Decorative artificial nail and method of manufacture

Abstract

An artificial nail having a convex surface and an opposing concave surface is described where the convex surface is covered with: a first layer, comprising electrically conductive paint; a second laye

Description

Field of the invention

[001] The invention relates to decorating non-electrically-conductive objects. In particular, the invention relates to an artificial nail plated on its convex face with a 5 decorative metal. More particularly, the invention relates to an artificial nail decorated by electroplating or electro-brushing of a decorative metal. Background of the invention

[002] Artificial nails (such as artificial fingernails or toenails) are a popular accessory in many parts of the world, and it is not uncommon for them to be 10 decorated very elaborately with colours and even precious metals or stones.

[003] Covering an object with precious metals is an ancient and still popular form of decoration. Conventional methods of decoration include applying adhesive to a surface to be decorated and then applying a sheet of (for example) gold leaf to the surface. The gold leaf will adhere to the surface only where the adhesive is present, 15 allowing for complex patterns to be formed.

[004] This method is not suitable for use on convex surfaces, since the gold leaf cannot be applied evenly to a surface that is not flat.

[005] Two well known methods of covering an object with a layer of metal are electroplating and electro-brushing. These methods rely on the object to be plated 20 being electrically conductive, since in general the object to be plated forms the cathode of the circuit during the process.

[006] This method is not suitable for use with non-conductive objects. In general, artificial nails are not electrically conductive. A solution is required to more effectively decorate artificial nails, and other non-conductive, non-planar objects. 14 1024 Acknowledged prior art

[007] The inventor is aware of the following disclosures which relate to a similar field:

[008] KR201701)43178 uses an intermediate layer of urethane on an artificial nail 5 and applies a layer of metal using vacuum deposition.

[009] WO 2011 001417 provides a non homogeneous stack of active electrochromic layers separated by layers of electrolyte, applied to fingernails or toenails.

[010] WO 2018 130958 discloses a method of providing a layer of metallic- 10 looking particles or pigment to a nail or artificial nail. [Oil] WO 1986 000799 discloses make-up and nail polish containing flakes of gold. Statement of invention

[012] A first aspect of the invention provides an artificial nail having a convex 15 surface and an opposing concave surface, wherein the convex surface is covered with: a first layer, comprising electrically conductive paint; a second layer, comprising copper; a third layer, comprising palladium; a fourth layer, comprising a further metal other than palladium.

[013] The further metal may be one of: gold; silver, platinum; chromium; 20 rhodium.

[014] A second aspect of the invention provides a method of decorating an artificial nail having a convex surface and an opposing concave surface, the method comprising the steps of: covering the convex surface in a first layer of electrically conductive paint; electro-forming a second layer of copper on the first layer; 25 electro-plating a third layer of palladium on the second layer; electro-plating a fourth layer of further metal on the third layer. 14 1024

[015] The further metal may be one of: gold; silver, platinum; chromium; rhodium.

[016] The method may further comprising the step of: applying a layer of non-electrically conductive lacquer to the concave surface of the artificial nail, before 5 the step of electro forming a second layer of copper on the first layer.

[017] The step of electro-forming a second layer of copper on the first layer may comprise: forming a harness of copper wire about the artificial nail, electrically connected to the first layer of electrically conductive plate; and connecting the copper wire of the harness to an electro-plating circuit as the cathode. 10 Brief description of drawings

[018] The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawing:

[019] Figure 1 depicts a method according to the invention. Detailed description 15

[020] In order to create an electroplating or electro-brushing circuit with a non- conductive object (henceforth, the object which, for the purposes of the invention, is an artificial nail), it is first necessary to cover the object in a conductive layer (step 101 in Figure 1). In preparation for conventional electroforming processes, this is typically done chemically or using vacuum deposition techniques. The 20 inventor has found that the application of electrically conductive paint, either by means of a brush or a spray, is suitable for the purposes of the invention.

[021] For example, silver conductive spray could be use. As another example, copper conductive spray could be used.

[022] The paint on the object should be allowed to dry before the electro forming 25 step described below. 14 1024

[023] If the object is made of an organic substance, it is necessary to cover those parts of the surface of the object which are not to be electro-formed and electroplated with a non-conductive lacquer. This is to prevent corrosion of the organic substance during the process, which would contaminate an electro-forming 5 solution as well as damaging the object.

[024] Once a conductive layer has been painted or sprayed onto the selected surfaces of the object, a layer of copper is applied to the object using electroforming techniques. This can be done using brush techniques or tank techniques, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art. 10

[025] In a preferred embodiment using tank electro-forming, a tank is filled with an electrolyte solution of copper salts. The electrolyte should be used at room temperature, and so a heating apparatus may be necessary in cold environmental conditions. A thermometer should be included in the tank to monitor the temperature. The heater could optionally be controlled in response to readings 15 from the thermometer.

[026] The process produces a smoother result without ‘tide lines’ if the electrolyte is constantly agitated during the electro-forming process. An air pump having an air outlet within the electrolyte can provide this agitation.

[027] Many electro-forming power sources are available, and any conventional 20 device is suitable. The inventor has found that the GS200 electro-forming machine is particularly suitable. This is because it provides especially fine control for voltage and current levels and very small currents adjusted in fine increments are best suited for electro forming small objects such as artificial nails.

