Improvements in Cutters for the Finger Nails.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Cutters for the Finger Nails.
I, CARLO MITSCHEUNIG, of Via Merulana, No. 257, Rome, Italy, Architect, do
bereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in cutters for the finger nails.
The feature of the finger nail cutters represented in the accompanying drawing
is that the nails may be neatly cut all round at one operation irrespective of their
size or shape as these nail cutters are made to take different sizes and shapes of
nails for which purpose in some of the forms of my invention the cutting portions
are shaped to correspond with the different sized nails of the hand. This result
cannot be obtained with the truncated nail cutters or with scissors having curved
blades. Consequently it is necessary to bear in mind this important difference
between the nail cutters formed according to my invention and those at present in
use.
As will be seen by the drawings I show my invention carried out in seven
different ways without however departing from the main or principal feature of
same.
The first of these forms is represented in Fig. 1 (plan), Fig. 2 (front view),
Fig. 3 (back view), Fig. 4 (side view), Fig. 5 (in section), and Fig. 6 (from
below).
Two steel blade strips ed have four cutting gaps
and 6) adapted to take different sized nails.
of graduated sizes (Figs. 1
The blade strip e is curved at its rear end and is secured to the strip d by means
of small screws v. The strip e by its curved formation acts as a
the strip has an extension f. Above the said strips ed is a lever
spring while
pivoted on
two arms a bent up from the strip & or formed as a stirrup pieces as shown in
Fig. 13 and at the extremity of the lever is pivoted a hook 9 which keeps it
locked when a hole in said hook is passed over the projection f which thus forms
a catch. A fine file is attached or formed on the underside of the lever l.
In order to cut the nails the lever is unhooked or released so that the jaws
er cutters spring open and the nail is inserted in the gap of the desired size and
shape after which the lever is brought down and the cutting is effected.
The second form is represented in Fig. 7 (front view), in Fig. 8 (side view), in
Fig. 9 (plan), in Fig. 10 (from below), and in Fig. 11 (in section).
This form differs from the preceding in the omission of one of the "gaps" as
well as in respect of their arrangement which allows of a reduction in the size
of the instrument. This is effected as shown by arranging the gaps or cutting
edges on the sides and front of the instrument.
The third form is represented in Fig. 12 (from below). It is nearly the same
as the second form but the strips e and d are shortened so that the size of the
instrument is reduced.
The fourth form is represented in Fig. 13 (side view) and in Fig. 14 (in section)

page_text: with the gaps open, in Fig. 15 (in plan), in Fig. 16 (from below) and in Fig. 16*
(in section on y-y Fig. 13).
It consists of two pairs of arms ee dd pivoted to pin ell so that they can rock
on same and also have a certain amount of movement or spring sideways. These
arms carry jaws ele' d' between each pair of which is a spring strip m rivetted
thereto at the ends. The arms are normally kept open by a spring m¹ secured to
a piece de forming a bottom plate and carried by one of the arms d. The arms e e
pass through bands bb and are secured thereto by rivets as shown in Fig. 16^
and the arms d d also pass through same but may have a vertical movement there-
'in. The bands carry nuts through which passes a rod having right and
left hand screw threads and carrying in the centre a pinion which engages with
a rack sliding in a groove in a guide block g' carried by one of the upper arms e.
The rod v has also a thumb nut v.
The rack g² at its forward end has an arm g³ Fig. 14 which is rivetted, to the
spring m of the upper jaw and a shorter arm having a hooked end which
engages with a staple carried by the spring m of the lower jaw. The lever is
pivoted in the ends of a bands the lower part of which is slotted as shewn in
Fig. 16 to allow of the movement of the jaws to which the band is connected by
small screws passing through the slots.
It will be seen that by turning the thumb nut the jaws are brought together
by the screw threads in rod v' assisted by the pulling action of rack g' the arrange-
ment of parts affording means for the jaws to move vertically during the cutting
operation when closed by the lever l.
The fifth form is represented in Fig. 17 (in section) and in Fig. 18 (in plan).
It differs from the first form in its size and in the arrangement of the four
gaps xxxx. The two strips ed are however attached by hinges and are secured
by the catch g but they may be joined together as in the first of the forms by
means of the curved part of the strip e and the screws v.
In the interior is a spring m' for opening the gaps or jaws.
The sixth form is represented in Fig. 19 (in section) and in Fig. 20 (in plan).
In this form the gaps are formed in a pivoted piece e and d capable of rotation.
around a pivot pin p such parts being kept open normally by a spiral spring s.
The pivot pin p is secured in a strip piece p and its upper end carries the arms a
on which the lever is pivoted such lever carrying a spring m¹ which exerts a
slight pressure on piece e before the lever finishes the cutting. The lever is
secured by a catchy as usual.
The seventh form is represented in Fig. 21 (in section) and in Fig. 22 (in plan).
This form has only two gaps one at each extremity; two superposed levers
pivoted on the arms a a at opposite ends and two catches at the side for keeping
them shut. The gaps have a curvature which it has been found are most con-
venient for most shapes and sizes of nails but they do not cut in so exact a shape
as the other forms. The two gaps may be also arranged at one side only, as in
Fig. 18.
The same arrangement is possible with a single gap and consequently with a
single lever l.
My nail cutter may also have handles in the form of a pair of pincers or scissors.
The merit and utility of my invention consist'in providing them with a series
of gaps or an adjustable gap adapted to the form of the nails which neatly cuts
them at a single operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. A cutter for the finger nails provided with a series of gaps or jaws adapted
to take different sizes and shapes of nails substantially as described.
2. A cutter for the finger nails having an adjustable gap or jaws arranged to
be adapted to different sizes and shapes of nails substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A cutter for the finger nails constructed substantially as described and illus-
trated in Figs. 1 to 6.
4. A cutter for the finger nails constructed substantially as described and illus-
trated in Figs. 7 to 11.
5. A cutter for the finger nails constructed substantially as described and illus-
trated in Fig. 12.
6. A cutter for the finger nails constructed substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16*.
7. A cutter for the finger nails constructed substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18.
8. A cutter for the finger
illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20.
nails constructed substantially as described and
9. A cutter for the finger nails constructed substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 21 and 22.
Dated the 17th day of September 1897.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.