WO2007111580A1

WO2007111580A1 - Nail clippers with finger illuminator

Info

Publication number: WO2007111580A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/010755
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tor Lund; Laurie Lund
Original assignee: Tor Lund; Laurie Lund
Priority date: 2006-03-24
Filing date: 2006-03-24
Publication date: 2007-10-04

Abstract

A nail clipping assembly 10 holds a pair of conventional nail clippers 11 in a holder 27 and includes a light source 26. The holder 27 supports the light source 26 in a position close enough to a subject's finger tip 31 to illuminate the interior of the finger tip 31 when the nail is being clipped. The light source 26 illuminates the interior of the finger tip thereby clearly defining the intersection between a finger nail ledge and a portion of the nail laying against the finger 53, allowing accurate clipping of a child's or infant's nails without cutting into the finger tip.

Description

NAIL CLIPPERS WITH FINGER ILLUMINATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for clipping finger nails and in particular to finger nail clippers including a light under the clipper blades and method for illuminating the interior of a child's finger to avoid cutting the tip of the finger when clipping the finger nail.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A problem exists especially with the cutting of an infant's or toddler's finger nails. Tiny nails are difficult to see and an infant or toddler tends to pull away and move in such a way that it is very difficult to accomplish a nail clipping operation. It has been recommended that an infant's or toddler's nails be clipped while the infant or toddler is sleeping. The main difficulties in this approach are that it is typically dim or dark when the infant is sleeping and turning on a light may wake the child. [0003] Even in a brightly illuminated area, the intersection between the portion of the nail which extends beyond the subject's finger (the nail ledge) and the portion of the nail which lays against the subject's finger (the main nail portion) is sometimes difficult to see. Several attempts have been made to illuminate the top surface of a finger nail and the blades of a nail clipper. One such device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,220,251 which discloses a light provided by an LED 34, which light is positioned above the finger nail to illuminate the cutting area. The device of the '251 patent also includes a magnifying glass. The light and the magnifying glass assist in the viewing of the nail clipping area whether it be for a pet or a human. Another device is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,553,592, where a pair of LEDs is held outwardly from the end of the nail clipper to illuminate the blades and fingernail. [0004] By placing the light at a distance from the finger tip, the result is the illumination of the exterior surface of the clipper blades, the finger tip, and the nail. Further, the lighting of the prior art, for example in US Patent No. 6,553,592, results in shadows, reflections, and glare which further complicate clipping the finger nail. Such lighting does not emphasize the line between the nail ledge and the main nail portion), and thus does not aid in cutting the nail ledge from the main nail portion.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is for a nail clipping assembly including a pair of nail clippers and a light source. The light source resides in the nail clipping assembly near the upper and lower blades of the nail clippers. In use, the light source resides in the nail clipping assembly so that when a finger is positioned for nail clipping, the light source will illuminate the interior of the finger under the nail so that the intersection between the nail ledge and the finger is clearly visible. Preferably, the pair of nail clippers is held in a holder which has a recess for supporting the nail clippers and which also holds batteries and a light bulb or LED. Preferably, the holder has a finger nail guide residing just above the lower blade of the nail clippers. In this way, a subject's finger nail can be raised upwardly until it contacts the finger nail guides and then moved forwardly into the space between nail guide and the lower cutting blade of the nail clippers. The present invention also includes the ergonomic handle for holding the nail clippers so that the nail clippers can be supported by the user's palm and fingers instead of just between the fingers, as is done for conventional nail clippers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the top, front and left side of the nail clipping assembly of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 is a left side view thereof partially cut away.

[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a user cutting a subject's fingernail.

[0010] Figure 4 is a front view thereof. [0011] Figure 5 is a side view of a finger and finger nail together with a light bulb of the nail clipping assembly of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5A is a side view of a subject's finger and a light source.

[0013] Figure 5B is a side view of a subject's finger and a light source.

[0014] Figure 6 is a top view of Figure 5.

[0015] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the nail clipping assembly of Figure 1.

[0016] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0018] A nail clipping assembly 10 is shown in perspective view in Figure 1. Assembly 10 holds conventional nail clippers 11 in a recess 12. Recess 12 has side edges 13 and 14 and a back edge 15. Conventional nail clippers generally include a hole 18 near the joined ends of the nail clipper, a tab 16 extends upwardly from the bottom or floor 17 of recess 12 and passes through the hole 18 in nail clippers 11 to retain the nail clippers 11 in the nail clipping assembly 10.

