Animal nail clipper

Abstract

A clipper for clipping nails of an animal such as a dog, or cat, allows for the clipping of an individual nail at the desired length while preventing injury to the animal. The device includes a clipping means and a sensing means which allows the nail to be localized in a desired position relative to the clipping plane of the clipper and the internal structure of the nail. The sensing means includes a signal generation means, a signal reception means, and a quick indicator. The animal mail is positioned near the clipping means and the sensing means produces a sensible signal confirming the position of the clipping plane upon the nail, particularly the quick of the nail. The user then may adjust the position of the clipping means such that the clipping plane avoids the quick. The user then actuates the clipping means and trims the nail.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority to the provisional application for patent Ser. No. 60 / 751,054 which was filed on Dec. 16, 2005 and is commonly owned by the same inventors.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to grooming equipment for animals such as pets and more particularly to a nail clipper that confirms the location of the nail's quick to prevent cutting it during nail trimming. This invention also senses the internal structure of the nail prior to clipping and allows accurate positioning of the blade just outside of the quick of the nail for a bleed-free nail clipping.

[0003] Animal nails, such as those cats, dogs, other mammals, and birds, contain a blood supply, called the quick, and nerves that can bleed excessively and induce severe sensations of pain if they are accidentally cut during nail trimming. As later shown, FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the anatomy of an animal nail, showing the quick, ...

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