[028] The mandrel for electro-forming is the object to be plated. The mandrel 25 forms the cathode for the electro-forming circuit. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the object is an artificial nail. It will be apparent that an object as small and delicate as an artificial nail is not easy to connect to an electro-forming circuit as a cathode. This is because the cathode must be connected to the 14 1024 electrical bus from the power source, and the conventional modes of secure electrical connection (such as screws or crocodile clips) would be impractical or damaging to an artificial nail and many other possible objects which could be electro^formed according to the invention. 5

[029] In order to address this issue, the inventor has devised a scheme of creating a copper harness for the object (step 102). The harness is made of stiff but malleable copper wire, which is wrapped around the object, in electrically conductive contact with the conductive paint on the surface of the object. This copper wire harness is suspended over the tank such that the object is held in the 10 electrolyte, and is connected to the bus bar to form the cathode of the circuit.

[030] The object should be moved (e.g. rotated) in its copper harness periodically to prevent the harness fusing to the object.

[031] It is advantageous to provide a ring of copper wire around the object, connected to the copper wire of the harness. The inventor has found that this 15 prevents burning of the object in the event of excessive current.

[032] As will be clear to the skilled person, copper anodes are required to complete the electro^forming circuit. These are connected to the electroAorming power source in any conventional way. It is advantageous to cover the anodes in bags of electrically conductive material. This prevents sludge which builds up at 20 the anodes from contaminating the electrolyte.

[033] Once the tank is set up as described above, the voltage should be set to its maximum level and the current should be set to its minimum level (zero). The current should be gradually increased over time, until a suitable layer of copper has built up on the object (step 103). The inventor has found that a maximum current 25 corresponding to 0.035 Amps per square centimetre to be covered is particularly suitable. 14 1024

[034] After some time (usually three to six hours) a layer of copper suitable for the next steps of the method will have formed on the appropriate parts of the object.

[035] The next step is electro-plating a barrier layer of metal over the layer of copper (step 104). This can either be done by tank electro-plating or brush electro- 5 plating as would be clear to the skilled person.

[036] It may first be necessary to clean the object, since grease and other contaminants on the base layer of copper can interfere with the electro-plating. This can be done by electro-cleaning, or by other suitable means.

[037] Taking a preferred embodiment of tank electro-plating as an example, a tank 10 is prepared as in the previous step, filled with an electrolyte containing salts of the metal to be plated, and a circuit is prepared comprising anodes of the metal to be electro-plated, and a cathode electrically connected to the object to be plated, as in the previous step.

[038] The metal applied in this step is a barrier metal. If the decorative metal is 15 applied directly to the coper layer, its appearance will deteriorate over time.

[039] The barrier metal is palladium. This is expensive but is suitable for objects which will be used in contact with human skin.

[040] The final step is electro-plating a decorative metal on top of the barrier layer (step 105). This can be done using brush electro-plating or tank electro-plating. 20 For tank electro-plating, a tank is prepared as in the previous steps. The anode is formed of the decorative metal to be electro-plated and the electrolyte is formed of salts of the decorative metal.

[041] The decorative metal could be any precious, attractive or decorative metal. For example, the decorative metal could be one of: yellow gold (18 karat or 24 25 karat, for example); white gold; rose gold; silver; platinum; rhodium; chromium (including black chromium); or nickel (if the object is not intended for contact with human skin). CM

[042] The result of applying this method is an object, such as an artificial nail, covered at least partially with an inner layer of conductive paint, a layer of copper, a layer of nickel or palladium, and an outer layer of gold or other decorative metal.

[043] Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred 5 embodiment, the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the invention is limited by the claims. 14 1024

Claims

1. An artificial nail having a convex surface and an opposing concave surface, characterised in that the convex surface is covered with:a first layer, comprising electrically conductive paint;5 a second layer, comprising copper;a third layer, comprising palladium;a fourth layer, comprising a further metal other than palladium.

2. An artificial nail according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that the further metal is one of: gold; silver, platinum; chromium; rhodium.10 3. A method of decorating an artificial nail having a convex surface and anopposing concave surface, characterised in that the method comprises the steps of: covering the convex surface in a first layer of electrically conductive paint; clcctroforming a second layer of copper on the first layer;electro-plating a third layer of palladium on the second layer;15 electro-plating a fourth layer of further metal on the third layer.

4. A method of decorating an artificial nail according to claim 3 further characterised in that the further metal is one of: gold; silver; platinum; chromium; rhodium.

5. A method of decorating an artificial nail according to any one of claims 3 or 20 4 further characterised by the additional step of:applying a layer of non-electrically conductive lacquer to the concave surface of the artificial nail,before the step of electro-forming a second layer of copper on the first layer.

6. A method of decorating an artificial nail according to any one of claims 3 to 25 5, wherein the step of electro-forming a second layer of copper on the first layer is^tCMfurther characterised by:forming a harness of copper wire about the artificial nail, electrically connected to the first layer of electrically conductive plate; andconnecting the copper wire of the harness to an electroplating circuit as the5 cathode.

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