Artificial fingernail appliance and method for its use

Abstract

The present invention is generally comprised of an appliance that may be of assistance in the coloration of an artificial fingernail. In some embodiments, the appliance is generally comprised of a trimming portion having a trimming edge that is used to form an interior edge of a hard exterior layer (such as acrylic) disposed on the top surface of the artificial fingernail and a support portion that may be used to manipulate the trimming portion during operation of the appliance. In other embodiments, the appliance is generally comprised of a nail coating trimmer, a handle, and handle attachment means to removably or permanently attach the nail trimmer to the handle. In these embodiments, the nail coating trimmer also has a trimming edge that is used to form an interior edge of a hard exterior layer disposed on the top surface of the artificial fingernail. The present invention also includes a method of using the appliance to assist in the coloration of an artificial fingernail.

1 . An appliance for use in coloration of an artificial fingernail, the appliance comprising a trimming portion and a support portion, wherein: 
 (a) an exterior coating material is disposed on the top surface of the artificial fingernail approximately adjacent to the free edge of the artificial fingernail and the exterior coating material dries to form a hard exterior layer;    (b) the trimming portion is further comprised of a trimming edge that is impressed into the exterior coating material before it dries, such impression resulting in an interior edge of the hard exterior layer that is opposite the free edge of the artificial fingernail;    (c) the trimming edge is of a size and shape adapted to produce a predetermined shape for the interior edge; and    (d) the support portion is adjacent to the trimming portion and may be used to manipulate the trimming portion during the process of forming the interior edge.    
   
   
       2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is of a size and shape adapted to attach the appliance to a handle.  
   
   
       3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the support portion is approximately rectangular or square in shape.  
   
   
       4 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the support portion has a length in the range from ¼ inches to 1 inch and a width in the range from ⅛ inches to ½ inches.  
   
   
       5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the trimming portion has an approximately partially cylindrical shape and the trimming edge is disposed at one end of the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion.  
   
   
       6 . The appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the support portion is disposed at the end of the trimming portion approximately opposite the end on which is disposed the trimming edge.  
   
   
       7 . The appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the radius of curvature of the concave surface defined by the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion is in the range from 5/32 inches to 7/32 inches, and the width of the trimming portion, as measured between the points at each end of the trimming edge, is in the range from ⅜ inches to ½ inches.  
   
   
       8 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the radius of curvature of the concave surface defined by the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion is approximately 3/16 inches.  
   
   
       9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the trimming edge is arcuate in shape.  
   
   
       10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the arcuate shape of the trimming edge is approximately partially semicircular and has a radius of curvature in the range from ⅜ inches to 7/16 inches.  
   
   
       11 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the trimming portion adjacent to the perimeter of the trimming edge is approximately 1/64 inches.  
   
   
       12 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is comprised of stainless steel.  
   
   
       13 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) the trimming portion has an approximately partially cylindrical shape, wherein the trimming edge is disposed at one end of the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion, and the radius of curvature of the concave surface defined by the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion is 5/32 inches to 7/32 inches, and the width of the trimming portion, as measured between the points at each end of the trimming edge, is in the range from ⅜ inches to ½ inches;    (b) the trimming edge is approximately partially semicircular and has a radius of curvature in the range from ⅜ inches to 7/16 inches; and    (c) the support portion is disposed at the end of the trimming portion approximately opposite the end on which is disposed the trimming edge.    
   
   
       14 . An appliance for use in coloration of an artificial fingernail, the appliance comprising: 
 (a) a nail coating trimmer, wherein: 
 (i) an exterior coating material is disposed on the top surface of the artificial fingernail approximately adjacent to the free edge of the artificial fingernail and the exterior coating material dries to form a hard exterior layer;  
 (ii) the nail coating trimmer is further comprised of a trimming edge that is impressed into the exterior coating material before it dries, such impression resulting in an interior edge of the hard exterior layer that is opposite the free edge of the artificial fingernail; and  
 (iii) the trimming edge is of a size and shape adapted to produce a predetermined shape for the interior edge;  
   (b) a handle; and    (c) handle attachment means to operably attach the handle to the nail coating trimmer.    
   
   
       15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 (a) the nail coating trimmer is further comprised of a trimming portion and a support portion;    (b) the trimming portion has an approximately partially cylindrical shape, and the trimming edge is disposed at one end of the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion;    (c) the support portion is of a size and shape adapted to be removably attached to the handle; and    (d) the support portion of the nail coating trimmer is removably attached to the handle by the handle attachment means.    
   
   
       16 . The appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the handle attachment means is comprised of: 
 (a) a cylindrical portion disposed on the end of the handle adjacent to the nail coating trimmer, wherein the cylindrical portion has threads on a portion of the exterior surface thereof and a longitudinal channel therein of a size and shape adapted to receive the distal end of the support portion, and the longitudinal channel extends from the distal end of the cylindrical portion; and    (b) a collar portion having a generally cylindrical shape with an internal taper along its longitudinal axis and threads on its interior surface that operably correspond to the threads on the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion;    (c) wherein the width of the longitudinal channel is reduced when the collar portion is screwed down against the cylindrical portion, so that the support portion of the nail coating trimmer is removably held in place in the longitudinal channel by friction.    
   
