[DESCRIPTION]

[invention Title]

APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING TOENAIL

[Technical Field] The present invention relates a device for shaping a toenail . [Background Art]

A toenail grows under the skin and changes to corneous tissue when exposed above the skin. The toenail has the shape of a plate which protrudes toward the distal end of the toe, and functions to protect the distal end of the toe.

The toenail has a substantially quadrangular configuration when viewed in its entirety. The exposed portion of the toenail is called a nail plate or a corpus unguis, and the layer under the nail plate is called a nail bed.

The distal portion of the toenail is called a toenail plate or a free margin, the portions of the toenail which are positioned on both sides of the toenail plate are called toenail sides or outside margins, and the proximal portion of the toenail, which is covered by skin, is called a covered margin.

The root portion of the nail plate is called a nail root, and the part under the nail root is called a nail matrix. The nail matrix plays an important role in the growth of the toenail .

A toenail is grown by the nail matrix. While the toenail is sometimes erroneously considered to be an extension of bone tissue, in actual fact, the toenail is an extension of the skin, and is produced by the transformation of the skin into corneous tissue.

The crescent shaped whitish area of the nail bed, adjacent to the nail root, is called a lunula. The lunula is a non-corneous portion of the nail plate which is produced from the nail matrix. The lunula appears to be white due to the reflection of incident light.

The tissue of the nail plate is produced by the transformation of a horny layer, which has flat, polygonal or elliptical corneous cells. The nail bed is composed of a stratum basale and dermis . Meanwhile, the toenail grows within three to five months after birth, to take on its substantial shape.

While the actual growth rate is influenced by various conditions, the toenail approximately grows 0.1 mm a day. The toenail grows faster in the summertime and in the night than in the daytime. The growing speed of the toenail increases with age up to 30 years old, and decreases after that.

When the toenail grows longer than a predetermined length, the toenail is trimmed using nail clippers which have a structure that takes advantage of leverage.

If the toenail is trimmed too short or the outer edges

of the toenail grow abnormally, an ingrown toenail may occur. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for shaping a toenail, which can shape a toenail by converting the abnormal growth of the toenail into normal growth and can eliminate pain caused by the growth of the toenail.

[Technical Solution]

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for shaping a toenail, having a toenail plate, which is exposed from the skin of a toe and is positioned on a center portion of the toenail, and toenail sides, which are positioned on both sides of the toenail plate and are brought into contact with skin on both sides of the toenail, the device comprising an upper support part for supporting the upper surface of the toenail; a pair of extended parts extending from both sides of the upper support part; and a pair of toenail side support parts respectively formed on distal ends of the extended parts to support lower surfaces of the toenail sides. According to another aspect of the present invention, the upper support part has a bilaterally symmetrical bent

structure .

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least two upper support parts are formed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the upper support part, the extended parts, and the toenail side support parts are formed of an elastic material.

In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for shaping a toenail, having a toenail plate which is exposed from the skin of a toe and is positioned on the center portion of the toenail, and toenail sides, which are positioned on both sides of the toenail plate and are brought into contact with the skin on both sides of the toenail, the device comprising a base plate for supporting the upper surface of the toenail; a pair of extended parts formed on and bent from one edge of the base plate and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance; and a pair of toenail side support parts respectively formed on and bent from distal ends of the extended parts toward a lower surface of the base plate to support lower surfaces of the toenail sides.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the base plate, the extended parts, and the toenail side support parts are formed of an elastic material . In order to achieve the above object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is

provided a device for shaping a toenail, having a toenail plate which is exposed from the skin of a toe and is positioned on the center portion of the toenail, and toenail sides which are positioned on both sides of the toenail plate and are brought into contact with the skin on both sides of the toenail, the device comprising a base plate defined with at least one through-hole and placed on an upper surface of the toenail plate; a toenail plate support part spaced apart from the base plate by a predetermined distance to support the lower surface of the toenail plate; a connection part for connecting the base plate and the toenail plate support part with each other; and a bolt threadedly coupled through the through-hole of the base plate to press the upper surface of the toenail plate. According to a still further aspect of the present invention, the base plate and the toenail plate support part define a predetermined space therebetween, and are curved to have a predetermined radius of curvature . [Advantageous Effects] According to the present invention, it is possible to shape a toenail by converting the abnormal growth of the toenail into normal growth, and pain caused by the growth of the toenail can be eliminated.

