Apparatus and method for protecting fingernails

• US 6,990,985 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nailmates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nail Savers, LLC
• Inventors: Scheurn, Chris, Allen, Eileen
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COMSTOCK, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US10/154,639
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 132/73, 132/73.5, 132/319, 132/75, 132/285, 2 2/1, 216/3, 245/6, 2 1/6, 245/7, D28/56, D28/57, D28/58, D28/59, D28/60
• US Class Current: 132/200
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/087 especially for fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2029/008 Devices for protecting the nails, e.g. after manicuring
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/00 Manicuring or pedicuring implements

Abstract

An apparatus and method for protecting a fingernail includes a cover which is formed to fit over the fingernail. The cover is made from a material which restricts ultraviolet light from contacting the fingernail, thus preventing yellowing when the user is tanning.

Claims

1. A cover for fingernails comprising:

a piece of ultraviolet light-resistant material sized to proximate the size of a user'"'"'s fingertip and configured to accommodate fingertips of varying sizes, said piece having a rectangular-shaped open end that is wider than it is high with a width to height ratio of from about 2;

1 to about 5;

1 and said piece being configured for receiving and being worn on the distal end of a user'"'"'s finger thereby enclosing the end of the finger.

2. A cover for fingernails, the cover comprising:

a piece of ultraviolet light-resistant material having a top wall, a bottom wall, an opening and an inside surface, said piece of ultraviolet light-resistant material being configured for receiving the distal end of a user'"'"'s finger and further comprising at least two sidewalls for providing an accommodation of said cover to varying sizes of fingertips by applying a lateral force to said sidewalls, said top wall and said bottom wall having sufficient flexibility to provide a compressive force to a user'"'"'s fingertip, and said inside surface further comprising adhesive disposed on at least a portion thereof to contact the finger.

3. The cover of claim 2 wherein said adhesive is located to contact a fingernail.

4. The cover of claim 2 wherein said top wall and said bottom wall are substantially flat and oriented parallel to each other to provide contact between said top wall and said bottom wall with a fingertip.

5. A cover for fingernails, the cover comprising an ultraviolet light-resistant member sized to proximate the size of a user'"'"'s fingertip and being configured for receiving and being worn on the distal end of a user'"'"'s fingertip thereby enclosing the end of the finger and user'"'"'s fingernail, said member having a flattened top wall, a flattened bottom wall in parallel orientation to said top wall, sidewalls joining said top wall and bottom wall and an opening that is wider than it is high, said member being configured such that said sidewalls are compressible toward each other to enlarge said opening for receiving the distal end of a user'"'"'s finger and such that when said sidewalls are released, said top wall and said bottom wall are brought into simultaneous contact with a user'"'"'s fingertip and further comprising an inside surface and having an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said inside surface of said cover.

6. A method for protecting a fingernail from yellowing while in a tanning booth, the method comprising:

a) selecting a cover sized to accommodate fingers of varying sizes having an upper wall, a lower wall, sidewalls, a length and an opening of rectangular shape, said opening being wider than it is high and configured to fit over the fingernail of a finger to enclose the fingertip in a manner such that the sidewalls do not engage the finger;

b) advancing said cover over the fingertip until said upper wall and lower wall engage the fingertip to hold said cover on the fingertip; and

c) subjecting said finger to ultraviolet light in a tanning booth.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises selecting a cover having slits in opposing orientation and extending from said opening of said cover.

8. A method for protecting a fingernail from yellowing while in a tanning booth, the method comprising:

a) selecting a cover sized to accommodate fingers of varying sizes having a flattened top wall, a flattened bottom wall oriented parallel to said top wall, sidewalls and an opening, said opening being wider than it is high and configured to fit over the fingertip of a user to enclose and cover the fingernail;

b) placing the cover over the fingertip by compressing said sidewalls of said cover together to enlarge said opening to receive a fingertip and then releasing said sidewalls to bring said top wall and said bottom wall into contact with said fingertip; and

c) subjecting said finger to ultraviolet light in a tanning booth.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the width to height ratio of said cover is between about 2:

1 and 5;

1.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said sidewalls have a defined length extending from said opening and said cover has at least one slit therein extending from said opening a distance which is less than half said length of said sidewalls to facilitate accommodation of said cover over a fingernail.