Nail clippers

Abstract

To provide nail clippers that can effectively prevent cutting nails too short. [Solution] The nail clippers include a lower plate with a lower blade formed at its front end, an upper plate with an upper blade formed at its front end and its rear end connected to the rear end of the lower plate, a support shaft fixed to the lower plate between its front and rear ends and passing through the upper plate, an operating lever connected to the support shaft on the opposite side of the upper plate with the upper plate in between, which moves the upper plate toward and toward the lower plate in a separated state and a contact state with the lower blade and upper blade, and a regulating member positioned between the lower plate and the upper plate to regulate the amount of nail that enters between the lower blade and the upper blade. The regulating member is positioned to overlap the entire gap between the separated lower blade and the upper blade when viewed from the direction of nail entry, and has a contact surface that abuts against the nail entering between the lower blade and the upper blade.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to nail clippers.

Background Art

[0002] There are two types of nail clippers: a grip type that cuts nails by holding a lever part and transmitting the force of a lever to a blade tip, and clamping the nail with upper and lower blades; and a nipper type that cuts nails with a small force as if shaving off the nails. Here, although the grip type nail clipper is easier to handle than the nipper type, it has a problem in that it is difficult to visually recognize the amount of nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade, so it is likely to cut nails too deep.

[0003] Therefore, for the purpose of preventing deep nail cutting by a grip type nail clipper, there are nail clippers provided with a nail stopper at the back of the lower blade and the upper blade (for example, see Patent Document 1), and nail clippers with a lower plate protruding forward from the upper blade (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the nail clippers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since there is a gap between the upper blade and the lower blade, there is a possibility that deep nail cutting cannot be prevented depending on the way of inserting the nail. Such problems are particularly prominent for people with poor eyesight and the elderly. Also, the same problems can occur not only when cutting one's own nails but also when cutting the nails of infants and animals who make unexpected movements.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a nail clipper that can properly prevent cutting nails too short. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention comprises a lower plate with a lower blade formed at its front end, an upper plate with an upper blade formed at its front end and its rear end connected to the rear end of the lower plate, a support shaft fixed to the lower plate between its front and rear ends and passing through the upper plate, an operating lever connected to the support shaft on the opposite side of the upper plate, sandwiching the upper plate, and moving the upper plate toward and toward the lower plate in a separated state and a contact state where the lower blade and the upper blade are separated and in contact, and a regulating member positioned between the lower plate and the upper plate to regulate the amount of claws that enter between the lower blade and the upper blade, wherein the regulating member is positioned to overlap the entire gap between the lower blade and the upper blade in the separated state when viewed from the direction of claw entry, and has a contact surface that abuts against the claws entering between the lower blade and the upper blade. The regulating member further comprises a lower wall along the inner surface of the lower plate, an upper wall along the inner surface of the upper plate, a front wall connecting the front ends of the lower wall and the upper wall, a lower bent wall bent from the rear end of the lower wall toward the lower plate, and an upper bent wall bent from the rear end of the upper wall toward the upper plate, the front surface of the front wall becoming the contact surface, the lower bent wall and the upper bent wall biasing the contact surface forward, and the regulating member moves backward against the biasing force of the lower bent wall and the upper bent wall in response to the operation of the operating lever that brings the lower blade and the upper blade into contact. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a nail clipper that can effectively prevent nails from being cut too short. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view of the nail clippers according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the nail clippers according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3A] This is a front-upper perspective view of the regulating member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] This is a rear-downward perspective view of the regulating member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4A] This is a plan view of the regulating member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4B] This is a front view of the regulating member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4C] This is a right side view of the regulating member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade separated. [Figure 6A] Side view of the nail clipper with a nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade. [Figure 6B] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade in contact. [Figure 7] External perspective view of the nail clipper according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8A] Side view of the nail clipper with a nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade. [Figure 8B] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade in contact. [Figure 9] External perspective view of the nail clipper according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10A] Side view of the nail clipper with a nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade. [Figure 10B] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade in contact. [Figure 11] External perspective view of the nail clipper according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12A] Side view of the nail clipper with a nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade. [Figure 12B] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade in contact. [Figure 13] External perspective view of the nail clipper according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 14A] Side view of the nail clipper with a nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade. [Figure 14B] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade in contact. [Figure 15] External perspective view of the regulating member according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 16A] Side view of the nail clipper with a nail inserted between the lower blade and the upper blade. [Figure 16B] Side view of the nail clipper with the lower blade and the upper blade in contact.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The nail clippers 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention described below are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and do not limit the scope of the present invention to the scope described in the embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented by making various modifications to the embodiments.

