GB2322076A

GB2322076A - Nail clipper with collecting chamber

Info

Publication number: GB2322076A
Application number: GB9715215A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vipinchandra Jadavji Jethwa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-12
Filing date: 1997-07-18
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-18
Also published as: GB9702838D0; GB2322076B; GB9713434D0; GB9715215D0

Abstract

A nail clipper with jaws 5 operated by a folding pivoted lever 3 is provided with a collecting chamber for the clippings. Side cover plates 6a,6b enclose the space behind the jaws and can be opened either side for emptying by pivoting them in their own plane as shown. The plates pivot on a transverse block (7,Fig 2) in the chamber and are pulled towards each other by a spring (11,Fig 2). Lever 3 has a downwardly curved distal end to provide a firm thumb support.

Description

LITTER-FRIENDLY NAIL CLIPPER This invention relates to an improved nail clipper with a chamber for collecting the pieces of nails clipped off.

Nail clippers are well known tools one form of which is formed by welding or riveting two steel strips together at one end and which open out and turn inwards at the other end to form sharpened jaws which come together in abutting contact for clipping finger and toe nails, this arrangement forming the body of the clipper. The jaws are operated by a folding lever arrangement, the lever being pivoted at its front end adjacent to the jaws and above the upper strip of the body of the clipper. It is to this type of nail clipper that the present invention relates.

The main drawback with this conventional nail clipper is that the pieces of nails clipped off (hereafter referred to as nail-litter) fly off somewhere into the surrounding space, forming litter, and have to be found later for proper disposal. In most environments this is an undesirable attribute of this type of nail clipper.

Another drawback with the above nail clipper is that the folding lever for operating the jaws is usually a straight steel strip, sometimes with a slightly curved space at its free or distal end for positioning the thumb, but the overall straight shape of the lever results in the thumb slipping down the lever when it is being depressed, thus making its operation awkward.

Attempts have been made to overcome the problem of collecting the nail-litter; for example patent numbers WO9618321, GB08S1566A, USSS7O5O9A, USSO725llA, US4819673A, US4648415A, US4219929, and references contained therein, which purport to solve the problem by various means, but the present invention accomplishes the task of collecting the nail-litter in a simple and efficient manner with a simple innovation in a commonly used device. Furthermore, it attempts to overcome the problem of the awkward operation of the said lever.

According to the present invention a closed chamber is provided behind the cutting jaws of the clipper to collect the pieces of nails clipped ow, thereby preventing naillitter. The steel strips forming the body of the nail clipper, together with two vertical side plates, one on either side of the clipper and extending from the jaws of the clipper to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, and further a transverse flexible strip within the space between steel body strips and located adjacent the distal ends of the side plates which ends are remote from the jaws of the clipper, constitute the said chamber. A transverse block attached to and above or below the lower steel body strip provides the means for pivotably mounting the side wall plates adjacent their distal ends.

The said plates click into a horizontal (lengthwise) position along the sides of the body of the clipper for normal nail-cutting operation to collect nail litter, and can be rotated into a vertical position to open the chamber, allowing the user to empty the chamber at convenience into a suitable receptacle for proper disposal of the nail-litter.

The operating lever is designed such that the free or distal end is curved smoothly downwards when in the operating position, thereby providing a resting surface for the thumb on the ridge of the curve, which thus prevents the thumb from slipping down the lever when the same is being depressed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, a first embodiment of the nail clipper with one plate in closed and open positions.

Figure 2 shows the side elevation of the first embodiment of the nail clipper with detail behind one plate.

Figure 3 shows in perspective, the detail of the transverse block and the flexible strip.

Figure 4 shows in section through X-X, the detail of the transverse block and the flexible strip with detail of the locating and securing means for the plates.

Figure 5 shows detail of the one plate and the shaped pin with protrusions incorporated on the plate for securing the same to the transverse block.

Figure 6 shows in perspective the shaped pin on the one plate with protrusions and a perforation through the upper shaped portion of the pin.

Figure 7 shows in perspective a second embodiment of the transverse block depicted in fig. 3 but with a substantially square hole.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the one plate depicted in fig.5 but with a substantially square shaped pin with a perforation through its distal end.

