FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to nail clippers. Specifically, the invention relates to illuminated nail clippers for use on pet nails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Pet owners regularly trim pet nails as long nails can cause an irregular gait and may break, leading to infections. Thus the importance of trimming pet nails has significant health benefits to the animals. Though pet nail cutters are ubiquitous and come in different styles, there is still a danger of accidentally cutting a quick in the nail. One way pet groomers avoid cutting the quick is to cut the pet nail at an angle. However, if the nail is cut at too high an angle then the quick may still be inadvertently cut. An easy way to identify the quick in the nail is by illuminating the nail to see the silhouette of the quick therein.

[0003] Currently illuminated nail clippers exist on the market. However existing illuminated nail cutters scatter light or obstruct the view or cutting action of the clipper. Thus there is a need for an illuminated nail cli pper that focuses the light on the nail to increase visibility of blood vessels in the nail. There is a need for an illuminated nail clipper that focuses the light on the nail that is being cut at any angle. There is a need for an illuminated nail clipper that will illuminate a nail when the blade is curved. It is desired that the light illuminating the nail be dimensioned and configured to a shape of the cutting portion of the nail clipper such as a semicircular shape found on scissor-sty!e pet nail clippers. It is desired that the light illuminate a nail regardless of the angle at which the nail is inserted in the nail clipper. It is important that the light shine on the nail so the groomer may cut the nail in a variety of positions and angles. It is further desired that the light illuminate the nail intended to be cut without obstructing or shining into the eyes of the user using the Illuminated nail clipper. It is desired that an illuminated nail clipper illuminate a nail while protecting a user’s eyes from direct exposure to the light source within the illuminated nail clipper.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An illuminated nail clipper has a light disposed under a light housing panel. At rest, the clipper does not shine a light. When a user squeezes amis of the nail clipper, the light within the light housing panel is activated and is focused on the area the cutting edge or surface of the clipper is intended to cut. The housing panel has an edge that is matched to a blade cutting edge of the clipper and the panel is made of light diffusing material. Light that shines through the housing is focused on and directed to a pet’s nail to illuminate the quick in the nail without obstructing the vision of the user using the illuminated nail clipper. Pads are located on the outside of opposing blades to enhance comfort for the pet. A nail grinder is conveniently located in an arm of the clipper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0005] FIG. 1 is perspective picture of the i lluminated nail clipper

[0006] FIG. 2 is an inside view of the light housing or illuminated panel.

[0007] FIG. 3 is diagram of a circuit used with the illuminated nail clipper.

[0008] FIG. 4 is perspective picture of the illuminated guillotine-type nail clipper.

[0009] Fig. 5 is a perspective picture of pads located on the opposing blades of the clipper.

[0010] Fig. 6 is a perspective picture of a grinder located in a portion of an arm of the clipper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a nail clipper 100 having arms 110, 112 and a first opposing blade 130 having a cutting edge 134, a second opposing blade 132 also with a cutting edge, a spring 120 disposed between the arms 1 10, 112, a battery door 116, a light housing or illuminated panel 180 with an edge 184 adjacent and close in profile with said cutting edge 134. The present invention will describe the invention with curved blade cutting edges as shown in Fig. 1. However, said cutting edges may take any form and need not be limited to said curved shape.

[0012] The light housing 180 is dimensioned and configured to a blade of the clipper 100 such as blade 130. See also Fig. 3A. The light housing 180 has a light housing edge 184 which is adjacent to the cutting edge 134 of the clipper 100. In some embodiments, the light housing edge 184 will mirror and match the contour or shape of the curved cutting edge 134 The light housing edge 184 may therefore match in shape a profile of said cutting edge. The light housing edge 184 also lies near, abuts and even touches the cuting edge 134 to illuminate the pet’s nail. However, it should be noted that the light housing edge 184, though adjacent the cutting edge 134, will not obstruct the cutting edge 134 nor interfere with the cuting action of the blades 130, 132. By having the light housing edge 184 adjacent to the cutting edge 134 a user is able to direct the light emitted from the light 186 to the pet’s nail that is being offered for clipping.

[0013] Fig. 2 shows the interior of the light housing 180 and arm panel 182 both of which are turned out and away from the blade 130 and arm 1 12, respectively. The housing 180 holds or cradles a light 186. The light 186 may be any form of light including but not limited to an LED light. The light housing 180 may be made of material that permits light to diffuse such as but not limited to acrylic. The arm panel 182 retains electrical components that are used to active the light 186.

[0014] By having the light 186 cradled in the light housing 180 and having the light housing edge 184 dimensioned and configured to blade cutting edge 134, the light rays emitted from light 186 are focused on the nail regardless of the angle or position at which the pet nail is being offered for clipping. Such a feature is quite useful when the clipper is used on an uncooperative animal whose nail is set to be cut. The nail intended to be cut is thus directly illuminated allowing the person using the clipper 100 to see the quick or blood vessel through the pet nail.

[0015] In one embodiment, the light housing 180 may be made of light diffusing material which contributes to the ability of the light rays emitted from the light 186 to be able to illuminate the nail that is intended to be cut. In this embodiment, the light rays emitted from the light 186 focus directly on the nail by being adjacent the cutting edge 134 and illuminate the pet nail by diffusing the light rays via the light diffusing material used in the housing 180 It should be noted that the housing 180 will be used to protect the user’s eyes from light rays emitted by the light 186. Specifically, light rays emitted through the housing 180 are directed through housing edge 184 so the light rays do not directly shine into the eyes of the user.