[0011] [First Embodiment] [Components of nail clipper 1] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the nail clipper 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the nail clipper 1 according to the first embodiment. The nail clipper 1 is a so-called "grip type" nail clipper. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nail clipper 1 mainly comprises a lower plate 2, an upper plate 3, a support shaft 4, and an operating lever 5.

[0012] Hereinafter, in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the lower plate 2, the side on which the lower blade 2a is provided will be defined as the "front (front end)," and the opposite side will be defined as the "rear (rear end)." Furthermore, in the extension direction (up-down direction) of the support shaft 4, the side of the lower plate 2 will be referred to as "downward," and the side of the upper plate 3 will be referred to as "upward." In addition, the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and the up-down direction will be defined as the "left-to-right direction (width direction)."

[0013] The lower plate 2 is a long, plate-shaped metal plate. A lower blade 2a is provided at the front end of the lower plate 2. The lower blade 2a is the part that protrudes forward and upward from the front end of the lower plate 2. The lower blade 2a extends in the left-right direction and is curved so that its center is recessed backward. Furthermore, the tip of the lower blade 2a is sharp. In addition, a through hole 2b is formed in the lower plate 2 that penetrates in the thickness direction. The through hole 2b is provided on the front side of the center in the longitudinal direction of the lower plate 2 (more specifically, near the lower blade 2a).

[0014] The upper plate 3 is a long, flat metal plate. The rear ends of the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3 are connected to each other (for example, by welding). The upper plate 3 extends toward the front end, away from the lower plate 2. That is, the inner surface (upper surface) of the lower plate 2 and the inner surface (lower surface) of the upper plate 3 face each other, with the gap between them gradually widening toward the front. An upper blade 3a is provided at the front end of the upper plate 3. Furthermore, a through hole 3b is formed in the upper plate 3, penetrating in the thickness direction.

[0015] The upper blade 3a is the portion that protrudes forward and downward from the front end of the upper plate 3. Furthermore, the upper blade 3a extends in the left-right direction and is curved so that its center is recessed backward. In addition, the tip of the upper blade 3a is sharp. The through hole 3b is located forward of the center in the longitudinal direction of the upper plate 3 (more specifically, at a position that overlaps with the through hole 2b when viewed from above or below). Furthermore, the through hole 3b is an elongated hole that is longer in the front-back direction than in the left-right direction.

[0016] The support shaft 4 consists of a shaft portion 4a, a flange portion 4b, and a locking recess 4c. The shaft portion 4a is the part that has a cylindrical outer shape. The flange portion 4b is the part that protrudes radially from the lower end of the shaft portion 4a and is continuous in the circumferential direction. The diameter of the shaft portion 4a is smaller than the through holes 2b and 3b, and the diameter of the flange portion 4b is larger than the through hole 2b. The locking recess 4c is the part that is recessed radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 4a. The locking recess 4c is the part into which the locking shaft 5a of the operating lever 5 is locked.

[0017] The shaft portion 4a is inserted into the through holes 2b and 3b from the outer surface (bottom surface) of the lower plate 2, with the end opposite to the flange portion 4b as its tip. Since the flange portion 4b cannot pass through the through hole 2b, the support shaft 4 is fixed to the lower plate 2. On the other hand, the tip side of the shaft portion 4a protrudes upward from the outer surface (top surface) of the upper plate 3, passing through the through holes 2b and 3b up to the upper end of the locking recess 4c.

