Artificial fingernail method and composition

• US 6,060,073 A
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayshore Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Alexander M. L. Keller
• Inventors: Keller, Alexander M. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOWARD, SHARON LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/100,744
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 424/401, 424/61
• US Class Current: 424/401
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8123 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by a halogen; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers, e.g. PVC, PTFE
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8152 Homopolymers or copolymers of esters, e.g. (meth)acrylic acid esters; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 3/00 Manicure or pedicure preparations

Abstract

Novel composition and method for forming artificial fingernails in situ and for prefabricated nails for people with weak, damaged nails. A vinyl fingernail extension is adhered to the top surface of the free end of a natural fingernail. Then for the in situ nail a coating of cyanoacrylate adhesive is applied to the vinyl extension and the natural nail. For the prefabricated nail, a fill in preliminary coating on the natural nail is first employed. Afterwards layers of a pink mixture in powder form of between approximately 8 and 12 parts by volume acrylic ester polymer or copolymer and 1 part sodium bicarbonate is applied to the adhesive coating while still wet to create an instant hardening. The coatings are repeated several times. The resulting nail looks naturally pink, blends into its finger, skin and nail environment, is hardy, corrects broken nails and is strong enough to protect against further damage to nails. Main benefit is that individuals whose nails are weak or broken and could not otherwise grow long nails because of this can do so and since the vinyl absorbs the adhesive and acrylic mixture and hardens, the artificial nail of the present invention need only be reinforced approximately every four weeks, a treatment that does not involve reapplying any vinyl extension. The vinyl extension just grows off and never needs to be replaced. Other compounds including sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate or sodium borate are substitutes for sodium bicarbonate but the result will not be as good.

Claims

1. A foundation for an artificial fingernail extension comprising polyvinyl chloride having a tensile strength of between approximately 3500 psi and 10,000 psi and which is between approximately 6 and 50 mils thick.

2. The foundation of claim 1, wherein it is between approximately 10 and 30 mils thick.

3. The foundation of claim 1, wherein it is frosty clear.

4. An artificial fingernail for coating human fingernails comprising a rigid prefabricated polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension overlapping a natural fingernail and at least one layer of an adhesive on the natural fingernail and on the prefabricated polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension that forms a permanent bond with the polyvinyl chloride.

5. The artificial fingernail of claim 4, wherein the prefabricated polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension has a thickness between approximately 6 and 50 mils.

6. The artificial fingernail of claim 4, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension is frosty clear.

7. The artificial fingernail of claim 4, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension is between approximately 10 and 30 mils thick.

8. The artificial fingernail of claim 4, wherein the adhesive is cyanoacrylate adhesive.

9. The artificial fingernail of claim 4, wherein the adhesive is urethane acrylate gel.

10. An artificial nail for coating human nails comprising a rigid prefabricated polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension overlapping a natural fingernail, a layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive on the natural fingernail and a layer of a mixture in powder form of acrylic ester polymers and sodium bicarbonate over the layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive,

at least one additional layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive on the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension and on the natural fingernail wherein each such additional layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive has on it an additional layer of a mixture in powder form of acrylic ester polymers and sodium bicarbonate.

11. The artificial nail of claim 10, wherein the mixture in powder form is between approximately 1 to 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

12. The artificial nail of claim 10, wherein the mixture in powder form is between approximately 8 to 12 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

13. The artificial nail of claim 10, wherein one member of the group selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, aluminum stearate, ammonium acetate, sodium sesquicarbonate, aluminum hydroxide, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, sodium acetate and ammonium carbonate replaces sodium bicarbonate.

14. An artificial nail composition for use with human nails comprising a layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive and a layer of a mixture in powder form of acrylic ester polymers and sodium bicarbonate.

15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the mixture in powder form is between approximately 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

16. The composition of claim 14, wherein the mixture in powder form is between approximately 8 and 12 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

17. An artificial nail composition for use with human nails comprising a layer of a mixture in powder form of acrylic ester polymers and sodium bicarbonate.

