GB2147211A

GB2147211A - Device for treating ingrowing toenails

Info

Publication number: GB2147211A
Application number: GB08424718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Gordon Johnston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-01
Filing date: 1984-10-01
Publication date: 1985-05-09
Also published as: GB2147211B; GB8326376D0; GB8424718D0

Abstract

A device for treating ingrowing toenails comprises a first member (2) adapted to abut an uppermost surface of a toenail (8), a second member (3) adapted to space part of a first side edge (12) of the toenail (8) from the skin underlying said part of the first side edge (12), and a third member (4) adapted to space part of a second side edge (13) of the toenail (8) from the skin underlying said part of the second side edge (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for Treating Ingrowing Toenails This invention relates to a device for treating ingrowing toenails.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for treating ingrowing toenails comprising a first member adapted to abut an uppermost surface of a toenail, a second member adapted to space part of a first side edge of the toenail from the skin underlying said part of the first side edge, and a third member adapted to space part of a second side edge of the toenail from the skin underlying said part of the second side edge.

Advantageously each member is integrally connected to a common base, from which each member projects.

The device may have a gripping strength (as defined hereinafter) in the range of 0.5 to 50 newtons, preferably 0.5 to 20 newtons. More preferably the gripping strength is p the range 1 to 15 newtons and the most preferable range is 5 to 10 newtons.

Preferably the lowermost surface of the first member can abut the uppermost surface of the toenail.

The uppermost and lowermost surfaces of the first, second and third members may each lie in parallel planes.

Alternatively, the uppermost and/or lowermost surfaces of the members may, for example, be convex.

It is desirable that the uppermost surface of the second member abuts said part of the first edge of the toenail, and the lowermost surface of the second member abuts the skin underlying said part of the first edge. It is also desirable that the uppermost surface of the third member abuts said part of the second edge of the toenail, and the lowermost surface of the third member abuts the skin underlying said part of the second edge.

When the uppermost and lowermost surfaces of each member lie in parallel planes it is preferable that the uppermost surfaces of the second and third members are coplanar, and that the lowermost surfaces of the second and third members are coplanar.

Desirably the ends of the second and third members remote from the base may be tapered in order to assist fitting of the device to the toenail.

Preferably the base is provided with a recess adapted to permit the flesh at the tip of the toe to pass therethrough.

It is desirable that at least the lowermost surface of the first member is treated to increase the coefficient of friction thereof. More desirably the uppermost surfaces of the second and third members are also treated in order to increase the coefficient of friction thereof.

In one embodiment this is achieved by sandbiasting or by etching using an acid.

In an alternative embodiment it is achieved by coating the surface of the device, in the region or regions where it is desired to increase the coefficient of friction, with a suitable material. Examples of particularly suitable materials are the materials available from 3M United Kingdom Limited (3M is a Registered Trade Mark) under the trade names Scotchgrip rubber adhesive 1300L and Scotchgrip vinyl adhesive 1099 (Scotchgrip is a Registered Trade Mark).

Before applying these coatings it is preferred that the device is degreased, then placed in an acid bath for a period of time.

The device may conveniently be made from a plastics material such as an acetyl resin copolymer.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is an elevation of a device for treating ingrowing toenails according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the device shown in Figure 1 partially in position on a toe; Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the device shown in Figure 1 fully in position on a toe; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of apparatus for measuring the gripping strength of the device according to the invention.

In the drawings, a device for treating ingrowing toenails is generally designated 1.

The device 1 includes a first member 2, a second member 3 and a third member 4 which project from a common base 5; the base 5 has a recess 6. The ends ofthe members 3 and 4 remote from the base 5 are provided with tapered portions 3a and 4a respectively, to facilitate fitting of the device to a toenail 8.

The device 1 is adapted to fit on a toe 7 and toenail 8 of a foot 9. The toenail 8 includes an uppermost surface 10 which is bounded bya rear edge 11,twosideedgesi2and 13, and a front edge 14.

The first member 2 is provided with an uppermost surface 15 and a lowermost surface 16; the lowermost surface 16 can abut the uppermost surface 10 of the toenail 8. The second and third members 3 and 4 are each provided with uppermost surfaces 17 and 18 respectively, and with lowermost surfaces 19 and 20 respectively.

The lowermost surface 16 is treated to increase the coefficient of friction thereof in order to assist with the retention of the device 1 on the toenail.

The first member 2 is of large width so that it can accommodate a large variety of different toenail shapes and configurations.

The device for treating ingrowing toenails can be used as follows.

The toenail 8 may first be softened by immersing the entire foot 9 in warm water for several minutes.

This increases the flexibility of the toenail 8.

The foot 9 may then be withdrawn from the water, dried, and the device 1 can be fitted over the toe 7 and toenail 8 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The device may be fitted in the direction shown by the arrows A.

The device 1 should be pushed in the direction A until the front edge 14 of the toenail 8 abuts the base 5.

The flesh at the tip of the toe can pass through the recess 6. If the recess 6 were not provided, then difficulties can arise in keeping the device 1 in position on the toe 7.

When the device 1 is correctly positioned, the uppermost surfaces 17 and 18 of the second and third members 3 and 4 respectively abut the side edges 12 and 13 of the toenail 8. In addition, the lower surfaces 19 and 20 ofthe second and third members 3 and 4 abut the skin underlying the side edges 12 and 13 of the toenail 8, thereby spacing the side edges from the underylying skin.