[0016] Looking now to Fig. 3 A, the dipper 100 is shown in a relaxed or first position with the arms 110, 112 apart. Here the light 186 is not active or on as the circuit is open. In a second position, also called an illuminated position, the arms 1 10, 112 of the clipper 100 are squeezed together activating the light 186 within the light housing 180. See Figure 3B. The act of compressing the arms 110, 112 of the clipper 100 closes the battery powered electrical circuit and turns on light 186 when contact is made between a spring switch 50 in the spring 120 and a wire element 52, The spring 120 may be coated with an electric insulation material. The light may be powered by three watch batteries that is compact enough to fit in either arm 110, 112. In one embodiment, a battery cover 116 is designed to be opened and closed with a penny for easy access to the batteries. Unlike prior art clippers, the current clipper 100 does not require extra parts, such as a switch or a button to illuminate the light 186 in the clipper 100. The circuitry for illuminating the clipper, may, in one embodiment be found in an arm housing 182 disposed on either arm 110, 112. See Fig. 3 A.

[0017] The invention above has been described with an illuminated scissor style nail clipper 100 however other clippers may be covered under the illuminated nail clipper description of the present invention. For instance, Fig. 4 shows a guillotine-type of illuminated nail clipper 200. The clipper 200 has guillotine blades 230, 232 that is illuminated by a light 286 that is held in a light housing 280. The housing 280 is disposed on blade 230 to illuminate a nail that is presented within the hole in blade 230. In another embodiment, the housing 280 is dimensioned and configured to a lower surface of blade 230 providing clearance for blade 232 to cut a nail. In yet another embodiment, the housing 280 is dimensioned and configured to a lower surface of blade 232 and may be further dimensioned and configured to a cutting edge of blade 232 to directly shine and focus light on the nail intended to be cut. The guillotine-type clipper 200 is illuminated when the arms 212, 210 are squeezed to activate the cutting action of the blades 230, 232. This squeezing action causes the electrical circuit within the clipper 200 to be closed similar to the description with clipper 100. When the arms 210, 212 are relaxed or in a first position the electrical circuit is open and the light 286 is off.

[0018] The guillotine-type clipper 200 will be constructed to have many of the features of the nail clipper 100. Similar to housing 180, housing 280 would be made to contour, match, and be dimensioned and configured to the guillotine blade 230. The housing 280 would also be designed to fit on the guillotine blade 230 without obstructing the cutting action of the blades 230, 232. Housing 280 cradles a light 286 and would be made of material useful in diffusing light emitted from light 286. Just like light 186, when light 286 is turned on the housing 280 illuminates any nail placed through the blades 230, 232 for clipping. The housing 280 focuses light rays emitted from light 289 on the nail without directly shining into the eyes of the user using the clipper 200 as the housing 280 is curved to the shape of the guillotine blade 230.

[0019] Fig. 5 shows pads 190 on the exterior side of first opposing blade 130 and second opposing blade 132. The pads can be placed on the exterior of the opposing blades and may extend to the light housing panel 180. When the pads extend to the light housing panel 180, bolt 194 and nut can be used to hold the fixtures in place. (A thin layer of a panel can be attached on the bottom side of the opposing blades to secure the pads.). Pads 190 benefit pets with ingrown or curled nails, for example. Pets with this extraordinary toenail shape may suffer injury during nail cutting as the hard metal of the nail clippers may touch or sometimes can cut a pets paw pad. The use of pad 190 is a barrier between the metal exterior of opposing blades 130, 132 and mitigates the chance of pain and injury to the pet and can make the pet feel more comfortable. Even pets with“normal” nails benefit from the use of protective pads 190. Pads 190 alleviate the cold and hard metal feel to the pet. The additional soft pads enhance the pets comfort level and reduce its’ fear.

[0020] Pads 190 can be permanently attached in various ways. For example, the metal of the exterior of opposing blades 130, 132, can be processed to have rough surfaces for the pads to be affixed. Another example includes having grooves on the exterior metal surfaces of opposing blades 130, 132 in which pads 190 can be molded and attached to said grooves. Pads 190 can be made of a thin coat of silicon or molded rubber, for example, coating the exterior side of opposing blades 130, 132.

[0021] Fig. 5 also includes a moveable stopper 192, located behind cutting edges 134, of opposing blades 130, 132. Moveable stopper is attached using the same bolt 194 used to connect opposing blades 130, 132. Moveable stopper 192 limits the amount of nail that can be placed between the cutting edges of the blades to protect from cutting nails too short.

[0022] Fig. 6a shows a grinder in the closed position inserted in an arm of the nail clipper.

Grinder 625 is inserted in one of the clipper arms, 610, for example, and can be slid out when needed. Handle 630 clicks into position and a button is used to release the grinder from arm 610. When the user needs access to grinder 625, they can release the tool as seen in Fig, 6b. A stripe text pattern 635 on grinder 625 easy to recognize by the user and provides a comfort to the user for sliding grinder 625 in and out of the clipper arm. Stripe textured pattern 635 also provides a grip for the user while filing. Grinder 625 allows the user to grind/file a cut toenail. Grinding is highly recommended after each cutting. Failure to properly grind a nail after being cut may cause the nail to crack. This is especially true for pets with thick nails. Such cracks can cause suffering of the pet or can lead to further injury. The inserted grinder 625 is an easy tool to use and can easily be stored within the nail clipper when not in use. Grinder 625 can be made of metal, for example, and had a pointed or rounded end, for example.

[0023] While the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific

embodiments, those of normal skill in the art will appreciate the modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are envisioned to be within the scope of the appended claims.