U.S. patent application number 12/366501 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for illuminated nail trimmer unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.. Invention is credited to William D. Hester, Elaina M. Malin, Daniel J. Tangari.
Application Number | 20090229622 12/366501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41061635 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090229622 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malin; Elaina M. ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
ILLUMINATED NAIL TRIMMER UNIT
Abstract
An illuminated nail trimmer unit includes a handgrip formed to
include a top shell and bottom shell, a clipper including a nail
clutter and a nail cutter actuator that may be positioned either in
a storage position or an operative position, and a light
source.
Inventors: |
Malin; Elaina M.; (Walpole,
MA) ; Hester; William D.; (Middletown, CT) ;
Tangari; Daniel J.; (Middletown, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
COSCO MANAGEMENT, INC.
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
41061635 |
Appl. No.: |
12/366501 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61036633 |
Mar 14, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/73.5 ;
132/75.5; 30/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 29/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/73.5 ; 30/28;
132/75.5 |
International
Class: |
A45D 29/02 20060101
A45D029/02 |
Claims
1. An illuminated nail trimmer unit comprising a handgrip formed to
include a top shell and bottom shell, a clipper including a nail
clutter and a nail cutter actuator that may be positioned either in
a storage position or an operative position, a light source, and
means for controlling illumination by the light source when the
nail cutter actuator is positioned in the operative position, and
wherein the nail trimmer unit provides an illuminated light source
to aid a user when the user operates the clipper with a single
hand.
2. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein, when the
nail cutter actuator is positioned in the storage position, the
means for controlling illumination is operated to turn off the
light source.
3. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means
for controlling illumination includes a spring-biased button
positioned in the handgrip such that, when the nail cutter actuator
is positioned in the storage position, the button is depressed to
maintain the light source off and when the nail cutter actuator is
positioned otherwise, the button is released thereby turning on the
light source.
4. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein both the
top shell and bottom shell of the handgrip both have a rigid frame
covered at least partially by a soft skin.
5. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means
for controlling illumination includes a battery and circuit for
activation of the light source.
6. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means
for controlling illumination includes an open-biased switch having
a movable contact, a stationary contact, and a contact spring
section.
7. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 6, wherein, when the
nail cutter actuator is in the storage position, pressure applied
to the contact spring section causes the movable contact to be out
of contact with the stationary contact and turn off the light
source.
8. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 6, wherein, when the
nail cutter actuator is not in the storage position, the contact
spring section causes the movable contact to be in contact with the
stationary contact, which operates the means for controlling
illumination to cause the light source to turn on.
9. The illuminated nail trimmer of claim 1, wherein the means for
controlling illumination includes a switch and a spring-biased
button provided in an aperture included in the handgrip.
10. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 9, wherein, when the
spring-biased button is in a biased position, a switch is operated
to energize the light source.
11. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the means
for controlling illumination includes circuitry that enables the
light source to turn off after a period of time, even though the
nail cutter actuator is not in the storage position.
12. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein the light
source includes light bulbs positioned to lie on either side of the
clipper.
13. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 12, wherein the
light bulbs are Light Emitting Diodes.
14. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 1, wherein nail
cutter includes an upper jaw and lower jaw and the light source
includes light bulbs positioned to lie in proximity to the upper
and lower jaws.
15. The illuminated nail trimmer of claim 1, wherein the top shell
and bottom shell cooperate to form a cross-shaped access opening
positioned at a rear of the handgrip.
16. An illuminated nail trimmer unit comprising a clipper including
a nail cutter actuator that may be positioned either in a storage
position or an operative position, a light source, and an
illumination controller configured to cause illumination by the
light source when the nail cutter actuator is positioned in the
operative position.
17. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 16, wherein the
controller includes a spring-biased button positioned in a handgrip
of the unit such that, when the nail cutter actuator is positioned
in the storage position, the button is depressed to maintain the
light source off and when the nail cutter actuator is positioned
otherwise, the button is released thereby turning on the light
source.
18. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 16, wherein the
controller includes an open-biased switch having a movable contact,
a stationary contact, and a contact spring section.
19. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 18, wherein, when
the nail cutter actuator is in the storage position, pressure
applied to the contact spring section causes the movable contact to
be out of contact with the stationary contact and turn off the
light source.
20. The illuminated nail trimmer unit of claim 18, wherein, when
the nail cutter actuator is not in the storage position, the
contact spring section causes the movable contact to be in contact
with the stationary contact, which operates the means for
controlling illumination to cause the light source to turn on.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/036,633, filed
Mar. 14, 2008, which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to nail clippers. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to nail clippers with
lights.
SUMMARY
[0003] An illuminated nail trimmer unit in accordance with the
present disclosure includes a handgrip, a clipper, an illumination
controller, and a light source. The clipper includes a nail cutter
and a nail cutter actuator.
