Patent Application
20250025976
Not Applicable
This disclosure relates to a mechanism and method for sharpening nipper devices that are used for manicures and pedicures. The device and method provides for securing a nipper device to the device with the placement of a silicon carbide faced sharpening strip on top of the nipper cutting edge wherein the sharpening strip is coupled to the device and is driven reciprocally across the cutting edge of the nipper by motorized movement of a portion of the device.
Nipper devices are widely used for manicures and pedicures and are used by individuals, salons and commercial spas. Nipper devices typically include a pair of opposed handles and a pair of opposed blades, and are configured such that by squeezing the handles, the blades are moved to remove excess cuticles or to cut a fingernail or toenail. Nipper devices are shown and discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,582,752 issued on Mar. 10, 2020 to Ho, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Nipper device cutting edges may become dull over time and require re-sharpening. It is important to keep nail nippers in good working condition which includes keeping the cutting edges sharp. Dullness or bluntness of nipper blades may result in jagged or uneven cuticle or nail cuts. Also, when the blades become dull, more force may be required to cut the nail and may lead to an inadvertent loss of control of the nipper device by the user and may cause injury to the nail customer or to the user of the nipper device. Therefore, when the blades become dull, the blades may require sharpening, which may be time consuming and require substantial effort, and thus, undesirable to the operator of the nipper device (such as shipping out of the country to where nippers are typically manufactured and waiting for the serviced nippers to be shipped back, a cumbersome process that could take from one to two months). Also, existing sharpening techniques may show limited effectiveness in restoring sharpness. For example, sharpening may require a number of tools and may include a blade sharpening wheel, sanding bit, sandpaper and/or hand file, among others.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device and method for sharpening nipper devices which is effective, fast, convenient and easy to use. Having access to properly sharpened nippers yields smoother and easier cutting of nails and cuticles; saves time for operators and their clients; and helps reduce the risk of hand fatigue, back strain, and/or carpal tunnel syndrome for frequent users. Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to this need, as will be discussed in more detail below.
The background above includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed inventive subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The device and method of the present disclosure provides for nipper sharpening by providing a holding surface for receiving a nipper device; a clamp for securing the nipper device to the holding surface; a sharpening strip holder coupled to a motor, wherein upon activation of the motor, the sharpening strip holder moves from a first position to a second position; a sharpening strip having a roughened area, wherein placement of the sharpening strip in the sharpening strip holder positions the sharpening strip such that the roughened area of the sharpening strip contacts a nipper device and activation of the motor reciprocally moves the roughened area across the cutting edges of a nipper device to sharpen the nipper. A pivotably connected positioning magnet holds the sharpening strip in place through a magnetic attraction through the sharpening strip and to the metal nipper with enough magnetic force to keep the strip in place, but with light enough magnetic force to allow the sharpening strip to move back and forth laterally across the nipper.
The disclosed nipper sharpening device may include a holding surface for receiving a nipper device while the user performs the sharpening of nipper. A clamp secures the nipper device to the holding surface by engaging the ends of the handle of the nipper device. A sharpening strip holder is provided and is coupled to a motor, wherein upon activation of the motor, the motor drives a shaft and linkage to move the sharpening strip holder between first and second positions. A sharpening strip includes at least one surface that is roughened with, for example, silicon carbide. The sharpening strip is placed in the sharpening strip holder such that the roughened area of the sharpening strip contacts a nipper device placed on the holding surface and activation of the motor moves the roughened area of the sharpening strip across at least a portion of the surface of the nipper device placed on the holding surface.
The nipper sharpening device also includes a positioning magnet placed in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage, via magnetic attraction, with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface. The magnetic attraction between the positioning magnet and a nipper device placed on the holder surface is sufficiently strong to prevent the sharpening strip from moving upwardly from the surface of the nipper device placed on the holding surface and keeping the nipper blades in an even plane. Likewise, the magnetic attraction between the positioning magnet and a nipper device placed on the holder surface is sufficiently weak to allow lateral movement of the sharpening strip from a first to second position to achieve reciprocal movement while contacting the nipper device to provide a sharpening effect. The use of the positioning magnet causes the nipper blades to be positioned in an even plane for sharpening. Because of the structure of the nipper blades, where the leading edges of the nipper blades meet, if these become dull, the blades can be sharpened by the filing down of the metal to make the edges straight and sharp. The positioning magnet is secured within a magnet holder, wherein the magnet holder is pivotally coupled to the device housing and movable between a first and second position. The magnet holder moves from a first non-contact position to a second position wherein the positioning magnet is placed in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface.