[Description of Drawings] The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a

reading of the following detailed description made in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the device for shaping a toenail shown in FIG. 1 is installed on a toenail;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the device for shaping a toenail shown in FIG. 5 and a toenail; FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the device for shaping a toenail shown in FIG. 5 is installed on the toenail;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B' of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a fourth embodiment of

the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a toenail and the device for shaping a toenail shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the device for shaping a toenail shown in FIG. 10 is installed on the toenail; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C' of FIG. 13. [Best Mode]

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIGs. 1 through 3 illustrate a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGs. 1 through 3, the device for shaping a toenail in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is formed of a wire rod or a flat bar which has a predetermined thickness. The device comprises an upper support part 110, a pair of extended parts 120 which extend from both sides of the upper support part 110, and a pair of

toenail side support parts 130 which are respectively formed on the distal ends of the extended parts 120.

The upper support part 110 supports a predetermined region of the upper surface (specifically, the central upper surface) of the toenail plate 5 of a toenail 1 in a downward direction, and has a bilaterally symmetrical bent structure.

The pair of extended parts 120 extend leftward and rightward from the upper support part 110.

The pair of toenail side support parts 130 are provided to the distal ends of the extended parts 120, and upwardly support the lower surfaces of toenail sides 7. Each toenail side support part 130 can be formed in the shape of a spiral wire.

Preferably, the device for shaping a toenail according to the first embodiment is formed of an elastic material.

The upper support part 110 elastically biases the plate 5 of the toenail 1, and the toenail side support parts 130 elastically bias the sides of the toenail 1.

Hereafter, a procedure of shaping a toenail using the device for shaping a toenail according to the first embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described.

As shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the device for shaping a toenail is fitted on the distal end of the toenail 1 in a manner such that the upper support part 110 of the device is brought into close contact with the predetermined region of

the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 and the pair of toenail side support parts 130 are brought into close contact with the lower surfaces of the toenail sides 7.

The upper support part 110 elastically biases the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1 in a downward direction, and the pair of toenail side support parts 130 elastically bias the toenail sides 7 of the toenail 1 in an upward direction.

If a predetermined time period elapses after the device for shaping a toenail according to the first embodiment of the present invention is fitted on a toenail 1 which is growing abnormally, the shape of the toenail 1 is altered by the elastic force applied from the upper support part 110 and the toenail side support parts 130, as a result of which the toenail 1 including the toenail plate 5 and the toenail sides 7 has a substantially straight sectional shape.

As a consequence, it is possible to prevent the sides 7 of the toenail 1 from growing abnormally into the skin of a toe, and to eliminate the pain caused by the ingrown toenail 1, whereby the correction of the toenail 1 can be effectively performed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The device for shaping a toenail according to the second embodiment has at least two upper support parts 111 and 112. That is to say, in the present embodiment, due to the fact that at least two upper support parts 111 and 112 are

formed, the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1 can be more effectively supported.

Since the construction and working of the other component parts of the device for shaping a toenail according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIGs. 5 through 9 illustrate a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to these drawings, the device 10 for shaping a toenail according to the third embodiment of the present invention comprises a base plate 11, a pair of extended parts 21 which are formed on and bent from one edge of the base plate 11, and a pair of toenail side support parts 25 which are respectively formed on and bent from the distal ends of the extended parts 21 toward the lower surface of the base plate 11.

The base plate 11 has a shape of a linearly extending plate, and supports the upper surface of the toenail 1. The pair of extended parts 21 are formed on and bent from one edge of the base plate 11 in the lengthwise direction of the base plate 11 in a state in which they are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

The pair of toenail side support parts 25 are respectively formed on and bent from the distal ends of the extended parts 21 toward the lower surface of the base plate

11 and thus have a predetermined inclination angle. The pair of toenail side support parts 25 support the lower surfaces of the toenail sides 7 of the toenail 1. Here, the distal end portions of the pair of toenail side support parts 25 are rounded to have a predetermined radius of curvature that conforms with the sectional shape of the distal end portion of the toe.

Preferably, the base plate 11, the extended parts 21, and the toenail side support parts 25 are formed of an elastic material. The base plate 11 elastically biases the toenail plate 5 and the sides 7 of the toenail 1, and the toenail side support parts 25 elastically bias the sides 7 of the toenail 1, whereby the toenail 1 is made to have a substantially straight sectional shape. Hereafter, a procedure of shaping a toenail using the device 10 for shaping a toenail according to the third embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described.

As shown in FIGs. 7 through 9, the device 10 for shaping a toenail is installed on the toenail 1 by fitting the device 10 from the distal end of the toe onto the distal end of the toenail 1 in a manner such that the base plate 11 of the device 10 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the toenail plate 5, which is downwardly curved and upwardly projects, and the pair of toenail side support parts 25 are brought into close contact with the lower

surfaces of the toenail sides 7.