[0004] In Illustrative embodiments, the clipper actuator may be
positioned either in a storage position or an operative position.
When the clipper actuator is positioned in the operative position,
the illumination controller is operated to turn on the light
source. When the actuator is positioned in the storage position,
the illumination controller is operated to turn off the light
source. Thus, the nail trimmer unit provides an illuminated light
source to aid a user when the user operates the clipper with a
single hand.
[0005] In illustrative embodiments, the illumination controller
includes a spring-biased button positioned in the handgrip such
that, when the clipper actuator is positioned in the storage
position, the button is depressed to maintain the light source off.
When the clipper actuator is positioned otherwise, the button is
released thereby turning on the light source.
[0006] In illustrative embodiments, the handgrip includes a top
shell and bottom shell, which both have a rigid frame covered at
least partially by a soft skin.
[0007] In illustrative embodiments, the illumination controller
includes an open biased switch having a movable contact, a
stationary contact, and a contact spring section. When the clipper
actuator is in a storage position, pressure is applied to the
contact spring section, causing the movable contact to be out of
contact with the stationary contact and turn off the light source.
When the clipper actuator is not in the storage position, the
contact spring section causes the movable contact to be in contact
with the stationary contact and thereby operates the illumination
controller to cause the light source to turn on.
[0008] In illustrative embodiments, the illumination controller
also includes circuitry that enables the light source to turn off
after a period of time, even though the clipper actuator is not in
a storage position, to ensure that a battery included in the
illuminated nail trimmer unit is not accidentally drained of power
by leaving the clipper actuator in an operative position.
[0009] Additional features of the present disclosure will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out
the disclosure as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an illuminated nail
trimmer including a handgrip formed to include a top shell and
bottom shell, a clipper coupled to the handgrip and in a storage
position, and showing in phantom a light source and an illumination
controller including a switch, battery, and circuit for activation
of the light source;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an illuminated nail
trimmer including a handgrip formed to include a top shell and
bottom shell, a clipper coupled to the handgrip and in an operative
position, and showing in phantom a light source and an illumination
controller including a switch, battery, and circuit for activation
of the light source;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of the illuminated nail
trimmer of FIG. 1 or 2 showing the top shell and the top of the
clipper and showing that the light source includes light bulbs
positioned to lie on either side of the clipper;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the illuminated nail
trimmer of FIG. 2 showing the front of the top shell, bottom shell,
clipper formed to include an upper jaw and lower jaw, and light
bulbs positioned to lie in proximity to the upper and lower
jaws;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the illuminated nail
trimmer of FIG. 2 showing that the top shell and bottom shell
cooperate to form a cross-shaped access opening;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the illuminated nail trimmer
of FIG. 2 showing the light source activated prior to the user
using the clipper;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the illuminated nail trimmer
of FIG. 2 showing the light source activated during the user using
the clipper;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the
illuminated nail trimmer of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing that a switch
included in the illumination controller includes a stationary
contact and a movable contact and also suggesting placement of the
clipper, switch, circuit, and light source in the interior region
of the handgrip; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is an example of one potential circuit configuration
that may be included in the illumination controller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] An illuminated nail trimmer unit 10 includes a handgrip 12,
a clipper 14 coupled to handgrip 12, a light source 16, and an
illumination controller 18 associated with handgrip 12 and light
source 16 as suggested somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and
illustratively in FIG. 9. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a spring biased
button 21 is provided in an aperture 20 (see FIG. 3) included in
the handgrip 12; when the spring biased button 21 is in its biased
position (i.e., protruding from the handgrip 12), a switch
(explained in detail with reference to FIG. 9) is operated to
energize light source 16 to generate light 24 and shine light 24 on
fingers of a child or other person before nails on those fingers
are trimmed using clipper 14 as suggested in FIGS. 6-7.
[0021] Handgrip 12 includes a top shell 26, a bottom shell 28 and
side panels 27, 29 (illustrated in FIG. 8). Top and bottom shells
26 mate to form an interior region containing illumination
controller 18 and a portion of clipper 14.
[0022] As suggested in FIG. 5, clipper 14 includes a nail cutter 31
and a cutter squeezer 38. Nail cutter 31 includes a lower
stationary member 32 including a bottom plate 33 and a bottom jaw
34 and an upper movable member 35 including a top plate 36 and a
top jaw 37. Cutter squeezer 38 is configured to squeeze nail cutter
31 by, for example, urging movable member 35 (illustrated in FIG.
8) downwardly toward stationary member 32 to move top and bottom
jaws 37, 34 relative to one another to a closed nail-trimming
position shown, for example, in FIG. 7. Each of top and bottom jaws
37, 34 includes a curved cutting edge 39 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0023] In an illustrative embodiment, cutter squeezer 38 includes
an upright post 40 and a pivotable actuator 42 as shown in FIG. 3.
