Ingrown toenail correction device

Abstract

The present invention provides an ingrown toenail correction device that reduces the resistance generated when lifting the ingrown toenail and can fix the arm in a position that matches the width of the patient's toenail. [Solution] The invention comprises a base member 10 having a pair of slide slots 14 and 18 on the left and right sides, a right arm 20A having a right hook 24A at its tip that hooks onto the right side of the claw, a left arm 20B having a left hook 24B at its tip that hooks onto the left side of the claw, and a base shaft 40 located between the right arm 20A and the left arm 20B, which is vertically movable relative to the base member 10 and whose tip contacts the outer surface of the claw. The right arm 20A is slidably inserted into one of the slide slots 14 in the left-right direction and can be fixed at any position, and the left arm 20B is slidably inserted into the other slide slot 18 in the left-right direction and can be fixed at any position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ingrown toenail straightening device. [Background Art]

[0002] An ingrown toenail straightening device that allows a patient to treat an ingrown toenail (especially an ingrown toenail on a human toe) by themselves is known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-138690) discloses an ingrown toenail straightening device comprising: a base body; a pair of arms rotatably provided on the left and right sides of the base body and hooked onto the left and right side portions of a nail; a fulcrum member abutting against the outer surface of the nail; and a shaft body connected to the fulcrum member and provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the base body, wherein lowering the shaft body relative to the base body causes the pair of arms to pull up the ingrown toenail. According to such an ingrown toenail straightening device, a patient can straighten their own ingrown toenail by a simple operation performed by the patient themselves, without requiring surgery by a physician. [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-138690 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] As described above, in the ingrown toenail straightening device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pair of arms are rotatably provided relative to the base body. Therefore, when pulling up the ingrown toenail, the rotating portion acts as resistance, which causes a problem that the ingrown toenail cannot be pulled up easily. Furthermore, even after an ingrown toenail is treated once, there is a risk of recurrence due to foot environment and lifestyle habits, so the device may be used repeatedly. In the above-described ingrown toenail straightening device, the position of the arm that matches the width of the patient's nail changes each time the device is used. For this reason, there has been a demand for an ingrown toenail straightening device capable of fixing the arm position relative to the base body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above problems and to provide an ingrown toenail correction device that can suppress the resistance generated when pulling up an ingrown toenail and can be fixed in a position that matches the width of the patient's toenail.

[0007] The present invention solves the above problem by a solution described below as one embodiment.

[0008] In other words, the disclosed ingrown toenail correction device comprises a base member having a pair of sliding elongated holes on the left and right sides, a right arm having a right hook at its tip that hooks onto the right side of the nail, a left arm having a left hook at its tip that hooks onto the left side of the nail, and a base shaft located between the right arm and the left arm and provided to be vertically movable relative to the base member, with its tip contacting the outer surface of the nail, wherein the right arm is slidably inserted in the left-right direction into one of the sliding elongated holes and can be fixed at any position, and the left arm is slidably inserted in the left-right direction into the other sliding elongated hole and can be fixed at any position.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the device further comprises a right slide block attached to the right arm and formed to be substantially the same width as the slide slot in the front-rear direction, and a left slide block attached to the left arm and formed to be substantially the same width as the slide slot in the front-rear direction, wherein the right arm is inserted through one of the slide slots via the right slide block so as to slide in the left-right direction while maintaining the direction of the right hook, and can be fixed at any position, and the left arm is inserted through the other slide slot via the left slide block so as to slide in the left-right direction while maintaining the direction of the left hook, and can be fixed at any position.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the right slide block further comprises a right fixing nut screwed onto the right arm and a left fixing nut screwed onto the left arm, wherein the right slide block has a first contact portion formed on either its upper or lower surface that abuts against the edge of one of the slide slots, and the right arm can be fixed by the first contact portion and the right fixing nut sandwiching the frame portion of one of the slide slots, and the left slide block has a second contact portion formed on either its upper or lower surface that abuts against the edge of the other slide slot, and the left arm can be fixed by the second contact portion and the left fixing nut sandwiching the frame portion of the other slide slot. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the disclosure described above, it is possible to realize an ingrown toenail correction device that suppresses the resistance generated in the device when pulling up the ingrown toenail and can fix the arm in a position that matches the width of the patient's toenail. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1A is a perspective view of the ingrown toenail correction device in each embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1B is a front view of the ingrown toenail correction device, and Figure 1C is a plan view of the ingrown toenail correction device. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the base member, left and right arms, left and right sliding blocks, and left and right fixing nuts of the ingrown toenail correction device shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1A is a perspective view (upper right perspective view) of the ingrown toenail correction device 100 in each embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1B is a front view of the ingrown toenail correction device 100 in each embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 1C is a plan view of the ingrown toenail correction device 100 in each embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view (upper right exploded perspective view) showing the base member 10, right arm 20A, right slide block 50A, right fixing nut 52A, left arm 20B, left slide block 50B, and left fixing nut 52B of the ingrown toenail correction device 100 in each embodiment of the present invention. In all figures used to explain each embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for members having the same function, and repeated explanations may be omitted.

