FR2792179A1 - Nail clipper has superimposed branches with lever to actuate jaws at ends of branches - Google Patents

Abstract

The nail clipper has two rigid superimposed branches (1a,b) of which one is elastic. The branches are pivoted together and carry jaws (3,4) which are operated by a lever (5). The lever is hinged to the lower branch by a movable cap (9) which has a U-shape to enclose the branches so that the flat central part (10) slides on the external face of the lower branch.

Description

NAIL CUTTER WITH SECURE CLOSING MECHANISM, WITH

CUTTING TANK.

  The invention relates to a toenail couple whose operating and safety mechanism at rest is advantageously used to constitute a reservoir.

  cut nails which are easy to drain when the cutter

  nail is in rest position. Numerous prior embodiments of improved nail clippers are already known, generally comprising accessories such as a nail file and a curette which more or less advantageously use the

  constituent elements of the nail clipper.

  We can distinguish two main categories of such nail clippers generally comprising two superimposed branches forming at the end a cutting pliers actuated by a bent pallet generally articulated to one of the branches to come to bear on the other in order to obtain an effect. sufficient lever on the cutting pliers: a first category, the most widespread, uses to secure the pallet to the branches a vertical notched axis secured to the lower branch and crossing the upper branch on the side of the cutting pliers so that the axis of articulation of the pallet comes in the notch of the axis to provide by an effect of

  knee brace the elastic reconciliation of the two branches.

  This type of nail clipper has two major series of drawbacks: it is practically impossible to control the ejection of the cut nails and we have been led to put on external covers to surround the cutting device and thus recover the cut nails; another drawback relates to the closing system of the nail clipper which generally requires pivoting the pallet of 180 around its axis and performing in this

  new position a backward rotation of the cutter

  nail so as to substantially coincide the shape of

  the pallet with the shape of the branches at the back of the cutter

  nail. It will be observed that this arrangement is incompatible with a total closure of the jaws when the nail clipper - 2 - is in the rest position since otherwise, it would not be possible to mount the pallet in the notch if the jaws cannot be compressed. one against the other for

  sufficiently clear the notch on the axle.

  To partially overcome these drawbacks, the second category of cutters known to date is characterized in that the cooperation of the pallet with the two branches of the clamp is obtained by pivoting on a U-shaped yoke fixed to the lower branch, such so that by an adequate curvature of the pallet, it comes to counter-tighten the upper branch and provide

the clamp effect sought.

  Naturally, these latter embodiments are more advantageous since the lateral wings of the pallet articulation yoke are used to provide, in a certain way, a cutting tank after use. This is for example the case of the device described in international application WO / 96.41553 or also in American patent US / 5488772. In these two previous embodiments which describe respectively, a tank integrated by the wings of the yoke and an autonomous tank coming to slide around the yoke, the articulation pallet is mounted on the yoke thanks to horizontal and open notches allowing the 'snap onto the upper branch of the pliers in one direction for the cutting position and in the other for the closed position, like what was mentioned in the first category. However, here it is possible to provide a form of pallet allowing the jaws of the clamp to be almost closed in the rest position. We can clearly see the difficulty of using this category of nail clippers since it is necessary to uncouple the lever of the pliers to move from a rest position to a working position and vice versa. Likewise, the reserve of cut nails is not satisfactory since it is constituted by a separate casing in one case, and by a necessarily very enveloping screed in the other case, so that it is

  difficult to empty this reserve after use.

  - 3 - To overcome all these drawbacks, it is therefore proposed according to the invention a nail clipper with reservoir comprising two superimposed rigid branches, the upper branch at least of which is made of elastic material such that they are secured together at one of their ends , the two branches naturally move away from each other, their free end being each provided with a cutting jaw facing one another to form a cutting pliers whose opening at rest is sufficient to insert the nail to be cut and whose closure is obtained by compression of the upper elastic branch, in the direction of the lower branch by means of a pallet articulated to the lower branch acting as a lever on the upper elastic branch; this nail clipper is remarkable in that the pallet is articulated to the lower branch by means of a movable U-shaped yoke which surrounds the two branches so that its flat central part comes into sliding contact on the external face of the lower branch, its two lateral wings supports the axis of articulation of the pallet which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said branches and disposed parallel to the plane of the branches, said pallet having at its end close to the articulation, support means on the upper jaw, called the movable jaw, of the elastic branch, cooperating with an adequate bending of a portion of the same branch which reverses its curvature for

  bring the mobile jaw closer to the other jaw - called fixed jaw -

as such manner that:

