System for protecting fingernails from exposure to ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A protective fingernail cover having a top portion, a bottom portion and a retention band. The bottom portion is joined to the top portion define an enclosure that is adapted to at least partially receive a person's fingernail. The retention band extends from at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion. The retention band is capable of extending around the person's finger when the protective fingernail cover is placed over the person's fingernail to thereby retain the protective fingernail cover in a fixed position with respect to the person's fingernail.

1 . A protective fingernail cover for protecting a person's fingernail from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the protective fingernail cover comprising:
 a top portion;   a bottom portion joined to the top portion to define an enclosure that is adapted to at least partially receive a person's fingernail; and   a retention band extends from at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the retention band is capable of extending around the person's finger when the protective fingernail cover is placed over the person's fingernail to thereby retain the protective fingernail cover in a fixed position with respect to the person's fingernail.   
   
   
       2 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion each comprise a proximal edge, a distal edge and two side edges that extend between the proximal edge and the distal edge. 
   
   
       3 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are attached to each other along the distal edges and the side edges to define the enclosure. 
   
   
       4 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 2 , wherein a recess is formed in the bottom portion along the distal edge. 
   
   
       5 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure has a length and a width that is approximately the same as a length and width of the person's fingernail. 
   
   
       6 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are fabricated from a UV-resistant material. 
   
   
       7 . A protective fingernail cover for protecting a person's fingernail from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the protective fingernail cover comprising:
 a top portion comprising a top proximal edge, a top distal edge and two top side edges that extend between the top proximal edge and the top distal edge;   a bottom portion comprising a bottom proximal edge, a bottom distal edge and two bottom side edges that extend between the bottom proximal edge and the bottom distal edge, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are attached to each other along the top and bottom distal edges and the top and bottom side edges to define an enclosure that is adapted to at least partially receive a person's fingernail; and   a retention band extends from at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the retention band is capable of extending around the person's finger when the protective fingernail cover is placed over the person's fingernail to thereby retain the protective fingernail cover in a fixed position with respect to the person's fingernail.   
   
   
       8 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 7 , wherein a recess is formed in the bottom portion along the bottom distal edge. 
   
   
       9 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 7 , wherein the enclosure has a length and a width that is approximately the same as a length and width of the person's fingernail. 
   
   
       10 . The protective fingernail cover of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are fabricated from a UV-resistant material. 
   
   
       11 . A method of protecting a person's fingernail from exposure to ultraviolet radiation while other portions of the person's body are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the method comprising:
 providing a protective fingernail cover comprising a top portion, a bottom portion and a retention band, wherein the bottom portion is joined to the top portion to define an enclosure that is adapted to at least partially receive a person's fingernail, wherein the retention band extends from at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion;   inserting the person's fingernail into the enclosure;   extending the retention band around the person's finger to retain the protective fingernail cover in a fixed position with respect to the person's fingernail; and   exposing at least a portion of the person's body except for the fingernail over which the protective fingernail cover is placed to ultraviolet radiation.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion each comprise a proximal edge, a distal edge and two side edges that extend between the proximal edge and the distal edge and wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are attached to each other along the distal edges and the side edges to define the enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a recess is formed in the bottom portion along the distal edge and wherein a portion of the person's finger is extended into the recess when the protective fingernail cover is placed over the person's fingernail. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enclosure has a length and a width that is approximately the same as a length and width of the person's fingernail. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the protective fingernail cover is fabricated from a UV-resistant material. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation is provided by the sun, indoor tanning equipment or combination thereof.