificial nail 100 has a thin, sheetlike body 124 in the general shape of natural nail 120, including rounded cuticle edge 126, tapering and usually rounded sides 128a and 128b, free edge 130, concave topside 132 and concave underside 134. An adhesive layer (not shown in Fig. 1) on underside 134 can be used to adhere artificial nail 100 to natural nail 120. A pre-applied colored topcoat layer 136 (shown in partial view atop nail 100) provides decoration. When applied to a natural nail, artificial nail 100 preferably will remain in place for a desired time (e.g., for at least 24, at least 48 or at least 72 hours), and preferably will withstand repeated immersion in water (e.g., hand washing, showering, or bathing), pressure-based contact (e.g., opening a can, digging in a handbag, or scratching a pet) and atmospheric changes (viz., humidity and temperature fluctuations).

[0035] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of artificial nail 100, topcoat layer 136 and adhesive layer 202. Porous, biodegradable substrate layer 204 within nail 100 provides a support for home compostable biopolymer 206. Compostability and especially home compostability enables the user to wear and then dispose of artificial nail 100 without adding plastic to landfills, oceans or water supplies. Home compostable disposal can use a minimum of energy and can produce nutrient-rich organic matter that enriches the soil. Home compostability can also reduce the need for the municipal costs and carbon-generating environmental impacts of collection, transport, sorting, and disposal in industrial compost facilities.

[0036] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of retail package 300 containing a sized set of the disclosed artificial nails. Front package face 302 may for example bear manufacturer, brand and size indications, and transparent film display window 304 showcases eight artificial nails 100, 112, 114 and 116 from Fig. 1 in a compostable and preferably home compostable molded tray 306. Additional artificial nails (not shown in Fig. 3), including for example at least two each ofartificial thumbnails 118 from Fig. 1 and additional spare artificial fingernails may also reside inside package 300. Other components including adhesive, instructions and other package inserts may be included inside package 300. These other components also preferably are at least compostable and more preferably home compostable.

[0037] Fig. 4 through Fig. 8 show schematic views of an exemplary roll-to-roll method for manufacturing the disclosed artificial nails. Referring to Fig. 4, apparatus 400 transports substrate web 402 from supply roll 404 through tension rollers 406 and squeeze rollers 408 flanking bath 410. Bath 410 may for example contain a latex dispersion 414. Guide rollers 412 immerse web 402 beneath liquid 414 as web 402 passes through bath 410. Excess liquid 414 clinging to web 402 is returned to bath 410 by squeeze rollers 408. Take-up roll 416 winds product web 418 and optional reinforcing web or colored film web 420 into a cylindrical form that may transported to or stored in a suitable drying or crosslinking environment (not shown in Fig. 4 through Fig. 8). Depending on factors including the chosen bath liquid, substrate, temperature and humidity, web 418 will be converted to a denser, more rigid web following hardening or crosslinking of liquid 410.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 5, web 418 is unwound between mold platens 502 and 504. Lower platen 504 includes a raised protrusion 506 in the shape of a fingernail. Upper platen 502 has a mating recessed cavity (not shown in Fig. 5) that receives protrusion 506. As shown in Fig. 6, platens 502 and 504 can be closed on substrate 518 to harden and rigidify the affected portion of web 418 using for example one or more of heat, pressure or cross-linking, in order to convert the affected portion of web 418 into a more rigid molded form. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, platens 502 and 504 can be withdrawn to release molded nail shape 702 having a convex underside and an at least partially rounded perimeter surrounded by trimmable selvage 704. Selvage 704 can be cut away or otherwise removed to provide the final artificial nail.

[0039] The disclosed finished artificial nails accordingly may include a home compostable substrate or binder polymer, one or more coating or adhesive layers, and packaging. The binder polymer helps rigidify, color, texture, waterproof, adhere, and package the artificial nails. Preferably all of the artificial nail components are biodegradable, more preferably compostable (e. ., industrially compostable), and most preferably home compostable. The binder polymer also preferably is naturally hydrophobic or is treated to make it so. Hydrophobicity isadvantageous when the wearer may frequently wash their hands or otherwise expose their nails to water.

