Nail Trimming System

Abstract

A nail trimming system that provides for retention of nail trimmings includes a nail clipper and a receptacle attached to the nail clipper. The receptacle circumscribes and extends past the blades of the nail clipper, and has an opening for insertion of a finger or toe. The receptacle may have a transparent region, allowing a user to view the nail trimming site. A method of trimming a nail includes inserting a distal edge of a nail into the opening of the receptacle and between the blades of the nail clipper, forming a nail trimming by compressing the distal edge between the lower and upper blades and severing the distal edge from a main nail plate, and retaining the nail trimming in the receptacle.

1 . A nail trimming system, comprising:
 a nail clipper, comprising
 a lower arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a first blade; 
 an upper arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a second blade, the distal end of the lower arm attached to the distal end of the upper arm; 
 a fulcrum attached to the lower arm distally from the proximal end of the lower arm, and passing through the upper arm distally from the proximal end of the upper arm; and 
 a lever comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the lever attached to the fulcrum; and 
   a receptacle attached to the nail clipper, and comprising a blade portion and an arm portion,
 the blade portion comprising a wall circumscribing the first and second blades, and extending proximally past the first and second blades by at least 0.5 cm to an opening, 
 where the wall comprises a transparent region above the first and second blades, and 
 the arm portion is in contact with the nail clipper at a region distal from the fulcrum. 
   
     
     
         2 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the blade portion extends proximally past the first and second blades by a distance of from 0.5 to 4 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the blade portion extends proximally past the first and second blades by a distance of from 1 to 3.5 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 1 cm. 
     
     
         5 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 3 cm. 
     
     
         6 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 6 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the arm portion encloses the distal ends of the lower and upper arms. 
     
     
         8 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the opening has a longest cross-section of from 2 cm to 4 cm. 
     
     
         9 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the opening has a longest cross-section of from 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the opening is non-circular and has a shortest cross-section of at least 1.7 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the opening is non-circular and has a shortest cross-section of at least 3 cm. 
     
     
         12 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the wall is transparent. 
     
     
         13 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where the transparent region comprises a magnifying lens. 
     
     
         14 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where
 the lower arm has a length of from 4 to 7 cm,   the upper arm has a length of from 4 to 7 cm,   the blade portion extends proximally past the first and second blades by a distance of from 0.5 to 1.5 cm,   the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 2 cm, and   the opening has a longest cross-section of from 2 cm to 3 cm.   
     
     
         15 . The nail trimming system of  claim 14 , where.
 the lower arm has a length of from 5 to 6 cm,   the upper arm has a length of from 5 to 6 cm,   the blade portion extends past the first and second blades by a distance of from 1 to 1.2 cm,   the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 4 cm, and   the opening has a longest cross-section of from 2.25 cm to 2.75 cm.   
     
     
         16 . The nail trimming system of  claim 1 , where
 the lower arm has a length of from 7 to 10 cm,   the upper arm has a length of from 7 to 10 cm,   the blade portion extends proximally past the first and second blades by a distance of from 1.2 to 4 cm,   the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 4 cm, and   the opening has a longest cross-section of from 2.5 cm to 4 cm.   
     
     
         17 . The nail trimming system of  claim 16 , where.
 the lower arm has a length of from 8 to 9 cm,   the upper arm has a length of from 8 to 9 cm,   the blade portion extends proximally past the first and second blades by a distance of from 1.5 to 3.5 cm,   the arm portion extends distally from the fulcrum by a distance of at least 6 cm, and   the opening has a longest cross-section of from 2.75 cm to 3.5 cm.   
     
     
         18 . A receptacle for a nail clipper, where the nail clipper comprises a first blade and a second blade at a proximal end of the nail clipper, the receptacle comprising:
 a blade portion comprising a wall
 the wall having a length of at least 0.5 cm, a transparent region, and an opening having a longest cross-section of from 2 cm to 4 cm; and 
   an arm portion attached to the blade portion,
 the arm portion comprising a length of at least 1 cm; 
   where when the receptacle is attached to the nail clipper, the first and second blades of the nail clipper are circumscribed by the wall.   
     
     
         19 . A nail trimming system, comprising:
 a means for forming a nail trimming, and   a means for retaining the nail trimming near the forming means.   
     
     
         20 . A method of trimming a nail, comprising:
 inserting a distal edge of a nail into an opening of a receptacle,
 the receptacle attached to a nail clipper comprising a lower blade and an upper blade, 
   positioning the distal edge of the nail between the lower blade and the upper blade,
 where the lower and upper blades are circumscribed by the receptacle, and the receptacle extends proximally from the blades for a distance of at least 0.5 cm to the opening, 
   forming a nail trimming by compressing the distal edge of the nail between the lower and upper blades and severing the distal edge from a main nail plate, and   retaining the nail trimming in the receptacle.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising disposing of the nail trimming.