Nail clipping and cutting device

Abstract

A nail clipping device of the present invention presents a nail clipper and a housing adaptable to fit onto the nail clipper. The housing is made of a resilient material having open scoop overhanging cutting portions of the nail clipper for receiving nail clippings. The housing is designed to allow convenient collection and disposal of the nail clippings. The housing includes a magnifying glass connected thereto for better targeting of the nails to be clipped.

Claims

1. A device for clipping and cutting nails comprising; a nail clipper presenting a pair of members each extending into a cutting edge and a lever mechanically connected to said pair of members for flexing said members to cut and clip nails, a housing defining a central axis extending between terminal ends and formed from a resilient material presenting a tubular configuration and having side walls diverging from one of said terminal ends to another of said terminal ends, a bottom wall, and a top wall; wherein one of said terminal ends is further defined by a rear end presenting a rectangular cross section and a slit defined therein and another of said terminal ends is further defined by a nail scoop presenting a non-rectangular cross section; and said top wall presenting a cut out portion to receive said lever with said cut out portion defined by a pair of elements extending outwardly from opposite side edges of said cut out portion to said central axis for securing said nail clipper within said housing and preventing escaping of said nail clipper from said housing.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nail scoop presents a bottom extending to a raised portion defining peripheral edge of said nail scoop.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said peripheral edge of said nail scoop configured to extend beyond said cutting edges to define a distance between said cutting edges and said peripheral edge.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein one of said side wall includes a pair of tracks extending to hook edge with said tracks being spaced from one another to receive a file removably connected therebetween to polish nails.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top wall and said bottom wall diverge from one another as viewed in cross section.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, including a magnifying glass connected to said housing.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient material is a polymeric material.

8. A device for clipping and cutting nails comprising; a housing defining a central axis extending between terminal ends and formed from a resilient material presenting a tubular configuration and having side walls diverging from one of said terminal ends to another of said terminal ends, and a bottom wall wherein one of said terminal ends is further defined by a rear end presenting a rectangular cross section and a slit defined therein; a nail clipper presenting a pair of members each extending into a cutting edge with said cutting edges extending parallel to said central axis and a lever mechanically connected to said pair of elements for flexing said members to cut and clip the nails, and a pair of flexible portions spaced from one another and extending outwardly from said side walls for securing said nail clipper within said housing and preventing escaping of said nail clipper from said housing, said flexible portions defining a cut out portion therebetween to receive said lever.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein a nail scoop presents a bottom extending to a raised portion defining peripheral edge of said nail scoop.

10. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said peripheral edge of said nail scoop extends beyond said cutting edges to define a distance between said cutting edges and said peripheral edge.

11. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said top wall and said bottom wall diverge from one another as viewed in cross section.

12. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said resilient material is a polymeric material.

13. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein one of said side walls includes a scoop nail scoop presents a bottom portion extending to raised portions for capturing the nails.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a nail clipping device of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the nail clipping device shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the nail clipping device of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the nail clipping device;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the nail clipping device;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of the nail clipping device of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a top wall of the housing clipping device illustrating extension elements for holding a nail clipper within the housing;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a rear end of the housing presenting a slit for discarding nail clippings from the housing; and

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the nail clipping device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, 7, and 8 wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, an apparatus of the present invention is generally shown at 10. Referring to FIGS. 5 through 6, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a second alternative embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention is generally shown at 100. Referring to FIG. 9, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts, a third alternative embodiment of the apparatus 10 of the present invention is generally shown at 200.

(12) As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, 7, and 8, the apparatus 10 of the present invention presents a nail clipping device. The nail clipping device 10 includes a nail clipper 12 and a housing 14 adaptable to receive the nail clipper 12. The nail clipper 12 includes a pair of members or arms 16 and 18 each presenting cutting edges 20 and 22. A lever 24 is mechanically engaged 26 with the arms 16 and 18 as known to those skilled in mechanical art to flex the arms 16 and 18 in order to clip or cut the nails. The housing 14 is formed from a flexible resilient material such as polymeric material. Other non-resilient materials may be used to form the housing 14 without limiting the scope of the present invention.

(13) The housing 14 includes a tubular configuration presenting terminal ends of different configurations, generally indicated at 30 and 32. The housing includes side walls 34 and 36, a bottom wall 38, and a top wall 40. The side walls 34 and 36 may present a planar or curved cross section without limiting the scope of the present invention. The housing 14 defines a central axis A extending between terminal ends 30 and 32 wherein the side walls 34 and 36 diverging from one of the terminal ends 30 to another of terminal end 32. The top wall 40 includes a cut out configuration, generally indicated at 42 adaptable to receive the nail clipper 12.