Upright post 40 is rooted to bottom plate 33 and arranged to extend
upwardly through an aperture 45 formed in bottom plate 33 and an
aperture 41 formed in top plate 36.
[0024] In use, the clipper actuator 42 is always moved out of a
storage position (illustrated in FIG. 2) by a user to cause
illumination controller 18 to energize light source 16 to shine
light 24 toward fingernails to be trimmed before the actuator 42 is
moved to cause movement of top and bottom jaws 37, 34 to the closed
nail-trimming position. Thus, it should be understood that actuator
42 is a pivotable actuator that can be pivoted about the upright
post 40 and lifted and rotated so as to be inverted and in a
position for operation of the actuator 42 in cooperation with the
nail cutter 31.
[0025] When the actuator 42 is in the storage position, actuator 42
is positioned to depress a spring biased button 21 protruding from
an aperture 20 in the handgrip 12. While the spring biased button
21 is depressed, the illumination controller 18 circuitry
(described in detail with reference to FIG. 9) controls the light
source to be turned off. When the clipper actuator is not in the
storage position, the illumination controller 18 controls the light
source to turn on.
[0026] Actuator 42 can be moved downwardly, as suggested in FIG. 7,
in response to downward application of thumb pressure 101 to
actuator 42 by a user to cause top and bottom jaws 37, 34 to move
toward one another to the closed nail-trimming position. However
operation of actuator 42 in this manner does not interfere with the
spring biased button 21. Thus, light 24 always shines on
fingernails when they are being trimmed by clipper 14 when using
illuminated nail trimmer unit 10.
[0027] Light source 16 is turned off automatically once the user
places the actuator 42 in the storage position as illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0028] Light source 16 is coupled to the top shell 26 and/or the
bottom shell 28 and arranged to lie near the top and bottom jaws
37, 34 of clipper 14 as suggested in FIGS. 3 and 4. In an
illustrative embodiment, light source 16 includes a first light
bulb 51 located on one side of top jaw 37 and a second light bulb
52 located on an opposite side of top jaw 37 as suggested in FIGS.
2 and 3. Both light bulbs 51, 52 are coupled to illumination
controller 18 as shown, for example, in FIG. 5. These light bulbs
51, 52 may be implemented as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
[0029] Illumination controller 18 includes a battery 54, a circuit
56, and an open-biased switch 58 associated with spring biased
button 21 as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 6. In an illustrative
embodiment, the open-biased switch includes a stationary contact
and a movable contact. Thus, switch 58 may include a stationary
contact and a movable contact normally separated from the
stationary contact wherein the movable contact is arranged to be
moved upwardly to engage stationary contact to close the
open-biased switch 58 when the spring biased button 21 is in the
biased position (i.e., protruding from the handgrip 12) so as to
cause the battery 54 and circuit 56 to cooperate to energize light
source 16 and generate light 24. When the spring biased button 21
is depressed by the actuator 42 (i.e., in the storage position),
the stationary and movable contacts of the open-biased switch 58
are separated. Thus, the open-biased switch 58 is open so as to
disable cooperation of the battery 54 and the circuit 56 and turn
off the light source 16.
[0030] In an illustrative embodiment, top shell 26 of handgrip 12
includes an interior rigid upper frame 64 and an exterior soft
upper skin 65 overmolded or otherwise mounted onto an exterior
surface of rigid upper frame 64. A rearward portion 66 of rigid
upper frame 64 mates with battery compartment 154 as suggested in
FIG. 8. A forward portion 68 of rigid upper frame 64 and a forward
portion of soft upper skin 65 mate with top plate 36 of clipper 14
when clipper 14 is mounted in an interior region of handgrip 12 as
suggested, for example, in FIG. 8. An intermediate portion 67 of
rigid upper frame 64 is arranged to interconnect rearward and
forward portions 66, 68 of rigid upper frame 64 as suggested in
FIGS. 1 and 8.
[0031] In an illustrative embodiment, bottom shell 28 of handgrip
12 includes an interior rigid lower frame 74 and an exterior soft
lower skin 75 overmolded or otherwise mounted onto an exterior
surface of rigid lower frame 74. A rearward portion 76 of rigid
lower frame 74 mates with battery compartment 154 as suggested in
FIG. 8. A forward portion 78 of rigid lower frame 74 is arranged to
underlie and mate with and support bottom plate 33 of clipper 14 as
shown in FIG. 7.
[0032] A central aperture 72 is formed in intermediate portion 70
of rigid lower frame 74 of bottom shell 28 of handgrip 12 as shown
best in FIG. 8. The central aperture 72 may include a female
threaded interior that is mateable with screw 71 of the clipper 14
so as to secure the clipper 14 to the bottom shell 28, as shown,
for example, in FIG. 8.