[0018] The operating lever 5 is a long, plate-shaped metal plate. The operating lever 5 is connected to the support shaft 4 on the opposite side of the lower plate 2 from the upper plate 3. The operating lever 5 is operated by the user of the nail clippers 1 to bring the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a into contact with and separate from each other. The operating lever 5 is provided with a locking shaft 5a, a pivot projection 5b, and a nail file 5c.

[0019] The locking shaft 5a extends in the left-right direction from the tip of the operating lever 5. The locking shaft 5a is locked into a locking recess 4c that passes through the through hole 3b (i.e., is exposed on the outer surface side of the upper plate 3). The pivot projection 5b, in the use state of the nail clipper 1 (state shown in Figure 1), is in contact with the outer surface of the upper plate 3, rearward from the locking shaft 5a. The nail file 5c is formed on the side of the operating lever 5 opposite to the pivot projection 5b. By rotating the pivot shaft 4, the operating lever 5 can be rotated (stored) so that the nail file 5c faces the outer surface of the upper plate 3.

[0020] When the operating lever 5 is not being operated, the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are separated vertically (see Figures 1, 5, and 6A). Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "separated state". Furthermore, when the user grasps the rear ends of the connected lower plate 2 and upper plate 3 and the rear end of the operating lever 5 (opposite the locked shaft 5a, with the fulcrum projection 5b in between), and brings the rear end of the operating lever 5 (point of force application) closer to the upper plate 3, the fulcrum projection 5b acts as the fulcrum and the locked shaft 5a acts as the point of application, and the upper plate 3 is pushed down by the principle of leverage and approaches the lower plate 2. As a result, the tips of the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a come into contact with each other (see Figure 6B). Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "contact state". Furthermore, when the user stops operating the operating lever 5, the upper plate 3 separates from the lower plate 2 and returns to the separated state.

[0021] In other words, the user of the nail clippers 1 operates the operating lever 5 with the tip of the nail N inserted between the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a. As a result, the tip of the nail N is cut by the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a, which are now in contact. The desired length of the nail N can then be achieved by adjusting the amount of insertion of the nail N between the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a. However, with the grip-type nail clippers 1, it is difficult to see the amount of insertion of the nail N between the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a, which presents a problem as it is easy to cut the nail too short.

[0022] [Configuration of the regulating member 10] Therefore, the nail clipper 1 according to the first embodiment further includes a regulating member 10. As shown in Figure 1, the regulating member 10 is positioned between the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3. The regulating member 10 plays a role in preventing deep cuts by regulating the amount of nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. The nail clipper 1 may be an existing product with the regulating member 10 attached retrospectively, or it may be a newly designed product with the regulating member 10 already attached.

[0023] Figure 3A is a front-upper perspective view of the restricting member 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 3B is a rear-downper perspective view of the restricting member 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 4A is a plan view of the restricting member 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 4B is a front view of the restricting member 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 4C is a right-side view of the restricting member 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3A to 4C, the regulating member 10 according to the first embodiment mainly comprises a main body 11 and a contact portion 12. Furthermore, the regulating member 10 according to the first embodiment is integrally molded from, for example, a solid elastic member (e.g., soft plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber).

[0025] The main body 11 is fixed to the nail clipper 1 (more specifically, the support shaft 4) and is the part that supports the contact portion 12. The lower surface of the main body 11 is a flat surface that follows the inner surface of the lower plate 2. The upper surface of the main body 11 is an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the front, following the inner surface of the upper plate 3. In other words, the main body 11 is formed such that its thickness gradually increases toward the front from the rear end. Furthermore, the main body 11 has a through hole 13 that penetrates in the vertical direction. The support shaft 4 passes through the through hole 13 between the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3. This fixes the regulating member 10 to the nail clipper 1.

[0026] The contact portion 12 protrudes forward from the main body 11. A contact surface 14 is provided on the front surface of the contact portion 12. The contact surface 14 is the surface that the tip of the claw N, inserted between the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a, contacts. The contact surface 14 is also a concave curved surface that receives the claw N entering between the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a (in other words, it is concave toward the rear). Furthermore, the contact surface 14 is a concave groove that extends in the left-right direction.

