Nail care system with improved nail clipper
Nail care systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can include a housing and a nail clipper associated with the housing, the nail clipper having an upper member and a lower member banded by an upper lever and a lower lever. Cutting blades associated with the members can be pinched together by actuating the levers. A container formed between the members can receive nail clippings ejected away from the nail. A nail filer associated with the housing includes a rotatable file that can be used to file nails. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.
This invention relates to nail clippers and nail care accessories.
BACKGROUNDNail care products, particularly those for use in trimming and filing fingernails and toenails, are varied and ubiquitous. Nail clippers and emery boards can be found in millions of filing cabinets and purses. A common design of nail clippers includes a single lever attached to a post extending from a bottom plate and through a top plate. The lever includes a protrusion for urging the top plate toward the bottom plate as the top plate slides along the post. Such nail clippers often include a swing-out metal nail file for nail filing. There have been countless variations on this basic design with varying results. While the design is simple and effective at trimming nails, debris from such trimming often ends up bouncing off a bathroom wall or sliding across the floor. Further, for cutting thick nails the design can prove vexing, with the user having too little leverage to achieve satisfactory results.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFurther details of the present invention are explained with the help of the attached drawings in which:
A proximal end of the upper member 106 forms or is connected with an upper cutting blade 110. Likewise, a proximal end of the lower member 108 forms or is connected with a lower cutting blade 112. The upper and lower cutting blades 110,112 are arranged in opposition to one another so that when the upper and lower members 106,108 are urged together, the upper and lower cutting blades 110,112 pinch together, cutting a fingernail or toenail when placed between the cutting blades 110,112. In the embodiment shown, the upper member 106 and the lower member 108 comprise a single leaf spring placed in tension by bending the leaf spring over itself. However, the upper member 106 and the lower member 108 need not be formed as shown. In other embodiments, the upper member 106 and the lower member 108 can comprise two separate leaf springs connected with one another at distal ends opposite the cutting blades 110,112. The members 106,108 and cutting blades 110,112 can be made from chrome-plated steel, stainless steel, or some other material having similar properties.
As can be seen in
Each flange 124-127 is pivotally connected with the respective link plate 122,123 by a pin 114-117, or alternatively some other fastener. As shown, the pins 114-117 protrude slightly inward from the inner surface of the flange 124-127 and can limit the range of motion of the member 106,108 when actuated. The required range of motion of the members 106,108 during actuation is dependent on a gap between the upper cutting blade 110 and the lower cutting blade 112 when at rest. Where a greater range of motion is desired, the flanges 124-127 can be countersunk so that the pins 114-117 do not significantly extend or protrude from the inner surfaces of the flanges 124-127. Alternatively, the pins 124-127 can be integrally formed or fixedly connected with corresponding flanges 124-127, as shown in
Referring again to
As shown, the upper and lower levers 102,104 extend away from the upper and lower members 106,108 respectively, each at a roughly thirty degree angle relative to the plane of symmetry of the nail clipper 101 so that the levers 102,104 fan out away from the cutting blades 110,112. This arrangement of the upper and lower levers 102,104 provides leverage when a user actuates the levers 102,104, although in other embodiments the levers 102,104 need not extend away from the plane of symmetry at a roughly thirty degree angle. Each lever 102,104 can optionally include a bent portion 170,172 to ease grasping of the levers 102,104 by a user. A thumb or finger can be positioned at the bent portion 170,172, making grasping and actuating the levers 102,104 less awkward. Further, a portion of the levers 102,104 can be knurled or otherwise textured, or the levers 102,104 can include a coating or sleeve made from rubber, latex, foam, or some other material for reducing slippage, and thereby easing handling and use of the nail clipper 101. The levers 102,104 can be shaped as desired, for example, to suit aesthetic tastes or alternatively to suit ergonomic considerations, or to suit a combination of desired qualities. It should be noted that the levers 102,104, and indeed other components of the nail clipper 101, need not be symmetrical in shape. An axis of symmetry 160 of the nail clipper 101 provides a reference for describing embodiments of the invention and its use is not meant to imply that embodiments need necessarily be symmetrical.