[0014] First, the purpose of using the ingrown toenail correction device 100 in each embodiment will be explained. The ingrown toenail correction device 100 is a device for improving so-called "ingrown toenail symptoms," in which pain and inflammation occur when the left and right sides of a person's toenail dig into the skin. With such an ingrown toenail correction device 100, patients can improve their ingrown toenail symptoms themselves without undergoing surgery by a doctor.

[0015] Furthermore, while this disclosure uses the left-right, up-down, and front-back directions as reference points from the patient's perspective, these reference points are for illustrative purposes only and do not in any way limit the orientation or direction in which the ingrown toenail correction device 100 is used.

[0016] <Ingrown Toenail Correction Device 100> Next, the configuration of the ingrown toenail correction device 100 in each embodiment will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 1A to 1C, the ingrown toenail correction device 100 comprises a base member 10, a right arm 20A, a left arm 20B, and a base shaft 40.

[0017] <<Base member 10>> As an example, the base member 10 is formed of a metal material or a resin material into a block shape having a left-right width of about several centimeters, a front-rear width of about 1 centimeter, and a thickness of about several millimeters. The base member 10 also has a pair of elongated sliding holes 14 and 18 arranged on the left and right sides. Specifically, a right elongated sliding hole 14, a shaft insertion hole 10A, and a left elongated sliding hole 18 are formed in the base member 10 in order from one end side to the other end side.

[0018] The pair of elongated sliding holes 14 and 18 are through holes having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and are formed on the left and right frame portions 12 and 16 such that left and right sliding blocks 50A and 50B described later are accommodated to be slidable in the left-right direction.

[0019] The shaft insertion hole 10A is a circular through hole with a diameter of about several millimeters, and is formed so that a base shaft 40 described later can move up and down. More specifically, the shaft insertion hole 10A is a screw hole, and is formed to be screwed with a screw groove formed on a side surface of the base shaft 40 described later.

[0020] <<Right Arm 20A>> The right arm 20A comprises a first right arm 22A having a right hook 24A hooked on the side portion (right side portion) of a nail formed at the distal end portion (lower end portion) thereof, and a second right arm 28A connected to the first right arm 22A, inserted through the right elongated sliding hole 14 to be slidable (slidable in the left-right direction), and fixable at any position.

[0021] As an example, the first right arm 22A is a shaft member formed of a metal material or a resin material, and a claw-shaped right hook 24A having a front-rear width of about 5 mm and a thickness of about 1 mm is formed at the distal end portion (lower end portion) thereof.

[0022] The right hook 24A is normally fixed to the base member 10 in an orientation where the distal end faces inward and the edge of the distal end is substantially parallel to the side portion (right side portion) of the nail, but the orientation can be appropriately adjusted when fixing.

[0023] A connecting portion 26Aa is formed on the tip side (upper end side, opposite to the right hook 24A) of the first right arm 20A, which is connectable to the second right arm 28A. More specifically, the connecting portion 26Aa is rotatably connected to the connecting portion 28Aa of the second right arm 28A by a pivot pin 26Ab.

[0024] The second right arm 28A is, for example, a shaft member formed of a metal or resin material, with a screw groove formed in a predetermined length range at its upper part, and is inserted through the base member 10 (i.e., the right slide slot 14) via the right slide block 50A described later, so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. In this way, by not making the second right arm 28A (i.e., the right arm 20A) rotatable relative to the base member 10, resistance when pulling up the ingrown toenail can be reduced.

[0025] <<Right slide block 50A>> The right slide block 50A is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example, from a metal material or a resin material. The dimensions of the right slide block 50A are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that its width in the front-to-back direction is substantially the same as the width of the right slide slot 14 in the front-to-back direction.

