Nail clipper with nail collection mechanism

Abstract

The present invention is a nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings. The nail clipper includes two steel plates connected at one end and with cutting edges at an opposing end, and an operating lever, which moves the cutting edges of the plates together. A pivot pin is inserted through bores in both first and second plates, at a spaced distance behind the cutting edges. A grommet encircles the portion of the pin between the plates and maintains a spaced distance between the plates to form an opening for receiving a nail. The space between the foam and the topside of the second plate forms a receptacle for receiving nail clippings after they fall downwards from the cutting edges. The clippings may be emptied directly into a trash bin by tilting the nail clipper sideways.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION

The present application derives priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/772,128 filed 25 Jan. 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to nail clippers and, more particularly, to an improved nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings.

2. Description of the Background

A key component of a well-groomed appearance is a set of carefully trimmed nails. While cosmetically attractive nails that are clean and neatly trimmed are also an important factor in a person's overall health. Although the importance of trimming one's finger and toenails is undisputed, there is a drawback associated with this procedure. Specifically, collecting and disposing loose nail clippings after the nails have been neatly trimmed can be difficult. Most fingernail clippers feature sharp blades, which clamp together to cut the nail, when the user compresses an operating lever connected to the blades. The pressure created when compressing the clipper blades can easily force the clipped nail to propel from the nail clippers. Nail clippings often contain germs and bacteria. Handling nail clippings, even simply to toss them in a garbage bin can be an unsanitary and unpleasant experience.

Therefore, it would be greatly advantageous to provide a nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor that: 1) prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings; 2) collects nail clippings in a neat and efficient manner; 3) allows the user to dispose nail clippings without touching them; 4) collects and discards nail clippings in a sanitary manner which could effectively reduce the spread of germs and bacteria; 5) possesses a simple and scalable design; 6) is fabricated of lightweight materials providing an appropriate degree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity; 7) is inexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide for widespread use and disposability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a nail clipper with a nail collection mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipper which includes a receptacle formed by a grommet disposed within cutting blades, whereby the receptacle catches nail clippings as they are cut from the nail.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipper that efficiently collects and discards nail clippings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipper that allows users to discard loose nail clippings without having to touch the clippings.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipper that possesses a simple and scalable design.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a nail clipper that is fabricated of lightweight materials providing an appropriate degree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a nail clipper that is inexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide for widespread use and disposability.

In accordance with the above and other objects, the device of the present invention is a nail clipper including an incorporated nail arrestor. The nail clipper includes two steel plates connected at one end and with cutting edges at an opposing end, and an operating thumb-detent lever, which moves the cutting edges of the plates together. A pivot pin is inserted through bores in both first and second plates, at a spaced distance behind the cutting edges. The lever is held captive on the pivot pin external to the first plate for biasing the two plates together. A grommet encircles the portion of the pivot pin resting between the plates and maintains a spaced distance between the plates to form an opening for receiving a nail. The space between the foam and the topside of the second plate forms a receptacle for receiving nail clippings after they fall downwards from the cutting edges. The clippings may be emptied directly into a trash bin by tilting the nail clipper sideways, thereby allowing the clippings to slide out of the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the clipper 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clipper 1 cutting a nail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a nail clipper 1 including an incorporated nail arrestor that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings 9. FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the clipper 1. The nail clipper 1 largely comprises a conventional nail clipper including a first plate 2 and a second plate 3. First plate 2 includes a down turned cutting edge 4 and a second plate 3 includes an upturned cutting edge 5 at one end. The cutting edges 4, 5 may be slightly contoured, having a crescent shape, which accommodates the natural shape of the fingernail and toenail. A bore (not shown) is drilled through the opposing end of both plates 2, 3. A pin 6 is inserted through the bores to connect first 2 and second 3 plates together. Alternately any suitable means may be utilized to connect said first 2 and second 3 plates together, such as welding or gluing. A bore (not shown) is drilled into each of first 2 and second plates 3 at a spaced distance behind the cutting edges 4, 5, and a pivot pin 7 is inserted through each bore to secure first 2 and second plates 3 together. An operating thumb-detent lever 11 is held captive on the pivot pin 7 external to the first plate 2 for biasing the two plates 2, 3 together. First 2 and second plates 3, lever 11, and pins 6, 7 each comprise stainless steel.