Referring again to
As mentioned above, while nail clippers have been described in detail in
As shown in the perspective view of
Referring to
As can be seen in
Referring to
As mentioned above, the nail clipper 401 can be selectably fixed in position, disposed within the housing 540 by a latch mechanism 570. When the nail clipper 401 is slid into a desired position within the housing 540 the latch mechanism 570 can engage the nail clipper 401, holding the nail clipper 401 in place. The nail clipper 401 can be subsequently released by pressing a release mechanism 552 associated with the latch mechanism 570 and accessible (or actuatable) from outside of the housing 540. The release mechanism 552 can be mechanically or electrically connected with the latch mechanism 570 such that when the release mechanism 552 is activated, the latch mechanism 570 releases the nail clipper 401. The release mechanism 552 as shown is a button positioned along the side of the housing 540. As can be seen in the partial cut-away perspective view of
The housing 540 can be fabricated from any number of materials or combinations of materials, including but not limited to metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel) and thermoformable plastic (e.g., high density polyethylene). As such, the housing 540 can be formed by extrusion, casting, molding, machining, etc., or some combination of manufacturing processes. As can be further seen in
As mentioned, the nail care system 500 can further include a nail filer 541 comprising a nail filer housing 542 and a motorized, rotatable file 546. The rotatable file 546 can include a surface having a roughness and/or texture so that a portion of the rotatable file 546 provides a surface for filing nails, or multiple roughnesses and/or textures so that a portion of the rotatable file 546 provides a surface for filing nails while a portion of the rotatable file 546 provides a surface for buffing nails. For example, in one embodiment the rotatable file 546 can have a first portion near a proximal end of the rotatable file 546 including a coarse surface texture for filing a nail, and a second portion near a distal end of the rotatable file 546 including a fine surface texture for buffing the nail (or vice-versa). In other embodiments, the rotatable file 546 can be supplanted by, or interchangeable with, a rotatable buffer having a surface suitable for nail buffing. For example, the nail care system 500 can include both a rotatable file 546 and a rotatable buffer (not shown), interchangeable by removing one and replacing with the other. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the myriad different arrangements of a rotatable device for treating nails. The rotatable file 546 can extend from a distal end of the nail filer housing 542. A cap 538 can fit over the rotatable file 546 when the nail filer 541 is not in use. The cap 538 can be fitted by, for example, snapping the cap 538 over a portion of the nail filer housing 542 in an interference fit, or by mating threads of the cap 538 with threads of the nail filer housing 542 and screwing the cap 538 together with the nail filer housing 542, or by some other method. A motor 543 extends from the proximal end of the nail filer housing 542. The motor 543 can be encased in a motor housing 544 so that the motor 543 is inaccessible when the nail filer 541 is detached from the housing 540. Where a motor housing 544 is used, the motor housing 544 can be connected with, or integrally formed with the nail filer housing 542.
In some embodiments, the motor housing 544 (or motor 543) can include a notch 548 corresponding to a notch in the housing 540 (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, the motor housing 544 (or motor 543) can include threads for mating with corresponding threads of the housing 540. When the nail filer 541 is connected with the housing 540, the motor 543 is disposed within a cavity of the housing 540. The nail filer 541 is fixedly connected with the housing 540 by sliding the motor housing 544 into the cavity so that the notches are aligned (where notches are used). Once the motor housing 544 is seated, the nail filer 541 can be rotated to lock the nail filer 541 in position. Where the motor housing 544 is threaded, the motor housing 544 can be inserted into the cavity until the threads of the motor housing 544 contact threads of the housing 540. Thereafter, the nail filer 541 is rotated until the motor housing 544 is fully seated. One or more batteries (not shown) for powering the motor 543 can be disposed within a cavity connected with the cavity for receiving the motor housing 544. The one or more batteries are placed, replaced, or removed from the cavity by first detaching or removing the nail filer 541 from the housing 540, placing the one or more batteries into the cavities, orienting the batteries so that the proper contacts are aligned, and then resealing the cavity with the nail filer 541.
