Abstract:
A nail cutting device which consists essentially of two pairs of scissors connected together by a special mechanism which allows them to cut in two opposite directions, the angle between the two directions of cut can range between 180 to 90 degrees with an option to be adjusted. The device has one pair of handles and one holds and operates it in the same way one uses regular scissors. This way, one can cut one&#39;s toenails in two directions, left and right, without changing the grip on the scissors handles, using the same finger movements and avoiding any uncomfortable twisting of the hand or other part of the body.

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     SUMMARY  
       [0001]     In general the two directional scissors is a combination of two pair of scissors connected together, enabling the user to cut in two directions without changing the grip on the handles.  
         [0002]     One of the pairs which comprises of handles arms and blades will be referred to as the main pair. The other pair which includes arms and blades but not handles, will be referred to as the secondary pair  
         [0003]     The two pairs are connected together by a special mechanism, which allows them to cut in two opposite directions; the angle between the two directions of cut can range between 180 to 90 degrees.  
         [0004]     In the case where the two pairs are pointing exactly in opposite directions or, in other words, the angle between them is 180 degrees, the connecting mechanism that requires is different then the one requires when the angle between the directions of cuts is not exactly 180 degrees.  
         [0005]     The drawings form a part of this specification.  
         [0006]     In the drawings the sizes and the proportions between the various components can vary, and so the scales of the drawings.  
         [0007]     A dotted line numbered with the prefix ‘R’ (like R 1 , R 2  etc.) in the drawing represents an axis of rotation of a rotating object.  
         [0008]     A dotted line numbered with the prefix ‘S’ (like S 1 , S 2 , etc. in the drawing represents a bisector of an angle.  
         [0009]     The drawings are diagrammatic. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of version of the scissors where the secondary pair direction of cut is not exactly the opposite to that of the main pair, with the blades in the open position scale 2:1  
         [0011]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates how to use the two directions scissors for reverse cut.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective downside up view of the scissors with the blades in the open position. Scale approx 2:1.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connecting mechanism between an arm of the main pair and an arm of the secondary pair turned downside up, scale 4:1  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view with blades in close position. Scale 3:2  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is bottom elevational view, blades closed. Scale 3:2.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is bottom elevational view, blades ope. Scale 3:2.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a version where the secondary pair direction of cut is exactly the opposite to that of the main pair scale 2:1.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is perspective view of the same version in  FIG. 7  turned downside up.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the version in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is bottom elevational view of the version in  FIG. 7  blades closed.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a bottom elevational view of the version in  FIG. 7  blades opened.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a mechanism for adjusting the angle between the first and second pairs that can be added to the scissors shown in  FIGS. 1 , to  6 ,  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a bottom elevational view of the scissors with the adjustment mechanism that shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the scissors shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged side view of the adjustment mechanism shown in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  is sectional view taken on line  16 - 16 ,  FIG. 15 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 17  is a perspective downside up view of a two directional scissors with a different connecting mechanism than the one shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged perspective view of the connecting mechanism shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 19  is a side elevational view of the version in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 20  is bottom elevational view of the version in  FIG. 17  blades closed.  
         [0031]      FIG. 21  is a bottom elevational view of the version in  FIG. 17  blades opened. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     With reference to the drawing, the two directional scissors consist of a main pair of scissors P 1 , and a secondary pair of scissors P 2 , which are connected together by a special mechanism.  
         [0033]     Each pair comprises two arms with blades that are connected by a pivoting pin.  
         [0034]     Shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  7  and  8 , are the main pair blades  1 ,  1   a , the main pair pivoting pin  2 , the secondary pair blades  3 ,  3   a , and the secondary pair pivoting pin  4 .  
         [0035]     The two way scissors can be made either with P 2  and P 1  are pointing to the exact opposites from each other or, the angle between the directions of the cut by P 1  and P 2  could be varied between 180 and 90 degrees.  
         [0036]     The way of connecting the main pair to the secondary pair is determined by whether both P 1  and P 2  point to the exact opposite from each other or not.  
         [0037]     Before continuing, the terms “direction of cut” and “exact opposite direction” has to be clarified:  
         [0038]     While cutting, each arm of P 1  performs a rotating movement around the pivoting pin  2 ; the rotating movement define a plane in space, the dotted line R 1  shows the axis of rotation for the movement which is perpendicular to that plane. In that plane, the two arms of P 1  create an angle with the pivoting pin  2  at it vertex, the dotted line S 1  shows the bisector of that angle.  
         [0039]     In the same way, R 2  is the axis of rotation of the arms of P 2  and S 2  is the bisector of the angle they form with its vertex at  4 .  