[0033] An exterior surface 82 of soft lower skin portion 75 has a
textured grip surface 83 formed to include raised laterally
extending ribs 84 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. In
an illustrative embodiment, soft lower skin 76 is made of a
plastics material.
[0034] As suggested in FIGS. 2-4 and 8, pivotable actuator 42 of
clipper 14 includes a pivot lever 130 coupled to an upright post 40
and a thumb pad 132 coupled to a distal end 134 of pivot lever 130.
Thumb pad 132 is made of a textured rubber or plastics material
molded or fitted over an outer end of pivot lever 130 in the
illustrated embodiment.
[0035] Pivot lever 130 can be pivoted in a counterclockwise
direction in response to application of pressure 101 to thumb pad
132 to move top plate 36 toward bottom plate 33 to move jaws 37, 34
toward one another to assume the closed nail-trimming position.
[0036] A user operates cutter squeezer 38 of clipper 14 as
suggested in FIG. 7 to move top and bottom jaws 37, 34 to assume
the nail-trimming closed position. Light source 16 has already been
energized to generate light 24 based on the positioning of the
actuator 42 in an operative position before the user operates
cutter squeezer 38 of clipper 14.
[0037] With light source 16 on, a user can now see the fingernails
of a child. Next, the user positions handgrip 12 so that the
child's nail is between upper jaw 37 and lower jaw 34 of nail
cutter 31. The user then applies strong thumb pressure 101 in a
downward direction onto actuator 42 as shown, for example, in FIG.
7.
[0038] As suggested in FIG. 7, the user applies downward pressure
101 to thumb pad 132 so as to cause pivot lever 130 to pivot about
the pivot axis orthogonal to the upright post 40 and, in turn,
apply a downward force to top plate 36 and an opposite upward force
to cause bottom plate 33 to move upwardly toward top plate 36. The
downward force applied to top plate 36 of nail cutter 31 and the
upward force applied to bottom plate 33 is transferred to top and
bottom jaws 37, 34, causing them to move toward one another to
assume the closed nail-trimming position. Once pressure 101 is no
longer applied to thumb pad 132, then top and bottom plates 36, 33
spring apart to resume their original positions shown, for example,
in FIG. 6.
[0039] Battery 54 is sandwiched between rigid lower frame 74 and
rigid upper frame 16 and arranged to rest in battery compartment
154 in an interior space formed in rigid lower frame 74 as
suggested in FIG. 7.
[0040] Although the circuit 56 included in the illumination
controller 18 may be configured in any number of ways, FIG. 9
illustrates one example of circuitry that may be used to provide
the functionality of the illumination controller 18. As illustrated
in FIG. 9, the circuit 56 may include a pair of LEDs 905, 910
(which correspond to the light source 16 illustrated in other
figures). Additionally, the circuit 56 may include a plurality of
resistance elements 920-940 provided in combination with a battery
945 (corresponding to battery 54 illustrated in other figures),
capacitor 950, switch 955 and a plurality of diodes or transistors
960, 965. The resistance elements 920-940 may be provided to
balance the circuit 56 based on operation of the LEDs 905-910 and
charging of the capacitor 950 (explained herein).
[0041] The switch 955 is coupled to, actuated by the button 21
illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, as explained above, when the nail
actuator 42 is in a storage position, the button 21 is depressed,
thereby eliminating power to the LEDs 905, 910 provided by battery
945. However, when the button 21 is released and allowed to return
to its spring-biased state of protruding from the handgrip 12, the
switch 955 is operated to provide power to the LEDs 905, 910.
[0042] In the circuit configuration illustrated in FIG. 9, the
power is provided via capacitor 950 which is charged by the battery
945 and, when fully charged, turns on diodes 960, 965. This
operation of diodes 960, 965 then alters the circuit configuration
such that the capacitor 950 provides power to the LEDs 905, 910
until power dissipates to an unusable level in the capacitor 950.
This configuration provides an automatic shut off feature that
enables the light source 16 (i.e., 905, 910 in FIG. 9) to be turned
off after a period of time, e.g., four minutes, even though the
clipper actuator is not in a storage position. This automatic shut
off feature may ensure that the battery included in the illuminated
nail trimmer unit is not accidentally drained of power by leaving
the clipper actuator in an operative position.
[0043] An additional optional feature is shown best in FIG. 5 and
provides a cross-shaped opening 156 is positioned at the rear of
the handgrip 12. Opening 138 is defined by a slot provided between
the top shell 30 and bottom shell 32 to provide an aperture for
inserting an emery board so as to use the handgrip 12 as an emery
board holder and improve ease of use of emery boards.
* * * * *