GB2269317A

GB2269317A - Nail cutting device

Info

Publication number: GB2269317A
Application number: GB9216522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwok Hung Leung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-04
Filing date: 1992-08-04
Publication date: 1994-02-09
Also published as: GB9216522D0; CN1083683A; JPH06169812A

Abstract

There is disclosed a nail cutting device comprising (i) a tubular casing 10 having a bore of circular-section therethrough; (ii) blade means 15 rotatable within the bore of said casing and comprising a rod having at least one helical groove on its peripheral surface, at least one edge of the groove being sharpened; (iii) a slot-like opening 12 in the wall of said casing sized to permit entry of the edge of a human nail; (iv) a further slot-like opening in the wall of said casing for the discharge of portions of nail removed by said blade means. The nail cutting device is contained within a housing which can also hold a motor and battery to power the device. <IMAGE>

Description

NAIL CUTTING DEVICE This invention concerns a cutting device for human nails.

Conventional methods of nail cutting involve the use of nail scissors or nail clippers. Neither can be operated with equal ease ambidextrously. Both are difficult to operate, if at all, by a weak hand, as of an elderley person for example, produce a course finish requiring if desired subsequent use of a nail file and can cause damage to soft tissue adjacent the nail. A further disadvantage is the often uncontrolled flight of clipped portions of nail which have to be gathered after the cutting operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nail cutting device which overcomes, at least to some extent, the disadvantages aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided a nail cutting device comprising (i) a tubular casing having a bore of circular-section therethrough; (ii) blade means rotatable within the bore of said casing and comprising a rod having at least one helical groove on its peripheral surface, at least one edge of the groove being sharpened; (iii) a slot-like opening in the wall of said casing sized to permit entry of the edge of a human nail; (iv) a further slot-like opening in the wall of said casing for the discharge of portions of nail removed by said blade means.

The two slot-like openings may be diametrically opposed.

The first-mentioned slot-like opening may have one sharpened edge for cooperation with the sharpened edge or edges of said blade means, and one edge whose defining wall is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular with a line connecting the opposed inner longitudinal edges of the slot.

The outer periphery of the casing may be circular.

The blade may have three of said grooves with three lands therebetween.

The blade may be journalled in bushings at each of the opposite ends of the casing.

The blade may be driven by a battery powered electric motor.

There may be gearing between the motor and blade.

The blade may rotate at a speed in the range of from 500 to 850 revolutions per minute.

The casing may extend between opposed limbs of a C-shaped housing with the discharge slot communicating with a compartment for collection of removed nail portions.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of nail cutting device embodying same.

Of the drawings : Figure 1 shows a rear elevation of the device; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the casing and blade means of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a front elevation of the tubular casing of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 shows a rear elevation of the casing of Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows a cross-section through the tubular casing of 4 and 5.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the nail cutting device essentially comprises a tubular casing 10 (see especially Figure 3) having a bore 11 of circular section axially therethrough. The outer periphery of the casing 10 is also of circular section.

A first axially aligned slot-like opening 12 through the wall of the casing 10 is provided and sized to permit entry of the edge of a human nail. This opening 12 has one sharpened longitudinal edge 13 and one edge whose defining wall 14 is perpendicular to a line connecting the opposed longitudinal inner edges of the slot-like opening 12.

This section has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing ingress of soft tissue surrounding the nail to the interior of the bore 11.

Blade means comprising a rod 15 having three equi-angularly spaced helical grooves 16 with lands 17 therebetween is rotatably mounted within the bore 11, being journalled in bushings 18 and 19 at opposite ends of the casing 10.

One edge of each groove 16 is sharpened and adapted to cooperate with the sharpened edge 13 of the opening 12.

Diametrically opposite the slot-like opening 12 is a further slot-like opening 20 for the discharge of portions of nail removed by the cutting or shaving action of the blade means 15.

The casing 10 and its contained blade means extends between the opposed limbs 30 and 31 of a generally C-shaped housing 32 with the discharge slot-like opening 20 communicating with a compartment 33 normally closed but having a removable access lid or hatch 34.

The housing 32 has provision for a battery 35 replaceable by means of lid 38 which powers, by means of an on/off switch 40 on the exterior of the housing a motor 36 which drives the blade means 15 through a gear train generally indicated at 37.

A preferred speed of rotation lies in the range of from 500 - 850 revolutions per minute, cutting the nail at between 25 and 42 times per second, there being three cutting edges on the blade means.

At these speeds the nail is shaved uniformly and smoothly giving a finish comparable with or better than that provided by conventional nail files.

The successive passage of the lands 17 prevents other than progressively slow and controlled penetration of the nail.

The device is compact and easily carried in the pocket or handbag.

Because the casing and blade extend across the top of the casing, the casing may be held in either hand with its front directed away from the plan to cut the nails of the other hand without needing to reverse the rotation of the blade.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A nail cutting device comprising (i) a tubular casing having a bore of circular-section therethrough; (ii) blade means rotatable within the bore of said casing and comprising a rod having at least one helical groove on its peripheral surface, at least one edge of the groove being sharpened; (iii) a slot-like opening in the wall of said casing sized to permit entry of the edge of a human nail; (iv) a further slot-like opening in the wall of said casing for the discharge of portions of nail removed by said blade means.

2. A nail cutting device according to claim 1 wherein the two slot-like openings are diametrically opposed.

3. A nail cutting device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first-mentioned slot-like opening has one sharpened edge for cooperation with the sharpened edge or edges of said blade means, and one edge whose defining wall is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular with a line connecting the opposed inner longitudinal edges of the slot.

4. A nail cutting device according to any precedingclaim wherein the outer periphery of the casing is circular.

5. A nail cutting device according to any preceding claim wherein the blade has three of said grooves with three lands therebetween.

6. A nail cutting device according to any preceding claim wherein the blade is journalled in bushings at each of the opposite ends of the casing.

7. A nail cutting device according to any preceding claim wherein the blade is driven by a battery powered electric motor.

8. A nail cutting device according to claim 7 wherein there is gearing between the motor and blade.

9. A nail cutting device according to any preceding claim wherein the blade rotates at a speed in the range of from 500 to 850 revolutions per minute.

10. A nail cutting device according to any preceding claim wherein the casing extends between opposed limbs of a C-shaped housing.

11. A nail cutting device according to claim 10 wherein the discharge slot communicates with a compartment for collection of removed nail portions.