Illuminating nail clipper

Abstract

Provided herein is an illuminating nail clipper for clipping the nails of an animal such as a dog, cat, bird, or the like which allows for the clipping of an individual nail at the desired length to prevent injury or improper length cutting for the animal. The device includes a hand-actuated clipping blade used in conjunction with an adjustable in size nail holder which includes a cutting hole and which allows the nail to be clipped to be firmly held at a particular position relative to the nail cutting blade. Using an appropriate diameter aperture of the cutting hole, the animal nail may be inserted in an aperture of size sufficient to permit the nail to penetrate a particular distance based on the diameter size of the nail, which is tapered. A light source disposed on a flexible arm or conduit can be provided to illuminate an animal's nail to make it translucent, allowing the operator to see the capillaries within the nail and thus to avoid cutting to the live portion of the nail. In addition, the invention includes a comfortable, ergonomic grip which allows the handles to rest more comfortably and securely in the operator's hand.

1 . A device useful for cutting items needing to be trimmed, including nails, claws and talons of various animal and bird species, which comprises: 
 a) an upper handle means and a lower handle means, wherein said upper handle means and said lower handle means are pivotally connected to one another;    b) a cutting tang portion including a hole therethrough into which an item to be trimmed may be disposed;    c) a housing portion inside of which is contained a means for effecting cutting of said item when disposed in said hole, wherein said means for effecting cutting is in effective mechanical contact with said upper handle means and said lower handle means; and    d) a flexibly orientable means for illumination comprising a flexible conduit having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion of said flexible conduit is attached to said device at a location selected from the group consisting of: said housing portion, said upper handle, and said lower handle, and wherein said second end portion of said flexible conduit comprises a lamp head in which is disposed a lamp means.    
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1  further comprising: e) an electrical storage battery having a positive pole and a negative pole, wherein said positive pole and said negative pole are in effective electrical contact with said lamp means to cause said lamp means to be illuminated.  
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said upper handle means and said lower handle means comprises a hollow compartment, which is adapted to receive an electrical storage battery.  
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said means for cutting includes a blade portion which is disposed to move laterally over said hole when said upper handle and said lower handle are squeezed together.  
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said lamp means is an incandescent lamp.  
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said lamp head is adapted to receive an electrical storage battery.  
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said upper handle means includes an ergonomic handle grip disposed on its exterior surface.  
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7  wherein said handle grip is contoured to fit the inside of the human hand.  
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said lower handle means includes an ergonomic handle grip disposed on its exterior surface.  
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 9  wherein said handle grip is contoured to fit the inside of the human hand.  
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein said battery is selected from the group consisting of: rechargeable batteries and dry cells.  
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein said lamp head includes a means for selectively focusing the light emitted from said lamp means.  
   
   
       13 . In a device useful for cutting nails, claws, and talons of various animal species which is configured to be held and used by a single hand of a person operating the device, which device comprises two handle portions that effect a cutting by the handle portions being squeezed together, the improvement comprising a flexible conduit having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion is attached to said device and wherein said second end portion includes a means for illumination.  
   
   
       14 . A process for cutting a keratinous growth including nails, claws and talons of a mammalian or avian species which comprises: 
 a) impinging a source of light having sufficient intensity on the keratinous growth to render said keratinous growth translucent;    b) positioning a cutting device in a desired position on said keratinous growth; and    c) cutting said keratinous growth in a selected location.    
   
   
       15 . A process according to  claim 14  wherein said source of light is attached to said cutting device.  
   
   
       16 . A process according to  claim 14  wherein said source of light is disposed within about 12 inches from said keratinous growth.  
   
   
       17 . A process according to  claim 14  wherein said source of light is disposed within about 6 inches from said keratinous growth.  
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein said battery is affixed to either one of said upper handle means or said lower handle means.