Porous artificial fingernail and method for applying the same

Abstract

An artificial fingernail/extension for attachment to a natural fingernail includes a flexible polyethylene body that is flexible to conform to the shape of the nail and having a lower surface contacting the upper surface of a natural fingernail over the activator. The body is sized to provide a forward extension from the natural fingernail and the body. The body is made of a porous material that wicks applied adhesive from the top surface of the body to the lower surface of the body to bond to the fingernail. The polyethylene body can be provided on a strip of material carrying a plurality of material bodies separated by perforations and having scallops formed therein.

1 . An artificial fingernail/extension for attachment to a natural fingernail having an upper surface, the artificial nail comprising:
 a flexible polyethylene body having an upper surface and a lower surface and flexible to conform to the shape of the nail, the lower surface contacting the natural fingernail upper surface, the body sized to provide a forward extension from the natural fingernail;   a plurality of pores dispersed throughout the body; and   a liquid adhesive contacting substantially the entire upper body, wherein the pores are adapted to quickly absorb the liquid adhesive throughout the body from the body upper surface to the body lower surface.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the body is treated with an activator. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 2 , wherein the body is pretreated with the activator by the manufacturer. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 2 , wherein the activator is sprayed on the body, soaking the body. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a thickness between about 0.07 mm to about 0.50 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a thickness between about 0.07 mm to about 0.20 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed from a porous polyethylene material. 
     
     
         8 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the pores range in size between 5 microns and about 50 microns. 
     
     
         9 . An artificial fingernail/extension for attachment to a natural fingernail having an upper surface, the artificial nail comprising:
 a flexible polyethylene body having an upper surface and a lower surface and flexible to conform to the shape of the nail, the lower surface contacting the natural fingernail upper surface, the body sized to provide a forward extension from the natural fingernail, wherein the body is located on a strip of material configured for providing multiple bodies thereon; and   a plurality of pores dispersed through the body,   
     
     
         10 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 9 , wherein each body is preformed and identified with perforations on the strip. 
     
     
         11 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 10 , wherein each body has scalloped edges. 
     
     
         12 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 9 , wherein each body is preformed with a curvature. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 12 , wherein each body has scalloped edges. 
     
     
         14 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 9 , wherein the strip of material for the body has a thickness ranging between 0.07 mm and 0.50 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a thickness between about 0.07 mm to about 0.20 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 1 , wherein the strip of material for the body is formed from a porous polyethylene material. 
     
     
         17 . The artificial fingernail of  claim 9 , wherein the pores range in size between 5 microns and about 50 microns. 
     
     
         18 . A method for applying an artificial fingernail/extension onto a natural fingernail having an upper surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a flexible polyethylene body having a lower surface and upper surface;   preparing the natural fingernail by shaping the upper surface of the natural fingernail;   applying an activator to the natural fingernail bed;   applying an activator to the flexible body;   applying the flexible polyethylene body to the natural fingernail body, said body flexibly conformable to the upper surface of the natural fingernail and having a plurality of pores dispersed therethrough adapted to quickly absorb liquid material throughout the body from the body upper surface to the body lower surface;   applying an amount of liquid adhesive into the upper surface of the flexible polyethylene body and reacting with the activator;   absorbing the liquid adhesive from the upper surface of the body to the lower surface of the body through the plurality of pores and contacting substantially the entire upper fingernail surface with the liquid adhesive;   filing the surface of the adhesively attached body; and   applying one of a silk, linen, acrylic, fiberglass, and nylon over the filed surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the steps of providing a flexible polyethylene body includes the steps of:
 detaching a single body from a plurality of bodies on a strip of the polyethylene material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of providing a flexible polyethylene body further includes the step of:
 identifying each body with a perforation of the periphery of each body. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of providing a flexible polymeric body further includes the step of:
 scalloping a peripheral edge of each body. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of applying the polyethylene body to the natural fingernail includes aligning a scalloped edge adjacent to the cuticle of the natural fingernail.