A nail clipper is a handheld grooming tool designed for trimming (e.g., clipping) and shaping fingernails and toenails. Typically, a nail clipper consists of a pair of blades and a lever mechanism for bringing the blades towards one another. Each of the blades are typically made of stainless steel and are designed to crush/tear through nails. As such, when a nail is positioned between the blades and the blades are brought towards one another, the blades crush/tear a portion of a nail.
The present disclosure provides a new and innovative nail cutter and method for cutting nails, such as human nails. The present nail cutter has a single blade design that includes a first member having a blade opposite a second member having a blade-free opposing surface. The blade-free opposing surface bears a significant portion of the force required to cut a nail, which slows the dulling process for the blade. In some aspects, the blade-free opposing surface may be constructed of a material having a sufficiently low hardness to substantially mitigate dulling of the blade were it to come into contact with the blade-free opposing surface, which further slows the dulling process. In some aspects, the single blade design limits or prevents the blade from contacting the blade-free opposing surface via a recess and/or blade stop mechanism, which can even further slow the dulling process. The present nail cutter's single blade design additionally provides flexibility for the nail cutter to have other functions beyond supporting and cutting the nail, such as preventing nail bed separation or limiting how short the nail can be cut, by eliminating the opposing blade design's requirement that the opposing blades align closely with one another. Greater flexibility for materials selection for the nail cutter's various components is also afforded by the single blade design.
In an example, a nail cutter includes a first (e.g., cutting) member and a second (e.g., opposing) member. A first end portion of the cutting member includes a blade. The opposing member has a first end portion that does not include a blade and has a recess positioned to receive a cutting edge of the blade of the cutting member, and is coupled to the cutting member such that the cutting member is movable relative to the opposing member between first and second positions.
When the cutting member moves from the first position to the second position, the blade moves toward the first end portion of the opposing member such that the cutting edge of the blade is received within the recess, and without contacting any surface of the opposing member, both during the movement from the first position to the second position and during a resting position when the movement is complete and the cutting edge of the blade is received within the recess. A third member (e.g., lever) is coupled to the cutting member and is movable between third and fourth positions. The lever is configured to move the cutting member, relative to the opposing member, from the first position to the second position when the lever moves from the third position to the fourth position.
In an example, a method of cutting a nail of a human includes disposing the nail between a blade of a cutting member of a nail cutter and a first end portion of a opposing member of the nail cutter, wherein the first end portion of the opposing member does not include a blade; and moving the blade toward the first end portion of the opposing member while the nail is disposed between the blade and the first end portion of the second member such that the blade cuts the nail.
In some embodiments, the nail cutter includes a compliant mechanism having flexible hinge points, for example, a unitary design in which all components of the nail cutter are integral with one another. In some aspects, the blade may be a separate component that is coupled to the integral components of the nail cutter. In such embodiments, the lever is integral with the opposing member via a first flexible hinge. The opposing member includes the blade-free opposing surface that opposes the blade. The blade extends from the cutting member. The cutting member is integral with the opposing member via a second flexible hinge. The cutting member is further integral with a connecting member via a third flexible hinge. The connecting member is integral with the lever via a fourth flexible hinge.
When the lever is brought towards the opposing member, the unitary body flexes at all four flexible hinges such that the blade is brought towards the blade-free opposing surface. The configuration of the flexible hinges provides a mechanical advantage in that force at the blade is a multiplication of the force applied at the ends of the lever and opposing member.
Compared to typical nail clipper designs, the complaint mechanism of the nail cutter affords a decreased part count, less failure modes, greater tuneability of the compliant mechanism's behavior, and improved durability (e.g., relative moving parts in mechanical hinges wear out over time).
In an example, a nail cutter includes a blade including a cutting edge, and a unitary body. The unitary body includes: a first member, a second member, a third member, and a plurality of flexible hinges. The blade extends from a proximal end of the first member. A proximal end of the second member is disposed opposite the cutting edge of the blade. The plurality of flexible hinges are configured such that, when a proximal end of the third member is transitioned from a first position to a second position, the unitary body flexes at the plurality of flexible hinges so as to decrease a distance between the cutting edge and the proximal end of the second member.
