Nail clipper apparatus

A nail clipper apparatus formed of thick steel and having a broad textured contoured handle lever providing a slip-free surface which substantially conforms to a user's thumb and which is at angle an angle to an upper arm in a range of about 0 to 30 degrees thereby increasing gripping capacity, an aperture accommodating passage of a chain therethrough and also providing a nail file. The nail clipper may also provide a curved nail length determining gauge member as a depth stop feature provided in range of predefined increments thereby accommodating a desired nail length trimming position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of nail clippers are known in the prior art. Prior art patents provide a nail clipper with a depth gauge which determines the length of the nail being cut, as well as a nail clipper with an anti-tilt lever and various nail depth trimming positions. Another patent teaches a nail clipper with two cutting members and a lever arm that having an angled portion used for leverage. However, what is needed is a nail clipper apparatus formed of thick steel and having a broad textured contoured handle lever providing a slip-free surface which substantially conforms to a user's thumb thereby increasing gripping capacity, a broad base for more substantial working surface, an aperture accommodating passage of a chain therethrough to facilitate portability and also providing a nail file. The nail clipper may also provide a curved nail length determining gauge member as a depth stop feature provided in range of predefined increments.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to nail care, and more particularly, to a nail clipper apparatus which makes cutting a nail to a desired length easier due to its broad textured contoured handle lever and its broad base and as well as the angle between an upper arm and the handle lever, and curved depth stop and which also provides a nail file.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present nail clipper apparatus is formed of thick steel and has a broad textured contoured handle lever providing a slip-free surface which substantially conforms to a user's thumb, which is larger than handle levers on conventional nail clippers, and providing a handle lever disposed at an angle to an upper arm in a range of about 0 to 30 degrees, thereby increasing gripping capacity, a broad base for more substantial working surface, a pair of complementary beveled, sharp-edged cutting jaws, an aperture accommodating passage of a chain therethrough to facilitate portability and further includes a nail file. The present nail clipper may also include a curved nail length determining depth stop feature provided in range of predefined increments

The instant nail clipper apparatus enables an individual to more accurately and precisely clip fingernails and toenails due to the increased thickness of the handle lever and the increased gripping capabilities as well as the design of the cutting jaws. The present nail clipper is also designed to reduce movement from side-to-side during use as often experienced in using traditional nail clippers. With the increased ease of use, also comes savings in time and effort. The present nail clipper also assists individuals who have arthritis or similar debilitating health problems to quickly and easily cut fingernails and toenails due to the increased size and gripping capacity. One embodiment also features a five-star raised contour on the handle lever further decreasing the potential for slippage.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present nail clipper apparatus will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, examples of the present nail clipper apparatus and method when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current examples of the present nail clipper apparatus and method in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. The invention is capable of other examples and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Objects of the present nail clipper apparatus and method, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the nail clipper apparatus and method, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particularFIGS. 1 through 8thereof, example of the instant nail clipper apparatus employing the principles and concepts of the present nail clipper apparatus and generally designated by the reference number10will be described.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 6and8, one embodiment of the present nail clipper apparatus10is illustrated. The nail clipper10has generally mirror image arms comprising an upper arm20and a lower arm26. The upper arm20has a front end22and a rear end24. The lower arm26has a forward end28and a rearward end30. The upper arm20and the lower arm26are conjoined at a connection point32between the rear end24and the rearward end30. On the front end22and forward end28of the upper arm20and lower arm26, respectively, each arm20,26has a complementary upper cutting jaw member34and lower cutting jaw member36, respectively. Each of the upper arm20and the lower arm26has an upper side38and an underside40. Each of the upper cutting jaw member34and the lower cutting jaw member36has a cutting edge37, the cutting edge37of each cutting jaw member34,36facing toward one another and spaced apart so as to receive therebetween a fingernail85or a toenail (not shown). The cutting edges37are beveled. Further, an s-shaped handle lever44, which is pivotally connected by means of a terminal force transmission crossbar56to a connecting pin58which extends oscillatably through aligned holes61in the arms20,26, operationally engages the cutting edges37. The unitary handle lever44has an elongated, spatular rear portion46, a substantially parallelepiped mid-portion48, a substantially parallelepiped front portion51, a top side53, and a bottom side54. The mid-portion48has a first edge49and an opposite second edge50. The rear portion46is rounded, gently narrows toward the mid-portion first edge, and is substantially perpendicular to the mid-portion48. The rear portion46substantially conforms to the size and shape of an average human thumb to prevent slippage of a thumb from the nail clipper10during use. The mid-section48is disposed at about a 90 degree angle to the upper arm20thereby making the handle lever44easier for a user to depress than a conventional nail clipper. Thus, the angle between the upper arm20and the handle lever44is preferably within the range of about 0 to 30 degrees when in a working position. The front portion51has a rear edge52which connects to the mid-portion48second edge50. The front portion51is parallel to the rear portion46. The connecting pin58has a lower end59and an upper end60. The pin58lower end59has a flange62which retains the pin58in position at the lower end, while the upper end60of the pin58projects above the upper arm20and has a hooked recess64in which the crossbar56is engaged thereby retaining the handle lever44and pin58assembled with the arms20,26. The handle lever44rotationally and pivotally engages the pin58whereby the nail clipper10is placed into a working position and a closed position. In working position, the angle between the upper arm20and the handle lever44is in a range of about 0 to 30 degrees and the mid-portion48second edge50forms a fulcrum wherein the handle lever44selectively forces the upper cutting jaw member34to contact the lower cutting jaw member36.