[0026] Furthermore, contact portions 50Aa, 50Aa are formed on either the upper or lower surface (in this embodiment, the upper surface) of the right slide block 50A, protruding in the front-rear direction and abutting against the right frame portion 12 of the right slide slot 14 (i.e., the edge of the right slide slot 14). The protruding width of the contact portions 50Aa, 50Aa is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that they are formed to a width such that the right slide block 50A does not fall out when it is housed in the right slide slot 14.

[0027] Furthermore, the right slide block 50A has a screw hole 50Ab that penetrates vertically. The second right arm 28A described above is screwed into this screw hole 50Ab via a screw groove.

[0028] <<Right fixing nut 52A>> A right fixing nut 52A is further screwed into the screw groove of the second right arm 28A. With the right slide block 50A, which is integrated with the second right arm 28A, housed in the right slide slot 14, the right fixing nut 52A is screwed in upward (i.e., towards the lower surface of the base member 10), and the right frame portion 12 of the right slide slot 14 (i.e., the edge of the right slide slot 14) is sandwiched between the contact portions 50Aa, 50Aa and fastened, thereby fixing the second right arm 28A (i.e., the right arm 20A) to the base member 10 in any orientation.

[0029] <<Left Arm 20B>> The left arm 20B has a first left arm 22B with a left hook 24B formed at its tip (lower end) that hooks onto the side (left side) of the claw, and a second left arm 28B that is connected to the first left arm 22B, is slidably inserted (slidable in the left-right direction) into the left slide elongated hole 18, and can be fixed in any position.

[0030] The first left arm 20B is, for example, a shaft member formed from a metal or resin material, and a claw-shaped left hook 24B with a front-to-back width of about 5 mm and a thickness of about 1 mm is formed at its tip (lower end).

[0031] The left hook 24B is normally fixed to the base member 10 with its tip facing inward and the edge of the tip and the side of the claw (left side) being approximately parallel, but its orientation can be adjusted as appropriate during fixing.

[0032] A connecting portion 26Ba is formed on the tip side (upper end side, opposite to the left hook 24B) of the first left arm 20B, which is connectable to the second left arm 28B. More specifically, the connecting portion 26Ba is rotatably connected to the connecting portion 28Ba of the second left arm 28B by a pivot pin 26Bb or the like.

[0033] The second left arm 28B is, for example, a shaft member formed of a metal or resin material, with a screw groove formed in a predetermined length range at its upper part, and is inserted through the base member 10 (i.e., the left slide slot 18) via the left slide block 50B described later, so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. In this way, by not making the second left arm 28B (i.e., the left arm 20B) rotatable relative to the base member 10, resistance when pulling up the ingrown toenail can be reduced.

[0034] <<Left slide block 50B>> The left slide block 50B is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example, from a metal material or a resin material. The dimensions of the left slide block 50B are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that its width in the front-to-back direction is substantially the same as the width of the left slide slot 18 in the front-to-back direction.

[0035] Furthermore, contact portions 50Ba, 50Ba are formed on either the upper or lower surface (in this embodiment, the upper surface) of the left slide block 50B, protruding in the front-rear direction and contacting the left frame portion 16 of the left slide slot 18. The protruding width of the contact portions 50Ba, 50Ba is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that they are formed to a width such that the left slide block 50B does not fall out when it is housed in the left slide slot 18.

[0036] Furthermore, the left slide block 50B has a screw hole 50Bb that penetrates vertically. The second left arm 28B described above is screwed into this screw hole 50Bb via a screw groove.

[0037] <<Left fixing nut 52B>> A left fixing nut 52B is further screwed into the screw groove of the second left arm 28B. With the left slide block 50B, which is integrated with the second left arm 28B, housed in the left slide slot 18, the left fixing nut 52B is screwed in upward (i.e., screwed in toward the lower surface of the base member 10), and the left frame portion 16 of the left slide slot 18 (i.e., the edge of the left slide slot 18) is sandwiched between the contact portions 50Ba, 50Ba and fastened, thereby allowing the second left arm 28B (i.e., the left arm 20B) to be fixed to the base member 10 in any orientation.

[0038] <<Base shaft 40>> The base shaft 40 is, for example, a shaft member made of metal or resin material, approximately 5 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter, and is located between the right arm 20A and the left arm 20B, and is movable up and down relative to the base member 10.