In another example, a nail cutter includes a unitary body. The unitary body includes a first member, a second member, a third member, a fourth member, and a plurality of flexible hinges including a first flexible hinge, a second flexible hinge, a third flexible hinge, and a fourth flexible hinge. The second member is joined to the third member by the first flexible hinge. The first member is joined to the second member by the second flexible hinge. The fourth member is joined to the first member by the third flexible hinge. And the fourth member is joined to the third member by the fourth flexible hinge.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosed method and apparatus are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures. The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the figures and description. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The detailed description set forth below, in connection with the appended drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Rather, the detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the inventive subject matter. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in every case.
A nail clipper typically consists of a pair of opposing blades and a lever mechanism for bringing the blades towards one another. With this design, the opposing blades apply opposing forces to a nail during a nail clipping operation and thereafter contact one another after the nail is clipped, which can lead to one or both of the opposing blades dulling or bending. As the opposing blades become more dull with continued usage, greater energy (e.g., force) must be applied to the lever mechanism for the opposing blades to cut through the nail. With a dull blade, a considerable portion of this energy is stored and released upon final separation of the distal nail edge, causing the blades to contact one another with significant force and audible “click” which further expedites the dulling process. The force required between the opposing blades also contributes to a rougher cutting edge of a nail, and higher velocity of expelled nail clippings.
The present nail cutter, on the other hand, has a single blade design that includes a first member having a blade opposite a second member having a blade-free opposing surface, which addresses at least the above shortcomings of a typical nail clipper. For example, the blade-free opposing surface bears a significant portion of the force required to cut a nail rather than the blade's cutting edge, which slows the dulling process for the blade. In some aspects, the blade-free opposing surface may be constructed of a material having a sufficiently low hardness to substantially mitigate dulling of the blade were it to come into contact with the blade-free opposing surface, which further slows the dulling process. In some aspects, the single blade design limits or prevents the blade from contacting the blade-free opposing surface, which can even further slow the dulling process. The present nail cutter's single blade design additionally provides flexibility for the nail cutter to have other functions beyond supporting and cutting the nail, such as preventing nail bed separation or limiting how short the nail can be cut, by eliminating the opposing blade design's requirement that the opposing blades align closely with one another. Greater flexibility for materials selection for the nail cutter's various components is also afforded by the single blade design.
In some embodiments, the nail cutter may include a compliant mechanism having flexible hinge points, for example, a unitary body in which all components of the unitary body are integral with one another. The blade may be integral with the unitary body or may be a separate component that is coupled to the unitary body. In such embodiments, the nail cutter includes a lever that is integral with an opposing member via a first flexible hinge. The opposing member includes a blade-free opposing surface that opposes the blade. The blade extends from a cutting member. The cutting member is integral with the opposing member via a second flexible hinge. The cutting member is further integral with a connecting member via a third flexible hinge. The connecting member is integral with the lever via a fourth flexible hinge. When the lever is brought towards opposing member, the unitary body flexes at all four flexible hinges such that the blade is brought towards the blade-free opposing surface.
Compared to typical nail clipper designs, the complaint mechanism of the nail cutter affords a decreased part count, less failure modes, greater tuneability of the compliant mechanism's behavior, and improved durability (e.g., relative moving parts in mechanical hinges wear out over time).
These advantages of the present nail cutter, as well as other advantages, will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art by the following description of the figures.
Shortcomings mentioned here are only representative and are included to highlight problems that the inventors have identified with respect to existing nail cutters and sought to improve upon. Aspects of the nail cutter described below may address some or all of the shortcomings as well as others known in the art. Aspects of the improved nail cutter described herein may present other benefits than, and be used in other applications than, those described above and below.
