The present invention relates to method of trimming nails having a vascular portion also known as a dermis and particularly relates to a nail dermis indicator and method of clipping nails.
The toe nails of various animals and pets, including but not limited to cats and dogs are trimmed just as human nails are trimmed. In the case of many animals, the toe nail includes a dermis which is a vascular portion of the nail beneath the epidermis. The epidermis is the only portion of an animals toe nail that should be trimmed away since impinging into the dermis region of the toe nail of an animal can cause bleeding and pain. It is not unusual for owners to trim their pets nails too short causing bleeding and pain when the cut extends into the dermis region of the toe nail. There is an artery and nerve within the dermis. In the case of very dark toe nails it is very difficult to see where the dermis ends and where the epidermis begins. Many owners therefore are hesitant to trim their dogs and/or other animal's nails because of the risk of bleeding and pain that may occur when the dermis is breached.
There is a need for a method of visualizing or showing the person trimming toe nails of animals where the dermis ends and the epidermis begins so that an accurate cutting of toe nails can be carried out.
The present invention is a nail dermis indicator for use with nails which have a dermis and an epidermis portion, the nail dermis indicator including an indicator strip for releasably attaching around the outer circumference of a toe nail, such that the indicator strip in contact with the toe nail, the indicator strip including a means for visually indicating the dermis portion of the toe nail.
Preferably wherein the visual indicating means including a heat sensitive indicator attached to the indicator strip providing a visual indicator of the warmer dermis area of the toe nail when the indicator strip heated by the dermis of the toe nail.
Preferably wherein the heat sensitive indicator including thermo chromic ink coated onto the indicator strip, wherein the thermo chromic ink selected to produce a color indication of the warmer dermis area of the nail when the thermo chromic ink heated by the dermis portion of the nail.
Preferably wherein the indicator strip including a thin planar elongated indicator strip including a central temperature sensitive portion coated with thermo chromic ink, wherein the central temperature sensitive portion located between a left adhesive portion and a right adhesive portion, the left and right adhesive portions for releasably adhesively attaching the indicator strip to the nail.
A nail dermis indicator for use with nails which have a dermis and an epidermis portion, the nail dermis indicator including a thin planar elongated indicator strip including a central temperature sensitive portion located centrally between a left adhesive portion and a right adhesive portion, wherein the adhesive portions have an adhesive layer on the bottom side of the indicator strip, wherein the indicator strip adapted and dimensioned to be releaseably adhesively attached around the outer circumference of a toe nail, such that upon the temperature sensitive portion of the indicator strip being heated by the toe nail, a colour change occurs indicating and delineating visually the extent of the dermis and the boundary between the dermis and the epidermis of the nail.
A method of clipping nails having a dermis and an epidermis portion the method including the following steps, applying an indicator strip around the outer circumference of a toe nail wherein the indicator strip including a means for visually indicating the dermis portion of the toe nail, clipping the toe nail just short of the dermis portion of the nail as indicated by the indicator strip, removing the indicator strip from the toe nail.
Preferably wherein the visual indicating means including a heat sensitive indicator attached to the indicator strip providing a visual indicator of the warmer dermis area of the toe nail when the indicator strip heated by the dermis of the toe nail.
Preferably wherein the heat sensitive indicator including thermo chromic ink coated onto the indicator strip, wherein the thermo chromic ink selected to produce a color indication of the warmer dermis area of the nail when the thermo chromic ink heated by the dermis portion of the nail.
Preferably wherein the indicator strip including a thin planar elongated indicator strip including a central temperature sensitive portion coated with thermo chromic ink, wherein the central temperature sensitive portion located between a left adhesive portion and a right adhesive portion, the left and right adhesive portions for releasably adhesively attaching the indicator strip to the nail.
A method of clipping nails having a dermis and an epidermis portion, the method including the steps of applying an indicator strip as claimed in Claim 1, 2 and 3 to a toe nail of an animal having a dermis and an epidermis portion, waiting for the indicator strip to heat up on order to provide a colour indication of the dermis region of the nail, thereby delineating the boundary between the dermis and the epidermis of the nail, clipping the nail short of the coloured indication thereby leaving the dermis portion of the nail undisturbed, removing the remainder of the indicator strip from the toe nail of the animal.
The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:
The present invention a nail dermis indicator is best shown in
Indicator strip 120c an be generally divided into three portions, namely a centrally located temperature sensitive portion 122 and adhesive portions on either side of temperature sensitive portion 122 shown in
Referring now to
A method of clipping nails is also disclosed in this specification. The method of trimming nails includes the following steps, applying an indicator strip to a toe nail having a dermis and an epidermis portion, wherein the indicator strip includes thermo chromic ink which comes into contact with the toe nail in proximity of the dermis, allowing the indicator strip to heat up in order to provide a colour indication of the dermis portion of the toe nail, clipping the toe nail just short of the colour indication thereby ensuring that only the epidermis is clipped away and the dermis is left undisturbed, removing the remains of the indicator strip from the toe nail.
The application claims priority from previously filed U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/677,080, titled “Quick-see” on May 3, 2005 by Brent Crutchfield.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60677080 | May 2005 | US |