Nail decorating method and a decorated nail

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of decorating a nail which comprises forming a socket in an operatively upper surface of the nail, preferably at a position forward of a free edge of the natural nail, with the socket being complimentary shaped and sized to a pavilion of a cut diamond to be secured in the socket; securing at least part of the pavilion of the diamond in the socket by means of an adhesive that is compatible with the nail and the diamond, covering the operatively upper surface of the artificial nail and the crown and any part of the diamond which may extend above the socket with a clear acrylic layer and a top base gel, curing the top base gel, and shaping and buffing the upper surface of the clear acrylic layer and the cured base gel layer.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method of decorating a nail, the method comprising:
 forming a socket in an operatively upper surface of an artificial nail that is formed onto a natural nail, with the socket being complimentary shaped and sized to a pavilion of a cut diamond that is intended to be secured in the socket, with the diamond having been cut into a shape that includes a crown supported by a pavilion;   securing at least part of the pavilion of the diamond in the socket by an adhesive that is compatible with the nail and the diamond; and   sealing and finishing the operatively upper surface of the artificial nail and the crown and any part of the diamond which may extend above the socket.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in claim  188  wherein the sealing and finishing steps comprise:
 covering the operatively upper surface of the artificial nail and the crown and any part of the girdle and the pavilion which may extend above the socket with a clear acrylic layer and a top base gel; 
 curing the top base gel; and 
 shaping and buffing the upper surface of the clear acrylic layer and the cured base gel layer. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the adhesive comprises a clear base gel, and for both the base gel that acts as an adhesive between the pavilion surface and the socket, and the top base gel that covers the upper surface of the artificial nail, to be cured. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising forming the socket into a conical shape. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising forming the socket to a depth that is substantially the same as the pavilion depth of the diamond, and drilling the socket with a diameter at the upper surface of the artificial nail that is substantially the same as the diameter of the diamond at a girdle thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 wherein an operatively forward end of the artificial nail extends forward of a free edge of the natural nail; and   forming the socket in the upper surface of the artificial nail at a position forward of the free edge of the natural nail.   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising:
 drilling the socket through the artificial nail to accommodate a diamond of which the pavilion height exceeds the thickness of the artificial nail; and   inserting the diamond with its culet and at least part of facets surrounding the culet to extend from an operatively lower surface of the artificial nail.   
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising covering any portion of the diamond which extends below the operatively lower surface of the artificial nail with a complimentary sized drop of a mixture of solvent and acrylic nail powder. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising forming the socket in or through the artificial nail, as the case may be, by drilling the socket into the operatively upper surface of the artificial nail. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising drilling the socket with a drill bit of which the drill bit angle is substantially the same as the pavilion angle of the diamond. 
     
     
         28 . A method of decorating a nail, the method comprising:
 forming a socket in an operatively upper surface of a natural nail, with the socket being complimentary shaped and sized to a pavilion of a cut diamond that is intended to be secured in the socket, with the diamond having been cut into a shape that includes a crown supported by a pavilion;   securing at least part of the pavilion of the diamond in the socket by means of an adhesive that is compatible with the nail and the diamond; and   sealing and finishing the operatively upper surface of the nail and the crown and any part of the diamond which may extend above the socket.   
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the socket is formed at a position forward of the free edge of the natural nail. 
     
     
         30 . A decorated artificial nail that is created on a natural nail, the decorated artificial nail comprising:
 an embedded diamond secured in a socket formed in an operatively upper surface of the decorated artificial nail; and   wherein the upper surface of the decorated artificial nail and the crown of the diamond are sealed and finished.   
     
     
         31 . The decorated artificial nail as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the upper surface of the decorated artificial nail and the crown of the diamond is sealed and finished by being overcoated with a layer of clear top base gel which is cured over the upper surface of the artificial nail and the crown of the diamond, and with the cured layer of clear acrylic and layer of clear top base gel being shaped and buffed. 
     
     
         32 . The decorated artificial nail as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the socket is formed in the decorated artificial nail forward of the free edge of a natural nail underneath the artificial nail, and the socket extends through the decorated artificial nail to accommodate a diamond of which the pavilion height exceeds the thickness of the decorated artificial nail, and the diamond is inserted with a culet and optionally part of facets surrounding the culet extending from an operatively lower surface of the decorated artificial nail. 
     
     
         33 . The decorated artificial nail as claimed in  claim 32  wherein any portion of the diamond which extends below the operatively lower surface of the decorated artificial nail is covered with a complimentary sized drop of a mixture of solvent and acrylic nail powder. 
     
     
         34 . The decorated artificial nail as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the natural nail is a human fingernail.