The handle lever44top side53is completely textured. The texture may be in the form of a sandblasted surface. A raised contour72may be disposed near a rearward edge47of the handle lever44top side53rear portion46. The raised contour72is designed to provide a user with increased gripping capability. The raised contour72is convex and is provided in a variety of shapes which may include a 5-star appearance as illustrated in the drawings or in the form of a triangle or any other desired shape.

A nail file75is disposed on and covers the entire underside40of the lower arm26. The nail file75is formed of plurality of parallel equidistantly positioned grooves70running continuously diagonally across the underside40of the lower arm26.

A round aperture66runs continuously through the upper arm20rear end24and the lower arm26rearward end30. The aperture66accommodates passage of a chain therethrough to facilitate portability the present apparatus10to be attached to key chain for easy portability and convenient access.

The present nail clipper may include a gauge member42as shown inFIGS. 1 through 6and8. The substantially parallelepiped gauge member42follows the curvature of the cutting jaw members34,36. The gauge member42is disposed on the upper side38of the lower arm26near an outside edge29of the forward end28and substantially transverses the width of the forward end28. The gauge member42is disposed in a range of widths away from the outside edge29thereby allowing selection of a nail clipper10which accommodates a desired nail length trimming position.

Another embodiment of the present nail clipper10, which is identical to the above-described embodiment but without the raised contour72and gauge member42is illustrated inFIG. 7.

The present nail clipper10is provided in a variety of dimensions. The thickness of the handle lever44, however, is integral to the structure and functionality of the present nail clipper10in that the thickness provides the proper angles to allow the handle lever44to form a fulcrum to press the upper cutting jaw member34against the lower cutting jaw member36with sufficient force for a precise cut. The thickness of the handle lever44is preferably 3/32″. Further, the handle lever44is preferably constructed of stainless steel. The perimeter of each of the upper arm20, lower arm26, and the handle lever44of the nail clipper10is slightly rounded for safety. The aperture66has a diameter of approximately ⅛″ and is approximately ¼″ from the back edge of the upper arm20rear end24and the lower arm26rearward end30. The diameter of each hole61is approximately 3/16″. The width of the rear portion46of the handle lever44near the rearward edge47is approximately ¾″ with the width of the handle lever44gradually diminishing to approximately ⅝″ as the handle lever44approaches connection with the first edge49of the mid-portion48. The length of the entire nail clipper10is approximately 2¼″. The gauge member42is disposed in increasing intervals in a range of approximately 1/32″ to ⅛″ away from the outside edge29of the lower arm26. The intervals preferably 1/32″, 3/64″, 1/16″, 3/32″, and ⅛″ away from the outside edge29of the lower arm26. The gauge member42is formed of 1/16″ thick stainless steel having a height of approximately ⅛″.