[0019] The nail clippers 11 are preferably conventional nail clippers. Such clippers have an upper arm 19 and a lower arm 20. The arms are joined at joined ends 21 typically by a rivet not shown. As is well known, these arms are joined in a way so that an upper blade 22 and a lower blade 23 are biased apart at the blade end 24 of the nail clippers 11. An operating lever 25 moves the upper arm downwardly so that upper blade 22 and lower blade 23 contact one another, thereby cutting a finger nail which has been inserted between them.

[0020] The handle 27 is useful as part of the assembly of the present invention for several reasons. First of all, it makes it much easier to hold nail clippers 11. This is especially useful when trying to cut an infant's finger nails where positioning of the nail clipper is critical. Handle 27 includes a forward portion 30a, a transition portion 41 , and a hand graspable portion 30, which portions 30a, 41 , and 30 are preferably rounded. The forward portion 30a extends forward approximately to the blades 24, is smaller in cross-section than the hand graspable portion 30, and houses a light source 26, such as a light bulb or LED, and a battery 28, as well as associated wiring and a switch 29. The switch 29 is preferably an ON/OFF switch, such ON/OFF switch is turned on by pressing a first time and remains on until pressed a second time. The hand graspable portion 30 is large enough to support a user's fingers on one side and palm on the other side. This frees the user's thumb for operation of operating lever 25 in a very comfortable manner. The transition portion 41 transitions between the forward portion 30a and the hand graspable portion 30 as shown in Figure 2, and cooperates with the forward portion 30a to provide a resting place for a user's index finger proximal to and just behind the blades 24 as shown in Figure 3. The portion 41 is preferably a smooth upwardly and forwardly sloping transition between portions 30 and 30a to provide a comfortable resting place for the user's index finger. The handle 27 is preferably injection molded and has provisions for opening for replacement of the battery and/or bulb/LED.

[0021] The light source 26 is preferably approximately centered under the blades 22, 23 and is preferably within approximately 1/8 inch of the forward most edges of the blades 22, 23.

[0022] Figure 3 shows a user holding the handle 27 with the user's right hand 52 and holding a subject's finger 53 with the user's left hand 54. The subject's finger nail is positioned with the aid of guides 37 and 38.

[0023] Most everyone is familiar with the effect of placing a flashlight under the palm of one's hand at night and turning it on. This causes one's hand to glow orange. An important feature of the present invention is the presence of the light source 26. Light source 26 performs a very different function from the light sources shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,553,592 and 6,220,251. That is, the light source 26 of the present invention is placed close enough to the finger tip 31 to illuminate the inner portion of the finger tip 31 and the portion of the finger nail which lays against the finger (the main nail portion) 33 so that the finger tip 31 and the main nail portion 33, glow with an orange glow causing the nail ledge 34 (see Figures 5 and 6) to be visually distinguishable from the main nail portion 33.

[0024] This same effect may be accomplished by light source 26 if it is placed near or touching the tip 31 of finger 53. By the term "near" it is intended to mean a small fraction of an inch such as 1/8 of an inch or less. The main nail portion is indicated by reference character 33 in Figure 5 and the portion of the finger nail which extends beyond the subject's finger (the nail ledge) is indicated by reference character 34 in Figure 6. When the light source 26 is placed close to the finger tip 31 , the finger tip 31 and the main nail portion 33 glow orange, and the nail ledge 34 appears darker, thereby allowing the intersection 35 to be easily distinguishable. Effectively, light from the light source 26 enters the finger tip and is diffused therein. A portion of the diffused light illuminates the main nail portion 33 which is in contact with the finger tip, thus causing the main nail portion to glow orange. The nail ledge 34 is not illuminated by the diffused light as the main nail portion is, thereby providing as an unexpected result a clear distinction between the main nail portion 33 and the nail ledge 34. As a result of this clear distinction between the main nail portion 33 and the nail ledge 34, the finger nails may be easily and precisely clipped in normal light, dim light, or even in darkness. Thus, the light source 26 allows a care giver to guide the nail clippers to an appropriate position with respect to the finger nail, and once in position, illuminates the inner portion of the finger tip to facilitate the positioning of the finger nail between upper blade 22 and lower blade 23. [0025] When used to cut the finger nails of an infant or toddler, the illumination provided by the light source of the present invention near the finger tip, allows the care giver to cut the infant's or toddler's finger nails in normal light, dim light, or even in darkness while the infant or toddler is sleeping without the necessity of turning on a room light or providing any other source of external light. While the above discussion has used the word "finger," it is to be understood that the device can equally be used on toenails.

