[4] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [5] There are valus kinds of nail clippers. These nail clippers are generally comprised of the upper and lower tines having a cutting blade and an actuator handle elastically pressing the tines to be engaged with each other. And some nail clippers are provided with cases to keep the cut nail piece from scattering.

[6] But the cutting blades of the nail clippers are always exposed to outside. So people, especially young children, may be hurt by the exposed cutting blades of nail clipper.

And when the nail clipper is kept in a drawer, other stocks contained together with the nail clipper in the drawer may be scratched by the nail clipper.

[7] And, the user should turn to open the folded actuator handle from the tines to use the nail clipper, and the user should fold down the actuator handle on the tine after use, which is somewhat inconvenient.

[8] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [9] The invention is provided to solve the problems as descnbed above and the object of the invention is to suggest a novel nail clipper which is safe because the cutting blades could be concealed in the case when it is not in use, and it is convenient because the user need not turn the actuator handle open for use or fold it down after use.

[10] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a nail clipper which is comprised of cutter body 10 having an upper and lower tines 14,18 with the cutting blades 12,16, a channel shape case 20 accommodating the cutter body 10, an actuator handle 30 hinged on the front end of the case 20 and being capable of pressing the upper tine 14 to be engaged with the lower tine 18 and a button 40 engaged with the cutter body 10 through the opening 23 formed on the bottom of the case 20, thereby the front end of the cutter body 10 could be exposed from and concealed into the case 20 by sliding the button 40.

[11] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nail clipper wherein, a projection 38 is formed on the bottom surface of the actuator handle 30 to press the upper tine 14, and a hole 17 is formed on the surface of the upper tine 14 to engage with the projection 38 in case that the tines 14,18 is slid backward.

[12] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nail clipper wherein, the actuator handle 30 is formed of plastic and a steel plate 50 is attached on the surface of the actuator handle 30, on which a magnifier 52 with a magnet 50 could be detachably attached.

[13] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nail clipper wherein, the banter 54 is inserted between the upper and lower tines 14,18.

[14] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a nail clipper wherein, a fnctbn plate 56 is attached on the bottom of the lower tine 18 and the cor- responding traction portion 57 is formed on the bottom of the case 20.

[15] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [16] Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the invention, [17] Figure 2a and 2b show section of the embodiment of the invention in two states.

[18] Figure 3a and 3b show another embodiment of the invention [19] Figure 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the invention [20] BEST MODE FOR CARRING OUT THE INVENTION [21] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be descnbed in detail below by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[22] Figures 1 to 2 show one embodiment of the invention. As shown, a nail clipper is comprised of cutter body 10 having an upper and lower tines 14,18 with cutting blades 12,16, a channel shape case 20 to accommodate the cutter body 10 and an actuator handle 30 hinged on the frond end of the case 20 to press the upper tine 14 to be engaged with the lower tine 18.

[23] The case 20 is formed of plastic in a channel shape and has two side walls 22,24 to cover the side of the cutter body 10 accommodated in the case 20. The actuator handle 30 is hinged by the pin 2 on the pin holes 26,28 of the side walls 22,24 of the case 20 above cutter body 10. A pin insert hole 32 is formed at the front end of the actuator handle 30 to be inserted by pin 2. Preferably, the pin insert hole 32 is shaped as an elongated slot inclined downward toward the rear side.

[24] And a projection 38 is formed on the bottom surface of the actuator handle 30 to press the upper tine 14 as the rear end of the actuator handle 30 being lifted when the pin 2 is located on the front end of the pin insert hole 32. In this state, as the user presses the rear end of actuator handle 30, the projection 38 will press the upper tine 14 to be engaged the lower tine 18, and if the user releases the actuator handle 30, the upper tine 14 will be disengaged from the lower tine 18 by elastic force. And if the user pushes the actuator handle 30 forward as much as the pin 2 is located on the rear end of the pin insert hole 32, the projection 38 will be posiliDned on front side of the pin 2, then the actuator handle 30 will be folded down.

[25] Meanwhile, an opening 23 is formed on the rear side of the bottom of the case 20, on which a button 40 is inserted to engage with the lower tine 18 of the cutter body 10.

The button 40 has an engaging member 46 to engage with the lower tine 18 and a slider 42 to be manipulated by user. The engaging member 46 of the button 40 is to be inserted on the hole 19 of the cutter body 10. The slide groove 41 of the srder 42 is engaged with the guide 29 on the side of the opening 32. And a cover plate 21 is extended on the rear side of the case 20 to cover the rear side of the cutter body 10.

[26] Accordingly, if the button 40 slides toward the rear side of the case 20, the cutting blades 12,16 of the cutter body 10 will be concealed into the case 20. On the contrary, if the button 40 is slid toward the front side of the case 20, the cutting blades 12,16 of the cutter body 40 will be exposed from the case 20.

[27] If necessary, the bottom of the srder 42 will be treated to have a knurled surface, and the sliding distance of the button 40 may be adjusted, or the button 40 may be fixed on the adjusted posiliDn. The numeral 31 is a file to grind the nail.

[28] Figure 3a and 3b show another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, pin 2 is formed on both side of the actuator handle 30 to be engaged on the pin hole 26,28 and the projection 38 is formed on the bottom of the actuator handle 30 on the rear side of the pin 2. And on the upper tine 14 is formed a hole 17 so that the projection 38 should be inserted on the hole 17 as the cutter body 10 is slid toward the rear side by means of button 40, which will result in the folding down of the actuator handle 30. On the contrary, if the cutter body 40 is pushed forward, the projection 38 will be disengaged with the hole 17 to seat on the surface of the upper tine 14 and the rear end of the actuator handle 30 will be lifted.

[29] As shown above, the actuator handle 30 will be automatically folded down or lifted up as the projection 38 of the actuator handle 30 is engaged or disengaged on the hole 17 of the cutter body 10 as the cutter body 10 is slid.

[30] Figure 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the actuator handle 30 is formed of plastic and a steel plate 50 is attached on the surface of the actuator handle 30. And a magnifier 52 with an embedded magnet 53 will be con- veniently attached or detached on the steel plate 50. It will help the old man with weak sight see his nail through with the magnifier 52.

[31] And, a banter 54 with bent form is inserted between the upper and lower tine 14,18, which will keep the cut nap piece from being hold in the gap between the tines 14,18.

[32] Meanwhile, a fnctbn plate 56 is attached on the bottom of the lower tine 18 by engaging the projection 59 of the fnctbn plate 56 into the hole 85 of the lower tine 18.

And the corresponding fnctbn portion 57 is formed on the bottom of the case 20. As the fnctbn degree of the fnctbn plate 56 and the fnctbn portion 57 is properly determined, the fnctbn plate 56 and the fnctbn portion 57 will keep the cutter body 10 from unwanted sliding duiing cutting operation and also will secure the smooth slide by means of button 40.

[33] The nail clipper according to the invention will be used not only for ordinary human nail but also for an artificial nail.

[34] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [35] According to the invention as descnbed above, the nail clipper is safe because the cutting blades 12,16 could be concealed while not using, and it is convenient because it could be folded down or opened automatically as the cuter body 10 is slid by means of button 40.

[36] Also, it is convenient for the old man with weak sight could see his nail through magnifier 50, and cut nail piece is kept from being hold between the upper and lower tine 14,18. Moreover, unwanted sliding is prevented by the fnctbn plate 56 and fnctbn portion 57.