WO2008028020A2

WO2008028020A2 - Double hinged nail cutter/clippers

Info

Publication number: WO2008028020A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/077199
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur Harris
Original assignee: Arthur Harris
Priority date: 2006-08-30
Filing date: 2007-08-30
Publication date: 2008-03-06
Also published as: WO2008028020A3

Abstract

Nail clippers having a double hinge mechanism to reduce the effort needed to cut nails. The nail clipper includes a gripping section and a cutting section. The gripping section includes a first handle, a second handle and a pivot connection for pivotally connecting the first handle and the second handle. The cutting section is connected to the gripping section and includes a first member having a first blade extending at least partially along an edge thereof and hingedly attached to the first handle of the gripping section. A second member has a second blade extending at least partially along an edge thereof and hingedly attached to the second handle of the gripping section. A blade hinge is positioned between the first and second members. The first and second members are each pivotally connected to the blade hinge.

Description

DOUBLE HINGED NAIL CUTTER/CLIPPERS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to nail cutters/clippers and, more specifically, to a double hinged finger and toe nail clipper/cutter.

Background of the Invention

Presently, elderly people have difficulty cutting their nails. Specifically, as one ages, the hardness of the nails increases making the nails more difficult to cut. This is especially the case with respect to a person's toenails. Elderly people often suffer from arthritis and diminished muscle strength and thus cannot easily, if at all, exert the amount of force necessary to close conventional nail clippers to cut their nails. Conventional nail clippers are small in size and require dexterity that many elderly people no longer possess. Additionally, similar problems present themselves with respect to obese people. People who are obese may have difficulty reaching their toenails with conventional nail clippers because doing so requires bending and contorting themselves to a position they find very uncomfortable and difficult to get into and maintain due to their size. Moreover, for elderly and obese people, their lack of dexterity and mobility may result in inadvertent injury to the skin around the nails being cut. Despite the physical drawbacks realized by elderly and obese people, there is still an important desire to maintain accepted levels of hygiene, which without additional aid, could not be accomplished by use of conventional nail clippers or scissors.

There are numerous devices currently available for cutting nails. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. A system according to invention principles addresses these deficiencies and associated problems. Summary of the Invention

A nail clipper has a handle section and a cutting section connected to the handle section. The cutting section includes a first top blade and a second lower blade. Each blade of the cutting section is connected via a respective hinge to the handle section. The handle section includes a first gripping member and a second gripping member connected to one another by a hinge. The handle section further includes a tension spring positioned between the first and second gripping members for maintaining a space between the first and second gripping members and in turn maintains a space between the first and second blades of the cutting section thereby allowing easy insertion of a nail between the first and second blades.

The first gripping member includes a first handle and an oversized, ringed thumbhole at a first end of the handle for receiving a thumb of a user's hand. The second gripping member includes a second handle and a curved guarded section positioned at a first end of the second handle. The curved guarded section is able to receive the remaining fingers of the user's hand providing better gripping of the handle. The second end of each of the first and second handles is opposite the first end and is attached to the cutting section.

An object according to invention principles is to provide a double hinged nail clipper able to create leverage by allowing a small amount of force exerted over a large area to be transferred to exert a larger force over a smaller area thereby increasing an amount of work performed by the initial application of force for cutting a user's nail.

Another object is to provide a double hinged nail clipper wherein each gripping member has a length able to reduce the amount of bending required by the user to reach their toenails thereby allowing for more comfortably cutting the toenails.

Yet another object is to provide a double hinged nail clipper able to prevent inadvertent cutting of the skin proximate the nail. The present invention provides a nail clipper having a double hinge. The double hinge maximizes the leverage of and cutting force applied by the clipper. The length of the standard handles can be 4 to 6 inches. However, this length is described for purposes of example only, and the length of the standard handles may be another length as determined by the amount of force needed to be applied by the clippers and the flexibility of the user. The double hinge is combined with handles that are longer than standard handles on conventional nail clippers to maximize the leverage and cutting force provided by the nail clipper. When a closing force is applied to the handle section, the cutting section is caused to move the blades a small distance with great force. The length of the handles may be determined by the physical shape and ability of the user. Longer handles make it easier for a user to reach the toe nails with minimal bending. When longer handles are used, they may be set at a 45 degree angle from the blades to further aid the user.

A top blade is pivotally connected to an end of the top handle opposite the thumbhole. A bottom blade is pivotally connected to an end of the bottom handle on a side opposite a curved guard on the bottom handle. The width of the bottom blade is larger than the width of the top blade forming a guard on the bottom blade. The guard is placed against the digit and below the nail of the digit being cut. The guard acts as a shield to prevent the accidental cutting of flesh near the toenail by aligning the top blade with the nail at a distance from the digit of the user. The top and bottom blades are further hingedly attached together to form the second hinge in the double hinge configuration.