[0026] Another important feature of the present invention is the presence of finger nail guides 37 and 38. These guides have under surfaces 39 and 40, as shown in Figure 4, which are aligned slightly above the upper edge of lower blade 23. In this way, as shown best in Figure 3, a subject's finger nail can be brought upwardly until it contacts the under surfaces 39 and 40 and then moved inwardly toward the cutting edges until the finger nail is in a desired position. The proximity of the under surfaces 39 and 40 to the upper edge of lower blade 23 prevents the small tip of a child's finger from entering the gap between the blades 22, 23 and being cut by the blades 22, 23 when the child's nail is clipped. Preferably, the finger nail guides 37 and 38 are separated so that at least a portion of the nail ledge 34 of the finger nail is visible. Preferably the finger nail guides 37 and 38 are separated by approximately 1/8 inch. Alternatively the finger nail guides 37 and 38 may be a single clear guide or a single thin guide allowing a view of the nail ledge 34 while positioning the nail with respect to the blades.

[0027] The orientation of the light source 26 is suitable as long as it causes the finger tip 31 and the main nail portion 33 to glow orange. The light source 26 may be aligned outwardly from the finger tip 31 shown in Figure 5 or positioned at an angle as shown in Figure 5A. The light source 26 may also be placed under the finger as shown in Figure 5B. It is easy to determine in subdued light whether light placement causes the finger tip 31 and main nail portion 33 to glow orange or simply lights the external part of the finger. It is generally preferable that the light be below the level of the finger nail.

[0028] An alternate embodiment of the nail clipping assembly is shown in Figure 7 and indicated by reference character 42. This embodiment has a handle 43 including a wafer battery 44 enclosure 45 and a switch 46. A bulb or LED 47 is covered with a lens 48. The nail clippers 49 include a finger rest 50 on operating lever 51. Bulb 47 is aimed toward a finger tip at a 45 degree angle.

[0029] While the device has been shown and described with the presence of a light, the hand graspable handle itself is useful even if the light is not turned on or not used. The ease with which the nail clippers can be positioned is greatly enhanced by handle 27.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0037] The present invention finds industrial applicability in the field of clipping finger nails and in particular to finger mail clippers including a light under the clipper blades and method for illuminating the interior of a child's finger to avoid cutting the tip of the finger when clipping the finger nail. SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The present embodiments of this invention are thus to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A nail clipping assembly including a pair of nail clippers for clipping a finger or toe nail, said nail clippers having an upper arm and a lower arm, each arm having a blade end and a joined end and said upper and lower arms being joined at their joined ends and said upper arm having an upper blade at its blade end and said lower arm having a lower blade at its blade end, said upper and lower blades being aligned to meet to form a cutting line and an operating lever held to said pair of nail clippers so that the depression of said operating lever causes said upper blade to move downwardly and meet said lower blade to create a cutting action wherein the improvement comprises: a holder having a hand graspable portion, a top portion including a nail clipper holding area, a bottom, a back and a cutting end, said holder supporting a light source at its cutting end and said holder having a pair of fingernail guides extending forwardly with respect to said cutting line and positioned so that a bottom edge of each fingernail guide is horizontally aligned between a lowermost portion of said upper blade and an uppermost portion of the lower blade when said nail clippers are oriented horizontally whereby a subject's fingernail is guided into a space between said upper and lower blades.

2. The nail clipping assembly of claim 1 wherein said fingernail guides are horizontally spaced to expose a majority of the subject's fingernail at a line where the fingernail extends outwardly from the subject's finger when the finger is in a cutting position with the finger located in the space between said upper and lower blades.

3. (Previously presented) The nail clipping assembly of claim 1 wherein said nail clipper holding area is a recess which extends upwardly from a floor to cover sides of said nail clipper.