Figure 9 shows in perspective a second embodiment of the nail clipper, with the cutting jaws disposed approximately sideways along the length of the body of the clipper.

Figure 10 shows the bottom view of the second embodiment of the nail clipper.

Figure 11 shows in perspective a third embodiment of the nail clipper with one plate in closed and open positions.

Figure 12 shows in side elevation the third embodiment of the nail clipper with detail behind one plate.

Figure 13 shows in perpective detail of the one plate incorporating the shaped pin with protrusions on either side for the third embodiment of the nail clipper.

Referring to the drawing, fig. 1 shows in perspective a first embodiment of the body of the nail clipper formed by shaped steel strips 1 and 2 wherein the said strips are approximately parallel for approximately one third of the length of the body of the clipper. A folding lever 3 mounted by rotatable pivot means 4 is pressed downwards to clip a nail inserted between the jaws 5. Side plates 6a and 6b are of dimension to completely enclose the sides of the said body from the outside, beginning from the jaws 5 upto approximately one third of the length of the said body. The plates are rotatably secured by means described later.

Fig.2 in side elevation and fig.3 in perspective show the one lateral end of the transverse block 7 which is welded or otherwise attached or incorporated onto the upper surface of steel body strip 2, and which end is provided with grooves 10 at right angles to each other, the arrangement being repeated at the opposite end of the block.

A through hole 9 is also provided along the length of the block between the meeting points of the said grooves, wherein a biasing spring 11 can be housed.

To accommodate the downward movement of the body stripl when lever 3 is depressed, a space is left between the upper surface of the transverse block 7 and the steel strip 1. A flexible foam rubber or plastics or similar flexible material strip 8 is attached onto the upper surface of the block 7 and into this space, thereby sealing the said space, the said strip 8 becoming reversibly compressed during the nail-cutting action. This arrangement forms the rear wall of the chamber further to providing the securing means for the said plates as described hereunder.

Plate 6a incorporates a shaped pin 12 with protrusions 12a on either side as shown in fig.5 A, B, and C, and also in fig.6 in perspective, which pin locates movably into the hole 9 running through the block 7, releasably locking the plate 6a into horizontal (closed) or vertical (open) position as shown in fig. 1, by means of the protrusions 1 2a on pin 12 locking into the grooves 10 on block 7. The plate 6a is biased against the lateral end of the transverse block 7 by the spring 11 housed in the hole 9 in the said block and hooked through a perforation 12b in the upper shaped portion of the pin 12.

The opposite end of the spring holds the other plate 6b by a similar arrangement, the spring thus biasing both plates securely against the sides of the said body of the clipper under lateral tension to form a closed chamber behind the cutting jaws. This arrangement allows the plate 6a or 6b to dislocate and relocate in a new position at right angles from its original position when a reasonable force is applied to the plate in its direction of rotation.

A second embodiment of the means for securing plates 6a and 6b to the transverse block 7 is depicted in fig.7 and fig.8 A, B, and C, wherein plate 6a incorporates a shaped pin 14 with a substantially square base where it adjoins the plate 6a, and which tapers in a pyramid shape towards a distal end which end bears a small perforation near its proximity, the said pin being able to locate correspondingly into a square hole 13 in the transverse block 7, the said hole being of dimension to accommodate the said pin in a secure fit, and biased against the lateral end of the block by an extendable spring 11 housed in the hole 13 and hooked through the perforation 14a in the pin 14. The opposite end of the spring holds the other plate 6b by a similar arrangement, both plates being thus biased under lateral tension against the sides of the body as before to form a closed chamber behind the cutting jaws. The edges of the pin 14 are somewhat rounded, and the corners of the hole 13 are rounded correspondingly. This arrangement allows the pin 14 to dislocate from the hole 13 owing to its tapered shape and rounded edges and relocate in a right-angled position from its original position when a reasonable force is applied to the plate 6a or 6b in its direction of rotation, producing the desired result of opening or closing the sides of the litter-collecting chamber.