[0040] In some embodiments, the nail body will be substantially homogeneous, and in other embodiments the nail body may have a nonhomogeneous (e.g., having a layered or core-shell) structure. In some embodiments, the nail body may be referred to as a cross-linked structure, and in some embodiments the nail body may be referred to as a composite structure containing home-compostable substrate or binder polymer and optionally also containing an inorganic or home compostable reinforcing material. In some embodiments, the nail body comprises at least 20 weight percent, at least 30 weight percent, at least, at least 50 weight percent, at least 60 weight percent, at least 70 weight percent for or at least 80 weight percent home compostable binder polymer. In some embodiments, the nail body comprises at least 5 weight percent, at least 10 weight percent, at least 20 weight percent, at least 30 weight percent additional materials, with such additional materials preferably being inorganic (and if organic, preferably home compostable).

[0041] A variety of home compostable substrates, binder polymers and coatings or fdms may be employed in the disclosed artificial nails. Preferred substrates, binder polymers, coatings or films are certified or sublicensed as being home compostable under an applicable standard (e.g., the TUV Austria “OK compost HOME” certification, DIN CERTCO Germany “DIN-Gepriift HOME compostable” certification or French NF T 51-800 certification). Exemplary such substrates, binder polymers or coatings include the OC-BioBinder™ series of biobased binders from OrganoClick (e.g., the OC-Biobinder Lily binders); Nodax™ canola-based polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from Danimer Scientific; Capa™ bio-based polycaprolactone- based (PCL-based) thermoplastic polyesters from Ingevity, including the Capa 6250, 6400, 6500, 6500D, 6506, 6506E, 6800 and 6800D, formulations; the various Ecoflex™ or Ecovio™ polymers from BASF certified as OK compost HOME by TUV Austria; Biolo™ PHA polymers from Columbia Packaging Group; EarthFirst™ polylactic acid (PLA) and PHA biopolymer films from Plastic Suppliers Inc., including Biopolymer Film HC4; ReEarth™ metallized films from S-One Labels and Packaging, including S-One LP (REE34MSUP) and S-ONE LP (REE22MSW) films; and the films used in ECOLabel™ home compostable labels from Sinclair. Other biodegradable substrates, binder polymers, coatings and films that are certified or sublicensed as being industrially compostable under an applicable standard may if desired beemployed in addition to the above-mentioned home compostable materials. Doing so may however make it more difficult to attain home compostability or to obtain an associated certification.

[0042] The disclosed artificial nails may include a primer or barrier coating (e.g., a waterproof layer or layers) to provide improved moisture resistance, improved durability, or a primed surface that may more readily receive an adhesive or decorative topcoat. Preferred primer and barrier coatings are certified or sublicensed as being home compostable under an applicable standard (e g., the TUV Austria “OK compost HOME certification”). Exemplary barrier coatings include those described in Published International Application No. WO 2022 / 157518 Al (Ismael to Sol-Gel Materials & Applications Ltd.), and hydrophobins such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 8,455,107 B2 (Gabor et al. to BASF) and U.S. Published Patent Application No. US 2003 / 0217419 Al (Vic to L'Oreal).

[0043] The disclosed artificial nails may be sold with or without an adhesive. The adhesive may for example be a curable liquid adhesive like those currently sold with or employed for plastic artificial nails. In some embodiments the adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive (e.g., as in International Application Publication No. WO 2022 / 055803A1 (Bamat et al. to Popsockets, LLC) or in U.S. Patent No. 9,179,754 B2 (Han to Kiss Nail Products, Inc.)). In preferred embodiments the adhesive will be wholly or partially bioderived, such as the adhesives described at ww. walkenapeco verting conv3m-bioderived- -2 / . Use of abioderived adhesive may reduce the amount of potentially harmful dust that may be produced when shaping (e.g., filing) the nail. In especially preferred embodiments, the adhesive will be at least industrially compostable, such as S9500 adhesive from Avery Dennison; Novacoat™ adhesives from C.O.I.M s.p.a.; BioTAK adhesives from Sustainable Adhesive Products B. V.; and Epotal™ water-based lamination adhesives from BASF.

