Elastic Adhesive Strip With Grip Tab For Artificial Nail Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for attaching artificial fingernails to natural nails, such as liquid adhesives and double-sided adhesive strips, make it difficult to detach the artificial nail without damaging either nail, requiring waiting for natural nail growth for removal.

Innovation Solution

A double-sided adhesive strip with a protruding gripping tab that reduces adhesive strength when pulled, allowing easy detachment by applying tension to the tab, which lies under the artificial nail, facilitating removal without damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a double-sided adhesive strip is used to attach the artificial fingernail, then the artificial fingernail can be attached securely to the natural fingernail, but the artificial fingernail becomes almost impossible to remove without damaging the natural fingernail

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive strip is segmented into two functional zones: a broad adhesive area for strong bonding and a narrow grip tab for easy removal. This segmentation allows the strip to provide both strong attachment and simple detachment by concentrating the removal force on a small, accessible tab portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grip tab acts as an intermediary element between the user's fingers and the adhesive strip. By pulling the tab rather than attempting to directly manipulate the bonded artificial nail, the user can generate sufficient tensile force to overcome the adhesive bond without applying damaging forces to the natural nail or artificial nail structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If liquid adhesive is used to attach the artificial fingernail, then the artificial fingernail can be firmly attached, but removal requires waiting for natural nail growth and is extremely difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment firmnessVSAvoidremoval time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive strip is pre-formed with an integrated grip tab structure before application. This preliminary design ensures that the removal mechanism is already in place, eliminating the need to wait for natural nail growth or use complex removal procedures. The tab provides immediate, built-in functionality for easy detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the adhesive strip is made narrow to allow grip tab access, then the grip tab can be easily accessed for removal, but the adhesive strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip tab accessibilityVSAvoidadhesive strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive strip exhibits local quality variation: the majority of the strip has broad width for maximum adhesive contact and strength, while a specific localized portion (the grip tab) is narrowed for accessibility. This local narrowing at the front end allows finger access and force application without compromising the overall adhesive bonding area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables effortless and damage-free removal of artificial nails, making them easily replaceable without tools, with optimal tab length ranging from 20 to 80% of the artificial nail's protruding length for enhanced detachment ease.

Implementation Method 1

the adhesive strip consists of an elastic material which, when pulled in its longitudinal direction, decreases in width and thereby reduces the adhesive strength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3641587B1Attaching an artificial fingernail
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 TOUSSAINT STEPHAN
  • EP3641587B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to attachment of an artificial fingernail to a natural fingernail using a double-sided adhesive strip, said adhesive strip consisting of an elastic material that reduces in width when pulled in the longitudinal direction and thus reduces the adhesive force. In order to exert the tensile force, a grip tab projects at the front end of the adhesive strip and lies, during attachment of an artificial fingernail, beneath the outwardly projecting region of said artificial fingernail.