Referring now to fig. 9 and fig. 10, a second embodiment of the nail clipper is depicted wherein the steel body strips 15 and 16 are attached firmly by rivet 17 and welding, and terminating at the other end in inwardly inclined cutting jaws 18, which jaws are brought into contact for nail cutting operation by depressing lever 21 pivotably mounted above body strip 16 by a pin 20 adjacent the jaws 18. The said jaws are disposed sideways at a small angle to the body strips 15 and 16 thus being approximately parallel with the body of the nail clipper, which arrangement permits the use of the clipper by advantageously disposing the clipper at a convenient angle to the nail being clipped, and which further permits the use of the clipper by either hand with equal convenience.

The said second embodiment of the nail clipper also incorporates two vertical plates, one on either side of the clipper along the length of the body of the clipper starting from the cutting jaws and extending to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, which plates consist of the straight planar plate 19a along the inside of the body of the clipper which side is proximate to the user, and the partially curved plate 19b, which plate is shaped to follow the contour of the outside edges of the body strips 15 and 16 which edges are remote from the user of the clipper. The said plates are pivotably attached by means consisting of shaped pins on the plates at their distal ends by means substantially as described in the preceding section for the first embodiment of the nail clipper, thereby forming side walls of a closed chamber for collecting nail litter.

Referring now to fig. 11 and fig. 12, a third embodiment of the nail clipper is shown in perspective and in side elevation respectively. This third embodiment of the nail clipper is of the conventional type in which two steel strips 22 and 23 form the body of the nail clipper, operated by depressing a folding lever member 24 mounted by rotatable pivot means 26, which forces the jaws 27 to converge. This type of nail clipper forms a narrow wedge shape, thereby leaving only a small space between the said steel strips. In this case the transverse block 29 is attached to the underside of the lower steel strip 23 approximately one third of the length of the body of the nail clipper from the jaws 27 of the clipper, the said transverse block having a through hole 30 and grooves 31 at each lateral end. The side plates 28a and 28b are shaped to conform to the profile of the nail clipper between the jaws 27 and the transverse block 29 so as to include the lateral end of the transverse block. The said side plates further incorporate shaped pins 33 with protrusions 33a which locate correspondingly into hole 30 and grooves 31, the pins 33 having perforations in their upper portions through which an extendable spring housed in the hole 30 can be hooked. The plates 28a and 28b are thus biased firmly by pivotable means against the sides of the nail clipper as described previously for the first embodiment of the nail clipper. A strip of flexible and compressible foam rubber or similar material of suitable dimentions to seal the recess immediately above the transverse block 29 and between the steel strips 22 and 23 is attached in the said recess, the said flexible strip becoming reversibly compressed during the nail-clipping action. A closed chamber to collect litter from clipped nails is thus formed in the region behind the cutting jaws as before.

In order to close the nail-litter collecting chamber, the side plates are clicked into horizontal position. In order to empty the chamber, either of the side plates is moved manually into the vertical position in its own plane, and the clippings emptied by gently tapping the nail clipper into a suitable receptacle.

In as much as the the invention disclosed herein above is described with reference to the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is therefore not intended to impose restrictions or limitations upon the invention to the examples quoted herein above. In particular it is contemplated that the means for pivotably mounting the vertical side plates may incorporate pins of shapes other than those disclosed with corresponding shapes of the hole in the transverse block, that a biasing arrangement other than an extending spring may be employed, and that the location of the transverse block and the shapes of the vertical side plates may be varied according to the size, shape and form of the nail clipper.

Claims

1. A folding lever mounted by pivotable means adjacent the cutting jaws in a nail clipper of the type made from two steel strips joined at one end and opening out and turning remarkably inwards at the other end to form sharpened cutting jaws which are disposed perpendicularly to the body of the clipper, wherein the said lever has a distal end which end is remote from the cutting jaws of the nail clipper such that when the said lever is in the raised or operating position, the said end of the lever curves downwards in an arc with a ridge on which the thumb of a hand may be placed for depressing the lever to provide the operator with a firm thumb support.

2. A first embodiment of two separate plane plates made from plastics or thin metal or other suitable material are provided, one on each side of a nail clipper, biased closely by a spring against the sides of the body of the nail clipper from the outside and extending from the jaws of the nail clipper to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, and which plates together with the shaped steel strips forming the body of the nail clipper being approximately parallel for approximately one third of the length of the clipper behind the jaws of the clipper, form a chamber adjacent the jaws of the nail clipper.