[0027] The contact surface 14 is preferably an arc shape centered at the midpoint P of the imaginary line connecting the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a in a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction (i.e., the distance from the midpoint is equal). Furthermore, the contact surface 14 is preferably an arc shape in a cross section perpendicular to the up-down direction, with the center in the left-right direction being concave from both ends.

[0028] Figure 5 is a side view of the nail clippers 1 with the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a separated. Figure 6A is a side view of the nail clippers 1 with a nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a. Figure 6B is a side view of the nail clippers 1 with the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a in contact.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the nail clipper 1 with the regulating member 10 attached can be obtained by positioning the regulating member 10 between the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3 with the contact surface 14 facing forward, and inserting the support shaft 4 into the communicating through holes 2b, 13, and 3b. Furthermore, in the nail clipper 1 with the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a separated, the lower surface of the main body 11 is in surface contact with the inner surface of the lower plate 2, and the upper surface of the main body 11 is separated from the inner surface of the upper plate 3. In addition, the lower end of the contact portion 12 (the lower end of the contact surface 14) is in contact with the inner surface of the lower blade 2a, and the upper end of the contact portion 12 (the upper end of the contact surface 14) is in contact with the inner surface of the upper blade 3a. That is, when the nail clipper 1 is viewed from the direction in which the nail N enters (i.e., from the front), the contact surface 14 is positioned to overlap the entire gap between the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a.

[0030] As an example, a single nail clipper 1 may be provided with multiple regulating members 10 having different contact surface depths 14. In this case, the user can attach the regulating member 10 with the desired contact surface depth 14 to the nail clipper 1 and cut their nails N. That is, the regulating member 10 may be detachable from the nail clipper 1. As another example, a plurality of nail clippers 1 may be provided, each equipped with a regulating member 10 having a different contact surface depth 14. In this case, the user can select the nail clipper 1 equipped with the regulating member 10 having the desired contact surface depth 14 and cut their nails N. That is, the regulating member 10 may not be detachable from the nail clipper 1.

[0031] Next, as shown in Figure 6A, the user inserts the claw N between the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a, bringing the tip of the claw N into contact with the contact surface 14. At this time, the gap between the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a is filled by the contact portion 12, preventing the tip of the claw N from coming off the contact surface 14 and preventing the insertion amount of the claw N from becoming excessive.

[0032] Next, as shown in Figure 6B, the user operates the operating lever 5 to bring the upper plate 3 closer to the lower plate 2, thereby moving the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a from a separated state to a contact state. This cuts the tip of the nail N. At this time, the regulating member 10 (main body 11) is elastically compressed by surface contact with the inner surface of the upper plate 3 as it moves from the separated state to the contact state. Meanwhile, the contact portion 12 constantly fills the gap between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a during the process in which the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a reach the contact state. As a result, if the tip of the nail N is in contact with the contact surface 14, it is possible to prevent cutting the nail too short, and the length of the nail N protruding from the tip of the finger can always be kept constant.

[0033] [Effects of the First Embodiment] According to the first embodiment, by positioning the contact surface 14 at a location that overlaps the entire gap between the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a when viewed from the direction in which the nail N enters, it is possible to appropriately prevent nail cutting.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, by making the contact surface 14 a concave curved surface (more specifically, an arc shape centered on the midpoint P of the imaginary line connecting the separated lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a), the amount of cutting of the claws N can be kept constant even if the angle of the claws N inserted into the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a changes. However, the contact surface 14 is not limited to a curved surface, but may also be a flat surface.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the restricting member 10 can be easily fixed to the nail clipper 1 by fixing it to the support shaft 4. This allows the restricting member 10 to be attached not only to a dedicated nail clipper 1 to which the restricting member 10 is attached, but also to an existing nail clipper 1.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, by elastically compressing the regulating member 10 against the upper plate 3 as it moves from a separated state to a contact state, it is possible to prevent the regulating member 10 (more specifically, the contact surface 14) from shifting during the process of cutting the nail N. This makes it possible to prevent cutting the nail too deeply even more effectively.