Returning to
In at least some aspects, the first end portion 114 of opposing member 110 includes a recess 116. Recess 116 may prevent any and all contact between cutting edge 109 of blade 108 and any portion and/or surface of opposing member 110. Recess 116 may also prevent any and all contact between cutting edge 109 of blade 108 and any portion and/or surface of any component or member situated within recess 116 or above opposing member 110. In such aspects, recess 116 is shaped and positioned to receive cutting edge 109 of blade 108 when cutting member 102 is in the second position. For example,
Typical nail clipper designs having opposing blades utilize a common material for a majority of the nail cutter. The common material must therefore meet functional and manufacturing requirements for both the opposing blades and the lever mechanism. The blade-free nature of opposing member 110 and/or the existence of recess 116, on the other hand, affords greater flexibility of the materials used for nail cutter 100. For example, blade 108 may include, or be constructed entirely of, a first material that is different than a second material which opposing member 110 includes or is constructed entirely of. Body 104 of cutting member 102 may include, or be constructed entirely of, the same material as blade 108 or a different material than blade 108. In some aspects, the first material of blade 108 has a greater hardness than the second material of opposing member 110. For example, the first material of blade 108 may have a greater hardness than the blade materials of typical nail clippers because nail cutter 100 eliminates the blade-to-blade contact, and blade to opposing surface contact due to, for example, recess 116, that higher hardness materials are unsuited to withstand. Higher hardness blades improve nail edge retention when nails are cut.
In some aspects, the hardness of the first material of blade 108 is at least 55 HRC on the Rockwell Scale of Hardness, part C. For example, the hardness of the first material of blade 108 may be within a range of 55 to 65 HRC. In comparison, typical opposing blade design nail clippers have blades with a hardness of 48 HRC in order to withstand the blade-to-blade contact and provide sufficient compliance for the mechanism to flex as the lever is depressed. The first material of blade 108 may include a metal (e.g., steel) or other suitably hard material. For example, the first material of blade 108 may include steel, which may have a hardness within a range of 61-62 HRC. Opposing member 110 may be constructed of a material having a sufficiently low hardness to substantially mitigate dulling of blade 108 were blade 108 to come into contact with opposing member 110. In various aspects, the second material of opposing member 110 may include a polymeric material. In one example, the polymeric material may be resin. The first end portion 114 of opposing member 110 may include or may be entirely composed of resin. Alternatively, the second material of opposing member 110 may include glass-filled nylon.
Returning to
The third position of lever 120 may be any position of lever 120 in which pressing on lever 120 with a force component in the direction of arrow 124 does not cause motion of blade 108 or causes motion of blade 108, but while blade 108 is the first position. For example, lever 120 may be in the third position prior to blade 108 cutting through a nail. The fourth position of lever 120 may be any position of lever 120 in which pressing on lever 120 with a force component in the direction of arrow 124 causes blade 108 to be in the second position. For example, lever 120 may be in the fourth position while blade 108 is cutting through a nail or immediately after blade 108 cuts through the nail.
Nail cutter 100 is structured such that force for a nail cutting operation is applied to lever 120 closer to the first end portion 121 than the second end portion 122. Stated differently, the pivot point of lever 120 is further from blade 108 than a point of lever 120 on which force is applied for a nail cutting operation. In this way, lever 120 is coupled to cutting member 102 such that the first end portion 121 of lever 120 moves towards the first end portion 114 of opposing member 110 while lever 120 moves from the third position to the fourth position. Limiting the span between where the user controls lever 120 for a nail cutting operation and where the cutting action takes place results fine control of blade 108 position and precise cuts. In at least some aspects, opposing member 110 includes at least one fulcrum on which lever 120 pivots as lever 120 is pressed to move first end portion 121 towards a first end portion 114 of opposing member 110. For example, opposing member 110 may include fulcrums 302A, 302B.
Another advantage of the single blade design of the nail cutter 100 is the tunable pivot ratios that the single blade design affords. For example, nail cutter 100 can be manufactured with various dimensions that effectuate various mechanical properties. For example, any of the following distances can be altered so that nail cutter 100 displays different mechanical properties: a distance between blade 108 and pivot pin 112, a distance between pivot pin 112 and pivot pin 123, a distance between pivot pin 123 and fulcrums 302A, 302B, and a distance between fulcrums 302A, 302B and the portion of lever 120 where force is applied.
