Artificial fingernail extension

Abstract

An artificial fingernail extension has opposing top and bottom surfaces with opposing distal and proximal ends and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends. An offset ledge is formed in the bottom surface, extends along the proximal end between the opposing sides, is thinner than an average thickness immediately adjacent the offset ledge, has a textured surface, and optionally has a transparency differing by 20% from the transparency of the immediately adjacent nail portion. The textured surface improves adhesion and along with the transparency differences improves alignment during use.

1 . An artificial fingernail extension for use with a person's fingernail, comprising:
 an artificial fingernail extension having opposing top and bottom surfaces and extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having an offset ledge formed in the bottom surface so as to face the fingernail during use and extending between the opposing sides, the offset ledge having a thickness about 35% to 65% of an average thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge, the surface of the offset ledge being textured to have a surface roughness greater than a surface roughness of the bottom of the artificial fingernail extension, the surface roughness comprising a matt finish and being between 0.35-2.8 Ra.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein the offset ledge has a uniform length measured parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 2 , wherein the uniform length is between 3 and 6 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein offset ledge has a thickness of 40% to 60% the thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 3 , wherein offset ledge has a thickness of 40% to 60% the thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge. 
     
     
         6 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the offset ledge has a different and rougher surface texture than the bottom surface of the artificial fingernail immediately adjacent the offset ledge. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished. 
     
     
         10 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 5 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished. 
     
     
         11 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 8 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished. 
     
     
         12 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein the offset ledge is of a crescent shape and has a transparency that is about 15%-40% different from the transparency of the immediately adjacent portion of the artificial fingernail extension so as to enhance the contrast between the offset ledge and the remainder of the artificial fingernail extension. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 5 , wherein the transparency of the offset ledge is about 15%-40% more transparent than the transparency of the immediately adjacent portion of the artificial fingernail extension so as to enhance the contrast between the offset ledge and the remainder of the artificial fingernail extension. 
     
     
         14 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein the offset ledge is about 50% transparent and a portion of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge is about 70% transparent. 
     
     
         15 . An artificial fingernail extension for use with a person's fingernail, comprising:
 an artificial fingernail extension having opposing top and bottom surfaces and extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having an offset ledge formed in the bottom surface so as to face the fingernail during use and extending along the entire proximal end, the offset ledge having a thickness about 40% to 60% of an average thickness of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge, the surface of the offset ledge being textured with a matt finish and having a rougher surface texture than the bottom surface of the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge, the artificial fingernail extension having a length along the longitudinal axis of about 3 mm-6 mm, the offset ledge having a transparency through the matt finish that differs from the transparency of the immediately adjacent portion of the artificial fingernail extension by about 15% to 30% in transparency, so as to enhance the contrast between the offset ledge and the remainder of the artificial fingernail extension.   
     
     
         16 . The artificial fingernail extension of  15 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces are polished, and the offset ledge has a transparency of about 50%. 
     
     
         17 . A method of applying an artificial fingernail extension to a person's fingernail using the artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 applying a fingernail adhesive to the textured offset ledge;   aligning the offset ledge with the distal end of the person's fingernail; and   placing the offset ledge on top of the person's fingernail with an interior edge of the offset ledge at a distal end of the person's fingernail.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the offset ledge has a length along the longitudinal axis of about 2-6 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the offset ledge has a thickness of about 0.15 mm to 0.23 mm and the artificial fingernail extension immediately adjacent the offset ledge has a thickness of about 0.35 mm to 0.38 mm, and the offset ledge has a transparency about 15% to 30% different from a transparency of the immediately adjacent the offset ledge to enhance visibility of the offset ledge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the artificial fingernail extension has a transparency of about 70% and the offset ledge has a transparency of about 50%, and offset ledge has a thickness of about 0.15 mm to 0.23 mm and the artificial fingernail has a thickness of about 0.35 mm to 0.38 mm immediately adjacent the offset ledge. 
     
     
         21 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein the fingernail extension has a convex curve between the proximal and distal ends in the direction a finger bends, and the proximal end is curved convexly from side to side. 
     
     
         22 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end and the offset ledge are curved toward the distal end and in a direction that a finger curls, and are also curved convexly from side to side. 
     
     
         23 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 8 , wherein the fingernail has a convex curve between the proximal and distal ends in the direction a finger bends, and the proximal end is curved convexly from side to side. 
     
     
         24 . The artificial fingernail extension of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end and the offset ledge are curved toward the distal end and also curved convexly from side to side. 
     
     
         25 . An artificial fingernail extension for use with a person's fingernail, comprising:
 an artificial fingernail extension having opposing top and bottom surfaces and extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end and two opposing sides extending between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end having an offset ledge formed in the bottom surface so as to face the fingernail during use and extending between the opposing sides, the offset ledge having a first thickness and the fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, the first thickness being configured to permit bending of the offset ledge to conform to the shape of the fingernail when pressed against the fingernail.   
     
     
         26 . The artificial nail extension of  claim 25  wherein the first thickness provides the offset ledge with a greater transparency than that fingernail extension immediately adjacent to the offset ledge. 
     
     
         27 . The artificial nail extension of  claim 25  wherein the bottom surface of the offset ledge is textured to have a surface roughness greater than a surface roughness of the bottom of the artificial fingernail immediately adjacent to the offset ledge. 
     
     
         28 . The artificial nail extension of  claim 25  wherein the bottom surface of the nail extension has a first region and second region, wherein the first region is textured greater than the second region, wherein the first region has a surface area of less than one third of the second region.