[0037] [Second Embodiment] The second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 8B. Detailed explanations of the similarities with the first embodiment will be omitted, and the focus will be on the differences. Figure 7 is an external perspective view of the nail clipper 1 according to the second embodiment. Figure 8A is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. Figure 8B is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a in contact.

[0038] The regulating member 20 according to the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that it comprises a main body 21 having a through hole (not shown) and a contact portion 22 having a contact surface 24. On the other hand, the regulating member 20 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is hollow inside and both left and right end faces of the main body 21 are open.

[0039] According to the second embodiment, the hollow restricting member 20 pressed against the upper plate 3 is elastically compressed to reduce the volume of its internal space, thus reducing the resistance when operating the operating lever 5 compared to a solid restricting member 10. Furthermore, the restricting member 20, whose elastic deformability is structurally ensured, offers a wider range of material choices (e.g., rigid plastic, metal plate) compared to the restricting member 10.

[0040] [Third Embodiment] The third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 10B. Detailed explanations of the similarities with the first embodiment will be omitted, and the focus will be on the differences. Figure 9 is an external perspective view of the nail clipper 1 according to the third embodiment. Figure 10A is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with a nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. Figure 10B is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a in contact.

[0041] The regulating member 30 according to the third embodiment is composed of a lower wall 31, an upper wall 32, a rear wall 33, a first front wall 34, and a second front wall 35. The regulating member 30 may be formed, for example, by injection molding of a resin material or by bending a metal plate.

[0042] The lower wall 31 is a flat plate-shaped portion that follows (surface contacts) the inner surface of the lower plate 2. The upper wall 32 is a flat plate-shaped portion that follows (surface contacts) the inner surface of the upper plate 3. The rear wall 33 is a flat plate-shaped portion that connects the rear ends of the lower wall 31 and the upper wall 32. The first front wall 34 is a plate-shaped portion that protrudes upward (more specifically, forward and upward) from the front end of the lower wall 31. The second front wall 35 is a plate-shaped portion that protrudes downward (more specifically, forward and downward) from the front end of the upper wall 32. The first front wall 34 and the second front wall 35 may be flat or curved to follow the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a.

[0043] On the other hand, the interior of the regulating member 30, enclosed by the lower wall 31, upper wall 32, rear wall 33, first front wall 34, and second front wall 35, is hollow. Furthermore, both end faces of the regulating member 30 in the left-right direction are open. In addition, through holes (not shown) are formed in the lower wall 31 and upper wall 32 between the through holes 2b and 3b, through which the support shaft 4 passes.

[0044] As shown in Figures 10A and 10B, the first front wall 34 and the second front wall 35 are arranged to overlap each other when viewed from the direction of entry of the claw N. Furthermore, the amount of overlap between the first front wall 34 and the second front wall 35 is greater when the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are in contact (Figure 10B) than when the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are separated (Figure 10A).

[0045] The protrusion of the second front wall 35 is greater than that of the first front wall 34. Furthermore, the second front wall 35 is positioned forward of the first front wall 34 to avoid interference with it. The front surface of the second front wall 35 becomes the contact surface. As another example, the protrusion of the first front wall 34 may be greater than that of the second front wall 35. The first front wall 34 may also be positioned forward of the second front wall 35. In this case, the front surface of the first front wall 34 becomes the contact surface. That is, the first front wall 34 and the second front wall 35 only need to be positioned offset from each other in the front-rear direction. Also, the side of the first front wall 34 and the second front wall 35 that does not become the contact surface can be omitted.

[0046] In the third embodiment, the restricting member 30 is pressed against the upper plate 3 during the transition from a separated state to a contact state, and undergoes elastic deformation starting from the boundary portion between the upper wall 32 and the rear wall 33 (or the boundary portion between the lower wall 31 and the rear wall 33).

