Patent Publication Number: US-7222427-B1

Title: Nail clipper

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention, in general, relates to personal grooming devices and, more particularly, to toe and finger nail clippers. 
   Nail clippers, the term herein including either toe or finger nail type of clippers, are generally well known. 
   Nail clippers have certain problems. For example, prior art designs tend to spray the clippings into a room. The clippings may be sharp and can even spread infection. Therefore, it is desirable to contain clippings. 
   However, prior art nail clippers include a center post that engages with a pivoting lever. The pivoting lever, pressing upon a ridge in the center post applies pressure to the clipper sufficient to urge a pair of opposite sides, and therefore also the blades, toward one-another during use. 
   The center post, though necessary, provides an obstruction that certain of the clippings inevitably must impact. The clippings bounce off of the center post and are scattered. Any prior art type of modification intended to retain the clippings has proven to be ineffective when they are bouncing off of the center post. 
   Other prior-art types of nail clippers do not fold sufficiently flat for storage. Others do not apply leverage that can create sufficient force to cut through difficult nails without requiring a great deal of force by the user. 
   Accordingly, there exists today a need for a nail clipper that helps ameliorate the above-mentioned and other difficulties. 
   Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Nail clippers are, in general, known. While the structural arrangements of the above described known types of devices may, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a nail clipper that does not include a center post. 
   It is also an important object of the invention to provide a nail clipper that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that includes sufficient mechanical advantage (i.e., leverage). 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that is aesthetically attractive. 
   Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that includes a sleeve. 
   Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that includes a sleeve and a pivoting lever, the lever being pivotally attached to the sleeve. 
   Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that captures and retains clippings therein. 
   A first continuing object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that includes a sleeve that extends the entire longitudinal length of the clipper sufficient to capture and retain clippings therein. 
   A second continuing object of the invention is to provide a nail clipper that includes a pivoting lever that is adapted to pivot into a first position that is disposed over a first member for cutting and into a second position that is disposed adjacent to a second member for storage and transport. 
   Briefly, a nail clipper that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a sleeve that extends over a pair of facing cutting blades that are each attached to a first end of a first and second member, respectively, and wherein the first and second members are each joined together at a second end that is disposed at an opposite end with respect to the blades. A spring action inherent to the first and second members permits the blades to move toward and away from each other. In a normal quiescent state, the spring action urges the two blades a predetermined distance apart that is sufficient for a portion of a toe nail or a finger nail to enter. A lever is attached to the sleeve proximate the first end of the first and second members and is adapted to pivot about an axis. When the lever is pivoted over the first member and urged toward it, it contacts a portion of the first member and urges the first member toward the second member sufficient to bring a cutting edge of the two blades into contact with each other sufficient to cut a toe nail or a finger nail. When the lever is pivoted over the second member and adjacent to it, it folds flat for storage and transport. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of an interior nail clipper portion. 
       FIG. 2  is a view in perspective of an exterior sleeve and a pivoting lever. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the sleeve of  FIG. 2  disposed over the interior nail clipper portion of  FIG. 1  with a pivoting lever disposed over a first member, ready for cutting. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the sleeve of  FIG. 2  disposed over the interior nail clipper of  FIG. 1  with a pivoting lever disposed adjacent to a second member, ready for transport or storage. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to all of the drawing figures and now initially to  FIG. 3  is shown, a nail clipper, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 . 
   Referring now also to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the nail clipper  10  includes an interior nail clipper portion  12  ( FIG. 1 ) and an exterior sleeve  14  and a pivoting lever  16  ( FIG. 2 ) that is pivotally attached to the sleeve  14  on opposite sides and adapted to pivot about an axis  18  in a first direction as shown by arrow  20  or in an opposite second direction, as shown by arrow  22 . 
   The interior nail clipper portion  12  and the sleeve  14  and lever  16  are shown apart in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  to better illustrate the construction of each. When properly assembled, the sleeve  14  is disposed over the interior nail clipper portion  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The nail clipper portion  12  includes an upper first member  24  and a lower bottom second member  26 . 