[0039] A knob portion 42 with knurling on its side is formed on one end (upper end) of the base shaft 40 within a predetermined length range. The patient can pull up the ingrown toenail by rotating the knob portion 42 to pull the base shaft 40 downward relative to the base member 10.

[0040] A screw groove is formed in a predetermined length range at the lower part of the knob portion 42, and the base shaft 40 is screwed into the shaft insertion hole 10A via this screw groove.

[0041] A flattened spherical portion 44 is formed at the tip (lower end) of the base shaft 40. This flattened spherical portion 44 is fitted into a fitting portion 48 formed on the upper surface of the support member 46, which will be described later (Figures 1A and 1B show the disassembled state). Preferably, the flattened spherical portion 44 is connected to the base shaft 40 via a spring member (not shown) built into the base shaft 40.

[0042] The base shaft 40 further includes a support member 46. The support member 46 is formed, for example, from a metal or resin material and is a member that comes into contact with (places on) the outer surface of the nail when the ingrown toenail is pulled up.

[0043] Furthermore, a recess 46A is formed on the lower surface of the support member 46 to prevent slippage when it comes into contact with (placed on) the outer surface of the claw.

[0044] Furthermore, a fitting portion 48 is formed on the upper surface of the support member 46 into which the flattened spherical portion 44 described above is fitted. Several (four in this embodiment) slits 48A are formed in the vertical direction of the fitting portion 48, allowing the support member 46 to freely change its orientation relative to the base shaft 40.

[0045] <How to use the Ingrown Toenail Correction Device 100> Next, we will explain in detail how to use the Ingrown Toenail Correction Device 100.

[0046] First, the patient adjusts each slide block 50A, 50B to an appropriate width relative to the base member 10 (for example, the width of the toenail of the toe with ingrown toenail symptoms). At this time, the patient may also adjust the orientation of the left and right hooks 24A, 24B to match the shape of their own nails.

[0047] Next, the patient adjusts the position of the base shaft 40 relative to the base member 10 by bringing the support member 46 into contact with the outer surface of the nail and twisting the knob portion 42 so that the left and right hooks 24A and 24B are at the same height as the sides of the nail.

[0048] Next, the patient hooks 24A and 24B onto the sides of their nails.

[0049] Next, the patient twists the knob 42 to lower the base shaft 40 relative to the base member 10. This allows the patient to pull up their ingrown toenail and correct it.

[0050] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 10 Base member 14 Right slide elongated hole 18 Left slide elongated hole 20A Right Arm 20B Left Arm 24A Right Hook 24B Left Hook 40 Base Shaft 50A Right Slide Block 50B Left Slide Block 52A Right fixing nut 52B Left fixing nut 100 Ingrown Toenail Corrector

Claims

1. A base member having a pair of sliding elongated holes on the left and right, The right arm has a right hook at its tip that can be hooked onto the right side of the claw, A left arm having a left hook at its tip that can be hooked onto the left side of the aforementioned claw, It comprises a base shaft located between the right arm and the left arm, which is vertically movable relative to the base member, and whose tip contacts the outer surface of the claw, The right arm is inserted into one of the slide slots so as to be slidable in the left-right direction and can be fixed in any position. The left arm is inserted into the other slide slot so as to be slidable in the left-right direction and can be fixed in any position. A toenail correction device characterized by [feature].

2. A right slide block is attached to the right arm and is formed to have substantially the same width as the slide slot in the front-rear direction, The system further comprises a left slide block that is attached to the left arm and is formed to have substantially the same width as the slide slot in the front-rear direction, The right arm is inserted through the right slide block so as to be slidable in the left-right direction into one of the slide slots while maintaining the direction of the right hook, and can be fixed in any position. The left arm is inserted through the left slide block into the other slide slot so as to be slidable in the left-right direction while maintaining the direction of the left hook, and can be fixed in any position. The ingrown toenail correction device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The right fixing nut screwed onto the right arm, The left arm is further equipped with a left fixing nut screwed onto it, The right slide block has a first contact portion formed on either its upper or lower surface that contacts the edge of one of the slide slots, The right arm can be fixed by the first contact portion and the right fixing nut sandwiching the frame portion of the slide elongated hole, The left slide block has a second contact portion formed on either its upper or lower surface that contacts the edge of the other slide slot, The left arm can be fixed by the second contact portion and the left fixing nut sandwiching the frame portion of the other slide slot. The ingrown toenail correction device according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

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