Patent Publication Number: US-7913391-B1

Title: Nail clipper apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     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&#39;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&#39;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. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present nail clipper apparatus and method so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     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. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the nail clipper apparatus and method. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom elevation view. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front isometric view of another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a front isometric in-use view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 8  thereof, example of the instant nail clipper apparatus employing the principles and concepts of the present nail clipper apparatus and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6  and  8 , one embodiment of the present nail clipper apparatus  10  is illustrated. The nail clipper  10  has generally mirror image arms comprising an upper arm  20  and a lower arm  26 . The upper arm  20  has a front end  22  and a rear end  24 . The lower arm  26  has a forward end  28  and a rearward end  30 . The upper arm  20  and the lower arm  26  are conjoined at a connection point  32  between the rear end  24  and the rearward end  30 . On the front end  22  and forward end  28  of the upper arm  20  and lower arm  26 , respectively, each arm  20 ,  26  has a complementary upper cutting jaw member  34  and lower cutting jaw member  36 , respectively. Each of the upper arm  20  and the lower arm  26  has an upper side  38  and an underside  40 . Each of the upper cutting jaw member  34  and the lower cutting jaw member  36  has a cutting edge  37 , the cutting edge  37  of each cutting jaw member  34 ,  36  facing toward one another and spaced apart so as to receive therebetween a fingernail  85  or a toenail (not shown). The cutting edges  37  are beveled. Further, an s-shaped handle lever  44 , which is pivotally connected by means of a terminal force transmission crossbar  56  to a connecting pin  58  which extends oscillatably through aligned holes  61  in the arms  20 ,  26 , operationally engages the cutting edges  37 . The unitary handle lever  44  has an elongated, spatular rear portion  46 , a substantially parallelepiped mid-portion  48 , a substantially parallelepiped front portion  51 , a top side  53 , and a bottom side  54 . The mid-portion  48  has a first edge  49  and an opposite second edge  50 . The rear portion  46  is rounded, gently narrows toward the mid-portion first edge, and is substantially perpendicular to the mid-portion  48 . The rear portion  46  substantially conforms to the size and shape of an average human thumb to prevent slippage of a thumb from the nail clipper  10  during use. The mid-section  48  is disposed at about a 90 degree angle to the upper arm  20  thereby making the handle lever  44  easier for a user to depress than a conventional nail clipper. Thus, the angle between the upper arm  20  and the handle lever  44  is preferably within the range of about 0 to 30 degrees when in a working position. The front portion  51  has a rear edge  52  which connects to the mid-portion  48  second edge  50 . The front portion  51  is parallel to the rear portion  46 . The connecting pin  58  has a lower end  59  and an upper end  60 . The pin  58  lower end  59  has a flange  62  which retains the pin  58  in position at the lower end, while the upper end  60  of the pin  58  projects above the upper arm  20  and has a hooked recess  64  in which the crossbar  56  is engaged thereby retaining the handle lever  44  and pin  58  assembled with the arms  20 ,  26 . The handle lever  44  rotationally and pivotally engages the pin  58  whereby the nail clipper  10  is placed into a working position and a closed position. In working position, the angle between the upper arm  20  and the handle lever  44  is in a range of about 0 to 30 degrees and the mid-portion  48  second edge  50  forms a fulcrum wherein the handle lever  44  selectively forces the upper cutting jaw member  34  to contact the lower cutting jaw member  36 . 
     The handle lever  44  top side  53  is completely textured. The texture may be in the form of a sandblasted surface. A raised contour  72  may be disposed near a rearward edge  47  of the handle lever  44  top side  53  rear portion  46 . The raised contour  72  is designed to provide a user with increased gripping capability. The raised contour  72  is 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 file  75  is disposed on and covers the entire underside  40  of the lower arm  26 . The nail file  75  is formed of plurality of parallel equidistantly positioned grooves  70  running continuously diagonally across the underside  40  of the lower arm  26 . 
     A round aperture  66  runs continuously through the upper arm  20  rear end  24  and the lower arm  26  rearward end  30 . The aperture  66  accommodates passage of a chain therethrough to facilitate portability the present apparatus  10  to be attached to key chain for easy portability and convenient access. 
     The present nail clipper may include a gauge member  42  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6  and  8 . The substantially parallelepiped gauge member  42  follows the curvature of the cutting jaw members  34 ,  36 . The gauge member  42  is disposed on the upper side  38  of the lower arm  26  near an outside edge  29  of the forward end  28  and substantially transverses the width of the forward end  28 . The gauge member  42  is disposed in a range of widths away from the outside edge  29  thereby allowing selection of a nail clipper  10  which accommodates a desired nail length trimming position. 
     Another embodiment of the present nail clipper  10 , which is identical to the above-described embodiment but without the raised contour  72  and gauge member  42  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     The present nail clipper  10  is provided in a variety of dimensions. The thickness of the handle lever  44 , however, is integral to the structure and functionality of the present nail clipper  10  in that the thickness provides the proper angles to allow the handle lever  44  to form a fulcrum to press the upper cutting jaw member  34  against the lower cutting jaw member  36  with sufficient force for a precise cut. The thickness of the handle lever  44  is preferably 3/32″. Further, the handle lever  44  is preferably constructed of stainless steel. The perimeter of each of the upper arm  20 , lower arm  26 , and the handle lever  44  of the nail clipper  10  is slightly rounded for safety. The aperture  66  has a diameter of approximately ⅛″ and is approximately ¼″ from the back edge of the upper arm  20  rear end  24  and the lower arm  26  rearward end  30 . The diameter of each hole  61  is approximately 3/16″. The width of the rear portion  46  of the handle lever  44  near the rearward edge  47  is approximately ¾″ with the width of the handle lever  44  gradually diminishing to approximately ⅝″ as the handle lever  44  approaches connection with the first edge  49  of the mid-portion  48 . The length of the entire nail clipper  10  is approximately 2¼″. The gauge member  42  is disposed in increasing intervals in a range of approximately 1/32″ to ⅛″ away from the outside edge  29  of the lower arm  26 . The intervals preferably 1/32″, 3/64″, 1/16″, 3/32″, and ⅛″ away from the outside edge  29  of the lower arm  26 . The gauge member  42  is formed of 1/16″ thick stainless steel having a height of approximately ⅛″. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present nail clipper apparatus to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Directional terms such as “front”, “back”, “in”, “out”, “downward”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may have been used in the description. These terms are applicable to the examples shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the present invention may be used. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.