Patent Application
20110061668
Nail trimmers are common tools for personal hygiene and grooming. Typical nail trimmers include nail scissors and nail clippers.
First and second blades 116 and 126 may be curved as shown in
A toenail or fingernail may be trimmed by positioning the distal edge of the nail between the first and second blades 116 and 126, and squeezing the second end 144 of the lever and the lower arm 110. This moves the proximal end 122 of the upper arm and the proximal end 112 of the lower arm together, causing the first and second blades to compress the distal edge of the nail, severing it from the main nail plate and forming a nail trimming.
One concern with the use of a nail clipper is the debris associated with the nail trimmings. To reduce the amount of cleaning required after a trimming, a nail clipper may be used over an open receptacle such as a trash can, or they may be used over a disposable sheet such as a tissue. These techniques, however, do not prevent nail trimmings from being projected away from the receptacle or sheet due to the force required to cut the nail. Some users may prefer to use a nail clipper outside, leaving the trimmings on the ground. This technique, however, may be unsuitable for certain climates throughout the year.
One approach to solving the problem of nail debris has been to combine a conventional nail clipper with a case for retaining clippings. For example,
Referring to
One drawback to nail clippers having an integrated case for retaining nail trimmings, such as the clipper 200 depicted in
It is desirable to provide a nail trimming system in which a higher proportion of nail trimming debris is retained for easy disposal. Preferably such a system will be as convenient and easy to use as a conventional nail clipper. Ideally, such a system is amenable to use with an existing nail clipper already owned by a user.
In one aspect, the invention provides a nail trimming system that includes a nail clipper and a receptacle attached to the nail clipper. The nail clipper includes a lower arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end including a first blade; an upper arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end including a second blade, where the distal end of the lower arm is attached to the distal end of the upper arm; a fulcrum attached to the lower arm distally from the proximal end of the lower arm, and passing through the upper arm distally from the proximal end of the upper arm; and a lever having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the lever is attached to the fulcrum. The receptacle includes a blade portion and an arm portion. The blade portion includes a wall circumscribing the first and second blades, and extends proximally past the first and second blades by at least 0.5 cm to an opening. The wall includes a transparent region above the first and second blades. The arm portion is in contact with the nail clipper at a region distal from the fulcrum.
In another aspect of the invention, there is a receptacle for a nail clipper, where the nail clipper includes a first blade and a second blade at a proximal end of the nail clipper. The receptacle includes a blade portion including a wall, and an arm portion attached to the blade portion. The wall has a length of at least 0.5 cm, and includes a transparent region and an opening having a longest cross-section of from 2 cm to 4 cm. The arm portion has a length of at least 1 cm. When the receptacle is attached to the nail clipper, the first and second blades of the nail clipper are circumscribed by the wall.
In another aspect of the invention, there is a nail trimming system that includes a means for forming a nail trimming, and a means for retaining the nail trimming near the forming means.
In another aspect of the invention, there is a method of trimming a nail that includes inserting a distal edge of a nail into an opening of a receptacle, where the receptacle attached to a nail clipper including a lower blade and an upper blade; positioning the distal edge of the nail between the lower blade and the upper blade, forming a nail trimming by compressing the distal edge of the nail between the lower and upper blades and severing the distal edge from a main nail plate, and retaining the nail trimming in the receptacle. The lower and upper blades are circumscribed by the receptacle, and the receptacle extends proximally from the blades for a distance of at least 0.5 cm to the opening.
To provide a clear and more consistent understanding of the specification and claims of this application, the following definitions are provided.
The term “proximal” with respect to a nail trimming system, or a component of a nail trimming system, means a direction toward the body of the patient whose nail is being trimmed, if the nail trimming system were in use.
The term “distal” with respect to a nail trimming system, or a component of a nail trimming system, means a direction away from the body of the patient whose nail is being trimmed, if the nail trimming system were in use.