In various aspects, nail cutter 100 includes a biasing mechanism that biases lever 120 away from the fourth position and towards the third position. For example, opposing member 110 may include a biasing member 304, which may include a metal (e.g., steel) or other suitably hard material. Alternatively, biasing member 304 may include a polymeric material such as resin. Alternatively, the polymeric material may be a glass-filled nylon. As best shown in
To help slow the pace of cutting edge 109 dulling, nail cutter 100 can include a mechanism that prevents cutting edge 109 from traveling too far and contacting at least the far end of the recess 116 of opposing member 110. In various aspects, the mechanism prevents cutting edge 109 from contacting any surface of recess 116. For example,
As previously stated, opposing member 110 forms compartment 300. Nail clippings are collected within compartment 300 as nails are cut by cutting edge 109 of blade 108. In at least some aspects, lever 120 is movable to a fifth position in which lever 120 is releasably coupled to opposing member 110 and overlies the compartment 300. Lever 120 thereby acts as a lid in the fifth position to contain the nail clippings within compartment 300. In this way, lever 120 may act as both a lever used to actuate the nail cutting operation and a lid to secure nail clippings. This described dual function of lever 120 reduces part count and design complexity.
In some aspects, nail cutter 100 may be structured such that cutting edge 109 of blade 108 cuts through a nail with a curved cutting path. Typical opposing blade nail clipper designs include the opposing blades traveling in a substantially co-linear path with the blade cutting edges being oriented perpendicular to a nail during a nail cutting operation. Such designs result in a less favorable cut of about 90° on the end of the nail. The curved cutting path of nail cutter 100, on the other hand, provides a more favorable cut edge of less than 90° on the edge of the nail. For example,
In some embodiments, the mechanical pivot pins 112, 123 of nail cutter 100 may be replaced by a compliant mechanism having flexible hinge points, for example, a unitary design aspect of nail cutter 100 in which all components of nail cutter 100, besides blade 108, are integral with one another. Alternatively, all of the components of nail cutter 100 are integral with one another. Compared to typical nail clipper designs, the complaint mechanism aspects of nail cutter 100 affords a decreased part count, less failure modes, greater tuneability of the compliant mechanism's behavior, and improvement durability (e.g., relative moving parts in mechanical hinges wear out over time).
Nail cutter 100 further includes blade 108 that includes cutting edge 109. In some aspects, blade 108 may be integral with unitary body 10 such that nail cutter 100 is a single, integral component. In other aspects, blade 108 may be coupled to unitary body 10.
In some aspects, opposing member 110 of the compliant mechanism embodiment of nail cutter 100 does not include a pre-formed recess 116. Rather, in these aspects, opposing member 110 includes a flat, or relatively flat, surface in which cutting edge 109 of blade 108 forms a recess as cutting edge 109 is brought into contact with opposing member 110 over time.
The second end portion 115 of opposing member 110 is integral with second end portion 122 of lever 120 via a flexible hinge 22 of the plurality of hinges 20. The second end portion 107 of the cutting member 102 is integral with a middle portion of the opposing member 110 via a flexible hinge 24 of the plurality of hinges 20. The middle portion of the opposing member 110 is disposed between the first end portion 114 and second end portion 115 of the opposing member 110. The first end portion 40 of the connecting member 18 is integral with a middle portion of the cutting member 102 via a flexible hinge 26 of the plurality of hinges 20. The middle portion of the cutting member 102 is disposed between the first end portion 106 and second end portion 107 of the cutting member 102. The second end portion 42 of the connecting member 18 is integral with the second end portion 122 of the lever 120 via a flexible hinge 28 of the plurality of hinges 20.
Lever 120 is movable between the disengaged position, shown in
The configuration of the plurality of flexible hinges 20 dictates the relative motion of blade 108 and the mechanical advantage provided at blade 108 by displacing the lever 120. For example, connecting member 18 is subjected to a greater magnitude of force than what is applied at the proximal end 121 of lever 120 due to the relative position of flexible hinge 28 between flexible hinge 22 and the proximal end 121 of the lever 120. In another example, an angle between connecting member 18 and lever 120, or a relative difference of an angle between connecting member 18 and opposing member 110 and an angle between lever 120 and opposing member 110, also impacts the amount of force transmitted through connecting member 18. At least some of the force transmitted through connecting member 18 is transferred to cutting member 102 via flexible hinge 26. Cutting member 102 converts at least some of that force into a force at blade 108, the magnitude of which is determined by the relative positions of blade 108, flexible hinge 26, and flexible hinge 24, and an angle between connecting member 18 and cutting member 102. The position of flexible hinge 24 relative to blade 108 also contributes to the motion of blade 108.