[0044] The disclosed artificial nails may be sold with or without a decorative topcoat or film. If sold with a decorative topcoat or film, it may already be applied to the nail, or may be provided as a separate element (e.g., as a sticker on a suitable liner or as a lacquer or other hardenable coating in a separate container) packaged with the nails. A wide variety of decorative topcoats and films may be employed. In preferred embodiments the decorative topcoat or film is at least industrially compostable, and more preferably is home compostable. Exemplary topcoats and films may be made from the above-mentioned binder polymers, coatings and films, andespecially those that are certified or sublicensed as being home compostable under an applicable standard. Other films include the stickers described in U.S. Patent No. 11,213,103 B2 (Yu et al. to GLLUGA, Inc. Wholly or partially bioderived topcoats, such as the plant-based topcoats supplied by Nailmatic (Paris, France), may also be employed. Use of a bioderived topcoat may reduce the amount of potentially harmful dust that may be produced when shaping (e.g., filing) the nail. Exemplary topcoats and films may include or provide single colors (e.g., white, black, gold, silver, pink, rose, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo or violet, as well as mixtures thereof); multicolored patterns containing two or more colors on each nail; reflective pigments; interference (viz., color shifting) pigments; glitter; flocking; and various sheens including gloss, semi-gloss, matte, flat and “jelly” (semi-transparent with gloss) finishes.

[0045] The disclosed artificial nails may also include mycelium material. Further details regarding such mycelium materials and their inclusion may be found in copending PCT Application No. (attorney docket no. 40148-3 (01WO01) entitled “BIODERIVED ARTIFICAL NAILS” filed even date herewith, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0046] The disclosed artificial nails may have a variety of shapes and sizes. They may for example have shapes and dimensions like those shown in the chart at www.thenailest.com / pages / sizing-chart. Nail shapes are also conveniently described based on the free edge shape, viz., the edge distal from the cuticle. Exemplary edge shapes include rounded (e.g., oval), square and pointed edges. Nail sizes are also conveniently described based on the maximum width of each nail, with the understanding that the corresponding lengths may be shorter or longer and frequently will be longer. Nails may for example be at least 9 mm wide, at least 10 mm wide, at least 11 mm wide, at least 12 mm wide or at least 13 mm wide, and up to 19 mm wide, up to 17 mm wide, up to 16 mm wide, up to 15 mm wide or up to 14 mm wide, with these widths being based on a chord drawn from side edge to side edge rather than the length of an arc across the top of the nail. The nails in a set typically will have different widths for each nail on a wearer’s hand or foot. An extra small fingernail set may for example have widths of 15 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, 11 mm and 9 mm for the thumb, index, middle, ring and pinky fingers. A small fingernail set may for example have widths of 16 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm, 12 mm and 9 mm for the thumb, index, middle, ring and pinky fingers. A medium fingernail set may for example have widths of 17 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm, 12 mm and 10 mm for the thumb, index,middle, ring and pinky fingers. A large fingernail set may for example have widths of 19 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm, 13 mm and 11 mm for the thumb, index, middle, ring and pinky fingers. Artificial nail lengths may for example be at least 14 mm, at least 15 mm, at least 16 mm or at least 17 mm, and up to 40 mm, up to 38 mm, up to 34 mm, up to 30 mm or up to 26 mm. Artificial toenail sizes may be similar to artificial fingernail sizes, but the width to length ratio may be closer to 1 : 1 for typical artificial toenails than will be the case for typical artificial fingernails.

[0047] The disclosed artificial nails may have a variety of thicknesses. Exemplary thicknesses for stickers or wraps may for example be up to at least about 0.5 mm, up to at least about 0.4 mm, up to at least about 0.3 mm or up to at least about 0.2 mm. Exemplary thicknesses for regular artificial nails, extensions and tips may for example be least about 0.6 mm, at least about 0.7 mm or at least about 0.8 mm. and up to at least about 1.7 mm, up to at least about 1.6 mm, or up to at least about 1.5 mm.

[0048] In some embodiments the disclosed artificial nails completely cover the underlying natural nail. In other embodiments the disclosed artificial nails are an extension or tip (e.g., as in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2011 / 0308539 Al (Van Chung)) and project beyond the underlying natural nail. When the disclosed artificial nails are a sticker or wrap, they may be shaped and colored or patterned like products from suppliers including Dashing Diva, Olive & June, Sally Hansen and Scratch, and after being installed and trimmed to fit they typically will not project beyond the natural nail or artificial nail to which the sticker or wrap has been applied. In contrast, regular artificial nails, extensions and tips may and often will extend beyond an underlying natural nail.