4. An ergonomic handle for supporting a nail clipper having an upper arm and a lower arm, each arm having a blade end and a joined end and said upper and lower arms being joined at their joined ends and said upper arm having an upper blade at its blade end and said lower arm having a lower blade at its blade end, said upper and lower blades being aligned to meet to form a cutting line and an operating lever held to said pair of nail clippers so that a depression of said operating lever causes said upper blade to move downwardly and meet said lower blade to create a cutting action, said handle comprising: a hand graspable handle of sufficient girth and length to permit a user's hand to surround the graspable handle so that the user's palm is on a first side of the handle and a users's fingers grasp the opposite side and the user's thumb extends over a top edge of the hand graspable handle; a nail clipper recess formed in said top edge and said nail clipper recess being shaped to surround sides of a pair of nail clippers, and having a bottom upon which a pair of nail clippers can rest and a back end portion to prevent the rearward movement of the pair of nail clippers with respect to said handle and the nail clipper recess having an open front end to permit a user to insert a fingernail in a clipping portion of said pair of nail clippers whereby a pair of nail clippers can be easily supported by a user's hand during a nail clipping operation; and wherein said hand graspable handle has a pair of opposed fingernail guides extending inwardly at said open front end and positioned so that when a pair of nail clippers is inserted in said nail clipper recess the opposed fingernail guides extend beyond a front edge of said pair of nail clippers and a bottom edge of each of said opposed fingernail guides is horizontally aligned between a lowermost portion of said upper blade and an uppermost portion of said lower blade of said pair of nail clippers.

5. The ergonomic handle of claim 4 wherein said nail clipper recess has an upwardly extending tab for passing through a hole in a rear end of said pair of nail clippers.

6. The ergonomic handle of claim 4 wherein said hand graspable handle curves upwardly toward its front end.

7. A method for cutting a child's fingernails using finger nail clippers, the method comprising: turning on a light residing in a forward portion of a handle and under the clippers, the handle supporting said finger nail clippers; holding a hand graspable portion of the handle between a care giver's fingers and palm; resting an index finger proximal to, below, and behind blades of the finger nail clippers, on a rest provided by cooperation of the forward portion and a transition portion, the forward portion having a smaller cross-section than the hand graspable portion and the transition portion residing between the forward portion and the hand graspable portion; positioning the light close to a finger tip; illuminating an interior of the finger tip under the finger nail to visually distinguish a nail ledge from a main nail portion; positioning blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the nail ledge from the finger nail; and depressing a operating lever to clip the finger nail.

8. A method for clipping a child's fingernails, the method comprising: turning on a light residing in a forward portion of a handle, the handle supporting finger nail clippers and the light residing under the finger nail clippers; holding the handle in a care giver's hand; positioning the handle to position the light close to a finger tip of a child's finger having a finger tip interior; illuminating the finger tip interior under the finger nail using the light; positioning blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the finger nail; and depressing an operating lever to clip the finger nail.

9. The method of Claim 8, wherein turning on a light residing in a forward portion of a handle comprises turning on a light residing in the forward portion of the handle beneath fingernail clipper blades.

10. The method of Claim 8, wherein holding the handle in a care giver's hand comprises holding a hand graspable portion of the handle between the care giver's fingers and palm.

11. The method of Claim 10, further including resting an index finger proximal to and behind fingernail clipper blades of the finger nail clippers.

12. The method of Claim 11 , wherein resting an index finger proximal to and behind blades of the finger nail clippers comprises resting the index finger proximal to and behind blades of the finger nail clippers on a rest provided by cooperation of the forward portion and a transition portion, the forward portion having a smaller cross-section than the hand graspable portion and the transition portion residing between the forward portion and the hand graspable portion.

13. The method of Claim 8, wherein positioning the handle to position the light close to the finger tip the child's finger comprises positioning the handle to position the light within 1/8 inch of finger tip.

14. The method of Claim 8, wherein positioning the handle to position the light close to the finger tip of the child's finger comprises positioning the handle close enough to the finger tip to illuminate the interior of the finger tip.

15. The method of Claim 14, wherein positioning the handle to position the light close to the finger tip comprises positioning the handle close enough to the end of the finger tip to illuminate the interior of the finger tip and to cause a nail ledge to be visually distinguishable from a main nail portion.

16. The method of Claim 8, wherein positioning the handle to position the light close to the finger tip comprises positioning the handle to cause the light to touch the finger tip.

17. The method of Claim 8, wherein positioning blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the finger nail comprises using at least one guide to assist in position the blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the finger nail.

18. The method of Claim 17, wherein positioning blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the finger nail comprises using at least one guide to position the blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the finger nail, wherein a portion of a finger nail ledge is observable through the at least one guide.

19. The method of Claim 8, wherein positioning blades of the fingernail clippers to clip the finger nail comprises: observing the illuminated finger interior to distinguish a nail ledge; and positioning the blades to based on the observation of the nail ledge.