Various parameters of the configuration of the plurality of flexible hinges 20 can be altered to achieve different embodiments of nail cutter 100 that display different mechanical properties. For example, any of the following distances can be altered: a distance between blade 108 and flexible hinge 26, a distance between blade 108 and flexible hinge 24, a distance between flexible hinge 26 and flexible hinge 28, a distance between flexible hinge 24 and flexible hinge 26, and a distance between first end portion 121 of lever 120 and flexible hinge 28. The angles between two respective members of nail cutter 100 can also be altered. When referring to an angle between two members of nail cutter 100 herein, reference is made to an angle between planes extending through the lengths of each of the members.
In some aspects, the plurality of flexible hinges 20 of unitary body 10 are configured and arranged such that cutting edge 109 of blade 108 travels through a curved cutting path during a nail cutting operation. For example, flexion of the flexible hinges 24, 26, and 28 forces cutting edge 109 to travel through the curved cutting path.
With reference to
As described above, blade 108 of nail cutter 100 may include, or be constructed entirely of, a different material than opposing member 110. In the embodiment of nail cutter 100 including the complaint mechanism, in which opposing member 110 is part of unitary body 10, blade 108 may include, or be constructed entirely of, a different material than unitary body 10. For example, a first material of blade 108 may have a greater hardness than a second material of unitary body 10. Example hardness ranges for the first material of blade 108 have been provided above.
In various aspects, the entirety of unitary body 10 may be formed from the second material. For example, unitary body 10 may be formed from a mold. In such examples, with reference to
The second material of unitary body 10 may include a polymeric material. In one example, the polymeric material may be resin. In another example, the second material may include a glass-filled polymer (e.g., nylon).
In an alternative embodiment, multi-shot molding may be employed wherein various resins are utilized to form a single molded part. The part may be composed of either a singular molded material or a combination of molded materials, including but not limited to one resin or a combination of two or more resins.
At block 1204, the blade is moved toward the first end portion of the second member while the nail is disposed between the blade and the first end portion of the second member such that the blade cuts the nail. In some aspects, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member comprises pressing a third member (e.g., lever 120) of the nail cutter. For example, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member may include pressing a first end portion (e.g., first end portion 121) of the third member of the nail cutter toward the first end portion of the second member. In at least some aspects, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member is performed such that a cutting edge (e.g., cutting edge 109) of the blade is received in a recess (e.g., recess 116) in the first end portion of the second member. In at least some aspects, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member is performed such that a cutting edge of the blade is prevented from contacting the second member. In some aspects, the nail that is cut may be received in a compartment (e.g., compartment 300) of the second member after the nail is cut. In some aspects, method 1200 includes releasably coupling the third member to the second member such that the third member overlies the compartment.
In one or more aspects, the present nail cutter and nail cutting method may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below or in connection with one or more other processes or devices described elsewhere herein. In a first aspect, a nail cutter includes a first member; a second member; and a third member. A first end portion of the first member includes a blade. The second member has a first end portion that does not include a blade, and is coupled to the first member such that the first member is movable relative to the second member between first and second positions. When the first member moves from the first position to the second position, the blade moves toward the first end portion of the second member. The third member is coupled to the first member and is movable between third and fourth positions. The third member is configured to move the first member, relative to the second member, from the first position to the second position when the third member moves from the third position to the fourth position.
In a second aspect, in combination with the first aspect, the first end portion of the second member includes a recess positioned to receive a cutting edge of the blade when the first member is in the second position.
In a third aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect or the second aspect, the second member comprises a stop configured so as to contact the first member and prevent a cutting edge of the blade from contacting the second member when the first member is in the second position.
In a fourth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the third aspect, the blade comprises a first material; and the second member comprises a second material having a hardness that is lower than a hardness of the first material.
In a fifth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the fourth aspect, the first material comprises a metal.