  - when the screed is slid forward, i.e.

  say towards the jaws, putting the nail clipper in the cutting position, the pallet is gradually raised relative to the elastic branch to serve as a compression lever for the movable jaw on the fixed jaw of the lower branch, or - when the yoke is slid backwards, putting the nail clipper in the rest position, the pallet is gradually pressed against the external face of the upper branch, simultaneously causing the closure - 4 -

bits.

  It is clear that such an embodiment satisfies both a great convenience of using the nail clipper since it suffices to manipulate the movable yoke to pass from the rest position to the working position and vice versa; in addition and in this latter position, the yoke being moved back, it releases at the same time the front part of the clamp making it easier to empty the contents of the reservoir after use. Finally, it is very clear that the configuration of the device according to the invention will be chosen so that in the rest position, that is to say, the movable yoke recoil, the two jaws are in contact with one another. on the other ensuring full

  safety for transport and storage of the nail clipper.

  Other features and advantages will emerge

  better from the description which will now be given of a

  preferred embodiment of a nail clipper according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

  - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cutter

  nail according to the invention shown in the working position, - Figure 2 is a top view of the nail clipper of Figure 1 in the rest position, - Figure 3 is a side elevational view in longitudinal axial section of the cut - nail in working position, open jaws, - Figure 4 is a view identical to Figure 3 but in working position, closed jaws, - Figure 5 shows the nail clipper of the figures

in the rest position.

  In accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the nail clipper according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two rigid branches superimposed la and lb secured at one of their ends, corresponding to the rear part of the nail clipper, by a rivet or a welding spot 2, the lower branch 1a being generally planar and cut from a preferably stainless material such as for example metal 240C13, but which is not necessarily elastic, and the upper branch 1b being made of material advantageously identical and in any case elastic and of general shape curved upwards in such a way that the two branches 1a and 1b naturally deviate from one another; the free end of the lower branch 1a is provided with a sharp jaw 3, hereinafter called a fixed jaw, and the corresponding end of the upper branch 1b has a sharp jaw 4 hereinafter called a movable jaw, coming in screw with fixed jaw 3 to form together a cutting pliers whose opening at rest is sufficient to be able to insert the nail to be cut and whose closing is obtained by elastic compression of the upper branch lb in the direction of the lower branch la to means of a pallet 5 articulated along a horizontal axis 6 supported by the two vertical lateral wings 7 and 8 of a movable yoke 9 coming from its horizontal central part 10 bearing on the external face of the lower branch 1a to provide the reaction necessary to

the lever effect of the pallet 5.

  In accordance with the main characteristic of the invention, the movable yoke 9 has a general shape of U and its two lateral wings 7,8 surrounding the front end of the two branches 1a and 1b are designed to come in all its positions to close off the space between

  the lower and upper branches lb of the cutter

  nail; in addition and at the ends of said wings 7,8 there are provided two holes for receiving the axis 6 of the pallet 5 which must remain perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the branches on the one hand and arranged parallel to the plane of the

same branches on the other hand.

  The elastic upper branch 1b as shown for example in FIGS. 3 to 5, comprises, in continuity with its rear part superimposed and secured to the lower branch 1a, a divergent portion 11 from a fold 12 providing the elastic effect of the upper branch lb; the movable jaw 4 is secured at the end of a last portion 13 of 6- the branch lb obtained after a new folding 14 of the divergent portion 11 of the branch lb reversing its curvature so as to bring the movable jaw 4 into exact with respect to the fixed jaw 3 to finally constitute a cutting pliers; the fold 14 is further provided in such a way that it can cooperate with the pallet 5 in its compression movement around its articulation axis 6 correctly disposed at the end of the lateral wings 7,8 of the yoke 9 so that: when said yoke 9 is slid forward, that is to say to the left of FIG. 3, the pallet 5 is gradually and automatically raised with respect to the elastic branch 1b and on the contrary, when the same yoke 9 is slid backwards, that is to say to the right of FIG. 5, the same pallet 5 is gradually brought back against the external face of the upper branch 1b simultaneously causing, as has been said, the jaws 3 and 4 close which puts the nail clipper in the rest position

and security.

