Animal Claw Shearing Apparatuses and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

Apparatuses disclosed herein aid in shearing animal claws. Specifically, the present invention provides a shearing apparatus having at least one curved blade, but preferably two curved blades, allowing cutting of the animal's claw from opposite sides of the animal's claw, and at least one well for placing the animal's claw therein, wherein said two curved blades are disposed at an aperture located at the bottom of the well. The well and aperture combination stops the animal's claw from being sheared too close to nerve endings and the animal's blood supply, preventing or minimizing the incidence of injury and suffering to the animal. Methods of using the apparatus are further disclosed herein.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for shearing an animal claw comprising:
 a first arm and a second arm, the first arm connected to the second arm and movable relative to the second arm;   a first aperture disposed in the first arm, the first aperture bounded by a first cutting blade;   a second aperture disposed in the second arm, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are aligned together when the first arm is in a first position relative to the second arm, and further wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are misaligned when the first is in a second position relative to the second arm.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first aperture is disposed in a conical well within the first arm. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first aperture is disposed in a first conical well within the first arm and the second aperture in a second well in the second arm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the second well is conical in shape, and the second aperture is bounded by a second cutting blade. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first cutting blade is disposed adjacent the second cutting blade when the first aperture is aligned with the second aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first cutting blade is curved. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the second cutting blade is curved. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pivot point where the first arm and the second arm are connected together, wherein the first arm pivots with respect to the second arm at the pivot point allowing the first arm to move relative to the second arm from the first position to the second position. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the pivot point is a pin disposed through the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first arm is disposed above the second arm and further wherein the first arm slides relative to the second arm between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spring connected to the first arm for moving the first arm to the first position relative to the second arm after being moved into the second position by an external force. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second well comprises a restrictor for restricting the movement of an animal's claw through the second well. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a stopper on the second arm, wherein the stopper restricts movement of the first arm relative to the second arm. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of using an apparatus for shearing an animal's claw, the apparatus comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus for shearing an animal's claw, the apparatus comprising a first arm and a second arm, the first arm connected to the second arm and movable relative to the second arm, a first aperture disposed in the first arm, the first aperture bounded by a first cutting blade, a second aperture disposed in the second arm, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are aligned together when the first arm is in a first position relative to the second arm, and further wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are misaligned when the first arm is in a second position relative to the second arm;   disposing an animal's claw through the first and second apertures;   misaligning the first aperture and the second aperture by moving the first arm relative to the second arm; and   cutting the animal's claw with the first cutting blade when the first aperture and the second aperture become misaligned.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first aperture is disposed in a conical well within the first arm, and further wherein the method comprises the step of:
 disposing the animal's claw within the conical well and then through the first and second apertures before cutting the claw. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first aperture is disposed in a first conical well within the first arm and the second aperture is disposed in a second well within the second arm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the second well is conical in shape, and the second aperture is bounded by a second cutting blade, and further wherein the method comprises the step of:
 disposing the animal's claw within the second well and then through the first and second apertures before cutting the claw. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first cutting blade is disposed adjacent the second cutting blade when the first aperture is aligned with the second aperture, and the method further comprises:
 cutting the animal's claw with both the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade when misaligning the first aperture and the second aperture. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of:
 pivoting the first arm relative to the second arm when moving the first arm. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of:
 sliding the first arm on the second arm when moving the first arm.