[0047] As in the third embodiment, by making the contact surface (the front surface of the first front wall 34 or the second front wall 35) a simple shape, the configuration of the regulating member 30 can be simplified compared to the case where it is a concave curved surface.

[0048] [Fourth Embodiment] The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 12B. Detailed explanations of the similarities with the first and third embodiments will be omitted, and the explanation will focus on the differences. Figure 11 is an external perspective view of the nail clipper 1 according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 12A is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with a nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. Figure 12B is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a in contact.

[0049] The restricting member 40 according to the fourth embodiment is similar to the restricting member 30 according to the third embodiment in that it comprises a lower wall 41, an upper wall 42, a rear wall 43, a first front wall 44, and a second front wall 45. On the other hand, the restricting member 40 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the restricting member 30 according to the third embodiment in that the first front wall 44 and the second front wall 45 are arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction.

[0050] Furthermore, the first front wall 44 and the second front wall 45 according to the fourth embodiment have a so-called "comb shape" in which portions with a large protrusion and portions with a small protrusion are arranged alternately in the left-right direction. In order to avoid interference between the first front wall 44 and the second front wall 45, the portions with a large protrusion are offset from each other in the left-right direction. In other words, the portion with a large protrusion of the first front wall 44 faces the portion with a small protrusion of the second front wall 45. Also, the portion with a small protrusion of the first front wall 44 faces the portion with a large protrusion of the second front wall 45.

[0051] As shown in Figure 12A, the first front wall 44 and the second front wall 45 partially overlap even when the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are separated, when viewed from the direction of entry of the claw N. Furthermore, the amount of overlap between the first front wall 44 and the second front wall 45 is greater when the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are in contact (Figure 12B) than when they are separated (Figure 12A). The front surfaces of the first front wall 44 and the second front wall 45 become the contact surfaces.

[0052] According to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to reliably prevent the tip of the claw N from coming off the contact surface, thereby preventing the insertion amount of the claw N from becoming excessive.

[0053] [Fifth Embodiment] The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 14B. Detailed explanations of the similarities with the first embodiment will be omitted, and the focus will be on the differences. Figure 13 is an external perspective view of the nail clipper 1 according to the fifth embodiment. Figure 14A is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with a nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. Figure 14B is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a in contact.

[0054] The regulating member 50 according to the fifth embodiment is plate-shaped, protruding from the inner surface of the upper plate 3 toward the lower plate 2 and extending in the left-right direction. The regulating member 50 may also be flat or curved to follow the lower blade 2a and upper blade 3a. The front surface of the regulating member 50 is the contact surface. The regulating member 50 is attached, for example, by welding to the inner surface of the upper plate 3. The amount of protrusion of the regulating member 50 is set so that, when separated, it overlaps the entire gap between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a and is spaced apart from the inner surface of the lower plate 2.

[0055] The lower plate 2 has a through hole 51 that penetrates in the thickness direction. The through hole 51 is shaped, positioned, and sized to allow the regulating member 50 to enter. The regulating member 50 enters the through hole 51 as the upper plate 3 moves from a separated state to a contact state. This ensures that the protrusion amount overlaps the entire gap between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a when they are separated, while preventing the regulating member 50 from interfering with the lower plate 2 when they are in contact.

[0056] [Sixth Embodiment] The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 16B. Detailed explanations of the similarities with the first embodiment will be omitted, and the explanation will focus on the differences. Figure 15 is an external perspective view of the regulating member 60 according to the sixth embodiment. Figure 16A is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the nail N inserted between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. Figure 16B is a side view of the nail clipper 1 with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a in contact.

[0057] As shown in Figure 15, the restricting member 60 according to the sixth embodiment is composed of a lower wall 61, an upper wall 62, a front wall 63, a lower bent wall 64, and an upper bent wall 65. The restricting member 60 may be formed, for example, by injection molding of a resin material or by bending a metal plate.

