Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Manicure or pedicure compositions
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-12-11
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Manicure or pedicure compositions
C132S073000, C434S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328949
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to finger nail covering and finishing and more particularly to a new finger nail covering system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently finger nails are finished using liquid nail polishes which are applied manually using brushes and/or are sprayed onto the finger nails using air brushing. The liquid nail polish is applied to the finger nail and a substantial drying period is required before the finger nails are in a usable state. In addition to coloured nail polishes, often clear polishes are applied over top of the coloured polishes in order to provide for increased durability of the nail polish and as well for increased gloss and look of the nail polish. The clear covering is also applied by either using a brush or spraying with an air brush. A substantial drying period is required before the nails are in a usable state.
Over time the nail polish applied by the liquid means begins to wear either through use of the nails which creates chipping and/or wearing off of the colouring over time and/or the nails grow out to the point where there is a substantial portion of the nail nearest the nail bed were there is no nail polish covering where the new nail has grown out. Once any of the above has occurred, the nail polish must be removed, normally using very strong solvents, and again, a substantial amount of time and effort is required in order to remove the existing nail polishes from the finger nails.
The presently accepted method of nail polishing requires a considerable amount of time, effort and skill on the part of the person applying the nail polish and again on the part of the person who is removing the nail polish from the fingers.
There are a number of inventions that have tried to address the problems of time and skill required to apply conventional nail polishes in for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,876 by Larson issued Aug. 14, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,610 by Orsini issued Dec. 4, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,030 by Newman issued Jul. 15, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,389 by Hans-Rainer Hoffman issued Jun. 11, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,357 by Albert C. Miller issued Aug. 5, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,903 by Hans-Rainer Hoffman issued May 16, 1995 as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,840 by Dae S. So issued Feb. 27, 1990.
While the above-mentioned patented inventions may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purpose of the present invention as hereafter described. In particular there is a need for a fast, durable, easy to apply and remove nail covering which is inexpensive and easily accessible by those wanting to finish their nails in any particular fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention; a method for making nail coverings comprises the steps of:
(a) scanning a persons fingernail to produce a digitized nail image of the nail top surface; and
(b) shaping nail covering material using the digitized nail image such that the nail covering material conforms to the nail top surface thereby producing a nail cover sized to cover substantially the entire nail top surface.
Preferably including a further step of adhering the nail cover to the nail top surface thereby covering substantially the entire nail top surface with the nail cover.
Preferably the step of scanning includes producing a three dimensional digital nail image of the nail top surface.
Preferably the step of scanning includes producing a two dimensional digital nail image of the nail top surface.
Preferably including a further step of adjusting the dimension of the two dimensional image to correct for the curvature of the actual nail top surface.
Preferably the nail covering material includes a thin film type material.
Preferably the nail covering material includes a self adhesive thin film type material.
Preferably the step of shaping includes using a plotter to cut nail covering material using the digitized nail image such that the nail covering material conforms to the nail top surface thereby producing a nail cover sized to cover substantially the entire nail top surface.
Preferably including a further step of scanning a transverse nail section in order to adjust the size of the two dimensional image to correct for the curvature of the actual nail top surface.
The present invention a apparatus for making nail coverings comprises:
(a) a scanning means for scanning a persons fingernail to produce a digitized nail image of the nail top surface; and
(b) a computer controlled shaping means for shaping nail covering material using the digitized nail image such that the nail covering material conforms to the nail top surface thereby producing a nail cover sized to cover substantially the entire nail top surface.
Preferably further comprising an adjusting means for adjusting the size of the two dimensional digital image to correct for the curvature and size of the actual nail top surface.
Preferably further comprising an adhering means for adhering the nail cover to the nail top surface thereby covering substantially the entire nail top surface with the nail cover.
Preferably said scanning means is adapted to produce a three dimensional digital nail image of the nail top surface.
Preferably said scanning means is adapted to produce a two dimensional digital nail image of the nail top surface.
Preferably said scanning means is further adapted to adjust the dimension of the two dimensional digital image to correct for the curvature of the actual nail top surface.
Preferably said shaping means includes a computer controlled plotter capable of cutting nail covering material utilizing the digitized nail image such that the nail covering material conforms to the nail top surface, thereby producing a nail cover size to cover substantially the entire nail top surface.
Preferably said scanning means is further adapted to scan a transverse nail section which is used to adjust the size of the two dimensional image to correct for the curvature of the actual nail top surface.
Preferably the nail covering material preferably includes a thin film type material.
Preferably said self adhesive thin film type material is preferably a thin vinyl sheet having a self adhesive backing which is capable of adhering to the nail top surface.
A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for making nail coverings comprises the steps of:
(a) scanning a persons fingernail to produce a two dimensional digitized nail image of the nail top surface.
(b) adjusting the size of the two dimensional image to correct for the curvature and size of the actual nail top surface.
(c) shaping nail covering material to conform to the nail image created to produce a nail cover sized to cover substantially the entire nail top surface.
(d) adhering the nail cover to the nail thereby covering substantially the entire nail top surface with the nail cover.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4600030 (1986-07-01), Newman
patent: 4767648 (1988-08-01), Hokama et al.
patent: 4974610 (1990-12-01), Orsini
patent: 5044384 (1991-09-01), Hokama et al.
patent: 5309365 (1994-05-01), Sullivan et al.
patent: 5873375 (1999-02-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 6035860 (2000-03-01), Mombourquette
patent: 6065969 (2000-05-01), Rifkin et al.
patent: 6067996 (2000-05-01), Weber et al.
Tessarolo Anna
Tessarolo Dino
Howard S.
Page Thurman K.
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