Device and Method for Applying Nail Decals

Abstract

A device and method for applying decals to fingernails or toenails involving a substrate and a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate includes a central body portion, a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from the central body portion and a decal application tab portion extending outwardly from each of the stem portions. The decal application tab portion has a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and has at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto.

1 . A device for applying decals to fingernails or toenails, the device comprising a substrate and a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of said substrate, said substrate comprising:
 a central body portion;   a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from said central body portion; and   a decal application tab portion extending outwardly from each of said stem portions, said decal application tab portion having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and having at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto.   
     
     
         2 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of differently sized decal application tab portions corresponding to the different sizes of human fingernails or toenails. 
     
     
         3 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a water permeable material and said decals are temporarily affixed to said substrate with a water activated adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said decals are temporarily affixed to said substrate with a dry transfer adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said central body portion is an elongate member having a longitudinal extent and said plurality of stem portions extend outwardly from said central body portion in opposite lateral directions. 
     
     
         6 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said stem portions comprises at least one frangible portion for separating said decal application tab portion from said central body portion. 
     
     
         7 . A device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said frangible portion is a perforation. 
     
     
         8 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate has a top surface opposite said bottom surface, said top surface having a printed image disposed directly opposite at least one of said decals, said printed image depicting said decal disposed on said bottom surface directly opposite said printed image. 
     
     
         9 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said central body portion has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said decal application tab portions are defined by opposite longitudinal ends, each of said longitudinal ends having a peripheral contour matching the contour of the cuticle portion of the human fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         11 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said central body portion includes a perforation for separating the device into two parts. 
     
     
         12 . A method for applying decals to fingernails or toenails comprising the steps of:
 providing a substrate with a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface thereof, said substrate comprising a central body portion, a plurality of stem portions extending outwardly from said central body portion and a decal application tab portion extending outwardly from each of said stem portions, said decal application tab portion having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and having at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto;   selecting a decal application tab portion having a desired decal and a size matching the size of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal is to be applied;   aligning the shape of the selected decal application tab portion with the shape of the fingernail or toenail to which the decal is to be applied; and   transferring at least one decal from said aligned decal application tab portion to the fingernail or toenail.   
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of differently sized decal application tab portions corresponding to the different sizes of human fingernails or toenails. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said aligning step comprises the step of removing said decal application tab portion from said central body portion and placing said removed decal application tab portion on the fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said stem portion of said substrate comprises a frangible portion for facilitating said removal of said decal application tab portion from said central body portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said frangible portion is a perforation. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said aligning step comprises the step of placing the selected decal application tab portion on the fingernail or toenail while said decal application tab portion is still connected to said central body portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said substrate has a top surface opposite said bottom surface, said top surface having a printed image disposed directly opposite at least one of said decals, said printed image depicting said decal disposed on said bottom surface directly opposite said printed image. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said decal application tab portions are defined by opposite longitudinal ends, each of said longitudinal ends having a peripheral contour matching the contour of the cuticle portion of the human fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said central body portion has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A device for applying decals to fingernails or toenails, the device comprising a paper substrate and a plurality of decals temporarily affixed to a bottom surface of said substrate, said substrate comprising:
 a central body portion;   a plurality of decal application tab portions extending outwardly from said central body portion, said decal application tab portions having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a human fingernail or toenail and having at least one decal temporarily affixed thereto; and   a perforation formed between said central body portion and each of said decal application tab portions for separating each of said decal application tab portions from said central body portion.   
     
     
         22 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of differently sized decal application tab portions corresponding to the different sizes of human fingernails or toenails. 
     
     
         23 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said substrate comprises a water permeable paper material and said decals are temporarily affixed to said substrate with a water activated adhesive. 
     
     
         24 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said decals are temporarily affixed to said substrate with a dry transfer adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said central body portion is an elongate member having a longitudinal extent and said plurality of decal application tab portions extend outwardly from said central body portion in opposite lateral directions. 
     
     
         26 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said substrate has a top surface opposite said bottom surface, said top surface having a printed image disposed directly opposite at least one of said decals, said printed image depicting said decal disposed on said bottom surface directly opposite said printed image. 
     
     
         27 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said central body portion has at least one decal disposed on a bottom surface thereof. 
     
     
         28 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said decal application tab portions are defined by opposite longitudinal ends, each of said longitudinal ends having a peripheral contour matching the contour of the cuticle portion of the human fingernail or toenail. 
     
     
         29 . A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said central body portion includes a perforation for separating the device into two parts.