3 A second embodiment of the vertical side plates as claimed in Claim 2, biased by a spring against the sides of a second embodiment of the nail clipper, one on each side of a nail clipper of the type wherein the cutting jaws of the nail clipper are disposed approximately sideways along the body of the clipper, thus being approximately parallel with the steel strips forming the body of the nail clipper, wherein the said plates consist of a plane plate along the near side of the nail clipper which side is proximate to the user, extending from the jaws to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, and further a second plate which extends from the other end of the jaws, curves in an arcuate manner and continues for a short distance into a plane shape thereby following the contour of the outside of the nail clipper which side is remote from the user. The said plates are of dimensions to completely enclose the sides of the nail clipper extending from the jaws to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, and which plates thereby constitute the vertical side walls of a nail-litter collecting chamber adjacent the cutting jaws of the clipper.

4. Vertical side plates as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, which plates further have adjacent their rear ends which ends are remote from the jaws of the nail clipper, shaped pins with perforations in the upper shaped portions of the pins and protrusions on either side which can locate correspondingly into a hole and grooves on the lateral ends of a transverse block, the said plates being thus rotatable through ninety degrees or thereabouts in their own plane in either direction in co-operation with their means of mounting on the said transverse block attached to the upper or lower surface of the lower steel strip forming the body of the nail clipper.

5. A transverse block as claimed in Claim 4 is provided, the said block being welded or otherwise attached to or forming an integral part of a nail clipper on the upper or lower surface of the lower steel strip forming the body of the nail clipper, situated approximately one third of the length of the body of the clipper from the jaws of the clipper, wherein grooves are provided on the small lateral end faces of the said block, together with a hole through the length of the block through the centre of the meeting points of the said grooves, which arrangement forms the receiving means for the shaped pins with protrusions on the plates claimed in Claim 4, the said hole further being able to accommodate a suitable extending spring for attachment to the said pins on the said plates.

6. A second embodiment of the vertical side plates as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, which plates have adjacent their rear ends which ends are remote from the cutting jaws of the clipper, shaped pins having a substantially square shape at the base where the pins adjoin the plates, the pins tapering inwards and away from the base in a pyramid shape, the edges thereof being suitably rounded and having perforations in the upper shaped portions, and which pins can locate correspondingly into a substantially square hole on the lateral ends of a transverse block, such that the plates may be rotated in their own plane by virtue of the square tapering pins dislocating from their original position and relocating in a new position when a reasonable force is applied to the plates in their direction of rotation, enabling them to stay in either the vertical or the horizontal position as desired.

7. A second embodiment of the transverse block as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a substantially square hole is provided through the length of the block between its lateral ends, being of dimension to accommodate the said pins on the said plates claimed in Claim 6 in a close fit, the corners of the hole being suitably rounded in correspondence with the rounded edges of the pins on the said plates and which hole thereby forms the receiving means for the square tapered pins on plates claimed in Claim 6, the said hole being further able to accommodate an extending spring for attachment to the said pins on the said plates.

8. An extending spring accommodated in the hole in the transverse block as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 7 is provided, which spring has a hook at either end for attachment through perforations on shaped pins on plates forming the sides of the chamber as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 6, for biasing the said plates closely against the sides of the body of a nail clipper.

10. A transversely mounted strip of flexible and compressible foam rubber or plastics or similar material is provided, the strip being incorporated in a nail clipper in the immediate vicinity of the transverse block as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 7 so as to form the rear flexible wall of a closed chamber for collecting nail-litter.

11. A a nail-litter collecting chamber in a nail clipper substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 13 of the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A nail-litter collecting chamber in a conventional nail clipper of the type made from two resilient steel strips joined at one end and opening divergently and tuming remarkably inwards at the other end to terminate in muttially opposed sharpened cutting jaws and operated by depressing a pivoted folding lever arrangement, wherein two vertical and independently rotatable side plates one on each side of the nail clipper adjacent the cutting javvs of the clipper together with the horizontal steel body strips of the clipper form the outside walls of the chamber and flexible material between the steel strips of the clipper forms whole or part of the rear wail of the chamber, and wherein the said vertical plates are pivoted at their distal ends which ends are remote from the jaws of the clipper by means which enable the said plates to releasably lock into position along the length of the nail clipper or approximately perperdicular to it and concurrently bias the said plates against sides of the clipper.

2. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a first embodiment of two separate plates made from plastics or thin metal or other suitable material are provided, one on each side of a nail clipper of the type wherein the cutting jaws are disposed perpendicularly to the steel body strips of the nail clipper, the said plates being biased to abut closely against the outside edges of the body of the nail clipper from the outside being of dimentions to enclose the sides of the nail clipper from the outside and extending from the jaws of the nail clipper to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, the said plates being releasably and rotatably secured to the clipper at their distal ends which ends are remote from the jaws of the clipper.

3 A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a second embodiment of the vertical side plates made from plastics or thin metal or other suitable material are provided in a second embodiment of the nail clipper, one on each side of a nail clipper of the type wherein the cutting jaws of the nail clipper are disposed approximately sideways along the body of the clipper, thus being approximately parallel with body of the nail clipper, wherein the said plates consist of a plate along the near side of the nail clipper which side is proximate to the user, and further a second plate which extends from the other end of the jaws, curves in an arcuate manner and continues for a short distance into a plane shape thereby following the contour of the outside of the nail clipper which side is remote from the user, the said plates being of dimensions to enclose the sides of the nail clipper from the outside and extending from the jaws of the clipper to approximately one third of the length of the clipper, the said plates being releasabt and rotatably secured to the clipper at their distal ends which ends are remote from the jaws of the clipper.

4. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein securing means on said vertical side plates are provided at their distal ends which ends are remote from the jaws of the clipper such that the said plates are independently rotatable and releasably secured to the sides of the nail clipper adjacent the jaws of the clipper.

5. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 4, wherein receiving means is provided in the nail clipper for the securing means on the vertical side plates, wherein each plate is independently rotatable and releasabh secured to the nail clipper.

6. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 4, wherein means are provided for biasing the vertical side plates closely against the sides of the nail clipper.

7. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the securing means consists of shaped pins on each of the said vertical side plates, each of the said plate having adjacent its distal end which end is remote from the jaws of the nail clipper, a shaped pin disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the plate and haing two protrusions, one on either side at its base where it adjoins the plate, and having a perforation in its distal shaped portion, and which pin can freely locate into a corresponding hole and grooves arrangement on one of the lateral end faces of a transverse block, enabling each of the said plates to rotate independentty through ninety degrees or thereabouts in its own plane in either direction.

8. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the receiving means consists of a transverse block attached to or forming an integral part of the nail clipper on the upper or lower surface of the lower steel body strip of the nail clipper, situated at approximately one third of the length of the body of the clipper from the jaws of the clipper, wherein grooves are provided at right angles on the small lateral end faces of the said block in horizontal and vertical directions, together with a hole through the length of the block through the centre of the meeting points of the said grooves, wherein the shaped pins as claimed in Claim 7 can be received, the said hole further being able to accommodate an extending spring for attachment to the said pins on the said plates.

9. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed Claim 7, wherein shaped pins with protrusions provided on said plates locate respectively and movably into the corresponding hole and grooves of the transverse block as claimed in Claim 8, such that the application of a reasonable force to either plate in its own plane results in the protrusions dislocating from the said grooves, rotating about the pin and hole pivoting arrangement, and relocating in a new position ninety degrees or thereabouts from their original position.

10. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the biasing means consists of an extending spring under tension accommodated in the hole in the said transverse block, which spring has a hook at each end, the hooks being attached through perforations on shaped pins on plates as claimed in Claim 7, thus biasing the said plates closely against the sides of the body of the nail clipper.

11. A nail litter collecting chamber as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a strip of flexible and compressible rubber or plastics or similar material is provided in the nail clipper to form the whole or part as appropriate, of the rear wall of the chamber, the said strip being attached transversely to fill the intervening space in the nail clipper immediately above the transverse block claimed in Claim 8, and becoming reversibly compressed during the downward movement of the upper steel body strip during the nail clipping operation.

12. A nail-litter collecting chamber in a nail clipper substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying draNings.