The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected by the statements within this summary.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
A nail trimming system provides for retention of nail trimmings. The system includes a nail clipper and a receptacle attached to the nail clipper. The nail clipper may be a conventional nail clipper such as clipper 100 in
A method of trimming a nail that provides for retention of nail trimmings includes inserting a distal edge of a nail into an opening of a receptacle, positioning the distal edge between a lower blade and an upper blade while in the receptacle, forming a nail trimming by compressing the distal edge between the lower and upper blades and severing the distal edge from a main nail plate, and retaining the nail trimming in the receptacle. The lower and upper blades are circumscribed by the receptacle, and the receptacle extends from the blades to the opening for a distance of at least 0.5 cm. The method may further include disposing of the nail trimming.
The receptacle 380 is attached to the nail clipper 310 and includes a blade portion 382, an arm portion 384, and a slot 386 through which the lever contacts the fulcrum 340. The blade portion 382 of the receptacle includes a wall 390 that circumscribes the first and second blades 326 and 336, and extends past the blades by a distance 392 of at least 0.5 centimeter (cm) to an opening 394. The opening 394 has a longest cross-section 396 of at least 2 cm. The term “longest cross-section” means the longest straight cross-section distance across the opening 394. The wall 390 includes a transparent region 398 above the first and second blades 326 and 336. The arm portion 384 of the receptacle is in contact with the lower and upper arms 320 and 330, and extends distally by a distance 388 from the fulcrum 340.
Referring to
The nail clipper 310 may have a variety of dimensions, which may vary depending on the intended use of the nail clipper. The upper and lower arms 320 and 330 may have lengths from 4 to 7 cm, which may be useful as a fingernail clipper or as a compact clipper (i.e. “travel-size”). The upper and lower arms may have lengths from 7 to 10 cm, which may be useful as a toenail clipper or as a fingernail clipper for patients having large hands. The upper and lower arms may have lengths from 10 to 12 cm, which may be useful as a toenail clipper for patients having large feet. Preferably the upper and lower arms have a length from 5 to 6 cm or from 8 to 9 cm.
The first and second blades 326 and 336 may be curved, or they may be straight. The nail clipper 310 may be symmetrical as shown, or the blades 326 and 336 may extend farther in the proximal direction on one side of the clipper than on the other side of the clipper. The nail clipper 310 may be made of any rigid material. Examples of rigid materials include metal, plastic, ceramic, and mixtures of these materials. Preferably the nail clipper is made of stainless steel. In some configurations, at least a portion of the lever 350 may be covered with a material that matches or coordinates with a material present in the receptacle 380.
The blade portion 382 and the arm portion 384 of the receptacle 380 may be attached, or they may be separate. In one example, the blade portion 382 and the arm portion 384 may be separate. In this example, the two portions may include the same or different materials. The two portions may be attached to the nail clipper 310 separately, or the two portions may attach to the nail clipper only when they are combined as the receptacle 380. In another example, the blade portion 382 and the arm portion 384 may be formed separately and then combined to form the receptacle 380. In this example, the two portions again may include the same or different materials. In another example, the receptacle may be formed as a monolithic object, where the blade portion 382 and the arm portion 384 are integral and include the same material.
The receptacle 380 may have a variety of shapes and dimensions. The blade portion may have a length of at least 0.5 cm, and more preferably has a length of at least 1 cm, at least 1.2 cm, or at least 1.5 cm. For example, the blade portion may have a length of from 0.5 to 1.5 cm, from 1 to 1.2 cm, from 1.2 to 4 cm, or from 1.5 to 3.5 cm. The arm portion may have a length of at least 1 cm, and preferably has a length of at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, at least 6 cm, or at least 7 cm.
