Illuminated artificial fingernails

Abstract

An illuminated artificial nail has a base substrate, a lamp, a power source, a top and an on/off switch. The base substrate has a top view footprint of a shape and size to fit onto at least a portion of a human nail, and has sufficient flexibility to form into, or having a general curvature of, a human nail, the base substrate being attachable to a human fingernail, such as by adhesive. The lamp is located on top of the base substrate, and the top member has a single planar smooth top surface. The top member is selected from the group consisting of a top portion of the lamp, and a cover on top of the lamp and having at least a portion thereof being light transmittable.

1 . An illuminated artificial nail, which comprises:
 a) a base substrate having a top and a bottom, and having a top view footprint of a shape and size to fit onto at least a portion of a human nail, and having sufficient flexibility to form into, or having a general curvature of, a human nail, said base substrate being attachable to a human fingernail;   b) a lamp fixed by and located on top of said base substrate and being separated from said bottom of said base substrate;   c) a power source connected to said lamp to illuminate it, said power source being selected from the group consisting of a power source located between said base substrate and a top member; and a remotely located power source.   d) a top member having a single planar smooth top surface, said top member being selected from the group consisting of a top portion of said lamp, and a cover on top of said lamp and having at least a portion thereof being light transmittable, and,   e) an on/off switch connected to said power source and to said lamp.   
     
     
         2 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 1  wherein said remotely located power source is connected via wiring to said lamp. 
     
     
         3 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 2  wherein said power source has a housing that is attachable to a human and includes attachment means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a strap, a ring, a cut glove, and a bracelet. 
     
     
         4 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 1  wherein said lamp is selected from the group consisting of an LED, and LCD, a DC incandescent bulb and a laminated flat lamp. 
     
     
         5 . The illuminated artificial nail of clam  4  wherein said laminated flat lamp is a flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source. 
     
     
         6 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 5  wherein said nail includes said base substrate, a flat power cell attached to said top of said base substrate, a reciprocating on/off switch atop said base substrate and circuitry connecting said power cell, said on/off switch and said lamp, said lamp being said flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source wherein its top laminate layer has said smooth top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 6  wherein said flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source is flexible at said switch, said switch is located below it and said switch may be turned on and off by pressing said flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source. 
     
     
         8 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 1  wherein said nail is a disposable nail and includes illumination activation means that may be activated upon application to a nail. 
     
     
         9 . An illuminated artificial nail, which comprises:
 a) a base substrate having a top and a bottom, and having a top view footprint of a shape and size to fit onto at least a portion of a human nail, and having sufficient flexibility to form into, or having a general curvature of, a human nail, said base substrate being attachable to a human fingernail;   b) an adhesive layer located on said bottom of said base substrate for attachment to a nail;   c) a lamp fixed by and located on top of said base substrate and being separated from said bottom of said base substrate;   d) a power source connected to said lamp to illuminate it, said power source being selected from the group consisting of a power source located between said base substrate and a top member; and a remotely located power source.   e) a top member having a single planar smooth top surface, said top member being selected from the group consisting of a top portion of said lamp, and a cover on top of said lamp and having at least a portion thereof being light transmittable, and,   f) an on/off switch connected to said power source and to said lamp.   
     
     
         10 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 9  wherein said remotely located power source is connected via wiring to said lamp. 
     
     
         11 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 10  wherein said power source has a housing that is attachable to a human and includes attachment means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, a strap, a ring, a cut glove, and a bracelet. 
     
     
         12 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 9  wherein said lamp is selected from the group consisting of an LED, and LCD, a DC incandescent bulb and a laminated flat lamp. 
     
     
         13 . The illuminated artificial nail of clam  12  wherein said laminated flat lamp is a flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source. 
     
     
         14 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 13  wherein said nail includes said base substrate, a flat power cell attached to said top of said base substrate, a reciprocating on/off switch atop said base substrate and circuitry connecting said power cell, said on/off switch and said lamp, said lamp being said flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source wherein its top laminate layer has said smooth top surface. 
     
     
         15 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 14  wherein said flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source is flexible at said switch, said switch is located below it and said switch may be turned on and off by pressing said flat, laminated, phosphorous-based electroluminescent sheet light source. 
     
     
         16 . The illuminated artificial nail of  claim 9  wherein said nail is a disposable nail and includes illumination activation means that may be activated upon application to a nail.