Nail clippers
Nail clippers have a lower tray and side dams which extend upwardly from either side of the lower tray. A nail to be cut is positioned between the lower tray and an upper blade. The upper blade is displaced toward the lower tray, and within the side dams, until the upper blade contacts the lower tray, passing through the nail to cut the nail. A front portion of the lower tray extends outwardly and beyond the upper blade when the upper blade is closed against the tray. The nail clippers are structured to prevent injury to the skin and tissue that surrounds the fingernails and toenails to be cut. The nail clippers are particularly efficacious at cutting ingrown nails.
This invention relates to nail clippers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNail clippers are known and used in the art. Nail clippers are used to trim fingernails and toenails of humans and other animals. Nail clippers as most commonly known and used in the art have an upper blade and a lower blade, which are substantially identical in architecture. The upper blade and lower blade are displaced towards each other, with the nail to be cut positioned between the blades. The blades are displaced towards each other until contact is made with the nail, and displacement is continued until the nail is divided by the blades, and the blades contact each other.
In nail clippers known and used in the prior art, the clippers do not provide protection from the cutting blades for skin that is in close proximity to the nail to be cut. Further, in prior art nail clippers, there is no provision for enhancing cutting performance where ingrown nails, and particularly toenails, are involved.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONThe present invention is nail clippers that assist in preventing injury to the skin and tissue that surround the fingernails and toenails to be cut. The nail clippers are particularly efficacious at cutting ingrown nails.
The nail clippers are characterized by a lower tray having side dams that extend upwardly from either side of the lower tray. A nail to be cut is positioned between the lower tray and an upper blade. The upper blade is displaced toward the lower tray, and within the side dams, until the upper blade contacts the lower tray, passing through the nail to cut the nail. A front portion of the lower tray extends outwardly and beyond the upper blade when the upper blade is closed against the tray.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Turning now to the drawing figures, an embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The lower tray has a front portion which extends beyond the upper blade when the upper blade is displaced to contact the lower tray. The upper blade is sharpened on a lower edge 9, which contacts the lower tray 8. Side dams 6 extend from each side of the lower tray. The upper blade is positioned fully within each side dam and above the lower tray. A groove or slot 7 may be formed in the lower tray to receive the upper blade.
Each side dam extends outwardly and beyond the tray as shown in the drawing figures. Each of the side dams extends outwardly and beyond the upper blade, when the blade is closed against the lower jaw, at an angle of 30° to 60° from a centerline drawn longitudinally, or along the length of, the nail clippers, and are preferably at an angle of 45° from a centerline drawn longitudinally, or along the length of, the nail clippers
The front of the upper blade is generally perpendicular to the lower tray, so that the sharpened lower edge of the upper blade is generally perpendicular as the upper blade meets the lower tray, and/or as the upper blade meets the groove or slot that is formed in the lower tray.
The handles of the upper blade and the lower blade, are in a pivotal relationship to each other, as provided by pivot point 10. One side 11 of the upper blade is adjacent to the side dam.
In the embodiment shown in
A latch may be provided, as shown in the embodiment of
In use, the lower tray is inserted underneath the nail to be cut. The front portion of the tray engages the quick of the nail, and aids in alignment. One of the side dams, depending on whether the right edge or the left edge of the nail has skin or other tissue which is to be protected, is used to protect the skin or other tissue. The use of the side dam allows the nail to rest within the side dam, while the tissue is outside the dam.
The front edge of the lower tray is preferred to be relatively thin, having a dimension of 0.015 mm to 0.040 mm from the blade to the front edge, so that it may be easily inserted underneath the nail.
The nail clippers cut the nail by the nail being inserted between the upper blade and the lower tray. The upper blade is disposed toward the lower tray by compression of the handles, and travels toward the lower tray and through the nail until the nail is cut. Since the front of the lower tray extends beyond the blade, and the blade is recessed within the tray, and travels within the side dams, the blade cuts the nail only, and does not cut skin or other surrounding tissue. The tray as formed, with the side dams, allows the nail to be placed within the tray, while skin and other tissue are excluded. Since the blade operates only within the tray and is not outside of the tray, or “even” with the tray, upon the nail being properly positioned, only the nail is cut by the clippers, and surrounding skin is shielded by the lower tray and the side dams.
The embodiment of
As shown in
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As shown in the embodiment of
In order for the guide to control the position of the upper jaw relative to the lower tray, the axle must traverse a slot 122. This feature is demonstrated as the nail clippers move through the positions shown progressively in
Nails are typically curved at the end. The lower tray has a convex upper surface over which the nail is received for cutting.
Claims
1. Nail clippers, comprising:
- a. a lower tray having a first side dam extending upwardly from a first side of said lower tray, and having a second side dam that extends upwardly from a second side of said lower tray that is opposite said first side of said lower tray; and
- b. an upper jaw comprising a blade that is displaced toward said lower tray, wherein said blade travels between said first side dam and said second side dam to contact said lower tray.
2. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein said blade is generally perpendicular to said lower tray when said upper blade contacts said lower tray.
3. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein a front portion of said lower tray extends beyond said blade.
4. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein said lower tray has a slot therein that receives a cutting edge of said blade.
5. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein said blade is pivotally mounted to upper jaw.
6. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein said first side dam and said second side dam each have a guide formed therein, and wherein said blade traverses each said guide.
7. Nail clippers as described in claim 5, wherein said first side dam and said second side dam each have a guide formed therein, and wherein said blade traverses each said guide.
8. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein said cutting blade has a concave shape, and wherein said lower tray has a corresponding convex shape that engages said cutting blade.
9. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, further comprising a pivotal mounting that provides a pivotal relationship between said upper jaw, and said lower tray, wherein said pivotal mounting comprises an axle that traverses a first slot, and a guide pin that traverses a second slot.
10. Nail clippers as described in claim 9, wherein said axle has a first flat side that engages said slot and a second flat that engages said slot.
11. Nail clippers as described in claim 1, wherein said first side dam extends outwardly and beyond said blade at an angle of 30° to 60° from a longitudinal centerline, and wherein said second side dam extends outwardly and beyond said blade at an angle of 30° to 60° from said longitudinal centerline.
12. Nail clippers as described in claim 9, wherein said a front portion of said upper jaw moves rearwardly and down as said blade is displaced toward said lower tray.
13. Nail clippers as described in claim 5, wherein said blade is positioned generally vertically at all points of travel of said blade as said blade is displaced toward said lower tray.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 9, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2005
Inventor: Wayne Hartley (North Charleston, SC)
Application Number: 10/775,372