Animal nail clipper

Abstract

A clipper for clipping nails of an animal such as a dog, or cat, allows for the clipping of an individual nail at the desired length while preventing injury to the animal. The device includes a clipping means and a sensing means which allows the nail to be localized in a desired position relative to the clipping plane of the clipper and the internal structure of the nail. The sensing means includes a signal generation means, a signal reception means, and a quick indicator. The animal mail is positioned near the clipping means and the sensing means produces a sensible signal confirming the position of the clipping plane upon the nail, particularly the quick of the nail. The user then may adjust the position of the clipping means such that the clipping plane avoids the quick. The user then actuates the clipping means and trims the nail.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a nail upon the paw of a pet, such as a dog or cat;

FIG. 2 shows the exposed nail being gauged for cutting;

FIG. 3 shows the nail, over a period of time, clipped to retract the blood supply;

FIG. 4 indicates how the nail gets shorter through repeat cuttings and the blood flow recedes;

FIG. 5 indicates how the trimming of the nail with repeated short cuttings can prevent bleeding;

FIG. 6 shows a properly trimmed pet nail;

FIG. 7 shows the nail in the process of clipping by a trimmer, incorporating a sensor means, for the combination to disclose the internal blood supply in the nail, and the location where a trim can be made;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows an opposite side view in cross-section of a fragmentary portion of the present invention prior to movement of the cutting blade;

FIG. 11 shows the same view as FIG. 10 with the blade positioned in the cutting position;

FIG. 12 shows the circuit diagram for the circuit used to detect the presence of a sensitive area of the nail;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the circuitry for the sensor means;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the sensor means circuitry when sampling and FIG. 14a is a further block diagram of the sensor means circuitry;

FIG. 15 is another block diagram of the timing for sampling for the sensor circuitry; and,

FIG. 16 is another block diagram of the sampling where the LEDs are activated to communicate position near the quick to the user.

Claims

1. A device for safely cutting a nail of an animal to a desired length, while reducing the possibility of injury to said animal by cutting into a quick of said nail, comprising: at least one cutting blade;a means for mounting said cutting blade, said mounting means having an accommodation for a sensing means;mechanical actuating means for reciprocally moving said cutting blade from a first position to a second position; and,said sensing means capable of detecting the internal structure of said nail and providing a quick indicator before actuation of said cutting blade.

2. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 1 further comprising: a fixed blade having an aperture for receiving the nail of an animal, said fixed blade being placed upon said cutting blade;said mounting means having a hollow handle, said handle accommodating said cutting blade, said fixed blade and said actuating means;said actuating means linking to said cutting blade, and having a moveable handle pivotally connecting with said hollow handle thus allowing a user to close said moveable handle upon said hollow handle thus advancing said cutting blade upon said fixed blade to cut a nail of an animal placed within said aperture.

3. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 1 wherein said sensing means is one of a conductor, a capacitor, an ultrasonic transducer, a thermocouple, a piezo-electric sensor, a heat detector, and an infra-red detector.

4. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 3 further comprising: said capacitor having a single plate;an electrical supply providing power to said plate and locating within said hollow handle; and,said capacitor being in communication with said quick indicator.

5. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 3 further comprising: said infra red detector having sufficient strength to visualize through the nail of an animal;an electrical supply providing power to said plate and locating within said hollow handle; and,said detector being in communication with said quick indicator.

6. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 3 further comprising: said quick indicator having a discrete visual display for warning a user of said device to the presence of the quick of said nail of an animal.

7. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 6 wherein said visual display is at least one light emitting diode.

8. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 3 further comprising: said quick indicator having a visual display for warning a user of said device to the presence of the quick of the nail of an animal.

9. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 1 further comprising: said sensing means having a microprocessor for calculating the location of said cutting blade in relation to said quick and for activating said quick indicator for revealing the location of said cutting blade upon the nail to the user of said cutter.

10. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 9 wherein: said microprocessor initializes, determines a baseline of said sensing means in relation to said nail, obtains a sample from said sensing means, compares said sample to said baseline, and upon certain results of said comparing activates said quick indicator.

11. A method for safely cutting a nail of an animal to a desired length, while reducing the possibility of injury to said animal from cutting into a quick of said nail, said method utilizing a device with at least one cutting blade mounting within at least one handle for mechanically actuated reciprocal movement of said blade from a first position to a second position, and an electrically powered sensor detecting the internal structure of said nail using a computer, comprising: 1) initializing said computer and said sensor upon application of power thereto;2) establishing a baseline of said sensor;3) collecting a sample from said sensor when located proximate said nail;4) comparing said sample with said baseline for analysis; and,5) providing a quick indicator to the user of said cutter, based upon said analysis, before actuation of said cutting blade.

12. The safe animal nail cutter of claim 11 further comprising: said initializing including: activating said quick indicator, andchecking said sample for voltage.

13. The method of safe animal nail cutting of claim 11 further comprising: said comparing including: analyzing whether said sample exceeds said baseline and upon exceeding said baseline, activating said quick indicator.

14. The method of safe animal nail cutting of claim 13 further comprising: said comparing including a timer, said timer controlling iterations of said collecting said samples and said comparing of said samples to said baseline, said timer having a certain number of iterations, said timer reducing said iterations with each reading from said sensor, said timer ceasing when said iterations go to zero, and said timer providing a result to said computer for activating said quick indicator.

15. The method of safe animal nail cutting of claim 13 further comprising: said providing a quick indicator including an affirmative output when said analysis is below said baseline, a warning output when said analysis equals said baseline and when said analysis is slightly above said baseline, and a stopping output when said analysis exceeds said baseline.

16. The method of safe animal nail cutting of claim 15 wherein: said affirmative output is a green LED, said warning output is a yellow LED, and said stopping output is a red LED.

17. The method of safe animal nail cutting of claim 13 wherein: said providing a quick indicator includes an audible signal.

18. The method of safe animal nail cutting of claim 13 wherein: said providing a quick indicator includes a vibratory signal.