   
       17 . The appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the support portion is disposed at the end of the trimming portion approximately opposite the end on which is disposed the trimming edge.  
   
   
       18 . The appliance of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 (a) the radius of curvature of the concave surface defined by the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion is in the range from 5/32 inches to 7/32 inches, and the width of the trimming portion, as measured between the points at each end of the trimming edge, is in the range from ⅜ inches to ½ inches; and    (b) the trimming edge is approximately partially semicircular and has a radius of curvature in the range from ⅜ inches to 17/16 inches.    
   
   
       19 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the thickness of the trimming portion adjacent to the perimeter of the trimming edge is approximately 1/64 inches.  
   
   
       20 . The appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the handle is approximately cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       21 . The appliance of  claim 20 , wherein the handle is further comprised of a grip portion disposed approximately adjacent to the nail coating trimmer, wherein the grip portion assists the user of the appliance in holding the handle securely during use of the appliance.  
   
   
       22 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 (a) the nail coating trimmer is further comprised of a trimming portion and a support portion;    (b) the trimming portion has an approximately partially cylindrical shape, and the trimming edge is disposed at one end of the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion;    (c) the support portion is of a size and shape adapted to be permanently attached to the handle; and    (d) the support portion of the nail coating trimmer is permanently attached to the handle by the handle attachment means.    
   
   
       23 . The appliance of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 (a) the radius of curvature of the concave surface defined by the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion is in the range from 5/32 inches to 7/32 inches, and the width of the trimming portion, as measured between the points at each end of the trimming edge, is in the range from ⅜ inches to ½ inches; and    (b) the trimming edge is approximately partially semicircular and has a radius of curvature in the range from ⅜ inches to 7/16 inches.    
   
   
       24 . The appliance of  claim 22 , wherein the handle is approximately cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       25 . A method of coloring an artificial fingernail, wherein the method comprises the following steps: 
 (a) placing an exterior coating material of a predetermined color on the top surface of the artificial fingernail on a portion of the artificial fingernail adjacent to the free edge of the artificial fingernail, wherein the coating material dries to form a hard exterior layer having approximately the same color as the exterior coating material;    (b) providing an appliance for forming an interior edge of the hard exterior layer opposite the free edge of the artificial fingernail, wherein the appliance is comprised of: 
 (i) a nail coating trimmer having a trimming edge that is of a size and shape adapted to produce a predetermined shape for the interior edge;  
 (ii) a handle; and  
 (iii) handle attachment means to operably attach the handle to the nail coating trimmer;  
   (c) before the exterior coating material dries, positioning the trimming edge of the appliance on the surface of the exterior coating material disposed on the fingernail at the location at which the interior edge of the hard exterior surface of the fingernail is to be positioned;    (d) before the exterior coating material dries, exerting pressure on the appliance against the exterior coating material and the artificial fingernail until the trimming edge of the appliance is in contact with the artificial fingernail along approximately the entire width of the trimming edge;    (e) before the exterior coating material dries and with the trimming edge of the appliance in contact with the artificial fingernail along approximately the entire width of the trimming edge, moving the appliance laterally along the top surface of the artificial fingernail in the direction away from the free edge of the artificial fingernail so that the interior edge is formed; and    (f) removing the appliance from the fingernail in a manner so that a portion of the exterior coating material is removed from the artificial fingernail, wherein the interior edge of the hard exterior layer is formed as a result of removal of a portion of the exterior coating material from the artificial fingernail by the appliance.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 (a) the nail coating trimmer is further comprised of a trimming portion and a support portion;    (b) the trimming portion has an approximately partially cylindrical shape, and the trimming edge is disposed at one end of the approximately partially cylindrical trimming portion;    (c) the support portion is of a size and shape adapted to be operably attached to the handle; and    (d) the support portion of the nail coating trimmer is operably attached to the handle by the handle attachment means.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 (a) the radius of curvature of the concave surface defined by the approximately partially cylindrical portion is in the range from 5/32 inches to 7/32 inches, and the width of the trimming portion, as measured between the points at each end of the trimming edge, is in the range from ⅜ inches to ½ inches; and    (b) the trimming edge is approximately partially semicircular and has a radius of curvature in the range from ⅜ inches to 7/16 inches.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the thickness of the trimming portion adjacent to the perimeter of the trimming edge is approximately 1/64 inches.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the handle is approximately cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of placing an interior coating material of a predetermined color on the top surface of the portion of the artificial fingernail that is not covered by the hard exterior layer, wherein the interior coating material dries to form a hard interior layer having approximately the same color as the interior coating material.