Preferably the distance 392 is large enough that nail trimmings are not projected out of the receptacle 380. Preferably the distance 392 is at least 1 cm, at least 1.2 cm, or at least 1.5 cm. Preferably the distance 392 is small enough that the end of a finger or toe can be easily inserted into the receptacle and brought into contact with the blades 326 and 336. The distance 392 may be from 0.5 to 4 cm, and preferably is from 1 to 3.5 cm. If nail trimming system 300 is intended for use as a fingernail clipper or as a compact clipper, the distance 392 preferably is from 0.5 to 1.5 cm, and more preferably is from 1 to 1.2 cm. If nail trimming system 300 is intended for use as a toenail clipper or as a fingernail clipper for patients having large hands, the distance 392 preferably is from 1.2 to 4 cm, and more preferably is from 1.5 to 3.5 cm.
Preferably the longest cross-section 396 of the opening 394 also is large enough that nail trimmings are not projected out of the receptacle 380, but small enough that the end of a finger or toe can be easily inserted into the receptacle and brought into contact with the blades 326 and 336. The longest cross-section 396 may be from 2 to 4 cm, and preferably is from 2.5 to 3.5 cm. If nail trimming system 300 is intended for use as a fingernail clipper or as a compact clipper, the longest cross-section 396 preferably is from 2 to 3 cm, and more preferably is from 2.25 to 2.75 cm. If nail trimming system 300 is intended for use as a toenail clipper or as a fingernail clipper for patients having large hands, the longest cross-section 396 preferably is from 2.5 to 4 cm, and more preferably is from 2.75 to 3.5 cm.
The opening 394 may be circular, in which case the longest cross-section 396 is the diameter of the opening. The opening 394 may be a non-circular shape, including rectangular, square, trapezoid and oval, and including rectangular, square or trapezoid shapes having rounded corners. If opening 394 is non-circular, it has both a longest cross-section 396 and a shortest cross-section. The shortest cross-section is the shortest straight cross-section distance across the opening 394. Preferably the shortest cross-section of a non-circular opening 394 is at least 1.7 cm for a nail trimming system 300 that is intended for use as a fingernail clipper or as a compact clipper. Preferably the shortest cross-section of a non-circular opening 394 is at least 3 cm for a nail trimming system 300 that is intended for use as a toenail clipper or as a fingernail clipper for patients having large hands.
The opening 394 may be configured to be sealed before, during and/or after use. In one example, a cap or plug (not shown) may fit the opening 394. In this example, nail trimmings may be retained in the receptacle until the user chooses to dispose of the trimmings. In another example, the opening may include an elastic material or a drawstring (not shown) around the perimeter. In this example, the opening may be at least partially closed around a finger or toe when trimming the nail of that finger or toe. In another example, the opening may include a penetrable material (not shown) at least partially spanning the opening. Examples of penetrable materials include a flexible material including one or more slits, and a flexible material including an orifice. In this example, a finger or toe may be inserted through the penetrable material into the receptacle, allowing the penetrable material to at least partially close around the finger or toe. In these latter two examples, enclosing the nail in the receptacle 380 may provide an increased likelihood of retaining the trimmings in the receptacle.
The wall 390 may have a variety of shapes and dimensions. The wall 390 may have a cross-section that is identical to that of the opening and that extends from the opening 394 to a region distal from the blades 326 and 336. For example, the wall may be shaped as a cylinder, an oval cylinder, a square prism, a rectangular prism or a trapezoidal prism. The wall 390 may have a cross-section that changes as the wall extends from the opening 394 to a region distal from the blades 326 and 336. For example, the wall may be shaped as the frustum of a cone or a pyramid, in which the longest cross-section gradually reduces in size as the wall extends from the opening 394 to a region distal from the blades 326 and 336. In another example, the wall may change shape in an uneven way as the wall extends from the opening 394 to a region distal from the blades 326 and 336.
Preferably the distance 388 over which the receptacle 380 extends distally from the fulcrum 340 toward the distal end 384 of the receptacle is long enough that nail trimmings cannot fall out of an opening between the distal ends of the lower and upper arms 320 and 330 and the receptacle 380. The distance 388 may be at least 1 cm, and preferably is at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, at least 6 cm or at least 7 cm. The distal end 384 of the receptacle may enclose the distal ends of the lower and upper arms 320 and 330, in which case the distance 388 is at least the distance from the fulcrum to the distal ends of the lower and upper arms.
