Prefabricated nails, apparatus and method for producing

Abstract

The present invention provides a new paradigm in prefabricated gel nails (also referred to as pre-processed) gel nails, that lends itself to the mass production of the nails, in shapes, colors, styles that are close to finished, and are configured to enable the nails to be securely attached to finger nail plates applying a UV cured bonding method.

1 . A method of applying a preformed artificial nail to a finger nail of a human hand, the preformed artificial nail comprising a body having a top and a bottom and being made of a UV curable and UV transmissible material, the method comprising:
 applying a UV curable bonding agent between the bottom of the artificial nail body and the finger nail; and   holding the artificial nail in place on the finger nail over the bonding agent under direct exposure of a UV light so that UV radiation passes through the artificial nail body and cures the bonding agent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UV curable material of the artificial nail body is a gel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the artificial nail does not require any nail builders, fillers, or further application procedures after the bonding agent is cured. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the artificial nail is preformed by:
 providing a mold comprising a top mold member and a bottom mold member that have respective portions of at least one mold cavity shaped like the artificial nail body, one or both of the top and bottom mold members comprising a UV transmissive material;   closing the mold members together to form the at least one mold cavity;   injecting the UV curable material into the at least one mold cavity; and   directing UV radiation into the at least one mold cavity to cure the artificial nail body.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the top mold member has a configuration that is designed to produce a predetermined sculptured pattern on the top of the artificial nail body, and the bottom mold member has a configuration that is designed to produce a predetermined roughened or coarse pattern on the bottom of the artificial nail body. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the configuration of the bottom mold member comprises a pattern of grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the top mold member is formed of the UV transmissive material, and the bottom mold member is formed of stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the mold comprises a plurality of the mold cavities and a conduit system that interconnects the mold cavities, through which the UV curable material is directed into the mold cavities. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein directing UV radiation into the at least one mold cavity cures the UV curable material in the conduit system to produce one or more webs interconnecting a plurality of cured artificial nails. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the mold comprises a filled in area in one or more of the mold cavities, the filled in area enabling a different colored UV curable gel to be molded into the artificial nail. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for applying artificial nails to the finger nails of a human hand, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of preformed artificial nails each comprising a nail body made of a UV curable and UV transmissive material and having a top and a bottom each having a predetermined contour, the bottom configured to be secured to the finger nail plate; and   a UV curable bonding agent configured to adhere the bottom of the nail body to the finger nail plate when cured by UV radiation passing through the nail body.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the nail body comprises a UV curable gel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom of the nail body comprises a predetermined pattern of raised areas and recesses to facilitate adhesion of the nail body to the finger nail plate. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the artificial nails are formed by:
 providing a mold comprising a top mold member and a bottom mold member that have respective portions of at least one mold cavity shaped like the artificial nail body, one or both of the top and bottom mold members comprising a UV transmissive material;   closing the mold members together to form the at least one mold cavity;   injecting the UV curable material into the at least one mold cavity; and   directing UV radiation into the at least one mold cavity to cure the artificial nail body.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the mold comprises a plurality of the mold cavities and further comprises a conduit system that interconnects the mold cavities, through which the UV curable material is directed into the mold cavities;   directing UV radiation into the at least one mold cavity cures the UV curable material in the conduit system to produce one or more webs interconnecting a plurality of the preformed artificial nails; and   the artificial nails are further formed by separating the preformed artificial nails from the webs.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the top mold member comprises a filled in area in one or more of the mold cavities, the filled in area enabling a different colored UV curable gel to be molded into the artificial nail. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bonding agent is configured to be applied to the finger nail plate. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bonding agent is a UV photo initiated gel resin. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein, under direct exposure of a UV light, the material of the nail body passes sufficient UV radiation to the bonding agent to cure the bonding agent within between 30 and 60 seconds.