GB2226249A

GB2226249A - Device for correcting nail deformities

Info

Publication number: GB2226249A
Application number: GB8926491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Angel Borge Breton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-24
Filing date: 1989-11-23
Publication date: 1990-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-23
Also published as: GB2226249B; FR2639219A3; FR2639219B3; ES1008288U; IT219136Z2; GB8926491D0; IT8953494V0; ES1008288Y; IT8953494U1

Abstract

A device for correcting toe and fingernail deformities comprises a T-shaped part 5 which is adjustably attached to support 1 and has curved arms 11 in which corrective element 4 is removably mounted. Each part of the corrective element is bent inwards to form a groove (13, Fig 3) so that the two parts may be fixed over the side edges of the nail. The device can be adapted relatively easily to different sizes of finger or toe. Fig 6 shows a similar device in which elements 4 and 5 are combined into a simple pair. <IMAGE>

Description

A DEVICE FOR CORRECTING UNGULAR MALFORMATIONS This invention relates to a device for correcting ungular malformations, that is for correcting malformations of human nails, both of the hands and the feet.

The most frequent malformations of human nails, above all of toe nails, are due to deforming growth of the nails which, in addition, causes pain when the nails impinge on and bite into the flesh of the member (finger/toe) and may even cause infections. Up to now, it has been necessary, in order to avoid this problem, to carry out periodic cutting operations to prevent the nail penetrating the flesh of the member. However, these operations do not eliminate the tendency of the nail to suffer deforming growth, or, in any event, it takes time to achieve this, and in addition the cutting operation can prove to be relatively painful.

Spanish Utility Model No. 8802591 describes an ungular protection device designed to be able to carry out the correction of malformation of nails. This device comprises a support fixable to the finger/toe of the nail to be corrected, a corrective element for the nail and an intermediate connecting unit between the support and the corrective element. These three components form one single item, whereby their adaptation to varying sizes of finger or toe can give rise to problems, reducing or losing the effectiveness of the corrective function of the device. For the same reason placing the correcting element in the exact required spot on the nail may be difficult.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for correcting ungular malformations, comprising a support fixable to a member having a nail to be corrected, a corrective element arrangement for the nail, and an intermediate connecting unit between the support and the corrective element arrangement; the intermediate unit being substantially rigid or semirigid and of T-form configuration, of small thickness, with its central stem flat and of a longer length than its arms, the intermediate unit being connected at its free end to said support so as to be able to slide along the support and pivot about an axis transverse to the direction of sliding, the arms of the intermediate unit being arched longitudinally, each following the same curvature, so as to be transversely adaptable to the surface of the nail to be corrected, and forming by their concave surfaces and as from their free extremes longitudinal guides in which the corrective element arrangement is coupled; the corrective element arrangement consisting of two separate substantially rigid or semi-rigid laminar parts, arched in a curvature substantially the same as that of the arms of the intermediate unit, which can slide in respective ones of said guides between positions of maximum and minimum extension; said laminar parts terminating remote from the guides, each in an internal transverse groove attachable to the sides of the nail to be corrected at the points the growth of which it is desired to correct.This device can be adapted relatively easily to differing sizes of members (fingers/toes) and it is possible to apply the corrective element arrangement to a precise or desired spot, the components that are respectively the support fixable to the member bearing the nail to be corrected, the corrective element arrangement for the nail and the intermediate connecting unit between the support and the corrective element arrangement constituting independent parts. The construction is such that the intermediate unit can be moved away from or brought nearer to the corrective element arrangement and it is possible to vary the angle formed by these components.

The support fixable to the member bearing the nail to be corrected preferably consists of an arched, substantially rigid, laminar band and a flexible strip affixed longitudinally to this laminar band and of a longer length than the band for fixing round the member having the nail to be corrected, the laminar band having, as from one of its arched longitudinal edges, an axial extension to which the central stem of the intermediate unit is connected.

The slide preferably comprises a flat clamp mounted on the axial extension of the band of said support, along which it can be moved, this axial extension having lateral end enlargements which serve as arresters to prevent the escape of the clamp; the central stem of the intermediate unit being backed onto one of the walls of the clamp, to which it is fixed so as to be able to rotate relative to said support.

Preferably the axial extension of the band of said support has a longitudinal groove, which does not reach as far as the free transverse edge of said extension, through which groove a pivot or rivet passes which transverses the central stem of the intermediate unit, this pivot or rivet having end retention heads.

Also preferably each of the parts which together form the corrective element arrangement is composed of a metal strip, curved longitudinally and of a width approximately equal to that defined by the guides of the intermediate part, the lengths of which have in one of their transverse edges an inward fold, approximately at a 1800, which defines the groove of the parts of the corrective element arrangement.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for the correction of ungular malformations, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1, taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, but of an alternative form of device, and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another form of device.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the device for correcting ungular malformations consists of a support 1 that is for fixing to the member 2 (finger or toe) of the nail 3 which is desired to correct; a corrective element arrangement 4 for the nail; and an intermediate unit 5 that serves as a connection between the support 1 and the corrective element arrangement 4.

The support 1 is made up of a flexible strip, for example of a textile nature, of a length greater than the circumference of the member 2 and provided at its ends, on the opposing surfaces of overlapping end portions, with means of fixing or mutual adherence, the contours of the support adapting to the size of the member. The strip 1 has fixed, so as to extend from one of the edges of the strip in the axial direction of the device as a whole, a rigid projection 6, for example in the form of a rigid strip, terminating at its free extreme in enlargements 7. The projection 6 may be affixed to the strip 1 by means of adhesive, riveted, etc.