In accordance with the present invention, an elastic grommet 8 encircles the portion of the pivot pin 7 between the first 2 and second 3 plates, using the pin 7 as an axis. The grommet 8 may be formed of rubber, foam or other suitable resilient material, cut in an annular-disc configuration with a central through-bore for passing the pin 7. The grommet 8 is dimensioned with a pre-determined diameter calculated to expand outward to abut the cutting edges 4, 5 when the two plates 2, 3 are levered together to cut a nail. Grommet 8 is also sized with a vertical (axial) dimension that spans the two plates 2, 3 in order to impart a bias there between. This way, as a user levers the two plates 2, 3 together to clip a nail, the plates 2, 3 will sandwich the grommet 8 and compress it, causing grommet 8 to radially expand. Preferably, the axial dimension of grommet 8 is such that it begins to expand immediately as plates 2, 3 are forced together. Grommet 8 is radially dimensioned so that upon full compression it will extend to and abut the inner cutting edges 4, 5 of plates 2, 3. This way, the elastic grommet 8 expands outward to pin clipped nails against the cutting edges 4, 5 of plates 2, 3, and will hold a clipped nail 9 in place after it is cut. The space between the grommet 8 and the topside of the second plate 3 forms a receptacle 10 for receiving nail clippings 9 after they fall downwards from the cutting edges 4, 5.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clipper 1 cutting a nail. When the operating lever 11 is depressed it contacts the top surface of first plate 2, and the cutting edges 4, 5 of first 2 and second 3 plates move closer together and thereby cut the nail inserted through the opening, and the resulting nail clipping falls 9 into the receptacle 10. After all of the nails are cut, the resulting clippings 9 accumulated within the receptacle 10 may be emptied directly into a trash bin by tilting the nail clipper 1 sideways, thereby allowing the clippings 9 to slide out of the receptacle 10. Hence, the nail clipper 1 allows users to discard loose nail clippings 9 without having to touch the clippings 9.

A metal nail file (not shown) can be secured to the pivot pin 7 over the operating lever 11 to further assist in manicuring nails.

In use, the individual positions the nail clipper 1 such that the cutting edges 4, 5 are around the portion of the nail to be clipped. Then the user would gently move the operating lever 11 downwards, thereby compressing the cutting blades 4, 5 and clipping the unwanted nail. As the cutting edges 4, 5 are released, the clipped nail 9 naturally bounces off the grommet 8 and drops into the receptacle 10 formed by the grommet 8. Upon completion, the user simply empties the clipper 1 by inverting it over a trash bin and allows the collected clippings 9 to easily fall out of clipper 1.

The nail clipper 1 collects nail clippings 9 neatly and efficiently, and allows the user to dispose the clippings 9 in a sanitary manner, which effectively reduces the spread of germs and bacteria. Additionally, the nail clipper 1 possesses a simple and scalable design and is fabricated of lightweight materials providing an appropriate degree of flexibility, resiliency, durability, and longevity. The nail clipper 1 is also inexpensive to manufacture and sell to provide for widespread use and disposability.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein.

Claims

1. A nail clipper that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings comprising:

a first plate and a second plate, each of said plates are connected at one end and include cutting edges at an opposing end;

a fastener inserted through said first and second plates at a spaced distance between said cutting edges;

an operating lever connected to said fastener, whereby said lever rests on top surface of said first plate, said lever moves said cutting edges together and apart; and

a grommet encircling said fastener between said first and second plates, whereby said grommet is a barrier for clipped nails which are easily and sanitarily caught within said clipper.

2. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said cutting edges are contoured.

3. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said first and second plates, fastener, and operating lever comprise stainless steel.

4. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said operating lever is an operating thumb-detent lever.

5. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a pivot pin.

6. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said grommet comprises rubber.

7. A nail clipper according to claim 1, wherein said grommet comprises polyethylene foam.

8. A nail clipper that prevents the unconstrained ejection and propulsion of cut nail clippings comprising:

a first plate including a down turned cutting edge at one end and a first bore drilled through said first plate proximate said cutting edge, and a second bore drilled through an opposing end;

a second plate including an upturned edge at one end and a third bore drilled through said second plate proximate said cutting edge, and a fourth bore drilled through an opposing end;

a first fastener passing through said second and fourth bores;

a second fastener inserted through said first and third bores at a spaced distance between said cutting edges;

an operating lever connected to said fastener, whereby said lever rests on top surface of said first plate, said lever moves said cutting edges together and apart; and

a grommet encircling said second fastener between said first and second plates, whereby said grommet is a barrier for clipped nails which are easily and sanitarily caught within said clipper.

9. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said cutting edges are contoured.

10. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said first and second plates, fasteners, and operating lever comprise stainless steel.

11. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said operating lever is an operating thumb-detent lever.

12. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said second fastener comprises a pivot pin.

13. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said grommet comprises rubber.

14. A nail clipper according to claim 8, wherein said grommet comprises polyethylene foam.