Device and method for facilitating the sharpening of nail nippers

Abstract

The device and method of this disclosure provides for nipper sharpening by providing: a nipper device holding surface; a clamp for securing the nipper device to the holding surface; a sharpening strip holder coupled to a motor, wherein activation of the motor causes the sharpening strip holder to move between a first and second position; a sharpening strip having a roughened surface; wherein the placement of the sharpening strip in the strip holder causes the sharpening strip to contact the nipper device and wherein motor activation moves the sharpening strip across the area of the nipper device to be sharpened. A pivotably connected positioning magnet holds the sharpening strip in place through magnetic attraction to the metal nipper with sufficient magnetic force to secure the strip in place, but with light enough magnetic force to allow back and forth lateral movement of the strip across the nipper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nipper sharpening device comprising:
 a holding surface for receiving a nipper device;   a clamp for securing the nipper device to the holding surface;   a sharpening strip holder coupled to a motor, wherein upon activation of the motor, the sharpening strip holder moves from a first position to a second position;   a sharpening strip having at least one surface wherein at least a portion of such surface comprises a roughened area;   wherein placement of the sharpening strip in the sharpening strip holder positions the sharpening strip such that the roughened area of the sharpening strip contacts a nipper device placed on the holding surface and activation of the motor moves the roughened area of the sharpening strip across at least a portion of the surface of the nipper device placed on the holding surface.   
     
     
         2 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 1  wherein the roughened area of the sharpening strip contacts at least one cutting edge of a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         3 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 1  wherein the activation of the motor causes the roughened area of the sharpening strip to reciprocally contact at least one cutting edge of a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         4 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 1  further comprising a positioning magnet placed in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         5 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 4 , wherein the magnetic attraction between the positioning magnet and a nipper device placed on the holder surface is sufficiently strong to prevent the sharpening strip from moving upwardly from the surface of the nipper device placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         6 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 4 , wherein the magnetic attraction between the positioning magnet and a nipper device placed on the holder surface is sufficiently weak to allow lateral movement of the sharpening strip from a first to second position. 
     
     
         7 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 1  wherein the holding surface and sharpening strip holder are coupled to a device housing. 
     
     
         8 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 7  further comprising a positioning magnet positioned within a magnet holder, wherein the magnet holder is pivotally coupled to the device housing and movable between a first and second position. 
     
     
         9 . The nipper device of  claim 8  wherein the magnet holder moves from a first non-contact position to a second position wherein the positioning magnet is placed in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         10 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic attraction between the positioning magnet and a nipper device placed on the holder surface is sufficiently strong to prevent the sharpening strip from moving upwardly from the surface of the nipper device placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         11 . The nipper sharpening device of  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic attraction between the positioning magnet and a nipper device placed on the holder surface is sufficiently weak to allow lateral movement of the sharpening strip from a first to second position. 
     
     
         12 . A method for sharpening a nail nipper comprising:
 providing a holding surface for receiving a nipper device;   securing the nipper device to the holding surface;   providing a sharpening strip holder coupled to a motor, wherein upon activation of the motor, the sharpening strip holder moves from a first position to a second position;   providing a sharpening strip having at least one surface wherein at least a portion of such surface comprises a roughened area;   placing the sharpening strip in the sharpening strip holder to position the sharpening strip such that the roughened area of the sharpening strip contacts a nipper device placed on the holding surface and activation of the motor moves the roughened area of the sharpening strip across at least a portion of the surface of nipper device placed on the holding surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of causing the roughened area of the sharpening strip to contact at least one cutting edge of a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of activating the motor to cause the roughened area of the sharpening strip to reciprocally contact at least one cutting edge of a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of positioning a magnet in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of coupling the holding surface and sharpening strip holder to a housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of placing a positioning a magnet within a magnet holder, wherein the magnet holder is pivotally coupled to the housing and movable between a first and second position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of moving the magnet holder from a first non-contact position to a second position wherein the positioning magnet is placed in contact with the sharpening strip to magnetically engage with a nipper placed on the holding surface such that the sharpening strip is positioned, at least in part, between the positioning magnet and a nipper placed on the holding surface.