In a sixth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the fifth aspect, the second material comprises a polymeric material.
In a seventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the sixth aspect, the first material comprises a metal and the second material comprises a polymeric material.
In an eighth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the seventh aspect, the polymeric material comprises fibers dispersed in a polymeric matrix.
In a ninth aspect, in combination with the fourth aspect, the hardness of the first material is at least 55 HRC.
In a tenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the ninth aspect, the blade is integral with a body of the first member.
In an eleventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the tenth aspect, a cutting edge of the blade is curved in a first direction and in a second direction, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
In a twelfth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the eleventh aspect, the third member is coupled to the first member such that a first end portion of the third member moves toward the first end portion of the second member while the third member moves from the third position to the fourth position.
In a thirteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the twelfth aspect, a second end portion of the third member is pivotably coupled to a second end portion of the first member, and the first member is pivotably coupled to the second member at a location disposed between the first end portion of the second member and a second end portion of the second member.
In a fourteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the thirteenth aspect, the blade is disposed further from a second end portion of the second member when the first member is in the second position than when the first member is in the first position.
In a fifteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the fourteenth aspect, the second member defines a compartment configured to receive a nail cut between the blade and the first end portion of the second member.
In a sixteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the fifteenth aspect, the third member is movable to a fifth position in which the third member is releasably coupled to the second member.
In a seventeenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the sixteenth aspect, the second member defines a compartment configured to receive a nail cut between the blade and the first end portion of the second member, and the third member is movable to a fifth position in which the third member is releasably coupled to the second member and overlies the compartment.
In an eighteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the seventeenth aspect, a method of cutting a nail of a human includes disposing the nail between a blade of a first member of a nail cutter and a first end portion of a second member of the nail cutter, wherein the first end portion of the second member does not include a blade; and moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member while the nail is disposed between the blade and the first end portion of the second member such that the blade cuts the nail.
In a nineteenth aspect, in combination with the eighteenth aspect, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member is performed such that a cutting edge of the blade is received in a recess in the first end portion of the second member.
In a twentieth aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the nineteenth aspect, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member is performed such that a cutting edge of the blade is prevented from contacting the second member.
In a twenty-first aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twentieth aspect, the blade comprises a metal having a hardness that is at least 55 HRC, and the second member comprises a polymeric material.
In a twenty-second aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-first aspect, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member comprises pressing a third member of the nail cutter.
In a twenty-third aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-second aspect, the nail that is cut is received in a compartment of the second member after the nail is cut.
In a twenty-fourth aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-third aspect, the method comprises releasably coupling the third member to the second member such that the third member overlies the compartment.
In a twenty-fifth aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-fourth aspect, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member comprises pressing a third member of the nail cutter. The nail that is cut is received in a compartment of the second member after the nail is cut, and the method comprises releasably coupling the third member to the second member such that the third member overlies the compartment.
In a twenty-sixth aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-fifth aspect, moving the blade toward the first end portion of the second member comprises pressing a first end portion of a third member of the nail cutter toward the first end portion of the second member.
In a twenty-seventh aspect, which may be combined with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-sixth aspect, a nail cutter includes a blade and a unitary body. The blade includes a cutting edge. The unitary body includes a first member, a second member, a third member, and a plurality of flexible hinges. The blade extends from a proximal end of the first member. A proximal end of the second member is disposed opposite the cutting edge of the blade. The plurality of flexible hinges are configured such that, when a proximal end of the third member is transitioned from a first position to a second position, the unitary body flexes at the plurality of flexible hinges so as to decrease a distance between the cutting edge and the proximal end of the second member.
In a twenty-eighth aspect, in combination with the twenty-seventh aspect, a distal end of the second member is joined to a distal end of the third member by a first flexible hinge of the plurality of flexible hinges.
In a twenty-ninth aspect, in combination with the twenty-seventh aspect or the twenty-eighth aspect, a distal end of the first member is joined to a middle portion of the second member between the proximal and distal ends of the second member by a second flexible hinge of the plurality of flexible hinges.