An activation mechanism can be connected with the housing 540, or alternatively with the nail filer housing 542 to activate the rotatable file 546. As shown in
The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A nail clipper, comprising:
- a first member;
- a first cutting blade associated with said first member;
- a second member;
- a second cutting blade associated with said second member and positioned such that said second cutting blade opposes said first cutting blade; and
- an actuation mechanism, including: a first lever; a second lever; a first cam extending from at least one of said first lever and said first member; and a second cam extending from at least one of said second lever and said second member;
- wherein said first member and said second member are positioned between said first lever and said second lever of said actuation mechanism.
2. A nail care system, comprising:
- a housing;
- a clipper mechanism at least partially disposed within said housing, including: a first member; a first cutting blade associated with said first member; a second member; and a second cutting blade associated with said second member and positioned such that said second cutting blade opposes said first cutting blade; and
- an actuation mechanism, including: a first lever having a first cam; and a second lever having a second cam;
- wherein said first member and said second member are positioned between said first lever and said second lever of said actuation mechanism; and
- wherein said clipper mechanism can be removed from said housing.
3. The nail clipper of claim 1, wherein said first lever and said second lever of said actuation mechanism are pivotally connected to a side structure.
4. The nail clipper of claim 3, wherein said first link plate and said second link plate extend substantially the length of said first member and said second member such that a container is formed between said first link plate and said second link plate.
5. The nail clipper of claim 1, wherein said first cutting blade and said second cutting blade have an arced shape and are arranged such that a chord formed across said arced shape is at an obtuse angle relative to an axis of symmetry of said first member and said second member.
6. The nail clipper of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first lever and said second lever includes a bent portion.
7. The nail clipper of claim 3, wherein:
- said first lever further includes a first flange pivotally connected with said first link plate and a second flange pivotally connected with said second link plate; and
- said second lever further includes a first flange pivotally connected with said first link plate and a second flange pivotally connected with said second link plate.
8. The nail clipper of claim 6, wherein one of said first link plate and said second link plate includes a cut-out.
9. The nail care system of claim 7,
- wherein said nail filer includes a rotatable file; and
- further comprising:
- an activation mechanism disposed on said housing to rotate said rotatable file.
10. The nail clipper of claim 3, wherein said first link plate and said second link plate extend substantially the length of said first member and said second member such that a container is formed between said first link plate and said second link plate.
11. The nail care system of claim 3, wherein one of said first link plate and said second link plate includes a cut-out.
12. The nail care system of claim 11, further comprising a release mechanism to allow said nail clipper to be removed from said housing.
13. (canceled)
14. The nail care system of claim 9, wherein said activation mechanism can rotate said rotatable file in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction.
15. The nail care system of claim 14, wherein said activation mechanism is a two-way switch.
16. The nail care system of claim 14, wherein said activation mechanism includes a clockwise button and a counter-clockwise button.
17. The nail care system of claim 14, wherein said nail filer further includes a motor to rotate said rotatable file, said motor being disposed within said housing.
18. The nail care system of claim 9, wherein said nail filer further includes a motor to rotate said rotatable file, said motor being disposed within said housing.
19. The nail care system of claim 9, wherein said nail filer further includes a removable cap.
20. A nail care system, comprising:
- a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a nail clipper at least partially disposed within said housing and extending from said proximal end of said housing, said nail clipper including: a first member; a first cutting blade connected with said first member; a second member; and a second cutting blade connected with said second member and positioned such that said second cutting blade opposes said first cutting blade;
- an actuation mechanism, including: a first lever; a second lever; a first link plate pivotally connected between said first lever and said second lever; and a second link plate pivotally connected between said first lever and said second lever;
- a first cam extending from at least one of said first lever and said first member; and
- a second cam extending from at least one of said second lever and said second member;
- wherein said first member and said second member are positioned between said first lever and said second lever of said actuation mechanism; and a nail filer connected with said distal end of said housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 26, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2006
Inventors: Eric Blair (San Rafael, CA), Tristan Christianson (San Francisco, CA), Mark Duncan (San Francisco, CA)
Application Number: 11/212,162
International Classification: A45D 29/00 (20060101);