Trimmings collecting nail clipping device

A trimmings collecting nail clipping device for hygienic nail trimming includes a lower blade extending from a first end of a bottom plate. Pairs of first and second posts extend from the bottom plate proximate to the lower blade and a second end of the bottom plate, respectively. A first terminus of a center plate is engaged to the second posts distal from the bottom plate. The center plate extends between and past the first posts. An upper blade, which is engaged to the center plate, and the lower blade define a gap. A lever is hingedly engaged to the first posts distal from the bottom plate. Upon levering of the lever, a nail positioned in the gap is severed. A panel is engageable to the bottom plate to define an interior space that receives a clipping generated upon severing of the nail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to nail clipping devices and more particularly pertains to a new nail clipping device for hygienic nail trimming. The present invention discloses a nail clipping device comprising a lever which is engaged to, and which extends between, a pair of first posts extending from a bottom plate. A clipping is able to pass freely into an interior space defined by the bottom plate, a center plate, and a panel inserted between the bottom plate and the center plate.

The prior art relates to nail clipping devices. Prior art nail clipping devices may comprise clippers with apertures in their bottom plates leading to containers, containers positionable around all but the levers of clippers, and clippers having substantially closed sides. The design of prior clippers is not optimal for collection of clippings as impediments to movement of the clippings are present. More specifically, most prior art nail clipping devices have a center post extending from the bottom plate, with a center plate and lever being engaged to the center post. What is lacking in the prior art is a nail clipping device comprising a lever which is engaged to, and which extends between, a pair of first posts extending from a bottom plate. A clipping is able to pass freely into an interior space defined by the bottom plate, a center plate, and a panel inserted between the bottom plate and the center plate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a lower blade, which is engaged to and extends from a first end of a bottom plate. A pair of first posts and a pair of second posts are engaged to and extend from the bottom plate proximate to the lower blade and a second end of the bottom plate, respectively. A center plate is engaged by a first terminus to the second posts distal from the bottom plate. The center plate extends between and past the first posts. The center plate comprises spring steel. An upper blade is engaged to a second terminus of the center plate and extends toward the lower blade. The upper blade and the lower blade define a gap. A lever is hingedly engaged to the first posts distal from the bottom plate. The lever and the bottom plate bracket the center plate. The lever is configured to be levered so that a nail positioned in the gap is severed by the upper blade contacting the lower blade. A panel is selectively engageable to the bottom plate so that the panel, the bottom plate, and the center plate define an interior space. The interior space is configured to receive a clipping generated upon severing of the nail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through6, the trimmings collecting nail clipping device10generally comprises a lower blade12, which is engaged to and extends from a first end14of a bottom plate16. A pair of first posts18and a pair of second posts20are engaged to and extend from the bottom plate16proximate to the lower blade12and a second end22of the bottom plate16, respectively, as shown inFIG.6. The present invention also anticipates the pair of second posts20comprising a single plate (not shown) engaged to and extending from the bottom plate.

A center plate24is engaged by a first terminus26to the second posts20distal from the bottom plate16. The center plate24extends between and past the first posts18. The center plate24comprises spring steel. An upper blade28is engaged to a second terminus30of the center plate24and extends toward the lower blade12. The upper blade28and lower blade12define a gap32. The upper blade28and the lower blade12may be convexly arcuate, as shown inFIG.1, so that the upper blade28and the lower blade12complement a curvature of the nail.

A lever38is hingedly engaged to the first posts18distal from the bottom plate16. The lever38and the bottom plate16bracket the center plate24. The lever38is configured to be levered so that a nail positioned in the gap32is severed by the upper blade28contacting the lower blade12, as shown inFIG.4.

The lever38comprises a first section40and a second section42. The first section40is hingedly engaged to the pair of first posts18and is substantially parallel to the center plate24when the lever38is in an unhinged position. The second section42extends transversely from the first section40distal from the pair of first posts18.

A pair of hinge pins44is engaged to the lever38. Each of a pair of pin holes46is positioned in a respective first post18distal from the bottom plate16. Each hinge pin44is positioned in an associated pin hole46so that the lever38is hingedly engaged to the pair of first posts18.

A panel48is selectively engageable to the bottom plate16so that the panel48, the bottom plate16, and the center plate24define an interior space50, as shown inFIG.4. The interior space50is configured to receive a clipping generated upon severing of the nail. The panel48comprises an end piece52and a pair of side pieces54. Each side piece54is engaged to and extends substantially perpendicularly from a respective opposed edge56of the end piece52. The panel48is slidable between the bottom plate16and the center plate24until the end piece52abuts the pair of second posts20.

Each of a pair of rails58is engaged to the bottom plate16proximate to a respective opposing edge60of the bottom plate16. The rail58extends from a respective second post20to proximate to an associated first post18. The rail58and the associated first post18define a tab slot62. Each of a pair of tabs64is engaged to and extends transversely from a lower edge66of a respective side piece54distal from the end piece52. The tab64is selectively insertable into a respective tab slot62to removably engage the panel48to the bottom plate16.

Each of a pair of flaps68is engaged to a respective opposed side70of the center plate24. The flap68is positioned between the second terminus30of the center plate24and an associated first post18. The flaps68are resiliently deformable and are configured to retain the clipping between the center plate24and the bottom plate16prior to the clipping entering the interior space50.

In use, the trimmings collecting nail clipping device10is grasped in digits of a hand of a user, typically with the bottom plate16resting on fingers of the hand and with a thumb of the hand positioned upon the lever38. A nail then is inserted into the gap32and the lever38is levered to sever the nail. A clipping generated upon severing of the nail is prevented from becoming a projectile by the pair of flaps68. The clipping enters the interior space50upon tilting of the trimmings collecting nail clipping device10. Upon completion of nail trimming, or when convenient to the user, the panel48can be separated from the bottom plate16to empty the clippings.