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Publication Number
US-9788632-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A hand tool having hinged nipping or cutting blades and handles that are squeezed to effect the cutting or nipping action, at least one of the handles being profiled in cross section to accept and retain a slide-on cushion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a hand tool comprising hinged nipping or cutting blades, at least a first slide-on cushion, and handles adapted to be squeezed to effect a cutting or nipping action, wherein at least one handle is profiled in cross section to accept and retain the first slide-on cushion. The at least one handle is bifurcated to include a pair of elongated members, and the first slide-on cushion has an H shaped cross section having a pair of outer members connected with a cross member. The handle releasably accepts and retains the slide-on cushion by sliding the cross member between the pair of elongated members such that each elongated member is located between the pair of outer members and the elongated members are separated by the cross member.
In a described configuration, the arrangement is designed especially for podiatrists’ nail nippers to reduce repetitive strain injury (RSI) by providing improved hand-tool grips. The grip system includes slide-on cushions retained by the profiled, bifurcated handles, with a structural end-stop arrangement contacting a handle end remote from the blades to help position and limit cushion retention. A recessed hinge-side handle transition is also described as part of the improved grip geometry.
The disclosed embodiments further describe additional structural features and related instrument provision. An internal spring is described to improve cleaning or sterilization, and the instrument is described as being supplied in a sterile pack. The cushions are described as being formed from an autoclavable polymer, including ethylene-vinyl acetate, and blades are described as razor sharp and having a flat cut.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines a hand tool with hinged nipping or cutting blades and a releasably retained slide-on cushion system, using profiled bifurcated handles configured to accept and retain an H shaped cushion by sliding a cross member between elongated handle members. The independent claim set includes at least one independent claim with dependent claims that add specific structural and material/packaging limitations and narrower tool/blade characterizations.
H-shaped slide-on cushion retained by bifurcated profiled handles
A hand tool comprising hinged nipping or cutting blades, at least a first slide-on cushion, and handles adapted to be squeezed to effect a cutting or nipping action, wherein at least one handle is profiled in cross section to accept and retain the first slide-on cushion; the at least one handle is bifurcated to include a pair of elongated members; the first slide-on cushion has an H shaped cross section with a pair of outer members connected with a cross member; and the at least one handle is configured to releasably accept and retain the first slide-on cushion by sliding the cross member between the pair of elongated members such that each elongated member is located between the pair of outer members and the elongated members are separated by the cross member.
End-stop positioning of slide-on cushion
The at least one handle configured so that the first slide-on cushion includes an end-stop contacting the handle end remote from the blades.
Additional slide-on cushion retained by profiled handles
A second slide-on cushion, wherein each handle profiled in cross section is adapted to accept and retain the first or second slide-on cushion.
Tool limited to podiatrists’ nippers
A hand tool wherein the hinged nipping or cutting blades are podiatrists’ nippers.
Razor sharp blades for nipping or cutting
A hand tool wherein the blades are razor sharp.
Sterile pack enclosure
The hand tool enclosed in a sterile pack.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a cushion-retention grip for hinged nipping/cutting blades, where bifurcated profiled handles releasably retain an H shaped slide-on cushion via sliding a cross member between elongated members. Dependent coverage specifies an end-stop contacting the handle end remote from the blades, possible support for a second slide-on cushion, and narrows the tool/blades as described, including podiatrists’ nippers, razor sharp blades, and sterile pack enclosure.
Stated Advantages
Reduce repetitive strain injury (RSI) via improved hand-tool grips with slide-on cushions.
Documented Applications
A hand tool configured as podiatrists’ nail nippers.
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