Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~C~ROUND OF THE I~vhl.~ION
The present invention relates to an improved nail
clipper, and more particularly to a nail clipper of ~he type
which retain6 nail clippings during the process of clipping.
Pinger-toenail clippeLs having means for collecting
nail clippings during the clipping process are known. For
example, Min U.S. Patent No. 4,219,929 issued September 2,
1980, Young U.S. Patent No. 4,341,015 issued July 27, 1982 and
Hannon U.S. Patent No. 4,3~0,120 issued ~pril 19, 1983, all
describe and illu~trate nail clippers of a conventional type
but additionally having receptacles for retaining the clipped-
off fingernail or toenail portions. In the Hannon and Min
devices, the retaine~s are formed with retaining walls about
the sides of the nail clipper, 80 that the nail clipping~ are
retained between the plate~ of the clipper to which the cutting
edges of the clippers are attached. In the Min reference, the
retainer comprises a tubular housing for virtually the entire
clipper. In all of these devices, nail clippings tend to
collect between the plates, and must subsequently be dislodged,
for proper operation of the clipper plates, by removal of the
retainer or a portion thereof.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
alternative construction of nail clipper having a receptacle
for collecting and retaining nail clippings.
It is a further object of the present invention to
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provide such a nail clipper in which the rece~tacle holds
clipped off nails clear of the plates and nail cut~ing edges.
SUMM~RY OF T~ lN~ IO~
~ccording to the present invention there is provided
an improved nail clipper of the type comprising a stationary
plate means and a plate means relatively movable with respect
thereto. The plate mean6 are joined at one end and their
opposite ends have nail cutting edge~. A pivoted lever means
is a6sociated wi~h ~he mova~le plate means to effect mo~ement
thereof with re~pect to the statiQnary plate means. The nail
clipper is provided with a retainer means ~ecured to and
positioned below the ~tationary plate mean6. Walls o~ the
retainer means deine a chamber ~or receiving and holding the
nail clippings below the surface of the stationary plate
means. An aperture is provided behind the nail cutting edge of
the 6tationary plate means. communicating with the chamber, to
receive nail clipping6 and enable them to pass ~o the chamber
of the retainer.
In a preferred embodiment, the retainer means is
non-remo~ably fixed to the stationary plate means, and the
chamber walls thereof, plate means and lever means are made of
hard plastic, while the nail cutting edge6 may be of the hard
pla6tic or made of an appropriate metal, 50 that the device i~
extremely inexpensive and therefore of a disposable nature. In
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this focm, the item i8 more sanitary in that it retains all
nails clipped.
The nail clipper according to the present invention
enables the collection of nail clippings in an area outside of
the area between the plate means, facilitating its operation,
with respect to prior art nail clippers of thi6 general type,
in which the nail clippings tended to collect between the
plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advanta~es of the
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
detailed de6cription and upon ~eerring to the drawing in which
the illustrated fiqure i5 a perspective view of a nail clipper
according to the pre~ent invention.
While the invention will be described in conjunction
with an example embodiment, it will be understood that it is
not intended to limit the invention to such an embodiment. On
the con~ary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents a8 may be included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INV~ ION
In the following description, similar features in the
drawing have been given similar reference numeral6~
Turning to the figure, there is illustrated a nail
clipper 2 of the general type having a stationary plate 4 and a
plate 6 relatively movable with respect thereto. The plates
are joined at end 8 and, at the opposlte en~, nail cutting
edges lO are provided. A nail clipper retainer means 12 is
secured to and posi~:ioned below the ~tationary plate 4, the
~0 walls of this retainer means defining a chamber for receiving
and holding nail clippings below the stationary plate 4. An
apQrtUre 1~ i8 provided in the front portion o~ plate ~, behind
it6 cutting edge lO, to receive nail clippings and enable them
to pass to the chamber of retainer means 12. The nail clipper
operates in a conventional fashion, with a lever arm 16 being
secured to the device by means of pin 18 to move plate 6
towards plate 4 when depressed. The other end of pin 18 tnot
shown) is secured below retainer means 12.
While it is envisayed, within the scope of this
invention, that retainer mean6 12 or a portion thereof be
removable to permit removal of collected nail clippings from
within, in the preferred embodiment of thi6 invention tha~
retainer means is non-removably secured to s~ationary plate 4.
In this form, the nail clipper is preferably of a disposable
nature. In this case, the plate means, lever arm and retainer
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means might for example be made of hard plastic, wi~h the pin
18 and cutting edges 10 being al~o of hard plastic or
alternatively of metal.
In operation, toe or fingernails clipped at nail
cutting edge6 10 would Eall through aperture 1~ into the
chamber of retaining means 12 where they would be collected.
In this way there would be no build-up o~ nail clippings in the
space between plates 4 and 6.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in
accordance with the invention a nail clippeL with receptacle
that fully ~atisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth
above. While the invention has been described in conjunction
with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations w;ll be apparent to
those ~killed in the art in light o the foregoing
description. Accordin~ly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
spirit and broad scope of the invention~
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