[0049] The disclosed artificial nails may be sold in a variety of retail display packages. The packaging preferably is biodegradable, more preferably is at least industrially compostable and most preferably is home compostable. Exemplary package configurations include those employed by companies such as Kiss Nail Products, Inc., L’Oreal, Static Nails and Glamnetic. Exemplary packaging materials include the above-mentioned binder polymers, coatings and films, and especially those that are certified or sublicensed as being home compostable under an applicable standard. Desirably the packaging material is lightweight, and capable of being sent through the mail. Additional packaging materials include coated or uncoated cardboard, printed with a home compostable ink, and equipped with a transparent cellulose window film attached to the cardboard with a home compostable adhesive. If the cardboard is coated, many of the above-mentioned coatings and films may be employed, and especially those that are certified or sublicensed as being home compostable under an applicable standard. Another exemplary packaging material is PaperFoam™ injection-molded starch-based packaging material from PaperFoam Holding B.V. An additional exemplary window material is the transparent version of NatureFlex™ cellulose-derived film from the Futamura Group.

[0050] Having thus described preferred embodiments of the present invention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the teachings found herein may be applied to yet other embodiments within the scope of the claims hereto attached. The complete disclosure of all patents, patent documents, and publications mentioned above are incorporated herein by reference as if individually incorporated.

Claims

Claims:

1. An artificial nail made primarily or exclusively from home compostable materials.

2. A sized set of home compostable artificial nails in retail display packaging.

3. A method for making artificial nails, the method comprising the steps of forming a home compostable sheet substrate, and in either order i) molding or otherwise shaping the substrate into nail shapes having a convex underside and at least partially rounded perimeter, and ii) hardening or rigidifying the substrate or nail shapes using one or more of heat, pressure, impregnation or crosslinking.

4. A method for applying artificial nails comprising the step of adhering a home compostable artificial nail or portion thereof to a natural nail or portion thereof or to another artificial nail or portion thereof.

5. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail is hardened, rigidified or both hardened and rigidified to approximate the hardness or rigidity of a natural nail.

6. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail is hardened or rigidified using one or more of heat, pressure, impregnation or crosslinking.

7. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail is crosslinked.

8. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail is substantially homogenous.

9. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail is non-homogenous.

10. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains an inorganic reinforcing material.

11. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains an organic reinforcing material.

12. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail comprises a support and a binder polymer.

13. An artificial nail according to claim 12, wherein the support is nonwoven.

14. An artificial nail according to claim 12, wherein the support is home compostable.

15. An artificial nail according to claim 12, wherein the artificial nail is made exclusively from home compostable materials.

16. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains at least 20 weight percent home compostable binder polymer.

17. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains at least 50 weight percent home compostable binder polymer.

18. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains at least 70 weight percent home compostable binder polymer.

19. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains at least 10 weight percent home compostable additional materials.

20. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains at least 20 weight percent home compostable additional materials.

21. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail contains no live fungus.

22. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail further comprises an adhesive.

23. An artificial nail according to claim 22, wherein the adhesive is compostable.

24. An artificial nail according to claim 22, wherein the adhesive is home compostable.

25. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail further comprises a colored topcoat.

26. An artificial nail according to claim 25, wherein the topcoat is compostable.

27. An artificial nail according to claim 25, wherein the topcoat is home compostable.

28. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail comprises a sticker or wrap.

29. An artificial nail according to claim 28, wherein the sticker or wrap is less rigid than a natural nail, and after installation on a natural or artificial nail and trimming is no larger than and does not project beyond the underlying natural or artificial nail.

30. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail comprises an extension or tip.

31. An artificial nail according to claim 1, sized set according to claim 2, or method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the artificial nail is naturally hydrophobic.

32. A sized set according to claim 2, wherein the retail display packaging contains a plurality of the set members under a transparent film window.

33. A sized set according to claim 2, wherein the retail display packaging is compostable.

34. A sized set according to claim 2, wherein the artificial nails and the packaging are home compostable.

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