         [0040]     The term “direction of cut” means direction along the vertex of the angle that the arms are forming, the term “exact opposite” means that S 1  and S 2  are parallel to each other, and also R 1  and R 2  are parallel to each other, the term “angle between the direction of cuts” means the angle between S 1  and S 2  when they are in the same plane, or the angle between the two planes created by the movements of the arms of P 1  and P 2 . When the two pairs points to the exact opposites, the angle between the directions of cuts is exactly 180 degrees.  
         [0041]     In the case is where P 1  and P 2  point to the exact opposites as seen in FIGS.  7  to  11 , each arm of the secondary pair is connected to an arm of the main pair by one pivoting pin  10  and  10   a  with axes of rotation R 5  and R 5   a . In that case R 1 , R 2 , R 5  and R 5   a  are all parallel to each other.  
         [0042]     The other case where the angle between the direction of cut of P 1  and P 2  is less then 180 degrees and greater then 90 degrees is shown in FIGS.  1  to  6 . In that case, each connecting mechanism between the arms of the main pair the secondary pair, have to allow both arms a free rotation along two different axes in space relative to each other, these axes are shown as R 3  and R 4  in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  4 .  
         [0043]     That ability to rotate freely along two different axes in space enables both pairs to perform a smooth cutting movement in the case where P 1  and P 2  do not point to the exact opposites.  
         [0044]     The connecting mechanism between the arms of the main pair and the secondary pair where P 1  and P 2  do not point to the exact opposites is numbered  5  in FIGS.  1  to  6 .  
         [0045]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , each connecting mechanism comprises a pivoting frame  8 , a pivot pin  9 , a rotating axle  6 , and an axle support  7 .  
         [0046]     Each pivoting frame is connected to one arm of the main pair by pivot pin  9 , which allows free rotation of the pivoting frame relative to the arm of the main pair, with R 3  as the axis of rotation.  
         [0047]     The axle support  7  is fixed to the pivoting frame  8 . The axle support has the shape of a tube which allows free rotation of the rotating axle  6  relative to the pivoting frame, With R 4  as the axis rotation.  
         [0048]     Each of the blades of the secondary pair  3  is fixed to one of the rotating axles. As seen in FIGS.  1  to  3 , the rotating connections mechanism allows the arm of the secondary pair a free rotation along two axes in space relative to the arm of the main pair, one is R 3 , the axis of rotation at the pivoting frame  8  and the other axis is R 4 , the axis of the rotating axle  6 .  
         [0049]     FIGS.  12  to  16  are showing another mechanism that can be added to the two directional scissors to enable manual adjustment of the angle between the two pairs shown in FIGS.  1  to  6  and is referred to as the adjustment mechanism. It is numbered  17  in FIGS.  12  to  16 , and can replace the pivoting frame  8  shown in FIGS.  1  to  7 .  
         [0050]     The adjustment mechanism  17  comprises a pivoting plate  18  connected to another plate  19  by a hinge  20 , a spring  25  that pushes the plates away from each other towards wider angle, a screw  21  that connected in one side to plate  18  by a pivoting pin  23 , and the other side go through a rectangle slot  24  in the plate  19 , and a round nut  22  for adjusting the opening angle between plates  18  and  19 .  
         [0051]     The adjustment mechanism is connected on one side to the arm of the main pair via pivoting pin  9   a  and on the other side plate  19  is connected to the axle support  7   a . By rotating the nut  22  the user can adjust the angle between the main pair and the secondary pair.  
         [0052]     It will be apparent that some changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims. Thus, the connecting mechanism can be replaced by an alternate one, as long as it allows both arms connected a free rotation along two different axes in space.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 17, 18 , show alternative structure to the connecting mechanism that is different from the one seen in FIGS.  1  to  6 .  
         [0054]     As best seen in.  FIG. 13  the alternative connecting mechanism which is numbered  11 , it comprises a rotating axle  12  fixed in both sides to the arm of the main pair, an axle support  13  in a shape of a tube another axle support  15  in a shape of a tube, a support base  14  that is connected to both axle supports  13  and  15 , and another rotating axle  16 , which is fixed to one of the blades of the secondary pair.  
         [0055]     This structure allows the arms of both pairs a free rotation along two axes of rotation in space, R 6  and R 7 .  
         [0056]     Also, the size of the components the proportions between the size of the components, and the angle between the main pair and the secondary pair, can be changed without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims.  
         [0057]     One holds and operates the scissors by the handles of the main pair, in the same manner as one would operate regular scissors.