[0058] The lower wall 61 is a flat plate-shaped portion that follows the inner surface of the lower plate 2. The upper wall 62 is a flat plate-shaped portion that follows the inner surface of the upper plate 3. Through holes 66 and 67 are formed in the lower wall 61 and the upper wall 62, penetrating in the thickness direction. The support shaft 4 passes through the through holes 66 and 67 between the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3. This fixes the regulating member 60 to the nail clipper 1. The through holes 66 and 67 are elongated holes in the front-to-back direction so that the regulating member 60 can move in the front-to-back direction between the lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3.

[0059] The front wall 63 is a flat plate-shaped portion that connects the front ends of the lower wall 61 and the upper wall 62. The front surface of the front wall 63 is the contact surface. The front wall 63 may be flat or curved to follow the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a. The vertical height of the front wall 63 is greater than the distance between the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a when they are spaced apart.

[0060] The lower bent wall 64 is the portion bent from the rear end of the lower wall 61 toward the lower plate 2 (in other words, the underside of the lower wall 61). The upper bent wall 65 is the portion bent from the rear end of the upper wall 62 toward the upper plate 3 (in other words, the upperside of the upper wall 62). More specifically, the lower bent wall 64 and the upper bent wall 65 are portions folded in opposite directions from the rear ends of the lower wall 61 and the upper wall 62.

[0061] As shown in Figure 16A, the restricting member 60 is attached to the nail clipper 1 while being pressed by the lower wall 61 and upper wall 62 in a direction that increases the amount of bending of the lower bent wall 64 and the upper bent wall 65. That is, when the restricting member 60 is attached to the nail clipper 1, the lower bent wall 64 is pressed closer to the lower surface of the lower wall 61, and the upper bent wall 65 is pressed closer to the upper surface of the upper wall 62.

[0062] The lower bent wall 64 and the upper bent wall 65 function as so-called "leaf springs," biasing the regulating member 60 forward with a restoring force that attempts to return the amount of bending to its original state. As a result, the regulating member 60 contacts the inner surfaces of the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a when they are separated. Consequently, the tip of the claw N entering between the separated lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a is more likely to contact the front surface of the front wall 63, as shown in Figure 16A.

[0063] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 16B, when the user operates the operating lever 5 to bring the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a into contact, the lower bent wall 64 and the upper bent wall 65 are pressed by the lower wall 61 and the upper wall 62 in a direction that further increases the amount of bending. As a result, the regulating member 60 moves backward against the biasing force of the lower bent wall 64 and the upper bent wall 65. In other words, the regulating member 60 moves backward in conjunction with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a coming closer together, in order to avoid interference with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a.

[0064] According to the sixth embodiment, the insertion amount of the nail N can be effectively restricted when the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are separated, thereby properly preventing deep nail cutting. Furthermore, when the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a are in contact, interference with the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a can be avoided by moving the restricting member 60 backward.

[0065] Furthermore, by biasing the regulating member 60 forward with the lower bent wall 64 and the upper bent wall 65, the front wall 63 comes into contact with the inside of the lower blade 2a and the upper blade 3a when they are separated. Therefore, by lowering the vertical height of the front wall 63, the amount of claw N penetration can be reduced, and by raising the vertical height of the front wall 63, the amount of claw N penetration can be increased. In this way, multiple product lines with different amounts of claw N penetration can be provided depending on the vertical height of the front wall 63. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1...nail clipper, 2...lower plate, 2a...lower blade, 2b,3b,13,51,66,67...through hole, 3...upper plate, 3a...upper blade, 4...support shaft, 4a...shaft, 4b...flange, 4c...locking recess, 5...operating lever, 5a...locked shaft, 5b...fulcrum projection, 5c...nail file, 10,20,30,4 0,50,60...Restriction member, 11,21...Main body, 12,22...Abutting part, 14,24...Abutting surface, 31,41,61...Lower wall, 32,42, 62...Top wall, 33,43...Rear wall, 34,44...First front wall, 35,45...Second front wall, 63...Front wall, 64...Lower bent wall, 65...Upper bent wall