A spring is attached between the top and bottom handles. The spring maintains a space between the top and bottom handles which in turn maintains a space between the top and bottom blades thereby allowing for easy insertion of the nail between the top and bottom blades. The blades may be separated by a maximum space of 3/16 of an inch. However, this separation distance is for purposes of example only, and other distances may be used as determined by the thickness of the nail or object being cut by the clippers. The blades are separated by a maximum distance to only allow the nail to fit between the top and bottom blade, thereby further minimizing the possibility of cutting of any flesh around the nails. The top and bottom blade may be made from hardened steel and provide 64 HRc edge hardness.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the double hinged nail clippers according to invention principles;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the double hinged nail clippers according to invention principles;

FIGURE 3 is a flow diagram of the double hinged nail clippers according to invention principles; and

FIGURE 4 is an illustrative view of the double hinged nail clippers according to invention principles.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The following discussion describes the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to that particular embodiment. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

Turning now to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, Figures 1 through 4 illustrate a double hinged nail clipper which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the double hinged nail clippers 10. The clippers include a cutting section 12 and a handle section 28 connected to the cutting section 12. The handle section 28 extends angularly from the cutting section 12. The handle section includes a first gripping member 30 and a second gripping member 34. The gripping members 30, 34 are pivotally connected to one another about a pivot 26. A compression spring 38 is positioned between the first and second gripping members 30, 34 to maintain a predetermined distance between the gripping members 30 and 34 when at rest. The compression spring 38 is positioned adjacent the connection pivot 26. The first gripping member 30 includes a curvilinear section 32 at a first end thereof for receiving a thumb of a user. The second gripping member 34 includes a guard section 36 at a first end thereof for receiving the fingers of a user. Each of the first gripping member 30 and the second gripping member 34 include a connection tab 23 and 25 respectively extending from a second end of the gripping section on a side of the connection pivot opposite the curvilinear section and guard section respectively.

The cutting section 12 includes a first blade 14 connected to the connection tab 23 of the first gripping member 30 via a first connection hinge 22. A second blade 16 is connected to the connection tab 25 of the second gripping member 34 via a second connection hinge 24. The first blade 14 and second blade 16 are connected together via a blade hinge 18. When in a first at rest position, the compression spring 38 provides a sufficient amount of force to the first and second gripping members which in turn causes maintains a predetermined space between the first and second blades 14 and 16 connected thereto. This advantageously enables a user to place the nail to be cut between the blades without having to take an additional step to separate the cutting blades 14 and 16. As can be seen from Figure 1, the handle section 28 extends at an angle to the cutting section 12. This allows a user to position their nails between the blades of the cutting section without having to bend far enough so that the users arm is effectively able to reach their toes.

When in use, the user will first apply a force to each of the first and second gripping members in a direction away from th opposing gripping member. This will cause the gripping members to separate. Once separated, the user grips and applies a force to the gripping members causing the gripping members to move towards each other. The force at which the first gripping member 30 and the second gripping member 24 are pushed towards each other overcomes the force of the compression spring 38, causing the compression spring to be compressed. The pivoting of the towards each other causes the connection tabs 23 and 25 to pivot away from each other. The connection tabs 23 and 25 apply a force to the first and second blades 14 and 16, respectively, causing the first and second blades 14 and 16 to pivot towards one another about the blade hinge 18 thereby closing the blades on an object (i.e. a toe nail) positioned therebetween. The closing of the blades occurs with a force greater than the force applied to the gripping members and large enough to cut an object positioned therebetween.

The double hinge, as opposed to a single hinge, greatly increases the force applied to the object being cut with less effort required by the user applying the force. The gripping members 30 and 34 of the handle section 28 have a length greater than the length of conventionally available nail clippers. Moreover, the angled connection between the cutting section 12 and the handle section 28 increase the ease with which a person may place an object, for example a toe nail, between the cutting blades 14 and 16. The user's arm need not extend all the way to their toes but can remain a distance from the toes. The distance being dependent on the angle at which the handle section extends with respect to the cutting section and the length of the handle section. The increased size of the gripping members 30 and 34 in combination with the angled connection between the handle section 28 and the cutting section 12 advantageously enable people having limited bending ability and reduced finger dexterity to cut their nails. Additionally, the lengthened handles and angled connection provide additional leverage for the user to increase the force the user is able to apply during nail clipping activity.

Additionally, a guard 40 is positioned against a side and parallel to a cutting surface of the second blade 16 to prevent inadvertent cutting or nipping of skin proximate to the user's nail. The guard is an extended flattened surface that creates a distance between the blades 14, 16 and the skin of the user when the clippers are place in a cutting position.

Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the double hinged nail clippers 10 having the gripping members extending in the same plane as the blades. The clippers include two hingedly attached handles connected to two hingedly attached blades. The clippers 10 shown herein include substantially the same components connected in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to Figure 1. Figure 2 provides clippers that have the cutting section 12 and the handle section 28 connected in substantially the same plane. The clippers 10 shown herein provide the same advantages as discussed above with respect to Figure 1. Specifically, the double hinge, as opposed to a single hinge, provides a force to the cutting section and thus to the nail to be cut having a magnitude much greater than the force applied by the user to the handle section. Clippers 10 may be used to cut nails of animals who typically have nails that are thicker and more dense than humans. For example, veterinarians and other zoological workers may use clippers 10 to cut the nails on animals. The position of the cutting section and handle section in a straight plane enable the workers to more easily maneuver and place the nails of the animals between the blades 14 and 16. The compression spring 38 maintains the space between the blades 14 and 16 further reducing the burden on the user to take any action other than placing the nail between the blades and cutting.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram describing use of the double hinged nail clippers. The diagram describes the steps a user takes to use the double hinged nail clippers 10 to cut their nails. The user first places their thumb in the thumbhole of the first handle and grasps the second handle with the remaining fingers placing the remaining fingers within the curved guarded section in step SlOO. The clippers are positioned so that the nail to be cut is situated in the space between the two blades as shown in step S 102. In step S 104, the user manipulates the first and second handle so they spread apart causing the two blades of the cutting section to also separate further. As the spring maintains a space between the first and second blades when not in use, alternatively, a user need not manipulate the handles to further seprate the blades in order to cut the nail positioned between the blades. However, further separation of the handles and thus the blades allows the user to apply a greater force to the handles and thus increase the cutting force applied by the blades. The user, in step S 106, applies a force to the handles and squeezes the first and second handles together. The pivoting of the handles causes the connection tabs 23 and 25 to pivot away from each other thereby applying a force to the two blades at their respective connection hinges. The force applied to the two blades cause the blades to pivot about the hinge thereby causing the blades to come together with a force great enough to cut the nail as shown in step S 108. When the handles are squeezed together the spring positioned therebetween is compressed which allows the blades to pivot as discussed above. The blades pivot about their respective connections to the blade hinge and apply a force having an increased magnitude to the force applied to the gripping members thereby reducing the force typically required by a user to cut the same object. When the user removes the force from the handle section thereby releasing the handle section, the compression spring is caused to recoil and thereby pivot the handles away from one another. This moves the connection tabs towards each other. The connection tabs apply a force to their respective blades causing the blades to pivot away from each other about the blade hinge. This will open a space between the blades and allow for safe and easy removal of the clippers from their position against the nail which was cut.

Figure 4 is an illustrative view of a user 400 cutting their toe nails using the double hinged nail clippers. The user 400 is overweight and unable to bend enough at their midsection in order to reach their toe nails with a standard set of nail clippers. The user 400 may use clippers 10 to reduce the amount of bending typically required to cut their toe nails. The extended length of the gripping members of the handle section 28 (Figure 1) provide the user with an extended reach in order to place the toe nails between the cutting blades of clippers 10. The angle of the handle section with respect to the cutting section also minimizes the amount of bending needed by the user to reach their toe nails. Additionally, the user employs the double hinged nail clipper with the longer handles to make it easier to reach the toe nail. It is thus easier to apply the necessary force to cause the cutting blades to pivot toward each other and cut the toe nail positioned therebetween. The double hinge allows a great deal more force to be applied to the nail to be cut with relatively less effort.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of devices differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

IN THE CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A nail clipper comprising: a gripping section including: a first handle; a second handle; and a pivot connection for pivotally connecting said first handle and said second handle; and a cutting section connected to said gripping section, said cutting section comprising a first member having a first blade extending at least partially along an edge thereof and hingedly attached to said first handle of said gripping section, and a second member having a second blade extending at least partially along an edge thereof and hingedly attached to said second handle of said gripping section; and a blade hinge positioned between said first and second members, said first and second members each being pivotally connected to said hinge, wherein pivoting of said first and second handles about said pivot hinge cause said first and second members to pivot about their respective connection to said blade hinge.

2. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1 , wherein said edge of said second member having said second blade has a surface area greater than a surface area of said edge of said first member for preventing insertion of an object between said blades beyond a predetermined point.

3. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first handle includes a curved section positioned opposite from a connection point with said cutting section for receiving a thumb of a user therein.

4. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1, wherein said second handle includes a curved section positioned opposite from a connection point with said cutting section for receiving digits of a user therein.

5. The nail clipper as recited in claim 3, wherein said second handle includes a curved section positioned opposite from a connection point with said cutting section for receiving digits of a user therein.

6. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned between said first and second handles for maintaining a distance between said first blade and said second blade prior to a force being applied on said gripping section by a user.

7. The nail clipper as recited in claim 6, wherein said distance ranges between substantially three-sixteenths of an inch and substantially one-half an inch.

8. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first handle and said second handle has a length ranging between substantially four inches and substantially twelve inches.

9. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1, wherein said gripping section extends angularly at a point where said first handle is hingedly attached to said second handle providing easier use of said nail clipper.

10. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1, wherein the first handle has a gripping member and a tab extending on a side of the pivot connection opposite the griping member and at an angle from the gripping member and the second handle has a gripping member and a tab extending on a side of the pivot connection opposite the griping member and at an angle from the gripping member.

11. The nail clipper as recited in claim 10, wherein said first member is connected to said tab of said first handle and said second member is connected to said tab of said second handle.

12. The nail clipper as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guard pad positioned on said second member adjacent said second blade for limiting the depth at which an object can be inserted between said first and second blades.