GB2168920A

GB2168920A - Punch for finger or toe nails

Info

Publication number: GB2168920A
Application number: GB08528379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pachieratna Virasami
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-12
Filing date: 1985-11-18
Publication date: 1986-07-02
Also published as: GB8528379D0; GB8431402D0

Abstract

A device 10 for punching a hole in a fingernail comprises two arms 11, 13 which are moved together by a lever 12 to cause a cutting projection (27, Figure 3 not shown) on one jaw 17 to move towards a hole (28) in the opposite jaw 18. A jewellery stud (40, Figure 6 not shown) is attached to the fingernail by means of the hole so produced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Punch for nails The present invention relates to a punch for producing holes and more particularly to a punch for producing holes in fingernails.

The present invention seeks to provide an arrangement for and a method of attaching jewellery or other decoration to a person's nails.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a punch device comprising a member having two generally parallel arms resiliently hinged together at one end, the arms having facing jaws, one of the jaws having a cylindrical cutting piece and the other jaw having a hole of corresponding cross-sectional shape and size, the arrangement being such that movement of the arms towards each other against the resilience of the hinge causes the cutting piece to enter the hole.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a hole in a fingernail or toenail comprising inserting the nail between the jaws of a device as set out in the preceding paragraph and moving the arms towards each other so that the nail is pierced by the cutting piece.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a stud to a fingernail or toenail comprising producing a hole therein, inserting a stem portion of the stud into the hole, and securing the stem portion therein.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts comprising a punch device for producing a hole in a fingernail or toenail and a stud for insertion in the hole, said stud comprising a stone attached to an externallythreaded metal stem and a nut with a mating internal thread.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a punch in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the main piece of the punch of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an opened-out view of the piece of Figure 2; Figures 4a and 4b are respectively bottom and side views of a lever of the punch; Figures 5a, and 5b are enlarged views of a cutting piece of the punch, the views being taken in mutually perpendicular directions, and Figure 5c is an end view of the cutting piece; and Figure 6 shows a stud for insertion in a hole produced by the punch.

Referring now to the drawings, a punch 10 comprises a main piece 11 and a lever 12 removably attached thereto. Main piece 11 is constructed from an initially flat piece of sheet metal (Figure 3). It comprises two arm portions 13, 14 connected by a hinge portion 15, which in use is bent so that portions 13, 14 are substantially parallel to each other (Figure 1) and the piece 11 is substantially Ushaped.

Arm 14 has a shaped end portion 18 and hooked portions 20, 21 extending from the sides of the arm adjacent the end. Arm 13 has a similarly shaped end portion 17. For use in the punch, portions 17, 18, 20 and 21 of the piece of Figure 3 are bent substantially at right-angles to the arm portions, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

End portion 18 is formed with a through circular hole 28 of approximately lmm diameter, and end portion 17 has a circular cutting piece 27 of the same or slightly less diameter. Piece 27 is attached to portion 17 by welding etc.

Enlarged views of the cutting piece 27 is shown in Figures 5a-c. The piece 27 has a circumferential cutting edge which, viewed from the side has two facing concave portions 29, separated by 90 from two facing convex portions 30.

Lever 12 is also made from a single piece of metal and comprises a V-shaped end portion 32 having pivot pins 33 extending from the sides thereof. In use, lever 12 is mounted on the main piece 11 as shown in Figure 1 with the pins 33, 35 engaging under respective ones of the hook portions 20, 21. Pressing on the other end 34 of the lever overcomes the resilience of hinge 15 to move end portions 17 and 18 together.

In use of the punch it is moved up to the finger of the user and the tip of a fingernail is inserted between the jaws formed by end portions 17, 18.

The portion of the fingernail which it is desired to pierce is located between cutting piece 27 and hole 28, and the punch is operated to produce a smooth clean cut through hole of lmm in diameter.

A stud, such as that shown in Figure 6, is then attached to the hole as follows. Stud 40 comprises a precious or semi-precious stone 41, such as a diamond, attached to an externally-threaded metal stem 42 having a diameter of approximately 1 mum or slightly less. Stem 42 is passed through the hole in the fingernail and a nut 43, having an internallythreaded hole 44, is screwed on to the external thread to securely retain the stud 40 in place.

A clutch pencil (not shown) is preferably used to attach the nut 43. The clutch pencil comprises a hollow stem having radially movable gripping jaws at one end and an axially slidable and outwardlybiased plunger inside its other end. Axially inward movement of the plunger causes the jaws to move radially outwardly so that they can embrace the exterior of nut 43. Release of the plunger permits the jaws to firmly grip the nut so that the latter can be attached to stem 42. The clutch pencil is then removed by depressing again the plunger. The stud is removed by reversing the above procedure.

An advantage of the above-described arrangement is that it provides a way of decorating fingernails with decorative studs in an easy and safe manner. The punch is easily manufactured and comprises a minimum number of components.

The arrangement may be conveniently sold as a kit of parts, viz a punch 10, a clutch pencil and one or more studs 40.

Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment. For example the cutting piece 27 may be arranged in the bottom jaw of the punch and the hole in the top jaw.

The cross-sectional shape of the cutting piece 27 and the hole 28 may be other than circular, e.g.

square. In this case stem 42 has a first portion of similar cross-section next to the stone 41 and a second threaded portion; the axial extent of the first portion corresponds approximately to the thickness of a fingernail.

The punch may be of plastics material, with the exception of cutting piece 27.

Alternative methods of attaching decorative studs to the hole in the fingernail may be employed. For example a stud may be tied in position by a string etc being passed through the hole and knotted, on the stem of a stud may be secured in the hole by adhesive.

Of course studs may be attached to toenails in an identical manner.

Claims

1. A punch device comprising a member having two generally parallel arms resiliently-hinged together at one end, the free ends of the arms having facing jaws, one of the jaws having a cylindrical cutting piece and the other jaw having a hole of corresponding cross-sectional shape and size, the arrangement being such that movement of the arms towards each other against the resilience of the hinge causes the cutting piece to enter the hole.

2. A device according to Claim 1 and further comprising a lever for effecting the movement of the arms towards each other, the lever being removably attached to the member.

3. A devce according to Claim 2, wherein one arm of the member has two hook-shaped projections- at facing side regions thereof, and the lever has two side projections which each engage with a respective one of the hook-shaped projections to attach the lever to the member.

4. A device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the cutting piece is of circular cross-section and has a cutting edge which, in side view, has alternating corner and concave portions.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the diameter of the cutting piece is approximately imam.

6. A punch device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of producing a hole in a fingernail or toenail comprising insertingthe nail between the jaws of a device according to any preceding claim and moving the arms towards each other so that the nail is pierced by the cutting piece.

8. A method of producing a hole in a fingernail or toenail substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of attaching a stud to a fingernail or toenail comprising producing a hole therein, inserting a stem portion of the stud into the hole, and securing the stem portion therein.

10. A method of attaching a stud to a fingernail or toenail substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A kit of parts comprising a punch deyicefor producing a hole in a fingernail or toenail and a stud for insertion in the hole, said stud comprising a stone attached to an externally-threaded metal stem and a nut with a mating internal thread.

12.- A kit of parts according to Claim 11, and further comprising a clutch pencil having jaws which are radially movable between a first position in which the size of the recess formed between them is larger than the external dimension of the nut and a second position in which the size of the recess is equal to or smaller than the external dimension of the nut

13. A kit of parts substantially as herein described.