At this time, the base plate 11 elastically biases the plate 5 of the toenail 1, and the pair of toenail side support parts 25 elastically bias the sides 7 of the toenail 1.

When a predetermined period elapses after the device 10 for shaping a toenail according to the third embodiment of the present invention is fitted on a toenail 1 which is growing abnormally, the shape of the toenail 1 is altered by the elastic force applied from the base plate 11 and the toenail side support parts 25 which respectively act on the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 and the lower surfaces of toenail sides 7 of the toenail 1, as a result of which the shape of the toenail 1 is changed from a downwardly curved sectional shape into a substantially straight sectional shape .

As a consequence, it is possible to prevent the sides 7 of the toenail 1 from growing abnormally into the skin of a toe, and to eliminate the pain caused by the ingrown toenail 1, whereby the correction of the toenail 1 can be effectively performed.

FIGs. 10 through 14 illustrate a device for shaping a toenail in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to these drawings, the device 10' for shaping a toenail according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a base plate 11 which is placed

on the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1, a toenail plate support part 27 which is spaced apart from the base plate 11 by a predetermined distance, a connection part 23 which connects the base plate 11 and the toenail plate support part 27 with each other, and a bolt 31 which is threadedly coupled to the base plate 11 and presses the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1.

The base plate 11 has the shape of a linearly extending plate, and a through-hole 15 into which the bolt 31 is threadedly coupled is defined through the substantially center portion of the base plate 11. The through-hole 15 is formed with an internal thread with which the bolt 31 is threadedly coupled.

The toenail plate support part 27 is spaced apart from the base plate 11 by a predetermined distance and supports the lower surface of the toenail plate 5.

With the base plate 11 and the toenail plate support part 27 spaced apart from each other by the predetermined distance, they are formed to have a predetermined radius of curvature. Here, the distal ends of the base plate 11 and the toenail plate support part 27 are rounded to have a preselected radius of curvature that conforms with the shape of the distal end of a toe .

Therefore, the base plate 11, the connection part 23, and the toenail plate support part 27 which constitute the device 10' for shaping a toenail in accordance with the

fourth embodiment of the present invention define a substantially U-shaped section when viewed in their entirety.

The bolt 31 is threadedly coupled into the through-hole

15 of the base plate 11 and presses the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1.

Hereafter, a procedure of shaping a toenail using the device 10' for shaping a toenail according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described. As shown in FIGs. 12 through 14, the device 10' for shaping a toenail is installed on the toenail 1 by fitting the device 10' from the distal end of the toe onto the distal end of the toenail 1 in a manner such that the toenail plate support part 27 of the device 10' is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the toenail plate 5, which is downwardly curved and upwardly projects, and the base plate 11 is placed on the upper surface of the toenail plate 5.

Next, the bolt 31 is threadedly coupled into the through-hole 15 of the base plate 11 to press the upper surface of the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1, by which the device 10' for shaping a toenail is completely mounted to the toenail 1.

At this time, the bolt 31 applies external force to the center region of the toenail plate 5 of the toenail 1, and the toenail plate support part 27 applies external force to

the boundary regions between the toenail plate 5 and the sides 7 of the toenail 1.

When a predetermined time period has elapsed after the device 10' for shaping a toenail according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is fitted on a toenail 1 which is abnormally growing, the shape of the toenail 1 is elastically altered by the external force applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the plate 5 of the toenail 1, as a result of which the shape of the toenail 1 is changed from a downwardly curved sectional shape into a substantially straight sectional shape.

As a consequence, it is possible to prevent the toenail sides 7 of the toenail 1 from growing abnormally into the skin of a toe, and to eliminate the pain caused by an ingrown toenail 1, whereby the correction of the toenail 1 can be effectively performed.

Although, in the above embodiments, the device for shaping a toenail according to the present invention has been described as being used to shape a toenail, it is to be readily understood that the device can also be used to shape a fingernail.

Also, in the fourth embodiment, although the description mentioned only one through-hole defined in the base plate, it is to be readily understood that a plurality of through-holes can be defined in the base plate and a plurality of bolts can press the upper surface of the toenail

plate, [industrial Applicability]

As is apparent from the above description, the device for shaping a toenail according to the present invention provides advantages in that, since the device can shape a toenail by converting the abnormal growth of the toenail into normal growth and can eliminate pain caused by the growth of the toenail, the device can be usefully employed in the medical industry. In the drawings and specification, typical preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.