The device 1 may be left in position upon the toe 7 until the toenail has dried out; a period of about 30 minutes is usually sufficient for this purpose. As the toenail 8 cools and dries its flexibility decreases and eventually it "sets" nearer the position defined by the device 1.

Consequently, when the device 1 is removed the tender flesh is relieved of some of the pressure from the side edges 12 and 13 of the toenail 8.

In Figure 4 the device 1 is shown positioned on an apparatus for measuring the gripping strength of the device.

The device is located on a cylindrical bar 30 so that the lowermost surface 16 of the first member 2 engages the bar, and the uppermost surfaces 17 and 18 of the second and third members 3 and 4 engage the bar. The bar 30 is of a diameter greater than the distance between the lowermost surface 16 and the uppermost surfaces 17 and 18 so that the inherent resilience of the device 1 causes it to grip the bar 30. The force required to remove the device 1 from the bar is measured by a tensile testing device 31 which may be, for example, a Nene Type 30005. The force applied to remove the device 1 is applied in the direction indicated by arrow B in Figure 4, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar 30.

A spacer member 32 is disposed between the bar 30 and the base 5 in order to maintain the bar at the correct distance from the spacer member. It will be appreciated that the size of the spacer member 32 depends upon the size of the device 1.

The device 1 can be connected to the testing device 31 by means of a spring steel clip (not shown) which is attached to the device 1, and a silver steel bar (not shown) which is passed through the clip and to which the testing device 31 is attached.

The gripping strength of the device 1 is defined as the force required to pull the device off a cylindrical steel bar turned to a finish of 0.8 to 1.6 pom Ra (Roughness Average) having a diameter of about 0.4 mm more than the distance between the uppermost surfaces 17 and 18 and the lowermost surface 16 at a point about 4 mm from the base 5, the centre of the bar being arranged so that it lies about 4 mm from the base 5.

The temperature at which the gripping strength is measured is 23 C, and the speed at which the device 1 is pulled off the bar is 50 mm per minute.

The gripping strength gives a measure of the coefficient of friction of the surfaces of the device 1 in contact with the bar 30 and also of the resilience of the bar.

This test was carried out upon a number of devices for treating ingrowing toenails according to the invention having different characteristics.

The results are shown in Table 1. The test was conducted on toenail devices of four different sizes, i.e.

3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm. The size refers to the distance in mm between the lowermost surface 16 and the uppermost surfaces 17 and 18 at a point about 4 mm from the base.

The lowermost surface 16 of the first member 2 of the device subjected to treatment A was treated by sand-blasting. The lowermost surface 16 of the first member 2 of the devices subjected to treatments B and C were coated with Scotchgrip rubber adhesive 1300L and Scotchgrip vinyl adhesive 1099 respectively (Scotchgrip is a Registered Trade Mark).

The results indicate that the untreated devices exhibited the lowest gripping strength while the devices treated with treatments B and C exhibited the highest gripping strength.

TABLE 1

Gripping Strength in Newtons Size Run Untreated Treatment A Treatment B Treatment C 3 mm 1 1.43 1.11 6.00 6.20 2 1.05 3.05 5.86 5.07 3 1.29 2.29 6.50 6.18 4 - 2.29 7.40 8.04 5 - 1.66 7.04 9.61 4 mm 1 1.28 2.80 5.50 6.04 2 1.79 2.61 7.00 5.54 3 - 3.45 7.82 4.11 4 - 2.80 5.50 6.43 5 - 1.96 - 5.46 5 mm 1 1.39 1.34 5.21 5.93 2 1.04 1.37 4.39 5.36 3 1.52 1.75 5.36 7.71 4 - 1.32 5.04 6.39 5 - 1.70 7.29 5.82 6 mm 1 1.89 1.46 4.46 4.68 2 1.18 1.84 4.29 6.61 3 1.24 1.68 5.32 4.86 4 1.15 1.54 6.00 4.79 5 1.04 1.25 5.96 6.18

Claims

1. A device for treating ingrowing toenails comprising a first member adapted to abut an uppermost surface of the toenail, a second member adapted to space part of a first side edge of the toenail from the skin underlying said part of the first side edge, and a third member adapted to space part of a second side edge of the toenail from the skin underlying said part of the second side edge.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in which each member is integrally connected to a common base.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 having a gripping strength (as defined hereinbefore) in the range of 0.5 to 50 newtons.

4. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 having a gripping strength (as defined hereinbefore) in the range of 0.5 to 20 newtons.

5. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 having a gripping strength (as defined hereinbefore) in the range of 1 to 15 newtons.

6. A device according to Claim 1 to 2 having a gripping strength (as defined hereinbefore) in the range of 5 to 10 newtons.

7. A device according to any preceding claim in which the ends of the second and third members remote from the base are tapered.

8. A device according to any preceding claim in which the base is provided with a recess adapted to permit the flesh at the tip of the toe to pass therethrough.

9. A device according to any preceding claim in which at least the lowermost surface of the first member is treated to increase the coefficient of friction thereof.

10. A device according to Claim 9 in which the uppermost surfaces of the second and third members are also treated in order to increase the coefficient of friction thereof.

11. A device according to Claim 9 or 10 in which the device is treated by sandblasting or by acid etching.

12. A device according to Claim 9 or 10 in which the device is treated by coating the surface of the device in the region or regions where it is desired to increase the coefficient of friction, with an adhesive material.

13. A device for treating ingrowing toenails substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.