In a thirtieth aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the twenty-ninth aspect, the unitary body further includes a fourth member. A proximal end of the fourth member is joined to a middle portion of the first member between the proximal and distal ends of the first member by a third flexible hinge of the plurality of flexible hinges.
In a thirty-first aspect, in combination with the thirtieth aspect, a distal end of the fourth member is joined to the distal end of the third member by a fourth flexible hinge of the plurality of flexible hinges.
In a thirty-second aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-first aspect, the blade includes a first material and the unitary body includes a second material different than the first material.
In a thirty-third aspect, in combination with the thirty-second aspect, the first material has a greater hardness than the second material.
In a thirty-fourth aspect, in combination with the thirty-second aspect, the first material comprises a metal, and the second material comprises a polymeric material.
In a thirty-fifth aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-fourth aspect, the blade is integral with the unitary body.
In a thirty-sixth aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-fifth aspect, the blade is the only blade extending from the unitary body.
In a thirty-seventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-sixth aspect, the proximal end of the second member includes a recess configured to receive the cutting edge of the blade.
In a thirty-eighth aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-seventh aspect, the second member includes a protrusion configured to contact the first member so as to prevent contact between the cutting edge and the proximal end of the second member when the proximal end of the third member is in the second position.
In a thirty-ninth aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-eighth aspect, the hardness of the blade is at least 55 HRC.
In a fortieth aspect, in combination with one or more of the twenty-seventh aspect through the thirty-ninth aspect, the cutting edge of the blade is curved in a first direction and in a second direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
In a forty-first aspect, which may be combined with one or more of the eighteenth aspect through the twenty-sixth aspect, a nail cutter includes a unitary body. The unitary body includes a first member, a second member, a third member, a fourth member, and a plurality of flexible hinges including a first flexible hinge, a second flexible hinge, a third flexible hinge, and a fourth flexible hinge. The second member is joined to the third member by the first flexible hinge. The first member is joined to the second member by the second flexible hinge. The fourth member is joined to the first member by the third flexible hinge. And the fourth member is joined to the third member by the fourth flexible hinge.
In a forty-second aspect, in combination the forty-first aspect, a distal end of the second member is joined to a distal end of the third member by the first flexible hinge, and a distal end of the first member is joined to a middle portion of the second member between the distal end of the second member and a proximal end of the second member by the second flexible hinge.
In a forty-third aspect, in combination with the forty-first aspect or the forty-second aspect, a proximal end of the fourth member is joined to a middle portion of the first member between a distal end of the first member and a proximal end of the first member by the third flexible hinge, and a distal end of the fourth member is joined to the distal end of the third member by the fourth flexible hinge.
In a forty-fourth aspect, in combination with one or more of the forty-first aspect through the forty-third aspect, the unitary body is configured such that transitioning the third member from a first position to a second position causes flexion in each of the first, second, third, and fourth flexible hinges.
In a forty-fifth aspect, in combination with the forty-fourth aspect, the first flexible hinge joins a distal end of the second member and a distal end of the third member, and transitioning the third member from the first position to the second position includes decreasing a distance between a proximal end of the second member and a proximal end of the third member.
In a forty-sixth aspect, in combination with one or more of the forty-first aspect through the forty-fifth aspect, the nail cutter further includes a single blade. The single blade is coupled to, or integral with, the unitary body.
All numerical ranges herein should be understood to include all integers, whole or fractions, within the range, inclusive of the ends of the ranges. Moreover, these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range. For example, a disclosure of from 1 to 10 should be construed as supporting a range of from 1 to 8, from 3 to 7, from 1 to 9, from 3.6 to 4.6, from 3.5 to 9.9, and so forth.
Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B” means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.
The above specification provides a complete description of the structure and use of illustrative embodiments of this disclosure. Although certain embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, the scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, feature, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, features, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative. Additionally, although this disclosure describes or illustrates particular embodiments as providing particular advantages, particular embodiments may provide none, some, or all of these advantages.
The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/667,131, filed May 17, 2024, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/378,855, filed Oct. 11, 2023, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,016,444, issued Jun. 25, 2024, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 18667131 | May 2024 | US |
Child | 19044519 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 18378855 | Oct 2023 | US |
Child | 18667131 | US |