   An upper cutting blade  28  includes an arcuate edge and is attached to a first end of the first member  24  at approximately a right-angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first member  24 . 
   A lower cutting blade  30  includes an arcuate edge that corresponds with that of the upper cutting blade  28 . The lower cutting blade  30  is attached to a first end of the second member  26  at what approximately a right-angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second member  26 . 
   Together, the upper cutting blade  28  and the lower cutting blade  30  forms a pair of cutting blades that align with and face each other. 
   The first member  24  and the second member  26  are attached to each other at a second end thereof that is disposed at an opposite end with respect to the cutting blades  28 ,  30 . Attachment can be by spot welding, adhesive, or by any other preferred method. 
   The first member  24 , second member  26 , and cutting blades  28 ,  30  are similar to existing prior art types of nail clippers (not shown) except the current first and second members  24 ,  26 , as described, do not include any attached lever mechanism that can urge the cutting blades  28 ,  30  toward each other, as is common with the prior art types of nail clippers. Accordingly, there is no center post, common with prior art designs that include the attached lever mechanism. 
   The first and second members  24 ,  26  are either formed of a material, such as spring steel, or otherwise are provided with a spring action with respect to the first and second members  24 ,  26 . The spring action, in a normal quiescent state, urges the two blades  28 ,  30  a predetermined distance apart from each other that is sufficient for a portion of a toenail or a fingernail (not shown) to enter between the blades  28 ,  30  for cutting. The spring action also permits the blades  28 ,  30  to move toward and away from each other when a force is applied that is sufficient to do so. 
   Referring again to all of the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 3 , the sleeve  14  is formed of plastic, graphite, fiberglass, metal, or any other preferred material or combination of materials having sufficient strength and durability. The sleeve  14  includes an open end  14   a  that is disposed over the blades  28 ,  30  when the nail clipper  10  is properly assembled. 
   The sleeve  14  includes an upper opening, identified in general by the reference numeral  32 , that extends across an upper or top surface member  39  of the sleeve  14  and which includes a longitudinal axis that is parallel with the axis  18  of the lever  16 . Other than the upper opening  32  and the open end  14   a , the remainder of the sleeve  14  is enclosed. This is to optimally retain any nail clippings that may enter therein, as is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
   The upper opening  32  includes a predetermined width and it extends down into a pair of spaced-apart opposite sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b  of the sleeve  14  an amount sufficient to allow an edge  36  of the lever  16  to contact the upper surface of the first member  24  and, when the lever  16  is further urged in the direction shown by arrow  20 , to force the first member  24  sufficiently far down and toward the second member  26  so that the cutting blades  28 ,  30  make contact with each other. 
   A bottom surface  38  of the sleeve  14  is attached to the sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b  and it supports the second member  26  so that the second member  26  cannot be urged away from the first member  24  when the lever  16  is urged in the direction of arrow  20 . 
   When the cutting blades  28 ,  30  make contact with each other, any portion of any finger nail or toe nail, as may be disposed between the two blades  28 ,  30  is severed when sufficient force is applied so that the blades are forced into contact with each other. When force upon the lever  16  is removed, the spring action of the two members  24 ,  26  urges the blades  28 ,  30  apart. The maximum distance the two members  24 ,  26  and therefore also the blades  28 ,  30  can extend apart from one another is further limited by distance between the bottom surface  38  and the upper, top surface  39  of the sleeve  14  should the spring action attempt to further separate them. 
   The top surface  39  is attached to the sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b . A rear member  39   a  is attached to the bottom surface  38 , the top surface  39 , and to the sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b  sufficient to provide the desired amount of enclosure. 
   The nail clipper  10  includes a mechanical advantage that is a function of the distance from the edge  36  of the lever  16  along a planar member portion  16   a  of the lever  16  to a finger pad  40  that is disposed on a distal end of the planar member portion  16   a  of the lever  16  with respect to the axis  18  as compared to the distance from the axis  18  to the edge  36 . The greater the first dimension as compared to the second dimension, the greater is the mechanical advantage. During use, a finger (not shown) is placed on the finger pad  40  and force is applied until a portion of the finger nail or toe nail has been severed. 
