Nail Clipper Apparatus

Abstract

A remotely actuated nail clipping apparatus includes a nail clipper body having upper and lower jaws with opposed cutting surfaces. An actuating lever is remotely disposed from the nail clipper body. A linkage, which operably couples the actuating lever to the nail clipper body, passes through the upper jaw of the nail clipper body and interfaces with the lower jaw and enables the user to pull the lower jaw upward toward the upper jaw into a cutting configuration whereby the opposed cutting surfaces of the two jaws engage one another to thereby clip a nail disposed therebetween. Preferably, a hollow vertical shaft rigidly couples the upper jaw of the nail clipper body to the actuating lever and the linkage extends through the interior of the shaft. A platform is preferably secured to the top end of the shaft and provides a support surface for the actuation lever.

1 . An apparatus for clipping nails comprising:
 a) upper and lower jaws that are normally biased apart and that are moveable relative to one another to a cutting configuration whereby opposed cutting surfaces of the upper and lower jaws engage one another to thereby clip a nail disposed therebetween;   b) an actuating lever remotely disposed from said jaws; and   c) a linkage, operably coupled between said actuating lever and said lower jaw, said linkage passing through said upper jaw and interfacing to said lower jaw to provide movement of said lower jaw upward toward said upper jaw and into said cutting configuration upon user activation of said actuating lever.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hollow vertical shaft with a top end disposed opposite a bottom end, where said actuate lever is disposed adjacent said top end, said upper jaw is rigidly attached to said bottom end and said linkage is disposed inside said hollow vertical shaft.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a platform rigidly attached to said top end of said shaft, said platform supporting pivoting movement of said actuating lever.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said linkage comprises at least one of a cable, wire and thread.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said linkage comprises a rod.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said linkage passes through an opening in said upper jaw.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said linkage passes through an opening in said lower jaw.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first attachment means for connecting said linkage to said actuating lever; and   second attachment means for connecting said linkage to said lower jaw.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said upper and lower jaws are connected by a spring hinge.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said actuating lever comprises a bent arm with two portions that extend from a pivot section disposed adjacent said platform.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 wherein user manipulation of said actuating lever causes pivoting movement of said actuating lever to cause said linkage to move upward and pull said lower jaw upwards toward said upper jaw.