(14) The cut out portion 42 is defined by a pair of elements, generally indicated at 46 and 48 extending outwardly from opposite side edges 50 and 52 of the cut out portion 42 to the central axis A for securing the nail clipper 12 within the housing 14 and preventing escape of the nail clipper 12 from the housing 14. One of the terminal ends 30 is further defined by a rear end presenting a rectangular cross section and a slip 60 defined therein. The rear end 30 can be squeezed by the user in order to open the slit 60 and allow the nail clippings to escape the housing 14. The other of the terminal ends 32 is further defined by a nail scoop, generally indicated at 62, presenting a non-rectangular cross section. The nail scoop 62 presents a bottom portion 64 extending to a raised portion 66 defining peripheral edge, generally indicated at 68, of the nail scoop 62.

(15) Alluding to the above, the peripheral edge 68 of the nail scoop 62 extends beyond the cutting edges 20 and 22 to define a distance 70 between the cutting edges 20 and 22 and the peripheral edge 68. The distance 70 is at least twice longer than a distance 72 defined between the mechanical connection 26 of the lever 24 to the members 16 and 18 and the cutting edges 20 and 22 as best shown in FIG. 2. The length of the distances 70 and 72 is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and other length may be used without limiting the scope of the present invention. As best shown in FIG. 4, the housing may also include a magnifying glass 80 connected thereto to allow for better view of the nails to be cut or clipped.

(16) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the apparatus 100 includes a nail clipper 112 and a housing 114 adaptable to receive the nail clipper 112. The nail clipper 112 includes a pair of members or arms 116 and 118 each presenting cutting edges 120 and 122. A lever 124 is mechanically engaged 126 with the arms 116 and 118 as known to those skilled in mechanical art to flex the arms 116 and 118 in order to clip or cut the nails. The housing 114 is formed from a flexible resilient material such as polymeric material. Other non-resilient materials may be used to form the housing 114 without limiting the scope of the present invention.

(17) The housing 114 includes a tubular configuration presenting terminal ends of different configurations, generally indicated at 130 and 132. The housing includes side walls 134 and 136, a bottom wall 318, and a top wall 140. The side walls 134 and 136 may present a planar or curved cross section without limiting the scope of the present invention. The housing 114 defines a central axis A extending between terminal ends 130 and 132 wherein the side walls 134 and 136 diverging from one of the terminal ends 130 to another of terminal end 132. The top wall 140 includes a cut out configuration, generally indicated at 142 adaptable to receive the nail clipper 112.

(18) The cut out portion 142 is defined by a pair of elements, generally indicated at 146 and 148 extending outwardly from opposite side edges 150 and 152 of the cut out portion 142 to the central axis A for securing the nail clipper 112 within the housing 114 and preventing escape of the nail clipper 112 from the housing 114. One of the terminal ends 130 is further defined by a rear end presenting a rectangular cross section and a slip defined therein. The other of the terminal ends 132 is further defined by a nail scoop, generally indicated at 162, presenting a non-rectangular cross section. The nail scoop 162 presents a bottom portion 164 extending to a raised portion 166 defining peripheral edge, generally indicated at 168.

(19) The housing 114 includes a pair of tracks 170 and 172 each extending to hook edges 174 and 176. The tracks 170 and 172 are spaced from one another to receive a foil 180 removably connected between the tracks 170 and 172 to polish nails.

(20) FIG. 9 illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the nail clipping device, generally shown at 200. In this alternative embodiment of the present invention, a housing, generally indicated at 202, defines a central axis A extending between terminal ends 204 and 206. The housing 202 is also formed from a resilient material presenting a tubular configuration and having side walls 208 and 210 diverging from one of the terminal end 206 to another terminal end 204. The housing 202 includes a bottom wall, and a top wall 212. The top wall 212 included two wing portions or two halves 214 and 216 spaced from one another to define a slit 218 extending along the axis A. Each wing portion 214 and 216 defines a cut out portion thereby forming an opening 220 to receive a lever 222 of a nail clipper, as shown in phantom at 224. The wing portions 214 and 216 extend outwardly from the side walls 208 and 210 for securing the nail clipper 224 within the housing 202 and preventing escaping of the nail clipper from the housing 202.

(21) The nail clipper 224 presents a pair of members 226 and 228 as shown in phantom at 224 each extending into a cutting edge 230 and 232 with the cutting edges 230 and 232 extending parallel to the central axis A. The lever 222 is mechanically connected to the pair of elements 226 and 228 for flexing the members 226 and 228 to cut and clip the nails. One of the side walls 210 includes a scoop nail scoop, generally indicated at 240. The nail scoop 240 presents a bottom portion 246 extending to raised portion 242 and 244 for capturing the nails. The housing 202 may includes a pair of tracks (not shown) each extending to hook edges. The tracks are spaced from one another to receive a foil removably connected between the tracks to polish nails.

(22) While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.