Plastic nail extension and use in a nail applique kit

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a plastic extension for a nail covering and a nail applique kit including at least one plastic extension, an adhesive including a UV gel a cyanoacrylate, a free radical curable monomer composition or a PSA and an optional processing aid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic extension for covering a nail plate comprising:
 a) a top surface, a bottom surface, a cuticle end, a distal end, a left edge and a right edge;   b) a longitudinal curve running from the cuticle end to the distal end which increases in slope from the cuticle end to an apex and then decreases in slope from the apex to the distal end, and a latitudinal curve extending between the left and right edges and running from the cuticle end to the distal end;   c) a longitudinal length of from about 15 mm to about 37 mm as a straight line from the midpoint of cuticle end to the midpoint of the distal end and running along a presumed horizontal plane between the left edge and right edge which longitudinal length is divided into categories of short, medium and long;   d) a width between left and right edges of from about 6 mm to about 15 mm wherein the width is measured at the widest distance between the left and right edges;   e) an apex point on the longitudinal length which is directly coincident with and below the apex of the longitudinal curve wherein the length between the cuticle end of the longitudinal length and the apex point is the apex length;   f) a ratio of the apex length to the longitudinal length selected from a range of from 0.27 to 0.49 which ratio determines the apex length according to an inverse relationship of the ratio and the longitudinal length;   g) an apex height of from about 3 mm to about 6 mm as measured vertically from the top surface at the apex to the presumed horizontal plane between the left and right edges positioned directly below the apex;   h) a cuticle height of from about 1.5 mm to about 3.5 mm relative to the presumed horizontal plane between the left and right edges;   i) a ratio of the cuticle height to apex height of about 0.5 to about 0.62;   j) a distal end thickness of no more than about 1 mm;   k) a cuticle end thickness of no more than about 1 mm;   l) an apex thickness of no more than about 1.5 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic extension according to  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal length is categorized as short ranging from about 15 mm to about 21 mm, medium ranging from about 19 mm to about 28 mm and long ranging from about 24 mm to about 37 mm and wherein the ratio of the apex length to the longitudinal length is determined according to Table B: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   TABLE B 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Length Category 
                   Length in mm 
                   Apex to Length Ratio 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Short 
                   15-21 
                   0.41-0.49 
                 
                     
                   Medium 
                   19-28 
                   0.32-0.40 
                 
                     
                   Long 
                   24-37 
                   0.27-0.31 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         3 . The plastic extension according to  claim 1 or 2  having a distal end height of no more than about 4.5 mm, preferably about 0.5 mm to about 4 mm, more preferably about 0.5-1 mm to about 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  wherein the distal end thickness is from about 0.6 mm to about 0.9 mm; the cuticle end thickness is from about 0.2 mm to about 0.4 mm; and the apex thickness is from about 0.6 mm to about 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  which does not move or rock when placed on a flat surface with the left and right edges of the plastic extension in contact with the flat surface and a downward force is applied to the cuticle end or the distal end of the plastic extension. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  wherein the apex height is about 3.2 mm to about 5.7 mm and the ratio of cuticle height to apex height is about 0.52 to 0.62. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  wherein the distal end height is about 1 mm to about 3.5 mm and the distal end thickness is about 0.61 mm to about 0.89 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  wherein the cuticle end thickness is about 0.21 mm to about 0.39 mm and the apex thickness is about 0.61 mm to about 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  wherein the cuticle end has a flex resistance of less than 350 g/mm, preferably less than 300 g/mm as measured according to a procedure employing a mechanical pressure tester having a vertical, mechanically operated pressure bar and opposing anvil wherein the plastic extension is arranged on the anvil so that the pressure bar contacts the cuticle end and the pressure bar is mechanically operated to apply pressure in grams per mm. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic extension of  any of the preceding claims  wherein the plastic extension is placed on a fingernail of a user and the cuticle end of the plastic extension is compressed by a single finger to cause the cuticle end of the plastic extension to contact the corresponding cuticle surface of a fingernail. 
     
     
         11 . The plastic extension according to  any of the preceding claims  further comprising one or more members of a group of plastic extensions of one overall shape wherein each member has a width and a length selected according to the dimensions of the thumbnail and fingernails of a hand onto which the members of the group are to be placed. 
     
     
         12 . A nail applique kit comprising one or more plastic extensions according to  any of the preceding claims  and an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The nail applique kit according to  claim 12  wherein the adhesive is a UV curable gel, a cyanoacrylate adhesive, a free radical curable composition, a pressure sensitive adhesive or a dual PSA coated slip. 
     
     
         14 . The nail applique kit according to  claim 13  wherein the adhesive is a UV curable gel. 
     
     
         15 . The nail applique kit according to  claim 14  wherein the nail applique kit further comprises a UV lamp preferably constructed of LED diodes for generation of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 280 to 420 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The nail applicator kit according to  claim 15  wherein the UV lamp provides selective control of the generated UV light wavelength and is capable of producing a flash irradiation of 340-360 nm or an in depth irradiation of 380-420 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The nail applicator kit according to  claim 16  wherein the flash irradiation is capable of producing a tacky UV gel state and an the in depth irradiation is capable of producing a cured UV gel. 
     
     
         18 . A method using the nail applique kit of any of  claims 12-17  comprising applying the adhesive to a fingernail nail plate, optionally processing the adhesive to render it at least partially adherent, fitting the plastic extension to the fingernail with adhesive, allowing the adhesive to bind the plastic extension to the fingernail nail plate. 
     
     
         19 . Use of the nail applique kit according to any of  claims 12-17 . 
     
     
         20 . Use of the plastic extension of any of  claims 1-11  as a fingernail applique on a fingernail.