The method disclosed is for sharpening a nail nipper by providing a holding surface for placement a nipper device. The next step is securing the nipper device to the holding surface via a clamp to engage the ends of the handles of the nipper device to hold the nipper device in place. The next step is for providing a sharpening strip holder adapted to securely hold a sharpening strip where the holder is coupled to a motor via a drive shaft and linkage. Activation of the motor causes the shaft to push and pull the linkage such that the sharpening strip holder moves between a first and second position. A sharpening strip includes at least one surface wherein at least a portion of such surface comprises a roughened area and the sharpening strip is placed in the sharpening strip holder to position the sharpening strip such that the roughened area of the sharpening strip contacts a nipper device placed on the holding surface and activation of the motor moves the roughened area of the sharpening strip across at least a portion of the surface of the nipper device placed on the holding surface in a reciprocating fashion.
The method employs the further step of positioning a magnet in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage via magnetic attraction with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface. A further step may comprise placing a magnet within a magnet holder, wherein the magnet holder is pivotally coupled to the housing and movable between a first and second position. The method may comprise the further step of moving the magnet holder from a first non-contact position to a second position wherein the positioning magnet is placed in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface. It is noted that most nail and cuticle nippers in the industry are manufactured using stainless steel. The ferromagnetic nature of stainless steel makes it attractable to a magnet. Magnets, due to their field strength, attract ferromagnetic materials such as stainless steel when they come into close proximity. The magnet component of the disclosed device may be readily used with stainless steel nippers to aid in the sharpening of cuticle and nail nippers precisely, safely and conveniently. The magnetic attraction of the positioning magnet helps to find and maintain the correct positioning of the nipper blades when used with the device. Correct positioning aids the sharpening to be completed precisely and with accuracy by keeping the object to be sharpened on a parallel flat, even plane and sharpening is achieved consistently across different nippers or repeated sharpening. The results can be achieved through use of the described device, that includes, but is not limited to, the positioning magnet, the silicon carbide sharpening strip and the clamp to hold the nippers in place.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of a device for sharpening a nipper and method of use and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized, nor are the described methods the only methods that could be employed. The description sets forth the various structure and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent structure and/or functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.
In some embodiments, the numbers expressing dimensions, quantities, quantiles of ingredients, properties of materials, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the disclosure are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the disclosure may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.
Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claimed inventive subject matter. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the inventive subject matter.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
Referring particularly to
Referring particularly to
The device 10 includes sharpening strip support 44 that engages aperture 42. The support 44 includes protrusion 50 that fits within aperture 42 to couple the support 44 to the linkage 40. The support 44 includes a horizontal base 52 that includes the protrusion 50 extending downwardly therefrom, along with side supports 54 and 56. The inward sides of supports 54 and 56 include slanted slots 58 (not shown) and 60. The slanted slots 58 and 60 are each slanted toward the back of the device 10 such that the lower portion of the slanted slots 58 and 60 are positioned rearwardly and the higher portion of the slanted slots are positioned forwardly. Above the horizontal base 52, the nipper device support components including support surface 12 are positioned. The nipper device support components include the support surface 12 interconnected to the clamp 14 which is pivotably connected to the support surface via a pivot mechanism that includes pivot cylinder 62 connected to the support 12 and pivot cylinder 64 connected to a grip 66 such that the openings of the cylinders 62 and 64 are aligned to receive pivot pin 66 that extends through both openings to hold the grip 66 and allow rotational movement of the grip 66. A spring bias is provided to close the grip 66 to the support 12 to form the clamp 14. Rail supports 70 and 72 provide support to the nail nipper support components by engaging slots 74 and 76 respectively. The rail supports 74 and 76 are configured to receive side positioner 78 within grooves formed on the lower side of the rail supports. The side positioner 78 is slidable within the rail supports 74 and 76 to accommodate various size nipper devices and to hold the nipper devices in place while sharpening.
A jaw support 80 is provided between the rail supports 74 and 76, and provides a jaw support surface 82 along with an upper jaw limiter 84 that keeps the nipper device from unwanted upper movement during the sharpening process. On the back end of the jaw support 80, a magnet holder loop 86 is provided to engage a magnet holder 88 that includes two lower prongs that engage the loop 86 through a pivot bar that extends through each of the prongs via apertures on each side and the loop 86 in the middle. The loop 86 comprises an elongate slot to allow movement of the magnet holder 88 between the ends of the slot, and to also pivot forward. The magnet holder 88 houses a magnet 90 and provides an exposed surface of the magnet 90. The magnet 90 may be formed of any magnet type or shape sufficient to be attracted to the metal of a nipper device and may comprise a rare earth magnet, which may comprise neodymium. The magnet holder may be formed of a plastic material so as to not interfere with the magnetic field of the magnet 90, however, it is contemplated by this disclosure that the magnet holder 88 may be formed of steel or other material that could enhance the magnetic field of the magnet 90.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the device and method disclosed herein, including various ways of providing a device and method for sharpening nail nippers. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/514,384, filed Jul. 19, 2023, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63514384 | Jul 2023 | US |