   The distance from the axis  18  along a longitudinal length of a pair of side members  42  that are disposed on opposite sides of the sleeve  14  and extending to the edge  36  is kept short while the remaining length of the lever  16  is kept long, but not so long that when it is folded, as is described in greater detail hereinafter, it exceeds the length of the sleeve  14 . Accordingly, great mechanical advantage is provided that makes use of the nail clipper  10  especially easy to accomplish. 
   At the axis  18 , each of the side members  42  includes a pin  44  that extends inward, toward a longitudinal center of the nail clipper  10 . Each pin  44  is disposed in a hole that is provided in each of the sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b . When the lever  16  pivots in the direction of arrow  20  or arrow  22 , the pins  44  rotate about the axis  18  in the holes that are disposed in the sidewalls  34   a ,  34   b.    
   The lever  16  is especially easy to manufacture. It is preferably formed from flat stock, for example, a metallic stock. The side members  42 , which initially extend at an angle away from a center longitudinal axis of the lever  16 , are then bent into the position shown. This provides exceptional strength for the lever  16  when force is applied in the direction of arrow  20  while minimizing weight of the lever  16  and the cost of its manufacture. 
   This configuration also provides two unexpected benefits. Intermediate the edge  36  and the axis  18 , the lever  16  includes an opening that is large enough to permit the lever  16  to be urged in the direction of arrow  22  sufficient to permit it to pass over the blades  28 ,  30  and to contact an exterior of the bottom surface  38 . 
   Accordingly, the lever  16  is disposed on one side of the nail clipper  10  for cutting and on the other side for storage and transport. As an easy pivoting of the lever  16  about the axis  18  is all that is required to accomplish this change, it is surprisingly easy to convert the nail clipper  10  from a first position adapted for cutting into a second position adapted for storage when compared to the complex motions that the attached lever mechanism of prior art designs must undergo in order to move them from a storage position into a cutting position an back again. 
   A second benefit, as shown in  FIG. 4 , is that the geometry of the lever  16  provides an unusually flat and compact storage position for the nail clipper  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3  also, a side member longitudinal axis  46  forms an acute angle with respect to a lever longitudinal axis  48 . When the lever  16  is in a first position, adapted for cutting, this angle elevates the finger pad  40  a sufficient distance above the top surface  39  to permit a full range of motion along the direction shown by arrow  20  to cut the finger or toe nail with the desired amount of mechanical advantage. 
   However when the lever  16  is pivoted in the direction of arrow  22  fully around so that it is adjacent to the bottom member  26 , this same geometry (acute angle) ensures that as soon as the edge  36  is disposed below the bottom surface  38 , the remainder of the lever  16  changes direction so that it is flush with the bottom surface  38 . This provides especially compact storage and transport position. 
   If desired, a small protrusion  50  is attached to and extends from the bottom surface  38 . The protrusion  50  may include an enlarged end. When the lever  16  is disposed in the second position ( FIG. 4 ), the protrusion  50  engages with and enters into a corresponding opening that is provided in the finger pad  40 . This secures the lever  16  in the second position until a force sufficient to disengage the protrusion  50  from the opening in the finger pad  40  is applied to the lever  16 . 
   During use, as the blades  28 ,  30  approach each other they start to cut through a portion of the finger nail or toe nail. As the nail is about to be severed, the rate of approach suddenly increases as resistance by the nail diminishes. This causes a snapping sound and impels the nail clipping with force and velocity rearward and into the sleeve  14  where it is captured. Because there is no post, the clippings cannot be reflected off of the post and out the sides. 
   Nail clippings are sharp and can injure people when they travel with velocity. The nail clipper  10  not only captures virtually every nail clipping within the sleeve  14 , but also absorbs the kinetic energy of the nail clippings, thereby ensuring that they are not expelled from the nail clipper  10  and deposited on the floor or elsewhere. 
   Because the nail clipper  10  also prevents ricochets and other projectile nail clippings, it is therefore also safer to use than prior art types of designs. 
   The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.