The intermediate unit 5, of a rigid or semi-rigid nature, is in a levelled-off configuration and has a Tform configuration. The stem 8 of this intermediate unit carries affixed to its free end a clamp 10 which has a contour approximately equal to the section of the projection 6, on which it is mounted. Connecting of the clamp 10 to the stem 8 of the unit 5 is effected by means of a rivet 9 which permits relative rotation between the two components to obtain a precise orientation of the intermediate unit 5 in relation to the support 1. The clamp 10 can slide along the projection 6 as far as the end enlargements 7.

The arms 11 of the intermediate unit 5 are arched, following the same curvature, as can be best seen in Figure 3, the curvature of these arms being designed to adapt over the external surface of the nail to be corrected. The arms 11 have their free ends formed as guides in which the corrector element arrangement 4 is mounted. To this end, the arms 11 can be of tubular configuration, open at their free ends, as shown in Figure 3.

The corrective element arrangement 4 is made up of two independent parts 12 preferably formed by two steel-plated metal strips, with longitudinal curvature equal to that of the arms 11 and of a width equal to the internal guides defined by these arms 11. In addition, each of the metal strips 12 has along its extreme edge a transverse bend turned inwards, at approximately 1800, defining an internal transverse groove 13. These grooves 13 are connectable over the sides of the nail to be corrected, at the points the malformation of which it desired to correct. Owing to the make-up of the arms 11 of the intermediate unit, the parts 12 can be inserted either more or less, to attain perfect adapting of the transverse channels 13 to the sides of the nail.

The guides formed by the arms 11 of the intermediate unit can be provided with a different configuration to that so far described.

In the case of Figure 4 the flexible strip of the support 1 has fixed to it, for example on its internal surface, a metal band 14 from which the projection or axial extension 6 protrudes. In this extension there is a longitudinal groove 15 which extends to nearly the free end of the extension 6. Fixing of the intermediate unit is effected, as in the case of Figure 1, by means of a pin or rivet 10 which is passed through a hole made in the end of the central stem in the intermediate unit 5 and is riveted in place.

With this construction the intermediate unit 5 can be shifted, moving farther away from or nearer to support 1 over a range determined by the length of the groove 15, the intermediate unit 5 being able, in addition, to pivot round the axis defined by the pivot or rivet 10. The remainder of the device shown in Figures 4 and 5 is as the device of Figures 1 to 3, the same references being used to indicate the same components or elements.

The form of device shown in Figure 6 has various components as described formed as one single part. In this form the corrective/connecting element arrangement 4 forms one only part with the intermediate unit 5 which is contoured in the style of a tile attachable over the nail and the member (finger/toe), to which are affixed adhesive strips 16 which constitute the support 1 or means of attachment to the member (finger/toe).

This arrangement is more simple to make and of a lower cost.

Claims

1. A device for correcting ungular malformations, comprising a support fixable to a member having a nail to be corrected, a corrective element arrangement for the nail, and an intermediate connecting unit between the support and the corrective element arrangement; the intermediate unit being substantially rigid or semirigid and of T-form configuration, of small thickness, with its central stem flat and of a longer length than its arms, the intermediate unit being connected at its free end to said support so as to be able to slide along the support and pivot about an axis transverse to the direction of sliding, the arms of the intermediate unit being arched longitudinally, each following the same curvature, so as to be transversely adaptable to the surface of the nail to be corrected, and forming by their concave surfaces and as from their free extremes longitudinal guides in which the corrective element arrangement is coupled; the corrective element arrangement consisting of two separate substantially rigid or semi-rigid laminar parts, arched in a curvature substantially the same as that of the arms of the intermediate unit, which can slide in respective ones of said guides between positions of maximum and minimum extension; said laminar parts terminating remote from the guides, each in an internal transverse groove attachable to the sides of the nail to be corrected at the points the growth of which it is desired to correct.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support consists of an arched and substantially rigid, laminar band and a flexible strip affixed longitudinally to this laminar band and of a longer length than the band for fixing round the member having the nail to be corrected, the laminar band having, as from one of its arched longitudinal edges, an axial extension to which the central stem of the intermediate unit is connected.

3. A device as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the slide comprises a flat clamp mounted on the axial extension of the band of said support, along which it can be moved, this axial extension having lateral end enlargements which serve as arresters to prevent the escape of the clamp; the central stem of the intermediate unit being backed onto one of the walls of the clamp, to which it is fixed so as to be able to rotate relative to said support.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, where the axially extension of the band of said support has a longitudinal groove, which does not reach as far as the free transverse edge of said extension, through which groove a pivot or rivet passes which transverses the central stem of the intermediate unit, this pivot or rivet having end retention heads.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, where the arched stems of the intermediate parts are of tubular flattened configuration, open at their extreme transverse sections to define the guides in which are coupled the laminar parts which form the corrective element arrangement.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the parts which together form the corrective element arrangement is composed of a metal strip, curved longitudinally and of a width approximately equal to that defined by the guides of the intermediate part, the lengthsof which have in one of their transverse edgesLinward fold, approximately at a 1800, which defines the groove of the parts of the corrective element arrangement.

7. A device for the correction of ungular malformations, comprising a support fixable to a member having a nail to be corrected, a corrective element arrangement for the nail, and an intermediate connecting unit between the support and the corrective element arrangement, wherein the intermediate unit is of tile formation, adaptable on to the nail to be corrected and its member, from the longitudinal edges of which project small tongues folded transversely towards the inside in their external part so as to define together the corrective element arrangement, the intermediate unit having fixed externally one or more adhesive strips which constitute said support.

8. A device for correcting ungular malformations, substantially as herebefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.