  Naturally, the position and the angle determined by the fold 14 between the portions 11 and 13 of the branch lb are totally dependent on the one hand on the first fold 12 determining the opening at rest of the jaws 4 of the nail clipper and d 'other part of the relative position of the hinge pin 6 of the pallet 5 so that the support means arranged at its end can provide the toggle effect as will be said later in the working position and the setting in safety of the nail clipper by closing the jaws 4 when it is at rest. For this and in accordance with FIGS. 3 to 5, the support means at the articulated end of the pallet 5 consist of a shoe 15 crossed by the articulation axis 6 of the pallet 5 and provided, in front of said axis 6 a projection 16 curved towards the movable jaw 4 to bring the pallet 5 into lifting position when the nail clipper is in the cutting position as shown in FIG. 3; in

  in addition, the shoe 15 present at the rear of the axis 6, that is

  that is to say to the right of the figures, a heel 17 coming, when the nail clipper is in the cutting position, constantly cooperating with the fold 14 to obtain compression of the elastic branch lb towards the fixed branch when the 'is pressed on the pallet 5 as shown in the final position in Figure 4. We understand incidentally the combined action of the projection 16 and the heel 16 on either side of the axis 6 at the end of pallet 5; in fact, the fold 14 resting on the heel 17 in principle tends to raise the pallet 5 around the axis 6 which is in front of the fold (that is to say to the left), but this force is fully compensated by the stop effect provided by the projection 16 bearing on the end of the portion 13 supporting the jaw 4. Under these conditions, the pallet 5 is locked without play in the position of FIG. 3 pending pressing down to bring jaws 3 and 4 closer together and make a nail cut, as it will be

explained further.

  According to another essential characteristic of the invention, the height of the projection 16 of the shoe 15 and its angle of curvature relative to the pallet 5 from which it comes, are chosen by a person skilled in the art so that said projection 16 presses permanently on the curved portion 13 of the upper elastic branch 1b so that, when the movable yoke 9 is progressively and horizontally slid backwards, along the external face of the lower branch fixes it, that is to the right of the figures, said projection 16, then describing said portion 13 tilting from bottom to top and from front to back as shown in Figures 3 to 5, causes the mobile jaw 4 to close progressively against the fixed jaw 3 while constraining the pallet 5 to be folded against the external face of the upper branch 1b by an automatic rocking effect around its articulation 6,

as shown in figure 5.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the horizontal translational movement of the movable yoke 9 parallel to the external face situated below the - 8 - lower branch 1a is limited to the front, that is to say to the left of the Figures when the nail clipper is in the cutting position, coming into abutment against lateral extensions 18,19 appearing clearly on the top view in Figure 2, arranged on each side of the fixed jaw 3, wider than the horizontal central part 10 of the

clevis 9.

  Conversely, the backward translational movement of

  the movable yoke 9 is limited to the rear part of the cutter

  nail is naturally when the pallet 5 during its automatic rocking movement to come into contact with the external face of the upper branch lb has finished its movement, that is to say in accordance with Figure 5, when the projection 16 is close of the fold 14, the jaws 3 and 4 then being in contact preventing any further retraction of the movable yoke 9, either again by an axis or by a stop disposed inside the yoke 9 and which is integral with it, capable of come to bear on the commissure of the two branches 1a and 1b at the moment when they separate, or finally by a stop such as for example a puncture emerging towards the outside from the external face of the lower branch 1a or preferably by a notching transverse 20,21 of the same lower branch widening the sliding voice beyond the central part 10 of the yoke 9 so that as for the front stops 18,19 the side wings 7,8 come in positive abutment both at the front and at the rear, respectively in the cutting position (Figures 3 and 4) or

rest position (figure 5).