Claims

1. A lower plate with a lower blade formed at the front end, An upper plate having an upper blade formed at its front end and its rear end connected to the rear end of the lower plate, A support shaft is fixed to the lower plate between the front and rear ends and passes through the upper plate, An operating lever is connected to the support shaft on the opposite side of the lower plate, with the upper plate in between, and moves the upper plate toward and toward the lower plate, so that the lower blade and the upper blade are separated and in contact. The system includes a regulating member positioned between the lower plate and the upper plate, which restricts the amount of claws that enter between the lower blade and the upper blade, The regulating member is positioned to overlap the entire gap between the lower blade and the upper blade in the separated state when viewed from the direction of claw entry, and has a contact surface that contacts the claw entering between the lower blade and the upper blade. The aforementioned restricting member further, The lower wall along the inner surface of the lower plate, The upper wall along the inner surface of the upper plate, A front wall connecting the front ends of the lower wall and the upper wall, A lower bent wall that bends toward the lower plate from the rear end of the lower wall, The upper wall comprises an upper bent wall that bends from the rear end of the upper wall toward the upper plate, The front surface of the front wall becomes the contact surface, The lower bent wall and the upper bent wall bias the contact surface forward. The nail clipper is characterized in that the regulating member moves backward against the biasing force of the lower bent wall and the upper bent wall in response to the operation of the operating lever which brings the lower blade and the upper blade into contact.

2. A lower plate with a lower blade formed at the front end, An upper plate having an upper blade formed at its front end and its rear end connected to the rear end of the lower plate, A support shaft is fixed to the lower plate between the front and rear ends and passes through the upper plate, An operating lever is connected to the support shaft on the opposite side of the lower plate, with the upper plate in between, and moves the upper plate toward and toward the lower plate, so that the lower blade and the upper blade are separated and in contact. The system includes a regulating member positioned between the lower plate and the upper plate, which restricts the amount of claws that enter between the lower blade and the upper blade, The regulating member is positioned to overlap the entire gap between the lower blade and the upper blade in the separated state when viewed from the direction of claw entry, and has a contact surface that contacts the claw entering between the lower blade and the upper blade. The aforementioned restricting member further, The lower wall along the inner surface of the lower plate, The upper wall along the inner surface of the upper plate, A rear wall connecting the rear ends of the lower wall and the upper wall, A first front wall protruding upward from the front end of the lower wall, It comprises a second front wall that protrudes downward from the front end of the upper wall, The nail clipper is characterized in that the first front wall and the second front wall overlap each other when viewed from the direction in which the nail enters, and at least one of the front surfaces is the contact surface.

3. A lower plate with a lower blade formed at the front end, An upper plate having an upper blade formed at its front end and its rear end connected to the rear end of the lower plate, A support shaft is fixed to the lower plate between the front and rear ends and passes through the upper plate, An operating lever is connected to the support shaft on the opposite side of the lower plate, with the upper plate in between, and moves the upper plate toward and toward the lower plate, so that the lower blade and the upper blade are separated and in contact. The system includes a regulating member positioned between the lower plate and the upper plate, which restricts the amount of claws that enter between the lower blade and the upper blade, The regulating member is positioned to overlap the entire gap between the lower blade and the upper blade in the separated state when viewed from the direction of claw entry, and has a contact surface that contacts the claw entering between the lower blade and the upper blade. The regulating member is plate-shaped, protruding from the inner surface of the upper plate toward the lower plate, with its front surface being the contact surface. The nail clipper is characterized in that the lower plate has a through hole formed therein that allows the regulating member to enter as the upper plate moves from the separated state to the contact state.

4. In the nail clippers according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The nail clipper is characterized in that the regulating member has a through hole formed therein for passing through the support shaft.

5. In the nail clippers according to claim 2, The nail clipper is characterized in that the first front wall and the second front wall are arranged offset from each other in the front-rear direction.

6. In the nail clippers according to claim 2, The nail clipper is characterized in that the first front wall and the second front wall are positioned at the same location in the front-rear direction and have a comb shape that avoids interference with each other.

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