The receptacle 380 may contain any of a variety of materials. Preferably the receptacle is both flexible and durable. The wall 390 and/or other portions of the receptacle 380 may be solid materials, or they may include one or more pores or holes. For example, the receptacle 380 may contain a fabric or a mesh material. The interior surface of receptacle 380 may have a low level of adhesiveness or surface tack, to further facilitate retention of nail trimmings in the nail trimming system, and subsequent disposal of the nail trimmings.
Examples of materials for receptacle 380 include elastomers, such as elastomeric polyolefins, polysiloxanes, polychloroprenes, polysulfides, acrylonitrile block copolymers, polystyrene block copolymers, polyolefin block copolymers, polyester block copolymers, polyamide block copolymers, polyurethane block copolymers. Examples of materials for receptacle 380 include mixtures of these elastomers with each other or with elastomeric or non-elastomeric polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyesters, polyamides or poly(vinyl chloride). Preferably the receptacle 380 includes a polysiloxane elastomer or a polyurethane elastomer. Examples of materials for receptacle 380 include SMOOTH-SIL 940 (polysiloxane elastomer; SMOOTH-ON INC., Easton, Pa.), CLEAR FLEX 50 (polyurethane elastomer; SMOOTH-ON INC.), and CRYSTAL CLEAR (polyurethane elastomer; SMOOTH-ON INC.).
The wall 390 of the receptacle 380 includes a transparent region 398 above the first and second blades 326 and 336. The transparent region 398 allows for a user to view a fingernail or toenail while using the nail trimming system 300. The transparent region 398 and the rest of the wall 390 may be different materials, or they may be the same material. The transparent region may provide for magnification of the blades 326 and 336 and/or of a nail that has been inserted into the receptacle. In one example, the transparent region 398 includes a magnifying lens. The transparent region 398 may be attached to the wall 390 by any of a variety of attachments, such as an adhesive, a mechanical fastening system, or an elastic fit. If the transparent region 398 and the wall 390 are the same material, then they may be integral. Preferably the transparent region 398 and the wall 390 are the same material, and more preferably are integral.
The outside and/or inside of the receptacle 380 may include decorative and/or informative features. These features may be on a portion of the receptacle, or they may on the entire receptacle, provided that the wall 390 still includes the transparent region 398. Examples of decorative features include colors, pictures, designs and logos. Examples of informative features include instructions for using the nail trimming system, quotations, maxims and advertisements. Decorative and/or informative features may be permanently attached to or embedded in the receptacle, or they may be temporarily adhered to the receptacle.
The nail clipper 310 and the receptacle 380 may be permanently attached. For example, the receptacle 380 may be bonded to at least a portion of the lower arm 320 and/or at least a portion of the upper arm 330, such as with an adhesive. In another example, the receptacle 380 may be formed around the nail clipper 310, such as by casting or extruding the material for the receptacle around at least a portion of the nail clipper 310.
The nail clipper 310 and the receptacle 380 may be attached in such a way that they can be separated. The receptacle 380 then may be reattached to the nail clipper 310, or the receptacle may be disposable. For example, the receptacle 380 may include a slot 386, and the nail clipper 310 may be attached to the receptacle 380 by inserting the distal ends of the clippers into the arm portion 384 of the receptacle while inserting the lever 350 through the slot 386. In another example, the nail clipper and the receptacle may be attached with a friction fit, an elastic fit or with a mechanical fastener. These attachments may be better suited for a receptacle having a configuration other than that shown in
Configurations other than that shown in
A nail trimming system may include a means for forming a nail trimming, and a means for retaining the nail trimming near the forming means. The means for forming a nail trimming may include a nail clipper, such as nail clipper 100 of
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