  According to another quite important characteristic of the invention, the lateral wings 7, 8 of the yoke 9 just surround the two branches 1a and 1b in the area where they diverge; thus, the space between the two lateral wings 7,8, the portions 11,13 of the upper branch 1b and the portion opposite the lower branch form it a receptacle making it possible to receive the cut nail when the operation is finished. The lateral wings 7,8 have a shape matching 9- substantially the portion il of the branch 1b when the yoke 9 is in the position before working. Thus, even during its retreat, the yoke 9 provides a receptacle

  closed enough to hold the cut nails.

  Of course, the rearward movement of the yoke 9, as shown in FIG. 5, when the nail clipper is put to rest, allows the front part of the two arms to be released, which offers a particularly advantageous opening so that easily empty the contents of the

  tank created by the side wings 7,8 of the yoke 9.

  Finally, according to a last particularly advantageous characteristic of the nail clipper according to the invention, the external faces of the lateral wings 7, 8 of the movable yoke 9 are striated in the vertical or slightly oblique direction to facilitate gripping between the thumb and the index finger. for example of the user at the time when it is desired to slide the yoke 9 forwards to use the nail clipper or backwards to return it to the rest position. Incidentally, these striations can be shaped to be advantageously used as a file

  nail. It goes without saying that like many other cutters

  nails, it may be interesting to streak one or the other of the faces of the pallet 5 to be used conventionally

like a nail file.

  It goes without saying that the free end of the pallet 5 can be conventionally machined to serve as a curette 22 and one can incidentally provide a hole 23 at the rear end of the nail clipper for fixing a ring, a

  key chain, or a chain for example.

  We will now explain with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 the operation of the nail clipper with reservoir according to the invention as just described by way of example. In accordance with FIG. 5, the nail clipper in the rest position is such that its movable yoke 9 is moved back as a rear stop on extensions 20, 21 of the fixed branch 1a and the pallet 5 is at this moment fully supported along the external surface of the branch lb so as not to present any part

- 10 -

  protruding; in this regard again and in this position, the jaws 3 and 4 are clamped against each other still avoiding

any possibility of injury.

  To use the nail clipper, it must first be brought into the configuration of FIG. 3, that is to say pushing the movable yoke forward, ie towards the left part of the figures. by dragging it between the thumb and forefinger placed on the ridges of the lateral faces 7, 8 of the yoke 9 so that the projection 16 describing the portion 13 of the upper branch lb authorizes the pallet 5 to be raised around its axis 6 during the translational movement of the yoke 9 towards the front, that is to say towards the jaws 3 and 4 which simultaneously will move apart until the fold 14 of the branch lb comes itself in contact against the heel 15 of the pallet 5; at this instant, the pallet 5 is in a stable position and without play while awaiting cutting, the jaws 3 and 4 being sufficiently spaced from one another for the passage of the nail to be cut as shown in FIG. 3. To cut the nail, it suffices to lower the pallet 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4 or of course leaving the movable yoke 9 in the same position as in FIG. 3, that is to say at the front stop on the extensions 18.19 provided on the lower branch la. The lever movement of the pallet 5 is elastic since it acts directly like a toggle on the elastic branch 1b which the spring effect returns to the position of FIG. 3, awaiting a

new haircut.

  We understand that after cutting, the nail is ejected into the bottom of the tank formed by the wings of the yoke and the divergent parts of the branches thus avoiding

untimely ejections.

  To return the nail clipper to its initial rest position, on the contrary, it suffices to pull the yoke 9 backwards, that is to say to the right of FIG. 5, with the effect already described of fold down the pallet and close the jaws and release the front part between

- 11 -

  the two jaws to create a sufficient outlet from the tank

  and thus empty it more easily. The cut nail can finally be filed by using the vertical walls of the wings 7, 8 of the yoke 9 or even on the ridges 5 possibly provided on the faces of the pallet 5.