18. The composition of claim 17, wherein the mixture in powder form is between approximately 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

19. The composition of claim 17, wherein the mixture in powder form is between approximately 8 and 12 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate powder.

20. The composition of claim 17, wherein one member of the group selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, aluminum stearate, ammonium acetate, sodium sesquicarbonate, aluminum hydroxide, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, sodium acetate and ammonium carbonate replaces sodium bicarbonate.

21. A method of shielding an artificial fingernail on a natural fingernail, comprising the steps of:

a. applying a coating of cyanoacrylate adhesive to the top surface of the natural fingernail;

b. applying a layer of a mixture in powder form of between 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate to the top surface of the natural fingernail on the adhesive coating while said adhesive coating is still wet to cause instant hardening;

d. repeating steps b. and c. three times after brushing off excess powder before each repetition; and

e. shaping and filing a resulting fingernail surface.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the mixture in powder form is between 8 and 12 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein one member selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, aluminum stearate, ammonium acetate, sodium sesquicarbonate, aluminum hydroxide, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, sodium acetate and ammonium carbonate replaces sodium bicarbonate.

24. A custom fitted artificial nail for coating human nails comprising a frosty clear polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension overlapping a natural fingernail, a layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive on the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension and on the natural fingernail and a layer of a mixture in powder form of acrylic ester polymers and sodium bicarbonate over the layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive.

25. The artificial nail of claim 24, wherein the mixture in powder form is between 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

26. The artificial nail of claim 24, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension is between 3 and 20 mils thick and is firm.

27. The artificial nail of claim 24, wherein the mixture in powder form is between 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part a member of the group selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, aluminum stearate, ammonium acetate, sodium sesquicarbonate, aluminum hydroxide, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, sodium acetate and ammonium carbonate.

28. A custom fitted artificial fingernail for coating human fingernails comprising a firm polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension overlapping a natural fingernail and at least one layer of an adhesive on the natural fingernail and on the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension that forms a permanent bond with the polyvinyl chloride.

29. The artificial fingernail of claim 28, wherein the adhesive is cyanoacrylate adhesive.

30. The artificial fingernail of claim 28, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension has a thickness of approximately 3 to 20 mils.

31. The artificial fingernail of claim 28, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension has a thickness of approximately 8 to 12 mils.

32. The artificial fingernail of claim 28, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension is frosty clear.

33. The artificial fingernail of claim 28, wherein the polyvinyl chloride fingernail extension is frosty clear and is between 8 and 12 mils thick.

34. An artificial nail composition for use with human nails comprising a layer of cyanoacrylate adhesive and a layer of a mixture in powder form of between 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

35. The composition of claim 34, wherein one member of the group selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, aluminum stearate, ammonium acetate, sodium sesquicarbonate, aluminum hydroxide, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, sodium acetate and ammonium carbonate replaces sodium bicarbonate.

36. An artificial nail composition for use with human nails comprising a layer of a mixture in powder form of between 1 and 15 parts by volume acrylic ester polymers and 1 part sodium bicarbonate.

37. The composition of claim 36, wherein one member of the group selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium borate, aluminum stearate, ammonium acetate, sodium sesquicarbonate, aluminum hydroxide, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, sodium acetate and ammonium carbonate replaces sodium bicarbonate.

38. An artificial fingernail extension used for forming an artificial fingernail on a natural nail, comprising firm polyvinyl chloride whose thickness is approximately in the range of 3 to 20 mils thick.

39. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 38, wherein the polyvinyl chloride is frosty clear.

40. An artificial fingernail extension used for forming an artificial fingernail on a natural nail, comprising firm polyvinyl chloride whose thickness is approximately in the range of 8 to 12 mils thick.

41. The artificial fingernail extension of claim 40, wherein the polyvinyl chloride is frosty clear.

42. A foundation for an artificial fingernail extension comprising rigid prefabricated polyvinyl chloride having a tensile strength of between approximately 3500 psi and 10,000 psi.