Apparatus and method for protecting fingernails

Abstract

An apparatus and method for protecting a fingernail includes a cover which is formed to fit over the fingernail. The cover is made from a material which restricts ultraviolet light from contacting the fingernail, thus preventing yellowing when the user is tanning.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A cover for fingernails, the cover comprising: 
 an ultraviolet light-resistant member sized to proximate the size of a user's fingertip and being configured for receiving and being worn on the distal end of a user's fingertip thereby enclosing the end of the finger and user's fingernail, said member having a flattened top wall that is sized in length to extend from near the distal tip of a fingernail to the proximal end of the fingernail, a flattened bottom wall portion in parallel orientation to said flattened top wall, sidewalls joining said flattened top wall and flattened bottom wall and an open aperture, formed by an edge of said flattened top wall and an edge of said flattened bottom wall, that is wider than it is high, said member being configured in width to be slightly wider than a user's fingertip and being configured such that said sidewalls are compressible toward each other to enlarge said open aperture for receiving the distal end of a user's finger and such that when said sidewalls are released, said top wall and said bottom wall are brought into simultaneous contact with a user's fingertip.    
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The cover of  claim 19  wherein said open aperture has a width to height ratio of 2:1 to 5:1.  
   
   
       22 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The cover of  claim 19  further comprising at least one slit formed in said cover adjacent to and extending from said open aperture for facilitating enlargement of said open aperture.  
   
   
       27 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . A protective cover for the nail of a human digit to protect the nail against exposure to ultraviolet radiation, comprising: 
 an ultraviolet light-resistant, flexible member for positioning on the terminal portion of a human digit bearing a nail, said member having a flattened top wall for positioning adjacent the nail of a digit, a flattened bottom wall portion oriented parallel to said flattened top wall and joined to said flattened top wall by sidewalls, and an opening defined by an edge of said flattened top wall and an edge of said flattened bottom wall for receiving the end of the human digit through said opening, said member being further sized in length to extend from near the distal, terminal end of the nail to a point between the proximal end of the nail and the distal-most joint of the digit and said member being sized in width to be slightly wider than a digit, said opening of said member likewise being wider than it is high.    
   
   
       31 . The protective cover of  claim 30  wherein said member is configured such that said sidewalls are compressible toward each other to enlarge said opening for receiving the terminal portion of the digit bearing a nail, and such that when said sidewalls are released, said flattened top wall and said flattened bottom wall are brought into simultaneous contact with the digit.  
   
   
       32 . The protective cover of  claim 30  wherein said digit is a finger.  
   
   
       33 . The protective cover of  claim 30  wherein said digit is a toe.  
   
   
       34 . The protective cover of  claim 30  further comprising at least one slit extending from near said opening of said member to facilitate the receipt of a digit through said opening and into said member.