- 12 -

Claims (7)

  1 - Nail clipper with reservoir comprising two rigid superposed branches (la, lb) of which the upper branch (lb) at least is made of elastic material such that they are joined together at one of their ends, the two branches (la, lb) naturally deviate from each other, their free end being each provided with a sharp jaw (3,4) facing each other to form a cutting pliers whose opening at rest is sufficient to insert the nail to be cut and the closure of which is obtained by compression of the upper elastic branch (lb), in the direction of the lower branch (la) by means of a pallet articulated to the lower branch (la) acting as a lever on the elastic branch upper characterized in that the pallet (5) is articulated to the lower branch (la) by means of a movable yoke (9) which surrounds the two branches so that its flat central part (10) come in sliding support on the outside face rene of the lower branch (la), its two lateral wings (7,8) supports the articulation axis (6) of the pallet (9) which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said branches and disposed parallel to the plane of the branches, said pallet (5) having at its end close to the articulation, means of support (15-17) on the upper jaw (3), said mobile jaw, of the elastic branch (lb), cooperating with a adequate folding (14) of a portion (13) of the same branch (lb) which reverses its curvature to bring the movable jaw (3) closer to the other jaw (4), called the fixed jaw, so that: - when the yoke (9) is slid forward, that is to say towards the jaws, putting the nail clipper in the cutting position, the pallet (5) is gradually raised relative to the elastic branch ( lb) to serve as a lever for compression of the movable jaw on the fixed jaw of the lower branch (la), or - when the yoke (9) is slid backwards, putting the cut nail in the rest position, the pallet (5) is gradually brought back against the external face of the - 13 -   upper branch (lb), simultaneously driving the closing the jaws (3,4).   2 - Nail clipper according to claim 1 characterized in that the support means at the articulated end of the pallet (5) consist of a shoe (15) crossed by the articulation axis (6) and provided, at the front of said axis (6), with a curved projection (16) towards the movable jaw (4) to put the pallet (5) in lifting position when the nail clipper is in the cutting position, this is ie open jaws, and at the rear of the axis (6), a heel (17) cooperating with the fold (14) of the elastic branch (lb) when the nail clipper is in operation to provide compression when the pallet (5) is pressed in the raised cutting position. 3 Nail clipper according to claim 2 characterized in that the height of the projection (16) of the shoe (15) and its angle of curvature relative to the pallet (5) from which it is derived are calculated so that said projection (16 ) presses permanently on the curved portion (13) of the upper elastic branch (lb) so that, when the yoke (9) is gradually slid backwards, said projection (16) describing said portion (13) tilting from bottom to top and front to back causes the movable jaw (4) to close progressively against the fixed jaw (3), while forcing the pallet (5) to fall back against the external face of the upper branch (lb) by an automatic rocking effect around its joint.   4 - Nail clipper according to any one of   claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the movement of   translation of the movable yoke (9) parallel to the external face of the lower branch (la) is limited at the front by coming into abutment against lateral extensions (18,19) of the fixed jaw (3), wider than the central part (10) of the yoke (9).   - Nail clipper according to any one of   claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the movement of   translation of the movable yoke (9) parallel to the face - 14 -   external of the lower branch (la) is limited at the rear either naturally when the pallet (5) is in contact with the elastic branch (lb), either by an axis or by a stop inside the clevis (9 ) and which is integral with it coming to bear on the commissure of the two branches (la, lb), either by a stop such as for example a puncture, emerging towards the outside from the external face of the lower branch (la), or finally by a transverse notching (20,21) of the same lower branch (la) widening the sliding track.   6 - Nail clipper according to any one of   previous claims characterized in that the wings   lateral (7,8) of the yoke (9) in cooperation with the branches (la, lb) are shaped to provide in all its positions an internal reservoir of cut nails whose entry is very close to the jaws (3,4 ) in the cutting position and moves away enough when closed to easily empty its content.   7 - Nail clipper according to any one of   previous claims characterized in that one   and / or the other side of the pallet (5) is ribbed to serve as a nail file.   8 - Nail clipper according to any one of   previous claims characterized in that the faces   external of the lateral wings (7,8) of the movable yoke (9) are striated to facilitate its drive in translation   and advantageously serve as a nail file.   9 - Nail clipper according to any one of   previous claims characterized in that   the free end of the pallet (5) is machined to serve curette (22).